SEPT-OCT
2011
magazine
ROSE PASADENA’S
Street style
EVERYDAY VINTAGE CASUAL RETRO FASHION AT THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET
CASTOFF CHIC
THE ART OF CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING
SCORE FOR THE SYMPHONY MARVIN HAMLISCH DOES PASADENA plus
BEST BETS » LIVE ACTS » EXHIBITS » PLAYs AND MORE
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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5
Publisher: Steve Lambert steve.lambert@inlandnewspapers.com Editor: Pia Abelgas Orense pia.orense@sgvn.com Online Editor: Evelyn Barge evelyn.barge@sgvn.com Assistant Editors: Claudia S. Palma, Stacey Wang
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Contributing Editors: Catherine Gaugh, Frank Girardot, Steve Hunt, Larry Wilson Writers: Kate Kealey, Rachel Luna, Michelle Mills, Maritza Velazquez, Janette Williams Photographers: James Carbone, Keith Birmingham, Walt Mancini, Watchara Phomicinda, Sarah Reingewirtz Designers: Pia Orense, Stacey Wang Photo Toning: Mark Quarles Advertising Manager: Jesse Dillon jesse.dillon@sgvn.com Sales Executives: Mercedes Abara, Jose Luis Correa, Eric Grollman, Albert Ramirez, Kevin Reed, Ralph Ringgold, Stephanie Rosencrantz, Chris Stathousis Sales Assistants: Allen Juezan, Ann Weathersbee Advertising Graphic Design: Christie Robinson, Lead Designer/Production Coordinator Ginnie Stevens, Designer
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SEPT.-OCT. 2011
FEATURES 24 TIME TO LAYER Ways to wear your summer staples in the fall
28 CONSIGNMENT CHIC Buying couture castoffs is worth the money
34 STREET STYLE Fashion finds at the Rose Bowl Flea Market
42 PAUL AND THE POPS Leading the symphony to better times
46 SINGULAR SENSATION Marvin Hamlisch brings magic to Pasadena
51 PURE VOICES Children’s Chorus celebrates 25th year
BEST BETS 12 GO Sugar, spices and couscous, anyone?
16 PLAY Calling all angels, pirates and grandmas
18 THINK The process of making decisions
DEPARTMENTS 20 SHOP Destination: Claremont
59 EAT Pit stop at a taqueria
62 SEEN Villa Esperanza turns 50
66 INSIDER Show me the music 8 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
12 16 22 36 57
NOTE
M FROM THE EDITOR Pia Abelgas Orense
Music and fashion are two areas that show how futile it is to pigeonhole Pasadena‘s culture as either old-fashioned or hip. It’s both, it’s neither, it’s everything in-between. On one hand, we have great indie and eclectic bands electrifying Old Pas every year for Make Music Pasadena, and we have the smaller acts performing at our local bars and dives every night. But then we also have world-class symphonies and orchestras that attract world-class folks such as Marvin Hamlisch, he of “The Chorus Line” fame (Page 46). It’s no wonder people travel to our city from all over the county just to be entertained. The music scene, however, is still missing that one genre that, according to Larry Wilson, would really put the city on the map: rock (Page 66). In fashion, “classic Pasadena” for style consultant Kristin Poulsen means stylish and
conservative but with enough of a twist to keep the look from being old-fashioned. Our Summer to Fall Fashion feature (Page 24) caters to this side of Pasadena. But there’s the other look — the one that starts with an edge then softened with romantic, vintage pieces to give it a completely unique, totally hip, very modern retro vibe. Visitors at the Rose Bowl Flea Market embodied this style, as we discovered during our Street Fashion photo shoot (Page 34). Falling somewhere in between couture fashion and flea market garments is high-end secondhand threads. Two local boutiques show us that buying somebody’s castoff Chanels (and selling your own, for that matter) are well worth the money (Page 28). Consignment shopping is perfect for those whose style can’t be pinned down as either oldfashioned or hip — they’re both, they’re neither, they’re everything in-between.
On the cover ROSE
magazine
PASADENA’S
SEPT-OCT
2011
On an exceptionally searing summer day, the Rose Magazine team set out to the Rose Bowl Flea Market for a street fashion shoot, unsure of what standout styles that Sunday might hold. We crossed paths with many stylish shoppers, who were willing to strike a quick pose for this issue’s fashion spread, as well as willing to share a little about themselves. We learned about a mother of seven disinclined to dress mom-like, a couple who dress to match and, even, a Mongolian migrant unsure of how to explain her dress. While on a short break from our search, we happened upon Shannon Adsero, an employee of Pasadena lingerie and vintage shop The Loved One, as she was passing out fliers for the boutique. The 23-yearold Angeleno, who loves to dress quirky and retro with modern touches, stood out among even the most eyecatching merchandise at vendor booths. With her vintage green dress and complimenting woven red handbag, coupled with her fair skin and deep red hair color, we had a feeling at the shoot that she might be our cover girl. And as you can see, she just so happens to be.
> Follow us on Twitter: @PasadenaRoseMag 10 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Street style
EVERYDAY VINTAGE CASUAL RETRO FASHION AT THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET
CASTOFF CHIC
THE ART OF CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING
SCORE FOR THE SYMPHONY MARVIN HAMLISCH DOES PASADENA plus
BEST BETS » LIVE ACTS » EXHIBITS » PLAYS AND MORE
PHOTOGRAPHER: Watchara Phomicinda Producer: Stacey Wang Assistants: Rachel Luna and Claudia S. Palma
> Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/ RoseMagazine
> Visit our blog: insidesocal.com/rose and therosemag.com
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VIEW FROM THE STREETS Southern Californians know automobiles all too well, especially those of us who spend the better part of our lives swimming in a sea of brake lights. Like it or not, our wheels are woven into the history of our West Coast haven. A new photography exhibit titled “Street Sight” examines the shift from the Southland’s pastoral past to its auto-centric future. Take a front-seat look at artists’ perception of the asphalt and surrounding elements that have formed the landscape of today’s society. Through Sept. 11. Tuesday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave. Free. (626) 792-5101. armoryarts.org
STROLL CRAFTSMAN LANE There’s a rich history that gives Pasadena its charming and unique character. Bask in the glory of the city’s heritage during Craftsman Weekend to celebrate two decades of Craftsman-era homes with a variety of fascinating tours into the city’s most historic sites, as well as the Exposition Show and Sale, which features furniture and decorative arts. Craftsman weekend, Oct. 14-16. (626) 441-6333. pasadenaheritage.org
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
p.m. Pasadena City Hall’s Centennial Square, 100 N. Garfield Ave. Free. (626) 793-7172. pasadenasymphony-pops.org
SWEET TOOTH CONVENTION Need your chocolate fix? Enter a chocolate lover’s paradise at the Los Angeles area’s largest event of its kind. The fifth annual Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon is where both addicts and the occasional indulger can delight in the delectable creations of more than 35 chocolatiers and culinary artisans. Drink wine, taste sweets, open your ears to expert authors and experience the workings of top chefs. It’s a dream event for any real chocolate aficionado. Sept. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.. $20-30. lachocolatesalon.com
12 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
CONNECTED BY ART Not only joined in matrimony, but now at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, husband and wife Edouard and Luvena Vysekal will showcase their works in the “Love Never Fails: The Art of Edouard and Luvena Vysekal” exhibit, which features more than 60 paintings, sketches and photographs. Opening reception, Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m., $5. Exhibit, until Jan. 8, Wednesday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m., $7 general. Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St. (626) 568-3665. pmcaonline.org
Left, photo by keith birmingham; courtesy photos, top and right; shutterstock, below
Listen to music under the nighttime sky during the free and annual Target Music Under the Stars. It features vocalist Lisa Vroman, The Donald Brinegar Singers and the Pasadena Symphony and POPS. Sept. 24, 7:30
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MEMORIA GRABADA
Pictures can speak louder than words, especially for The Folk Tree’s latest exhibit, Memoria Grabada — Recorded Memory. Step into the pictorial world of three printmakers, who come together in an effort to preserve their personal experiences in a public way. Hailing from different countries in North America, printmakers Alec Dempster of Toronto, Daniel González of Los Angeles and Sergio Sánchez Santamaría of Mexico City share their memories, as well as comment on history as they see it, in this graphic testimonial. Opening reception, Aug. 27, 3-6 p.m. Exhibit runs until Sept. 24. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. The Folk Tree, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Free. (626) 793-4828. folktree.com
GRECIAN GALA For some, their knowledge of the Grecian culture consists of what they’ve seen on television or in movies. Expand the stereotypes into a wider appreciation of the stunning Mediterranean country. Leave your suitcase behind and make your way to the Pasadena Greek Fest, where you can take in the alluring scents of traditional foods, listen to Greek music and enjoy entertainment courtesy of award-winning folk dance groups. Before you leave, you can take a part of Greece home with you — imported olives, oils, spices, cheese and souvenirs. Sept. 16, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sept. 17, noon-1 a.m.; Sept. 18, noonFor one weekend a year, Pasadena showcases its arts and culture scene in what’s become the largest free urban arts festival in the Southland. This year’s ArtWeekend kicks off on Oct. 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. with ArtNight, a popular city-sponsored event that offers free entrance to more than a dozen cultural institutions and free shuttle service between venues. The weekend follows with a packed calendar citywide, including the Oct. 15 ArtHeritage parade from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting at Los Robles Avenue and Howard Street and ending in La Pintoresca Park; ArtWalk in the Playhouse District from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Art of Food on South Lake Avenue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and ArtRhythm music at Paseo Colorado from 5 to 9 p.m. The weekend will close on Oct. 16 with ArtPerformance from 1 to 6 p.m. in Old Pasadena. Oct. 14-16. Times vary. Throughout Pasadena. Free. (800) 307-7977. pasadenaartweekend.com
