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monrovia canyon park, originally uploaded by chiggins.

Fantastic shot of Monrovia Canyon Park. This past week I was Morthern California, and walked a natural area in Carmel Valley that is very similar in feeling to Monrovia Canyon Park. So Pretty!

Love this night shot of Petrillo’s Pizza. I don’t think I’ve ever really noticed it before. Anyone recommend it?

Lovely photo by Googlesque.

With our warm climate in Monrovia, it seems natural to grow lots of tasty things here, which I am doing more and more of. I’m taking out grass and planting fruits and vegetables. Click on the image above to watch an inspiring video about urban homesteaders in Pasadena. I’ve recently found a great website for getting “low chill” varieties of things that nomally don’t do well here, such as raspberries and blackberries. Visit Sperling Nursery to get started. Monrovia has an average of 380 chill hours per year, which means that when you are looking for varieties of fruits that require chilling to produce well (like apple trees), it’s esssential to purchase a variety that requires fewer than 400 chill hours.

I don’t know about you, but the supermakets just aren’t cutting it with fruit anymore. The last several times I’ve purchased pears and peaches and watermelon, they rotted before getting ripe!

Here’s a nice shot of the Monrovia Airport tile mural on the Albertson’s wall by Doran B.

Thought I would start out the summer with a boat ride on the lake in Bonelli Park in San Dimas. If Monrovia had a lake, I would be on it! I think Theo looks quite fetching in his new lifejacket.

Barney Glenn Field in the late afternoon.

I’ve passed by this little gem of a tea shop many times in the last couple of years without entering, and boy do I wish I had ventured in sooner. I finally stepped inside the other day and not only were the owners friendly, but their selection of teas is staggering. Along the far wall they have shelves and shelves filled with glass jars with enticing names like “Summer Spice” and “Linden Blossom.”

I had no idea which one to choose, but co-owners Cindy Thai and Kim Nguyen (pictured above) were more than happy to help me find one that I might like. It’s fun just to open the jars and smell what is inside. They brew their teas fresh on the spot, so you might wait a little longer than getting an iced tea from a machine, but boy, is it worth it!

Fusion Tea Lounge/Aloha Boba Tea House
666 W. Huntington Drive
Monrovia, CA 91016
(Next to “Toys R Us”)
Tel: 626-303-2283

I grew up around horses, and used to ride them from the stables to my house, on the side of the road. I miss seeing them, and was happy when I spotted some when driving through Bradbury the other day.

Ok, I know it’s not in Old Town, but at least we now have a decent bar to hang in when the need arises. I attended the opening gala of the “new” Doubletree Hotel on Huntington Drive in Monrovia.

Even in the rain, it left a favorable impression on me as a place to come on some warm evening and sit by the pool. They have made an effort to place lots of lounge furniture both inside and out, and hopefully they will have good food. I didn’t bring my camera and so can’t post a picture at the moment, but will try to remember to get over there and shoot some pictures later on.

Lunch at Wraps 360, originally uploaded by Tales of an LA Addict.

I’m glad to see the Rosa at Wraps 360 is getting some appreciation. She makes terrific wrap sandwiches, as you can tell by this photo!

San Gabriel River Trail, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

More shots from the San Gabriel River Trail off Huntington Drive in Duarte.

San Gabriel River Trail, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

San Gabriel River Trail, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

San Gabriel River Trail, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

Footprint Rock, originally uploaded by Living in Monrovia.

Spotted this at the San Gabriel River Trail today. Looks just like a
footprint, but it’s not, really.