Eric H.

Party City

If you are having a party, there isn't much you want find to help you out at Party City. I have bought several things from them on numerous occasions--hats, solid colored plates and napkins, party favors, themed decorations. On my most recent visit, I bought a couple dozen balloons for my friend's birthday. I went on a Saturday and came outt en minutes later with my helium balloons. Fast and efficient.. Gotta love it.

PROS: Lots of everything, great service
CONS: not much

Monrovia Historical Museum

Okay, it's not the Louvre, but for Monrovia, it comes pretty close. The Monrovia Historical Society does a superb job of keeping up the museum as well as keeping tabs on the local historical homes which can also be viewed as part of the museum. I enjoy the Upton Sinclair home and the other turn of the century houses.

The museum does a great job of cataloguing pictures and mementos from the different eras in Monrovia. It's a city rich in history and I am glad I call it home. The museum does a great job of capturing that spirit.

PROS: Great history of Monrovia and its historical homes
CONS: Small

Slater Glass & Mirror

Who hasn't broken a window or had to replace a tattered screen? I have . . . several times. Slater Glass and Mirror are miracle workers at great prices. It's a little store just off the 210 Freeway, but behind the storefront is a huge shop area. I had to get some screens replaced. It took them two days and not as much money as I thought it would. You wouldn't believe what a difference a new screen makes on the front of a house. Astonishing.

They also do mirrors and windows and window treatments. A wide variety of things they can order and ship in. The owners are also very helpful in solving your problems. They go above and beyond the call of duty. A fantastic store!

PROS: great service, prices, and products
CONS: nothing

Total Energy Workout

. . . but it wasn't what I was looking for. I tried several gyms in my neighborhood and this was one of them. It was clean and the staff was friendly. They had plenty of equipment, but the environment was sterile and too quiet for a gym ( there was hardly anyone in there) which made me feel like all eyes were on me. It is small and too me uninviting. I really can't pinpoint it, but there was something about it that didn't appeal to me.

PROS: Good equipment and staff
CONS: quiet, sterile, uncomfortable feeling

Rainbow's End

This is a store that won't appeal to everyone but I think that almost anyone could find something the would like to buy. I love vintage t-shirts and the stuff they sell here is about as vintage as you can get. And the prices are fabulous!

I guess I love it because you can find things that you wouldn't find anywhere else . . . well, except maybe ebay. But who wants to put up with that hassle.

The store is the most kept up, but the clothes seem fresh and clean and I have never had a problem with anything that I have bought there. A great place for a rare find!

PROS: a variety of eclectic items
CONS: not the most well kept store

San Gabriel Valley Training

What a great place! A home and business for those mentally handicapped but able to live and function on their own. They are overseen by a professional, caring staff that is well-equipped to handle the needs they oversee.

The facilities lie off a major thoroughfare but back off the beaten path so the residents can live in peace. The housing residents (3 of them) sit up on a hill and the work facilities are just down the hill.

Here the residents can live and work and be productive members of society. The staff provides a great balance of fun, activity, work, and love. Great place!

PROS: Fantastic Business
CONS: not much

Ontario Airport

This is a great airport, but it is unfortunately marred by the fact that it is off the 10 freeway which has got to be one of the worst freeways in the whole universe. I avoid it at all costs. The new 210 extension has made it more bearable but unfortunately, I avoid this airport because of the freeway.

That said, Ontario Airport has the best parking, both short term and long term. The terminals are easy to find and are well-marked. It's not too big of an airport so getting around is nice and comfortable. Overall, a great place. If only they could pick it up and move it next to the 5 Freeway. Oh, wait. Even worse.

PROS: Great parking, convenient size
CONS: Horrendous traffic

Bob Hope Airport-Bur

This is by far the best and most convenient of the LA area airports. LAX being the worst of course. Getting to the airport is no problem and the traffic flow is always nice and constant even on the busier flying days.

The airport is not that big so getting around it is not like running a marathon.

The only thing I don't like is the parking. It's crowded and almost always full, and long term parking is such a hike from the airport. Just have a friend pick you up and drop you off and you should be just fine.

PROS: Great in and out, not too big
CONS: Lack of parking

Krikorian Premiere Theatres

I love a good movie. I especially like a good movie in a good theater. The krikorian in Monrovia is such a place. They have about ten theaters (including an IMAX like LFX theater) with stadium seating and wicked surround sound. Parking is more than adequate as are the prices for tickets. Concession prices are ridiculously high but that goes for most theaters. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and they don't mind if you stand in line waiting for a movie for half a day . . . um, I'm not speaking from experience, of course. Great place!

PROS: Great seating, big screens, wicked sound
CONS: High concession prices, but what do you expect

Monrovia Shoe Repair

Usually when I wear out a pair of shoes, I just buy a new pair. That is of course if the pair didn't cost me a couple hundred dollars and then the sole starts to come apart from the shoe just after several months.

Well, I have only used this store once but it saved me a big headache and several hundred dollars. They were able to stitch my sole back to the rest of the shoe and clean it up nicely enough so as to hide any past transgressions. They looked as good as new. (They even polished them up for free!)

PROS: Great service and great workmanship
CONS: Had to wait awhile to get the shoes back