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Masters of Taste has Pivotal Role in USHS plan to end homelessness

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 2 April 2026 on Hey SoCal

Masters of Taste 2026 host chefs Vanessa and Thomas Tilaka-Kalb of Agnes. | Photo by May S Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Masters of Taste, Southern California’s premier food festival held its media preview night on Wednesday, March 25 at the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions. In a departure from previous previews, the event was staged outdoors directly beneath the Rose Bowl sign instead of in the locker room.

Guests were treated to a selection of food and drinks that will be served at Masters of Taste 2026 when it returns to the Rose Bowl on April 19. We mingled with other food writers and chatted with the chefs who were serving a sampling of food and beverage purveyors pouring alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.   

Masters of Taste media preview held at the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Local Masters of Taste participant and Pasadena native, Christian Esteban – son of the founders of Chaaste Family Market on Allen Avenue – happily invited attendees to try Filipino favorites lumpia (spring rolls) and turón (deep fried slices of banana in a crepe-like wrap). The Tilaka-Kalbs of Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery on Green Street in Old Pasadena greeted us warmly and offered fried cheese curds with a dilly ranch dip. Dennis Cruz of STK Steakhouse in Santa Monica served beef bone marrow, which Filipinos call “bulaló,” topped with a smidgen of caviar, toast crisp, and microgreens. We downed all the delicious fare with non-alcoholic sparkling water slightly flavored with hops from LA-based beverage company HOPWTR. 

Christian Esteban of Chaaste Family Market. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey Socal

There wasn’t time to indulge in other delectable fare and refreshing beverage because we had to head over to the dinner tables. After guests were seated, the program began as servers brought out the different courses and drinks that evening. Participating chefs and beverage producers were introduced and they described each succeeding dish or drink we were enjoying.

Midway through dinner, attendees were reminded of the reason we were there: to promote the event that benefits Union Station Homeless Services (USHS). Katie Hill – who was named CEO of USHS merely weeks before the Eaton Fire – quite literally had a ‘baptism by fire’ and was thrown headlong into the center of activity. USHS’s Adult Center was converted into a central hub for donated essentials and hot meals for the thousands of Altadenans and Pasadenans who became homeless overnight. 

USHS CEO Katie Hill. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

When Hill took the stage that evening she reiterated USHS’s mission – to end homelessness through housing, supportive services, and connection to community. Last year the organization served more than 4,200 people. It helped over 1,200 individuals and families move into permanent housing and another 2,200 people stay in housing. It also assisted nearly 2,000 to find safety through shelter or outreach. At the same time, USHS served over 700,000 meals. 

“These are big numbers, but every one of those numbers is a person, a family, a story,” Hill clarified. “But here’s the reality – homelessness is becoming part of us all; it’s reaching more people. And we’re seeing it affect people who never thought they would face it: people who lost their home through fire; people who are working full time, sometimes multiple jobs, and still can’t afford the rent; seniors on fixed income who have been priced out of the community they’ve lived in for decades. This is no longer something that affects someone else. It affects our neighbors, our co-workers, sometimes our own family and friends – people who did everything right and still found themselves without a safety net.”

Masters of Taste media preview menu. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

“So we took a hard look at where we are and where we can make the biggest impact,” continued Hill. “Over the past year, we’ve built a new three-year strategic plan for our staff, our partners, and the people we serve. It’s focused, it’s practical, and it’s centered on five priorities – preventing homelessness before it starts, integrating behavioral health in housing, expanding workforce development and job pathways, strengthening food access, and increasing affordable housing – because these are what would solve homelessness.”

“As a result of that planning, I’m excited to share that we are launching a new initiative that brings together two of those priority areas: food access and workforce development,” Hill disclosed. “It’s a culinary workforce program that will be operated out of our brand-new commercial kitchen and will allow us to do two things at once – feed more people as the need continues to grow in our communities and create real job pathways for the people we serve. Participants who earn food safety certifications will work in our commercial kitchen and build the skill they need to enter into the workforce.”

2026 Masters of Taste restaurateurs and beverage purveyors. | Photo By May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

And Hill announced the plan that received the biggest applause. “This is where THIS community stepped up in such a powerful way. Many of the chefs and restaurant partners involved in Masters of Taste have committed to hiring our graduates.”

“We are absolutely thrilled that our first cohort of graduates will work with our Union Station Food Services team as they are featured this year at Culinary Masters,” Hill added. “This is not just training, it’s not just food, it’s a direct bridge from homelessness, to employment, to long-term stability.”

Masters of Taste at the Rose Bowl. | Photo courtesy of Masters of Taste

“And that’s why Masters of Taste matters,” emphasized Hill. “Yes, it’s one of the top food events in L.A. but it’s also one of the most impactful. Every ticket, every sponsor, every story shared helps fund housing, food programs, and workforce development. Events like this help us fill that kitchen, train more people, serve more meals, and move more people into stable housing.”

“To everyone in this room – our sponsors and our media partners – you shape how people understand this issue and there are a lot of misconceptions out there. You decide what story gets attention and the stories that matter the most are the human stories – the ones about each person that we’re able to help, each family, each kid whose life has changed because of this work. And that’s what moves people to do something about it. Your work is critical in this effort and we’re so grateful for your partnership,” Hill concluded.                                                                          

Vanessa and Thomas Tilaka-Kalb. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

When Masters of Taste 2026 host chefs Thomas and Vanessa Tilaka-Kalb came on stage, Thomas said they have been eagerly waiting for this opportunity to host the event and promises to make this year the best one yet. And Vanessa said they plan to transform the Rose Bowl into the “field of Cheese.”       

The brainchild of Rob and Leslie Levy, owners of The Raymond 1886 and Knox & Dobson in Pasadena, Masters of Taste was a concept Rob adapted from a childhood friend’s organization in Chicago called “Inspiration Café” which delivers sandwiches to the homeless. When the former CEO of Union Station asked him to be on the board, he set out to find a better way to raise funds than asking people to get all dressed up to attend a gala they only felt obligated to attend. Leslie came up with the idea of having chefs gather for an event that was so amazing it didn’t feel like it was a charity affair. 

Rob and Leslie Levy (third and fourth from left) surrounded by the Raymond 1886 team. | Photo courtesy of Masters of Taste

On their first year at the Rose Bowl, a spontaneous line dancing broke out on the field – a delightful occurrence that was totally unanticipated. It was when they knew they had stumbled upon a successful endeavor. There was another year when it rained which, incredibly, made it an even better event. Nobody left – 3,000 people on the field stayed through the rain; Levy said it was the most memorable year they’ve had.

Masters of Taste continues to grow bigger every year; it has flourished through the COVID pandemic and the Eaton Fire. This year’s participating restaurants are: Agnes, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Ayara Thai, Bianca Sicilian Trattoria, BOA Steakhouse, Casa Cordoba, Celestino Ristorante, Chaaste Family Market, City Club of Los Angeles, Descanso Restaurant, Dorasti, Emporium Thai, Fitoor Santa Monica, Harold & Belle’s Restaurant, Love & Salt, Marina Restaurant, Paloma, Paradise Dynasty, Pez Coastal Kitchen, Poppy + Rose, Ramen Tatsunoya, STK Steakhouse, Sushi Roku, The Exchange Restaurant (Freehand LA), The Italian Deli Co., The Second Wind, Truffle Brothers, Uchi West Hollywood, Wife and the Somm, and Zira Uzbek Kitchen.

Dim Sum from Lunasia Signature. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Joining them on the Rose Bowl field on April 19 are these beverage sellers: Above Board Liqueurs, Akagisan Sake, All Season Brewing Company, Arts District Brewing Company, Broda Vodka, Broken Shaker, Bücha Whole Fruit Hard Kombucha, Burden of Proof, Empress 1908 Gin, Eever -Tree, Good Intentions Coffee, Knox & Dobson, LA Bay Gin Distillerie Californienne, Lyre’s, Meadows Estate Vineyard and Winery, Navarro Vineyards, Old Hillside Bourbon, Paperback Brewing, Pucker Up Lemonade Company, Sake High!, Savage Rabbit Distribution, Shelter Distilling, Shinju Japanese Whisky, Smoke Lab Vodka, Subourbon Life, Sunright Tea Studio, The Raymond 1886, Ventura Spirits, Warson Wine Company, and Xoloitzcuintle Tequila.

The bakeries and confectioners in this year’s Masters of Taste are: All About the Cinnamon, Bertha Mae’s Brownie Co., Cakes by Chante, Delight Pastry, Id-Éclair, Laderach, Lark Cake Shop, Magpies Softserve, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pazzo Gelato, Perlas Ice Cream, Porto’s Bakery & Café, Rico Rico Snack Carts LLC, and The Pink Cookie.

STK Steakhouse is one of the many participating restaurants in Masters of Taste. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Major sponsors for this year’s event include: U.S. Bank, AltaMed Foundation, City National Bank, Pepsi, the Rose Bowl Stadium, Smart & Final, Soyfoods of America, Sysco, Vesta Food Service, Westport Construction, and Whittier Trust. 

With a vast array of food and beverages to be savored and imbibed, the 2026 Masters of Taste is coming back this April 19 better and more fun than it has ever been. More than an afternoon and evening filled with culinary, beverage, and sweet offerings along the 50-yard line at the iconic Rose Bowl, attendance will help USHS in its mission to end homelessness. 

Pasadena Buddhist Temple Celebrates Completed ‘Healing and Hope’ Mural

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 24 March 2026 on Hey SoCal

The completed “Healing and Hope” mural unveiled. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

The Pasadena Buddhist Temple celebrated the completion of the “Healing and Hope” mural at 3 pm on Sunday, March 22. The brainchild of Kyoko Gibbs, wife of the temple’s spiritual leader Rev. Gregory Gibbs, who collaborated with Miki Yokoyama, an artist and Eaton Fire survivor – it was a way of restoring the community after their life-shattering experience.

