Eye Level Pasadena

I’ve been reading Aaron Proctor’s blog, Aaron Proctor for Mayor of Pasadena, for a few weeks now, and the more I read it, the more I hear myself thinking Yeah! Way to say that. Wow, this guy makes sense.

Here’s an article about the desegregation of Pasadena’s public schools: “To Fight the Good Fight”: The Battle Over Control of the Pasadena City Schools, 1969-1979

Bill at Dying Man’s Daily Journal wrote about his neighbors yesterday and his last paragraph jumped out at me:

I admit we were very fortunate to move into a neighbor hood full of such nice and wonderful people. But I think if people really stop and look around they will see their own neighbor hoods are not all that much different, full of wonderful people. It is a real shame we have somehow become so busy and so private in our lives we are missing out on so much. Knowing and sharing with the wonderful people around us. Really how much effort does it take to just chat and get to know a neighbor. (link)

Bill lives in Canada, so this isn’t a post about Pasadena, but about neighbors and about what is possible. I think Bill is right–that all of our neighborhoods are full of wonderful people. I have a dream for Pasadena: that it will become even more the kind of place where people naturally get to know each other–across age lines and background lines and area of interest lines and color lines. I want it to become even more the kind of place where being part of the community is in the air–it’s not just a place to live or shop, it’s a place to sit and talk and hang out and help and enjoy and appreciate everyday life together.

On the way in to Roma Italian Deli

Through the door

Groceries

Deli counter

When I walk into this store, I feel folded into my community — automatically a part of something bigger and warmer than a collection of houses. This store feels human and comfortable. I like to walk in and smell the produce and cheeses and to ask the owner, Rosario, for the cheese and meat I’m shopping for. He cuts them behind the deli counter and gives generous samples.

Roma Italian Deli & Grocery
918 N Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91104
(626) 797-7748

Zona sunrise at Zona Rosa

Cranberry, orange juice, pink grapefruit and ice

latimes.com: A new stage for a star architect: Frank Gehry signs on — pro bono — for an expansion and redesign at Pasadena Playhouse

(By way of Pasadena Playhouse: The Blog)

Rattling the Kettle: Bye-Bye, Wild Oats

Tenju Tea House

Robust free wireless

Tenju Tea House in Temple City is my current new favorite place to go and hang out with a laptop. The wireless is free and the bandwidth is great. People were there playing card games, eating birthday cake, working on computers, taking pictures of each other and just sitting around talking. It feels good to be there.

Tenju Tea House
5817 Rosemead Blvd.
Temple City, CA 91780-1832
(626) 287-2888
tenjuteahouse.com
Free wireless

Granola and comics at Euro Pane

Bread on display

Tulips on the counter

I love to go to Euro Pane and sit by the big windows and drink tea and eat toast on fresh baked bread, or granola, or sandwiches on fresh bread, or soup of the day.

Euro Pane Bakery
950 E Colorado Blvd # 107
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 577-1828

Salmon geranium