Experiencing L.A. at the Tournament of Roses

For several years, including January 1st, 2009 we had a chance to experience the annual Tournament of Roses in nearby Pasadena. The 2009 theme (there's always a theme) was "Hat's Off to Entertainment."

Unlike folks who camped out overnight (which I personally think is crazy) we choose to leave our home around 7:30am, arriving towards the end of the parade around 8:30am. For us as family, much more do-able. And this year friends (who recently moved here from the midwest) joined us.


“Bollywood Dreams” - The City of Sierra Madre, a small community next to Pasadena, pulled off this amazing float. It's great seeing smaller cities from the area (Duarte, West Covina, Flintridge/La Canada, South Pasadena, etc) build incredible - and award winning - floats, the vast majority of work being done by volunteers.

The City of Los Angeles has an entry every year, but it's usually not as good as what these much smaller cities do. 

 
We were on Sierra Madre Blvd, north of the 210 Freeway, sitting on a grass median. We parked (free, of course) in a neighborhood and walked about five short blocks.
Weather was great. About 70 degrees, and sunny. We got to know some of the people around us, shared snacks ... strangers I met ten minutes earlier made sure my kids had a good seat. How great is that?


The parade is six miles long, five miles of which is along Colorado Blvd. The parade turns north at Sierra Madre Blvd. and continues for another mile. Sierra Madre becomes a residential street: it's pretty wild having a parade of this calibre pass by single family homes.


Most floats are simply amazing! Click on any of these photos for a larger (and more detailed) image. Considering we only waited about an hour for the parade to start, we had great seats. Most of these photos were taken simply standing (although a couple of times I stood on a metal folding chair). We brought chairs to sit on - which we highly recommend.


These photos are just a few of the 46 different floats that rolled by this year. Every square inch of visible surface area has to be covered with plants, flowers, or organic material.


Back when I was a student at UCLA, a couple of fraternity brothers and I got up early to try and see the parade. It was dark and cold as we wandered along Colorado Blvd around 5am looking for a place to sit. We didn't know what we were doing. I was tired, wished I had brought a chair, and really wished I back in bed. When the parade finally came by, we were on the wrong side of the street -and staring into the sun. Lame. I promised myself I would never go back.


Ten years later a friend suggested we go, but this time he had a plan: show up at towards the end of the parade (around 9:30am) - with step ladders, so we could see. Worked great! I understand Pasadena has since banned ladders - but a metal folding chair can work, too as long as you're behind the crowd and not blocking anyone else's view.


As I said, it was sunny and about 70 degrees. More amazing than the floats is the fact that it's only rained on the parade once in over fifty years. If you're not familiar with Southern California, it rains here in the winter. The fact that the parade has only experienced rain once since 1956 is remarkable.

A few years ago, I began to wonder, "Does God like the Rose Parade?"

Before answering that, maybe a better question is "does God like flowers? Does He like plants, animals ... His Creation?"

I think the answer to that is, "yes."

"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31

 
Why are there so many varities of plants and animals?

Why are there so many kinds of flowers?

Why are they so beautiful?


The diversity of life on earth is amazing. I remember thinking years ago "God isn't a theologian - He's a biologist!"


The Tournament of Roses doesn't try make any sort of theological statement. Sure, there are little nods to faith, much of which seems grandfathered in from previous generations: the Salvation Army band participates every year, the Lutheran Layman's League has an annual Christian-themed float (this year's theme "Hat's Off to Entertainment" was trickier than usual to work with). Most significantly, the parade organizers have a policy never holding the parade on a Sunday. In our secular, 24/7 society, that's incredible, really.


In a world of war, famine, suffering, and - yes - school shootings ... is it trivial to even ask if God likes something like the Tournament of Roses?

Maybe. But maybe not.

Thoughts?

He [God] waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His work. He makes grass grow for the cattle and plants for man to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees ..." Psalm 104: 13-16

"The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of goves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the bloosming vines spread their fragrance." Song of Songs 2:11-13

originally published 11/21/09
© 2012 www.experiencingla.com


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Experiencing L.A. at the Tournament of Roses

I'm always amazed to meet people who live in Los Angeles who have never attended the Rose Parade in person. Huh? Sort of like living in L.A. - but only having seen the beach on T.V.

I came across some photos I took nine years ago at the 2003 Rose Parade - I decided to post them for old times sake. We were living in Arizona at the time, but our work took us to San Diego between Dec 27-Jan 1. We literally drove up at 6am New Years' Day from San Diego to Pasadena, enjoyed the Parade, had lunch with friends, and then drove back to Arizona.

