FEATURES
November 15, 2010
dailytitan.com
5
Daytripper Downtown Pomona: More than just the Glass House KAREN DICKINSON Daily Titan
SOPHIA ISLAS / Daily Titan Products featuring Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty,Tuxedosam and Chococat lined the walls of the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. during the Small Gift Festival.
SANRIO: GIFTS FOR ALL ... Continued from page 1 “It’s good that they did (Small Gift) in an airplane Hangar,” said John Draisey, an attendee from Los Angeles. “They could have easily hosted the event outside, but the atmosphere in here is a whole lot better. The character balloons are huge.” One of the main attractions of the event was the Small Gift PopUp Shop. The line to get into the shop,
which could only accommodate 30 people at a time, spanned halfway around the Hangar. Included on the “menu” of items for sale was the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Book, Special 50th GIRL Skateboard Deck, MultiCharacter Vinyl Figure Set, 50th Anniversary Tote Bags and Wallets, 90-Piece Multi-Character Mini Figure Set, Multi-Character Bobbleheads and much more. Fans were eager to get their hands on these products, which featured
FOR THE RECORD Nov. 10 2010: In the article titled “The Devil and a Comm Week Speaker,” Mike Sager was misquoted as saying “(I’ve) lived with a crack gang, a cult, Slayer” when he actually stated “(I’ve) lived with a crack gang, occult, Slayer.”
new patterns that included Sanrio characters from both past and present. Not only are these items limited edition, they will become rarities soon after the 50th anniversary celebration is over. “The 50th Anniversary items are so classic, they remind me of my childhood,” said Nguyen Tran, an attendee from Los Angeles. “It was worth it to wait in line. The atmosphere is so nice in here; I love all things Sanrio.” Situated next to the Pop-Up Shop was the Sanrio-themed art gallery sponsored by JapanLa, a Sanrio retailer located on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The brightly-lit space was divided into three aisles, and featured purchasable art placed in creative installations. Hello Kitty was the subject of choice for most artists, as she uniquely appeared in most works in the form of oil on canvas, mixed media, sculpture and stuffed animal form. “I really loved the art portion of this event; there were a lot of big names,” said Shiho Nakaza, a graphic artist and illustrator based in Santa Monica. In addition to buying rare goods, attendees also had the chance to participate in carnival activities. The games required one to three tickets and were character-themed, with clever names like “Landry Lucky Duckies” and “Little Twin Stars Shooting Stars.” Most popular among the games was “Tuxedo Sam Bowtie Bounce” because first prize winners received a limited edition Small Gift tote bag. For those who spent all their cash on games and items, there were also classic arcade games, like Pac-Man and Tron, that were free to play. The event is free and open to the public and runs until Nov. 21. Attendees who want to be a part of special workshops and exclusive events can purchase tickets on Sanrio.com.
The magic Downtown Pomona has to offer is something everyone should experience since it is so close to home. I took the Amtrak Surfliner to Los Angeles Union Station and connected to the Riverside LineMetrolink. From Union Station to Pomona, it took about 50 minutes so my entire trip from Fullerton to Downtown Pomona was an hour and 25 minutes. When I exited the train at Downtown Pomona, I turned left onto Second Street and found a center full of art and entertainment standing before me. Stone columns decorated the art center of the city and made me feel like I stepped into an alternate dimension. I immersed myself in fine music, art and cuisine on my magnificent day trip. The only venue I knew existed in Downtown Pomona was the Glass House. My day trip to Downtown Pomona proved that there is much more to this city center than I could have imagined. Every step brought me one one step closer to the arts. Pomona is a place I don’t hear much about so I never thought to visit it but I am glad I did. I stepped off the Metrolink onto Main Street and was welcomed by groves of trees and lustrous mountains. The food possibilities were endless. There was Aladdin’s Mediterranean Cuisine on Second and Main
