Monrovia Old Town Report (7/27/17 Issue)

The valet parking idea is floating around town again. We tried years ago to have valet parking located in the loading zone in front of the Krikorian Theater but no one would use it. – Courtesy photo / Joe Ross (CC BY-SA 2.0)

By Pam Fitzpatrick

I admit I’m very glad I was on out of town last week during the Old Town filming episode. I hear it was a bit crazy… So sorry for the merchants who were blind-sided, but if there’s any comfort, so was I, and so was the City. The upside still remains: if the pilot is successful enough to actually appear on USA Network, then the exposure for Old Town will be great – and, if “Olive Forever” becomes a series, who knows? And, should there be a next time, we’ll know better how to manage this production company.

Some good news: “Enchanted Dancewear” will not be leaving Old Town after all. They have announced a Grand Re-opening this coming Tuesday, August 1 under new management. The store is full of shoes, clothing, tutu/duffel bags and accessories, and has always been immaculate and very friendly and knowledgeable. The fact that the store will carry on under new management says to me that someone is coming to town who loves the business and loves Old Town. So, “Welcome to Old Town” – see you August 1!

An interesting tidbit about the plight of the 316 Clock Tower building: I heard that the City may be attempting to coerce the owner into at least removing the blue painter’s tape from the windows and repairing the broken window in the breezeway, which would be great. But the prospects of a tenant in this century are looking very dim. Among the missing amenities of this site is an essential — electricity. That’s right – the building still has absolutely no electricity. The original service to what once was Patty’s Antiques was to be replaced with the service required to run a two-story building with an elevator. The City has done their part by reconfiguring the back parking lot to accommodate a new pole and transformer, but apparently the owner of the building doesn’t want to spend the funds for the transformer, which has to cost a boatload of change. At this point, I’m for tearing it down and making an extension to the exiting parking lot. Not going to happen, but I can dream…

Speaking of parking, the valet parking idea is floating around town again. We tried years ago to have valet parking located in the loading zone in front of the Krikorian Theater but no one would use it. Kind of like the Old Town Trolley – seemed like a good idea, but folks weren’t going along with it. I will say that times have changed, and there is certainly more in Old Town to visit these days — and, we’re accustomed to paying to park in other places. So maybe, just maybe…

This next Saturday, July 29, we have two great events in Old Town. I’m told the Summer Art Walk is to be the “Arty Party of the Season,” starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. in the 400 and 500 blocks of S. Myrtle Avenue. This is a great opportunity for our visitors to stroll our streets, enjoy the shops and restaurants, and listen to outstanding live music while browsing through wonderful art. The Monrovia High School ceramics students will provide pottery wheel demonstrations and metal sculptor Bill Hyatt will display his work at a gallery reception at Paint ‘n’ Play Studio at 418 S. Myrtle. Also, next Saturday evening, Old Town will host the 12th Annual Monrovia Traditional Music Gathering at Library Park from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will feature Walden Dahl and Kinfolk and the Kattywompus String Band. Both events are free to our visitors.

And here’s a not-so-well-kept secret: if you drop by Jake’s Roadhouse, you just might get a peek at their expansion room next door, but no photos, please.

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