COUSCOUS IN ALL FORMS The sense of taste is a window into unfamiliar cultures and places. Take a look across the hemisphere to the imaginative cuisine of North Africa. The second annual Couscous Festival introduces you to a food that is all based on “exploration and discovery,” according to the event’s co-founder. Your ticket uncovers the flavorful plates of the Sub-Saharan — tagines, Algerian pastries and pizza, Spanish escabeche, Turkish coffee and couscous cooked in many different delicious forms. Sept. 18, noon-6 p.m. Glendale ARC, 201 E. Colorado Blvd., Glendale. $10 advanced; $15 at the door. (818) 641-6899. couscousfestival.com
14 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
10 p.m. Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia. $5. (626) 600-1627. pasadenagreekfest.org
SHAKESPEARE CONDENSED The “Bad Boys of Abridgement” have the solution for anyone out there with a little trouble in the attention department. The threesome has condensed classic literary masterpieces into a 90-minute-long comedy in “All The Great Books (abridged).” The show began as a pass-the-hat act about three decades ago. Since then, the Reduced Shakespeare Company has produced six stage shows, two television specials and several radio pieces all over the world. They have made appearances at the White House, Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center. Oct. 15, 8 p.m. Beckman Auditorium, 1200 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. $19-29 general; $10 youth. (626) 395-4652. events.caltech.edu
Courtesy of reduced shakespeare company,; top, the folk tree
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PLAY
A LUTE OF THEIR OWN Make the “Woman with a Lute” your summer muse. The Johannes Vermeer painting, on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is currently hanging at the Norton Simon Museum. For the museum’s Family Day in September, learn how to create your own stringed instrument from materials around the house. Sept. 17, 1-3 p.m. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd. Free with paid admission. (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
CAR SHOW Grandparents love spoiling their grandkids rotten, but there’s no rule that they can’t treat themselves at the same time. Bridge the generations with some good old-fashioned fun at Kidspace Museum’s Grandparents Day. Whip up some of your own apple cider, partake in some board game-playing or try your hand at a couple rounds of BINGO. Sept. 18, Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. (626) 449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org
ARRRR! Speak like a true swash-buckling pirate and win some valuable booty during Twilight Night at Kidspace. Dress like a pirate, get a tattoo and make your own sword. Sept. 24, 5-8 p.m. Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. $5, general admission. (626) 449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org
2 p.m. Mission Street, between Fair Oaks Avenue and Meridian, South Pasadena. (626) 799-7813. sptor.com
CALLING ALL ANGELS It’s the ultimate celebration of celestial beings. The 18th annual Angel Festival calls all angels — human and holy — to the worldly realm for a day of sharing, learning and discovering. Music will be divine and the sights will be heavenly. Peruse the booths and purchase angelthemed goods — religious, artsy or just plain fun. Dress as an angel and get $5 off at any vendor booth. To those actually named Angel, bring your identification and receive a free book. Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sierra Madre Memorial Park, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. Free admission. (626) 794-4458. theangelfestival.com
16 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Left, shutterstock; Courtesy of norton simon museum, top
GRANDMA’S DAY
Hundreds of car enthusiasts will showcase their collectibles for the seventh annual Cruz’n for Roses Hot Rod and Classic Car Show. Check out the autos lined down Mission Street in South Pasadena. The event benefits the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. The city’s police and fire departments will also host a Public Safety Fair and Open House featuring free fingerprinting for children, vendor displays, raffles and more. Sept. 18, 10 a.m.-
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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Unparallel 270 º to 300 º unobstructed views! Crestron smart home, 1.5 acre, gated, totally private magnificent custom home built by the owner in 2004 with tastefully fine details. Experience the top of the world feeling with incredible unobtrusive, breathtaking views of the Rose Bowl, golf courses, Mount Wilson, city and valley lights, LA highrise skylines and ocean views. This stunning home offers 24 ft. high ceiling great room. All 5 BR are suites with walk-in closets, huge game room. Extraordinary master suite, friendly high tech touch pad/ ipad operating all window coverings, light system, music and entertainment, large media/movie theatre with just one touch. 2 laundry rooms up and down, gourmet kitchen with large island, 4 fireplaces with custom Enke Boll casings. Approx. 100 Koi fish in the pond, views from every room, great for entertaining. 5-car attached over sized garage with speaker system. An exclusive gated 8 acre development of 5 expansive sites with private homeowner’s association on very top of Annandale/San Rafael Hills. The views of the 4th of July fireworks are absolutely unparalleled.
Arcadia $1,549,000 516 West Longden Avenue This beautiful corner home within a cul-desac in “Baldwin Stocker” area, features 3810 SF on 10,540 SF lot with 5 BR and 5 BA, huge family room with fireplace, large open kitchen with center island. Nice backyard with shaded seating area and BBQ station. Distinguished Arcadia schools. Peggy Fong Chen 626.208.7788
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THINK
EARTH’S MASTER CARVER Witness how one simplistic compound forms some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the world. Presented by the Caltech Committee on Institute Programs, this stunning high-definition film titled “Planet Earth: Fresh Water” will take you on a fact-spilling excursion, exploring marvels produced and formed by water — waterfalls, the world’s deepest lake and the Grand Canyon. Following the movie, let the discussion flow with Joel Scheingross, a Caltech geological and planetary sciences graduate student. It’s all part of Caltech’s Science Saturdays. Oct. 22, 2 p.m. Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave. $5 (unreserved seating). (626) 3954652. events.caltech.edu
New technology is making it easier than ever to explore the great depths of the ocean. The lecture “A Self-Powered Underwater Robot for Ocean Exploration and Beyond” takes you behind the scenes of the first autonomous underwater vehicle completely powered by renewable energy. The SOLO-TREC uses the natural temperature differences in the ocean to employ a thermal recharging engine, allowing it to monitor the ocean climate and other marine life. Listen to top experts as they tell you about its use and possibilities for future applications. Oct. 13, 7 p.m. von Kármán Auditorium at JPL, 4800 Oak Grove Drive. (818) 354-4321. jpl.nasa.
Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon National Park
gov; Oct. 14, 7 p.m. The Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 585-7123. pasadena.edu
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626-799-7701 1026 FAIR OAkS | SOUTH PASADENA | CA 91030 18 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Burlington Arcade 380 S. Lake Ave., Suite 107, Pasadena 626.449.4070
SHUTTERSTOCK; courtesy of norton simon museum, far right
POWERED BY THE OCEAN
FUSION OF VIRTUAL AND REAL We live in a digital world. But one artist is combining the virtual and real in “Get Physical — New Media in Space.” Joachim Sauter, media designer, educator and founder of Berlin-based Art+Com, and other artists will present their creations in this design discipline. Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Art Center College of Design, 1700 Lida St. Free. (626) 396-2200. artcenter.edu
DECISIONS, DECISIONS For all of life’s decisions, there’s a process. Find out exactly what is going on in your brain in “Neuroeconomics: How Does Your Brain Make Decisions,” featuring Caltech professor of economics and neuroscience Antonio Rangel. Oct. 12, 8 p.m. Beckman Auditorium, Caltech, 332 S. Michigan Ave. (626) 395-4652. events.
MASTER LITHOGRAPHERS They say a picture tells a thousand words. One exhibit is acting as the ultimate storyteller of how printmaking broke through as a respected art form. “Proof: The Rise of Printmaking in Southern California” features a collection from the Norton Simon Museum with works from local founders of this movement. It all started with the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, which aimed to create a group of master lithographers who would revive the art form. Now more than a half century later, you can explore the history of this creative outlet and where it might go from here. Oct. 1-April 2. Norton Simon Museum, 411 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 449-6840. nortonsimon.org
caltech.edu
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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 19 7/28/11 5:25:45 AM
HARVARD AVE.
claremont
4TH ST.
BONITA AVE.
YALE AVE.
SHOP
By Kate Kealey
271
INDIAN HILL BLVD.
220
2ND ST.
