altadenablog

Flash Gordon's motorhome [UPDATE: now with video!]

by Timothy Rutt

Bruce Wasson sends us this picture of a deputy checking out something that landed on Holliston Avenue last week -- a Streamline Moderne motorhome worthy of Flash Gordon or Doc Savage.

It's the latest creation from "automotive sculptor" Randy Grubb, who has sold his customized vehicles for the likes of Jay Leno.  Check out his work here, and check out the website devoted to the motorhome's construction.

UPDATE:  Take a look at a video of Jay Leno driving it from the flying bridge, after the jump.

It's over already ...

Reader Deb Halberstadt took this photo on the west side of town Jan. 1, and she calls it "'Tis the end of the Season"

 

Not really ambulance chasing, but close

If you own a 1920's era fire engine (as does Altadenan John L. Hunter -- we've featured his fire truck before), what are you going to do with it?  Why, use it as a prop when you move your law office, of course!

We're looking for a punchline to the question, "What happens when you put a bunch of attorneys on a fire truck?"

Life in Altadena, July 16

A new correspondent who calls himself Gary Altadena (in homage to Gary Indiana) shares a couple of images of life around town:

These roofers working at the Seventh Day Adventist Church probably have the worst job in the world today.

Boat on Lake. (It's subtle, give it time ...)

I've looked at North Lake from both sides now ...

Our perennial favorite Hometown Pasadena web page has a poetic appreciation of the joys of North Lake from Mel Malmberg.

And on the other hand, Ernessa Carter talks about some of the real disadvantages of the area (one word: Ralphs.  And why don't we have a modern postage machine like they have TWO of in the main Pasadena post office?  It's bad enough the local post office is on a campaign to remove all the corner drop boxes).  Both sides have their merits!

Kogi BBQ @ the Coffee Gallery tonight

Korean barbecue tacos, from 9 PM to midnight tonight.

UPDATE 11:30 PM:  The never-fails-to-amaze Bill Westphal gives us an on-the-scene report of Kogi:

It was not as crowded as the Grilled Cheese Truck.  Lynne and I actually waited in line and sampled a couple of different things off of the menu.  It was good and worth the wait.

 

 Local celebrity Adam Bell was caught in line picking up a snack.

We need to see more of the Kogi and Grilled Cheese Trucks in Altadena.

Summer swings in Altadena

Summer officially kicked off tonight with Downbeat Express opening up the Sheriff's Support Group concert series at Farnsworth Park.  Special guest Randy Caputo blew everyone away with his Gene Krupa-inspired drumming.  A great start to the season!

Weekendin'

Looks like another big lineup:

• It starts today at the Altadena Library's Day of the Book/Day of the Child:  A special bilingual storytime at 11:00 AM features bilingual stories, songs, and fingerplays. From 2:30 – 5:30 PM drop in and make papel picado, crepe paper flowers, and your own piñata! At 3:30 PM Storytellers from the We Tell Stories group will present Cuentos de la Familia (Stories of the Family) to celebrate family values through Latino folktales. All children who participate in any of the day’s activities will receive a free book! Light refreshment will be provided. All activities will take place in the Community Room.
• On Friday, from 11:30 AM-5 PM is the annual Altadena Chamber of Commerce golf tournament at the Altadena Golf Course.
• "The Living Room," open mic night Friday at Farnworth Park, 7 PM.  Poets and spoken word artists welcome!
• On Saturday, Chaney Trail residents are having a brush cleanup from 8:30-1 PM.
• Also on Saturday and Sunday, 9-5 and a definite don't miss, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Open House.

High life livin' 'Dena-side

Who needs Beverly Hills? We got it all here, or so says the amazing Susan C.

And don't forget, celeb-stalkers, Cloris Leachman comes to the main library tomorrow @ 7 PM!

Saturday in the 'Dena

Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church was doing land office business in their first e-waste drive -- this was collected in the first hour!