It was a festive occasion with about 70 people in attendance. A video about the progress of the mural was shown, after which attendees were invited to gather outside for the unveiling of the completed mural.

About 70 people attended the celebration at the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

Gibbs’s younger son Ren and his friends Winston and Felix – fittingly attired for the occasion in happi (a tube-sleeved Japanese coat) – walked rapidly as they uncovered the mural. Their fast-walking provided a light-heartened moment for the mothers present who found it entertaining. Keiro and Little Tokyo Service Center were recognized for their compassionate support. Yokoyama shared her story in creating the mural with the community and invited everyone to sign their names on the painted primer area, the ground part.

“Judicanti Responsura,” the music duo formed in 1984 by tubaist William Roper and percussionist Joseph Mitchell – who were fire survivors as well – set the stage beautifully to welcome people in the Hondo, the main building. The Altadena Cookie Company provided custom cookies for the event.

Miki Yokoyama, at right. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

The “Healing and Hope” mural took a few months to paint, with Eaton Fire survivors participating in the project. In mid-March, the mural was almost done.

Yokoyama recounts, “I completed the final touches on the mural last Sunday, the 15th. This week, I have been applying a top coat over the finished painting, painting the ground directly below the wall white, and preparing a space where everyone who participated in the mural can add their signatures.”

People’s signatures on the mural. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

For Yokoyama, the completion of the project is as joyful as it is bittersweet. “This experience has been incredibly meaningful to me,” states Yokoyama. “Working together with everyone on a single mural was something that truly helped and supported me. I had been struggling mentally over the past year since the fire, so I am very grateful to Kyoko for proposing this project. The time spent painting with everyone allowed me to focus on both the creative process and connecting with others. Each day, I felt that these moments were healing my heart. Seeing everyone working so hard on their parts of the mural gave me strength and courage.”

“My feelings right now are quite complex,” Yokoyama discloses. “I am very happy that we were able to complete the mural. At the same time, I feel a deep sense of sadness knowing that this time of creating together has come to an end. Since Kyoko and I first began discussing the location of the mural, I have been coming to the site five days a week for about two months, so it has been a very special part of my life.”   

Custom cookies from the Altadena Cookie Company

Those sentiments are echoed by Gibbs, “I already miss the sense of togetherness from working together. It brought me happiness and strength. The bond we formed through the mural project, and of course during last year’s gatherings and activities, will stay in my heart and help me move forward! I will cherish all the encounters.”

“Feeling the results of the community’s teamwork is truly empowering,” adds Gibbs. “We are stronger together, and I am deeply thankful to be part of this caring and supportive community! This mural gives me a deep sense of hope, seeing how something beautiful and empowering has emerged from such a devastating event.”

Indeed the Eaton Fire, as tragic as it has been, provided the impetus for Altadenans to unite – whether to fight for accountability from county officials or to work on an artistic endeavor that commemorates their shared experience. And that is a wonderful outcome to celebrate.     

Pasadena Buddhist Temple’s Mural Offers Healing and Hope

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 23 February 2026 on Hey SoCal

The Healing and Hope Mural painting in progress. | Photo courtesy of Miki Yokoyama / Pasadena Buddhist Temple

The Eaton Fire killed 19 people, destroyed over 9,000 structures, and brought untold grief to the community. More than a year later, displaced Altadena and Pasadena residents are still reeling from the trauma. There are constant reminders of what they lost and memories of that fateful day are still fresh in their mind.     

As much anguish as the Eaton Fire wrought, there have also been many instances of a community coming together in their shared experience. The most recent of such moments is a group painting initiated by Miki Yokoyama who created a mural at the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. The brainchild of Kyoko Gibbs, wife of the temple’s spiritual leader Reverend Gregory Gibbs, the mural symbolizes what she thinks everyone needs – healing and hope.  

The temple almost became a casualty of the fire had it not been for the bravery of neighbors who put out the flames. Gibbs recalls, “Greg and I, along with our younger son, live in the temple residence, so we followed the evacuation order in the very early morning of Jan. 7 and drove to a hotel. Watching the news at the hotel, we recognized the temple’s neighbors getting burned down despite the efforts of firefighters. Feeling urged to return to the temple, we drove back there to find our ‘heroes’ and some other temple members trying to extinguish the flames that had landed between the tea garden and the edge of the main building, Hondo.”

The Pasadena Buddhist Temple at night. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

“As we heard and learned about the temple members, associated friends, and neighbors’ loss and damage due to the fire, we were deeply hurt – not just physically but also emotionally,” continues Gibbs. “No words were spoken; we cried while holding and hugging them.”

Immediately, the temple community collaborated on events and efforts to help fire survivors. “Since two days after the fire, the restaurants in Little Tokyo (Azay and Far Bar) and San Gabriel (Yama Sushi), Little Tokyo Service Center, Keiro, Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute, and the churches and temple in the affected Altadena and Pasadena areas, along with many others such as Buddhist Churches of America, Tanaka Farms, King’s Bakery, Go For Broke, and many more, have stepped up to the plate. Each individual person and organization gave them a hand in a selfless and compassionate way. As we continue to move forward, I am truly grateful for everyone’s kindness.”                                                                                                               

The Gibbses themselves have been the recipient of people’s generosity. “During the remediation process for all the temple facilities, we needed to relocate to the temple’s friends’ house for about two months,” Gibbs says. “We were so fortunate to receive their kind offer. The temple is now fully restored and I am very thankful for those two temple board members who tirelessly worked with the insurance and intensive cleaning companies.”

The temple is now fully restored. | Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple

For its part, the temple raised and distributed close to $90,000 to fire victims and actively continues to raise funds for them. “On the first anniversary of the fire, we presented them with a card and a small monetary gift. We wanted them to know that we are thinking of them. Additionally, we will be holding a White Elephant Sale, which opens to them first for free before the general public. We will also have a Girls’ Day Celebration with the tea ceremony, which they will be invited to join. More financial support will be distributed soon from the social welfare committee of Buddhist Churches of America (Pasadena Buddhist Temple is a part of BCA).”

Another activity that took place one year after the Eaton Fire was the creation of a mural. Recalls Gibbs, “As the first anniversary of the fire approached, I was thinking about what we – as the whole affected community – could do to help heal and inspire hope. Then, SOGs (Sons of Gardeners), who volunteer twice a week to maintain the temple grounds, were discussing painting a concrete section of the ramp outside. And it hit me with the idea of creating a mural instead of just painting. I brought up this concept with them and shared it with the temple board, and they all rallied behind it right away!”

“Fortunately, Keiro, which has been a financial supporter of activities and events for fire survivors, also agreed to continue its support,” Gibbs says further. “I knew who I needed to ask to lead the mural designs – Miki. She isn’t a member of the temple but I met her through the meal program for fire survivors.”

In mid-November, Gibbs reached out to Yokoyama and proposed crafting a mural and inviting the participation of those who had lost their homes in the fire as a way to help restore the town. They discussed what kind of wall painting they wanted to create and developed the concept together. To signify what it represents, they called it Healing and Hope Mural.

Miki Yokoyama. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

The Eaton Fire decimated Yokoyama’s home and all her artwork, and wreaked havoc on her mental health. She discloses, “The emotional shock was immense; I struggled with symptoms of PTSD for a long time. During the first year after the disaster, I believe that painting truly saved me. Now, through this project, I find healing in creating together with the temple community and others who were also affected by the disaster. Realizing that I am not alone and receiving strength from everyone involved fills me with deep gratitude.”       

Yokoyama describes how she transferred the painting – measuring approximately 70 feet long by 56 inches tall – on the wall. “I first created a rough sketch on paper and then projected it onto the wall. However, many of the finer details will be added freehand while looking at the actual wall. From here, I plan to add more delicate lines and dots to develop the piece further.”

Yokohama’s drawings of the mural. | Photo courtesy of Miki Yokoyama

“This project is open to everyone, regardless of artistic experience,” explains Yokoyama. “Before we began painting together, I prepared the mural by drawing the outlines in black ink. Although I predetermined the colors, my hope is simply that everyone enjoys the process. I tell participants that it is perfectly fine if they paint outside the lines or even cover the black outlines. I will make any necessary corrections afterward, so everyone is free to add color as they wish.”

“At present, the mural is about halfway complete,” Yokoyama adds. “Much of the white space has been filled, and the next steps are to apply a second layer to the lighter areas of ink, retrace the black outlines, and then add finer lines and dots. By layering these delicate details, I hope to bring greater depth and subtlety to the work. Even if it takes time, I am committed to leaving behind the best possible piece.”

“As we continue working together with the community – shaping it according to our shared intentions – I am also excited to see how the mural will ultimately come together,” Yokoyama says further. “I am very much looking forward to its completion.”

Photo By May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

When the mural is completed, people will recognize the animals and flowers they see in their town. And since Altadena is renowned for Christmas Tree Lane, Yokoyama incorporated Deodar Cedar trees in the artwork. The two churches along Lincoln Avenue – First Presbyterian Church of Altadena and Sacred Heart Catholic Church – as well as Altadena Community Church on Lake Avenue, are also depicted. Millard Falls Trailhead is portrayed in the center of the painting.   

One of the Eaton Fire survivors who went to the temple to paint heard about it through her mom who is a member of the temple. She asks that her name not be mentioned but graciously agrees to talk about her participation.

“Miki was there and she showed me where to paint, provided paint and brush, and instructions,” she begins. “I painted the windows on the house light blue as she instructed. She explained that it was okay to paint over lines as these will be repainted after the color is applied; the community painters are adding color and the artists are adding detail. While I was there one of the artists was refining with details. She used a Q-tip to add white spots to a red butterfly. The mural is a representation of the local community and the hope that exists in the Eaton Fire area to rebuild the physical and emotional aspects of the community.” 

Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Painting the mural offered a brief respite from her daily stresses in the aftermath of the fire. She says, “The consequences of the fire a year later are still part of a continuing domino effect in various ways that will remain for many years. Growth and hope are also results of this effect. Projects and institutions such as the Pasadena Buddhist Temple bring the community together for positive focus and forward momentum.”     

It is exactly what compelled Gibbs to come up with a community endeavor. She declares, “Through this experience – coloring in the mural while chatting with others or working quietly – I would like all to feel connected and empowered. You are not alone. We are stronger together.”

Dorano Jewelry Makes Special Days Sparkle

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 2 February 2026 on Hey SoCal

The Dorano Jewelry store on Huntington Drive in Arcadia. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/Hey SoCal

Gold is regarded as a risk-averse asset and safe haven during times of uncertainty. And recent geopolitical instability sent the price of gold soaring to an unprecedented high of over $5,000 per ounce then plunged below that mark.

But long before the huge demand for it and the wild price swings grabbed financial news headlines, the enduring value of gold inspired songs from Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” to Harry Styles’ “Golden.” The metal — universally enjoyed as a piece of jewelry — symbolizes beauty, longevity, power, status and wealth.

In certain Asian cultures, gold figures prominently in people’s customs and traditions. Newborn children in China are commonly gifted with a piece of gold jewelry; gold is also a part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. In Korea, a gold ring is usually given for a child’s first birthday. In India, gold is purchased during the annual Diwali festival to bring wealth and good luck.             

For Garen Avetisyan, proprietor of the Dorano Jewelry store on Huntington Drive in Arcadia, jewelry and the craftsmanship behind it are his life’s work. Creating memorable pieces are a source of pride and joy for this immigrant from Armenia who now calls Glendale home.

A 14-karat yellow gold necklace and ring with fancy sapphires. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/HeySoCal.com

Avetisyan’s story is that of very immigrant’s journey from their homeland to a new place to build a new life. Born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia, he started working in the jewelry business when he was 18. In 2012, at the age of 37, he and his family migrated to California and the following year he opened Dorano Jewelry. 

Making jewelry is an art and skill that Avetisyan honed back in Armenia. He relates, “I had family members in the jewelry business and I always enjoyed watching them work, so I decided to follow in their footsteps. I took private jewelry courses in Armenia and also spent years observing, reading and educating myself on the profession and training. I still continue to expand my knowledge to this day.”

Uprooting oneself and beginning anew in a foreign country is a huge challenge and Avetisyan knows it only too well.

“I began looking for a storefront for my jewelry business soon after my family and I came to California,” Avetisyan recalls. “Since I had only been in America for such a short period of time, I had no credit history. Therefore, a lot of people turned me down despite the fact that I was willing to pay for a few months in advance. It was very difficult to gain people’s trust. I stumbled across one location in Arcadia and spoke to the owner directly. Thankfully, after our conversation, he decided to give me a chance and that’s how my shop opened in Arcadia in early 2013.”

A display case at Dorano Jewelry. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/HeySoCal.com

The moniker he gave to his shop — Dorano Jewelry — is a portmanteau of sorts and has a special meaning. Reveals Avetisyan, “I always admired the Italian language and used it as an inspiration for my store name. ‘Oro’ is Italian for gold and ‘d’oro’ refers to something made of gold. I incorporated these words and created the unique name of ‘Dorano.’ I believe it reflects the elegance and timelessness associated with gold jewelry.”

While finding the location for his shop was a fortuitous initial step, making a success of the business seemed an insurmountable undertaking early on in his business venture. He struggled to make ends meet yet he persevered.       

Avetisyan says, “The first few years were very difficult for me because I was starting over in a new country and speaking a language not native to me. I had no connections, no reputation and didn’t know a lot of people. But I chose to continue this journey because I felt a huge responsibility to continue my life’s work that I had begun in Armenia. I didn’t view this passion of mine only as a job but also a skill that had so much history and hard work behind it. I had confidence in myself and my ability and I knew that if people gave me a chance, they would also recognize value in my work.”

“I realized that I was making progress when customers would visit the shop and share that they were recommended by my other clients,” continues Avetisyan. “I was excited that word of mouth was growing because it meant I was building trust with the community. As more people became happy with the work and product I was providing them with, I knew that all the struggle was worth it and continued to work just as hard.”

Garen Avetisyan, jeweler/gemologist and proprietor of Dorano Jewelry. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/HeySoCal.com

There is no shortage of jewelry stores in the vicinity — every mall has at least one — where shoppers can buy a necklace, ring or a pair of earrings. But what could be more exceptional than owning a bespoke piece that reflects one’s individuality? Custom work is Dorano Jewelry’s niche and Avertisyan has set out to make his shop stand apart.            

He declares, “Dorano Jewelry is unique due to our deep expertise and detailed attention to each client. The staff is skilled across all aspects of the business, including custom designs, appraisals, repairs, sales and more. Thus, customers receive all services in one place quickly yet efficiently. This helps us ensure consistency and quality, and build close relationships with all our guests.”

“Dorano Jewelry holds itself to a high standard and has maintained this benchmark of care since day one,” Avetisyan emphasizes. “The business first advertised on television and social media to try and spread the word. After our first year, we relied primarily on word of mouth, focusing on growing the business through trust and reputation. Over time, satisfied customers became the best promotion.”

Being able to offer a variety of services has served Avetisyan well. “Dorano Jewelry operates as a ‘one stop shop’ as the business is evenly divided among custom work, repair services and jewelry sales from our display,” he says. “Each of these areas makes up approximately one-third of our business, allowing us to serve a wide variety of customer needs.”

14-karat white gold ring with green tsavorites and diamonds. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/HeySoCal.com

Many people think bespoke jewelry is prohibitively expensive — a misconception that Avetisyan hastens to clarify.      

“Custom jewelry is definitely affordable at Dorano Jewelry,” Avetisyan asserts. “The most requested items are engagement rings and wedding bands and we offer a large variety of options and customizable details to best fit our clients’ budget. Whether they are simple elegant designs to more intricate pieces, we work very closely with all clients to ensure they receive the best quality within their budget.”

But it isn’t just the product and service that make Dorano Jewelry different. Avetisyan clarifies, “Dorano Jewelry is more than just a jewelry store, it’s a community and welcoming space. We focus on building a relationship based on trust and connection, allowing clients to come to us for guidance and support. Through this genuine relationship, we celebrate the most meaningful life moments together — from engagements to weddings to family milestones. The community feeling is what makes this store so special.”

Repeat business and customer loyalty are vital for every business’s success. And Dorano Jewelry has been fortunate to have both.

“Sixty percent of our business is generated from existing clients while 40% comes from new customers,” says Averisyan. “The majority of our clients are locals — I would say about 80% are from Arcadia, Pasadena and nearby cities. The remaining 20% is from Santa Barbara, San Diego and even clients who now reside in Las Vegas and visit us sometimes.”

14-karat rose gold ring with pink quartz, diamonds, pink sapphires and rubies. | Photo by May S. Ruiz/Hey SoCal

Asked if there’s one particular piece he has created over the years that is memorable, Avetisyan quickly replies, “A client wished to design a custom ring based on a lost heirloom left behind by the client’s ancestors. We worked closely together to maintain the sentimental value of the ring based on the client’s memory and description of the heirloom. Our goal was to preserve its history while also customizing the ring to best fit the client’s style and needs. We used an amethyst for the center stone and incorporated Indian symbols reflected through shape and detailing, referring to custom 3D designs to guide us. We achieved a refined and timeless finish.”

“I specifically remember the extensive research involved with this piece,” Avetisyan expounds. “To fully understand what the client wanted and realize the client’s vision, I studied symbolism and cultural meaning to best design the historical elements with accuracy and respect. I had the chance to explore this cultural background, making the piece challenging to make but with a rewarding outcome. It was one of the coolest projects I completed, learning a lot in the process.”

Having a piece of jewelry created by Dorano Jewelry means acquiring something that evokes significance for the person wearing it. Whether it’s to celebrate Valentine’s Day, a birthday, a wedding or anniversary, jewelry makes any special occasion sparkle. But it can also be just a practical, wearable investment — and jewelry makes even the everyday shine. 

Holiday Motor Excursion Showcases Rare Antique Cars

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 9 January 2026 on Hey SoCal

Peter Eastwood’s 1910 Stevens Duryea

For residents of the Michillinda Park neighborhood in East Pasadena, an ostentation of peacocks promenading on the boulevard is an everyday sight. But on a recent Sunday morning, we are pleasantly surprised to observe dozens of antique and vintage automobiles driving past our house.

It is a fascinating spectacle that invites further investigation. I take a break from pruning my roses and walk about 200 feet to Michillinda Park where I see several antique cars on the road while people chat by tables laden with pots of hot cocoa and coffee. I learn that this car show is an annual event and someone points out the organizers, Jean and Peter Eastwood, who are siblings and lifelong Pasadena residents.

A 1909 Pierce Arrow (left) and 1920 Model T Ford (right). | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

I approach the Eastwoods and Peter proudly says that this is the 69th year they’ve been holding this annual antique car show. He proceeds to give me the history of the event, which is known as the Holiday Motor Excursion (HME), but interrupts himself to inform me that he actually has the history written down somewhere.

Indeed for the 40th anniversary of HME, Peter authored a write-up about how the event originated on behalf of the Eastwood family.            

December 25th in Southern California is, more often than not, sunny and clear. It was on one of those Christmas days back in the early 1950s when the seed was planted that eventually grew into the Holiday Motor Excursion.

In Pasadena that Christmas morning, Doug and June Eastwood suggested to their five children, after opening their presents,“Let’s go to Uncle Warwick and Aunt Millie’s to see what (cousins) Joyce and Elaine got.”

