Looking for Something to Do? Free Events March 4 to 10

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, March 4, to Friday, March 10.

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

March is One City, One Story month -- our community reading celebration! Have you read this year's Pulitzer Prize-winning selection The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen yet? OCOS events are scheduled all month long. Coming up:

• Learn techniques for writing your own personal One City, One Story Saturday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at Central Library's Studio on 4th. You'll work with a Cal State San Marcos writing instructor who is former director of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild.
• Join a book discussion Saturday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m. at Central Library's Studio on 4th.
• Sit in on Book Chit Chat Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library.
• "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987, R) starring Robin Williams and Forest Whitaker will be shown Wednesday, March 8, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. An unorthodox and irreverent DJ shakes things up when he is assigned to U.S. Armed Services Radio in Vietnam. The film is based on true events. 
• My City, My Story Thursday, March 9, at 7 p.m. is a photo montage/collage workshop at Hastings Branch Library where you will incorporate images and words that describe your personal interests, views, experiences, contributions, concerns and more that relate to One City, One Story.
• A panel discussion Thursday, March 9, at 7 p.m. about the impact of the Vietnam War on America will feature moderator Larry Wilson, public editor, editorial writer and columnist at the Pasadena Star-News, and panelists Daniel D. Lee, director of the Asian American Center and adjunct assistant professor of Asian American Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary; Florante Pete Ibanez. adjunct professor for Asian Pacific American studies at Loyola Marymount University and Pasadena City College; Tomas Summers Sandoval, author and associate professor Chicana/o-Latina/o Histories at Pomona College and Jervey Tervalon, author and executive director of Literature for Life/Locavore Lit. and professor of fiction writing at College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. The discussion will be in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library.

Learn about the women who helped shape Pasadena, from artists and botanists to entrepreneurs, politicians and revolutionaries during a walking tour Saturday, March 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. sponsored by Pasadena Walking Tours. Meet on the first floor of Central Library. The tour will repeat Sunday, March 5, at the same time and place. People of all ages are welcome.

"The Summoning of Everyman," a 15th century morality play written in the Tudor period by an unnamed author, will be performed Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m.  as part of the Reader's Theater series at Parson's Nose. Everyman encounters Fellowship, Goods and Knowledge on his journey to acceptance in heaven. While the play is free, reserved tickets are required. 

"America's Got Talent" is returning to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium from March 6 to 21. You can be part of the audience for one or more tapings as performers throughout the U.S. audition in front of celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell. Type PCA in the code box for special front-of-line privilege on your taping day(s).

Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena presents a Mozart string quartet, negro spirituals sung by Gwendolyn Brown, cello solos played by Liz Eliot and piano works by Carlos and Guastavino performed by Mary Hense and Geralding Keeling Tuesday, March 7, at 12:20 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library.

The first Tuesday of every month is Free Family Night at Kidspace Children's Museum. On Tuesday, March 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. celebrate the Holi Festival, a springtime event celebrated in India that is famous for colors and community.

Children ages 5 to 8 are invited to bring their imaginations to the Creative Writing for Beginning Readers workshop Tuesday, March 7, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Children's Story Room at Central Library. Call 626-744-4066, option 4 to sign up.

Classical tubist Beth Mitchell will perform Wednesday, March 8, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

Calling all teens: March 5 to 11 is Teen Tech Week! Have you ever played Super Mario Brothers with Play-Doh or performed on an electronic piano with bananas as the keys? Come to Lamanda Park Branch Library Wednesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m. and make it happen with MaKey MaKey, a program that turns everyday objects into touchpads and combines them with the internet. All materials will be provided. Other Teen Tech Week events are 3D Printing 101 Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m. at Central Library's Studio on 4th; LEGO mindstorms Monday, March 6, at 4 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library; Light-Up Notebooks Tuesday, March 7, at 4 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library; LittleBits Thursday, March 9, at 3 p.m. at Allendale Branch Library and Conductive Sewing Saturday, March 11, at 11 a.m. at Linda Vista Branch Library.

The next supply of garden-ready mulch from Pasadena Public Works Department street tree trimmings will be available Friday, March 10, at the southeast corner of the parking lot at Victory Park. Bring your own shovel, container and gloves between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The mulch supply is replenished once a month from February to November and is available to Pasadena residents only. Mulch is also available fourth Fridays in the south parking lot at Robinson Park.