(NOT TO SCALE)
132
1ST ST.
143 A
143 A
Harvard Ave.
Authentix
Sneaker & Clothing Boutique In business for four years, Authentix Sneaker and Clothing Boutique is a haven for tennis shoe fans and collectors. Store manager Marlon Price, often with the help of canine companion Rossco, oversees the clean, 143 A Harvard Ave., open space set up like an art Claremont gallery exhibit of sneakers. Hours: Noon-7:30 p.m. Price’s own infatuation Monday-Saturday; with collectible tennis 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (909) 625-3289 shoes started as a kid in authentix143.com 1996 watching his favorite basketball stars wear their own lines. “I couldn’t afford what I liked back then and couldn’t get (them). I get them now.” Nikes, Supras and Onitsuka Tigers line the wall and the store gets regular shipments of the latest releases of Jordans, Kobes and Lebrons. Authentix also receives quickstrikes, which are a tier of shoe releases limited in number and available only at exclusive stores. Special releases often sell out within 15 minutes of their debut, like the pair of Pearl Nike Foamposite Pros in Electric Blue that Price scored during a special edition sale in July. The Foamposite Pro is an indestructible Nike molded out of one foam cast that conforms to the foot the longer it’s worn. A mailing list informs regular customers of special releases. The shop also has a selection of clothes to go along with your new kicks, including lines like Hellz Bellz, Diamond Supply and in-house line CLSC. 20 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
271
W. Second St.
Jasmine
Jasmine, a bath and body shop, opened on Second Street about 30 years ago. Owner Barbara Caplan says she models the shop after small boutiques, which were plentiful where she grew up in Europe. “My vision was that the store has a nostalgic feel,” she says. The store carries multiple collections of bath and body care, including classic brands like Crabtree & Evelyn and French luxury line Mistral. Caplan is also committed to emphasizing California vendors in order to help other small businesses in the state. La Licious is a line of sugar souffle scrubs, body butters and oils created by a husband and wife team in Hermosa Beach. Also created in Southern California are Me! Bath bath bombs and fizzers and Primal Elements soaps and bubble baths. Caplan also promotes local creators, like Liv Wild, a Claremont teen who repurposes old sweaters into cute little animals and flowers. There’s also bath salts by the bushel and homemade bar soaps. And don’t forget to check out the cute and totally wearable pajamas and loungewear in fun prints 271 W. Second St., Claremont by P.J. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Salvage.
PHOTOS BY WATCHARA PHOMICINDA
Tuesday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays; Closed Mondays. (909) 625-1259
132
Yale Ave.
Amelie Owner Sydney Froehling opened Amelie, a fashion boutique, in 2003 with the goal of filling her store with clothes and accessories that matched her style. The clothing selection is meticulous and on-trend but classic. Froehling 132 Yale Ave., Claremont takes a lot of care in Hours: 10 a.m. -7 p.m. choosing the clothing Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday lines that hang in her (909) 624-5651 store, making sure that shopamelie.com the dresses, shorts, tops and pants have lasting power and won’t go out of style anytime soon. “Think if you had a best friend with the most amazing closet,” Froehling said. The store’s stock of Australian brand Mink Pink, Los Angeles-based basics and graphic tees designer Lauren Moon and J Brand jeans are appropriate for work or a night out. But Froehling herself admits her addiction is to accessories, specifically jewelry — and there’s plenty of unique lines on display at Amelie. Like amazing handmade San Benito medallions from Virgins, Saints and Angels and celebrity Nicole Richie’s line of affordable vintageinspired costume jewelry, House of Harlow 1960. For a bonus, visit the website, where you’ll find videos made by the shop’s knowledgeable staff that feature new trends and tips on things like what to pack for a summer weekend getaway. 22 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Yale Ave.
Folk Music Center
SHOP
220
If you walk along Yale Avenue and hear what sounds like an impromptu jam session, you’re probably near the Folk Music Center. Opened in 1958 by Charles and Dorothy Chase, the center is one of several mainstays in the Village. Dorothy played the banjo and guitar and Charles fixed instruments. The store is now owned by their daughter Ellen Harper — mother of singer-songwriter Ben Harper — who maintains the same dedication to offering folk instruments from all over the world. 220 Yale Ave., Claremont Decorating the walls Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 are row after row of a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; dulcimers, guitars, Closed Mondays slide guitars, ukuleles, (909) 624-2928 banjos, mandolins, folkmusiccenter.com sitars and erhus. Lines of folk drums snake around in the back of the store. The feel of the store is comfortable and inviting, and guests aren’t afraid to touch the instruments, strum on the strings or try out the didgeridoos. “How do you know if you like something if you can’t play it?” Harper asks. The center’s staff offer private lessons on many of the string instruments and the store still does repairs too. Concerts are offered once or twice a month and the center hosts an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month; the performances are recorded and compiled on DVD so that musicians can view their acts. R
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 23
Summer to fall
Season for layers Style consultants Kristin Poulsen and Page Malloy of Etcetera show how you can wear your classic late-summer wardrobe in cooler weather
Cover up with a metallic, fancy
cardigan
g Outdoor weddin
Charcoal stretch crimped sheath. Mineral, $250
Charcoal cardigan jacket with art deco-inspired embroidery. Asteroid, $350
Quick tip
Drape a double-knit black scarf on your shoulders
Black reversible scarf. Bewitched, $225
All items available at etcetera.com
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Photos by Sarah Reingewirtz
Wear tights and ankle boots with your summer dresses and you have the perfect look for fall.
boots with and you or fall.
Brighten up the look with a red pea coat
PIZZAZ | 2 WHITE ST SLEEVELES ASYMMET
Lunch date
FLAPPER | LIGHT GR HEATHER SKIRT.
Lightweight jersey knit tank. Echo, $55
Work
Faux wrap skirt. Nomad, $250
Bias-cut draped turtleneck. Flint, $195
Cranberry wool pea coat. Redcoat, $295
Stretch cotton blouse with ruffle trim. Pizzaz, $175
Replace the tank with a silk jersey tunic
Faux wrap skirt. Nomad, $250
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 25
Quick tip Layer with restraint. Any more than three will make your outfit look bulky and messy.
n Out on the tow
Stretch silk charmeuse snakeskin print blouse. Arbor, $335
Stretch knit jersey wide-leg trouser. Gesso, $225
Doublebreasted boiled wool cropped jacket. Arbor, $335
Cozy up with a drouble-breasted wool jacket
26 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
It’s like SHOPPING WITH FRIENDS Kristin Poulsen and Page Malloy have been friends for so long that a style consultation with them is like shopping with your best friends. The two Pasadena residents are the top sales consultants in the area for Etcetera, a direct sales clothing line that only makes its collections available through trunk shows. A session with Poulsen and Malloy involves one-on-one attention in Poulsen’s living room, which is converted into a showroom for a week every season. They show clients the latest looks and help them pick styles that work for them. Since their clients come back every season, Poulsen and Malloy get to know individual preferences and buying history. Their goal is to help clients build their wardrobes with couture-level pieces that last for years. “Our clients range in age from 30 to 80, but they pick the same quality clothes,” says Poulsen. How the women pair the outfits and accessorize give the final look that personal twist. Their clientele is mostly from Pasadena. “They’re super stylish, but not necessarily trendy. It’s classic with an edge,” says Poulsen. — PIA ORENSE
COME INSIDE! Discover the all-new Courtyard With spacious apartments, covered parking, and beautiful common spaces, The Courtyard is sure to be the most sought-after independent living residence in the San Gabriel Valley. Better yet, it’s part of Atherton, a continuing care retirement community with a 97-year tradition of helping seniors experience the joy and fellowship of Christian living in a secure setting. We want you to be among the first to see inside this exceptional residence. Apartment selections are limited, so call us now to arrange an up-close look at The Courtyard. You may never see anything quite like it again.
Atherton Baptist Homes is open to people of all faiths. RCFE #197802543 Certificate of Authority #176. Applications with the California Department of Social Services for an expanded Residential Care Facility for the Elderly license and a revised Certificate of Authority to enter into Continuing Care contracts are pending. Atherton Baptist Homes does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, disability, religion, or national origin.
RESIDENCES ARE FILLING UP FAST! Call today to arrange a private tour 800 340-4178
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secondhand style By Stacey Wang
T
There’s a stigma surrounding shopping resale that makes most people shudder — it could stem from the image of the thrift store down the street that accepts just about anything or the idea of wearing a stranger’s hand-me-downs. But shopping at a consignment store doesn’t mean you have to feel like you’re buying something used. Check out these two local boutiques, and images of the fashionable pieces they offer, and you’ll find that buying secondhand can be just as glamorous and chic as shopping new. Best of all, you’ll save a pretty penny while you’re at it.