Jean and Peter Eastwood. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

It did not take long for Richard, Sharon, Jean, Peter, and David to squeeze into Dad’s Model T Ford for the ride over there. After the cousins compared gifts, Warwick’s 1905 Buick was cranked up and a short trip around the corner took the families to Bill and Lola Collier’s house for a look at Nancy’s presents. This prompted Bill to take out his 1910 Maxwell and the three families went for a short ride. Then to Ward and Betty Kimballs’s house for Christmas cookies and tea.    

It only took a year or two for the spontaneous Christmas Day itinerary to expand and visits were made to the homes of John Walgamott, Bob Coombes, Louis Cook, Dick Mendelson, and other Pasadena area Horseless Carriage Club friends.

The sight of a small caravan of antique cars crisscrossing Pasadena only hours after Santa had been there was always greeted with cheers from the neighborhood residents.

1920 Duesenberg racecar. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Before long, club members from outside the area were feeling left out. The explanation that the Eastwoods were just out having some fun and that it really wasn’t an organized club event was not what they wanted to hear.

It was at this time in the mid-1950s when families in their antique cars started showing up at Doug or Warwick’s house on Christmas morning, not wanting to miss out on “the fun.” Over the years, homemade cookies had to be supplemented with store bought doughnuts and the first of several 100-cup coffee pots were put into service.

1911 Pope Hartford. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Sometime in the late 1960s the event date was changed to the weekend between the holidays and the departure point was moved to the Pancake House located between Doug’s and Warwick’s homes. As the event grew in popularity, the Model T Club and other clubs with newer cars joined in. In the late 1980s, to maintain the flavor of early day motoring and to keep the event to a manageable size, participants were invited to bring vehicles built before 1933.

Over the years the HME has been fortunate to be invited to visit many wonderful family homes, collections, and businesses in the area. Many visits have been made to the Dean Hensley, Burton Burton, and Don Ricardo Collections, just to name a few.

Somewhere along the line the HME. was adopted as a Horseless Carriage Club of Southern California event but the Eastwood family still handles all the event planning. For over 30 years Warwick and Millie hosted the dessert stop at their home at the event’s conclusion. In 1994 they decided to take it easy and Gary and Sheryl Hunter eagerly volunteered to take over and host the party at their home in nearby Arcadia.

The popularity of the event can be gauged by the 450 nametags and 150 copies of driving instructions given out last year – not to mention 30 dozen doughnuts, 400 cups of coffee, and 200 cups of orange juice.

1925 White Yosemite Tour Bus (yellow car on left), 1923 Model T Ford (right); 1910 Jackson (in back)

At some later time, the Arcadia County Park became the Holiday Motor Excursion’s departure point. Cars arrive as early as 6:30 but the event officially commences at 7:30 and the tour begins promptly at 9:30.

“This year there are 110 participating cars,” discloses Eastwood. “I believe the oldest car this year is a 1909 Stanley (steam powered!). A few arrived on trailers but most are driven to the event. I know that two of the cars that came by trailer were from Arroyo Grand and Hanford, California.”

1929 Model A Ford. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Continues Eastwood, “The tour route is usually around 30 miles. We drive about 10 miles winding through the picturesque neighborhoods of Arcadia and Pasadena. Then we stop at a different park for coffee and donuts provided by our club – the donut stop is part of the event’s annual traditions.”

“Then we carry on for another 20 miles through more scenic Pasadena neighborhoods along the arroyo and other areas,” Eastwood adds. “We then circle back for lunch at Clearman’s North Woods Inn or  Clearman’s Galley on Huntington Drive and Rosemead Blvd. From there we take a short drive to a nearby club member’s house for dessert. The route changes every year because we want to keep people guessing. But we come to Michillinda Park every two or three years”

The Horseless Carriage Club (HCC) doesn’t promote the event to the public according to Eastwood. The information is posted on the club’s website for the car owners. HME shirts – the artwork for which was created by Disney animator and HCC member Ward Kimball – are available at the event and they are discussing selling them through the club website.      

Model T Ford. | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

Unlike other antique car shows, HME is not a fundraising affair. Eastwood clarifies, “The event is merely an opportunity for the car owners and their families to have some holiday fun. The emphasis is on the driving aspect. We are fortunate that we can enjoy our cars this time of year – many clubs in other areas don’t have the weather we have.”                             

After a while, the tables of drinks and donuts are cleared and club members get in their cars to resume the tour. The drivers and passengers of the antique cars happily wave to people who happen to see them making their way to their scheduled stop on the route. And at every stop bystanders and onlookers marvel at the exquisite automobiles.  

What started for the Eastwood family as a fun Christmas day jaunt around the neighborhood has grown into an eagerly anticipated annual tradition for hundreds of car enthusiasts and even those who might know next to nothing about antique cars. Watching the beautiful rare cars we don’t normally see on our streets certainly puts a smile on our face. What a delightful treat!                 

Local Man Founds Rebuild Altadena from the Ashes of Eaton Fire

/ May S Ruiz / 1 Comment

Also published on 5 January 2026 on Hey SoCal

A view of the Eaton Fire on Washington Blvd. in north Pasadena. | Photo courtesy of Grigory Heaton/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Jan. 7, 2025, dawned bright, clear, and very windy in the San Gabriel Valley, with the mountain peaks clad in snow. Most Altadenans and Pasadenans went about their usual chores and workday despite the windstorm. But by the end of that fateful day the lives of several thousand people in these two towns would be upended.

According to news reports, shortly after 6 p.m., residents observed flames on a hillside in Eaton Canyon. While the fire itself was not large, 59 mph wind gusts pushed sparks across the canyon. The wind shifted the embers west into central Altadena and decimated a large swath of the unincorporated L.A. county area.     

The Eaton Fire was the fifth deadliest and second most destructive wildfire in California’s history. Approximately 7,000 residential and commercial structures burned to the ground overnight, with 19 deaths reported. Most of the residents are still temporarily housed, residing in motels and extended-stay hotels in Pasadena and neighboring cities.               

The Rose Bowl parking lot serves as the base for hundreds of firefighters. | Photo courtesy of Tom Stokesberry of the Forest Fire Service/Wikimedia Commons

An Altadena man, David Ly, and his family were among those who were displaced. He recalls the horrors they experienced.

“Jan. 7 started for us like a normal day,” says Ly. “We heard about a fire, but at first we didn’t think much of it. Fires happen, and you assume it’ll be contained. Later that day, my brother, who lives in the Highland Oaks area of Arcadia, called and said he could see the fire raging behind his house. He told us he was evacuating to our parents’ place and that we should do the same because the wind could turn at any moment. That’s when it became real and was truly one of the most traumatizing days of my life.”

“I remember going back on the morning of Jan. 8  thinking the fire was done because as I drove up Lake Avenue, everything seemed quiet,” Ly continues. “I had no idea I was literally driving into an area still burning. I saw homes on fire, and it was this surreal scene of memories literally disappearing. When I reached my own street, the power lines were down, and there was just this heavy sense of disbelief. I locked eyes with neighbors who were also there, and we just stood silently crying. By the time I got to where my house had been, it was all gone. You could still smell the smoke. I’ll never forget that feeling of seeing everything just, gone.”

Ly and his family proceeded to drive out to Dana Point that same day. Then they went to Phoenix to stay with family, to get some distance, and breathe. While it was a moment of disbelief and trauma, for him it was also when he began to realize how many others needed help. The past year had been a difficult journey, but it also gave him purpose — help others rebuild.

David Ly at one of the rebuild sites. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

“Rebuild Altadena was born from the ashes of this fire, so we are not business as usual,” declares Ly. “Our focus is on rebuilding smarter and more fire-resilient, based on what this community has lived through. The concept behind it is rebuilding as a community. After the fire, it became clear that families were overwhelmed trying to navigate everything on their own — the County process, insurance, engineering, timelines, and rising construction costs.”

“We bring together a coordinated network of designers, engineers, and contractors who are focused almost entirely on Altadena,” Ly explains. “Just like our organization, their priority is helping this community rebuild – not chasing projects across Los Angeles. That’s where our Group Build approach comes in. It means our entire network is concentrated on the same area, working under the same County requirements and fire-rebuild conditions. By staying local, our partners are able to respond faster; keep pricing lower and more stable, even as tariffs and material costs fluctuate; reduce inefficiencies caused by labor shortages; share real-time knowledge from project to project; and move families through the rebuild process together. That level of coordination simply doesn’t happen when a contractor has job sites scattered across multiple cities.”

Rebuild Altadena uses bulk purchasing to protect homeowners from sudden cost spikes. By buying materials — including cabinets, tile, FirePoint plywood, HVAC systems, and lighting — in volume, the company can lock in pricing and reduce exposure to shortages and supply-chain disruptions.

“At the heart of everything we do is a neighbor-first philosophy,” emphasizes Ly. “Rebuild Altadena exists to make sure families who want to come home can do so with a rebuild that is reliable, locally built, transparent, and fire-resilient. This isn’t about shortcuts or volume — it’s about rebuilding Altadena smarter, safer, and with accountability that lasts long after construction is complete.”

The company is supported by a network of about 25 building professionals, comprised of  contractors, designers, structural and civil engineers, surveyors, permit expeditors, and specialists in fire-hardening and resilient construction.

“We also have key staff members who bring deep lived experience and local leadership to the work,” Ly says. “One example is Steve Lamb, a fifth-generation Altadenan who lost his home in the Eaton Fire. Steve previously served on the Altadena Town Council and is a residential designer whose career has focused on historical preservation. His background reflects the values of this community — respecting Altadena’s architectural character while helping it rebuild stronger and safer. People like Steve don’t just contribute professional expertise; they carry the history, pride, and long-term vision of Altadena.”

