La Cañada Teepee Hike: Slightly Challenging, But a Great Reward

 

High above La Cañada, the 2.7 mile Teepee trail is a moderate hike, but still steep in places. I didn't quite do the homework beforehand, so the kids in particular were not happy with the difficulty level. I powered through and made it to the top, which afforded amazing views, a teepee and a rock garden, but the boys and Maria decided to stay a bit below. The final stage was perhaps the most sweat-inducing, but the reward was cool.

I'd advise hiking boots and a hiking stick as well. I found some makeshift sticks that I could use as a walking stick, but it wasn't ideal. Nonetheless, the views were. I saw a father and his kids bring a picnic up and eat inside the teepee.

Also cool: This rock garden, found at the top, nearby.

Also nearby: Bees!

It was overcast the day we hiked, which allowed for great temperatures — but some limited views.

Not seen here, but midway up the mountain is a spot with picnic tables where you can take a break. To find the trailhead, type 5399-5373 Harter Ln, La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. 91011 into your map app.

R.I.P., Sport Chalet

Another one bites the dust. This one is extra sad for Southern California, as Sport Chalet is (was) a local success story, born in 1959 in La Canada Flintridge. The chain, which was sold in 2014 to Vestis Retail Group, announced today that it is shutting down:

Today Sport Chalet will begin the process of closing all of our stores and will stop selling merchandise online. Store closing sales will begin at the open of business today and continue over the next several weeks, offering customers the opportunity to take advantage of great sales. Our online store will stop selling merchandise on April 16th, but you may visit our website, www.SportChalet.com to find the location closest to you.

Sport Chalet gift cards, rewards certificates and store credits will be honored in Sport Chalet stores through April 29th, 2016. Customers who are unable to visit us before this date are invited to transfer gift card balances to a gift card from one of our sister stores, Eastern Mountain Sports or Bob's Stores through July 29th, 2016. To transfer your balance, please contact customer service at (888) 801-9162 and an agent will assist you.

We also ask that you pick up any equipment that had been left in one of our stores for repair no later than April 29th, 2016 and ask you to return Sport Chalet rental equipment before this date.

Thank you for your loyalty over the years. We hope to see you at our store closing sales.

Norbert Olberz, who founded Sport Chalet with his wife Irene, died in 2011. The shut down is a huge blow to the La Canada Flintridge business community. Sport Chalet had also just opened a major flagship story in downtown Los Angeles three years ago. Sport Chalet was 57.

Chris Mills Gets Intimate: His Sunday Night Living Room Show

Singer/songwriter Chris Mills supplies the best soundtrack for the ups and downs of life. The Chicago Tribune calls Chris "a trenchant troubadour... his scorched, yearning voice is a memorable instrument, landing somewhere between the Replacements' Paul Westerberg and proto-punk folkie Jonathan Richman." Chris is also an old pal from my Northwestern dorm, and has been touring across the globe since the moment he got out of school in the mid-90s. I remember seeing him perform several times back then in Chicago, but it had been several years since I last caught one of his shows here in Los Angeles. That's why I made sure to grab a ticket to an intimate living room show he put on Sunday night at a house in La Canada Flintridge. The audience was kept to less than 30 people -- many of whom were also old Northwestern friends -- and the mood was casual and fun as Chris and his band (which in L.A. includes Los Angeles Times TV critic Robert Lloyd) went through tracks from his new CD. Chris also went solo for several acoustic numbers.



It's not too late to see Chris on this leg of his tour; he and the band are performing tonight, 7 p.m. at Genghis Cohen on Fairfax. Tix are just $10!





Chris' new CD, "Alexandria," is out now. Listen to the track "Castaways" below.

The View from Above Descanso Gardens

Not only is Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge one of our favorite spots to visit, but hike it a bit and you'll be rewarded with some fantastic views of the foothills.

Later this month, check out Descanso's Cherry Blossom Festival. (Check out more March events here.



Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Drive
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
Descanso Gardens is open daily except for Christmas. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm (last entry is 4:30 pm). There is ample free parking.
General $9. Senior/Students $6. Children (5 to 12 years) $4. Guild members and children under 5 free.

Thursday Night Live at the Descanso Gardens

There are few better things on a late summer evening than rolling out a mat under some trees, unpacking a picnic basket, pouring a glass of wine and listening to some live music. You can't quite crack open a bottle at the Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena, but those shows are free. You can do the whole picnic thing at the Hollywood Bowl, but parking (and admission) aren't cheap. We love the Thursday evening Farmers' Market in South Pasadena, but that's a different scene.



The Descanso Gardens, on the other hand, is an economical way to meet up with folks on a warm summer evening without breaking the bank. Kids under 5 are even free. Thursday nights, Descanso stays open late for visitors (with paid admission) to enjoy jazz under the setting sun. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. Here's what's left this summer:

July 12: Gonzalo Bergara (Gypsy jazz guitar virtuoso from Argentina)
July 19: Nick Mancini (Powerhouse vibraphone player)
July 26: Jimmy Branly (Cuban jazz)
August 2: Kristin Korb (California cool bass and vocals)
August 9: Sammy Miller (Up-and-coming jazz drummer)
August 16: Betty Bryant (Sophisticated blues from the pianist/singer)
August 23: Terry Harrington (Veteran sax player and Simpsons regular)

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge 91011. Admission: General $8. Senior/Students $6. Children (5 to 12 years) $3. Guild members and children under 5 free.

The Station Fire, One Year Later

It's now been a year since the start of the Station Fire, the devastating blaze that charred a whopping 160,000 acres of the Angeles National Forest north of La Cañada Flintridge.

Not only did the fire rage on for two months -- finally being contained in mid-October -- but it also led to the deaths of two firefighters, and destroyed more than 80 homes.

It's still painful to think that the forest north of L.A. won't again be like we knew it, at least in our lifetime. Franklin Avenue visited the devastation back in April (read about it here) and it was heartbreaking.

As the Glendale News-Press reports, there's still plenty of anger over the county's and the forest service's reaction to the blaze, and the recovery process since then.

It's now well known that the county and forest service had an opportunity in the first day to call out helicopters and attack the fire with water before it got out of control. They didn't. And the fire, well, got out of control in ways that defy explanation.

The paper writes:

For some residents who lost their homes and face a long and complicated rebuilding process, there is a deep sense of betrayal. And among county, state and federal representatives, there is frustration and concern about a lack of transparency and reform.

"It has been a year and still no reform," said Tony Bell, spokesman for Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. "We are smack dab in the middle of fire season again, and still no reform."

Antonovich was one of the first in a chorus of voices, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), questioning the U.S. Forest Service's handling of the Station fire, particularly the use, or the failure to use, aerial water drops during the initial days of the blaze.

The rains earlier this year at least brought back a bit of green to the charred mountains. But it's going to take years to nurse the forest back to health.

No More Day Trips to the Snow? Angeles Crest Highway Remains Closed

Driving up the Angeles Crest Highway (the 2) above La Canada-Flintridge to play in the snow has become an annual winter tradition for us (as we've written about many times, including here).

It's one of L.A.'s surprisingly best-kept secrets. Everyone knows you can head over to Big Bear for some fun in the snow. But fewer folks, for some reason, realize that snow can be found just 40 minutes or so north of us in the mountains.

Well, it may be all moot now. And the Station Fire, unfortunately, is to blame. With so much dead plant life and trees up there, it's a mess -- and a dangerous drive, especially given how curvy the highway is.

Now comes word, via the L.A. Times, that the Angeles Crest might not re-open at all until March:

The stretch from La Cañada Flintridge to Islip Saddle (at a junction with Highway 39) has been closed since Jan. 18 when heavy rains began that caused mudslides and washed away roads along the route in the Angeles National Forest.

Hillsides in that area were scorched by last year’s Station Fire, the largest blaze in Los Angeles County history, and the fire destroyed guard rails and signage and burned off road stripping. Officials said that the lack of vegetation on the hillsides was one factor that led to the washouts and severe road conditions... Officials said they hoped to reopen the road by late March.

Most of the snow will be melted by then, which completely ruins any chance of our usual quick ride to pay with the white stuff. It also means Baby Blogger 2.0 won't get his first taste of snow this year after all.

It's pretty depressing to realize that this is our new reality in the now-charred Angeles National Forest. And as bad as I feel, I'm thinking about how the folks behind Mt. Waterman -- the only skiing area up in that part of the woods -- and Newcomb's Ranch, the famed restaurant way up there, have got it much, much worse.

I gotta imagine Newcomb's has had to lay off most of its staff, as it hasn't had many chances to open following the fire. And Mt. Waterman posted this on Tuesday:

2-3-2010 - 2pm - Good Afternoon from Mt Waterman. We still have a solid 4-5 foot base, unfortunately we do not have a road to get to the Ski Area. Cal Trans snow blower is down at this time, they are trying to get a swap for a new blower. At this point we have no idea when we will get the road open. We just posted a couple of images from the road below. Keep checking with us as we will give you updates as we get them. Pray for Snow and a Road!

And here's a pic from the site that shows that not everything was burned. (And look at all that snow!):


(Pic by Craig Stewart)

Descanso Gardens Celebrates The Ability to Once Again Breathe A Little Easier

After days of breathing in toxic smoke from the Station fire -- as well as fretting over the loss of L.A.'s priceless resource to the North, our Angeles National Forest -- it was a treat to finally get back to nature on Monday, thanks to Descanso Gardens.



Descanso threw its doors open to everyone for free on Labor Day, as a "gesture of support for our local communities." That includes La Canada Flintridge, where Descanso is based.



The air quality isn't back to normal yet -- but with it much improved, we took Descanso Gardens (not too far from Franklin Avenue HQ) up on the offer.



The 150 acres that form Descanso Gardens today came into being thanks to E. Manchester Boddy, the publisher of the original (not today's) Los Angeles Daily News, who purchased the land in 1937.


Japanese Tea Garden

The Descanso site includes Boddy's old home, a two-story mansion; the 22-room home is free to visit as part of the Descano admission. The Gardens also include a Japanese Tea Garden; a rose garden; a section set aside for California plants; even a mini train, which kids can ride on the weekends.



Normal prices: $8 for general admission; seniors and students are $6, while kids 5 to 12 are $3. Kids under 5 are free.



1418 Descanso Drive
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Fire/Air Quality Update: We're Choking Here in Glendale

See where it's shaded to designate "VERY UNHEALTHY" air? Yep, we live right at the edge of that.

After three days of watching the flames in the mountains above La Canada-Flintridge from our front window, the smoke has now gotten so bad that we've got virtually no visibility anymore here in Glendale. The sky is an eerie orange -- with the sun one big red blob. So this is what the apocalypse will look like.

The smoke is not only thick, but the outdoors smell like one big campfire -- and you can immediately feel it in the back of your neck. Pieces of ash also float through the air, as you try hard not to breathe while racing to the car. So we're indoors bound for now here at Franklin Avenue HQ.

Unfortunately, according to the L.A. Times, that's because the winds switched direction overnight -- and started sending the smoke right toward residential areas.

Meaning, well, us.

More from the paper:

The fire marched north overnight through remote mountain ridges toward Acton. The U.S. Forest Service was sending firefighters into those areas, which have become the northern edge of the blaze. Mandatory evacuations were in effect in La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, La Crescenta, Altadena, Glendale and Big Tujunga Canyon.

Today is supposed to be the last day of a five-day heat wave that has brought triple-digit temperatures along the fire lines. Forecasters said temperatures will drop a few degrees today and that lower temperatures, morning clouds and more humidity are on tap for the next few days.

But even with no winds in the forecast, firefighters said the conditions remain highly dangerous.

Forest Service officials said three civilians were burned and airlifted from rural Big Tujunga Canyon, where at least three to five homes were destroyed. One fire official, after surveying the canyon, estimated that the toll may be much worse.

According to KNX radio, Glendale Unified has already canceled what was planned to be the first day of school Monday.


The view from our front door yesterday, when the smoke was thankfully not heading in our direction. Today we're not so lucky.

Once Again, Southern California is Ablaze

We spent much of tonight watching the mountains above us, several miles away (thankfully), as they quickly became engulfed in flames. The so-called "Station" fire is inching closer to homes in La Cañada Flintridge, where at least 500 houses have already been evacuated.

Most threatened so far in the Station fire was the Angeles Crest Ranger Station, a familiar sight to anyone driving up the Angeles Crest Highway (the 2) into the mountains.

Above, you could already see the flames at around 7 p.m.; as it got darker, the flames spread and started heading down the mountain. The Blogger Preschooler, of course, is alternately fascinated and freaked out; but again, we're several miles away and in no danger.

Meanwhile, local L.A. TV stations began breaking into programming later in primetime, particularly after another fire -- this one in Rancho Palos Verde -- quickly grew out of control.

KCAL/9, which normally runs primetime news, and KTTV/11 were the first to offer wall-to-wall coverage, with others gradually following. KCAL continued breaking for commercials early on, which led to one awkward moment, when coverage of the fire cut to an ad for El Pollo Loco -- featuring an illustration of big flames. (To signify the flame-broiled chicken, of course.) On KTLA, anchors were talking when suddenly the automated system cut to a promo for "90210" as Leila Feinstein was in mid-sentence; someone realized the error and switched it back. A map on KTLA also contained a few spelling errors -- it's "Wilmington," not "Wilminton."

KNBC and KABC continued covering the fires even after their normal late news sign-off time at 11:35, pre-empting "Tonight Show" and "Nightline," respectively. (KNBC dropped out by 11:55, followed by KABC at 12:06, however.) KCAL also continued coverage, which allowed sister station KCBS to return to normal programming ("Late Show"). KTLA and KTTV had also returned to regular programming by 11:30.

Here's more from the L.A. Times:

At least 1,700 firefighters were battling fires in Portuguese Bend on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, in Hemet, just north of La Cañada Flintridge and above Azusa. In each case, the fires were fueled by dense, dry vegetation and record high temperatures, according to authorities.

In the Portuguese Bend area, the fast-moving fire charred at least 80 acres, knocked out power and prompted an unspecified number of evacuations, beginning in at least three neighborhoods: on Portuguese Bend Road, Amber Sky Drive and Crest Road, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

In La Cañada Flintridge, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, evacuations of about 500 homes were ordered around 10 p.m. in the neighborhoods along Vista del Valle Road, and an evacuation center was set up at Crescenta Valley High School.

According to KABC/7, it's gonna be even hotter tomorrow: 104 degrees in La Canada Flintridge. Yikes.

Last Call for Snow

It may be 80 degrees down in the Valley, but up above in the Angeles National Forest, there's still snow... for now. Given these temps, I can't imagine it will be around much longer.

That's why you oughta drive up there in the next few days. If you want to get in some sledding or a good snowball fight, act now, before winter is officially history.

We got quite a bit of reaction from our last visit up into the mountains a few weeks ago. When I tell people of how we "drove up to the snow," and suggest they do the same, everyone assumes we were talking about Big Bear.

Too far, and too much traffic, they said.

Exactly. That's why you should be heading up the Angeles Crest Highway -- also known as the 2 -- instead. From our home in Glendale to the snow, it's about a 45 minute drive. That's it.

On Saturday, we recruited a few family members -- including two of Evan's cousins -- to once again hit the snow. After lunch at Newcomb's Ranch (the only restaurant up there; review to come), we still found huge hillsides full of snow.



A lot of snow has definitely disappeared since our last visit; but seeing how it was several feet in places back then, there's still plenty to go around.

