Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Nov. 26 to Dec. 2

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Nov. 26, to Friday, Dec. 2. 

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

"We're No Angels" (1955, NR) starring Humphrey Bogart and Peter Ustinov will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Three escapees from Devil's Island hide out in the home of a merchant and repay his kindness by helping him and his family out of some sticky situations.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Fest will include a screening of the film (1993, PG), photo opportunities with life-size Jack Skellington and Zero, a quiz show about the movie, facepainting, snacks and more Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library, All ages are welcome.

John Horn, host of KPCC Radio's The Frame, will lead a conversation with Michael Ritchie, artistic director of Center Theatre Group (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Kirk Douglas Theatre) Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Crawford Family Forum at Southern California Public Radio. Reservations are required.

The first Friday (and third Thursday) of every month is Free Admission Day at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. On Friday, Dec. 2, from noon to 5 p.m. enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer.

"Ghostbusters" (2016, PG) starring Melissa McCarthy and Chris Hemsworth will be shown Friday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. After a ghost invasion of Manhattan two paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker band together to stop the otherworldly threat. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

The annual Christmas tree-lighting event at Pasadena City Hall is Friday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. Join Mayor Terry Tornek in kicking off the holiday season during this family-friendly celebration with musical performances, light refreshments and even snow! And be sure to snap a photo with jolly old St. Nick in Santa's Village!

Pasadena Conservatory of Music faculty will perform in recital Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. with a program that will feature classical and contemporary works including Ponce's Theme, Varie, et Finale, Pearl's Fast, Piazzolla's Tango Suite, Smith's Fantasy on a Taiwanese Folk Tune, Chopin's Etude Op. 10, No. 3, Tchaikovsky's Tell me, in the shadow of the branches, Op. 57, No. 1 and Brahms's Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60. 

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Nov. 19 to 25

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Nov. 19, to Friday, Nov. 25.

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

Kids ages 9 to 12 will enjoy circus activities and games, have their pictures taken at a wacky photo booth, munch on tasty snacks, earn prizes and meet Cassie Beasley, author of "Circus Mirandus," Saturday Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library.

The Crown City Symphony will perform Beethoven's Overture to Prometheus, Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 1  and Mozart's Symphony No. 31 in D Major Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. at Pasadena Christian Church and Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Pasadena.

The Caltech Glee Club and Caltech Chamber Singers will perform a concert titled "Mostly American" that will include choral works by American composers William Billings, Emma Lou Diemer, David Dickau and Shawn Kirchner; American folk hymns arranged by Matthew Culloton, Andre Thomas and Alice Parker; and choral works by French composer Maurice Duruflé and Italian Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Saturday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. in Ramo Auditorium at Caltech's Baxter Hall (#77 on this map).

The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade -- the twisted sister of that other parade -- will include a memorable cast of merrymakers Sunday, Nov. 20, beginning at 11 a.m. on Colorado Boulevard between Altadena Drive and San Gabriel Boulevard. Bring a lawn chair and plan on arriving by about 10 a.m. to claim your spot on the sidewalk! (I'll be at the reviewing stand at the southeast corner of Colorado Boulevard and Vinedo Street, so swing by and say hi!.)

The Caltech Symphony will perform Wagner's Prelude to Die Meistersinger, Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with guest soprano Elissa Johnston and Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 Sunday, Nov. 20, at 3:30 p.m. in Ramo Auditorium at Caltech's Baxter Hall (#77 on this map). 

Baritone Cale Olson, accompanied by pianist Joan Thompson, will peform Wednesday, Nov. 23, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Photo credits: Dreamstime, Crown City Symphony, Caltech, Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, Casting 360,

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events Nov. 12 to 18

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Nov. 12, to Friday, Nov. 18.

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

Learn to identify the wide variety of camellias and azaleas plus tips on how to grow them successfully from Descanso Gardens horticulturist Wayne Walker Saturday, Nov. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Hill Avenue Branch Library.

The Caltech-Occidental Concert Band will perform Kamioka's In Autumn Skies, Coakley's Lyric Essay, Dunlap's Character Sketch No. 1, Nelson's Courtly Arts and Dances, Chance's Variations on a Korean Folksong, Hanson's Chorale and Alleluia and Woolfenden's Gallimafry Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. in the Ramo Auditorium at Caltech's Baxter Hall (#77 on this map).

A recital titled "From Bach to Piazzolla" Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2:30 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library will feature violinists Ruben Aghiyan and Ophelia Nanagyulyan and pianist Shushan Hakobyan, sponsored by Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena.

Grandparents and grandchildren are invited to see "Zootopia" (2016, PG) with the voice talents of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman Monday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox team up to solve a mystery. Popcorn will be served. (People of all ages are welcome.)

Soprano Judith Siirila Paskowitz, accompanied by pianist Daniel Bridston, will perform Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. 

"The Producers" (1967, PG) starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A theatrical producer who has fallen on hard times conspires with his accountant to produce a surefire flop and keep investors' money.

