Looking for Something to Do? Free Events March 7 to 13

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, March 7, to Friday, March 13.

All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare say there's nothing to do in Pasadena! 

 

The Arroyo Seco Foundation's Stream Team will host a beginners' workshop on propogation of native plants Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. just past the parking lot of the former ranger station at Hahamongna Watershed Park. RSVPs are requested.

Bring the family for a guided walk through the Eaton Canyon Natural Area Saturday, March 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. 

March is One City, One Story month -- our community reading celebration! Have you read this year's selection The Book of Unknown Americans yet?  

• A community book discussion is scheduled Saturday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library. 
• Salvador Fernandez, professor of Spanish and Latino/a Studies at Occidental College, will present a discussion about immigrant art, culture and literature Saturday, March 7, at 10:30 a.m. at San Rafael Branch Library.
• "A Better Life" (2011, PG-13) starring Demian Bichir and Jose Julian will be shown Wednesday, March 11, at 1 p.m. on the big screen in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A gardener in East L.A. struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while trying to give him the opportunities he never had.
• Cristina Henriquez, author of this year's One City, One Story novel The Book of Unknown Americans, will join Library Director Jan Sanders Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in The Forum at All Saints Church for a discussion about her experiences writing the book.  

• See a full list of One City, One Story events here.

Admission to the USC Pacific Asia Museum is free the second Sunday of every month. On Sunday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy the current exhibition A New Way Forward: Japanese Hanga of the 20h Century as well as everything else the museum has to offer.

Random Acts of Music, featuring Pasadena Symphony musicians in unlikely places, will be at Boston Court Performing Arts Center Sunday, March 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

The Caltech-Occidental Symphony Orchestra will perform their winter concert Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m. in Ramo Auditorium (south of Beckman Auditorium) with works including David Asher Brown's Voyager, Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major and Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 (From the New World).

Be sure to vote Tuesday, March 10! 

Soprano Christina Lindhardt, accompanied by guitarist Shea Welsh, will perform Wednesday, March 11, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series.

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to make St. Patrick's Day hats Wednesday, March 11, at 3 p.m. at Villa-Parke Branch Library. 

Teens will learn to code Wednesday, March 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sun Room at Central Library. 

The Reel Folk Band will perform toe-tapping Celtic music for all ages Thursday, March 12, at 3:30 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library. 

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to read books to gentle, well-trained dogs at Barks and Books Thursday, March 12, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Children's Room at Central Library.

Children and their families are invited to Dr. Seuss's magical birthday party Thursday, March 12, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library featuring an interactive musical performance by The Music Boat, stories, crafts and treats.

You don't have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to see "Gone Girl" (2014, R) starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m. on the big screen in the Scott Pavilion. After his wife's disappearance becomes the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected he may not be innocent.

The March load of garden-ready mulch from Pasadena Public Works Department street tree trimmings is now available at the southeast corner of the parking lot at Victory Park. Bring your own shovel, container and gloves any day between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The mulch supply is replenished once a month from February to October and is available to Pasadena residents only.

 

Enjoy an evening of art, music, dance and more when ArtNight Pasadena returns Friday, March 13, from 6 to 10 p.m. and 17 of Pasadena's most prominent arts and cultural institutions open their doors for free! Hop on/hop off shuttles will take you door to door or you can drive (parking may be difficult), ride your bike or amble at your own speed. 

Here's the lineup:

* The Making of Personal Theory at the Armory Center for the Arts will examine mysticism in the works of three artists as the Chase Jackson Quintet performs acoustic jazz. The Heirloom LA food truck will be there.

* In the Williamson Gallery at Art Center College of Design's hillside campus, With Hidden Noise explores sound in a way you may never have heard before.

* Teens will show off their creativity through live performances, digital stories and visual arts at artWORKS Teen Center and rapper Jakhar Reese will perform with students.

* Experience Altered States, an illusionary outdoor adventure through the eyes of visual and performance artists, and a whimsical, two-story art-car installation at Day One presented by Light Bringer Project. The Slammin' Sliders food truck will be there.

* Have a snack and enjoy rock classics performed by the SUBS at City Hall, a hub for free shuttle service.

* View American art and the legacies of Jackie and Mack Robinson at Jackie Robinson Center.

* At Kidspace Children's Museum, explore the art, history and culture of puppetry and enjoy live music performed by Patty Shukla. The Kona Ice food truck will be there.

* Enjoy live music performed by singer/songwriter Chris Pierce as well as contemporary dance at Lineage Performing Arts Center.

* In the plaza in front of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, MUSE/IQUE will perform classical, Latin and pop fusion. 

* A series of collage works on paper by artist Robert Kushner will be on exhibit at Offramp Gallery along with everything else the gallery has to offer.

* At the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, enjoy classical, folk and interactive performances, including the Zhena Folk Chorus singing village songs of Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Romania and Ukraine. The Pie 'n Burger food truck will be there.

*See Armin Hansen: The Artful Voyage, JIM MORPHESIS: Wounds of Existence and Lars Jan: HOLOSCENES/Quaternary Suite, then walk through Kenny Scharf's whimsical Kosmic Krylon Garage at the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

* I'll be holding court at my Mystery History exhibition in the Willis Stork Gallery at the Pasadena Museum of History. Dan McLaughlin's exhibition Pasadena Pursuit is in the museum's Ralph M. Parsons Gallery and Who Can Sleep will perform original songs and improvised soundscapes. The Crepe'n Around food truck will be there.

* No Boundaries 10 showcases the talents of PUSD students with more than 400 artworks at The Shops on Lake Avenue. The Staff Lounge jazz ensemble will perform and students will perform as well.

* Shumei Arts Council presents dynamic, traditional Japanese drumming performances by Makoto Taiko and Japanese painting panels by Robert Crowder. The Gypsy Eats food truck will be there.

* A hands-on soft sculpture park, wild vehicles made by elementary school students and more will be at the new location of Side Street Projects. You'll also create new lyrics to familiar tunes and enjoy a lively singalong with the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. The Rodney's Ribs food truck will be there.

* At USC Pacific Asia Museum, the exhibition A New Way Forward: Japanese Hanga of the 20th Century will be on display and Culture Shock will perform and provide hip hop dance instruction. The Indiana Jones Chow Truck, Kogi food truck and Paradise Cookies food truck will be there.

Photo credits: California Native Plant Society, Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates, Pasadena Public Library, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Amaimages, Caltech, Christina Lindhardt, Little Rock Family, Celtic Music Specialists, Ironhack, 613 Avenue Create, Indiewire, Garden Splendor, Is It Any Good?