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Clothes heaven
Saving on ‘snazzy’
C
Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Diane von Furstenberg — most of us women can only dream of our skin touching the fabric of these designer brands, let alone own them. These high-end labels can be high out of one’s price range, but thanks to resale store Clothes Heaven in Pasadena the fantasy of possessing expensive wear can become reality. From shoes to handbags to dresses, the consignment boutique is brimming with pieces from the fashion industry’s powerhouses but with a catch in favor of the buyer. Although the items originally cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, they resell at a fraction of the original price, even with price tags intact. Customers will find a wealth of Chanel, the shop’s specialty, and other designer brands — as well as half-price and $29-and-under racks in the back room. However, the best threads get prime front-of-the-house space in what owner Larayne Brannon calls the “extra snazzy” department. In her 28 years running the consignment store, the owner has converted customers to resale with her love for affordable designer wear. Clients often get lost in the store for hours, she says, sifting through the sea of garments, playing dress up with the help of employees and being spoiled by the feel of quality clothing. Clothes Heaven came to be after Brannon parted
courtesy of hazardous taste
Clothes Heaven
111 E. Union St., Pasadena (626) 440-0929 Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. clothesheaven.com
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 29
TIPS ON CONSIGNING & SELLING Making the most money
Remember, it’s resale
Just because you’re selling a used item doesn’t mean it should look like someone just used it. Get your item in tip-top shape — washed, ironed, button reattached, etc. — before you bring it into the store. The store’s buyer will not only be thankful and put your item out sooner, but he or she will be more likely to offer a higher price. Not to mention, there’s a better chance your item will get prime placement and be purchased sooner.
Sure, it might’ve cost $100 for that tank top back when you bought it, but that isn’t the price you’ll get when you consign or sell it. A lot factors into how much an item will sell for — such as uniqueness, current fashion trends, brand, condition, supply and demand, and the like — but it’s ultimately a resale item, even if you have the price tag intact. Clothes Heaven has a rule of thumb that consigners should expect their items to sell at about a third of the original price, unless there is limited supply and a high demand.
Don’t lose the label Clothing labels can be annoying at times, especially if you can feel the tag scratching your backside. But if you can endure the small nuisance until you sell your item, it can pay off in the end. Stores love labels. The higher end, the better. However, don’t expect to get a whole lot from generic and massproducing brands — these aren’t as enticing to the stores’ buyers.
30 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Prepare for rejection Just like other clothing shops, resale stores have to find the right items for their clientele. So when they won’t buy or consign your item, they aren’t rejecting your fashion sense. Your items just don’t fit their style.
Courtesy of hazardous taste
ways with another Pasadena resale store in 1983. She consigned designer clothes from acquaintances and sold it in a small boutique in Pasadena, which eventually moved to its larger space on Union Street. Even today, Brannon handpicks items for her store with weekly stops to consigners’ homes on the Westside, along with her routine weed through goods brought to her store. Consigners receive 50 percent profit once the item is sold. Brannon says she usually looks for items with the “Ooh factor” — statement-making, quality pieces that speak to her and make her say, “Ooh.” But, of course, before she puts merchandise on the sales floor, she gets first dibs.
S HotBox Los Angeles 1001-A Mission St., South Pasadena (626) 390-6337 Thurs.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. hotboxlosangeles.com
Courtesy of Hotbox Los Angeles
Vintage in vogue Hotbox Los Angeles
Stepping inside this 14-square-foot fashion boutique, vintage shoppers might feel discouraged by what they see, which wouldn’t be much given how small the space is. But comb through the racks of resale store HotBox Los Angeles in South Pasadena and you won’t be disappointed by what you find. A resurrection of the past with a modern twist, HotBox consigns and sells clothing and accessories from, if not inspired by, as early as the 1920s. And like the articles of clothing that pass through the consignment shop, HotBox has quite a unique story. The boutique got its start when owner Delilah Rabina was 15 years old. She was asked to clean up her overflowing closet, so the heartbroken but compliant teen decided to make a profit from her years of thrift store digging by selling her prized vintage wardrobe. The young fashionista raised enough money doing odd jobs to rent the brick space off of Mission Street, where HotBox currently resides. Six years later, the “hot little box,” as Rabina describes it, has built SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 31
tips on Buying resale
SHOP RESALE up a clientele by word-of-mouth despite its inconspicuous location — the store is adjacent to Meridian Avenue as a hidden attachment behind a building on Mission Street. Customers come for the HotBox style: standout and versatile vintage pieces that have the easygoing California feel. The shop also serves as a launch site for young designers to sell their vintage-inspired accessories and clothing lines. The store accepts a meager compensation for each item sold, Rabina’s way of promoting and encouraging these new designers as they get their start. Consigners receive 90 percent of the profit for their pieces and they get to determine the sale price. After all, Rabina, too, was once a youngster trying to make it. R
32 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Pasadena City College Flea Market 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 585-7906 First Sunday monthly 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission pasadena.edu/fleamarket
Rose Bowl Flea Market
WM◊
1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena (323) 560-7469 Second Sunday monthly 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $8 general admission gcshows.com/RoseBowl.aspx
WM◊
Meowmeowz!
BWM
2423 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 798-6969 Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. 1-7 pm meowmeowzrockshop.com
Ritz Resale
CW
46 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena (626) 449-3528 Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. ritzresale.com
Style on Green
BCW
1840 Walnut St., Pasadena Tue.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (626) 683-8881
1136 E. Green St., Pasadena (626) 796-9924 Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Crossroads Trading
The Loved One
BWM◊
Adira’s Consignment Boutique
BCW
BWM
104 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 793-2007 Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. crossroadstrading.com W — women’s apparel B — buys ◊ — top pick M — men’s apparel C — consigns
2 E. Holly St., Pasadena (626) 304-0009 Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. noon-5 p.m. thelovedone.net
Courtesy of Hotbox Los Angeles
• Shop frequently for good buys. You’ll find a high turnover rate at resale shops. • Some stores don’t accept credit or debit cards, so bring cash. • Dig through all merchandise. You never know what you’ll find. • Be open-minded. There’s a good chance they won’t have the exact style or color you’re looking for. • Ignore sizes and try it on instead. The previous owner might have had it tailored.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 33
Flea market
FASHION FINDS RETRO CASUAL at the rose bowl
On the second Sunday of the month, the Rose Bowl comes alive with thousands of shoppers flocking to the world-famous flea market. They come from every corner of the county to find unique steals and deals, all while showing their trendy threads — from done-up vintage 1950s to carefree Bohemian chic wear. Photos by WATCHARA PHOMICINDA
34 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Inspired by fashion with “integrity and soul,” Jay Lijewski shops with his wife, Jessi, who is drawn to the 1940s and ‘50s, to find dated pieces to add to their Los Angeles home.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 35
Blending touches of old and new to their wardrobe, Victoria Briones and Vincent Balagtas of Los Angeles center their outfits around comfort. They add subtle splashes of style with accessories like Briones’ double finger rings and Balagtas’ Casio calculator watch.
36 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Being a mother of seven doesn’t mean Stephanie Barrett of Riverside has to dress like one. She is dressed in her Sunday vintage best (and doesn’t mind doing a little work in it, too).
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 37
All black, all the time, always and forever. That’s the aesthetic behind the style of Claudia Lucia of Los Angeles. And her boyfriend Spencer Lowell? He likes neutral tones and, frankly, just wants to match his girlfriend.
38 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Whether at garage sales or flea markets, Lynne Parton of Torrance snags accessories to add layers that complete her earthy look.
If there is such a thing as a military ninja, Austin Bogart of Hollywood would like to think that’s what he pulls off with his look — loose tops, tapered pants and combat boots. Eneral Batbold, however, dresses with a funky feel, based on her mood.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 39
Creating a style of her own, Brianna Kenyon of Burbank wears her own handmade head accessories like this feather headband.
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Dressing for the heat, Carrie Fontaine incorporates her pasttimes of music and video games in her outfit through ornaments and accessories, like custom buttons on her jean vest and safety pin earrings. Right, from top, Kendall Busby of Manhattan Beach; Vanessa Petersen of North Hollywood; and sisters Tayler and Bianca Buck of Burbank.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 41
photo by Sarah Reingewirtz
42 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Pasadena Symphony and Pops
PULLING
THE
STRINGS
Paul Jan Zdunek finds the crucial balance between business and creativity in his role as executive and artistic director
E
By Janette Williams
Even as a kid running the streets of his hardscrabble Baltimore neighborhood, Paul Jan Zdunek showed the hard-headed creative touch he brought to Pasadena in 2008 as a 41-year-old whiz kid hired to save the teetering Pasadena Symphony.
