Bell Tower In Black And White

Monrovia High School.  This is the second of the weekend photos using more than my typical amount of post processing.  This is a single file, tone mapped and converted to black and white using the software program Dynamic Photo HDR.

Sunbeam

When it comes to photography, I prefer the less is more approach to post processing. This weekend features two photos that go the opposite direction. One of my top reasons for starting this photoblog was, by continually taking photos, I would have plenty of opportunity to discover, test, try, experiment, learn, make mistakes and hopefully end up the better for it. Today's photo, to be honest, I'm not crazy about. But it's a package deal, so there you go.

I like tomorrow's better.

Shared Space

More from the back side of downtown Monrovia.

Nature's Window

Inside looking out from the cabin in Monrovia Canyon Park.

Around Back

Another stop around the back side of Old Town Monrovia, in black and white.

Moon Over Monrovia - Disney Version*

First the credits:

I saw this in a post on the Living In Monrovia blog of a photo by Loren Javier.
Stephanie May left a comment with some info on the artist and a link to this article from the LA Times.
A little more research uncovered some more info on the artist ( Joseph J. Musil) and the poster.

The above is one of the faux movie billboards on display outside the Hyperian Theater in Disney's California Adventure.  This one is advertising a musical about...Monrovia!

I was at the theme parks recently and wanted to see the billboard for myself while I was there.
The young lady outside the Hyperian Theater was nice enough to let me go through the large empty queue area in order to get a quick photo.

Unfortunately, after asking around, I confirmed that copies of the billboards are not available for purchase.

*For long time visitors with good memories, I have used "Moon Over Monrovia" as a title before, long before I knew this poster existed.

Memorial Day 2009

It's Technical

The tower above the police station.  The worker in the bucket helps to give it a nice sense of scale.

Window Bars

Bear Cub Mural

The Bear Mural, painted by artist Helen Katharine Forbes (1891-1945), on display in the new Monrovia Public Library.

The mural had been stashed away in the basement of the post office since 1958. It was found again in 2004 and underwent restoration over the past 5 years.  That big hole in the middle?  It was painted that way.  According to the information at the library, the mural was painted in place above the teller windows of the post office.  The space above the teller windows, unfortunately, had a large air vent.  Since the vent couldn't be moved, the artist painted around it leaving the empty space seen above.

There's also a second painting of a mother bear, but that one is still missing.  Keep your eyes open, check your garages, it's out there somewhere.

Flags

In front of the Monrovia Public Library.

Monrovia High School Marching Wildcat Band

Marching in the 2009 Monrovia Day parade.

Take A Bow

So much going on last week, so many photos.  Here's another from the Monrovia Day parade held last Thursday.  As you can see from the lack of shadows and the comfortable temperature displayed in the background, the parade was held in the evening this year for the first time.

Ray Bradbury At Monrovia Public Library

Ray Bradbury delivers the keynote address last Saturday as part of the opening celebration for the new Monrovia Public Library.  He spoke in the Community Room to an overflow crowd and then stayed to sign books for those waiting to meet him.

Ray Bradbury was a perfect choice to be a part of opening day at the library.

Monrovia Public Library Ribbon Cutting

The library is now open!

In the coming days I'll be featuring more photo's from the opening ceremony and a couple from the inside of the library, including Ray Bradbury.

Monrovia Public Library - Opening Day!

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Today's the big day. The new Monrovia Public Library officially opens this morning at 10am with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Then, at 3:30pm, Ray Bradbury will be on hand to deliver the keynote address in the new Community Room in the library.

Start Of The 2009 Monrovia Day Parade - May 14, 2009

The Theme: Books On Parade - Celebrating The New Library (the building in the background).

Bricks And Bars

T. Phillip's Coming Soon

T. Phillip's is opening up an Alehouse and Grill in Monrovia in the long vacant but recently renovated building on the corner of Myrtle Ave. and Colorado Blvd.  They currently have locations in La Verne and Glendora - check out their website here.

Timber!

Here's a tree mid-fall about to land across the waterfall trail in Monrovia Canyon Park.  The tree was dead and leaning precariously over the trail so it was cut down before it could fall on somebody. This is such a rare thing. If it wasn't for the danger, the tree would have been left alone for nature to take its course.

The tree kicking up a cloud of dust as it hits the ground.

Old Homes Tour - Wild Rose Avenue Historic District

A quick photo of yesterday's Old Homes Tour on the new Wild Rose Avenue Historic District.

Happy Mothers Day 2009

My mom in an undated portrait.

Annual Fire Service Day - May 9th 2009

Open house and pancake breakfast from 7 am to 11 am.  The trucks were moved outside to make room inside for all the people looking around and enjoying their pancakes.  Proceeds from the event go to help local charities.

Langley Czar Cops

Cafe Lori

138 E. Lime Ave. - in the restaurant space integrated into the north side of the Krikorian Theater.

A short write up from Joshua Lurie at Food GPS here.

Backside Of A Bear

By the time I could get my camera out, the bear had almost made a clean getaway.

Parking Structure - Courtyards At Old Town

Parking structure for the Courtyards At Old Town at the south end of Old Town Monrovia.

Mother's Day Old Homes Tour May 10, 2009

The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group's annual event will feature seven homes on this block.
See the MOHPG website for all the details.

Henry's Market Monrovia Is Hiring

The contact information on the building banner:
Website: www.henrysmarkets.com
Phone: 1-888-977-6278

On The Tracks - Monrovia Train Depot

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The Monrovia Train Depot, this time from a different perspective and in black and white.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Shadows

Re-visiting the trains from earlier in the month with the added bonus of a self-portrait in shadow for this month's Theme Day.

Be sure to click on the link below to see how participating photobloggers the world over
are photographing the theme of Shadows:

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants