August 2010 Archives
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By Catherine Gaugh
So you are heading to the Pasadena Humane Society shelter to find a new friend and companion.
The experience can be so nerve-racking and sad: so many dogs, so many sad eyes, so much barking. Most of the time, you don't know where they came from nor why they wound up in the shelter.
What if you make a mistake and pick the wrong dog?
Take a few tips from Cesar Millan, the dog trainer extraordinaire and star of the National Geographic Channel's "Dog Whisperer," who suggests five ways to make sure you choose the right shelter pet for you.
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(Photo by Walt Mancini / Staff)
Adam Escoto of Los Angeles takes a nap Monday by the mirror pond at Pasadena City College on the first day of classes for the new fall semester.
(Photo by Walt Mancini / Staff)
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Hometown Pasadena asked blogger and Realtor Brigham Yen to name an up-and-coming neighborhood in the area "that not everyone knows about yet."
He continues the discussion today on his blog, putting forth Colorado Boulevard between Lake Avenue and Pasadena City College as a segment of the city that should continue moving toward "neighborhoodification."
I've always driven past this part of Pasadena lamenting the lack of pedestrian connection between PCC (a strong anchor) and the rest of Downtown Pasadena (to the west of PCC) as parking lots in front of strip malls and motels prevented this section from becoming conducive for an enjoyable walking experience. ...
However, even with its drawbacks, the area contains a number of beautiful historic buildings and some new creative life ...
Yen names A Room to Create, Taco Station, Zankou Chicken and Daisy Mint, pictured above, among the businesses, new and old, that are infusing energy there.
... this stretch of Colorado is really acquiring a cool and funky vibe that could become Pasadena's answer to Silver Lake or Los Feliz.
Weigh in: What would you like to see happen along this strip of Colorado Boulevard in East Pasadena? What are some other up-and-coming neighborhoods in the city?
(File photo)
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Bring chairs, blankets and fellow music enthusiasts to the hottest coolest jazz extravaganza in the San Gabriel Valley.
This weekend, the 14th redwhite+bluezz Pasadena Jazz Festival will set up shop for a two-day outdoor concert at the scenic Arboretum.
Over the years, the festival has boasted more than 50 performances and 275,000 festival-goers, and this year seems no different.
Expect jazz with a twist -- reinventing the tradition with a little bit of funk, blues, rock and more.
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 304-0333, coolpasadena.com
(File photo)
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From the Associated Press:
A real estate agent who has been trying to sell a Frank Lloyd Wright home for two years is considering an inquiry from clients who would move it from Southern California to Japan.La Miniatura in Pasadena is among two of Wright's experimental textile-block homes that have languished on the market.In 2008 agent Crosby Doe listed the partially restored home at $7.7 million, but recently dropped it to under $5 million.He says it is a long shot but he has been talking to an international art dealer with Japanese art-collector clients who might be interested in buying the house. He says the London Bridge was moved to the Colorado River, so it's possible Wright's house can be moved to Japan.Wright built four of the masonry homes in the early 1920s, all in Southern California.
See more photos of La Miniatura in our previous post.
Read the full story in the L.A. Times.
(File photos)
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Going on right now at the Pasadena Convention Center: Power Morphicon 2, a gathering most likely to include oodles of multi-color spandex in celebration of the '90s TV show "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers."
Going on right now at the Pasadena Convention Center: Power Morphicon 2, a gathering most likely to include oodles of multi-color spandex in celebration of the '90s TV show "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers."The event, running through Sunday, marks the 17th anniversary of the show's premiere in 1993.
Apparently not scheduled to make an appearance is David Yost, the original Blue Ranger, who this week announced he is gay and says he was harassed for it on set of the show.
Sadly, the Gold Ranger Breakfast -- in which guests dine with other former stars of the show -- is already sold out, so I bring you this photo from Flickr user Kevin Dooley as consolation.
(Photo via Flickr, Kevin Dooley)
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The summertime fun of Fusion Fridays is coming to an end in classic Shanghai style.
Get dolled up in cocktail or 1930s attire for the series' grand finale. It's a nightlife vibe mixed with fine art -- focusing on the exhibit "China Modern: Designing Popular Culture 1910-1970." Expect gourmet food trucks in the parking lot, open bar, a live DJ in the courtyard and cultural performances.
Tomorrow, Aug. 27, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. $10 members, $15 advanced, $20 at door. Limited capacity. (626) 449-2742, pacificasiamuseum.org
(File photos from "China Modern: Designing Popular Culture")
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Pet-crazy is one way to describe our team as we planned for the cover of the latest issue of Rose Magazine.
The little guy you see in the video is Oscar, a Yorkshire Maltese, and he's showing off his stuff with owner, Sofia Gonzalez.
