Looking for Something to Do?

Tuesday, Dec. 14, from 8 to 10 a.m. –- If you own a small business, are a business manager or are on a local sales team, plan on attending “E-marketing Unplugged,” a workshop sponsored by the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce in the Press Box (second floor) of the Rose Bowl Stadium. Enter through Gate F.


Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. –- Flights of Fantasy Story Theatre will entertain children with stories about Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and the wonder of the solstice in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library.


Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. –- Children will make winter crafts at Hastings Branch Library.


Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 10:30 a.m. -– Preschoolers will have a happy holiday storytime at San Rafael Branch Library.


Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library is “A Christmas Carol” starring George C. Scott as Scrooge. (626) 744-4066.


Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. -- Why should you care about California's new green building code and Pasadena's amendments to it? Learn more at a meeting at the Permit Center (enter through the Ramona Street door).


Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. -– What’s the future of Lincoln Avenue? There have been a number of focus groups and other meetings about the draft Lincoln Avenue Specific Plan. Learn more and review a draft of the plan at the Northwest Education Center.


Thursday, Dec. 16, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. -– The Neighborhood Connections Office will host a holiday open house where you’ll enjoy refreshments and meet neighborhood leaders and city officials at 1384 E. Walnut St. (626) 744-7290.


Thursday, Dec. 16, at 3:30 p.m. –- Make ornaments, listen to stories, enjoy special treats and help decorate the Christmas tree at Lamanda Park Branch Library, 140 S. Altadena Dr. (626) 744-7266.


Saturday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m. -– Children will enjoy holiday fun and hear stories about Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa in the Story Room at Pasadena Central Library.


Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. -– The Festival of Giving at Victory Park, 2575 Paloma St., will include photos with Santa, arts and crafts, a gift-wrapping fundraiser and a bake sale. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped gift for the Spark of Love Toy Drive and non-perishable food items and gently used outerwear for Union Station Homeless Services. Please note that items for donation may be dropped off at Victory Park through Dec. 23. (626) 744-7507.


Please note all events are free and open to the public. See more community events here.

O Christmas Tree

Last night the colorful lights on the City Hall Christmas tree were turned on during a special holidy celebration.

The tree was put in place and decorated on Monday by the Public Works Department.


Yours truly served as MC last night.


The Pasadena City College Brass Quintet performed music of the season...


...much to the delight of residents and employees.


Mayor Bill Bogaard flipped the switch that turned on thousands of energy-saving LED lights donated by Pasadena Water and Power.


Many people brought toys and sports equipment to donate to the Spark of Love Toy Drive co-sponsored by the Pasadena Fire Department.


Pasadena firefighters loaded the gifts into a Pasadena Fire Department ambulance, which later transported the presents to a local fire station for wrapping and then distribution to needy infants, children and teens.


Thanks for coming, everybody!



Many thanks to the mighty Zack Stromberg of the Public Affairs Office for the photos.

Mystery History -- Solved!

I stumped everyone this week.

In the photo above, an unidentified man stands on the beginnings of the foundation of Pasadena City Hall. Construction began in 1926 and the building opened for business in 1927.

The original photo is in the Holtzman album of City Hall construction photos in the Centennial Room at Pasadena Central Library.

Here's a photo of Wilfred Holtzman and his wife Ina. Holtzman was the contractor who oversaw the construction of Pasadena City Hall.


I've posted photos of City Hall under construction in the past.

I think it's time for a reminder that the first dedicated Pasadena City Hall was at the northeast corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Union Street. It was built in 1903 and served its purpose until 1927:


The building was demolished decades ago. That corner is now the site of the Container Store. I like to think it was designed with a nod to that early City Hall, but I don't know.


Where was city business conducted before 1903? Find out here.


Many thanks to Pasadena Public Library. The photo of the Container Store was shot by the mighty Zack Stromberg of the Public Affairs Office.

Mystery History

Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

Happy Itsenäisyyspäivä

Itsenäisyyspäivä translates to Independence Day in Finnish.