David Ly and the Rebuild Altadena team. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

“And our network continues to grow every day,” adds Ly. “More individuals and companies reach out because they want to help. They see the need, they believe in the mission, and they want to be part of rebuilding our town the right way.”

Since its founding, there have been four Rebuild Altadena Fairs, each growing dramatically as the community and industry partners have rallied behind the effort. Each Fair brings in 50 to 70 building professionals — architects, designers, engineers, builders, SBA representatives, county officials, material suppliers, and fire-hardening specialists. These events have drawn up to 2,000 attendees, making them one of the largest community rebuild gatherings in the region.

“When we first started, the goal was simple: give fire-affected families a place to meet architects,designers, the SBA, the County, and builders — all in one room, without barriers or confusion. But the Fairs have evolved into something much bigger,” Ly explains. “Our most recent event included: fire-hardening materials; 3D visual walkthroughs of rebuild designs; Vicon exterior fire-sprinkler demonstrations; a full Rebuild Zone where homeowners could see, feel, and compare real materials; windows and doors; tile and flooring options; roofing systems; lighting by Maison Enterprises; and other essential components of a resilient rebuild. It’s become a true one-stop experience where families can get educated, meet their teams, and touch the materials that will become their future homes. For many residents, the Fair is the first moment they feel clarity and hope again.”

The site gets ready for rebuilding. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

Starting in the new year, one major Rebuild Altadena Fair every three months is being planned. These quarterly events allow Ly’s team to keep homeowners updated, introduce new technologies, and bring in additional experts as the rebuild landscape evolves.

“Families are still facing very complex concerns in the rebuild process, and these Fairs help address the biggest challenges we hear every day,” states Ly. “These include navigating the County process which is unfamiliar and stressful, especially for families who lost everything overnight. People are overwhelmed by engineering corrections, plan-check timelines, fire-zone requirements, inspections, knowing what to submit and when.”

“Additionally, homeowners are concerned about rising construction costs and insurance gaps,” Ly says further. “Many homeowners worry their insurance payout won’t cover today’s costs. They need guidance on budgeting, materials, and how to avoid unnecessary expenses.”

“Fire-hardening and long-term safety are also major concerns,” declares Ly. “Residents want to rebuild stronger but often don’t know which materials are best, what new codes require, and how exterior fire sprinklers, roofing, windows, doors, and siding work together. This is why we bring FirePoint sheathing, Vicon exterior fire sprinklers, and other fire-resilient products to the Fairs.”

“And then there are temporary housing pressures,” Ly cites. “Families are still paying rent out of pocket. Delays hurt not just emotionally but financially, creating urgency for clear timelines and dependable teams.”

The first fire-resilient rebuild.| Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

“Another worry is knowing who to trust,” says Ly. “After a disaster, homeowners are approached by dozens of contractors and consultants. Many fear choosing the wrong people. Rebuild Altadena was created so residents have vetted, local professionals they can rely on. The quarterly Fairs give families a place to get answers, explore materials in person, meet trustworthy experts, and move forward with confidence.”

Out of roughly 4,500 single-family homes lost in the Eaton Fire, Ly estimates that about 60% to 70% of residents intend to rebuild, though everyone is moving at a different pace depending on insurance, finances, and the County process.

“Most families are still in the design, engineering, or plan-check stages, working through approvals and corrections,” Ly says. “A smaller number have reached construction. And we’re very proud that one of the very first rebuilds in Altadena is a Rebuild Altadena project. By the one-year anniversary of the fire, that home will be in painting and finishing stages.”

“Not only is it among the first to rise from the fire, it’s also the first home in the entire burn zone to use fire-resilient materials like FirePoint Sheathing, which is designed specifically to withstand extreme heat exposure,” Ly explains. “For many families, that home represents hope — a sign that rebuilding is possible, and that we can do it smarter and more resilient than before.”

Rebuild Altadena is currently supporting more than 30 homes in the design and planning phase, which includes architectural design, engineering, and county plan check.

The first Altadena Rebuild home is expected to be completed around the first anniversary of the Eaton Fire. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

“On the construction side, two homes began construction in mid-December,” Ly says further. “We anticipate three additional homes breaking ground in the first half of January, assuming permitting and utility coordination stay on track. Aside from the first home that will be in finishing stages, the timelines for the other rebuilds vary based on lot conditions, design complexity, utilities, and fire-hardening requirements. For most projects, a realistic expectation is 12 to 18 months from permit issuance to completion.”

Ly is also rebuilding. And being one of the first rebuilds in Altadena comes with its own unique set of challenges, one that every family after him will face as well.

“For example, we’re dealing with major utility uncertainties,” Ly explains. “Southern California Edison still hasn’t confirmed whether they’re going overhead or underground with the new electrical system, which affects design, trenching, and timelines.”

“Because of new fire codes, many homes — including mine — now require interior fire sprinklers,” cites Ly. “That means a lot of families must upgrade their water meters, and one of our clients was quoted an astronomical price by the water company just to make that change. These are things no homeowner planned for.”

“And that’s why Rebuild Altadena has taken on a strong advocacy role,” Ly declares. “We’ve already helped the community win important battles: eliminating unfair fire hydrant flow test fees for each individual home; challenging cross-lot drainage requirements that didn’t make sense for wildfire survivors; pushing back on County fees and conditions that were originally designed for single new homes being built in an established neighborhood — not for a town where thousands of homes burned overnight.”

“We didn’t ask for this disaster,” asserts Ly. “We lost our homes, our stability, and in many ways our sense of place in a single night. Families should not be burdened with excessive fees and code upgrade costs that were never intended for a mass-rebuild situation. So yes, I’m rebuilding — but I’m also fighting every day for the families behind me, making sure the path gets a little clearer and a little fairer for all of us.”

Rendering of a future rebuild. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Altadena

“Altadena is in a complicated place right now,” Ly says further. “There’s a mix of grief, frustration, determination, and hope all happening at once. Physically, many lots are still empty, and that can make it feel like time has stood still. Simultaneously, there’s real movement happening — plans being approved, foundations going in, and the first homes starting to rise. Progress is uneven, but it’s real.”

“Emotionally, people are tired,” laments Ly. “Many families are still displaced, paying rent, navigating insurance, and waiting on approvals. There’s frustration with the pace of utilities and permitting, and uncertainty about what comes next. But there’s also a strong sense of resolve. Neighbors are more connected than they were before the fire. People are sharing information, showing up for one another, and pushing for fair treatment together. You see it at community meetings, at the Rebuild Altadena Fairs, and even just on the street.”

An article in the Los Angeles Times in November 2025 featured the first house that was rebuilt after the Palisades Fire. The developer-owned showcase home, which was constructed within six months, was an advertisement of sorts for Thomas James Homes. The company has a library of home plans available for faster rebuilds and claims a rebuild typically takes 12 months.           

Asked if this can be done in Altadena, Ly replies, “I saw that article, and it’s an impressive accomplishment. But comparing the Palisades rebuild to Altadena isn’t exactly apples to apples. In the Palisades example, the contractor rebuilt his own model home — a single property, on a standardized lot, with no insurance complications, and no displaced family depending on it. That allowed him to fast-track the process and present a ‘template’ home.”

The Rebuild Altadena office on Marengo Avenue in Pasadena. | Photo courtesy of Rebuild Alatdena

“But Altadena is different,” expounds Ly. “We pride ourselves on our diversity — our lots, our architecture, and our neighborhoods are not cookie-cutter. Many of us don’t want pre-designed, identical boxes placed across the community. People want to rebuild homes that reflect who they are, not a one-size-fits-all model. And with that individuality comes complexity: unique slopes and topography; older utility systems; unanswered questions from SCE about overhead vs. underground power; interior sprinkler requirements that force water meter upgrades; soils, drainage, and grading challenges; insurance delays; and County processes that were never designed to handle over 4,500 rebuilds at once.”

“So while it’s inspiring to see a house rebuilt in six months, making that promise in Altadena would be unrealistic — even irresponsible,” Ly continues. “False promises give families hope in the short term, but they cause real pain when they fall apart. What we are focused on is speed with integrity — rebuilding smarter, stronger, and with fire-resilient materials. Our goal is to eventually streamline to a point where 12-month rebuilds become achievable.”

What would success look like and what accomplishments does Ly envision for Rebuild Altadena?

“Success for Rebuild Altadena isn’t measured by how fast we rebuild homes,” states Ly. “It’s measured by whether families feel supported, empowered, and protected throughout one of the hardest experiences of their lives. Success is thousands of families back home, living in a safer, stronger, more unified Altadena. That’s what we’re fighting for every day.”

Very soon now, a Rebuild Altadena house will be completed. It will most probably be celebrated not only by the family that moves in, but by the thousands of other families who are still displaced. Each house that rises from the ashes of the Eaton Fire provides them with a glimmer of certainty that one day in the not-too-distant future they will be back — exhausted by the ordeal they’ve been through, but very happy to return to the town they call home.

Altadena Forever Run to Benefit Those Affected by the Eaton Fire

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 29 December 2025 on Hey SoCal

Firefighters spray water from a hose during the Eaton Fire. | U.S. Forest Service photo taken by Capt. Jason Benton / Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons


The Eaton Fire of January 7, 2025 will be endlessly seared in the collective memories of the Pasadenans and Altadenans who experienced the largest blaze in the history of the San Gabriel Valley. Overnight 19 people died and 9,000 structures were reduced to ashes, among them 80 homes at Upper Hastings Ranch in Pasadena and over 4,500 in Altadena.

Large corporations and private citizens across the country responded immediately to the disaster – sending cash, food, personal items, and other basic necessities to the various collection sites that opened during the days following the fire.