Oscar is very tiny, which means he was a perfect fit for our crowded and hectic photo studio. Oscar was also kind enough to let us surround him with girly, pink, glittering pet accessories, even though he is decidedly a boy pup.
The bag you see featured on the cover is an original dog carrier designed and sold by The Shabby Dog, a local company based out of an adorable bungalow in Sierra Madre. All the accessories and dog carriers in the video are Shabby Dog products, and we were lucky to work with stylist Ronnie Grinie.
Sofia's wardrobe includes a pink ruffled shoulder dress by Milly and a pin dot-textured spaghetti-strap dress by Rebecca Taylor.
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Interview by Claudia S. Palma
ROSE: What inspired you to be a chef?
Guiltinan: I watched cooking shows growing up. I started cooking at home, then I started working at a restaurant at 16 or 17 years old. I've worked from bartender to pizza delivery to management. I spent a year and a haIf as a prep cook and that was really good. It shaped who I am as a cook. I'm able to teach the new cooks coming out of school. I don't do good following people, I gotta be at the top of the line. I worked at big corporation restaurants and they're good for learning but not good for creativity. It's very stressful and not rewarding. If you don't get to reward yourself with the creativity side, you might as well sit in an office.
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In an alleyway just off Colorado Boulevard, it's not unusual to see people trailing their dogs on leashes as they zip in and out of this shop for canine baked goods.
In an alleyway just off Colorado Boulevard, it's not unusual to see people trailing their dogs on leashes as they zip in and out of this shop for canine baked goods.When it comes to all-natural, oven-baked treats and fresh food for dogs, the international chain Three Dog Bakery is the bona fide (bone-ified?) deal, with a strong SoCal presence even beyond its Pasadena storefront. For your four-legged friend's next special event, consider a fresh-made and customized doggie birthday cake.
More photos after the jump:
Continue reading Give a dog a bone birthday cake from Three Dog Bakery in Pasadena.
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In our August-September issue, we list just some of the nonprofit organizations based in Pasadena and the surrounding areas. While we have more than 100 groups in our nonprofits list, that's only a fraction of the charitable organizations that make life in this city better for all.
The editors of Rose Magazine couldn't hope to tally them all, but we did narrow the list down to some of the most significant, need-to-know groups that should be on your radar. Click into the interactive edition of the magazine above to read about them.
Also, what nonprofits would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments.
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My Pet Garden does extremely well in balancing the practical with the whimsical.
My Pet Garden does extremely well in balancing the practical with the whimsical.Here, you'll find safe, reliable essentials for your pet's diet and grooming alongside the more indulgent stuff: rewarding toys and pet fashions -- argyle-print tanks! -- and even Bowser dog beer.
The pet shop in East Pasadena was created by animal expert Joel Tatum, a former zookeeper and producer of the DIY Network's Pet Care television series.
Continue reading This East Pasadena pet boutique is more than garden-variety.
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Over the hill in the nearby San Fernando Valley, Doggie Avenue pet boutique specializes in pampered princess -- or princely -- pups.
Over the hill in the nearby San Fernando Valley, Doggie Avenue pet boutique specializes in pampered princess -- or princely -- pups.Inside the store, boldly hued walls and bright displays of merchandise make this one of the area's most visually enticing pet boutiques.
Continue reading Walk it down to Burbank's Doggie Avenue pet shop.
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The Shabby Dog is a Sierra Madre-based line of fashionable dog products that, betraying its charming name, is far more chic than shabby.
In addition to carrying some serious handcrafted sparkle from B.B. Simon, entrepreneur Sandy Duvall and her team of in-house designers have created a luxurious collection of dog apparel, collars, leads, beds, blankets, bowls, bags and carriers.
Continue reading Sierra Madre's The Shabby Dog pet boutique is decidedly chic.
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At the counter, Janene Zakrajsek is preparing a platter of lamb with pureed pumpkin, to which she adds dehydrated chicken and baked cheese, followed by a few dollops of "secret sauce."
For the second course, she whips up a presentation of salmon with egg, brown rice and kale.
When the dishes are ready, Zakrajsek delivers one plate at a time to her eager, in-house diner.
It could be the scene in any downtown restaurant -- except this one is just a bit more eye-catching because Zakrajsek's customer is eating his meal on the ground, four paws planted on terra firma.
The hungry guest is her dog Jaxxson, a 3-year-old Jack Russell, who is lucky enough to belong to the co-founders of the modern pet boutique Pussy & Pooch.
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If you haven't had a chance to pick up a copy of the most recent issue of the magazine, here she is! Or rather, here he is, because our tiny cover star is a boy pup named Oscar. I know you can't resist him.
Exercise your prerogative to shop local and support homegrown fashion designers, too, at The Jane & Joe Shoppe.
And these designer clothes come at astonishing, near-knock-off prices -- a point of pride for owner Robin Guzman, who works hard to make it so.