Dr. Lee Scott Thiesen, an expert on food, culture and Latin American history, will discuss Xocalatl (Chocolate) Thursday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. Learn the captivating history of chocolate from the discovery of cacao trees hundreds of years ago to the present day -- a story of intrigue and desire with wondrous culinary and scientific aspects. Chocolate tasting will follow the presentation,. Reservations are required at the Welcome Desk or by calling 626-795-4331. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

Sacred objects play important roles within the societies that venerate them. Although we may think of these objects as fixed in place, surrounded by museum glass and guards, many have surprising histories of movement that helped establish their significance. Dr. Kate Craig, assistant professor of history at Auburn University, will present "On the Trail of Medieval Relics: Tracking Sacred Journeys" Thursday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. in Caltech's Baxter Hall (#77 on this map).

The third Thursday (and first Friday) of every month is Free Admission Day at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. On Thursday, Nov. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer. 

"Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971, G) starring Gene Wilder and Peter Ostrum will be shown Friday, Nov. 18, at 2:30 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. Young Charlie seeks the priceless golden ticket that will win him a lifetime supply of sweets and a tour of a mysterious candy man's chocolate factory. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

The James Webb Space Telescope will revolutionize JPL's study of the cosmos after it is launched in late 2018 as the successor to the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes. Learn more about it Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (Building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College during a presentation by Dr. Michael Ressler of JPL's Intersteller and Heliospheric Physics program. 

SAVE THE DATE!

The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is Sunday, Nov. 20

Photo credits: mari-2007, Morley Nurseries Ltd., Caltech, Shushan Hakobyan, Ophelia Nanagyulyan, Walt Disney Pictures, Judith Paskowitz, Crossbow Productions, Kathy from Honduras, The Arts Desk, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Wolper Pictures Ltd., Canadian Space Agency.

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events November 5 to 11

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Nov. 5, to Friday, Nov. 11.

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

In conjunction with the launch of Nancy Popp: Mason Line Hammocks, a knitting workshop will be offered Saturday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Side Street Projects where you'll learn knitting skills and share ideas, anecdotes and labor as you work on hammocks.

Teens are invited to watch episodes of the anime series Utawarerumono, enjoy Japanese snacks and the newest manga in the library's collection Saturday, Nov. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Children's Story Room at Central Library. 

Great music, special guests, family fun and much more will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 5, beginning at 5 p.m. when the Pasadena Educational Foundation sponsors Battle of the Bands in Memorial Park. It's our own local rock festival featuring teen bands from Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre public schools! Arrive as early as 4 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket plus a picnic or purchase dinner from food trucks at the park.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Click here to find your polling place.

Children ages 5 to 8 are invited to bring their imaginations to the Creative Writing for Beginning Readers workshop Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 4:30 p.m. in the Children's Story Room at Central Library. Call 626-744-4066, option 4 to sign up.

The Harvard-Westlake Upper School Symphony will perform classical works Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

"The Other Sister" (1999, PG-13) starring Juliette Lewis and Diane Keaton will be shown Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A young woman with a developmental disability returns home from an institution and tries to make it on her own. 

Resident actors will perform a reading of Tom Stoppard's play "The Real Inspector Hound" Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at A Noise Within as part of the Words Within series. Reservations are required.

JPL's Dawn mission has included exploration of the dwarf planet Ceres since March 2015 and has gathered evidence of geologic activity and clues confirming that Ceres had an ancient subsurface ocean. Carol Raymond, deputy principal investigator for the Dawn mission, will share the importance of this discovery Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. at Caltech's Beckman Auditorium (#91 on this map).

The annual Veterans Day commemoration at Centennial Square in front of Pasadena City Hall Friday, Nov. 11, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. will include local JROTC presenting the colors, music by the Blair High School Band, a flyover of vintage World War II planes, special guest speakers, echoing Taps and more, followed by refreshments including hot dogs grilled by Pasadena firefighters.

Veterans will read from their own works of prose and poetry during Returning Soldiers Speak Friday, Nov, 11, at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 13. A reception with complimentary food will begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

The Caltech-Occidental Concert Band will perform Kamioka's In Autumn Skies, Coakley's Lyric Essay, Dunlap's Character Sketch No. 1, Nelson's Courtly Arts and Dances, Chance's Variations on a Korean Folksong, Hanson's Chorale and Alleluia and Woolfenden's Gallimafry Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. at Caltech's Ramo Auditorium in Baxter Hall (#77 on this map). The concert will be repeated Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. 

The Pasadena Community Orchestra will perform Glinka's Russian and Ludmilla Overture, Prokofiev's Lt. Kije Suite and Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte Overture, plus Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 with guest violinist Aubree Oliverson Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene.

Photo credits: Pasadena Educational Foundation, Calendar Holidays, Haresfield School, Harvard-Westlake School, Touchstone Pictures, Semy Risk, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Now, SGV Front Line for Veterans, Caltech, Pasadena Community Orchestra.