“Anything to make a buck,” he says of those days, growing up with a single mom who tolerated him running Halloween haunted houses at their home, “churning out fry bread” in her kitchen to sell to neighbors, and hawking his “art” — which he describes as watercolors on 8-by-11-inch pieces of paper — round the neighborhood. It wasn’t until he was 12, and he was asked to join a boys’ choir, that Zdunek says he found in himself a musical side to equal that entrepreneurial spirit. “From running in the streets, I went to singing Beethoven and Mozart,” Zdunek says. “I saw this whole world, the Baltimore Symphony, the opera — I didn’t know that world existed. It was an eye-opening experience.” He went on to play piano, get a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music, a bachelor’s degree in composition from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and a Certificat d’Etudes in composition and conducting from the American Conservatory in France. Still, he says, the 10-year career he built as an artistic director and conductor of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, executive and artistic director of the Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra and executive director/founder of the Young Artists Concert Series didn’t check all the boxes. “When I was conducting, I always had this business itch,” Zdunek says. “It always drove me, that I was given this opportunity. And as
I got older I could see there was always this drive, especially on the side with administration, fundraising, ticket sales and letting people out there know — people like me who don’t realize what is in their backyard.” Now, he says, in leading the Pasadena Symphony and Pops orchestras, he’s found the career balance between his business and artistic sides. When Zdunek arrived as a crisis-management consultant in 2008, the combined “Orchestras of Pasadena” (as it was called then) faced a financial crisis that threatened their survival. Zdunek was coming off a five-year stint in Modesto, credited with putting its orchestra on a sound financial and artistic footing after a nine-month musicians strike that decimated audiences, angered audiences and fractured the community. At the time, he says, Pasadena’s situation was even worse. The orchestras’ endowment had shrunk, audiences were wary and confused after the cancellation of some 2008 season concerts, and public support was in question. Between then and now, he says, there’s “absolutely no comparison.” “Even using the cliche ‘180-degree turn’ seems not to really do it justice. Rome was burning when I first arrived, and now we’ve put out the fire,” he jokes. “But, all kidding aside, we’ve weathered the storm and built a brand new culture, a culture that’s sustainable, that isn’t something that’s just fixed for the short term,” he says. “I think
that’s something people have been watching us for.” Since 2008, he says, the orchestras have been restructuring the organization and digging out of a financial hole. “We’ve paid all our debtors, $1.2 million in back payables, and we did that all while producing our current season. We’re current on all our bills. It’s a totally different atmosphere — we’re not wondering if tomorrow we’ll be here or not.” Still, he says, change hasn’t come without criticism and “pockets” of resentment. The abrupt departures of popular longtime music directors Jorge Mester and Rachael Worby, board-member resignations and staff layoffs came under his watch. “Across the board, people don’t like change, but they want everything to be fixed and better and, again, those people have not stayed with us,” he says. “I think there was also a group that was very fearful and upset about some changes we had to make and the experience we went through, but realized it was OK, and in some cases it was better, before accepting it as the new norm.” Making “dramatic change in a short amount of time” has brought both praise and criticism, Zdunek says, but he’s been complimented on making an honest appraisal of what he saw wrong with the organization. “But it’s not really about me, that’s been one of the misperceptions, and one of the successes of this organization has been board leadership,” Zdunek says. “They really pulled it all together collectively ... what’s best for this organization, putting together the recovery plan. It’s been a group decision to move on and make all these changes, large and
small. It’s the group that’s been driving this.” Most recently, the symphony brought James DePreist on board as artistic director and recruited Marvin Hamlisch to conduct the Pops. The symphony’s first season at the fabled Ambassador Auditorium — after years at the 3,000-seat Pasadena Civic Auditorium — just ended; and next year’s Pops season will move from the Rose Bowl to debut at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia. Now the drama of the last few years is calming down. “We’ve been plugging along doing great work, bringing on new board members, bringing in new blood,” he says. “We’ve got a great staff and a great board, great venues and a great artistic product.” Decisions were made “quickly and thoughtfully,” and that’s the symphony’s “new culture,” he says. “Different doors opened for us,” Zdunek says. But it’s not a revolving door. There’s “a lot of misinformation, a lot of rumors” that he’ll move on to another job now that the symphony looks set to survive one of the biggest crises in its eight-decade history. “None of that is true, that I’m interested in fixing and running out of town,” he says. “I love Pasadena, beyond fixing the orchestra. There’s so much the organization hasn’t fully realized, there been so much growth and we can continue to grow and serve the community more than in the last 83 years. Personally, this is probably the only place I’ve moved to and thought, ‘Wow, I’m not itching to get out again.’ “It feels like home.” R
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Experience. Excellence. www.huntingtonhospital.com | Call (800) 903-9233 to find a Huntington Hospital physician. 44 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
M
NOT SO ORDINARY PEOPLE Only 12 people have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Marvin Hamlisch is one of them. Of those 12, only Hamlisch and Richard Rodgers can claim they’ve also won a Pulitzer Prize. Hamlisch has also won two Golden Globes. Here are his awards:
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Academy Awards
1973 Best Original Dramatic Score: “The Way We Were” 1973 Best Original Song: “The Way We Were” 1973 Best Original Song Score and/or Adaptation: “The Sting”
Emmy Awards
1995 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music Direction: “Barbra Streisand: The Concert” 1995 Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics: “Barbra Streisand: The Concert” 1999 Outstanding Music and Lyrics: “AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movies” 2001 Outstanding Music Direction: “Timeless: Live in Concert”
THE
G MAGIC OF BEING
MARVIN
Grammy Awards
1974 Song Of The Year: “The Way We Were” performed by Barbra Streisand 1974 Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: The “Way We Were” performed by Barbra Streisand 1974 Best Pop Instrumental Performance: “The Entertainer” 1974 Best New Artist
By Janette Williams
“Getting to know you, getting to know all about you” — the words may be the legendary Oscar Hammerstein’s, but the sentiments are from the legendary Marvin Hamlisch as he takes up the principal conductor’s baton at the Pasadena Pops orchestra. “The first thing is to introduce me, and the audience getting to know me, mostly — it’s my hello to everyone in Pasadena,” Hamlisch says, reflecting on conducting his first Pops concert series at the Rose Bowl this summer. His introduction came with “Marvin Does Marvin,” a program of his signature themes and compositions on July 23, followed Aug. 6 by “Marvin Does Broadway” and “Marvin Does Movies” on Aug. 27. That’s a lot of Marvin. But, says Hamlisch, one of only two people to have racked up an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize — it’s his “calling card,” a way of getting a feel for what his audience responds to. “I’m not looking to the podium to push my music,” says Hamlisch, the composer of more than 40 movie scores. Among his hits are the Oscar-winning score and song for “The Way We Were,” starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford, and adaptation of Scott Joplin’s ragtime music for “The Sting,” with Redford and Paul Newman — filmed partly in Pasadena — which earned him a third Oscar. What he is looking for, Hamlisch says, is the chance to give audiences a good time, with good music and good fun. “It’s a vitally important part of the draw of this kind of music,” Hamlisch says of the Pops format. “It reminds you of seeing a show, or hearing music on the radio or TV, and it should be very family oriented. I hope children
Golden Globes
1972 Best Original Song: “Life Is What You Make It” 1974 Best Original Song: “The Way We Were” performed by Barbra Streisand
Pulitzer Prize
1975 Best Original Score Written for the Theatre: “A Chorus Line”
Tony Awards
1975 Drama Category: “A Chorus Line”
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 47
Marvin Hamlisch leads the Pasadena Symphony and Pops on July 23. Inset, with vocalist J. Mark McVey.
will come. And one thing I like to do is talk to people in the audience.” The concert offerings are structured, but there’s always room for the unexpected, he says, and he does enjoy interacting with audiences — he’s famously able to improvise songs from titles suggested by the crowd. “Nothing’s 100 percent totally planned — there’s enough leeway to have the enjoyment factor, something happens, something interesting, whatever it is, to make it enjoyable.” Hamlisch, who lives in New York City, made his first-ever visit to Pasadena to be feted at City Hall in November after being hired to conduct the Pops. His arrival came after last August’s abrupt departure of Rachael Worby after 10 years. He added the Pasadena gig to his posts as principal pops conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra and the symphony orchestras of Pittsburgh, Colorado, Milwaukee, Seattle and San Diego. The Hamlisch name has added some luster to the Pasadena Pops, which, with the Pasadena Symphony, has struggled to rebuild the orchestras’ joint finances after a rocky 48 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
few years. Hamlisch says he hopes his signature approach to the American Song Book will please the fans and bring in new audiences. “Hopefully, down the line, we will be having guest stars,” he says. “There’s a lot of wonderful people with great talent out there and I hope to grab them.” His crowded schedule allows for two rehearsals before each performance, so the quality of the musicians is key. “The beauty of having this great orchestra playing this music is a tremendous plus,” he says. “A really good orchestra knows how to rehearse whether it’s familiar to them or not. They’re such good sight readers it becomes their own.” Wonderful music in an open-air setting, and a few surprises along the way, is the promise, Hamlisch says. “There’s great expectations,” he says of taking on the Pasadena Pops. “I’m going to do my best. I don’t know if it will be a success, we’ll see what happens. I’ll be thrilled if it works, and disappointed if it doesn’t. But I’m walking into this confident, and looking to give it my best shot.” R
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There’s great expectations. I’m going to do my best. I don’t know if it will be a success, we’ll see what happens. I’ll be thrilled if it works, and disappointed if it doesn’t.’
