INDIAN HILL

  The Back Abbey no longer qualifies as a 'find', since it's the worst kept secret in Claremont by now.  For good reason.  While tucked away behind the Laemmle Theaters in the new western addition of the Claremont Village, the Abbey is small, dark and noisy inside, with an outside patio of vintage seating scammed from a bus station, oh, probably somewhere near Amarillo. It works. Burgers are generous six oz. patties of what appears to be fresh ground beef with enough choices of fixings to bring it  home no matter where you're from.  I'm partial to bacon and cheese, so I order the Back Abbey.  (It's easy to remember). Noon time beers aren't for me, but there's a decent selection and the service is attentive and informed. Evenings feature the atmospheric bus station patio- vibe and if you've got a ticket to ride, get along, dude.  But have a burger first, before you board. The Claremont West Village has some attitude going, so get yours

Across empty railroad tracks, shimmering along the back siding of industrial buildings, Pomona glows cool on a hot morning in the fall. Click on photos for larger view; click again to zoom.

RADIO CITY BAKED BRICK AND BLUE SECRET ENTRANCE MISSION PROMENADE FOUNTAIN POMONA BEACH DECO I'm a fan of downtown Pomona with its contrasts in colors and styles, diversity and textures.  These are a few shots I like that highlight the saturated palette and the vibrant landscape around downtown and the Arts Colony.    

a red and white ambulance rounds the corner,  blasts two whoops of its siren  heads up Mills in a hurry,  a woman in tight black bike shorts pedals a hot-pink two-wheeler across Route 66.   the box-shaped ambulance pulls away up the hill  blinking and blowing growing smaller  the woman pumping pedals, all tight on the narrow bike seat and day-glo pink frame tubing around the block a young girl crouches knees-up  clutching her plastic shovel,  shaking mud from something in her hand  safe in her driveway, intent, concentrating-- my refrigerator keeps cold fried chicken and cottage cheese and hot Louisiana links and I am glad when Kloi smiles  and keeps clipping bushes between our houses when I pull in and says 'Duke is getting better'