Looking for Something to Do? Free Events June 14 to 20

Here are my top picks for events scheduled from Saturday, June 14, to Friday, June 20. 

The list is longer than usual because the summer concert season begins this week.

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

Activities for Pasadena Public Library's Summer Reading Challenge this week include the following:

• For adults: Emerging Urban Poets -- featured and open poetry readings with facilitator Don Kingfisher Campbell Saturday, June 14, at 3 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library.
• For teens: creative writing workshop Saturday, June 14, at 2 p.m. at Pasadena Central Library, t-shirt-painting Thursday, June 19, at 3:30 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library and steampunk jewelry-making Friday, June 20, at 3:30 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library. 
• For children: learning about animal tracks Wednesday, June 18, at 1 p.m. at Allendale Branch Library and kids' writing workshop Friday, June 20, at 4 p.m. in the Children's Room at Pasadena Central Library.
• Download the summer newsletter with the full schedule.

More than 600 artists will trade canvas for pavement as they create murals ranging from whimsical to fine art at the Pasadena Chalk Festival Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Paseo Colorado. Come both days to see the remarkable works in progress from start to finish. 

Athletic events in the Pasadena Senior Games this week include push-ups, table tennis and billiards Saturday, June 14, 5K cycling time trials and 40K road race Tuesday, June 17, and 10K cycling time trials and 20K road race Wednesday, June 18. Come see what these incredible athletes are made of! The full schedule, including venues, can be found here.

The Pasadena Police Classic Car Show Sunday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Green Street between Marengo and Euclid avenues (behind Paseo Colorado) will feature dozens of classic vehicles, live music and much more.

Jazz great Barbara Morrison kicks off the summer concert series at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park Sunday, June 15, at 7 p.m.. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase food at the park. A pre-concert festival begins at 5:30 p.m.

Take a tour of Australia's southeast corner, including Melbourne and Sydney, see highlights of the Blue Mountains and the Great Ocean Road and learn about Australia's capital Canberra Monday, June 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Distant Lands.

The Afro Tango Ensemble will perform Wednesday, June 18, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. for the popular Music at Noon concert series.

The Emmy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning HBO film "Temple Grandin" (2010, NR) starring Claire Danes and Julia Ormand will be shown Wednesday, June 18, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library. The film is based on the true story of an autistic woman who becomes one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry. 

The Pasadena Symphony will perform a concert for children and families (and everyone!) Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase food at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Children will meet some of the cutest and cuddliest animals from the Pasadena Humane Society Thursday, June 19, at 2 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library. 

Children will meet members of the Pasadena Police Department's K-9 Unit Thursday, June 19, at 3 p.m. at Lamanda Park Branch Library and learn how police dogs are trained to assist their handlers in locating and apprehending criminals.

Admission to the Pasadena Museum of California Art is free every first Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and third Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. On Thursday, June 19, see the current exhibitions "Time, Space and Matter: Five Installations Exploring Natural Phenomena" and "June Wayne: Paintings, Prints and Tapestries" as well as everything else the museum has to offer.

The Album Leaf will perform rock music using eclectic sounds Thursday, June 19, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase food at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m.

You don't have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to see "Swing Time" (1936, NR) there Friday, June 20, at 1 p.m. starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. A performer and gambler travels to New York City to raise funds he needs to marry his fiancée, only to become entangled with an aspiring dancer. 

Marley's Ghost will perform lively bluegrass music Friday, June 20, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park. Bring a picnic dinner or purchase food at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The possibility of existing life on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has piqued the interest of JPL scientists who are trying to figure out what kind of technology would be required to explore it. Learn more at the presentation "Europa: The Challenges of Exploring a Cold, Distant World" Friday, June 20, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (Building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College. 

Photo credits: Red Bubble, The Hammer Museum, Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Album Leaf, Marley's Ghost, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Cinema Beach, Drug War 101, Framingham Public Schools, Booms Beat, L.A. Car, Jet Propulsion Laboratory