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Sounds of inspiration In its 25 years, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus has spread its love for music to the community Story by Claudia S. Palma Photos by Sarah Reingewirtz
A
“As long as we live, there is never enough singing,” — Martin Luther King Jr. As the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus celebrates its 25th anniversary, it continues to lift up the purest of voices with love and a devotion to spreading the beauty of music. “If a country loses the voices of its children, it loses quite a lot,” says Anne Tomlinson, who is celebrating her 15th year as artistic director of LACC. “I’m grateful it’s survived not only for the community but society at large. We put a lot of emphasis on the children and the decisions we make are in their best interest.” The nonprofit is recognized worldwide as one of the best children’s choruses. The group performs each season throughout the country, working with many prestigious ensembles such as Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and more. Among its many accolades and accomplishments, the choral group was also featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary “Sing!” that chronicled a year in the life of the choir. Filmmakers Freida Lee Mock and Jessica Sanders revisited LACC with their sequel documentary, “Sing Opera!,” while Mock released a third LACC documentary, “Sing China!,” in 2010. Tomlinson has been a key figure in helping to continue the focus of the choral group but it was her predecessor who began
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 51
‘
Every time I come to rehearsal, we’re just here making music and I have this feeling of just doing what I love.’ — Chorister Abby Rosen
52 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
the magic. Having a musical education background and a passion for teaching music to children, Rebecca Thompson was the ideal person to begin this great endeavor, whether she knew it at the time or not. “One of the most inspiring sounds I’ve ever known is children’s voices,” says Thompson, currently the director of a choristers guild institute on the East Coast. “I don’t think I could live without their beautiful sound.” In 1985, Thompson, wife of Pasadena Presbyterian Church’s then-Senior Pastor Dean Thompson, brought together children from the church’s chorister choir and All Saints Church Children’s Choir to form a small ensemble. Her vision for a children’s group that would support and nurture young souls through singing began when William Hall, former music director at Pasadena Presbyterian, asked Thompson to prepare the children for a special performance. With the help of Stephanie Naife and Polytechnic School, where Thompson taught for many years, the performance inspired the church and community. Not long after, the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus was formed. While it is now a self-contained group, it continues to rehearse at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. “From the beginning, we wanted to nurture the artistic side of the child. Teach them to appreciate the beauty that is possible with music — we’ve done that,” says Thompson. LACC is open to all children from Pasadena and beyond
THE LESSON BEGINS
The beginning for any LACC chorister is with auditions held every year. And every step from there is made to ensure each chorister is given all the experiences to help them grow and enrich their lives with music. About 100 to 125 children from throughout Southern California audition each year to enter the chorus group. There are about 40 to 50 new students accepted each season, depending on the openings. LACC’s First Experiences in Music program helps children ages 6 and 7 prepare for the auditions and their future in LACC. Once a child is accepted and placed in a choir, the hard work and training begins. Choristers meet weekly or bi-weekly for rehearsals from September through May. They learn to sing and gain a deeper understanding and comprehension for music and the choral art. LACC’s choirs include Concert, Chamber Singers, Intermediate, Apprentice, Preparatory and Young Men’s Ensemble, which was created for young men whose changing voices no longer fit perfectly with the usual treble choir repertoire. The repertoire covers a wide range of music from classical works to
and is tuition-based, though scholarships are offered. About 20 percent of choristers currently in the program are on full or partial scholarships. “So many arts programs for children were deleted from educational environments,” says Tomlinson. “This program, and many others like it, were beginning to answer this very issue. So many people banded together to ensure we would not lose the voices of our children in this country. It’s really been a remarkable effort. It’s made a profound impact.” THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT LACC has affected the lives of thousands of children since its inception, as well as touched the hearts and souls of many that hear its sound.
art songs and folk songs from around the world. Children are placed in the choirs based on their skill level and experience, not age. Each year they are reevaluated and can advance. Choristers also receive individual vocal coaching and take musicianship classes.
“I sang in other productions but LACC took me to a new level. I love the musical aspect of it,” says 13-year-old Caleb Glickman of Sherman Oaks, a fourth-year chorister who will attend Hamilton Music Academy this fall. “Music is the biggest part of my life. That’s what I want to do but I’m not sure yet how or in what (capacity).” Abby Rosen of La Cañada is in her fifth year at LACC and first in concert choir. She is following in the footsteps of her older brother who was also in LACC. “Every time I come to rehearsal, we’re just here making music and I have this feeling of just doing what I love,” says the 13-year-old. “(Tomlinson) is fantastic. She puts in so much work. I would not be here without her guidance.” Jacqui Santoni, 17, agrees. “Mrs. T. is different than the other conductors. She gets to know us well. She takes countless hours learning all our parts to help us properly,” she says. During rehearsal for the summer tour, one can sense the devotion and mutual respect the choristers have with Tomlinson and their fellow choristers. “The way the staff interacts with the children and the community — the word that comes to mind is grace. There’s so much grace in every molecule,” says David Scheidemantle, LACC board chairman. The Pasadena father of two choristers says he has first-hand experience with the effect LACC has on people. “You see it in the way people (in the audience) react when they hear them perform. People stop and stare. Some people get overwhelmed by it,” says Scheidemantle. “During a China tour a few years ago, I had the opportunity to perform with them, (playing the violin). It was really an amazing experience being surrounded by the sound.” Tomlinson has received many accolades and awards including
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 53
GLOBAL OUTREACH
the 2000 Gold Crown Award for Music Education, given by the Pasadena Arts Council; the 2001 Power of One Award, given by the Facing History and Ourselves Foundation; and the 2006 Educator of the Year Award given by the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Southern California. But for Tomlinson, who is also the children’s chorus mistress for LA Opera, the ultimate award is something not easily grasped. “Seeing a child come into this, seeing when that light goes on in their eyes, when they know they’ve accomplished and achieved something, seeing a child enriched by this program — that’s the greatest delight of my job,” she says. For more information, visit lachildrenschorus.org. R
54 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
On a local level, LACC dedicates its outreach within the community with performances for retirement homes, community centers, public schools and various civic groups each season. But touring is another important aspect for LACC. The concert choir’s touring ensemble has performed throughout the United States and some parts of Canada, as well as in China, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Australia and more. More than 40 choristers in the touring ensemble visited the East Coast this summer with stops in New Jersey, New York City and Washington, D.C. The tour included visits with other choirs and a special performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Independence Day. The group has learned various cultural pieces and choral works in a variety of languages throughout the years. “Last year we went to Scandinavia, it was amazing. We learned an Estonian piece. It’s really beautiful. It’s fun to learn different cultural pieces,” says Caleb Glickman, 13, of Sherman Oaks, a fourth-year chorister. Jacqui Santoni, 17, of Claremont, the only chorister completing 10 years in the upcoming season, says her first year at LACC was hard work. She almost quit but was inspired by something her conductor at the time says of learning the language of music. “She says if you sing, it’s an international language, you can speak to anyone,” says Santoni. “I thought that was cool.” The soon-to-be high school senior says she has sung in African, French, German, Latin, Spanish, Persian, Brazilian, Chinese, Swahili, Finnish, Swedish, Yiddish, Hebrew and Estonian, and learned to sing in Elvish for a “Lord of the Rings” performance. “This last year is going to be bittersweet,” she says. “I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
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NIGHTLIFE AROUND TOWN
I
By Michelle J. Mills
If you’re bored, you can’t be in Pasadena. The Crown City offers a wide range of live music at an even wider range of venues. The best part is that many of the spots are within walking distance of one another, so if you don’t like the scene in one, you can slide down the street to sample something else. Of course, once you find the perfect place — whether it’s a cold brew and a hot rock band, a custom cocktail and smooth jazz or a plate of ribs and jamming reggae — you’ll want to share it with your friends. And there’s something going on somewhere in Pasadena every night of the week, so put down the remote control and get out for a real reality show. Here’s a list we’ve compiled to get you started.*
