Everything Glendale

Filed Under: Classes, Community Happenings, Continuing Education, Education, Events, Glendale Community College, Workshops

You know those movies rife with parent-child conflict in which a mother pleads with her daughter something like, "I'm doing the best I can raising you! It's not like they gave me handbook when you were born!" Well, the Continuing Education program at Glendale Community College attempts to shrink the learning curve with its tuition-free Parent Education Program.

Classes, which are held in Glendale and La Canada, feature professional parent educators who lead discussions on discipline, sibling issues, nutrition, eating behaviors, kindergarten preparation, safety, potty training, and communication. Who knew?

Glendale Community College
Continuing Education Program
Parent Education Program
818.243.5196
http://www.glendale.edu/continuinged/classes/parenteducation.htm

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Filed Under: Community Happenings, Event Reviews, Events, Hoover High School

I confess: I'm a social voyeur. I love glimpses into different lifestyles, from polygamists to swingers to priests and nuns and families with litters of children.

This is my only vice and I feed it whenever I can, so imagine my delight when I heard about the Hoover Tour of Homes. You mean, rich people will let me walk around their homes and see their stuff and I only have to pay $20 ($25 at the door)? This is a bargain!

I've made it a tradition every year, and my husband, who isn't as much a social voyeur as I am, says he goes for "decorating tips." Yeah, right. Uh huh. I believe that.

Every year, I gleefully buy my tickets and anxiously await the day. We've gone, rain or shine, for the past five years. Some years, at least one of the houses was a minor disappointment. I won't mention any names because I don't want to hurt any feelings. Plus, it gives me a smug sense of satisfaction when I don't like one of the houses because then I could honestly say I would hate living there.

But this year was no disappointment. (The event took place in December.) Four wonderful, wonderful homes. You show up at the first house, and you're given a booklet with some history of each home and a map. Everything is in Glendale. Plus, you get lovely plastic booties to put over your shoes so no plebeian mud gets inside.

Oh, I almost forgot! This year, I also invited (dragged along) four of my friends. I think they got into it, and I hope they join us in the future. Cable channels like HGTV and the Food Network really help to get converts to this vice of mine. See, everyone just wants "decorating tips."

The menu for the 51^st Annual Hoover Tour of Homes consisted of three California Spanish Revivals and one adorable Craftsman. If you want to be inspired to attend next year, here are the addresses so you can do a drive-by yourself:

• 319 Randolph Street (pictured above)

• 1661 Valley View Road:

• 863 E. Mountain Street:

• 1415 Royal Boulevard:

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Filed Under: Classes, Community Happenings, Community Services Education, Continuing Education, Education, Events, Glendale Community College, Workshops

Don't know your Excel from your elbow? Think mastering PowerPoint could catapult you from back-office obscurity to the Board Room? Glendale Community College offers a bunch of computer classes absolutely free under its Continuing Education program.

A friend of mine who was recently laid off work has been brushing up her computer skills though the college to stay sharp and get ahead in the job market, and she spoke highly of the course structure.

Glendale Community College
Continuing Education Program
Garfield Campus
1122 E. Garfield Avenue
Glendale, CA 91205-2526
818.240.1000, ext. 5678 or 5681
www.glendale.edu/continuinged

The college's Community Services Education also has a program of short courses and workshops at extremely reasonable cost. The Winter 2009 brochure is dizzying – the only problem is trying to make up your mind what to choose.

Last semester I took the excellent Drawing The Human Figure ($95 for six classes), and this time I'm torn between Conversational Chinese ($85 for six classes), Argentine Tango ($79 for eight classes), Beginning Italic Calligraphy ($35 for one class), and Outdoor Survival Techniques ($89 for a six week course).

There's everything from arts and crafts to computer technology, sports, music, dance, cooking, money management, creative writing, and beyond.

Glendale Community College
Community Services Education
Garfield Campus
1122 E. Garfield Avenue
Glendale, CA 91205-2526
818.240.1000, ext. 5015
www.glendale.edu/cse

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Filed Under: Architecture, Brand Park, Candlelight Tours, Community Happenings, Events, History, The Doctors House, The Glendale Historical Society, Tours

In 1979, The Doctors House, a Victorian home built around 1888-1890, was threatened with demolition. A group of determined Glendale residents came together to save the house, and The Glendale Historical Society emerged from their efforts. Funds were raised, and ultimately the house was moved from its original location at Wilson & Belmont to a space provided by the city in Brand Park.

Over the next four years, volunteers from the Society painstakingly restored the house to the way it would have looked in the Victorian era. In 1984, the house was opened to the public as a museum, showcasing early Glendale history and Victorian life.

Tours of the house are available most Sunday afternoons (except December) from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., but during two special evenings in December the house is decorated for Christmas and lit by candles and vintage lanterns. Guests are invited to stroll through and enjoy the period decorations, live music, and refreshments.

The Doctors House Candlelight Tours

Saturday, December 20, 2008
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

The Doctors House
Brand Park
1601 West Mountain Street
Glendale, CA 91201
818.242.4290
www.glendalehistorical.org/doctors.html

Admission:
Only $1

No reservations needed. Bring the kids!

[We at The Glendale Historical Society enjoy sharing our city's history and preserving its architectural heritage. We are fortunate as citizens to have great old neighborhoods and beautiful buildings from decades past that tell the story of Glendale. Please read more about our efforts at www.glendalehistorical.org and help us preserve Glendale's history by becoming a member.]

[Photo courtesy of Graeme Whifler.]


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Filed Under: Community Happenings, Events, Hoover High School

51st Annual Hoover Tour of Homes

Saturday, December 13, 2008
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

For more information, call Julie Iezza at 818.843.7966.

Tickets:
$20 Advance
$25 Day of event

A Glendale tradition, the Hoover Tour of Homes gives the public an opportunity to view some of the city's most historic private homes up close and personal. Professional holiday decorations by local florists provide a festive and whimsical touch to this Hoover High School fundraiser.

Advance tickets available at:

• Beverly Ann Flowers & Gifts, 1150 N. Brand Boulevard, Glendale CA 91202
• Kenneth Village Flowers & Gifts, 1040 W. Kenneth Road, Glendale, CA 91202
• Ivy's Flower Station, 1435 W. Kenneth Road, Glendale, CA 91202

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Filed Under: Bamboo Panda, City Politics, City Services, Community Happenings, Events, News, The Americana

I was having dinner at Bamboo Panda (an okay Chinese restaurant run by, I believe, Koreans on Brand Boulevard) a couple Saturdays ago when the sky started exploding. When I got up and peeked outside, I saw that it wasn't some apocalyptic byproduct of the then-raging wildfires, but an elaborate fireworks display at The Americana that was set off to celebrate the shopping complex's tree-lighting. (The event, by the way, really cheesed off City Council members, who said going ahead with the proceedings in a time of emergency was "dumb-headed" and "ill-advised.")

There will be less controversy, I'm sure, at the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday—unless, of course, I decide to streak around the tree. Here are the details:

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Glendale City Hall
Perkins Plaza
613 E. Broadway
Glendale, CA 91206

This holiday celebration features choral music, lighting of the City Hall tree, and a special visit from Santa Claus! Free parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure (enter off of Wilson). Hot chocolate and candy canes will be served. In case of rain, the event will be cancelled.

Or maybe I'll try to pants Santa. Dare me to?


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