In The News

I always envisioned this site as providing a more or less idealized version of Monrovia.

Lately though, the 800 pound gorilla in the room has been staring me down for so long that I must acknowledge it.

The image above of a news van in the city has become all too common due to these events.

This Used To Be...#8

...McBratney's Department Store. Located on the northwest corner of Lemon and Myrtle, I remember it as a very nice store with 2 floors - street level and lower level.

Dusting Of Snow

Live Oak Memorial Park

This Used To Be...#7

...a very small bowling alley. I barely remember walking there one day but don't have any memory of going inside. I do remember the sounds of people bowling that I could hear from the parking lot behind the building.

Now it's a Prudential California Realty, Scoops Ice Cream and a gym at the rear of the building.

Thanks to the Monrovia Historical Museum for confirming my memories.

Rained Out

Recreation Park.

Rainbow Over Monrovia

We had two somewhat unusual weather events yesterday. The first was the early morning hail, the second was this late morning rainbow.

Hail! Monrovia

It doesn't happen often, but it hailed early this morning in Monrovia.

Neff Instrument Corporation

Will this lot become attached housing units, luxury apartment units or ?

Future Home of Pinkberry

Poison Oak

This stuff is everywhere in our local mountains.

"Leaves of three,

let it be.

It's no joke,

it's poison oak!"

RM Auctions

All I can do is window shop.

Monrovia Public Library: Gone

Destruction, done. Construction can now begin.

Photo looking east towards Myrtle Ave.

Psychic Reader and Advisor

Pedestrian Overpass on Huntington Dr.

Monrovia Service Clubs

Historic Homes - George H. Anderson House

Additional info from the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group here.

Jockey Jail

Being held at the Pottery Ranch.

Monrovia Public Library Destruction 2

Formerly the front of the library.

Monrovia Public Library Destruction

...has begun.

Neville Building

No Dumping

Future Home Of Circuit City?

Nu-Way Car Wash

With the Monrovia Train Depot in the background.

Temporary Monrovia Public Library

Free Sand Bags

...now that it's raining. In Recreation Park.

Debris Basin After Rain

Here's the same area from yesterday's photo only this time looking south. The storm gives it a completely different look and feel.

Clearing The Debris Basin

L. A. County has been clearing out the debris basin that runs along the entry road up to Monrovia Canyon Park. As you can see, everything goes, including the top 12 feet of soil.

Sunset - New Year's Day

Taken from the former site of the temporary fire station at the corner of Olive and Ivy Avenues.

Monrovia High School and Measure M

The sign is up. Construction to begin 2nd quarter of 2008.

Happy New Year!

Coming up with a photo of Monrovia that also said "Happy New Year" was more difficult than I expected. Then it hit me: Colorado Blvd!

The biggest events around here on New Year's Day are the Rose Bowl and The Rose Parade. The Rose Parade route is along Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. Colorado Blvd. extends to, and actually ends in, Monrovia.

That's the connection. The photo above is where Colorado Blvd. crosses Myrtle Ave. in the heart of Old Town Monrovia. Happy New Year!