Happy Halloween 2010!

The Halloween treats are from the Monrovia Bakery.

Halloween House

Low Clouds Over Monrovia Canyon Park Entrance

Taken earlier in the week when the last storm was just leaving town.

Honeycomb

Inside an old pipe along the Ben Overturff trail in Monrovia Canyon Park.

Overcast Overturff Overlook

I've posted a couple of photos similar to this in the past, but with the air as clear as it was on Monday, it doesn't hurt to take and post another.

That's the Santa Anita Race Track and adjacent mall in Arcadia in the left center of the photo and the tall buildings of downtown L.A. in the upper right.

Coyote

Spotted yesterday morning running along Hillcrest Blvd.

Shades Of Green

The recent wet weather has brought out many different shades of green in the local foothills.

Unleashed By Petco - On A Segway

A bit of advertising I can honestly say I've never seen around town before.  This is one of three young ladies heading up Myrtle Avenue towards Old Town Monrovia on their Segways.  The three were promoting the grand opening celebration this weekend of the new Unleashed by Petco store in the Huntington Oaks shopping center.

Green

More color in the canyon.

A Walk In The Woods

Fall Colors

Jeff And Angel And The Market Grill

Stopped in at the Market Grill last Saturday afternoon just in time to catch Jeff and Angel from KSGV radio doing an interview with Chef Alex.  That's Jeff above recording some of the video that you can now find on YouTube titled: The Market Grill in Monrovia food the old-fashioned way.

Another in a growing number of well deserved write ups and raves about the Market Grill.  Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Unleashed By Petco - Monrovia

The new Unleashed by Petco opened in the Huntington Oaks shopping center on October 11th.  

The Grand Opening will take place this Saturday, October 23rd at 9am.  

Address: 614 W. Huntington Dr.  Monrovia, CA  91016.

Monrovia Patch Goes Live

Monrovia's locally focused and newest online news source went live this morning at midnight.  Check it out at http://monrovia.patch.com/.  No quarters required.

Sunday Road Trip - Calico Ghost Town

It's raining outside, seems like a good time for another road trip.  This time, we're heading out into the Mojave desert to Calico Ghost Town, located in Yermo, California.  Most people are probably more familiar with the Calico Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm.  There's a definite connection between them.

I love going to places like this.  It's out in the middle of nowhere, the air is clear and you can find and learn some history mixed in among the touristy stuff.  A relaxing, low-key getaway.  Also a fun place to take photos.

Calico got its start in 1881 as a silver mining town.  After the price of silver dropped, the town turned into a ghost town by 1904.

In 1951, Walter Knott, founder of Knott's Berry Farm, bought the town and restored it.  Calico Ghost Town will seem very familiar if you've been to the Knott's version.

In 1966, Walter Knott gave the town to San Bernardino County, California.

Both towns have their Bottle House.

For you old time Knott's fans that miss the long gone Haunted Shack, this Calico still has one called the Mystery Shack.

Above is a partial overview of Calico.  The town extends farther to the right out of the photo.  Calico is slightly more than one street with original, restored and recreated buildings housing stores, gift shops, restaurants and museums.

At the end of the street, you'll find the old Calico Schoolhouse.  You can't go inside but you can look through the windows.

The day I was there, the sheriff put on a quick draw and shooting exhibition.

For an additional fee, you can take a ride on the Calico and Odessa Railroad (above) for a very scenic tour of some historic areas just outside the main town, take a tour of the Maggie Mine or go through the Mystery Shack mentioned above.

Other things you can find at Calico Ghost Town:

-Camping near the entrance to town - if you want to stay longer than than a one day road trip.
-Town cemetery.
-Various events - The Ghost Haunt is taking place this month, Heritage Fest at the end of November, Christmas in Calico in December.  See their website for all the info.

Road Trip details:

Mileage from Monrovia, CA:  About 115 miles.

Travel time:   About 2.5 hours depending on traffic.

Calico Ghost Town is out in the desert.  Depending on when you go, it could get very hot or very cold.  Dress accordingly.

Calico Ghost Town website.

Wikipedia page.

*I have since re-visited Calico Ghost Town and a new set of photos can be found here in a post dated February 10, 2013.

Wildcat In Tile

The mascot is in place over the door of the new gymnasium at Monrovia High School.

"Howl"oween Haunt

Saturday October 30th in Library Park from 3pm to 6pm.  For more info call the Department of Community Services at 626-256-8246.

Party City Halloween

The Party City in the Huntington Oaks shopping center is in full Halloween mode.

STOP

Acorn

This is another photo of the fire area mentioned in yesterday's post.  At first glance, it doesn't look like there's much left.  But if you look closer, you'll notice the acorn growing among the bare branches.

Leaves

While doing some volunteer work on the Bill Cull trail in Monrovia Canyon Park, I saw some of the damage from the recent August 23rd fire up close.  The trail (that starts at the entrance station) is closed and will be for some time.  Without vegetation, the slope just continues to slide down over the trail.

I did see a couple things that, to me at least, seemed pretty amazing.  The background in the photo above was thick vegetation, now all that is completely gone.  Somehow the lower bunch of leaves on this tree escaped the fire despite being on the same branch, and right next to, the blackened leaves.

Anyway, enjoy the park and the other trails but please give this section some time to recover.

More tomorrow showing evidence of the resiliency of Mother Nature.

Wispy White

2010 Celebrate The Arts Festival Weekend

This weekend (Saturday and Sunday October 9th and 10th) is the 47th annual Celebrate The Arts Festival here in Monrovia.  The event is being held in Library Park and the hours are 10am to 6 pm both days.  

The event is free and features many different types of fine art on display and for sale along with live entertainment and food booths.  The event is presented by the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts.  You can find more info on their website here.

Sorry about the image quality, all I had with me was my trusty cell phone camera.

Homestead Studio Suites Hotel

930 S. 5th Ave.  Monrovia, CA  91016
Phone: 626-256-6999
Website:  www.HomesteadHotels.com

Raindrops

The rain stopped and today was only partly cloudy but I still had another rain photo left to post.

Another Rainy Day

Heading north on Mayflower Ave. approaching Huntington Dr.
This storm should clear up by tomorrow.

Sawpit Dam In The Clouds

Monrovia Canyon Park.

Pine Tree In The Clouds

Music To Shop By

A musician performing for shoppers at the Sunday Farmers Market in Old Town Monrovia.

Old Railroad Track

Sections of track at the Monrovia Train Depot.

Library Park Facing North

An idyllic scene in the middle of town.