This time, we came prepared: Container tops that doubled as sleds. Ski pants. Gloves. It may be 60 degrees up there, but the snow itself is still cold.



A few tips, if you're gonna head up there in the next few days:

-- It's warm up there right now, so light jackets are fine. Perhaps ski pants and gloves, since you'll still be playing in the snow. Bring snow toys, such as a sled. And your camera, to send shots of you frolicking in the snow under 70 degree temps for your unbelieving friends and family.

-- Fill the tank and bring a few snacks. You're driving into the forest, and there are no gas stations or stores, save the Newcomb's Ranch restaurant.

-- From L.A., take the 2 freeway north to the 210 east. Get off on the first exit, the one that reads "Angeles Crest Highway." Take a left on to the Angeles Crest -- and that's it. You'll be driving straight up into the mountains. Once you pass La Canada Flintridge into the mountains, it's a curvy drive the entire way.

-- Purchase a $5 parking pass at the ranger station you encounter about 20 minutes in; this is at the one fork in the road, where you have an option to drive to Palmdale. (Don't drive to Palmdale.) The pass allows you to park anywhere in the Angeles National Forest. Also, for peace of mind, ask the ranger if there's snow up above.



-- Keep driving, even as you start to see snow on the ground. For the ultimate experience, you want to drive above 7,000 feet, where the snow (at this moment, at least) remains plentiful. How will you know you've made it? Once you pass the Mt. Waterman ski resort, which is still bustling with snow play. At that point, keep your eyes peeled for relatively flat breaks in the hills, and parking on the side of the road. Yes, this is D.I.Y. snow play.

-- Marvel at how you left your house at noon, drove up to the mountain and spent an hour in the snow, and were still back home by 3.

Rate-A-Restaurant, #161 in a series

Restaurant: Dish

Location: 734 Foothill Blvd (La Canada Flintridge)

Type of restaurant: American/Brunch

We stipulated: My parents were in town, and we were thinking it was time to take them some place new (we usually take them to Montrose on Sunday morning, and brunch it at Zeke's, but wanted to do something different this time). I'd read good things about Dish, and I'd never taken them up to Foothill Blvd., so it was decided.


johnnycakes, with egg whites and ham

What we ordered: Mike: Jonnycake Combo (made with cornmeal and corn kernels): short stack of Jonnycakes with 2 eggs to order and choice of applewood smoked bacon, Schreiner’s sausage or brown sugar-glazed ham ($8.95); Maria: The Awesome DISH Breakfast Sandwich: Applewood smoked bacon, fried egg, sliced ham & cheddar cheese
on grilled sourdough; choice of breakfast potatoes, sliced tomatoes or fruit ($8.95); My parents both got: Dish Breakfast Combo: Short stack of buttermilk cakes with 2 eggs to order and choice of applewood smoked bacon, Schreiner’s sausage or brown sugar-glazed ham ($7.95)


egg, bacon and ham sandwich

High point: Once you get seated, the environment is casual, lazy Sunday -- perfect for a rainy, casual, lazy Sunday. Food is comforting, plentiful and pretty good. Ham is slow cooked on premises and delicious; johnnycakes were good but filling. (I loves me cornmeal pancakes.)




Low point: Ahh, the wait. We got there at 11 on a Sunday morning and were told it would be a 25 to 30 minute wait; that turned into just under an hour. Later we learned Dish does indeed take reservations; I didn't think they did. Also, once we finally did get a table, it took quite a long time for the overwhelmed kitchen to bring us out the food. Thankfully, it was the kind of overcast, mellow day where we weren't feeling like being rushed anyway.

Overall impression: Pretty much everything you'd expect from a comforting brunch. Coffee kept flowing, food was rich and artery-hardening (not to mention comforting) and service -- even if it was slow -- was friendly. I love the environs up there in La Canada Flintridge as well.

Chance we will go back: Probably, but ONLY if we make a reservation ahead of time.

For a complete list of our over 150 restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.