Time Center Watch Repair Gets New Signage

I have actually gotten my battery for one of my watches replaced here at Time Center, so I can say I was pretty satisfied with the simple, yet obligatory service I received. However, the service I received by the shop owner (who said he has been doing business here in Old Pasadena for many years, so he’s gotta be good right?) was before the shop relocated as a result of Gold Bug expanding. After relocating, the watch repair shop got a new sign, which if I remember correctly, was non-existent before the relocation. If you’re looking for a place to repair your watch, you might want to consider this place.

Time Center Watch Repair gets a new sign

“Quadruple Brasserie” Closer to Opening

The application for a type 41 alcohol license is now in process and the sign is posted conspicuously on the storefront. Quadruple Brasserie is expected to open within the next several months.

Quadruple Brasserie is slated to open on Union St. within the next several months

Ideas for Pasadena – Incorporating New with the Old

I found this picture of a conceptual bus stop geared for some historic city in Italy (aren’t they all pretty historic?). Anyway, I found this concept very interesting only because I find that some people in Pasadena automatically think that “new is bad” and that somehow it can’t be incorporated into historic areas. This view toward new design is currently holding the City of Pasadena back from approving the All Saints Church expansion designed by Richard Meier. Apparently, their thought is that new designs somehow “destroy history” (being incongruent) when I believe it should be viewed as an organic growth of a city through time. History in the making, so-to-speak. Visit any European city, from London to Paris to Vienna to Madrid and you see the organic blend of new and old. The catch here, of course, is: Is it a high-quality design?

This conceptual bus stop in Italy illustrates a point: More new, high-quality and cutting edge designs should be a part of Pasadena's future built environment

The Dalton Auction Sells Out

It was a huge success for The Dalton–located across the street from the Gold Line Del Mar Station–as bidders attended a special auction last, last weekend. With “standing room only,” an estimated 1,000 bidders packed into a large Pasadena Hilton ballroom. In less than 2 hours, all 34 units were auctioned off. Apparently, the most expensive penthouse unit went for $600,000 (originally listed at $779,000). Out of a total of 55 units in the building, this means that about 2/3 of the units are now absorbed off the market. This bodes well for “The Renaissance” project under construction across the street from both The Dalton and Cinema Lofts.

Here are some pictures of different units from The Dalton:

The Dalton is located at the corner of Arroyo Parkway and Cordova, directly across the street from the Metro Gold Line station

This shows an upstairs "loft section" of a unit with expansive windows all around

Another perspective of the expansive windows from an upper loft section

Corner unit offers incredible views of the mountains as well as the Old Pasadena skyline

A living room inside a 2-bedroom unit

An example of a kitchen inside a 2-bedroom unit

Some units offer very high ceilings and expansive windows

Many of the bathrooms have dual sinks

This PH unit has a very large private terrace connected to a bedroom upstairs

The private terrace even comes with an outdoor fireplace

The common area includes outdoor seating and a barbeque grill

City of Pasadena’s New Website

No one can deny that an online presence today is one of the most important things to market anything, whether it be super glue to the latest restaurant or bar to a city’s website. And it is not enough to have just “any website,” but to have a site designed well with visual appeal is just as important to set the right kind of image that you want to portray to your target audience. This is why I am very glad and excited to see Pasadena’s city website get a major face lift. According to the website, the new look should be launched by this Thursday morning! Here is a screen capture of a peek at what you’ll be seeing in a few days.

A sneak peek at the new cityofpasadena.net set to launch on Thursday

Pasadena Weekly – Forgotten Treasure

What an appropriate title from the Pasadena Weekly for those who are architecture and history buffs. One of the most renowned American female architects, Julia Morgan, actually designed the former YWCA in 1910 in the Civic Center now sitting empty, boarded up, and as a “forgotten treasure” just begging to be redeveloped and brought back to life. The article mentions ideas for redevelopment such as being converted to a boutique hotel or becoming office space for the Pasadena Dept. of Water and Power. Either way, I am eager to see this beautiful building brought back to life and adding to the beautiful work that has been done on City Hall, and ultimately contributing to a grander and more coherent Civic Center.

An excerpt from “Forgotten Treasure” from the Pasadena Weekly:

“The years have not been kind to architect Julia Morgan’s once stately Pasadena YWCA building, a symbol of civic pride that now stands in the shadow of City Hall as little more than a monument to neglect.

Weeds grow tall near the rusty metal sign that had marked its entrance along South Marengo Avenue. Windows are broken or boarded up. Litter is strewn where flowers once grew. An outdoor play set rusts in its fenced-off courtyard, where shopping carts, bottles and other debris mark the hidden encampments of people who are as forgotten as the building, but find their way inside through a missing basement window. An architectural treasure is left to rot.”

