Looking for Something to Do? Free Events May 26 to June 1

Here are events scheduled Saturday, May 26, to Friday, June 1.

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

Family Fun Day Saturday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at La Pintoresca Park will include food, entertainment, face painting, arts and crafts, game trucks and plenty of other family-friendly activities. 

With inspiration from Lisa See's novel "The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane," enjoy a Pu'er traditional Chinese tea ceremony Saturday, May 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. on the fourth floor at Central Library. You'll also learn about the holistic benefits of Pu'er tea and how the tea leaves from the ancient mountains of Yunnan are what many call the best in the world.

Opera for KIDS presents Gaetano Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love" (L'Elisir d'Amore) performed in English by the Pasadena Opera Guild for children ages 7 to 12, with imaginative scenery, beautiful costumes and rich visual humor Saturday, May 26, at 3 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library, then hands-on STEAM activities that demonstrate the importance of math in music and theater. Reservations are not required except for large groups: (626) 744-4725. Click here for more children's activities at Pasadena public libraries.

Pasadena Police Department Curbside Chat get-togethers are quite popular and take place at a different location each time. Chat it up with police officers and park safety specialists, connect with other Pasadenans and enjoy some refreshments Saturday, May 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the junction of Prospect Boulevard and La Mesa Place.

Marimba player Arianna Aviña will perform in recital Saturday, May 26, at 7 p.m. in Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music featuring compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jacques Delecleuse, Richard Gipson, William Kraft, Mitchell Peters and Charlie Wilcoxen. 

The Hollow Trees will perform folk music for young children Tuesday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m. in the Garfield Promenade on the street level at Paseo Colorado.

Acclaimed American poet Mary Szybist, winner of the National Book Award for Poetry and whose works have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Academy of Poets, will speak and read from her works Tuesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. in Dabney Lounge at Dabney Hall (#40 on this map). Parking is free at Caltech lots and parking structures weekdays after 5 p.m.

Maria Elena Altany, a soprano with L.A. Opera, will perform Wednesday, May 30, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. as part of the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

After a kid-friendly exhibition tour of "Testament of the Spirit: Paintings by Eduardo Carrillo," children ages 2 to 5 will create stick puppets and enjoy readings of "Same, Same but Different" and "We Came to America" Wednesday, May 30, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. as part of the ongoing Free Fourth Wednesday Wee Read series at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. A parent or other caregiver must accompany each child.

"To Hell and Back" (1955, NR) starring Audie Murphy and Marshall Thompson will be shown Wednesday, May 30, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. The film depicts the story, based on true events, of how Audie Murphy became America's most decorated soldier during World War II. 

The first Friday of every month is Free Admission Day at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. On Friday, June 1, from noon to five p.m. enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer.

The first Friday of every month is Free Admission Night at the Norton Simon Museum. On Friday, June 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. enjoy the current exhibitions "In Search of New Markets: Craft Traditions in Nineteenth Century India" and "Line & Color: The Nature of Ellsworth Kelly" plus everything else the museum has to offer.

Photo credits: Williamsburg Families, The Chinese Tea Company, Pittsburgh Opera, Pasadena Police Department, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, About the Artists, Lewis & Clark University, L.A. Weekly, Henry Holt and Company, Universal International Pictures, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Norton Simon Museum,

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

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

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

Pasadena Fire Station 37 will host an open house with a water conservation theme Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to noon to show off the station as well as the drought-tolerant garden and other conservation-oriented features, plus a plant scavenger hunt for kids, raffle prizes, refreshments and a chance to meet and greet firefighters and see big red fire engines.

The Young Meteorologist Program WeatherFest Rally Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lot 3 (lower left on this map) and Creveling Lounge (Building CC on this map) at Pasadena City College will feature special activities with KABC-TV chief meteorologist Dallas Raines and other TV meteorologists from across the nation, the Extreme Weather Zone with digital games, the Science Zone with STEAM programs, books and games, the Response and Recovery Zone featuring big-rig emergency vehicles and an opportunity to meet first responders, and much more.

LitFest Pasadena returns for its seventh year Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20, from 1 to 10 p.m. in the Playhouse District and will feature readings, workshops, performances, panel discussions, children's programs, celebrity guests and more.

The Gamble House and the Pasadena Museum of History will be among six institutions that will open their doors for free on Museums of the Arroyo Day Sunday, May 20, from noon to 5 p.m. 

Armory Center for the Arts will host a papier mache mask workshop based on mythological Japanese characters Sunday, May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Armory's La Casita Neighborhood Center. 