ARROYO CHOP HOUSE 536 S. Arroyo Parkway. (626) 577-7463 Pianist nightly. Full bar and menu. No cover. arroyochophouse.com BAR CELONA 46 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 405-1000 Top 40 DJs Fridays and Saturdays. Flamenco and rumba band Tuesdays. Full bar and menu. barcelonapasadena.com BARNEY’S BEANERY 99 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 405-9777 Karaoke 10 p.m. Saturdays. Comedy 9 p.m. Mondays. Trivia Night 8 p.m. Thursdays. Full bar and menu. No cover. barneysbeanery.com BIG MAMA’S RIB SHACK 1453 N. Lake Ave. (626) 797-1792. Jazz and blues bands 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Beer and wine and full menu. No cover. bigmamas-ribshack.com BURGER CONTINENTAL 535 S. Lake Ave. (626) 792-6634 Mediterranean and Greek bands and belly dancers 7:30-11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Karaoke 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Crown City Dixieland Band 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Full bar and menu. No cover. burgercontinental.com THE ICE HOUSE 24 N. Mentor Ave. (626) 577-1894 Main stage comedians 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Fridays, and 8 and 10 p.m. Saturdays. Rudy Moreno’s Latino Comedy Showcase 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Comedy Juice 10 p.m. Thursdays. Full bar and menu. Ages 18 and over. Cover varies, plus two-drink minimum. icehousecomedy.com JONES COFFEE ROaSTERS 693 S. Raymond Ave. (626) 564-9291 Wheel Food Wednesdays with live music,
food trucks and carts and more 5:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 14. Coffee and tea. All ages. No cover. jonescoffee.com IXTAPA CANTINA 119 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 304-1000 Dance DJs Fridays and Saturdays. Latin DJs Tuesdays. Full bar and menu. cantinaixtapa.com KINGSTON CAFE 333 S. Fair Oaks Ave. (626) 405-8080 Live reggae 7 p.m. Saturdays. All ages. Wine and beer and Caribbean menu. No cover. kingstoncafe.com MENAGE 54 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 793-0608 Live salsa and DJs Thursdays. Dance DJs Fridays and Saturdays. Full bar. Cover varies. clubmenage.net NO FUTURE CAFE 1500 E. Walnut Ave. (626) 795-6885 Live rock, pop, indie and related genres 7 p.m. Fridays. $5, includes unlimited coffee, tea or hot chocolate. All ages. myspace. com/nofuturecafe NOOR 260 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite A209. (626) 793-4518 Jazz band and jam 8-11 p.m. Wednesdays. Full bar and Mediterranean menu. No cover. noorevents.com
PINOCCHIO’S PIZZA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 1449 N. Lake Ave. (626) 791-7591 Jazz, blues and related genres Saturdays. All ages. Limited bar and full menu. No cover. PLATE 38 2361 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 793-7100 Live music of various genres 9 p.m.midnight Fridays. Full bar and menu. No cover. plate38.com POINT08 95 E. Green St. (626) 683-0808 Live jazz and related genres 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays. Show and jam Thursdays. Full bar and menu. No cover. point08bar.com REDWHITE+BLUEZZ 70 S. Raymond Ave. (626) 792-4441 Live jazz and blues 6:30-9:30 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, 7:15-10:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. brunch Sundays. Full bar and menu. No cover. redwhitebluezz.com THE TERRACE 443 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 796-3030 Bands and DJs of all genres various nights. Full bar and menu. No cover. myspace. com/443terrace
OLD TOWNE PUB 66 N. Fair Oaks @ Union, enter through alley off Holly Street. (626) 577-6583 Max Buda Band, jazz and rock, first Monday of the month. myspace.com/ oldtownepubpasadena
T. BOYLE’S TAVERN 37 N. Catalina Ave. (626) 578-0957 Live rock, dance and related genres Fridays and Saturdays. Action Trivia 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays. Action Bingo 9-11 p.m. Wednesdays. Beer and wine. Cover varies. tboylestavern.com
PARKWAY GRILL 510 S. Arroyo Parkway. (626) 795-1001 Pianist nightly except Sundays. Full bar and menu. No cover. theparkwaygrill.com
VILLA SORRISO RISTORANTE AND BAR 168 W. Colorado Blvd. (626) 793-2233 Dance DJs 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Full bar and menu. Cover varies.
* Shows are subject to last-minute changes. Call before you go.
56 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Opera and romance
R
Maestro
Victor Vener
Courtesy of Robert Millard
Romance is never easy. Not when there are interfering parents, nonsupportive friends, jealousy, infidelity and other foolish behavior. And because this is all about opera, throw in tragic death, redemption and the most sublime music ever written for the stage. The Los Angeles Opera’s new season opens Sept. 17-18 at the Los Angeles Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with the first two of its six productions. Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” is first up. A young girl falls for a selfish, brooding aristocrat (ála Heathcliff of “Wuthering Heights”) who eventually spurns her. Why do sweet young things always like gloomy, selfabsorbed fellows? Anyway, she goes on with her life, while he gets caught up in a duel with his best friend and lives in loneliness and despair forever. The music, with its emotional and thrilling Russian intensity, is to die for. A more cheerful story that asks, “are only men unfaithful?” debuts Sept. 18. Mozart’s battle of the sexes, “Cosi Fan Tutte” is comical and as politically incorrect as “Two and a Half Men.” Plus, it is filled with ravishing music. It’s Mozart, after all. The rest of the 2011-12 season includes productions of “Romeo Et Juliette” (Gounod) which starts Nov. 6, “Simon Boccanegra” (Verdi), “Albert Herring” (Britten) and “La Bohème” (Puccini). Tickets are $40 to $270. (213) 9728001 or laopera.com.
— Catherine Gaugh
rose august 14 2011.indd 1
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 57 7/21/11 1:59 PM
58 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
EAT
NORMA’S TACOS 1265 E. Green St., Pasadena (626) 795-1224
Q&A: Norma and Ulises Medrano Owners, Norma’s Tacos
A taqueria twist
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Norma and Ulises Medrano wanted to pump some authentic Mexican food into the Pasadena area. A combination of simple but tasty homestyle food and a unique location — the site of a 1924 gas station — has led to rave reviews for the taqueria, or taco stand, they opened on Green Street last year. “We opened as Taco Station because I thought it went with the idea of the gas station but we found out there was already a Taco Station in Riverside so we had to change it,” says Norma. All the items at Norma’s Tacos — from the carne asada and beans with sausage or soy, to taquitos and burritos — are made to order and the tortillas are handmade daily.
The two Mexico natives (she’s from Sonora and he’s from Sinaloa) rely on their family tradition and some restaurant kitchen experience to create an authentic taqueria experience. Norma was a nanny and caregiver for about 22 years; Ulises worked as a cook in the kitchens of different Mexican and American restaurants for 15 years. The couple, married a happy 10 years now, share their South Pasadena home with their two adult children from previous relationships. Now that their dream of running their own business has become reality, the Medranos look forward to keeping busy at the small stand and planning what their next venture will be.
Photos by Walt Mancini
By CLAUDIA S. PALMA
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 59
Rose: How did you find this location? Norma: (In Spanish) We’ve always liked this spot. We drove by in December (2009) and saw a sign (for an eatery) that said “Coming Soon.” Ulises: (in Spanish) I always drove down this street and saw this lot and thought that would be perfect for a taco stand. We came by again and then saw a “For Lease” sign. We signed an agreement the same day we spoke to the owner. Norma: In three months, we did everything. Ulises: The owner had the (vintage) gas pumps in storage and one was just refurbished. He asked if we wanted them and we said yes, so he put them back on. It looks great. R: Why this location? Norma: In Mexico, the taquerias are small with just a counter (and grill). I liked that (the location) was small and resembled the taquerias in Mexico. R: What are the challenges/benefits of the small space? Norma: (The kitchen area) is small but we make it work. That’s why I prefer women working in the kitchen, only women. At lunch time when it gets busy, we’re all moving around and bumping into each other. Ulises: There is one window only. We thought of adding another one on the side but thought it was too much. Everything goes through that window — orders go in, food comes out. It’s a magical window. R: How well do you work together? And who cooks at home? Norma: We like working with one of us inside the kitchen and the other outside with the customers. That’s how we have control and are able to please customers, which is what we want. 60 | ROSE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011
Ulises: We used to be open seven nights a week when we first opened then we decided we needed a break so we chose to close Sundays. And we still do catering at least once a week. Norma: At home after work, each night we sit and talk about the day — what went good, what went bad. Since I started this business, I closed the kitchen at home. I don’t cook at home. I spend the whole day smelling food, I still smell it when I get home. On Sundays, we go out to eat at a nice restaurant with a real plate, not a paper plate. I like all types of food. We also learn (about the restaurant business) when we go out to eat. Robert Simon (of AKA Bistro) has come to the taco stand and he likes it. So we went to his restaurant and we’ve learned from him just from visiting, eating there and the feeling we get being there — it’s good food, fresh. R: Do you get any ingredients from special vendors? Ulises: Restaurant Depot (in Los Angeles). Norma: We get almost all our ingredients there, even the produce. (Ulises) goes every morning. They have everything. Ulises: We also get our meat delivered fresh every day from a vendor, Picos de Europa. And we get Coca-Cola from the CocaCola company. R: Are any of these recipes passed on? Ulises: These are family recipes. Norma: From the moms. My parents had taco stands in Mexico. When I first came to Los Angeles, I had carne asada tacos and it was boiled, the meat had been boiled. It wasn’t good. Ulises’ mom taught me how to make her crispy potato tacos. All this (food) no one else made here. This is all made in the morning, it’s fresh. The beans are different, the carne asada, the cochinita pibil — it’s all different (from other Mexican taco stands here).
