Leroy's New Sign

Leroy's New Sign, originally uploaded by ~db~.

I've yet to try Le Roy's, but I know they have some very loyal fans. Another great shot by Doran.

Shape the Future of Monrovia

The city is going to be taking public commentary over the next few months on the direction of three important projects: South Myrtle from Old Town to Station Square, the Station Square Transit Village, and the West Huntington Drive Corridor, which will include commercial and mixed-use projects. For more details, read the city's documentation here.

Fantastic Tempura

I wanted to get the word out about the new Japanese Restaurant on Myrtle (at the former site of Tidal Wave) called Mikomi. The food was surprisingly good, and the tempura was the best I've had in recent memory: light, crunchy and flavorful. It was also piping hot! We also had the Japanese steak, which was sliced and fanned out on the plate. It was very tender and delicious.

For my beverage I ordered the saki sampler, which consisted of three very different cold sakis (one itty bitty glass each). Apparently saki is about 12% proof, so for me three small glasses is enough! I recommend trying them this way.

The space was pretty much the same as I remembered from the former tenant, except that the sushi bar was brand new and boasted a large flatscreen tv. The prices were tolerable and the service was prompt. My only complaint was that out waiter couldn't tell me much about the menu, but he was very friendly. It may have been his first day. I know for sure he hasn't been there for a week, though, because that's when Mikomi opened.

You should stop in when you get a chance. You won't be sorry. :)

601 Myrtle

Here's the first architectural rendering of what the southwest corner of Myrtle and Colorado could look like after remodeling. City officials are hoping to put a pub or restaurant into the space. "I would anticipate that there'll be a new owner or tenant in that spot, and operating, by the time the Colorado Commons mixed-use development up the street is completed and folks start moving in—December 2007 or January 2008," says Monrovia's public information officer Dick Singer.

What a difference that would make!

(Rendering by Dahl Architects)

Myrtle Avenue by Night

Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, Ca, originally uploaded by KeithJ.

I like this photo by Keith J. He got a glowy feeling on the abundant light globes. Personally I think they could have put about half as many on Myrtle and used the rest for some of the side streets, but I know that some people really appreciate the extra illumination.

I'd love to see a blur motion ghosting of a person crossing the street in this image.

Drivin' down the Boulevard

A fun old postcard from Byegone Byways. They have a page on their site devoted to Route 66.

In a Nutshell

I found this succinct little history of Monrovia on a website called Village Profile. I think it's quite good. Should there by any mistakes, alert readers, do point them out.

During the late 1880s, a group of men who were successful in both banking and railroad building, converted what had once been part of the vast lands of Mission San Gabriel into a community. With only scattered homes and several dirt roads, they managed to build a small town which was "typical of its time, yet unique in spirit." It still is.

On May 17, 1886, lots were sold for the first time at $100 or $150 each. However, to purchase a lot, each owner was required to build a house within the first six months which cost at least $2,000. This protected the town from land speculators and allowed it to survive during the collapse of the land boom several years later. The founders, as officers and directors of the Monrovia Land and Water Company, promised to plant 8,000 pepper trees along the streets, provide free water to the town, and install electric street lights. The company’s president was William Monroe. Mr. Monroe was not the first settler in the City of Monrovia. He was, however, the most important of the founders and the town is named for him.

Following the Civil War, Mr. Monroe was superintendent of construction for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1875, after several lines were built, he moved his family to Los Angeles. By 1880 he had become a member of the Los Angeles City Council and was very active in the community. He left Los Angeles in 1882 for another construction project, but returned in 1884. With money earned from the construction project and from the sale of a railroad car of mules, Mr. Monroe bought 210 acres of Rancho Santa Anita from E.J. "Lucky" Baldwin. He moved his family into a tent on the property until they built a small cottage where they lived until their permanent home, "The Oaks," was completed. "The Oaks" is still standing at 250 N. Primrose Avenue. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia's Main Street, is named for his elder daughter Myrtle.

The Monroe’s periodically returned to Monrovia many times over the years. Mrs. Monroe died at the age of 86 in 1932, and three years later Mr. Monroe died at the age of 94. William Monroe and his family are buried in Live Oak Cemetery on Duarte Road in Monrovia. William Monroe found success in a variety of careers, including school teacher, banker, hotel manager, mayor, council member, real estate developer, broker, railroad contractor and railroad superintendent. He will be remembered here, though, for the town he founded.

Does anyone know if there are any Monrovia descendants still living in the area?

A Library in Monrovia's Future

I'm happy to be able to write that Measure L was approved by voters, albeit a small margin. I think it will be a great boon for the city and will likely raise property values around the neighborhood. I can hardly wait!

Charlotte Schamadan, a library proponent and board member, was relieved that the Measure passed. "Election Night turned out to be a real nail-biter as we watched the precinct vote talleys come in slowly and not much higher than the 66.7% Yes votes we needed to build a new Monrovia Library," she said today. "We shall break ground in the early Fall, and work hard to have it built by Spring of 2009. It shall be an exciting time for our little burg!"

Visit the city's website to view actual tallies on all election items.

Monrovia Depot circa 1940

A big thanks to Eric Faith for alerting me to Norm's antique postcard collection. What fun!

Voting Day!

Today is the day to vote for Measure L, to approve the new Library construction. Don't forget!

Beauty in the Details

, originally uploaded by tangerine112.

I really nice shot of the old train depot by Annette. Click on the image to see more of her photos!

The Land of Hair Salons

According to Infospace, Monrovia has 63 hair salons. Do you think that's enough?

The Puppet Master

Not sure if local Monrovian Scott Land would be considered a celebrity, but he's an interesting personage to be sure. Land has been doing puppet and marionette shows for more than 20 years and has quite a corner on the market in this part of town.

According to his bio, "each character is designed and hand-built by Scott Land in his private studio. Scott applies the techniques of Old World craftsmanship as well as amazing technological advances found in television shows and special effects shops. Thousands of hours are spent to create these marionettes, which have captured the attention of critics, craftsmen and artist alike.



For more information about Land and his world of make-believe, visit his website, The Puppet Man.

Measure L

I'll be out with Charlotte Schamadan and her gang in Library Park Friday evening, March 2nd, talking about the benefits of Measure L.

"As Campaign Chair I am asked lots of questions about Measure L. What does it cost and what will we get for our money? How big will it be? Will we have more computers? Will we get more of our books back on the shelves? It's important that all questions are answered politely, honestly with a vision of what will be," Schamadan writes in her latest column. She says many residents are concerned about the trees. "The trees, I happily tell the inquisitive, will remain intact when the new Library is built."

According to city officials, the March 6 election will determine the passage of this measure, which would place a $62 per year parcel tax on each residential property for 30 years. This would finance a library twice the size of the city's current 14,000 square foot building, which for many years has not been large enough to house their entire collection.

Current information, color renderings and floor plans can be found here.