Not just any tiled wall

The Downey Depot Transportation Center has two claims to fame. First, the center was built at the site of the old Downey train station. (There was an unsuccessful effort at the time to save the old station as a historical building.) You can see a picture of the old station here.

Second, this mural on the front of the center was created by artist Terry Schoonhoven. Schoonhoven, who died in 2001, is considered one of the country's premier muralists. This particular mural depicts Downey's history from the 1800s up through the modern space age (not shown here).

Powerless

Today our house was without power. Due to scheduled maintenance, the Southern California Edison company shut off our power at exactly midnight last night, and it didn't come back on until 3 p.m. this afternoon.

Edison sent out a notification, which I left with the mail so that my household would be aware. For those who paid attention, the shutoff came as only a slight surprise. For those who weren't paying attention, the shutoff meant that the term paper due tonight had to be completed at someone else's house today.

Being powerless is a good reminder of all the things we take for granted: lights, phones, hair dryers, heating, refrigerators, charging batteries, signals, and much, much more.

Downey Arts Coalition

Today was the inaugural meeting of the Downey Arts Coalition. The meeting, at Xela Cafe, was to discuss ideas for building support for local artists, and to explore what could be done to create a shared vision for the arts in Downey.

One of the possible areas discussed for a potential arts forum was the old art deco auditorium that stands on the abandoned section of Ranch Los Amigos. The auditorium is currently part of the area of Rancho that is boarded up and fenced off - as you can see from the sagging barbed wire fencing in the picture above.

The meeting was good and it was exciting to see such a variety of people interested in working to develop Downey as a vibrant art community.

Helping out

Seeking shelter from this storm, a tiny worm crawls through my backyard. I pick him up and put him under the tree and out of the rain.

On the level

Downey is getting another new restaurant, called La Barca. The site, which formerly housed Szechwan Chinese Restaurant and then (for a very short time) Portofino’s, is now considered part of the downtown Downey area. The restaurant, which will include patio dining, is supposed to open in April or May, just in time for summer evenings. Currently, it's getting a complete facelift, which of course includes making sure everything's on the level.

For more information, see the Downey Patriot article La Barca opening restaurant downtown.

An entry a day...

I've always wished I could be a journalist. Not so much for a newspaper; more of a daily journal sitting in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee and the morning quiet surrounding you. This is my mother. A calm picture of tranquility. Daily.

Sometimes, when I have an hour or two, I'll pick a journal by year from the shelves of them and sit and read literally every entry of the year. I remember things I did years ago but from someone else's view. And then I go and put an entry in a journal I've had for years thinking I'll start up again. I'm so glad I have Pam and Joan to push me to do this blog so many times a week.

A view of the cross

We've posted several pictures of OLPH, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. I liked this angle, looking up at the cross. For a previous post of the garden area click here.

Three-wheeled bike

I spotted this bike (or do you call this a tricycle?) behind Downey Billiards this afternoon. I liked how the shape and color of the bike echo the sign behind it.