Frank Girardot is the Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley News. Frank also writes the Crime Scene Blog. He made a flippant analogy of the flailing economy and a cigarette butt tossed over a wall in an oped piece a few days ago. Readers ripped him a new one on his blog post “Tossing butts in the gutter.” as well as letters to the editor.
Late yesterday he did a video tour of the other side of the wall in a post “Checking butts in the gutter.” Picked up a butt that could have been his. He also found a lot of business cards for a “relaxation specialist” which we all know would have had better luck advertising her “tension release” services on Craig’s List. Not quite an apology but an interesting audit of a gutter.
The pic is a screen shot but does link to the video itself. Enjoy, it made me chuckle over my morning coffee.
The Route 66 Parade and car show was Duarte’s big deal event. The car show and park were a bust, barely two dozen cars and tent upon tent of bargain basement “crap show” merchandise stuffed into the park. Sorry metblog readers, it hasn’t been like that the last few years and had I known the changes I would not have put this up as an event worth seeing. I’m not a fan of the changes and won’t be going back.
However, the day was not a total loss as the Obi Wan art car was interesting. Outside of CA most states won’t let you get away with gluing on tons of stuff onto your car and making it into an “art car”. Something to do with not having an annual safety inspection is the likely culprit why people get to run amok with their art car projects. This one drew a crowd. My favorite was the Red Hat Lady and her interactions with the various star wars characters who ventured out from under their blue tent.
This well used example was spotted on Cotter Avenue in Duarte, just off old Route 66. The 1958 T-bird when introduced was considered pure heresy. It was was called the “square bird” as the enlarged passenger cabin now held 4 passengers. Though no longer competition to Chevy’s Corvette it launched an entirely new category of American Cars. The Personal Luxury Car. Ford owned that market until Buick launched its Riviera in 1963.
Ford’s gamble paid off. The new T-bird sales took off during one of that decades worst years for auto sales. The T-bird doubled its previous years sales. It was one of 2 cars to actually post a sales increase. By the time that body style run ended in 1960 it outsold the original T-bird 3:1!
Now if I can find a 1966 which is my favorite generation we’d be in business and my Centurion would be on the sale docket.
Joe’s Place was an accidental find yesterday. I had taken a used car in to my mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection and had a few minutes to kill. I wasn’t in the mood for Mexican nor BK which were both next door. They suggested I try Joe’s Place which is tucked off to the side in a strip center on Huntington Drive. Rosemary said it was like “Subway only gourmet”. One of my rules of life is always take the advice of a local and I headed over there.
Gourmet is a bit of a stretch and certainly not something you associate with Duarte. However, what you do get is a terrific custom sandwich built from scratch to your specs at a really reasonable price. They also have a great selection of made from scratch daily desserts available just in case you have room after the sandwich is consumed. You are greeted when you walk in and their service matches the enthusiasm of the (more…)
Chrome, chrome and more chrome is the theme of the pre-1974 cars that will be on on parade Saturday 9/20 in Duarte at 9AM. The parade route will be on Huntington Drive between Cotter and Mount Olive Drive. that is part of old Route 66. All the details you need can be found on the Duarte Route 66 Parade & Classic Car site.
After the parade the cars will be on display on Royal Oaks Park located at 2627 Royal Oaks Drive and Los Lomas Road in Duarte.
There will be a couple of other activities going on. One is the crafts show taking place in part of the park. New this year is the Marching Band competition with awards for the local schools that participate. There will be ample food tents. Parking in that area can be difficult and my suggestion is to move to the east of the park on Royal Oaks and park on a side street.
Pic by me of an mid-1960’s Vintage Amphicar taken at the show in 2006. The Amphicar was a little Italian job that you could actually drive into a calm lake or river and use it as a boat!
Free Mass Transit and Art Collide in Glendale This weekend.
I found out from a few artist friends of mine that this weekend is going to be a good one for Art in Glendale. Glendale Parks and Recreation with the Glendale Art and Culture Commission joined forces with several Galleries and they will have a giant Open Studio Tour of local art and artists.
