San Gabriel Mountains - January 30 Snow Edition

When I got to Victory Park this morning, it was cold and overcast.  My phone said 45 degrees.  I looked to the mountains for snow.  I saw only clouds.  

But, I knew there were snowy mountain tops behind the clouds.  So, I waited.  

I stood in the middle of the park, with my mountain view framed by light poles and trees.  As the morning wore on, more and more people came to the park. Some walked dogs, One lady pushed a dog in a pink stroller.  A few parents showed up with small kids.  I saw an occasional PHS student. City workers tended the park grass.  

No one was looking toward the mountains. I waited.

The clouds didn't exactly lift and I wouldn't say the sun shown through.  Instead, the clouds just became less dense and the snowy mountain top appeared.  No alarm went off. Not really any drama or great reveal. But, beautiful nonetheless. 

And people noticed where they were. Dog walkers glanced north to the mountains.  A lady walking on the path took her phone out for a picture.  I did the same.  

Then, I heard honking.  Not the honking of a car, but that of birds.  Geese to be exact.  The birds flew right in front of me.  I tried to get a picture of the birds flying with the snowy mountain backdrop.   

Well, not exactly the picture I had in my mind.  But, I did get snow and birds in the same shot.  

Reflections on Eaton Canyon Reservoir

With the recent rains, Eaton Canyon Reservoir has a good amount of water.   This is the view looking north from the medical buildings on Washington Blvd., across the street from St. Lukes.  The San Gabriel Mountains are reflected in the reservoir water.  Just a beautiful view.  

This is the evening sunset view over the reservoir from New York Drive looking west to St. Lukes and the palms lining Washington Blvd.  Very nice view actually.  Can't do much about the Edison power lines but try to ignore them. 

 

Wild Parrot Brewing -- 5 Star Review

Last night we had dinner (plus a flight of beer and glass of wine) at Wild Parrot Brewing Company, which is a fantastic addition to East Pasadena.  They share space with Rosebud Coffee at the corner of East Colorado Blvd. and Roosevelt, just a few doors down from Fedde Furniture. 

This is primarily a brewery and tap room with ample tables to hang out and enjoy some excellent beer.  They had a fine selection of home-brewed beers and ciders on tap.  I tried a flight of different beers (served in four-ounce glasses placed in a cupcake tin) and was happy with all the selections. But, I definitely favored the West Coast IPA.  

Food is not the main attraction here, but their offerings were quite good. We enjoyed a spicy grilled carnitas sandwich and nachos topped with carnitas.  Looks like they have special BBQ and hamburger days too. 

Anyone living in East Pasadena will get the Wild Parrot name.  The green birds are familiar local sights and the sound of their shrieks unforgettable. How the birds got established here is a distinctively East Pasadena story that is told (with some artistic license) in humorous posters on the walls of the Wild Parrot Brewing Company.  

Now, about a decade ago, right here in this blog, I told the story of our local wild parrots. As the art depicts, the parrots' story is connected with the rise and fall of the old Simpsons Garden Town that was also located on East Colorado Blvd.  In what remains one of this blog's all time most visited posts, I told the story of a scrappy entrepreneur named Hal Simpson, his nursery and bird farm, and the fire that both destroyed his business and liberated the forebears of our local parrots.   

This bird looks like he could use a cold IPA on tap at, where else, Wild Parrot Brewing Company.  Great new spot.  We will be back.

2023 Rose Parade -- from East Pasadena

Our New Years was brought in with a healthy dose of the Sierra Madre.  We weathered a rainstorm at RT Rogers Brewing Co.  where I enjoyed their red IPA.  The next evening, we were back in downtown Sierra Madre to see the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association send off its 2023 rose parade float.  Then, of course, it is never too cold or rainy for a stop at Mother Moo.

The next morning, from our house in East Pasadena, we go over to Sierra Madre Villa Avenue then west on Orange Grove to Sierra Madre Blvd.  We have walked to the parade, but these days prefer to get a ride.  The parade comes right up Sierra Madre Blvd. which has a grassy center median which makes for great parade viewing.  

Over the years, we've seen the parade from many vantage points -- choice seats in the grandstand at Orange Grove/Colorado (with hot chocolate and donuts available under the stands), Lake/Colorado, at my office at Wilson/Colorado and in more recent years, on Sierra Madre Blvd.  All are good. But I have to say I prefer our local Sierra Madre Blvd. spot the best. The view is excellent, and you don't have to get up early.  You can roll on over to the parade around 9 am and still get a good spot.  

Another thing I like about the parade and the football game are the flyovers.  At least in East Pasadena, and I assume elsewhere in town, you can hear and see these flyovers from your home.  This year, two B-1 bombers flew over the parade start and then did another flyover at the start of the rose bowl football game.