The five years we lived in L.A., it was just an easy, traffic-free drive over to Pasadena.

Now that we're no longer living in L.A., it's been a lot harder to get to Pasadena. This will be the second year in a row that we won't be able to see it in person. Watching it on T.V. is "just OK" . . . it's one of those things that's just so much better live.

My first experience going to the parade wasn't very good - and I said I'd never go back. Then a friend suggested we show up towards the end of the parade around 9:30am. We found good spots just as the parade turns off of Colorado Blvd onto Sierra Madre Blvd.

Sierra Madre Blvd. is a great - in my opinion the best - place to view the Parade. There's plenty of free parking in the neighborhoods (but be prepared to walk several blocks). You can show up around 8:30am and still find a good spot to view it.

Another tip: bring chairs. 2003, the year I took these photos, was the only year we forgot to bring something to sit or stand on. Every other year we brought a couple of light-weight plastic chairs. We made sure we wouldn't block anyone else's view - and this allowed us to stand up now and then to grab an unobstructed view.

One of the distinctions of the Rose Parade is that every single surface on every float must be covered with flowers or other natural materials. It's really incredible what the float designers can accomplish.

As I shared previously in a similar post, with everything going on in the world (war, famine, natural disasters, civil conflicts, etc.) is it trivial for me to even wonder what God thinks about the Rose Parade? Or, perhaps, better, what does God think about flowers? What does He think of His creation?

I remember a friend who's a professor at California State University, Northridge stating: "a clearer view of the creation gives us a clearer view of the Creator." Theologians call this natural revelation.

There are many reasons why I like taking my family to the Rose Parade, but one reason is to enjoy the magnificance, variety, and splendor of God's creation. Not to disengage with the serious problems of the world, but to put them in perspective, at least for a few hours.

I honestly find the Rose Parade as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, or the Redwoods.

It's something we hope to see again in person, that's for sure.

View Viewing the Rose Parade in a larger map

Here's a map of the end of the parade as it works it's way up Sierra Madre, with the two spots where we've viewed it.

Remember, the Parade is never held on a Sunday, so this year's Parade will be held on Monday January 2nd. The weather forecast is 82° under sunny skies. Wow, nice.

Here's a link to the Tournament of Roses website.

© 2011 www.experiencingla.com

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Happy New Year: 1/1/11

The Tournament of Roses (more commonly known as the Rose Parade) dates back to 1890. According to the wikipedia article Professor Charles F Holder of the Pasadena Valley Hunt Club was quoted as saying: "In New York, people are buried in the snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let's hold a festival to the tell the world about our paradise."

The first January 1st football game was held twelve years later in 1902 featuring Michigan vs. Stanford. The score was so lopsided (49-0) that Stanford quit in the third quarter.

For the next fifteen years organizers decided instead to substitute chariot races . . .

. . . ostrich races, and a race between a camel and an elephant (the elepahnt won) as diversions after the parade.

Finally, in 1916 football returned and the rest, as they say, is history. While I personally have zero emotional ties to either Wisconsin or Texas Christian University in today's non Pac Ten matchup, I'm sure the folks in Pasadena are very appreciative of the tens of millions of dollars being pumped into the local economy.

Regarding the parade, we moved up to San Luis Obispo last summer and weren't able to see it this time around. Maybe next year.

If you've never been, it's quiet incredible and it's really worth seeing in person.

Happy 2011.

© 2011 www.experiencingla.com

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Where Bowers of Flowers Bloom in the Sun (Rose Parade, Part III)

122 years ago a group of local Pasadena boosters decided to show off and high light the mild Southern California winters to the folks back East with a "little parade" down Colorado Blvd. The "little parade" developed into the Tournament of Roses.


The original Tournament consisted of a Parade, diversions like chariot races, and eventually a football game. Over the years it focused on the Parade and the football game.


These are just a few close ups of the flowers and floral work on various floats from the 2010 Rose Parade.


With over 16 million people in greater Los Angeles, I'd say that the local boosters did a pretty good job convincing people to move out to California.


Every float is required to be entirely covered in organic material, including - of course - flowers. This is a close up from the Cal Poly float.


"Where Bowers of Flowers Bloom in the Sun." The beautiful January morning, bright sunny skys and gorgeous flowers remind me of a line from the old song California, Here I Come.


Wow: bright! Here's a close up of the backside of the Kaiser Permanente float: "Magnificant Tales of Health."


These last three photos are from the Bayer Advanced float: "We Are The Champions."

