It's a cute little landmark in the area! Fun for little kiddos to see it and wonder how that giant…read moreteapot stays afloat.

The Soaring Tea Pot is a mesmerizing sight at the intersection of Rosemead and Las Tunas. Cloudy…read moreday this morning. We passed by here and my colleague wanted to stop to see it up close since she was fascinated by the illusion of a magical floating tea pot. The Soaring Teapot is said to symbolize peace, good fortune, and prosperity to all societies. Really cool photo op if you're ever in the area!!

Been a resident of Monrovia for over 15 years, and I was surprised to find out there's a local…read moremuseum dedicated to its history. Monrovia is actually one of the older cities in Los Angeles County, founded in the late 1800s and known for its charming Old Town and foothill setting. The Monrovia Historical Museum was very impressive--packed with history about the city. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and you can easily spend a good amount of time here learning about Monrovia's early days, including its development, transportation (like the old rail systems), architecture, and everyday life back then. There are a lot of interesting artifacts, photos, and exhibits that really bring the city's past to life. It gave me a whole new appreciation for a place I've lived in for so long.

Always pasted this museum and finally stopped by. Wasn't expecting it to be as big as it was. Lots…read moreto see! Awesome people to help you along and explain.

Famous people from Pasadena, California!…read more History is not my best subject. These sculptures helped me learn something... Why are the memorials of Jackie Robinson and his brother, Mack Robinson, here in Pasadena? Jackie was born in Georgia and he passed away in Connecticut. He spent some time in Honolulu, Hawaii as a football player! His most well known accomplishment is playing baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Matthew "Mack" won a Silver Medal at the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936. He is one of the best known graduates of the University of Oregon. Why is this sculpture in Pasadena? I had to look up some information... Jackie attended Pasadena Junior College and later attended UCLA! Mack was a Park Director at Lemon Grove Park in East Hollywood and passed away in Pasadena in 2000! Both brothers attended high school in Pasadena where they also lived with their mother and siblings! Aha! Very appropriate!

I have to say, I've never seen a memorial quite like this before. Two huge heads in front of the…read morePasadena City Hall. It's... remarkable. Not that there shouldn't BE memorials to these two outstanding sons of Pasadena, just that two huge heads seems a bit unusual. Still, it was interesting to stop because while I have heard of Jackie Robinson, I had no idea about Mack. So I learned something today!

I've been an active member of the LA County arboretum for years and FINALLY got to explore the…read moreinterior of the Queen Anne cottage this holiday season (2025)! The inside is as beautiful as the outside and full of local history. The guides were thoroughly knowledgeable and enthusiastic in discussing the details as we meandered through the cottage - and I especially loved that they were dressed in Victorian era clothing! Elias Jackson Baldwin (aka Lucky Baldwin) was a very prominent figure in this area in the late 1800s. He owned over 13,000 acres here - land that included the present day cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and San Marino. I always enjoy hearing about history involving Lucky Baldwin because he still technically has an easement on our property and his name is on the title to our house haha! He built this cottage and coach barn in the late 1870s for his 4th wife but apparently they split up not long after they were married so he turned it into a memorial for his 3rd wife who had passed away (drama drama lol). It was then used as a guest house for visitors to the ranch. The cottage is quite opulent with ornate fireplaces, ceilings, and chandeliers, as well as some of the most intricate and colorful stained glass window pieces I've ever seen! I absolutely loved them! They are all original to the house - as well as all the beautiful tile accents in the floors and around the fireplaces. There's some original redwood paneling in the bathroom that you'll also find in the coach barn which is gorgeous and in excellent condition. Unfortunately, Baldwin's daughter who inherited the house after his passing, threw out all their furniture and belongings. So all the other items you see are not original to the house - but are still period appropriate antiques belonging to the era. I believe they do suggest children not do the tour as there are many fragile items in cramped spaces so be aware. The tours are pretty brief as you can only explore the downstairs rooms and there aren't that many - the receiving room/entryway, the music/entertainment room, a small hallway room, a bedroom, bathroom, and the library with butlers pantry. But still definitely worth a visit! The stained glass windows in the library have portraits of Shakespeare and Lord Byron in the glass - those alone are worth going on the tour if you ask me! Several movies and TV shows have been filmed in parts of the cottage as well (of course) - such as Fantasy Island (from the 70s) and even an episode of American Horror Story! The coach barn is always open during garden open hours, but the cottage has been closed as long as I've been visiting (over 5 years now). So when I saw the member email saying they were offering tours, I jumped on it lol! The tours aren't available very often from what I read. So far, they've only offered the tours on weekends during the holiday season starting in November this year and it looks like they are sold out online for the rest of the season. But when I visited, they were offering tickets for tours on site so you may still be able to tour. There are staff in a blue tent outside the cottage to ask when you arrive. Online tickets do include entry into the garden as well, which is worth exploring in its own right - would make for a great day out! If you're at all into Victorian era architecture and culture and the local history, I'd suggest signing up for the arboretum newsletter and keep an eye out for when they offer tours of the cottage.

