March 03, 2011

OUTING # 1: Brown Bagging it at The Gamble House

OUTING: The Gamble House
4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, California 91103
It was on a day, much like today, a little drizzly and overcast, that I told my walking buddy, "I gotta get out of town..." and so we drove to the east--five minutes--ending up in the beautiful neighborhood of palatial craftsman houses behind the Rose Bowl to walk and have a change of scenery.  We talk slash walked under the soaring trees lining the street, rounded the corner and ended here! Cue angelic voices: AAAAAAAAHHHHH.  We did a little investigating and found that we had actually stumbled upon...


 The Gamble House.  "I've been wanting to see it," my buddy said and we vowed to return-showered--to tour and so we did...


We arrived on a sunny afternoon at the historic "ultimate" bungalow with our sack lunches in hand.  Tuesday is sack lunch day--so you can bring your lunch and eat in the backyard of the house. The Gamble House was built in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble--of Proctor and Gamble--by the famous Arts and Crafts architect brothers Charles and Henry Greene.


We walked up the front steps and inspected the beautiful very solid front doors.  The Arts and Crafts movement put great value on incorporating the hand made decorative arts...thus the intricate stained glass designs... 


One more picture...got it!



We made our way around back noticing the picture glass windows that sit almost right on the porch floor...the Greene brothers desired their ultimate bungalows to feel like the house had grown up out of the land, an extension of their garden and landscape--and designed these windows to bring nature in.


We noticed a lantern light fixture now familiar to us as arts and crafts...


And glancing up at the timbers and beams...


the house looks and feels so solid and strong and permanent and...isn't that what we all want to feel at home?  


A bit Swiss Family Robinson, too, do you see that...sort of an ultimate tree house??


We arrived in the back yard to eat lunch before our tour.  If you feel like that lantern gives off a Japanese vibe...your right, the Greene brothers admired Japanese architecture.   Something they bumped into in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exhibition on their way out to Pasadena...


Well, here we are.  In a shower of sunlight, the tables set out for us...peanut butter and jelly, sun chips and cuties...


The tour crowds start to gather at the side entrance, waiting for the docents.


We are told to ring the doorbell...the door opens and WAH! we step into a bit of history and one of the most well built homes in America.  

Isn't it amazing what adventures we can find in our own neighborhoods??

Even if the bungalow style doesn't sing to you personally--the Gamble House will make an impression.

Enjoy!

the Good Food fairy








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