As I shared in a similar post this time last year, with everything going on in the world (war, famine, natural disaters, civil conflicts, etc.) as a Christian is it trival for me to even wonder what God thinks about like the Rose Parade? Or, perhaps, better, what does God think about flowers? What does He think of His creation?


As a friend and professor a California State University, Northridge, stated: "a clearer view of the creation gives us a clearer view of the Creator." Theologians call this natural revelation. In the first century, Saint Paul wrote to a group of Christians in the city of Rome: "for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made ... " (Romans 1:20).


There's many reasons why I like taking my family to the Rose Parade, but one reason is enjoy the magnificance, variety, and splendor of the creation. Not to worship it, but the One who made it all.

Perhaps it's just me, but I find the Rose Parade as spectacular as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Valley, or the Redwoods. And living in Los Angeles, a lot closer.


What a wonderful way to kick off 2010.

Here's a couple of links to where we watch the parade (if you're looking for some tips on where to sit) and some more of the 2010 floats.

Happy New Year.


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A Cut Above the Rest (Rose Parade, Part II)

Huge, flowered covered floats are the highlight of the Tournament of Roses (aka the Rose Parade). This year's Parade, based on the theme A Cut Above the Rest, was no exception.


Our spot (where we sit) is along Sierra Madre Blvd, just north of the 210 Freeway. It's towards the end of the Parade route, and allows us to show up around 9:30 and still see the Parade in it's entirety.


I'm always impressed by the floats sponsored by local Los Angeles area cities: Burbank, Downey, Cerritos, Duarte, West Covina, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena (am I forgetting anyone?). Here's the beautiful float sponsored by the nearby city of Alhambra. Nice job!


Of course, the corporate sponsored floats are equally as impressive. Here's the China Air float, featuring a Chinese Dragon. I'm not sure how they were able to work in the theme A Cut Above the Rest. No matter. Regardless of the theme, there are always seems to be at least one or two dragons in every Parade.



Here's the second one: a large, green origami dragon, which - of course - moved up and down. Very creative and impressive! One of the stipulations for the Tournament is that every float has to be completely covered in organic material. The float builders get very creative.



Here's the Kaiser Permanente float. I like that fact that most corporate floats have nothing to do with the produce of service they provide. Just something beautiful and amazing to look at.


Here's the back side of that same float. Once again, we were able to enjoy a bright, sunny New Year's Day with temperatures in the 60's. It's only rained once on the parade in over fifty years. Incredible, really.


This undersea themed float "Jewels of the Pacific" was sponsored by the city of Downey. As we were sitting or standing on metal folding chairs towards the back of the crowd, I was able to follow some of my favorite floats for a block or so, snapping pictures. This was one of them.


I'll finish with this amazing float from the city of Burbank. It featured a barnstorming plane (a nod to their city's regional airport and history with aviation) with some incredible animation: the plane moved up and down ....


... soaring and twisting! Again, the entire float is covered in flowers and other organic material. Wow.


Really fun. Many thanks to the thousands of volunteers that allowed us, and a million or so of our closest friends, to kick off and celebrate the New Year.

Some final thoughts on the Parade in the next post.




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Cheap Seats in Pasadena (Rose Parade, Part I)

January 1st our family trucked on over to Pasadena for the 121st annual Tournament of Roses.

We arrive around 9:30am and opted for what I refer to affectionately as the "cheap seats" - towards the very end of the Parade route. "Cheap," as in "free."


The Parade begins in front of the Norton Simon Museum on Colorado Blvd. After five miles, the Parade turns north on Sierra Madre Blvd. and works it's way through the much more residential and suburban neighborhood, where we were.


The Parade has to go under the 210 Freeway underpass. Over the years engineers have figured out how to lower the floats and then raise them up again once they get under the Freeway. Most make it, but a few don't. By the way, you'll notice there are no barricades or fences anywhere along the entire Parade route.


The huge bleechers (where all the TV cameras are) at the beginning of the Rarade route give way to lawn chairs and blankets five miles later.

Some people camp out overnight. I really like the Rose Parade, but that just sounds miserable. We opt to show up around 9:30am with some metal folding chairs to sit (or stand) on. Worked great for us.


This year's theme (there's always a theme) was "A Cut Above the Rest."


Instead of large comercial buildings, Sierra Madre Blvd north of the 210 Freeway is made up of modest, one-story suburban homes, giving the Parade a much more "home town" feel.


It was, once again, an amazingly friendly crowd. Supposedly, there are one million people along the Parade route watching it in person (I'm not sure how that number is actually verified).

More on the floats in the next post.


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