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Squidoo Southern California Meetup 2010: Brookside Park, Pasadena

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Brookside Park: Home of the Rose Bowl Stadium

Brookside Park in Pasadena was the site of the southern California Squidoo Meetup on June 10, 2010. Our event organizer, Heather, had originally chosen another Pasadena location, but Carmelita Gardens eluded us. According to several Pasadena maps, the Carmelita Gardens are located near the Arroyo Seco, just under the Colorado Street Bridge. I live just a couple of miles from the bridge and decided to do a little research before our Meetup. I couldn't find any signage, but did learn that the Carmelita Gardens were created more than a century ago by Jeanne Carr, wife of Dr. Ezra S. Carr.

In the late 1800s, the Carrs lived on a 42-acre property in a 22-room home they called "Carmelita." Mrs. Carr was an expert horticulturist and set a standard for the landscaping traditions still popular in Pasadena today—large exotic trees, tall hedge fences, and flowering shrubs. While Jeanne Carr was alive, Carmelita had the most extensive gardens in the area, featuring plants from all over the world. Portions of the garden were planted by author and American naturalist John Muir, who had been a student of Dr. Carr's at the University of Wisconsin. Over the next century, Mrs. Carr's gardens faded away, though many of the trees remain on what is now the Norton Simon Museum property.

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Contents at a Glance

Carmelita Gardens
Welcome to Pasadena, California
Southern California Squids Unite
My Fellow Squidoo Meetup Pasadena Attend...
Heather and Kathy
Some of My Favorite Lenses by Kathy
One of Kathy's Dream Catcher Designs
Heather, Kathy and Sherry
Some of My Favorite Lenses by Sherry

Early Pasadena History

When I dropped by to inquire, the guards at the Norton Simon didn't know what I was talking about. Neither did the gift shop attendant at the Pasadena Museum of History, right around the corner. Yet, both of these locations reside on the original Carmelita Gardens site! We thought about moving our Meetup to the Norton Simon Museum, but Heather settled on nearby Brookside Park, home to the famous Pasadena Rose Bowl Stadium. This was an excellent choice, as the park is right off the freeway, with plenty of amenities and free parking. There was much chatter about the elusive Carmelita Gardens on our Meetup site, which was fortunate because a member of our group, Joan, had computer problems and was unable to access information about our meeting location. She remembered Carmelita Gardens and the Norton Simon Museum, and set out to find us ... basically retracing the steps I'd taken a week earlier. I'm sure there are many Pasadena historians wondering and chatting back and forth about the sudden interest in Carmelita Gardens and early Pasadena history!

Anyway, I'm happy to report that Joan and her two very patient sons found us, albeit several hours later. We were so happy to finally see her, and everyone was doubly impressed with her determination to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. We were, after all, 4 squids at a picnic table in a 61-acre park!

Welcome to Pasadena, California

Site of the Squidoo Southern California Meetup 2010

Buy at AllPosters.com

Southern California Squids Unite

Sherry, Kim, Warren and Heather

Squidoo Southern California Meetup Attendees:
Heather (Heather426) Organizer
Joan (_joan_)
Kathy (KathyMcGraw)
Kim (KimGiancaterino)
Sherry (paperfacets)

My husband Warren (WGMusic) stopped by briefly to say hello—he loves to ride his bike around the Rose Bowl.

Our Meetup was a huge success. I enjoyed spending time with some of my favorite lensmasters, sharing stories, and making connections on a personal level. The food was delicious too—those RocketMoms really know how to party!

You'll learn more about my fellow attendees, below. As for myself, I'd better get working on that lens about Carmelita Gardens!

Photograph by Kathy McGraw

My Fellow Squidoo Meetup Pasadena Attendees

Kathy, Sherry, Heather, Joan, and Warrren

Heather and Kathy

Check Out the Fabulous Badge Kathy Created for the Event

Some of My Favorite Lenses by Kathy

Squidoo Lensmaster KathyMcGraw

One of Kathy's Dream Catcher Designs

Heather, Kathy and Sherry

Settling in Behind the Baseball Diamond at Brookside Park

Some of My Favorite Lenses by Sherry

Squidoo Lensmaster paperfacets

Two of Sherry's Tea Bag Folding Designs

Yay, Joan Found Us At Last!

It Wasn't Easy ... Brookside Park Covers 61.1 Acres!

Some of My Favorite Lenses by Joan

Squidoo Lensmaster _joan_

Joan's Sons Also Contribute to Squidoo

Original Lego Creations by Joan's Sons BT (7) and JG (10)

Homeschooled Kids are Happy Kids

After All, They Get to Go to the Park With Mom During the Week

Heather, Joan, and JG

Joan's Son (JG) Loves His Mom's Corn Casserole

Joan's Corn Casserole Was a Hit With Everyone

A Lens Created for the 2009 Thanksgiving Cookoff Challenge

Thank You, Heather, for Arranging Our Meetup

The Weather Was Perfect for a Picnic at Brookside Park

Some of My Favorite Lenses by Heather

Squidoo Lensmaster Heather426

Serenity Cottages I by Richard Burns

An Original by Heather's Husband, Artist Richard Burns

It's Always Time for Sherry's Lemonade

Made with Garden Fresh Meyer Lemons and Lime

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Sherry's Lemonade Was Delicious

Visit Sherry's Lens to Discover Her Secret Recipe

Heather's Brownies Disappeared Quickly

Heather's Texas Sheet Cake Brownies

It Was Hard to Say Goodbye to the Brownies ... er, My Squid Pals!

Welcome to Pasadena

Vintage Pasadena, California Postcard

Look Who's Talking About Squidoo Meetups

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Squidoo Meetup Pasadena

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Meet The Triangle Squids

Meet the Triangle Squids. Who are we? Three lensma more...2 points

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Squidoo Meetup: Los Angeles

Thursday, June 10, 2010 is Worldwide Squidoo Meetu more...1 point

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Giant Squids Meet in Pasadena CA

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Who Are Green Vancouver Squidoo Lensmasters?

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The June Melbourne Meetup

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Giant Squids Meet in Pasadena

Brookside Park (June 10, 2010)

Photograph by Kathy McGraw

Brookside Park in Pasadena

Site of the Squidoo Southern California Meetup 2010

Thanks For Visiting

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flicker Mar 14, 2012 @ 8:33 pm | delete

Sounds like a good time was had by all! So nice to see the photos of lensmasters I only know by their Squid names!

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PastorCher Feb 28, 2012 @ 7:58 pm | delete

It was fun being a part of your day with fellow lensmasters. I can tell you had a great time. Thanks for sharing a bit of this with us.

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WordCustard Oct 8, 2010 @ 4:16 am | delete

How lovely to see the smiling faces of some of my favourite lensmasters. You look like you all had a wonderful time.

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KathyMcGraw Oct 6, 2010 @ 11:23 am | delete

Coming back to enjoy the day again, although it's hard to eat Brownies and drink lemonade on a computer monitor :) Also came to Bless this lens since it really is very well done. Kim, we need to meet again....all of us :)