Justin Monroe and Tim Carey
Meet Justin and Tim.
South Pasadena is full of creatives, and Justin Monroe and Tim Carey embody that spirit as a filmmaker and artist that partnered up to capture an incredible story. Justin and Tim are critical pieces of the beautiful mosaic of creative energy that makes South Pasadena unique.
About the Legends
Introduce yourselves!
Justin: Hey there! I'm Justin Monroe, a filmmaker, who originally hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Back in 2012, my family and I packed up and made the move to South Pasadena, and let me tell you, this place has completely stolen my heart! My most recent film, HOLY FRIT, is a documentary that prominently features South Pasadena as one of the main backdrops to our wild & crazy story. Also, the main character in the film, Tim Carey, is a long-time South Pasadena resident and father of three. Since Holy Frit, Tim and I formed a company called VITREONICS, which films stories and social media content that take place in and around South Pasadena. Currently, Tim and I are in the last week of a fundraiser to launch a 10-20 city theatrical release across the U.S for Holy Frit. We are ending the fundraiser by having a special screening at ReNew Methodist Church in South Pasadena on Saturday, July 8th at 7:15 pm. Here is a link to the fundraising campaign: https://igg.me/at/HolyFrit/x/33567898#/ and here is a link to buy tickets for the special screening https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holy-frit-movie-screening-fundraiser-tickets-668526820717
Tim: I am an artist, with my focus being on the medium of glass, and specifically kilnforming. As a former painter, I believe glass opens up a whole new opportunity to create imagery that is light filled, dynamic and truly unique. My work also involves spreading the message of “glass as art” through teaching, speaking and telling stories about glass art and glass artists.
Please tell us a little bit about your families.
Justin: I like them... They're pretty cool... Most of the time. My wife and I met when I was 19 and she was 18. I went to her senior prom with her and we've been together ever since! We feel like we got pretty lucky with our kids. Both Liam and Nora are pretty even-tempered kids who are kind, funny, and fun! The four of us all seem to like the same things and have the same sense of humor. Both of our kids will finally be back at the same campus again next year. Our son will be a senior and our daughter will be a freshman at South Pasadena High School. My wife was a former teacher and now just started a small home business called HAYSTACK COLLECTION, where she curates vintage and antique home decor and sells it online locally.
Tim: I have lived in South Pasadena for 27 years, got married here and am currently bringing three children through our amazing school system. We love taking advantage of all this town has to offer. I have coached my boys in SPLL over the last 10 years, and my family loves to indulge in all that South Pas has to offer- the food, fun and artsy community events that come our way throughout the year.
What are you passionate about? What do you love about what you do?
Tim: My time is occupied by my work and my family. Bringing the unknown and fairly new medium of kilnformed glass into the public consciousness has become somewhat of an obsession of mine over the last few years. I have done multiple public art projects around town and look forward to the opportunity to do more. I’m also a big sports fan, love playing golf and coaching my boys in little league.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Tim: My greatest achievement is raising 3 children, along with my wife, that are kind and thoughtful, and watching them grow into their own unique version of themselves.
What inspires you?
Justin: Travel. As a filmmaker, I love to explore all the facets I can of the human experience. For me, there's no better way to remind myself how varied AND connected we are than when I'm sitting in a cafe, sipping a cup of coffee in another country, and I start up a conversation with a local. I love different cultures, art and movies from every corner of the world, varied landscapes and unique foods. It inspires and renews me like nothing else.
Tim: I’m inspired by transcendent beauty. As an artist, when someone creates something that has never existed before and can stimulate the heart and mind by its mere presence.
What is something on your bucket list?
Tim: I would love to do a huge public art piece at a major sports stadium.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Justin: I love what I get to do for a living, I love traveling, and I love South Pasadena. My hope is that in 5-10 years, Tim and I have built Vitreonics into a robust and successful company, I'm making more films and/or tv shows, meeting up with some dear friends in Denmark for a month every year, and engaging with the South Pas community at a deeper level.
Tim: I see myself still here, in my little house in South Pasadena, still making beautiful and meaningfully unique art glass in my home studio. And I hope to have made an impact on the world of glass through the creation of inspiring and entertaining content.
What is something interesting about yourself that most people don't know about you?
Tim: I have a degree in biochemistry and cell biology from UCSD. My grades were pretty bad so it didn’t take me anywhere…but I like to think that somewhere deep down I’m able to use what I learned in science as an asset while making my glass pieces.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Justin: One of the best pieces of advice I've ever been given is "go that way, really fast, and if something gets in your way, turn." 🤓
Tim: My wife told me before I started my own company: It’s better to be happy than comfortable.
Your South Pasadena Stories
Tell us your South Pasadena story! How did you come to live or work in this community?
Justin: Originally, my wife Kasey and I moved from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Pasadena in 2003. In 2008, a film project took me back to Oklahoma for a few years. When that was completed, we (now with two kids in tow), knew we had to get back to California ASAP. We had always loved South Pasadena when we lived here before, so when we arrived, we made it our mission to find a home in this beautiful town. And if you can believe it, the perfect place opened up at the perfect time, right next door to Tim Carey. That is how I met the future main character of my documentary and my future business partner... Life is weird and crazy.