These are photos I shot at the estate of the late Finnish composer Jean Sibelius when I accompanied Mayor Bill Bogaard and his field representative, Judy Kent, to Järvenpää, Finland, in summer 2008 for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of our sister city relationship.


Finland was gobbled up by Russian Czar Alexander I in 1809 and declared its independence from Czar Nicholas II on Dec. 6, 1917.

Sibelius composed the iconic "Finlandia" for a pageant in 1899; Czar Nicholas II banned it because it became so identified with Finnish national aspirations.

There's a statue of Czar Alexander II in Helsinki. He's considered the "good czar" by Finns because when he came into power in 1855 he agreed to let them maintain their Lutheran faith and the laws of their land.


Here are Judy Kent, Mayor Bogaard and I at the Helsinki statue, posing for a "Star-News on Vacation" shot:


I want to give a special shout-out to Leena Ritala-Skoutaris, a special friend in Finland:


Happy Itsenäisyyspäiväm, Leena!


The photo of Leena was shot by Judy Kent.

Looking for Something to Do?

Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m. – Children will expand their imaginations and express their creativity as Theatre 360 presents “Winter Wonderland” in the Children’s Storyroom at Pasadena Central Library.


Saturday, Dec. 4, from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. – Expected attendance at the Rose Bowl Stadium for the UCLA/USC Big Game is expected to exceed 70,000, so be prepared for traffic if you live in surrounding neighborhoods or plan on being on that side of town! Parking operations will begin at 7 a.m., and kick-off is at 7:30 p.m. Please note that recreation around the stadium will not be allowed that day. If you are a neighbor, be sure to carry your resident’s pass in your vehicle that day so you can have access into and out of your street! No guest passes will be honored. Purchase game tickets here.


Sunday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. – The Chanukah celebration at Pasadena City Hall includes menorah-lighting, traditional foods, music and more.


Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. – Get your blood pressure checked and diabetes risk assessed at Santa Catalina Branch Library, sponsored by Huntington Hospital Community Outreach.


Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 1 p.m. – This week’s film in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library is “Miracle on 34th Street” (1994, PG) starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott and Mara Wilson in the story of a young girl who discovers that dreams can come true if you simply believe.


Thursday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – The Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in the grand entrance of Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., will include plenty of holiday cheer. Entertainment will be provided by the Pasadena City College Brass Quintet, refreshments will be served, and Mayor Bill Bogaard will flip the switch that lights the 22-foot Washington Noble Fir.


Thursday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. – Planning for future public art in Pasadena is the topic of a community meeting at Armory Center for the Arts.


Friday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. – Sing carols, enjoy refreshments and help light the Christmas tree at La Pintoresca Branch Library.


Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. – Planning for future public art in Pasadena is the topic of a community meeting at Robinson Park Center.


Saturday, Dec. 11, at 4:30 p.m. – Celebrate the holidays with songs, refreshments and a Christmas tree-lighting at Allendale Branch Library.


All events above are free unless otherwise noted.

Mystery History -- Solved!

Liz wins with her 2:56 p.m. Tuesday guess "on the east side of the San Rafael ave bridge...casting balustrades"

In the photo above, an unidentified worker stands with cast iron baluster molds in 1922 near the San Rafael Bridge in Pasadena, which was under construction.

The original photo is on page 16 of the San Rafael Bridge photo scrapbook in the Centennial Room at Pasadena Central Library.

Here's an early construction photo:



And the bridge today:



If you've never been on the San Rafael Bridge, it's the southernmost bridge over the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena. You can access it from South Arroyo Boulevard and from South San Rafael Avenue.

San Rafael Bridge is one of the contributing resources of the Arroyo Seco Parks and Recreation Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Others among the 14 contributing resources include Brookside Golf Club, Rose Bowl Stadium, Brookside Park, Holly Street Bridge, Colorado Street Bridge, Mayberry/Parker Bridge, La Casita del Arroyo, Lower Arroyo Seco Park and the Bird Sanctuary.