From Pasadena, With Love
Gofundme links, comfort foods, and what to cook when things feel impossible
I'm writing this newsletter from my apartment in Old Pasadena. From my street, I see a remarkably clear view of the San Gabriel mountains, a pink stripe of fire retardant still visible on one of the peaks. At Target yesterday, scores of firefighters who have come to our city from as far away as Oakland shopped for personal effects, accepting tearful thank you's but not offers of buying their carts.
I don't know a single person in Pasadena and Altadena who hasn't been affected by this fire. So many of the places that defined our lives — our homes, our friends' homes, our favorite restaurants, our places of worship, our schools — are gone. And with the other fires in LA, the scale of destruction and impact is truly unfathomable right now.
Every day, I am awed by the generosity of this region. It’s no wonder why I love living here. Below are some of the fundraisers from my immediate community that haven't yet hit their goals. I will also be donating all subscription revenue from January (existing paid subscriptions, new subscriptions, and upgrades) to the relief efforts. This newsletter is still new and still relatively small. I'm not anticipating subscription revenue can outmatch what I've personally given and will continue to give — but truly every dollar counts right now. I hope you’ll join me in donating.
Gofundme's From My Community
Emily is a photographer, a single mom, and a cancer survivor who lives with her 7 year old daughter Clementine. I met Emily when she did our family’s first photoshoot, shortly after everyone was able to get Covid vaccinations. The shoots we've done with her have given us our most treasured family photos. And more than that, they have left us feeling truly seen as only the most gifted photographers can.
For the past two years, I've spent nearly every Saturday afternoon at Rhythms of the Village, learning to play djembe with Baba Onochie and his son Emeka at their family-run store. These weekly drum circles have been a blessing for my mental health: equal parts fellowship, meditation, play, and creativity. They lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of musical instruments, as well as handmade art and clothing — and the physical space that served as a community hub and as the staging ground for their festivals that showcased Black makers from across the region.
Christina and Corrina are preschool teachers and sisters who live in an intergenerational home; their mother Nelly lives there, as do both sisters' kids. Christina was the first teacher our daughter ever had. And if ever there was proof that the Pasadena-Altadena community is a deeply connected one, Christina was also a babysitter to one of my good friends who grew up here, but now lives in the Bay Area.
Katie and Ross evacuated with a newborn. Ross is an artist, and in losing his home, he's also lost his studio and his entire body of work. Altadena is home to so many working artists like Ross, Emeka, and Emily. What they've lost individually and what we've lost as a community is unfathomable.
Olivia and Bergen's two kids both go to school with my daughter. They were out of town when the fires started, and are receiving updates from abroad while Bergen continues to work. Their home was one that was always open, always hosting others. They are so missed as a vital part of the school community.
Side Pie quickly rose to institution status. A pandemic pop-up turned permanent pizzeria, Side Pie is known as much for its boisterously fun patio as its pizza. My daughter loved seeing the pizza ovens out back, and I loved the concerts from amazing local bands. Kevin, who runs Side Pie, also lost the home he shares with his wife and daughter. The level of destruction in this community cannot be overstated.
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
Our first high holiday services with this congregation were just months ago. I'll never forget what Claire said as we were walking in: “This is so beautiful, like a hotel.” Trust me, that's the biggest compliment she can give a building. The physical synagogue burnt down, also destroying the preschool on campus, though volunteers managed to remove the Torahs. Already this community has sprung into action, hosting shabbat dinners and connecting congregants with support.
Oak Knoll Montessori School
Village Playgarden
Several schools in our area were destroyed. The ones I'm highlighting above are the most personal to me: My daughter's first preschool, which introduced us to a whole network of parents we are still in touch with today and the forest school where my daughter has spent the past two summers immersed in nature play.
We Ate for Convenience, Comfort, and Joy
My daughter's school closed as soon as the winds picked up. When we sheltered in place for the first two days of the fire, my main priority was using our stove as little as possible in an effort to keep the air in our small apartment as clean as possible. We also didn't buy any new food; we prioritized keeping our front door shut.
When we woke up to an apartment smelling of smoke on the third day, it was clear that the air quality was just too dangerous for a little one with asthma. We found a hotel, masked up, and then hit the road for Orange County. We were beyond fortunate that we could afford to do so — and that because our apartment remained outside of the evacuation warning zone, we had time to calmly make a plan that worked for our family.
So, here are some of the foods we ate that brought us some comfort and made our life easier at home and on the road. I hope this list gives you some peace of mind — however you are getting your family fed in a crisis is a great way to do it.
Boxed mac and cheese
Target blueberry streusel muffins
Shake Shack hot dogs
Sumo oranges
Fruity Pebble Crispies Treats
Cheez-Its
Fishwife smoked salmon
Dizzy Bird rotisserie chicken
After staying at a hotel for a few days, we are finally back home. And as of today, my daughter is at school. I've been sharing cooking with my mom, who lives in my neighborhood. We've traded who's cooking and who's coming over, which eases some of the load for both households.
Being back home and a bit more settled also means I can get back to testing recipes for The New Family Table. On my to-test list: a comforting lentil soup from a buzzy LA restaurant, a beginner's pot roast by an awesome southern chef, and some of my own recipes (three words for you: date night nachos).
While I do not have a new recipe to share this week, I do have archives. Here are some ideas from The New Family Table for what to cook when things feel hard.
5 Easy Dinners: Sandwich Edition
Making sandwiches for dinner is a great way to simplify. I've gathered five favorites here, all of them dinner worthy.
One of the easiest recipes I've published to date, this is a family favorite that transforms frozen dumplings and pre-cut veg into a satisfying soup dinner in about 20 minutes.
I'm relying on verified hits this week to ensure we have good meals. On my meal plan: salmon bowls, kale sauce pasta, and chicken congee.
Further Reading
Priyanka Mattoo, on how to help in a crisis.
Khushbu Shah, on how LA restaurants generously put themselves at the front line of food relief.
It’s not too late to enter Ariel Kanter’s fundraising raffle.
And the LA Times on how to help organizations on the ground offering relief in LA.
Thank you all for being a part of my community and for supporting my community in this time of need.
eautifully written tribute! Thank you
Sending love and fortitude from Chicago. <3