For ten years I had an office two blocks from this set of shops. On my afternoon walks to the Post Office, this was a favorite route past these buildings. Located on the corner of Madison and Green streets in Pasadena, the avenue is shaded by old and large ficus trees. The buildings housed an art gallery, interior design studio, and landscape design studio.

Across the street from Vroman’s Book Store on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena is a group of small shops in a building called Arcade Lane. The Spanish Mediterranean brick structure was built in 1927. It houses a couple of restaurants, beauty salon, book store, tea shop, antique shop, and gift shop.

I was captivated by the entrance. It hints at something inviting, interesting, from another time and place. The stone patio and tree shaded courtyard on the other side of this entrance offers a cool respite on hot summer days.

The bike rack near where I was sketching provided me a second focal point as I waited for my wife who was shopping in Vroman’s.

Sketching is fun. I have found a new inspirational website that I really like called Urban Sketchers. Each day people in cities around the world post sketches that they have made of their city. So I thought that I would give it a try. The Pasadena City Hall is located at 100 North Garfield Avenue. City Hall was designed by John Bakewell & Arthur Brown who were influenced by the early Renaissance style of 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Construction was completed on December 27, 1927.  The blue building in the foreground is All Saints Episcopal Church