Tag Archives: things to do

Connecting with the World Around You – Virtually

Connecting with the World Around You – Virtually!

Maybe this isn’t the year you thought it would be in the United States, but you can still explore areas of interest, new ideas and expand you mind from a safe location.  Below are some great ideas – many of them “tried and true” that can get your brain moving, provide opportunities to learn about U.S. culture, and maybe even inspire you!

Volunteer!

  • OnlineVolunteering.org – United Nations Volunteers; all online; opportunities include translation, art & design, writing & editing, teaching, research, advocacy, and more.
  • TranslatorsWithoutBorders.org – provide translations
  • Smithsonian Digital Volunteers – si.edu/volunteer/DigitalVolunteers – online volunteer opportunities include transcription and correcting / updating Wikipaedia entries
  • Zooniverse.org – some very cool research projects you can do online; check out the language projects!
  • ReadingPartners.org – once accepted to the program, serve as reading support for a child
  • VolunteerMatch.com – search for posted volunteer opportunities

Free Classes of Interest

  • VarsityTutors.com
  • EDx.org
  • Coursera.org
  • FutureLearn.com

 

View Online 

No free trials, just download the app and watch something new! All clips or short content in a wide variety of topics.  Totally FREE!

  • Smithsonian (app)
  • History Channel (app)
  • PBS SoCal: (public television for all https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/
  • FreeCableTV (app) – Full television shows, including news

Virtual Tourism

  • TripAdvisor.com United States Virtual Tour https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g191-c55689/United-States:Virtual.Tour.html
  • GlassTire.com – 5 minute tours of art museums in Texas
  • VirtualYosemite.org – interactive virtual tourism at one of our greatest National Parks
  • VirtualVisitTours.com – 360o views of Ireland’s vacation destinations
  • BBC.co.uk – aerial views of Scotland
  • GoogleArts&Culture (App) art and commentary at museums all over the world

Go for a Drive or a Hike – IRL

  • CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com
  • DiscoverTheForest.org

 

Thrift Shopping

I love thrift shopping!  It’s cheap, green, and far more interesting than shopping in regular stores.  The phrase “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is magnified when thrift shopping in a foreign country.  Indeed, I still acutely recall the amazing feeling of shopping at London’s open air Camden Market on a free afternoon alone at the age of 18.  What interesting things I found and what I wished I had the space to bring home!

Not long ago I complimented a friend on her thick wool sweater; it contained a pattern Ive never seen before in a combination of colors I never would have thought of.  I assumed it was a vintage designer find and that she’d paid hundreds for it.  She told me that she had gotten it years ago in Iceland for less than $5.  Apparently, in Iceland these sweaters are so ubiquitus that their value is minimal.  But here in California, it’s a unique and special gem.

Below are some thrift shops in the Pasadena area.  I hope that you are able to find some interesting and special items with a history of great karma!

 

Online Thrift Shops:

Thred Up:  https://www.thredup.com/

GoodWill:  https://www.shopgoodwill.com/

ReStitch (a GoodWill Company):  https://www.restitch.com

Posh Mark: https://poshmark.com

 

Local Thrift Shops

Crossroads Trading Company (a favorite)

104 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

Store Size: large (privately owned for-profit), “award winning” small chain

Kate says: The place to go if you are young and want designer selections!  There is a ton to dig through, but it’s super easy to find cool stuff.  The more vintage and unique is downstairs, with seasonal on the main floor.  If you can only go to one shop, spend the afternoon here!

Ritz Resale (a favorite)

900 Valley View, Pasadena (go north on Michellinda, on the corner of a tiny side street)

Store Size: small (privately owned for-profit)

Kate says: A wonderful little shop for vintage clothing finds!  Sells only women’s fashion (shoes and accessories).  They are heavy on the smaller sizes, but I have found probably half-a-dozen special items that fit.  This is more of an up-scale reused fashions or vintage shop – not like GoodWill.  

Savers (a favorite)

16 East Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita

Store Size: very large (privately owned for-profit)

Kate says: Savers is a large generic thrift shop with very large selection of clothes.  They also have well sorted bric-a-brac / “stuff,” furniture, sporting goods and a small fabric / sewing /craft supplies section.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Out of the Closet

1726 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena (near Pasadena City College)

Store Size: medium (supports free AIDS testing)

Kate says: This used to be the place to find cool, unique items, but selections have gotten more generic now; you can still find good clothes there as well as furniture and bric-a-brac / “stuff”

Does not sell kids’ items

Wistaria Thrift Shop

550 W Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre

Store Size: tiny (supports the Women’s Club of Sierra Madre)

Store Size: tiny

Kate esays:  Though small, has some interesting items, including craft supplies .  Not open on Wednesdays.

Treasure Fair Thrift Shop

3239 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena (cross street: Sierra Madre Villa)

Store Size: small (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)

Kate says:  A great general-purpose thrift shop with a little bit of everything.  Sometimes I make wonderfully surprising finds there and sometimes they have nothing for me. 

ACTS Thrift Store

1311 N Altadena Dr, Pasadena (cross street: Washington)

Store Size: medium (Supports Lake Avenue Community Foundation- programs for the underserved)

Kate says: recently down-sized, they no longer have much in the way of furniture, but bric-a-brac / “stuff” and clothes a-plenty.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Good Will

340 S Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena

Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)

Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.  You won’t find antiques in here.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Good Will

183 Altadena Dr, Pasadena

Store Size: large (supports Alcoholics Recovery Services & the underserved)

Kate says: This is what I think of as a generic thrift shop.  You won’t find antiques in here.  If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

Bargain Box

64 East Live Oak, Arcadia, cross street: Santa Anita

Store Size: medium (supports Assistance League of Pasadena -programs for the underserved)

Kate says: a good place for “stuff,” though the few clothes seem to be conservative and dated.  Try this place if you don’t find what you are looking for at Savers (around the corner).

The Huntington Collection

100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Fair Oaks)

Store Size: large (supports Huntington Hospital)

Kate says: The place to go for furniture or a lovely tea set.  You might also find dressy shoes, a formal gown or designer coat.  This shop is supported by ladies who lunch, and things are not cheap, though you could make a spectacular vintage find. 

Vintage Treasures & Antiques  340 E Foothill Blvd, Arcadia (between Santa Anita and Fifth)

Store Size: tiny

Kate says: More of an antique shop than thrift store, there isn’t much in the way of clothes, but definitely has many unique accessories. I don’t go here very often, but stop if you are driving by anyway.

Valley Thrift

777 W Foothill Blvd, Azusa (take the 210 freeway east, on Route 66)

Store Size: large (supports Vietnam Veterans of America)

Kate says: a large selection of every-day clothes and shoes, some furniture

If looking for clothes, expect to dig through a lot to find what you want.

 Specialty Thrift Shops

Remainders (for fabric and sewing / crafting supplies)

1713 East Walnut Street, Pasadena

626.533.5129

Habitat for Humanity RE-Store (for home repair or building supplies and furniture)

410 S. Irwindale Ave, Azusa

626.387.6900

Pasadena Arcitectural Salvage (for vintage home items)

2600 E. Foothill Blvd, Pasadena

626.535.9655

I’ve not yet tried, but would like to:

The Big Yard Sale Thrift Store 2110 N Fairoaks Ave, Altadena

Full Circle Thrift

2245 Lake Ave, Altadena

High Low Vintage

1031 East Green Street, Pasadena

LA Road

Eagle Rock

Meowmeowz ?

2423 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena

Uncharted Antiques

27 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)

De-Cor Antiques

30 So San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena (cross street: Colorado)

The Bearded Beagle

5926 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles

Hotbox Vintage

1127 Mission Street, South Pasadena

Owl Talk

5060B Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock

More Thrift Shops to the East (of Pasadena):

Vintage Odyssey

201 W Bonita Ave., Claremont, CA 91711

A Lot of Good Thrift

1980 W Foothill Blvd., Upland, CA 91786

ACTS Thrift Store

232 E Foothill Blvd., Pomona, CA 91767

Goodwill

210 East Foothill Blvd., Pomona, CA 91767

2nd Chance Thrift Shop

1028 W 9th St., Upland, CA 91786

 

Things to do

I love my son, but sometimes he drives me totally nuts!  This past long weekend is a perfect example.  All he wanted to do, it seemed, was lay on the sofa in his pajamas and watch TV.  I couldn’t even get him to play legos with me, a pastime we often enjoy together.

Finally, as I was cleaning up, I spied a board game that we had recently purchased but hadn’t played yet.  I waited until his TV show was ending and suggested we play the game.  Surprisingly, he jumped at the chance!

While we were playing it occurred to me that I hadn’t been reading the Mom Websites much lately.  Then I realized that I had been waiting for my son to come up with ideas on what to do, rather than telling him what our plans are.  He’s not a very creative kid, so asking him to come up with ideas on his own doesn’t usually work.  I discovered long ago that I have to give him options to choose from.

Had I planned ahead, this lazy weekend could have been avoided.  We could have been out in the community having fun and learning new things.  But I forgot to plan something.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, you might appreciate the attached listing of Things To Do Locally.  The first section is how to find things to do in the area with children, and the rest will help you find out more about what is going on in your community so you can explore on your own.

things to do locally

A little bit of planning ahead, and offering two or three options to the kids to have input on can make a huge difference!  And to be clear, the options offered should never be: “Do you want to go to this event with me?,” but rather: “When we go out this afternoon, do you want to go to Event A or Event B?”

So, when you have time, explore the Mom Websites listed and sign up for some newsletters.  The site will email you when something cool is happening in your area.