Tim: I came here in 1997 when I was a student at Art Center College of Design. My brother was a student at USC medical school. And we looked at a map and saw that the halfway point between the schools was a town called South Pasadena. We rented a little house. 27 years later I’m still living in that house with my wife and 3 kids.
How long have you lived or worked in our community?
Justin: Since 2012
Tim: 27 years
What words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word "HOME"?
Justin: When I think of the word "home," I think of community, chatting with my neighbors about the changes in our flower beds, an early evening stroll to the park or the Farmers Market, meeting up with some friends for a pint at Griffin’s or an appetizer at Communal, sipping a glass of wine on our porch and saying hello to the people walking by. At its core, "home" is about feeling like you belong.
Tim: Home is where the art is.
What are some of your favorite restaurants or businesses in South Pasadena?
Justin: This is a hard question... I love everything from bakeries like Heirloom, Berry Opera and Union, breakfast favorites like Shaker's and Lost Parrot Cafe, coffee from Jones and Two Kids, lunch at Fiore Cafe and X2O, dinner at places like Mike and Anne's, Canoe House, Mamma's, and Gus's. And when it comes to libations, I love to grab a pint at Griffin's or a cocktail at Aro. And any time I visit these places, It never fails, I'm always greeted with a friendly smile and a good conversation.
Tim: I love the Pub! Griffin’s has been the scene of many great outings with friends, business conversations, and family meals with kids and dogs in tow! Also love Mike and Ann’s, Gus’s, Canoe house….there are too many!!
What is your go-to "happy place" in South Pasadena?
Tim: The little league fields.
What local landmark, business, organization, etc. feels to you like it captures the South Pasadena spirit?
Tim: I’d say Griffins of Kinsale again. On any given night there’s music, people playing board games, dogs and kids, delicious food and cold beers, and great conversation.
What is your favorite community event or social outing in South Pasadena?
Justin: My family and I love to hit the Farmer's Market on a regular basis. We love the Eclectic Music Festival (which was amazing this year) , the Art Walk, and my wife and daughter have loved the new Flea Market.
Tim: Love the Eclectic! Music, Art, great food and drink…and friends everywhere.
What are your hopes and dreams for our community?
Justin: That Briganti comes back... and that it never loses its small-town charm
Tim: I hope we continue to embrace and support the arts. This town has grown so much in my 27 years here. I’ve seen the evolution happen right before my eyes. And I’d say if we can continue to be a place where families can thrive, artists feel at home, and small businesses have a major presence, then we’d be doing pretty great.
What do you think makes South Pasadena so special?
Justin: Los Angeles is such a huge, sprawling city. For transplants who don't have extended family out here, it can feel overwhelming, lonely and disconnected. However, South Pasadena is a little, magical gem in the heart of the big city, with a small-town feel and tight-knit community. I love the walkability of South Pasadena. I love that I can walk to grocery stores, the library, pubs, restaurants, the Farmer's Market, and that our kids walk to school. And I always see a friend face along the way... the people here are simply the best!
Tim: I think it’s the fact that this town draws people who love people. And because of that, there is such dynamic community engagement and such a strong sense of togetherness that makes for tremendous civic pride.
Some Fun Stuff!
What is the last show you binged? What show(s) are you hooked on right now?
Justin: This is a very hard question... My wife and I watch way too many shows! The last shows we binged were The Great (season 3) and the final season of Barry. In the last month, we've binged The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Succession. We love all genres of shows, but we seem to always find ourselves coming back to period dramas.
Tim: None. I’ve tried but I fail every time. I binge watch golf…
What are your top three favorite MOVIES?
Justin: This is another difficult question... I have a real hard time claiming favorites. The three that are coming to my mind right now (which are among an ever-evolving and revolving list) are The Big Lebowski, The Shawshank Redemption, and Amelie.
Tim: Selena, Groundhog Day, Anchorman
What are your top three favorite SONGS?
Tim: Pink Floyd- Comfortably Numb, Led Zeppelin-Ramble On, Guns n Roses - Sweet Child O’ Mine
What is your favorite band? What is your favorite album?
Tim: Led Zeppelin II
What is your favorite holiday? Favorite season? Or even a favorite date in general?
Justin: It's a tie between Arbor Day and April Fools Day. Just kidding, it's Christmas, of course!!!
Tim: I love the fall - kids back in school, and clients will actually call me back…
Who is your favorite artist? What kind of visual art inspires you?
Justin: Tim Carey!
Tim: Rembrandt! Art that makes me look close, then back away, then look close again. Meaning, it is beautiful and original.
Help spread the word and celebrate our Legend! Download the images below to share as posts and/or stories on social media and congratulate our Legend and share their story with our community! Be sure to tag @LegendsofSouthPasadena so that we can give you a shout-out on our social media.