R: How did you decide to include vegetarian-friendly dishes? Norma: We like to eat healthy. Everything we make here is fresh and not greasy. We thought vegetarians also want to eat with their (non-vegetarian) friends so we have something for everyone. Ulises: Vegetarians like it, too. At times when we did catering, also called Norma’s Catering, we would get more ideas of what vegetarians like. R: What other items would you like to add — seasonal, temporary or permanent? Norma: We have fish tacos, Mexico-style, on Friday and Saturday. For us, we started it for “semana santa” or lent. But people like it so we’re going to keep doing that on the weekends. We might add some ceviche tostadas (made of chopped seafood and lime juice) but that’s it for now. R: What do you hope people feel/ experience when they come to Norma’s? Norma: I hope that they feel good with the food. We have had mostly good experiences with customers so far with just over a year open. We have a lot of great reviews on Yelp. Ulises: With the economy how it is now, customers are happy with our prices. Norma: A lot of customers say thank you, because the food is good and the prices are good. R: What’s next for Norma’s? Norma: In the future, we hope to open a sit-down restaurant serving authentic Mexican food. I don’t want to say what we’re thinking but something different with unique desserts. Not until we find the perfect location though, just like how we found this one, and in Pasadena. I want to stay here. I love Pasadena. R: Would you be willing to share a recipe with our readers? Norma: For $2 million (smiles). No, really, I can’t share any recipes. We’ve had people walk up to the window with checks to buy our recipes and I said no, so then they try to ask for my cooks. The most someone offered is $300,000 for a recipe but I said no because this is our life; it’s our business. R
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SEEN
Turning the big 5-0 PHOTOS BY KEITH BIRMINGHAM
Villa Esperanza Services marked its 50th anniversary on July 16, celebrating a half century of service to children and adults with developmental disabilities at a block party with live entertainment, food and family activities. For the festivities, Villa Street was closed off between Oak and Craig avenues as the crowd enjoyed entertainment by The Conductors, Arrest My Sister and A Noise Within. The kids zone featured Danny’s Farm Petting Zoo, bounce houses, arts and crafts supervised by Armory Center for the Arts, and food was dispensed at booths from Mijares Mexican Restaurant, Pie-N-Burger, Mama’s Hot Tamales and Cool Haus Ice Cream. A beer garden for adults was set up by London Gastro, vendors offered handmade and oneof-a-kind artifacts, and Amadeus Spa offered massages and hair braiding.
Huntington Medical Foundation is Proud to Announce the Newest Member of its Medical Staff Goli Compoginis, M.D. Dermatologist Graduate – Keck School of Medicine at USC Bachelor of Science degree – Duke University Chief Resident – Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center Internship – Huntington Memorial Hospital Member of the American Academy of Dermatology 55 East California Blvd., Suite 204, Pasadena Appointments:
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Developing People to Lead People & Projects Pam Wiedenbeck Member Tournament of Roses www.plansmadeperfect.com
info@plansmadeperfect.com
Wine-tasting for fireflies On July 9, members of the Firefly Guild staged their third annual wine-tasting party in South Pasadena to benefit Pasadena’s Ronald McDonald House, “the home away from home,” for families with critically ill children who are undergoing medical treatment.
LEFT, PHOTOS BY SARAH REINGEWIRTZ. RIGHT, PHOTOS BY JAMES CARBONE
Le tout Pasadena was on hand for Pasadena Heritage’s gala celebration of hometown heroes on July 16 at the historic Castle Green. The occasion was a well-deserved tribute to the “Guardians of Old Pasadena” — those intrepid folks who successfully defied developers determined to raze Old Pasadena back in the ‘70s. More than 150 guests attended the event, which raised $40,000 for preservation programs. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling and silent auction of renowned artist Kenton Nelson’s 14th painting of the Colorado Street Bridge.
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Check out the relaunch of pasadenascene.com for updates on all things Pasadena! SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 63
SEEN
Mariachi celebration St. Andrew parish presented mariachi group Sol de Mexico in concert on July 23 to celebrate Pasadena’s 125th anniversary. The 11-member musical group presented a full program of traditional mariachi sounds with a fresh contemporary feel and powerful rhythms. The performance was followed by a catered dinner in a block party setting directly in front of the church.
A wine and cheese tasting was held on July 24 to benefit the Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Congregations (ECPAC), as well as Friends in Need, including The Food Pantry, The Women’s Room, The Bad Weather Shelter and the Homeless Prevention Program.
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top, PHOTOS BY KEITH BIRMINGHAM; right, photos by james carbone
Tasting benefit
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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 | ROSE | 65
INSIDER
By LARRY WILSON
I
Music worth the drive
I’M always railing in this space against the dearth of real, live music for adults who aren’t dead between the ears (or in the musical taste buds) in Old Pasadena, which in theory is a perfect place for live music. It should in fact be rocking the way Memphis’ Beale Street bleats the blues — a walkable Southern California entertainment neighborhood where a music fan could easily tromp from club to club, unlike the Sunset Strip, upon whose sidewalks no boots of Spanish leather have stomped since the Buffalo Springfield chronicled the hipster-vs.-cops riot there. You drive, dog, between the House of Blues and the Roxy, though they’re six blocks apart. Oh, there’s some quiet jazz here. And you can find a club with a DJ spinning house, or dub, or acid dub house, or whatever electronic music mixed on turntables is being called this week. And I’m not even really a fuddy-dud about that; it’s just I’d rather see and hear a band. And there’s fantastic and highly eclectic music at each one of Monica Lee Copeland’s Indelible Ink shows, which just moved from the champagne bar Pop on Union Street to Robert Simon’s new AKA Bistro in One Colorado, 7 p.m., the last Tuesday of every month barring December. The shows, which also include dancers and performance artists, achieve a modern vaudeville vibe, but they are mostly dedicated to the spoken word — slam poetry and regular poetry — with the musical guest as a sweet melodic tonic programmed in between. That’s why the one night when I walked all of Old Pas in search of a rock tune, I ended back where I started — with the teen Led Zeppelin tribute band in the Old Towne Pub, the classic stinky dive bar that was always a little bit hidden and now is mightily so — enter from various alleys off of Holly. At least they had a sense of humor, and tossed the pretty
girl at the bar the mike so she could show off her Merseyside accent tribute. If you know of live music you like in Old Pas that I’m missing, drop a line — would love to check it out. But the other night I found a local joint that is booking the kind of bands that would be great in Old Pas. And it was very much worth the drive up to Sierra Madre to check it out. I’d been to Cafe 322 on Sierra Madre Boulevard for lunch before, but had no idea the Italian place served up tunes as well as bowls of pasta with red sauce until my friends in the Human Hands, a great post-punk L.A. band that considers itself as “closely associated with what is loosely known as the Pasadena scene, bands with more of an art influence,” a scene I’d wager you didn’t even know existed. What it means, along with being smart as opposed to dumb, is a sprightly, ironic sound akin to XTC and Television. You might remember “Trains vs. Planes,” original member Juan Gomez’ funny transit number, or how they opened for Magazine back in the day, or headlined Perkins Palace — Old Pas’ Raymond, that is. Or more likely the bands that came out of HH, including The Dream Syndicate and Wall of Voodoo and The Romans. But I walked into the joint alone halfway through the set the other night and, 35 years on, the Hands were hot. And the sound was just excellent — loud, yeah, but not so much that I lamented forgetting ear plugs. Loud like the Dictators: Young (well, young-sounding), fast and scientific. Insightfully funny real-person songs like “Emily Watson” that would do slice-oflifers Fountains of Wayne proud. Juan, the highly intellectual kind of guitarist who works in rare books at the Huntington Library, said the bookers and the club were great to work with. Featuring the kind of rock music that would do great in Old Pasadena. And if a fellow has to head to Sierra Madre to hear it, well, more power to the 322. R
Larry Wilson is public editor of the Pasadena Star-News and the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group.
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Disclaimer: The City of Pasadena is providing this list as a service to its residents and not as an endorsement nor a recommendation of any product, service, merchant, supplier or business. Residents may use the list as an initial contact if they wish, as they would use the names in a telephone directory, but residents must then make their own investigation of the suitability of any product for its intended use as well as the determination of whether to do business with any specific merchant or supplier. Neither the City of Pasadena nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose in providing this listing service.
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Finding real solutions to your real problems. But we know that you aren’t satisfied with that kind of answer and frankly, neither are we. That’s why our practice is dedicated to finding the root cause of your problems and then, providing real, proven solutions, so you can get back to feeling like yourself again. And, we have a great success record to back it up. So if you are tired of being told there is nothing wrong...or nothing to be done, it’s time to call us.
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