... and there was more coming in!

Rosie and Jacob (aka Spawn 3 and 2) read to Pearl the poodle as part of "Barks and Books" at the library.

As of 1 PM, sheriff's deputies had collected 57 firearms as part of the "Gifts for Guns" program at the Rite-Aid parking lot.  Yes, the red Prius with the Obama sticker was turning in Gun #58.

Sheriff Lt. Sheila Sanchez shows off the T-shirts that were given out during the exchange, gifts from Gov. Schwarzenegger.

However, Ryan (which is the only name he would give) was at the gun exchange to make a counter-offer.

These young musicians are preforming as part of the Pasadena Waldorf School's Festival of Art, also going on on a busy day in Altadena.

Statues of limitations

The frequent eccentricity of Altadena life is too much for some people.  Toadberry is freaking out a bit here.

Exploring Altadena with the Hiker

Our old compadre, the intrepid Altadenahiker, has been showing us off for all the photoblogs, it seems.  Here's the latest in a series with Petrea Buchard of Pasadena Daily Photo, and a few shots from Vanda at Toadberry.

Ice, ice, baby

Check out Petrea Burchard's essential Pasadena Daily Photo today for a great composition of the ice house behind Webster's.  Just let the shadows do the talking!

Top ten Altadena stories of 2008

There was so much going on this year, it’s hard to keep it all sorted, and hard to decide what to leave out!  But here, listed in no particular order, are Altadena’s Top Ten stories of the past year:

Christmas Tree Lane lighting ceremony Dec. 13

Join us for the 88th Annual Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony Sat., Dec. 13, 2008.

Festivities begins at 5 PM.  Lighting ceremony begins at 6 PM, at the Altadena Public Library, corner of Mariposa and Santa Rosa in Altadena

Santa Claus arrives at 5 PM to hear children's wishes and take pictures. Hot chocolate and cider are served compliments of Christmas Tree Lane Association, and Christmas Tree Lane boutique offers souvenirs, t-shirts, gifts, and memorabilia (including the ever-popular "reindeer poop").

This year we will enjoy music of the season by the Altadena Baptist Church Choir, the Altadena Boys and Girls Academy Children's Chorus, the John Muir High School Alumni Drum Corp, as well as the grand finale with children and our very own "Mrs. Altadena", Rosa Johnson.

Thanks to all visitors for your support, and we hope you will enjoy the Lane during the holidays.

(Image: a vintage postcard of Christmas Tree Lane)

Mystery sign

Our old hiking buddy Petrea Burchard is scratching her head over a mystery sign on the wall at Steve's Altadena Hardware, from back in the old days (hit the link to see the picture).  Maybe you can figure it out.

Note to self: work on manliness

We plugged this page into the GenderAnalyzer website (which uses AI to determine if a particular page was written by a man, with "most manly" at 100%).  We only scored 64%, not as manly as we'd like.  We need to work on this.

Meantime, while Mrs. Altadenablog is out of town, we need to make breakfast and iron the kids' clothes ...
Other scores:

Altadena Sheriff's Station: 100%
Sheriff's Support Group: 84% (it's that "support" thing that threw it off)
Chaney Trail/Millard Canyon: 97% (how come Alice Wessen is manlier than we are?)
Altadena Weathercam: 93% (Bill Westphal is manlier than us, which we don't dispute, but not as manly as Alice!)
State & Lake: 52%.  By the thoughtful and "out" A.D. Odom, GenderAnalyzer says the site says "quite gender neutral."
Altadena Library: 96%.  Man, even the librarians are manlier than us!

Dear Abby, dear Abby ..

Oh my: Dear Abby today has a letter from "Depressed in Altadena."  All we can say is, "DUMP THE GUY! NOW IS NOT TOO FAST!"

A day in history

PSN columnist and Altadenan Shirlee Smith talks about election day and her joy at Barack Obama's victory.