All through the year, several non-profit organizations emerged in Altadena to continue to support those who were affected even as the rest of the country moved on to other important matters. Community leaders have worked ceaselessly to keep the momentum going and thought of ways to ensure we didn’t forget that thousands of Altadenans are still grappling with the aftermath.

Two individuals – Victoria Knapp and Ethan Marquez – are collaborating on an event to benefit those who were affected by the Eaton Fire. They are co-chairing the Altadena Forever Run which will be held at 8:00 am on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at the Mariposa Junction in Altadena.

Thousands of runners and community members will gather for a10K, 5K and 1K family run raising critical funds for residents still recovering from the Eaton Fire – including individuals and families who remain displaced, are living in vehicles, or are running out of short-term rental assistance.

Victoria Knapp is a longstanding Altadena community leader and organizer whose civic work has focused on connection, recovery, and purposeful engagement. A former Pasadenan, she made Altadena her home in 2011, where she spent the next 15 years deeply involved in community life. She played a central role in crisis communication and community coordination after the fire, helping residents navigate loss while fostering collaboration among neighbors, small businesses, and local organizations throughout the recovery period. She is a firm advocate for community-based initiatives that bring people together with purpose and meaning, including the Altadena Forever Run, which reflects her belief that shared action – like running together – can be a powerful force in healing and resilience.

Ethan Marquez is a 26-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department with a career spanning custody, patrol, training, and command assignments. He was on the scene during the Eaton Fire, playing a critical role in emergency response and community coordination. In August 2025, he was promoted to Captain of Altadena Station, where he continues to emphasize operational excellence, public safety, and community partnership. A dedicated endurance runner and philanthropist, he runs marathons while pushing his son in a wheelchair to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research, using running as both advocacy and a deeply personal expression of service.

“The Altadena Forever Run is about honoring what we’ve lost, supporting those still recovering, and reaffirming our commitment to one another,” state Knapp and Marquez. “After the Eaton Fire, our community showed that resilience isn’t just about rebuilding homes, it’s about standing together, staying connected, and moving forward with purpose. This run reflects the heart of Altadena: strong, compassionate, and forever connected.”

The course passes through neighborhoods and foothill corridors impacted by the fire, featuring on-course storyboards that highlight survivor experiences and ongoing recovery efforts. Organizers say one of the most meaningful aspects of the event is the regional turnout, with runners traveling from across Southern California and beyond to stand in solidarity with Altadena residents.            

Community leaders and first responders are expected to attend – including Robert Luna and Kathryn Barger. The Los Angeles Laker Girls will also be on site to cheer on runners and support the event atmosphere. The Altadena Forever Run is supported by corporate and community partners, including SoCalGas, GoFundMe, East West Bank, First City Credit Union, and Toyota of Pasadena.        

Proceeds from the event directly support Altadena residents who continue to face housing instability and are seeking viable pathways to rebuild and return home. Although the emergency response has ended, many residents continue to recover in the long term with limited resources.

But through the tireless efforts of dedicated individuals and the support of the community, Altadenenas will get through this unfathomable tragedy and get back on their feet stronger than ever before.   

Cruising J-Town Explores Japanese American Car Culture and Community in L.A.

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 28 July 2025 on Hey SoCal

The cover of “Cruising J-Town.” | Photo courtesy of Oliver Wang

Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community, on view from July 31 through November 12, 2025, chronicles the central roles Japanese Americans have played in countless car scenes throughout Southern California. Presented by the Japanese American National Museum and curated by cultural scholar and writer, Dr. Oliver Wang, it will debut at Art Center College of Design’s Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery on South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena.

A companion book called Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles, authored by Wang and published by Angel City Press at Los Angeles Public Library, will be released on August 5. It traces the history of the Japanese American community alongside the development of the car – from the earliest days of the automobile.

Through previously untold stories, Wang, a Cal State Long Beach sociology professor, reveals how a community in a state of constant transition and growth used cars as a literal vehicle for their creativity, dreams, and quest for freedom.

Tats Gotanda with his award-winning 1959 customized Chevrolet Impala, the Buddha Buggy, 1963. | Photo by Dick Day / Image courtesy of Hearst Autos, Inc

In the book’s introduction, Wang writes that growing up in the San Gabriel Valley, he wasn’t much of a “car guy.” He sits down to chat about how someone who doesn’t profess a passion for cars ended up writing a book and curating an exhibition about them, what he learned from the hundreds of interviews he conducted, and what he hopes readers take away from it.

“While my personal interest revolves around music, by the time I graduated from high school in 1990, I was aware of this very popular phenomenon of young Asian Americans tricking out their cars and street racing,” Wang says. “When I went off to college and began taking Asian American Studies classes, I was already interested in the pop cultural side of the community and the ways in which Asian Americans have engaged in different forms of popular culture over the years.”

“By the time the 2000s rolled around, there were articles in magazines about Asian American dynamic within the import car scene,” continues Wang. “But there was no sustained interest in it. As far as I know, none of the authors ever went on to produce anything beyond those academic articles. Part of me, maybe naively, just kept assuming that at some point someone was going to write a book about this because it seems to me – as a pop culture scholar and writer – it was such an obvious thing to focus on. It’s a pop culture activity which has such meaning for people that they invest time and money into. There are elements of ethnic identity, class, and gender.”

Oliver Wang | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

In 2016, Wang was having a conversation with a good friend who also came out of Asian American Studies at U.C. Berkeley in the 1990s. Again he lamented about the absence of books about the subject.

His friend’s reply was “You’ve been complaining about this for 20 years, and you literally have made your career studying and writing about Asian America popular culture. If you really feel someone should be doing this work, why don’t you just go out and do it?”

That friendly challenge steered Wang towards this endeavor. At the suggestion of his wife Sharon Mizota, who is a Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese American), he interviewed his Sansei (third generation Japanese American) father-in-law Don Mizota.

“I knew that he was into cars but I didn’t realize that when he was in high school in the San Fernando Valley in the mid- to late 1950s, he and his friends – most of whom were children of Japanese American farmers and gardeners – started a car club called ‘kame,’” Wang confesses. “The joke was that kame means turtle in Japanese because all of them had pretty slow cars.”

Gardener Annie Takata loading up her truck, Los Angeles, May 1976. | Photo by Dennis Kuba / Courtesy of Visual Communications Photographic Archive

“It was a really fascinating interview,” enthuses Wang. “I wasn’t just learning more about my father-in-law, but also about the friends and the community that he grew up in. I then interviewed other people of his generation – Japanese Americans who would have been teenagers in the 50s or early 60s and were part of car clubs back then. I found examples in mid-city and South Bay, like Gardena and Torrance. I heard about them or saw photos of those who came out of East L.A. and Boyle Heights.”

“Clearly, there was a scene that existed then and that was what I started to explore,” Wang says further. “I wrote about some of what I had found in a relatively short article that appeared in Discover Nikkei, the Japanese American National Museum’s newsletter. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with the research that I was collecting. And I wasn’t entirely positive I had the bandwidth or the interest to really turn this into a book – even though I did feel strongly someone should write one.”      

“In 2018, by coincidence, the museum independently came up with the idea of doing an exhibition about cars,” recalls Wang. “And because I had written that one article and they didn’t have anyone in-house that had the background to curate a show, they thought maybe I would be interested in doing it. I had a little background – I had interviewed a handful of people – but didn’t have a comprehensive knowledge of the long arc of this community’s history within the car world.

Street racers Tod Kaneko and David Eguchi, in Glen Kuwata’s Chevrolet Vega, during a Nisei Week Cruise. | Photo courtesy of Tod Kaneko

“But because I always want to leave myself open to learning new things – like curating an exhibition – and because it’s really important to me that the research I do be public-facing and not be available only to academics, an exhibition seemed like a wonderful way of solving multiple things. So I agreed to take it on.”

It was a slow project initially and Wang and his team lost a minimum of two years because of the pandemic. But in 2022, they set out to interview people in earnest.

“The exhibition and the book really began to form through all these conversations,” says Wang. “At this point I’d spoken to probably at least a hundred people about their personal histories and they were from very different areas that involve cars – not just about sport or recreation, but also very much about work, family, and community.”

Members of the L.A. Retail Fish Association at San Pedro Wharf, November 24, 1964. | Photo by JAck Iwata / Courtesy of Clyde Iwata and Teruo “Ted/Snyder Endo family

Asked if there was something he discovered during the seven years he was working on the project that surprised him, Wang pauses before replying, “Everything surprised me! I knew so little going in. Every new conversation expanded and opened up my awareness even more. And this was the reason to do the project – there was no book that existed from which I could learn about these things. I wouldn’t have wanted to do the project if someone had already laid out its history and the different facets.” 

“In terms of what really stood out to me, the first thing that comes to mind would be the fish trucks,” reveals Wang. “By the late 1940s, when the Japanese American community returned to Los Angeles after being incarcerated during WWII, they didn’t have relatively easy access to food markets. They were geographically dispersed; some had moved out to Pacoima or Gardena or parts of the Eastern San Gabriel Valley. The fish trucks drove all around the Southland six days a week and did door-to-door deliveries of Japanese food items – fresh fish, rice, tofu, jerky, candy. For decades the fish trucks provided this useful community service to people who didn’t have the time or the means to easily come down to Little Tokyo to do their grocery shopping.”

“At some point by the early 1960s, there were enough trucks out there that the fish truck drivers organized themselves into what became known as the Los Angeles Retail Fish Association,” Wang relates. “At the same time, it was a way to prevent them from inadvertently competing against each other. And because they were now unified, they were able to negotiate better wholesale pricing.”

