Monday, April 22, 2013

Pasadena Photo Tour


Hello OTAC Members and Guests!

We have had some "glitches" in getting this blog going (which have now been resolved) and I had the best of intentions to make regular posts, but somehow time seemed to slip away without me getting to it. However, I will do my best to keep up.

I had the following post ready in early February, when we ran into some posting challenges. So although a little delayed, here it is:

Those of you who attended the OTAC Conference in Pasadena in October 2012 may remember seeing the display at the Hospitality table with photos of me at my favorite places and things to do in Pasadena.  Some have asked how we decided to do this.

The idea for this “photo tour” came from our Vice President, Heather Kitching, as a way to showcase the conference host city and for you to get to know a little about your President.  I provided the Hospitality chair, Akemi Davies with a list of the places and things I loved about Pasadena via email, with a few words about what was great about each of them. Akemi enlisted the expertise of her sister, Amanda Davies (owner of Seivada Photography) and we set off one morning to drive to these places and take the photos.

As I had written about what I liked about Pasadena and the places and things to do that I enjoyed, it was evident that they reflected the occupations that are meaningful to me – reading, going to see independent movies and attending cultural events, shopping for handcrafted gifts, dining with friends, etc. as well as the things that make the city special, the architecture and history (City Hall and Old Pasadena), the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl, and the variety of arts and entertainment venues it offers. Pasadena is also my home and community, where I work, where family and friends are close by, and I do not have to travel far to do and enjoy all kinds of activities. Here is a sampling of what was included in the Hospitality display.

Vroman's Bookstore

Reading and books have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My sister remembers that our mother read to us and taught us to read early on, and I remember checking out several books at a time from the library at the elementary school I attended. I love to read, although I do not get to do as much now as I would like. So, it is natural for me to enjoy bookstores, and in particular, Vroman’s Bookstore. I like that it is a family-owned, independent bookstore that is a big part of Pasadena’s history, as the oldest and largest bookstore in California. It has loyal customers (of which I am one) and has stayed in business even as some major chain stores have come and gone. I like to browse through all parts of the store, and to read the recommendations from the staff and readers. I also find great gifts there. I easily could spend a significant amount of time in the store and I often leave with purchases. They have great sales and I have bought children’s books for the “library” area in our preschool assessment room. For this photo, Amanda, the photographer, suggested that I jump up and reach toward the sign, and it made for a fun photo.


Laemmle Playhouse 7

Right next door to Vroman's is the Laemmle Playhouse 7, which is part of the art house chain, and a great place to see independent and foreign films. I enjoy going there with friends to see movies and we often will also stop at Vroman's and / or go to dinner nearby.












The Folk Tree Gallery and Store

Another occupation that has been part of my life since childhood is engaging in art and craft activities of all kinds. It is also one of the things that drew me to occupational therapy. I enjoy going to craft fairs and love finding unique jewelry and gifts. I appreciate the work and creativity that is involved and I also love the process of making things. There are several stores in Pasadena that sell handcrafted items from all over the world. The Folk Tree has a variety of Mexican folk art and crafts from indigenous cultures, as well as showcases the work of artists in their gallery. By the way, for this photo, I stood on a narrow window ledge to be at a level to position my arm at the logo on the door.

These are some of the places and things that I like to do in Pasadena. It’s a great city and has a lot to offer. We are thinking about doing a “photo tour” of Sacramento for the OTAC Conference 2013. I am familiar with some parts of Sacramento, but if you have any “must see” recommendations, please let us know. I would love to explore some of the places that you suggest that highlight the best of Sacramento.