Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Altadena Urban Farmers' Market

Altadena Urban Farmers' Market just keeps getting better and better.  It is not your usual farmers' market or street fair.   In fact, it's not your usual anything.

Sunday's market was the best yet.   About 30 local vendors came -- all offering homemade local food and goods.  Then there were the goats (including two babies), chickens and historic venue.  On top of that, there was the Farmers' Market University offering lessons in making cheese, bread and home cleaners.  And there were a lot of people.   

I thought my photo of the crowd was pretty good -- that is until I saw Petrea's artistry at Pasadena Daily Photo.  Of course, she found a mother and daughter strolling under an archway.   It was good to see her and John at the market.  Actually, I saw a lot of folks I knew.   The market is is taking on a bit of a Main Street flavor where you encounter not only local produce and goods, but bump into friends as well. 

We were there with Marcia's homegrown enterprise,  HomeBody Botanicals - offering herbal body products she makes with local and organic ingredients.    She was non-stop busy for all of the three-hour market and is seeing repeat customers, which is gratifying.

This little market that started just last October has quickly become a hit.  As you walk the market, you get the sense that there is a pent-up desire for this kind of thing.  Yes, folks are discovering something new.  But maybe it is more. Maybe they're finding something that was long ago misplaced.    

The market is certainly part of the trend toward localism.   Altadena shop owner Lori Webster talked about this recently in her excellent blog.  She's on the front lines of retailing and observes that the trend toward localism is "huge and growing."   May the trend continue.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day 2011

 Victory Park was dedicated in 1952 as a memorial to those who fell in World War II.   As I've done since 2008, I post a photo of the V shaped rose garden at the corner of Altadena and Paloma, and the flagpole with flag at half-mast.   This year I wanted the photo to include more of the park and mountains so you have to enlarge the photo or look closely at the lower right to see the rose garden.

The base of the flagpole has a plaque provided by the Gold Star Mothers inscribed "In remembrance of those who made the supreme sacrifice during World War II."

Today is a day to honor those brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.   It is a day to remember.

I commend to you excellent Memorial Day posts at Sierra Madre Tattler, Pasadena Latina, Glimpses of South Pasadena,  and the sky is big in Pasadena.  As always, it is a good day to visit The Wall.

Also, in one of her best mystery histories, Pasadena PIO has posted the story of how the city's efforts to build a war memorial led to the founding of Victory Park.  There are some great park photos there going back to 1952.