LLamas Leave Glendoran Planet; Seek Political Asylum

(Irfan Khan / LAT)
Diane Wedner, in an interesting article in the LAT:

Hobby farmers want their acreage to be far enough away to feel like they're living in the country but still be fairly close to mid- and large-sized metropolitan areas of 50,000 people or more — in this case, Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga or even the San Gabriel Valley.

I detect a bit of LA-centricity here... Exactly how many hobby farms are in the SGV or even Rancho, pray tell? I doubt there are too many—there aren't any examples in the article of this.

In fact, one Glendoran couple moved out to Apple Valley, "no longer able to accommodate their growing herd of llamas" on Planet Glendora. The wife says: "Caution. Our llamas will capture your heart." I guess some people are really getting into this stuff, which is fine by me. I'm just worried the Glendorans in question will start a colony over in Apple Valley.

Good Friday, Sierra Madre

OK, so in this post we are just going to post pretty pictures of Sierra Madre—in honor of the fact that it really is a nice place, despite its present political nuttiness.

Take in some art inspired by the world's largest Chinese wistaria vine here:
See the real thing:

Or just go for a hike.

by USMARINE11

Lost in the Sierra Madre

Things have gotten so bad in the Sierra Madre that the city council is trying to write "a code of conduct" the better to restrain itself, but as the headline to Erica Blodgett's article in the Sierra Madre Weekly notes, they found it hard to agree about how best to disagree. This may be a well intentioned effort but it is going nowhere, as the "guidelines" [i.e., "suggestions"] they did finally agree on contain no "provisions for censure or punitive measures."

As the "war of words escalates," Blodgett also has an article summarizing many of the latest twists and turns regarding Measure V, the controversial anti-development measure that would severely limit the size and shape of future development in Sierra Madre, in part by circumventing the role of the planning commission, instead putting future projects up for a general election vote. Centinel has detailed many of latest ins and outs; scroll down through our Sierra Madre section for more, including YouTube footage of some of the council debates.

Take a break from all the wrangling and check out one of my favorite Sierra Madre blogs, which simply sticks to art. I also recently discovered this painting of the Alverno Villa in Sierra Madre:
You could check out the Villa if you decided to attend the upcoming 2007 Sierra Madre 37th Annual Cuisine and Wine Tasting Friends of the Library Fundraiser.

Sounds like fun. On the other hand, if the "Villa at Alverno will be festooned in all its elegance," as the city's website says, putting a bunch of Sierra Madreans in it and giving them booze sounds like a recipe for disaster. (If you are ever hungover in Sierra Madre after a hard night of swearing loudly about Measure V, some might tell you to go to Bean Town—where you can get some nice desserts and pastries too.)

I asked a Sierra Madrean recently what all the fuss was about and was told, "Basically, there are people against development, and other people even more against development." If you have a one-liner that breaks down the two sides in town, we want to hear from you.

Of Unicycles and Donuts

Speaking of Glendora, The Donut Man is really getting some great press on the internet these days.

If you biked from Pasadena there and then back through a number of foothill cities, that might take care of the calories.

Or you could turn the bike ride to The Donut Man into an annual unicycle ride, as some students of Harvey Mudd College have done.

New Work-Out?

Try a different run this week: the Claremont loop or the La Verne Standard.

Make Art, Not Elections

Take a break from all the electioneering going on, head to Sierra Madre, and catch some art. Or just check out "painter of blight" William Wray's Sierra Madre painting blog. Dig it.

A Bicycle Ride Across the San Gabriels

The road now stays on the south face of the San Gabriels providing you a marvelous view of the smog, or the foothill cities (Monrovia, Duarte, Azusa, Sierra Madre, San Dimas, etc.) on a clear day.

Need something to do this weekend?

Skip down to the descriptions of the fourth and fifth day of this bicycle ride and get to it.