Saturday 9/13/08 from 3-5PM is the opening Artists Reception at the Brand Library. It is Free. The exhibit at the Brand will include one piece from all of the participating artists showing in the city wide Open Studio Tour. That exhibit will run 9/9-9/19.
Sunday 9/14 Is the city wide Open Studio Tour runs from Noon to 6PM. The added bonus is if you prefer to use public transit you can use Metrolink to get you to the Glendale Transportation Center. From there you can catch either Metro or City buses to get you to the Brand Library or Downtown Glendale. Once at the Brand or the Alex Theatre in the heart of Glendale’s old downtown you can catch FREE Beeline buses set up to take you to a variety of designated stops on the Open Studio Tour routes. Of course you can use your own car if you don’t mind some traffic and set up your own route.
The SGV does exist folks. Its been busy with new agendas since it failed at shanghaiing transit dollars from the rest of LA for the Gold Line. Still in squirting matches with local govt and each other. Always an interesting read. A few highlights:
Monrovia City Watch writes City Clerk for policy on who is media (some are banned) and gets response back from City Manager, get it from the web or public information requests. (Popular blog discussion is that MPD officers have been threatened with disciplinary action if they talk with media members like him, RCJP and me).
That list should keep you busy and away from important stuff like work. Enjoy. I’m going back under my rock until I get all my show prep work done or the elections are over.
At first this little beast caught my attention simply because of the BMW badge over the trusty Mac Apple on its bloated little butt. What sort was beast was this? When I went to the front I remembered. Its a Suzuki X90, about as rare a car from the 1990’s you will find. Under 8,000 were imported and sold here from 1996 until 1999 when Suzuki pulled the plug and quit importing it.
It is back to school time. It is time to be aware of speed in particular areas around the schools and the major intersections leading to them. Every year a child or crossing guard are lost when a driver not used to the pedestrian traffic doesn’t realize pedestrian traffic is up and forgets to reduce their speed around schools.
Pasadena PIO puts out the notice that Monday 9/8 from 7AM to 3Pm to watch your speed. You can read her own post “Do You Feel The Need For Speed” for all of the details.
Neighboring Arcadia PD is concerned with safety and the Police Officers Association has some good information to keep in mind now that the schools are all back in session.
Tom over at the Arcadia Police Officers Blog has a couple of other bits to help remind you about safety around our schools in his posts “School Bus Red Lights” and “School is Back in Session“.
Be safe, keep our kids safe and avoid an EXPENSIVE ticket by just being aware and not in a hurry.
Nearly 50 artists focused on the fine arts and photography will be showing their work on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia. The Art walks are a joint venture with the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts and Monrovia Old Town Merchants Association. The artists will be on Myrtle Avenue in the heart of Old Town between Colorado and Lemon Avenues.
The Art Gallery’s and Schools in Monrovia will also be holding special events in conjunction with the Art Walk. Each of the schools and galleries have different specialties and exhibits. Make sure you visit each.
Paint n Play Art Studio and Gallery, 415 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia 91016
Segil Fine Art, 110 W Lime Avenue,Monrovia 91016
California Wine and Cheese, 115 West Foothill Blvd, Monrovia 91016
The Aztec Art Studio and Gallery, 311 West Foothill Blvd, Monrovia 91016
Monrovia Coffee Company, 425 S. Myrtle Ave, Monrovia 91016
Even the city is getting into the act and partnering with the Old Town Merchants to add to the fun. They are doing an open air viewing of the Princess Bride at 8:30 on Colorado Avenue just east of Myrtle. Pack up the kidlets, bring your chairs, munchies and soft drinks and enjoy that while you are in town.
As always many of the local merchants will have fun stuff going on. Many of the restaurants have outdoor dining available which should be nice as it looks like it may be a cool evening.
Get yourself onto the 210 Freeway. Exit Myrtle Avenue and head north into Old Town Monrovia. There is ample parking. (more…)
Nearly 50 artists focused on the fine arts and photography will be showing their work on Myrtle Avenue in 
