Looking for Something to Do? Free Events August 19 to 25

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 25.

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

The Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents a chamber music recital by guitar students and faculty Saturday, Aug. 19, at 4 p.m. in Barrett Hall. The recital will include works by Bach, Brouwer, Carully, Kleyjnans, Kondo, Pernambuco, Piazzolla, Poulin and Vassiliev.

The Reluctant Apostles featuring Katey Sagal will perform heritage rock Saturday, Aug. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Playhouse District Summer Jazz Concert Series presents Kira and the Major 3 Sunday, Aug. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the courtyard adjacent to Vroman's Book Store.

Cambalache will perform Latin jazz Sunday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m.

An LA Opera community educator will guide you through Georges Bizet's dramatic opera "Carmen" Monday, Aug. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. A seductive gypsy who works at a cigarette factory in Seville captures the heart of a soldier who goes AWOL to pursue her despite her unfaithfulness, culminating in a final showdown outside the bullring. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

I scream, you scream...cool off with some delicious Paradis ice cream Tuesday, Aug. 22, beginning at 2 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado (while supplies last). 

Grammy-winning Lisa Haley and the Zydekats will play lively Cajun zydeco music with plenty of Louisiana spice Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m. at the Gold Shell in Memorial Park for the Pasadena Senior Center's summer concert series for all ages. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

"Harvey" (1950, NR) starring James Stewart and Josephine Hull will be shown Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. The family of a wealthy man with a sunny disposition wants to commit him to an insane asylum when he claims he is accompanied by a mischievous Irish spirit, or pooka, in the form of a six-foot bunny named Harvey.

Mexican artist, art professor and author Roberto Rosique will discuss his new book "Of Those Barren Fields Without Culture: Three Decades of Art in Baja California" and then moderate a panel discussion about Mexican arts and culture with Adolfo Nodal, Susana Smith Bautista, Luis Ituarte and Jorge Conde Thursday, Aug. 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Studio on 4th (fourth floor) at Central Library. The event is sponsored by COFAC.

Children ages 9 to 12 are invited to a writing workshop with Kristen Kittscher, author of the middle grade mysteries "The Wig in the Window" and "The Tiara on the Terrace," Friday, Aug. 25, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Children's Story Room at Central Library. Ask her your questions about writing, learn about her writing process and do some fun writing exercises. Call 626-744-4066, option 4, to sign up.

Rachael Worby, artistic director of MUSE/IQUE, will be joined by some orchestra members for a celebration of Motown in the spirit of American jazz Friday, Aug. 25, at 5 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. While the event is free, 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.

In 1977 NASA's twin Voyager spacecrafts embarked on an incredible journey to the outer planets and beyond. After delivering stunning images of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, the probes sailed on to study the boundary of our heliosphere, the bubble that encompasses our sun, planets and solar wind, crossing that frontier in 2012 as the first human-made object in interstellar space. On Friday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College, Dr. Alan Cummings, senior research scientist at Caltech and a Voyager team member for more than 40 years, will present highlights of Voyager journeys and speculate on what lies ahead for the intrepid twins.

Paseo Colorado's Dancing Under the Stars presents the Susie Hansen Latin Band Friday, Aug. 25, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the lower theater court by Starbucks. Come as early as 7 p.m. for a Salsa dance lesson from the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association, then enjoy the live music -- whether you decide to kick up your heels or not! 

Photo credits: Pasadena Conservatory of Music, The Reluctant Apostles, Kira and the Major 3, Cambalache, Minnesota Opera, Lisa Haley, Universal International Pictures, Roberto Rosique, MUSE/IQUE, NASA/JPL Susie Hansen Latin Band.