Chris Holden's Annual Block Party

This is what Jackson Street looked like last Saturday at Chris Holden's annual Block Party!




The Block Party was an all-ages event free to all attendees, a family celebration were community leaders, organizations and residents meet to share a day complete of fun activities and information about different programs to residents from different groups and organizations.
Pasadenans are happy to have the opportunity to enjoy time with his District 3 Council member, Chris Holden who hosted this party in front of his house, capable of being reached by residents.
Alike most hot summer events, we enjoy a perfect weather a nice Saturday morning, good to enjoy time and plenty of food featured by the firefighters who grilled hot dogs for the guests, along with music and activities for kids.


Tables were set up along the walkway with different organizations and City of Pasadena Programs like Day One, Armory Center Side Street, NEY, Outward Band Adventure, Human Society, Mash, Pasadena Housing Department, Pasadena Police Department, Foothill Workforce Investment Board, Pasadena Senior Center, Aids Service Center.
There was something for everybody, the crew had the opportunity to get informed, play or learn CPR training from Gary Gregorian at the CODE 3 Life Support Education Booth.

Chihuahita School

Pasadena

"Here in Pasadena it is like Paradise. Always sunshine and clear air, gardens with palms and pepper trees and friendly people who smile at one and ask for autographs."
Albert Einstein

The arboretum

Peacocks have settled and adopted at The Arboretum as its official bird (http://www.arboretum.org/). Hundred of beautiful male pheasants, with vibrant hues known for their lustrous tails that spread out like a fan, displaying a play of colors like those of the rainbow. Females (peahens) choose their mates by the color and quality if these feathers trains.

Coffee

A good way to start a day!

How pleasant is to have a cup of coffee! but have you ever take a moment to consider the journey from its origin to final consumption?
Many of us have an idea but it is always quite interesting to know the process.
Coffee is grown from a great variety of trees, to a height of about 14 feet, in different plantation around the world, but Arabica produces the best coffee when certain factors come together like altitude, climate and soil. The trees produces small oval berries that resemble small cherries. Inside each of these berries are two small coffee beans and each plant produces between 1 and 1/2 pound of coffee every year. In many countries the cherries are picked by hand, separated from the unwanted ones, and remove the outer layers.

Roasting coffee is an art.

During the process of coffee beans roasting, aromatics and acids, along with other flavor compounds, are produced in varying concentrations, volatile aromatic compounds are boiled off and the oils on the outside of the bean can combine with oxygen in the air. That process can strip the bean of desirable flavors and lead to a burnt taste, roasters have to be very careful not to over roast the beans, we also have to consider the blend to really reach the perfection.

Beckman Auditorium. Caltech

Caltech as part of one of the most important Institutions in Pasadena enjoys to be involved with the community, that benefit our neighborhood, part of this benefits are its events on campus throughout the year at reasonable price or even free, just go to calendar of events
http://events.caltech.edu/calendar.html and you will find science lectures, performing arts, folk music, chamber music and more. Many of these events take place at the architectural masterpiece, The Beckman Auditorium, sometimes referred to as The Wedding Cake which has a capacity of 200 people. If you are able to walk before or after the event you will experiment a beautiful and relaxing surrounding.


http://caltechpresents.blogspot.com/

Native Plants

Pasadena is in a serious water shortage. Native Plants are a good alternative for landscaping water savings. Is very simple, they are adapted to the local weather, soil, animals attract births and butterflies and they need a minimal irrigation along with less maintenance, less pruning, no fertilizer, no pesticides.
We have several species, subspecies and varieties of native plants to chose from, one of those are a variety of agave like Agave Americana variegata that shows a great contrast with greenish-blue and yellow.

Old Mill

If you walk into the road behind this sign, it will take you to a hidden place where the time has stopped to welcome you. This link to the past, a historic landmark surrounded by a native garden and a great variety of fruit trees is the Old Mill (El Molino Viejo), the oldest commercial build in South California, complete in 1816 as a grist mill for Mission San Gabriel. Today this build is a museum and fine art gallery for rotating exhibits. http://www.old-mill.org/directions.asp
I could post the pics that I took from this magic place, but I rather want you to explore, discover and feel this relaxing and magical experience.