Happy Birthday, Gold Line!

photo: Curbed LA

The Gold Line celebrated its 10th birthday yesterday, and Pasadena should feel very lucky that we have the best line out of all the Metro lines.  When I bought my condo a few years ago one of my priority items when house-hunting was that it be located within walking distance of a Gold Line stop.  I've made countless trips between Pasadena and downtown and have on a few occasions ventured out further, connecting with the Red Line to Hollywood and North Hollywood.  And with extension further east into Arcadia and Azusa, the Gold Line will only get better (have you seen the beautiful "basket" bridge, part of the Gold Line extension?)

Light rail is already an important issue within LA's mass transit planning and an integral part of how the city/county and surrounding metro area defines itself in the next few decades.  Not everyone is on the same page (look at the problems plaguing the Expo Line's extension through the Westside and into Santa Monica).  But looking closer to home Pasadena has indeed benefited in spades from the Gold Line and will continue as this mode of transportation takes on a greater presence in the LA area.

Sidenote: everyone talks about how once the Expo Line is done how it will allow many Angelenos to hit the beach without jumping into their cars.  Well, it goes both ways and it will allow many Westsiders an alternative and easier access into the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area?  I've talked to many UCLA fans who have taken the Gold Line during game day at the Rose Bowl and all have wonderful things to say about the convenience the Gold Line offers.

Sidenote 2: Curbed mentioned how once the Regional Connector is finished in the downtown area, the Gold Line will become part of the Blue Line.  I cringed when I read that.  I'm just going to say it: the Blue Line is awful.  Dirty, trashy cars, unreliable service, lots of very rude riders...the list goes on.  I just hope there won't be any spillover effect.

• Metro Gold Line Celebrates 10 Years of Progress  [The Source]
• The Gold Line, LA's Most Lovable Light Rail, Turns 10 Today [Curbed LA]

Old Pasadena Farmers Market: Coming Very Soon!

From our friends at Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association:

RESIDENTS LOOKING FORWARD TO NEW FARMERS MARKET IN OLD PASADENA AFTER LONG DELAYS

The much anticipated Old Pasadena Farmer’s Market is on the horizon and is expected to open on August 4, 2013 on Holly Street between Fair Oaks and Raymond Avenue. Southland Farms operates eleven markets in the Southern California area, including the widely attended Santa Monica market. Through the tenacious efforts of Steve Mulheim and the business owners of the Old Pasadena Management District the market is a much-anticipated addition to the Old Pasadena Area. All three of the business districts (Old Pasadena, Playhouse District and South Lake) will now have their own markets. If you happen to miss this market the other markets are:

• Villa Parke Farmer’s Market, Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Villa Street and Garfield
• South Lake Pasadena Farmer’s Market  Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Corporate Center on South Lake
• Playhouse District Farmer’s Market, Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Union Street and Madison

We can't wait!!

Ode to Altadena

As some of you have heard, the small newspaper publication, Pasadena Sun, printed its last edition this past Sunday.  A community newspaper distributed by the Los Angeles Times, it was a welcome addition to my periodical enjoyment (I consider myself a tech-savvy individual who still likes to rustle newspapers).  In this last issue, reporter Timothy Rutt wrote a nice article on the joy of reporting the going-ons of our sister city to our north.

I've make dozens upon dozens of visits to different parts of Altadena on behalf of the film business (sorry, residents of Rubio St.--I know you're sick and tired of all the filming that goes on in your neighborhood), and I'm always taken aback of how un-L.A. this community is...and in a good way!  I never fail to come across friendly people and a creative spirit that permeates across this town.  Timothy used the word culture, and I think he hits on a term that identifies a uniqueness that is all Altadena.  One would never mistaken Altadena for San Francisco but there's a certain liberalness and vibe that makes it a place I want to learn more about and keep visiting.