I have been a member of the LA Arboretum in Arcadia for several years now. There is so much to see…read moreat this garden. I'm sure I haven't seen every cranny of this place as of yet LOL. Never once did I checked out the Queen Anne Cottage, Coach Barn, and Adobe until most recently. The cottage, barn, and adobe are located along side and/or around Baldwin Lake. Cottage was not open for tours at the time so I wasn't able to go inside. I admired its beauty from the outside and walked around its serene and calming perimeter. I did take a peek inside through its windows and snapped a few photos. Funny, I was actually hesitant to take photos of its inside... wasn't sure if an alarm was going to sound off LOL. Whew, no alarm! One thing I found peculiar is how small the bed is. It's not even the size of a full size bed... I think it's in between a twin and full size IMHO. Anyway, I read the cottage didn't even have a kitchen so the meals were prepared at the adobe. I walked around the abode, but didn't peek inside for some reason. I may have the courage to do so next time LOL. I also got a chance to walk inside and through the coach barn. Saw some displays of antique carriage and stuff. There were a few horse stalls. I didn't walk towards them for some reason. I guess the energy didn't call for it at the moment. Maybe I will next time. Be brave Linh! LOL Definitely, a lot of history surrounding the cottage, coach barn, and adobe. If you haven't been at the LA Arboretum or have been and just haven't seen the cottage, barn, and adobe, it's time to make it happen! Go get your cool morning stroll or a sunny afternoon walk or just an evening sit around visit!! I'll see you here...

This is located just outside of Temple City's City Hall. It can be seen from Las Tunas Drive…read morebetween Temple City Blvd & S. Baldwin Ave. You'll probably spot the large white gazebo first. This Memorial is to the left. The City of Temple City dedicated this memorial on November 11, 2016. During the unveiling of the new Memorial, there was a Flyover by the Golden Eagle Aviation Service Inc. (Golden Eagle). I think every city should have a space dedicated to honor the men & women of our Armed Services. They defend our country so we can enjoy our freedoms! The memorial is very eye-catching and a nice tribute! There is a two-tiered circular structure surrounded by an open circular barrier. Atop the top tier is a large star where the flag pole is centered. The top tier says, "We Remember, We Honor, We Celebrate". The lower tier says, "Temple City Veterans Memorial". It repeats on the opposite side. There are flags from each Branch of Service with their seal directly below. That is pretty thoughtful and neat! There is also the POW-MIA Flag and of course, our American Flag! There are a couple remembrance/dedication plaques nearby, but not on the memorial itself. There's an obelisk (Memorial Shaft) with a plaque attached to the base it has been secured to, is in memory of Joseph Kauffman, who died at 22 in France. It was dedicated to him by Walter P. Temple and his three sons. The other plaque is dedicated to all U.S. Veterans and presented by the American Legion, Temple City Post 279. If you get a chance, come take a few moments to remember & reflect.

The memorial sits on top of a hill overlooking the 60 freeway as well as the golf course…read moresurrounding it. Despite the nature of its neighbors, this place definitely has a sense of history in terms of what it stands for. As you walk towards the monument itself, you'll be greeted with steps leading up to the structure and some plaques that highlights its importance in the community.

The Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument is located within Bicknell Park in Montebello, CA…read more It commemorates "at least 664,000 and up to 1.2 million Armenians" who were massacred*. A plague underneath the tall structure claims 1.5 million lives from 1915-1921. J"I'm not going to argue with any Ben Carollo types on the numbers - just one loss was enough. (Carollo is a self-described trans Marxist who has denied the number of Holocaust deaths and laughed about it in the same breath.) On June 8, 2022, I brought my young daughters to view it with me for the first time up close. I've seen it from the highway, but never knew what it was so I had to take to Google Earth. When I explained a bit of the history in simple, yet, honest terms to my kids, they both asked me "why?" "How could anyone be so evil?" We examine history so as to not repeat the atrocities... or allow them to occur. What is the price of freedom? Eternal vigilance. Even 7-year-olds can begin to learn this and should learn this. It's an L.A. landmark. I hope everyone would take the time to learn about it and then pay their respects in person. The structure stands at 75' tall. It is said to resemble many of Armenia's churches*. It was beautiful. The area was clean, but it was equally sad to see some of the concrete work deteriorating. There was ample, free parking. Also, a short walking path to stretch your legs. *SOURCES https://www.theholocaustexplained.org/what-was-the-holocaust/what-was-genocide/the-armenian-genocide/ http://armenianmonument.org/

If you like driving twisty winding roads with your sports car, this is a great road to drive in the…read moreLA area.

Most of this review is for the part after the Crystal Lake turnoff…read more Now for the rest of the road: You don't need to drive far to get into the mountains from I-210. It's a slog to get through Azusa. But once you're through, the two one-way streets come together again, and soon you're cruising through a much newer (and better) neighborhood, and before you know it, you're in the San Gabriels. San Gabriel Canyon Road, aka Highway 39 (hereinafter referred to as 39), is a fun road, well maintained. Mostly windy, but it's a pretty wide 2-laner, so it's not so bad. There are not a lot of destinations on 39, so you go for the sport of driving. What's on 39? A few trailheads, a campground, the road to the Bridge To Nowhere, Crystal Lake. The portion between Coldbrook and Crystal is gnarly steep. Now for the important part. In the 1970s, a rockslide closed the portion between the Crystal Lake turnoff and the Angeles Crest Highway. It hasn't reopened since. If I remember right, 39 was built in the 1930s, so this portion has been closed for a longer time than it's been open! The mountains are crumbly, so it would take millions of engineering and construction dollars to fix this thing, and Gov. Moonbeam would rather build a high-speed railroad that no one will ride instead of fixing 39. As a result, I think this portion will remain the way it is. As a side note, I'm thinking that this road is where the end of Disney's "The Love Bug" was filmed; the El Dorado Race, supposedly in the Sierras, looks suspiciously like 39 (or maybe it was Highway 2?). This portion of 39 is four miles long. What do you get? No cars, obviously. But also, few people. You feel like you're in a wilderness, like you have all the mountains to yourself. No noise pollution nor smog. The views are spectacular. I made it 1-1/2 miles up. I haven't ridden a bike in a long time, and my legs are out of shape. It's very possible to ride all the way up to the Angeles Crest Highway, I just didn't have the legs to do it. But what I experienced was good enough, very much worth the trip. Lots of photos. This being Southern Cal, I started at 8am before the heat kicked in. Soooo, if your girlfriend/wife wants to get into the great outdoors, but goes "ew" at the thought of going camping or onto a trail where she'll get dirty and grimy and face those nasty bugs and get her hair looking all like barf-out-gag-me-with-a-spoon, then she can get into her fancy workout clothes, pack a lunch, you both drive to the end of 39, and start walking. She'll love it, you'll love it, and you two can make out in public without anyone seeing you ;-) And it's free.

Somehow haven't seen this art installation till now! I've always heard of it and seen other people…read morepost about it but never got a chance to visit it myself till recently after we checked out the tar pits museum. Really cool to see, luckily the weather was super pretty and had barely any people around to get some neat photos. We stopped right under it but ended up walking back to our car since we had already been out all morning without food lol. Still an incredible piece to see and recommend checking out sometime! IG: @ammysalamii

I checked out Levitated Mass this past Tuesday. I walked the path under the boulder and around it…read moreand marveled at it's sheer size. It was cool to see. While admiring itwondered how it was to transport it and install it.