Bob Hirohata’s 1951 Mercury Coupe, aka the Hirohata Merc. on the National Wall, Washington D.C., 2017. The car was displayed after being added to the National Historical Vehicle Registry. | Photo courtesy of Hagerty Drivers Foundation

While Wang claims the book isn’t a complete history of the Japanese car culture in the Southland, essays from contributors cover a wide range of materials and personal anecdotes commencing with an insightful foreword by George Takei about what cars symbolize for the Nikkei community. Associate curator Chelsea Shi-Chao Liu pens five essays: the voluntary evacuation of Japanese Americans; the concentration camps during WWII and the Japanese Americans’ return and resettlement; the fish trucks; the displacement of Japanese Americans because of freeway construction; and drift racing. Oliver Otake writes about Nikkei auto designers; Jonathan Wong discusses the import car culture of the 1900s and 2000s; and Akiko Anna Iwata delves into the car audio systems business.                     

The book is a companion to the exhibition but it isn’t a catalog. And that’s by design. It’s a stand-alone publication that can be read and enjoyed by someone who doesn’t have an opportunity to see the exhibition.

Takeo “Chickie” Hirashima, the renowned Nisei racing mechanic of the WW II era with George Takei, Ontario Speedway, 1965. George is wearing the mechanic’s shirt for his character, Kato, from the film Red Line 7000. | Gift of Charles and June Keene, Japanese American National Museum

“A conventional catalog for a museum exhibition is normally meant to be a mirror of the show,”  clarifies Wang. “We could have produced a catalog, but because there hasn’t been a book on this topic before, it just made more sense to write one that provides all of these stories and the back history rather than making it strictly tied to the show in terms of format. There’s absolutely overlap between the two, but going to the exhibition is its own experience and the book is its own experience as well. The book is based on the same history and set of stories.”

Wang expounds, “The book, which is divided into four chapters, is organized loosely chronologically. We start in the early 1910s, which is not just the birth of Japanese American car culture but also of the car culture of Los Angeles. It is when access to cars and trucks becomes much more available to people. While cars have existed in the U.S. prior to that, the 1910s is when you see it become affordable to the average family. The book goes all the way through the current day, looking at very contemporary scenes like the drift racing.

Toyota senior lead designer Bob Mochiziko working with a 20% scale clay model of what became Toyota’s FT-1 concept car. Calty Design Research, Newport Beach, 2013. | Photo courtesy of CALTY Design Research

“On the other hand, the exhibition is split into four themes: speed (covers racing and performance); style (about customization and design, drift racing falls under style because drivers are not graded on speed but on style when they’re skating on corners); work (looks at ways vehicles have factored in life and labor within the Japanese American population); and community. Community is very broad in scope but it allowed us to explore other dynamics – from the role that cars and trucks played during the WWII incarceration experience, car clubs and the ways in which people organized themselves communally and collectively through cars.”

The exhibition features five cars, each of which is tied to one of those themes. For Speed, Wang and his team picked a Meteor – an early 1940s hot rod that was formerly owned  by George Nakamura. The Nakamura family donated it to the Peterson Museum.

There are two cars for Style: a customized 1951 Mercury coupe owned by Brian Omatsu called  Purple Reign – a remarkable and eye-catching, show-stopping custom job; and a 1989 Nissan 240SX owned by Nadine Sachiko Hsu, who created the Drifting Pretty team when she was a pro racer in that circuit.         

Drifting Pretty Racing Team, California Speedway, Fontana, CA. | Photo by Nadine Sachiko Hsu / Courtesy of Sachiko Hsu

For work, they have a Ford F100 from 1956 – a pick-up truck that used to be driven by a West L.A. gardener who was known as the hot rod gardener of West L.A. because he had a muscle car engine installed in the pick-up truck

For community, the curators borrowed a 1973 Datsun 510 – the first Japanese import to really take off within the Japanese American street racing scene.

Beyond the cars, they display helmets owned and worn by former race car drivers; accessories that people would typically have installed in their cars, especially in the 1980s import scene; reproductions of archival photos; jackets from the 1950s and 1960s car clubs, as well as 1970s and 1980s racing clubs; car plaques, which are basically license plates that Japanese American car clubs embellished with their name and logo; and ‘thank you’ gifts that gas stations and fish trucks used to give their customers.

Tom Ikkanda (seated), Fred Ige, and Frank Ige, Sawtelle, mid-to-late 1940s. Both Ige brothers worked for Ikkanda at his West L.A. service station on Sawtelle Blvd. | Photo courtesy of Richard Ikkanda

As for the reader takeaway, Wang would like for us to appreciate how the Japanese Americans have figured in the history of Los Angeles car culture.

“The world of cars and trucks has been an integral part of Japanese American lives for over a hundred years,” declares Wang. “Japanese Americans have contributed to many different aspects of car culture over that time, even if they have not been widely recognized for it. They were there, not just in the background but very much in the foreground. These hidden or forgotten mysteries, as you might call them, are there waiting to be discovered and shared.”

Furthermore, Wang wants to emphasize the subject of the Cruising J-Town book and exhibition. “I encountered quite a few people who think the project is about the history of how Toyota and Honda came to the U.S. I usually have to just very gently correct them and say this isn’t a show about cars and car brands; it’s first and foremost, about a community of people and their relationship to cars and trucks. The people in the community are at the center of it; cars help tell their stories but the cars are not the focus.”

“The irony is, I think people assume that it’s about Japanese car brands because Japanese cars have become such an important part of the American car landscape,” Wang stresses. “And I think the Japanese American community – in its own small but significant way – helped contribute to how Japanese imports were able to get legitimized and become respected within the American car world.”

Oliver Wang | Photo by May S. Ruiz / Hey SoCal

After the exhibition opens and his book is released, Wang will have the time to work on his next endeavor. He has several projects on the back burner. He has already done the research about how New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” became the unofficial anthem for Asian American Gen Xers; there’s one project that he and a research partner have been discussing about inter-ethnic marriages; and there’s a podcast idea that he wants to get back to called “Songs for Ourselves,” the conceit for which he says is drawn from the fact that for most Asian Americans growing up in America, their favorite songs were by people from other communities.

But that’s all in the future. For now, Wang has given us the “Cruising J-Town” book and exhibition to peruse and take in. And one doesn’t have to be a car aficionado or Asian American to find the stories they tell to be illuminating and uplifting.                   

Norton Simon Museum Enhances Exterior Grounds as it Marks 50th Anniversary

/ May S Ruiz / Leave a comment

Also published on 8 May 2025 on Hey SoCal

The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. | Photo courtesy of Tony Mariotti/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

The facade of the Norton Simon Museum is known to millions of television viewers around the world as the backdrop of Pasadena’s annual Rose Parade. With the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains behind it and flower-bedecked floats traveling along Colorado Boulevard on a sunny winter morning, it is an iconic image that once enticed countless people to move to Southern California, and still draws several thousand tourists to the city.      

As the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is undergoing an exterior renovation project to make it more inviting for these television viewers and people on the grandstands to come in and discover the treasures found within.

During a recent tour of Norton Simon Museum, Leslie Denk, vice president of external affairs, talks about the captivating man behind the institution’s magnificent collection, the history of the museum and the exterior improvement project.

Gallery entrance. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

“Norton Simon was originally from Portland, Oregon,” Denk begins. “When he was in his late teens, he and his family moved to Los Angeles. He started to think about business and with a small loan, he took over Hunt’s Food, which was called something else back then. He was really known for identifying businesses with potential but weren’t financially successful and then turning them around. Some of the businesses in his conglomerate include Avis Car Rental, Canada Dry Corporation, McCalls Publishing and, of course, Hunt’s Food where he really made a name for himself.”

While Simon always knew he wanted to become a business man, his first art acquisition was happenstance. Relates Denk, “As the story goes, in the early 1950s he and his first wife were living in Larchmont Village in L.A. and his wife hired a decorator to revamp their home. The decorator brought in works of art that didn’t speak to him. He had his regular haircuts at the barber shop in the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Blvd. where there was an art gallery. One day in 1954, he popped in at the gallery and ended up purchasing a few works of art. As a former senior curator who was hired as a young person by Simon described, ‘it was like an olive coming out of a bottle – he could never put the olives back in.’”

Today the Norton Simon Museum boasts a collection of 12,000 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. Its collection of European paintings and sculpture, which spans the Renaissance to the 20th century, includes the finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art on the West Coast.

Retrospect Exhibition Installation. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

It’s a staggering number considering Simon was personally involved and didn’t have a team acquiring artwork on his behalf. A self-created capitalist, he approached art acquisition like a business — purchasing an artwork and selling it when the value increased to procure more.

Before he acquired the building to display his collection, most of Simon’s art was traveling. Denk said, “He had a program called Museum Without Walls where he would send portions of his collection to other museums around the country. A lot were held at LACMA for many years too. He also had them at his businesses — several large monumental sculpture were at his corporate campus — and at his homes where he had a really interesting way of storing his art collection. He kept them in something similar to a vault where he had racks to hang them. It was an important part of his acquisition strategy to live with the paintings; he wanted to spend time with the artwork to see how he felt about it before he would commit to purchasing it.”      

Norton SImon, third from right. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

Norton Simon Museum’s history is intertwined with that of Pasadena Art Museum’s. Denk reveals, “This building was actually built in the late 1960s by the Pasadena Art Museum which was the first modern and contemporary art museum in the Los Angeles area. They did some groundbreaking exhibitions in the 1950s and 1960s and they wanted to expand and relocate from their site on Los Robles. This land was owned by the city and they were able to build this structure. It opened in 1969, but they ran into a lot of financial difficulty.”

“They eventually struck a deal where Simon assumed control of the building and their collection, paid off their debts, and did some repairs,” Denk continues. “We debuted this museum in October 1975 and it was renamed Norton Simon Museum. When Simon took over, he quickly  realized the museum is the backdrop of the parade. He negotiated to have the bleachers moved, he enlarged the museum’s letterings, and commissioned the rose placard on the front of the building. It’s a wonderful tradition that we’re happy to be part of.”

