As a teen I attended a weeklong ArsDigita workshop in the vault of their Pasadena office. It was in an old bank building on Green St. Aeron chairs, Sun Ray thin clients (iirc), a huge circular bank vault door...

I remember being introduced to regex one day, and later the instructor (a Caltech PhD?) being surprised my code passed all his tests in a class review.

Really, a wonderful experience.

I thank my cousin, who lived by the 7Cs, for hosting me and driving so far to pick me up the first night (after I hung out waay too long with new acquaintances in the AD office).

And I remember, after a day of learning Tcl, while waiting for an express bus back to Claremont, listening to a woman belt out opera on an empty Colorado Blvd in front of Vroman's, like a private opera rehearsal.

Such a classy city.