The dominant themes in her shoppe are wearable and polished; comfort and style reign supreme. The elegant, woodsy motif of the boutique also makes for one very serene, down-to-earth shopping experience.
More photos after the jump:
Continue reading Shop the block: The Jane & Joe Shoppe, 1030 Mission St., South Pasadena.
Zinnia calls itself a Space for Contagious Creativity. Indeed, the spacious artists' store is an explosion of color, with peculiar discoveries just waiting to be made.
Take classes in an array of obscure subjects, like crafting sock creatures, assembling paper dolls, painting in the Tibetan mandala style and soldering charms.
Don't expect to find an exhaustive array of traditional art supplies in this boutique; It's not intended to be a stock-all warehouse, but a place overflowing with one-of-a-kind baubles and curios that have been assembled from thrift stores and flea markets and yard sales. To be precise, expect the unexpected.
More photos after the jump:
Continue reading Shop the block: Zinnia, 1024 Mission St., South Pasadena.
From the casual to the glamorous, Boutique Jasleen continually carries a well-curated collection of seasonal and classic fashions.
Even the store's mannequins sport ensembles that you'd actually love to don. Bold patterns and old-fashioned hats make for a striking, modernist blend of style, and extraordinary accessory pieces cinch the deal.
It's a little bit of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with a whole lot of Carrie-style "Sex in the City."
Also look for carry-all purses that come just the way we like them: big enough to double as an overnight bag.
More photos after the jump:
Continue reading Shop the block: Boutique Jasleen, 1020-A Mission St., South Pasadena.
Bellini's domain encompasses all types of furniture for babies and children, and the boutique on Mission Street is filled with exquisite cribs in decorated display vignettes.
Here you'll find the perfect gift for a baby shower or for your own little one, from elegant armoires for storing away diapers and wipes to stylish, pint-size hair accessories by Sweet Caroline.
A portable playhouse for the whole family, the Makai Sport Hut is a lightweight, collapsible tent that pops open right where you need shade. The hut fits a family of four and comes in bold, cheerful colors.
Bellini is a chain retailer, but the South Pasadena store is populated with friendly locals who'll remind you how welcoming it can be to shop in a charming town.
More photos after the jump.
Rose Magazine's August-September issue hits the streets on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Pick up a copy of the Pasadena Star-News that day and look for the nonprofits and pets issue inside.Highlights include:
• 117 nonprofits that enrichPasadena
• The best pampered-pet
boutiques
• Training tips from the 'Dog
Whisperer'
• Q&A with chef Tim Guiltinan
of The Raymond Restaurant
• All our regular departments
and best-bet event listings
The magazine is inserted in all rack copies of the newspaper, and Star-News subscribers will also receive the magazine automatically with their delivery.
Never miss an issue of Rose Magazine by subscribing to the newspaper here. (Make sure you select a seven-day home delivery option.)
The Planetary Society will host an open house Thursday at its new headquarters on South Grand Avenue.
Free public tours will be given from 4 to 7 p.m., and visitors will also be able to meet Bill Nye, the society's new executive director, and his predecessor Lou Friedman, who helped found the organization 25 years ago.
"... There are two questions that trouble us all from the moment we can think: Where did we come from, and are we alone?" Nye says. "It is the answers to these two questions that is the pursuit of the Planetary Society."
Learn more about the society's most ambitious program yet, LightSail-1. Friedman is directing the solar-sail mission, which will use sunlight to propel a small spacecraft -- one smaller than a shoebox -- in Earth's orbit. The second and third LightSail missions will reach even farther into space.
"The thing that inspires kids about space exploration -- we want to make that inspire the public," Friedman says.
Tomorrow, Aug. 5, 4-7 p.m., The Planetary Society, 85 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena, (626) 793-5100, planetary.org
(Photos by Walt Mancini / Staff)
Even though our staff was sweating under the pressure of deadline as we put together the August-September issue of Rose Magazine, I simply couldn't miss out on the LA Street Food Fest on July 24 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
File this Pictured entry under "Better Late Than Never," as our photographer Sarah Reingewirtz captured these fabulous images, and I'm just now getting around to posting them here. Scroll on through, and let me know what vendor dishes were your favorites.
Continue reading Pictured: The LA Street Food Fest at Pasadena's Rose Bowl.
To find a local constituency fluent in the language of rosé wines, one need look no further than a gathering of French food professionals.
And Club Culinaire, which earlier this summer put on its Picnic des Chefs to raise money for the Concern Foundation and the Hope Program at Childrens Hospital, is just such a flock.
At the fundraising soiree in Elysian Park, I met up with Lauren Sanne and Ricardo Chapa, project managers with the D.C.-based American World Services Corporation, a firm that helps international businesses -- in this case, a council of Provence wineries -- break into and navigate the U.S. imports market.
Continue reading Nose Diving: French rosé winemakers seeking foothold in U.S. market.
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