To read the full article, please click here.

Julia Morgan's YWCA built in 1910 is now boarded up but will one day be rehabbed

Julia Morgan's YWCA in Pasadena is one of only three of her buildings in all of LA

Julia Morgan's YWCA's future rehab into either a boutique hotel or office space for the PWP will help contribute to a revitalized Civic Center

Trader Joe’s & Pasadena

To those who know already, this obviously isn’t news to you, but I still catch a lot of people off guard when I tell them the very first Trader Joe’s started right here in Pasadena. It’s a bragging right only because the grocery chain happens to be one of the most popular known to man. Yup, there’s a modest looking sign hung on a palm tree in front of the store.

“Est. Aug. 26, 1967″

The hugely popular Trader Joe's first store is still in operation on Arroyo Pkwy in Pasadena

Wine Detective Lounge Coming to South Lake Avenue

A substantial cluster of “culinary activity” is taking place at The Commons on South Lake. A new wine bar/lounge called Wine Detective will be opening towards the back of the English-styled complex (across from the soon-to-open, possibly next month, Counter Burgers). This is in addition to Crocodile Cafe (just around the corner) reinventing itself as Cafe 140.

Wine Detective - "Wine Tasting Bar Conversation Lounge" coming to The Commons on South Lake Avenue

Wine Detective is opening across from Green Street Cafe and the new Counter Burgers

Upkeep Around Town

It looks like T-Mobile decided to stick around longer and extended their lease agreement. I’m assuming part of their decision to stay may have hinged on the owner making the building “stand out” a little more because the building facade has been painted a fresh new scheme of beige and other southwestern colors in the architectural details. And T-Mobile, which has been in business for awhile now in Old Pasadena, has put up a “Grand Opening” sign in an obvious attempt to attract attention.

New color scheme for T-Mobile building in Old Pasadena

Southwestern colors make this building visually pop out

Ideas for Pasadena – Connect Norton Simon to Old Pasadena for Pedestrians

Wouldn’t it be nice if one of the best private museums in the country, the Norton Simon Museum, was connected to and part of the “Pasadena experience” as a pedestrian and not just a driver? For the many visitors that come to Pasadena, instead of just shopping and dining, wouldn’t it be nice for them to walk to an amazing museum such as the Norton Simon?

Well, I think it would be a smart thing for Pasadena to do to seriously consider that idea. To continue elevating its stature in the area as a walkable city with a wide variety of activities and things to see and do as a pedestrian. I’ve been throwing this idea around for quite awhile now on how to connect Norton Simon Museum into Old Pasadena. I’ve called Caltrans, brought up the idea at an Old Pasadena BID meeting, and talked with numerous city officials at Pasadena City Hall.

What could you do to enhance the horrible overpass that spans the 710 freeway?

Well I think I have an idea that wouldn’t be too costly, and it could be the start of a larger effort down the line to do more with the overpass (such as adding nicer street lamps – Glendale’s Brand Blvd. 134 overpass comes to mind). The idea on how to enhance the Pasadena overpass comes somewhat of a pleasant surprise from our neighbor to the south – Alhambra.

Relatively recently, Alhambra installed numerous large and colorful planters to soften the hostile concrete overpasses that span over the freight train trench that parallels Mission Rd. Although it is almost like putting lipstick on a pig because the area was not meant for pedestrians to begin with, I can appreciate the effort. Which then leads me to wonder why for a city like Pasadena to pride itself on being a pedestrian-city, that we still don’t have serious plans to enhance an overpass that connects to one of the most revered smaller museums in the country, the Norton Simon.

If anyone else has any other ideas on how to enhance the overpass for pedestrians, please spout them off!

Alhambra

These are the planters Alhambra has installed on the overpasses that span the freight train trench that parallels Mission Rd. Pasadena could use the same idea to help soften the inhospitable concrete overpass that separates the Norton Simon from Old Pasadena

A closer shot of the colorful planters that help soften the concrete

Pasadena

One can see how inhospitable this 710 overpass (Colorado Blvd.) is that separates the Norton Simon Museum from Old Pasadena. Rarely, if ever, does a pedestrian WALK to the Norton Simon as a result of this overpass acting as a rift in the pedestrian landscape

The few pedestrians that walk along the overpass perceive it as a tedious walk instead of being enjoyable

Can you just imagine an overpass nicely landscaped with perhaps some planters similar to Alhambra's and perhaps some new street lamps in accordance with the rest of Pasadena's design guidelines? How much more pleasant would it have been for these two pedestrians?