Alhambra draws much of its history and personality from having a railroad previously running through it. Prior to being placed into the “trench” along Mission Road in the 1970’s, the Southern Pacific railroad line ran at grade next to Mission and served one of the largest petro chemical equipment manufacturers in the world, the C. F. Braun Corporation at Fremont Avenue and Mission Road.
On February 28, thousands of residents and visitors flocked to Downtown Alhambra to celebrate the Lunar New Year as the annual Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival, co-hosted by the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce and the city and one of the largest one day festivals held in Southern California, transformed Main Street into a vibrant hub of culture, food, and entertainment.
On January 31, UFC Gym celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of their newest Alhambra location with the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce, marking the official debut of what has become the most pre-registered UFC Gym in the world. Hundreds of residents came out on opening day, packing the brand new three story gym to get a workout in, meet UFC fighters Carla Esparza and Forrest Griffin, take part in fighting demos, enter giveaways, and more.
Today, as part of a National Shutdown, Alhambra High School and Mark Keppel High School students walked out of school this afternoon to protest the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Alhambra welcomes a new xiao long bao and noodles restaurant: Bao Master. Featuring crab meat and kurobuta pork xiao long bao among other unique, handmade delicacies, Bao Master is located in the new mixed-use space near Alhambra Place and the Sprouts parking lot. On December 12, Bao Master opened their doors for the first time, celebrating with a soft opening and inviting the Alhambra community to explore their delightful new space and sample delicious cuisine.
While many people associate Lunar New Year only with food and festivities, the cultural holiday represents much more than food and fun. For many, Lunar New Year is a time to renew their home, let go of what no longer serves them from the last year, and invite in brightness, positive intentions, and transformation.
Walking down Main Street, Alhambra residents will notice that the formerly vacant bottom floor of 7 N 3rd St has sprung to life with a newly opened Fried Music. Beautiful music pours out into the neighborhood, and the large glass windows showcase musicians of all ages practicing together inside.
On Monday, December 8, the Alhambra City Council held its annual reorganization meeting, marking a transition in city leadership. During the ceremony, Mayor Lee was recognized for her dedication and service over the past year, as the council formally appointed Jeff Maloney as the new mayor and Adele Andrade-Stadler as vice mayor.
On Sunday, the San Gabriel bowling community rejoiced together at the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Alhambra Valley Bowl, the only bowling center in all of Alhambra. At 10AM on November 30th, a large crowd of excited bowlers gathered outside the fully renovated bowling alley wrapping all the way around the building to join the new owners in welcoming the long awaited return.
Over 35 years after Alhambra’s first Rose Queen and Court Luncheon, the Chamber of Commerce celebrated history on December 2 by honoring Alhambra High senior Keiko Rakin, the first Alhambra resident selected for the Rose Court. At this year’s annual luncheon, over 100 local Alhambra business leaders, elected officials, and community members gathered at Almansor Court to celebrate the Alhambra Chamber’s annual Rose Queen and Court Luncheon.