"The Quiet Man" (1952, NR) starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara will be shown Friday, March 10, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. An Irish-born American boxer returns to the village of his birth with hopes of burying his past and settling down, then falls in love with a lively young woman who has a brutish brother. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

Enjoy an evening of art, music, dance and more when ArtNight Pasadena returns Friday, March 10, from 6 to 10 p.m. Seventeen of Pasadena's most prominent arts and culture institutions will open their doors for free! Hop on/hop off shuttles at every venue (City Hall is the main hub) will take you door to door or you can drive, ride your bike or amble at your own speed. Choose one or several or all venues depending on your own schedule (and stamina!). Here's the lineup:

• At Armory Center for the Arts, "Between Words and Silence: The Work of Translation" features contemporary photography and media-based works from Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Mexico, Saipan, Spain and the U.S. Also, follow a parade of human-propelled, wearable floats in a deconstructed parade in Old Pasadena or see them on display at the Armory. El Haru Kuroi will perform throughout the evening.
• The public debut of Yoshio Ikezaki's "ELEMENTS 1991-2016" in the Williamson Gallery at Art Center College of Design's hillside campus will feature transcendent paper sculptures and ink-on-paper paintings. Brad Dutz and Kaoru Mansour will perform.
• Teens will display their talents through live performances and visual arts at artWORKS, plus you'll enjoy hands-on printmaking and screenprinting as well as entertainment by Eclectic Waves.
• Enjoy live music performed by The Subs, snacks and projection art by ROTO Pasadena  on the Garfield side of Pasadena City Hall while you wait for a free shuttle to whisk you to one of the many ArtNight Pasadena cultural venues. You can also purchase tasty eats from the Rodney's Ribs food truck.
• Learn about the history of African American art and the legacy of Pasadena sports icons Jackie and Mack Robinson at Jackie Robinson Center, plus enjoy live music by The Soul Vibers.
• Explore the rich culture of our region's indigenous peoples at Kidspace Children's Museum, connect with the art and history of the Native Americans who called the Arroyo Seco home and enjoy entertainment by the Toveema Singers and Dancers.
• Celebrate abundant spring in an outdoor garden-like setting at Day One as Light Bringer Project's local artists and Room 13 creative studios present "Bloom" featuring fabric and light installations, Anime art, far eastern music and tasty treats. You can also purchase food from the Slammin' Sliders food truck.
• Lineage Performing Arts Center will present selections from the dance company with special guests. Chris Pierce will perform.
• MUSE/IQUE will host THE MOTOWN/PASADENA dance party at Paseo Colorado with artists who will put a wild spin on all the hits you love! There will also be art projects and face painting.
• Explore centuries of masterpieces from Rembrandt to Picasso plus sculpture from India and Southeast Asia at the Norton Simon Museum.
• Enjoy a night of art, dance, music and fun at Central Library with a display of art works by members of the Pasadena Society of Artists, Hawaiian music and dance, L.A.-based bands playing a mix of jazz, '70s, '80s, '90s, reggae and hip hop, plus the chamber players of the Crown City Symphony, a musical instrument petting zoo, Pasadena Symphony's Random Acts of Music, 
• Pasadena City College presents the exhibitions "Tim Hawkins: Spirit of Invention" in the Boone Family Gallery and "Tactile: Function Re-envisioned" in Gallery V. Flamenco guitarist Stephen Dick will perform. You can purchase food from the Kogi Korean BBQ truck and the Kona Ice truck.
• Explore the Pasadena Conservatory of Music campus while enjoying continuous classical, world folk and interactive performances including electro-chamber music by Iridas. You can purchase food from the Lobsta Truck.
• The Pasadena Museum of California Art presents "The Golden Twenties: Portraits and Figure Paintings by Joseph Kleitsch," "Gustave Baumann in California" and "Interstitial." Poetry readings will be performed by the Pasadena Rose Poets. 
• Explore Arts & Crafts and mid-century ceramics in the exhibitions "Batchelder: Tilemaker" and "Cast & Fired" at the Pasadena Museum of History. ACF-LA will perform. You can purchase food from the Okamoto Kitchen truck.
• Artistic talents of Pasadena Unified School District students will be showcased in the exhibition "No Boundaries 12" at the patio adjacent to Corner Bakery on South Lake accompanied by lively musical performances by students.
• Enjoy a festive night with the exhibition "Handmade Paper in Full Bloom," a crafts corner, tasty snacks and performances by Makoto Taiko drummers at Shumei Arts Council.

Photo credits: City of Pasadena, Pasadena Walking Tours, Freemantle Media, Dixie Piano Studios, Sensational Color, Haresfield School, Beth Mitchell, Makey Makey, Harmony Brands, Republic Pictures, ArtNight Pasadena.