The building was designed for a contemporary art collection, with curved walls outside and similarly shaped interior. “After Simon’s death in 1993, his widow and the Board of Trustees decided to do a remodel of the interior galleries and they hired Frank O. Gehry,” states Denk. “He raised the ceilings, added the skylights, squared off the walls, and created new gallery spaces appropriate to the Simon collection.”

The pond in the sculpture garden. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

“At the same time, the sculpture garden was reenvisioned by landscape designer Nancy Goslee Power,” Denk says further. “The previous garden had been pretty minimalist and modernist — with a lot of turf, a long rectilinear fountain, and sparse plantings. When Jennifer Jones Simon hired Nancy, she asked her to create a romantic space to better reflect the collection and was a nod to Monet’s gardens. So Nancy patterned it after Japanese strolling gardens and it became a real highlight for visitors to the museum.”   

Organized chronologically on an H pattern, the European collection is the first stop on our tour of the galleries.    

“We have the only painting by Raphael west of Washington, D.C. — it’s one of the unique things people may not know about the Norton Simon Museum,” Denk discloses. “As part of our 50th anniversary, we selected 50 works of art throughout the museum, including this ‘Madonna and Child with Book’ and put labels that highlighted recent research or other projects that we’ve done, like conservation work, so people can learn a little bit more about how to care for and interpret the collection.“ 

Raphael (Raffaelo Sanzio, Italian, 1483-1520)
“Madonna and Child with Book,” c. 1502-03 oil on panel. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Foundation

Denk leads me to the next piece saying, “This is our wonderful ‘Still Life with Lemons, Oranges, and a Rose’ painted by Baroque Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán. It is the only signed and dated still life by this great master of the school of Seville. It was lent to the Prado last year and it will be a highlight of a Zurbarán major exhibition coming up in the next year or two. A scholar once referred to it as the ‘Mona Lisa of Still Life.’”

As we enter the theater, Denk explains, “Our theater seats almost 300 people and we screen films, host lectures, stage performances here year-round. In 2001, it was refurbished by Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates Inc. We do about 10 lectures, four performances, and approximately 25 films a year. A week from today, we’re starting a film series directed by previous directors of the board that will run through July as part of our 50th anniversary celebration.”

Rembrandt’s “Self-portrait.” | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

When we reach the 17th century Dutch wing, Denk remarks, “Here we display three paintings by Rembrandt – ‘Portrait of a Boy,’ ‘Self-portrait,’ and ‘Portrait of a Bearded Man in a Wide-Brimmed Hat.’ We have a huge and significant Rembrandt print collection and sometimes we organize smaller exhibitions for it. Ten years ago we had a rare Rembrandt print show.”

In the French and Italian 18th century collection, the museum has a notable selection of French paintings that include works by Jean-Siméon Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Greuze, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard; Italian masterpieces by artists like Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.  

Impressionism Gallery. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

We reach the 19th century collection and Denk declares, “This is probably the most well-known among our artworks and this period was the origins of his art collecting. As he became more immersed in the art world he began collecting other genres and forms. We have this incredible Van Gogh ‘Portrait of a Peasant,’ which is certainly iconic of the collection. ‘Mulberry Tree’ by Van Gogh is also a real knockout. We have a pretty significant Van Gogh collection — the biggest in Southern California.”

Degas’s “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.” | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

Simon was fascinated by Edgar Degas and the museum has a wonderful collection of his works, including a little sculpture. Claude Monet is another crowd-pleaser and they have a few of his paintings. ‘The Ragpicker’ by Édouard Manet, is one of the highlights of their 19th century collection.

The museum’s pastel collection is in a dimly-lit space to protect the works. Degas’s small sculpture ‘Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’ is also kept in here because her skirt is material and also has sensitivity to light.

In the 20th century collection section, Denk points out a painting called ‘The Traveler’ by Liubov Popova — a Russian artist who died very young.

Picasso’s “Woman with a Book.” | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

“Simon loved Picasso,” Denk pronounces. “We have various works here and a print collection. This is his ‘Woman with a Book’ — it’s one of the most celebrated likenesses of his lover Marie-Thérèse Walter and is another well-known work of art in the collection.

“This is a great artwork by Diego Rivera — ‘The Flower Vendor’ painted in 1941 — that was donated by Cary Grant to the museum,” says Denk. “That’s another fun little story that we’re highlighting for the anniversary because he served on the Board of Trustees. Diego Rivera did a series of similar paintings and this is one of them.”

Diego Rivera’s “The Flower Vendor” was a gift from actor Cary Grant. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

A number of works in the Modern Art gallery are from the Pasadena Art Museum, including  those of the “Blue Four” — Lyonel Feininger, Alexei Jawlensky, Paul Klee, and Vassily Kandinsky. Constantin Brancusi’s sculpture called “Bird in Space” commands the most prominent spot beneath the skylight. Other art pieces include an Alberto Giacometti sculpture called “Tall Figure IV” from 1960 and Barbara Hepworth’s “Four-Square (Walk Through).”

From the Modern Art gallery, we walk downstairs to the lower level gallery which houses South and Southeast Asian Art.

“In 1971, Simon met and married Jennifer Jones who was an Academy Award-winning actress,” Denk explains. “They went to Hawaii for their honeymoon but he wasn’t a beach kind of guy and he got bored. So she suggested they move on to India. While he was there he started visiting museums and became excited about South Asian art. His collection later expanded to include Southeast Asia.”

The Asian collection. | Photo courtesy of Norton Simon Museum

The Asian collection was previously showcased in the main gallery but was moved here during the remodel with Gehry. It has three exhibition wings where temporary shows are held. It will be the site for the museum’s 50th anniversary exhibition called “Gold.” The café has been moved here since the start of the renovation work.

Donning hard hats and neon vests, we then explore the outdoor grounds where the renovation is going on.  

“This exterior remodel has been in conversation for more than ten years,” Denk expounds. “Since 2021, we have been working on the conceptual and pre-design phases. The early part of the project was to make the exterior of the building more inviting for passers-by to want to come in, to make the main entrance more visible, to refurbish our tile — to create a better street presence, if you will. We’ll construct new pedestrian path and a fresh sign which will run parallel to the driveway. Our east driveway will be more visible as well. We’ll also have the ability to close our gates and protect the campus.”

Rendering of the Norton Simon Museum’s Sculpture Garden. | Image courtesy of ARG and SWA

The sculpture garden and pond – a favorite of visitors to the museum – are getting updated. Says Denk, “Our sculpture garden is 25 years old and the liner at the bottom of the pond was past its lifespan so we knew this was a good opportunity to drain the pond and rebuild it. We’ll make the pond smaller and reposition it away from the building to make it easier for people to navigate the area during busy exhibition openings and events.

“We’re redoing all the paths and hardscaping and adding more seating. People love our garden and I want to promise our visitors that it will look a lot like it did. We’re not trying to redesign the garden or change the original concept of it being a lush and romantic special place,” Denk assures.

Heath tile. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

The most recognizable feature of the Norton Simon Museum is the structure’s distinct tile-clad façade created by San Francisco-based Heath Ceramics. With 115,000 tiles on the building, the significant commission launched Edith Heath’s tile business.   

According to Denk the tile had never been cleaned before other than the occasional spot cleaning and rain. Part of this project is working with architectural restorers to undertake a conservation treatment and touching up little blemishes. Heath is also recreating the tile for missing areas.

Additionally, a solid wall will be built around Colorado Blvd. and Orange Grove to help reduce the noise from the street. A big olive tree will be planted to catch people’s eyes. Along the south lawn three light pole banners which will have details from objects from the collection will be erected. Drivers will get a glimpse of Van Gogh’s ‘Portrait of a Peasant’ or Picasso’s “Woman with a Book.” “The Thinker” will be relocated near the pedestrian path away from the trees to make it more visible. 

Rendering of the Norton Simon Museum’s main entrance and pedestrian walkway | Image courtesy of ARG and SWA

The architectural firm that’s leading the project design is Architectural Resources Group. Denk explains how they made the choice, “We interviewed a couple of different architectural firms and we really liked Architectural Resources Group because they are preservation-focused. Even though we’re not a historic site we have a lot of iconic elements like the tile and podium wall. We knew that they would come to this project with sensitivity for maintaining a lot of the physical elements of our site that are so important to us, especially being the backdrop of the parade.”

While they had hoped to complete the renovation sooner, Denk is hopeful it will wrap up in time for the October celebration. She says, “We had a soft launch in February with the opening of the ‘Retrospect’ exhibition, the ‘50 Objects’ on our website, and a program series — lectures and tours that highlight the museum’s history.”

“But our big moment of celebration will be in October,” Denk emphasizes. “The actual date of the name change to the Norton Simon Museum was October 24, 1975. That’s the day we’re opening the ‘Gold’ exhibition and the following Saturday we’re planning to have a community festival. It would be a great opportunity for people who haven’t been to the museum to see it and for others to rediscover it.”

A “Retrospect” exhibit installation. | Photo courtesy of the Norton Simon Museum

Norton Simon Museum hosts approximately 8,000 school groups from the Pasadena Unified School District and schools throughout the area every Monday, Thursday and Friday morning. The museum also welcomes 150,000 visitors per year, 70% of whom are local and 30% from Southern California, other states and abroad.     

The museum has become an integral part of Pasadena’s Rose Parade so they adjust their hours for it. They’re closed on the day of the parade and they add more open days so people can come when they’re here for the annual event. They also make sure they have something exciting for visitors to see — whether it’s a special loan or an interesting exhibition — on top of their exceptional collection.

In the 50 years since Norton Simon Museum’s establishment, it has distinguished itself as a tourist destination and the place where art enthusiasts can find extraordinary artworks. With the completed renovation project, this rare gem in Pasadena will certainly shine ever