Street, New York Deli on Thomas and Third, Jimenez Mexican Food Market on Main and Third and Joey’s BBQ on Main Street, just to name a few. All of the restaurants were inviting and affordable but I chose to keep it simple by eating at Angelo’s Bar & Grill located on 135 E. 2nd St. The walls were painted with murals of redbrick and candles decorated the impeccable white tables. I didn’t think the place would be too high-end because of the atmosphere but the food told another story. It was happy hour so drinks were two for the price of one and appetizers were half off. I ate an amazing pesto tortellini dish while my date had a warm pepperoni calzone. I took one bite of my pasta and was instantly in heaven. We spent $30 on four Blue Moon’s, cheesy garlic bread and the two entrees. After lunch, I took a stroll down Pomona’s Antique Row, to the left of Angelo’s Bar & Grill. Second Street transforms into antique heaven. I visited Pomona’s Antique Center, Golden Center-Chinese Antiques, Grandpa’s Antiques, and, the most fascinating to me, Kaiser Bill’s Military Emporium located at 224 E. 2nd St. It was filled with military medals, uniforms, gear and relics. La Bomba vintage shop was interesting on the outside and inside. The shop’s exterior looked like a circus funhouse and had clothes on display from every era imaginable. The Fox Theater and the Glass House are two famous venues located in the heart of Downtown Pomona. The Fox Theater was on Garey and Third Street and featured Funky Town Funk Fest, Spectacle in the Cage, Passion Pit and Attack Attack as upcoming shows. The Glass
House and the Glass House Record Store are both located on Second and Thomas Street. Aside from the two music venues, there is an array of small shops sprinkled throughout Downtown Pomona. There are a variety of hookah shops, bookstores, music shops tattoo parlors and beauty supplies worth visiting. The ones that intrigued me most were Radio Futura, Noisebug and the Magic Door Book Store. Radio Futura offered every genre of music ever to exist, Noisebug offered boutique instruments galore and the Magic Door Used Book Store had quality books from every price range available. Any cultural guru must come prepared with some cash when visiting Downtown Pomona. The day ended with me visiting the Collector’s Choice Toys where I found every miniature model car ever made. I don’t usually care about collectibles but this store caught my eye because of the multicolored toys that are visible from Second Street. There is definitely a shop for every niche in this city and there is not a moment of dullness on a day trip to Pomona. Every shop, restaurant or venue has its splendor and is wworth multiple visits. I definitely plan on returning to Downtown Pomona for upcoming shows at the Glass House and more culture delving.
Community organization provides hope for the needy
SARAH FERNANDEZ For the Daily Titan
A hot meal, a shower and clothing are the necessities of life provided daily at Mary’s Kitchen in Orange, Calif. About 150 people daily visit Mary’s Kitchen for free meals, clothing and showers, which gives encouragement and dignity to those less fortunate in our community. The volunteer organization has seen an increase in the number of people in need of these services, especially since the economic downturn. “We’ve seen a spike in the last 15 to 20 years. An average day used to be 60 people. Now we see more like 150 people each day,” said Oralie Enos, 20-year volunteer at Mary’s Kitchen. The people come from all walks of life: ex-inmates, former drug abusers and the mentally ill. Others have had family difficulties or financial hardships that they are dealing with. Enos said the downturn in the economy in recent years has contributed to an increase in the number of
recipients who receive services provided at the kitchen. Most are from the local community, but they are now seeing people from neighboring communities as well. “A homeless person is a regular person like me. Before becoming involved, I would just turn my head away when seeing a homeless person on the street. Now I realize that this person just needs someone to care and to talk with. This gives them hope and dignity,” said Enos regarding what compelled her to get involved in such an organization. Mary’s Kitchen is a 100 percent volunteer organization which receives donations from churches, local corporations, grocery stores and caterers as well as individual donations. Volunteers are also provided through local schools, churches, local corporations and individuals seeking to make a difference in their community. The kitchen does not accept volunteers under the age of 16. “I think it is really great because of the economy and the government does not provide services such as these,” said Jessica Young, a 23-year-
old women’s studies major at Cal State Fullerton. The kitchen was founded in 1984 by Mary McAnena who helped a homeless woman in Hart Park, Orange, Calif. It is through her spirit of compassion and dignity of the human person that the organization continues to thrive. Megan Parzych, a 21-year-old sociology major at CSUF, loves the idea of a place where the needy can go to get services to help with their needs. “It shows that Orange County has more to it than the flashy lifestyle the media likes to portray,” Parzych said. Mary’s Kitchen is located at 517 W. Struck Ave., Orange, Calif., 92863. Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with a hot meal served at 1 p.m. Breakfast is available in the morning and a sack meal is also given out with the 1 p.m. meal. Showers are available until noon Monday through Saturday. For more information regarding donations and volunteer opportunities go to MarysKitchen.org or call (714) 633-0444.
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