Pasadena Heritage is leading a weeklong virtual celebration of the City’s iconic Colorado Street Bridge from Aug. 9-15.
The group announced recently that they have put together a comprehensive schedule of events, with a different program set for each day.
Among the virtual events during the week are a panel discussion about the new fencing on the bridge, virtual beer tasting and bridge trivia, a children’s event, and some members-only and sponsors-only events.
Proceeds will support Pasadena Heritage’s work to preserve and protect Pasadena’s architectural treasures, which include the Colorado Street Bridge.
On Sunday, Aug. 9, Pasadena Heritage pays homage to one of the most popular parts of the Bridge Party: vintage cars. To kick off the weeklong celebration, classic cars from Pasadena and all over the L.A. area will cruise through some of Pasadena’s historic neighborhoods and then parade across the Colorado Street Bridge. The route will be posted on the event website so you can go out to see the vintage vehicles drive by.
On Monday, Aug. 10, author and journalist Chip Jacobs will give a lecture on the Colorado Street Bridge’s rich history and its preservation story, starting at 6 p.m. The lecture will touch on how Pasadena Heritage has been a champion of the bridge, highlighting its need for repairs in the 1970s and working on its major seismic upgrade in the1990s. Jacobs has written for the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, CNN and Wired. His most recent book is his debut novel, “Arroyo,” a work of historical fiction that centers on construction of the Colorado Street Bridge beginning in 1911.
A panel discussion on fencing on the Colorado Street Bridge takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. This will cover how the iconic bridge has undergone several design changes to deter and prevent suicides. Pasadena Heritage Preservation Director Andrew Salimian will host a panel discussion along with fellow members of a task force that worked for more than a year to provide recommendations for a solution to the suicide problem. Project architects will discuss the process and outcome for the design of a proposed new fence.
Wednesday, Aug. 12, is the day for Children’s Corner, a traditional part of the Bridge Party that centers on local history. This happens in the afternoon, with Bridge Party favorite Alan Bruni hosting a virtual drum circle. Later Pasadena Heritage Education Director Patty Judy will host a story time and read a children’s book about bridges. After the story, Judy will lead a friendly interview with Chris Peck, architect, engineer and founder of PECK — Architecture Structural Civil, with a bridge-building activity. A supplies list for bridge building will be provided in advance.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, in a sponsors-only event, Pasadena-based artist Kenton Nelson will talk about the bridge’s influences on his art as well as his experience painting the iconic structure. Corporate and individual sponsors and their guests are invited to attend the event, which starts at 6 p.m.
Nelson was born and raised in Los Angeles, and for the past 35 years has had his art studio in Pasadena. His paintings have been featured on the cover of The New Yorker magazine five times. Recent exhibitions of Nelson’s work have been held from Los Angeles to London, Vienna and Zurich. He has been on the faculty of the Otis Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles and the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Over the years, he has painted the Colorado Street Bridge time and again, with the sale of each painting and subsequent limited-edition prints benefiting Pasadena Heritage.
Also on Aug. 13, Pasadena Heritage will release a members-only audio walking tour to accompany the specially created walking tour of the South Grand area adjacent to the Colorado Street Bridge. The audio tour is a member’s only “thank you” from Pasadena Heritage.
A Virtual Happy Hour and Bridge Trivia is set for Friday, Aug. 14, starting at 6 p.m. Expert beer brewers from Eagle Rock Brewery, a Bridge Party favorite, and Pasadena Heritage docents will host this virtual beer tasting, followed by a session about Pasadena and Colorado Street Bridge trivia. Capacity for this event is limited. Beer must be ordered separately through Eagle Rock Brewery.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, Pasadena Heritage will broadcast a special recap of all the events of the week.
Tickets to the online event are $20-$25. The ticket gains entrance to everything except special events listed earlier. Ticket-holders will receive a link to the virtual events once purchase is confirmed.
The Virtual Beer Tasting and Bridge Trivia event on Aug. 14, however, requires a separate registration. Those with any questions regarding a specific event should email preservation@pasadenaheritage.
For tickets and other information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-