An LA Opera community educator will explore the reasons Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been beloved by people from all walks of life for more than 200 years Monday, May 21, at 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. You do NOT have to a member of the senior center to attend, but you do have to be 50 or older.

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to an Elephant and Piggie party Monday, May 21, at 3 p.m. at Hill Avenue Branch Library where they will read some Elephant and Piggie books, create a craft and enjoy snacks. 

Arty Loon will entertain young children with magic, juggling, puppetry and silly fun Tuesday, May 22, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Garfield Promenade on the street level at Paseo Colorado.

Classical clarinetist Jennifer Showalter will perform Wednesday, May 23, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

The silent swashbuckling classic "The Mark of Zorro" (1920, NR) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Marguerite De La Motte will be shown Wednesday, May 23, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. The seemingly weak and silly son of a wealthy landowner is actually the mask-wearing, sword-wielding Zorro, scourge of local oppressors in the days of Old California. 

Wearing traditional regalia, renowned American Indian dancer Ben Hale will entertain and educate children ages 5 to 12 about native American dances, songs and stories from the 1400s to modern-day pow wows Thursday, May 24, at 3:30 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library. For more children's activities at Pasadena public libraries, click here.

The Pasadena Historic Preservation Commission will bestow 2018 Historic Preservation Awards to nine recipients Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. in the Fowler Garden, located behind Ambassador Auditorium at the former Ambassador College west campus. A reception, including light refreshments will begin at 6 p.m. Also enjoy a self-guided tour of Ambassador Gardens. (The photo above shows a portion of the restored 1930s-era mural in the McKinley School Library, the subject of one of the 2018 awards. See all recipients here.)

The sixth annual Jazz on Hill at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music is Friday, May 25, from 1 to 9 p.m. Learn about jazz history (1 p.m.), sit in on a master class (4 p.m.), enjoy a concert led by renowned film composer Peter T. Myers  (7:30 p.m.) and more. While the event is free, reservations are required.

Photo credits: Getty Images, Pasadena Now, The Gamble House, Pasadena Museum of History, Masterpieces of Classic, Mo Willems, Arty Loon, Jennifer Showalter, Toronto Film Society, Ben Hale, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe.

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events May 12 to 18

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

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

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. The Pasadena Police Department will host an open house Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy free BBQ and refreshments, meet and greet local police staff, learn public safety and crime prevention tips, see equipment and forensics demonstrations, tour the police building and more. 

In celebration of Asian/Pacific Islander Month, Halau Hula Moani'a'ala Anuhea will showcase the Hawaiian culture through dance, language and music Saturday, May 12, at 2 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library.

Design, architecture, art and history will intersect for BoldPas: An Art Takeover of Old Pasadena Saturday, May 12, from noon to 8 p.m. Experience Old Pasadena with new eyes as you gather with friends, stroll the alleys and side streets, meet artists, participate in art activities for all ages, see 13 temporary public art installations, snap and share your photos and connect with Pasadena's creative community. There is a $10 fee for guided walking tours; everything else is free.

The opening reception for the Armory Art High Student Exhibition is Saturday, May 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Armory Center for the Arts. Come meet the talented teens and view their works that include painting, figure drawing, darkroom and digital photography, ceramics, silkscreening, graphic novels and more.

The 38th annual Bandorama Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m. in Ramo Auditorium at Caltech's Baxter Hall (#77 on this map) will feature the Caltech-Occidental Wind Orchestra and the Caltech Jazz Band performing works by David Maslanka, Michael Conrad, Pat Methany and Alan Ferber, plus Big Band classics by Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones and Bob Florence. Parking is free on weekends at Caltech parking lots and structures.

Admission to the USC Pacific Asia Museum is free the second Sunday of every month. On Sunday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Create a special Mothers Day vase inspired by Chinese art in the museum's collection, hear stories of China, enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer. 

Bike Week Pasadena is Monday, May 14, to Saturday, May 19. Events include an evening bike ride through the Playhouse District and Old Pasadena with a decadent sampling from restaurants along the way to fuel your journey; Women's Bike Night; Bike to Work Day; Bike-in Movie Night; and a Pedal with Your Pet party.

Twinkle Time will perform for young children Tuesday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Garfield Promenade on the street level at Paseo Colorado.

Dali Ensemble L.A., featuring oboe, violin and cello, will perform Wednesday, May 16, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. 

"The Joy Luck Club" (1993, R) starring France Nuyen and Rosalind Chao will be shown Wednesday, May 16, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Four elderly Chinese women tell stories about themselves and their American-born daughters. Based on the novel by Amy Tan.

Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, Acting Police Chief John Perez and Fire Chief Bertral Washington will be among the speakers at the Police and Fire Memorial Service Thursday, May 17, at 10 a.m. in Centennial Square in front of Pasadena City Hall. The annual event pays tribute to the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty while protecting and serving Pasadena.

Children ages 8 to 12 are invited to join the Kids Coding Club where each session explores a different way to use computer coding with games, art, robotics and more. On Thursday, May 17, at 4 p.m. on the fourth floor at Central Library, explore coding with Ozobots, small robots that you can program to move, light up and make sounds. Call (626) 744-4225 to sign up.

The third Thursday (and first Friday) of every month is Free Admission Night at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. On Thursday, May 17, from 5 to 9 p.m. enjoy bilingual readings of works by some of Southern California's most talented Mexican American poets and writers (6 to 7 p.m.), plus see the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer.

"Coco" (2017, PG) with the voice talents of Anthony Gonzalez and Gael Garcia Bernal will be shown Friday, May 18, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. Despite his family's baffling, generations-old ban on music, young Miguel aspires to be an accomplished musician and enters the Land of the Dead where he meets an array of extraordinary characters who help him unlock the real story behind his family history. You do NOT have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend, but you do have to be 50 or older.

Juno is a solar-powered spacecraft that has been orbiting Jupiter since July 4, 2016, while collecting a wealth of new information about the planet. On Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (Building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College, JPL's Dr. Steve Levin, Juno Project scientist and lead co-investigator for Juno's microwave radiometer instrument, will discuss some of Juno's current science results on Jupiter's origins, interior structure, deep atmosphere and magnetosphere, and explain the science expected from Juno in the future.

SAVE THE DATE!

The seventh LitFest Pasadena is Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, from 1 to 10 p.m. in the Playhouse District and will feature readings, workshops, performances, panel discussions and other literary activities.

Photo credits: Pasadena Police Department, Halau Hula Moani'a'ala Anuhea, Old Pasadena Management District, Pasadena Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caltech, USC Pacific Asia Museum, Cool Hunting, Twinkle Time, Dali Ensemble L.A., Hollywood Pictures, Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Walt Disney Pictures, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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

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

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

The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day throughout the U.S. On Saturday, May 5, pick up a free comic book (one per person while supplies last) at any library in the Pasadena Public Library system during regular hours.

Bring the kids for Nature Tails Storybook Time Saturday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. in the Children's Corner at Eaton Canyon Nature Center. Nature Tails are scheduled every Saturday morning.

The Pasadena Master Chorale will perform "Listening to the Future," an original work by talented local high school student-composers, Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Neighborhood Church. While the concert is free, tickets are required.

Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to read books to gentle, well-trained dogs at Barks & Books Monday, May 7, at 1 p.m. at San Rafael Branch Library and/or 3 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library.

Nathalia will perform bilingual music for young children Tuesday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Garfield Promenade on the street level at Paseo Colorado.

Spanish-born classical pianist Régulo Martínez-Antón will perform Wednesday, May 9, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon recital series at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

"Stella Dallas" (1937, NR) starring Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles will be shown Wednesday, May 9, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A loud, vulgar former factory worker knows she is the reason her daughter is shunned by the rest of the community, so she is willing to do whatever it takes to make a better life for the girl.

"Darkest Hour" (2017, R) starring Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas will be shown Friday, May 11, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. As the threat of Germany's invasion looms during the early days of World War II, Britain faces its darkest hour while the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of Winston Churchill, the new prime minister. You do NOT have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend, but you do have to be 50 or older.

The opening reception for "Abundant Garden: Recent Works by Kaoru Mansour" is Friday, May 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the En Gallery at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden. The event is free for visitors who have made reservations. Mansour is a Japanese artist based in Los Angeles whose works are a celebration of the abundance of nature and our bounteous spiritual, cultural and artistic connections to it.

Classical guitarists Thomas Lai, Sean Sakai-Mohr and Michelle Nguyen will perform Friday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music for their senior recital, with works by Federico Moreno Torroba, Isaac Albéniz, Johann Sebastian Bach, Jose Luis Merlin and Clarice Assad.

The Pasadena Community Orchestra will perform Ippolotov-Ivanov's "Procession of the Sardar," Holst's "Jupiter Op. 32," Borodin's "In the Steppes of Central Asia" and "Polovtsian March," and, with pianist Max Hammond, "Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3" Friday, May 11, at 8 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena.

Photo credits: Thought for Your Penny, Child's Play International, Feiwel & Friends, Sleeping Bear Press, Pasadena Master Chorale, Somerset County Library, Nathalia, Picture This Post, Samuel Goldwyn Company, Perfect World Pictures, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, Pasadena Community Orchestra, Caltech