Looking for Something To Do? Free Events Aug. 8 to 14

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Aug. 8, to Friday, Aug. 14.

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

California Assemblyman (and former Pasadena City Councilman) Chris Holden's annual block party on his street Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature live music, children's arts and crafts, free school backpacks while supplies last, classic car show, Ballet Folklorico, video game trucks, puppet show, free hot dogs and lemonade, community resource tables and much more.  

Gary Lewis and the Playboys will perform all their iconic hits from the '60s and beyond Saturday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. 

Mia Doi Todd will perform a program of Brazilian-inspired avant folk music Saturday, Aug. 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado.

Movies in the Park presents Flight of the Navigator (1986, PG) starring Joey Cramer and Veronica Cartwright Saturday Aug. 8, at 7:45 p.m. at Washington Park. A boy has an adventure with the alien spacecraft that has transported him eight years into the future. 

The second Sunday of every month is Free Admission Day at the USC Pacific Asia Museum. On Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy the Pacific Islands Festival including the exhibition The Art of Pacific Asia in the Orientation Gallery all day, art activities from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., special tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a performance by the Aloha Time Machine at 2 p.m. and more.

Join the L.A.based collective Fallen Fruit in the courtyard at One Colorado Sunday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for communal jam-making. Bring homegrown or picked public fruit.

The Playhouse District's Summer Jazz Series presents the Scott Martin Band Sunday, Aug. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Vroman's courtyard.  

Laith Al-Saadi featuring Jimmy Vivino will perform rock and blues Sunday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

• Activities for Pasadena Public Library's Read to the Rhythm summer reading program include the following (and much more):
• For children: Ages 8+ will learn about the science behind inventions that let us record and replay great music Monday, Aug. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Children's Story Room at Central Library, then make your own phonograph for playing records. Call 626-744-4066, option 4, to sign up. 
• For teens: Come for a low-tech game night Monday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Central Library's Studio on 4th where there will be snacks and board games including Castle Panic, Forbidden Island, Yahtzee, Risk, Ticket to Ride and more.
• Download the summer newsletter for the full schedule. 

INCA the Peruvian Ensemble will perform a colorful array of music and dance from the Andes region using authentic instruments Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the bandshell  at Memorial Park. Sponsored by the Pasadena Senior Center, all ages are welcome. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Pete's Dragon (1977, G) starring Mickey Rooney and Helen Reddy will be shown on the big screen Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A young orphan flees his abusive foster family and befriends a magical dragon while his family is in hot pursuit.

Mariachi Divas will perform Thursday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.  

The Dirty Dozen (1967, NR) starring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine will be shown on the big screen Friday, Aug. 14, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. A U.S. Army major is assigned a dozen convicts to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers during World War II. You do not have to be a member to attend.

The California Feetwarmers will perform jazz and ragtime Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Movies in the Park presents McFarland, USA (2015, PG) starring Kevin Costner and Ramiro Rodriguez Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. at Villa-Parke. A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

 

Photo credits: Downtown Pasadena Neighborhood Association, Ann Erdman, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, mxdwn.com, Signal Hill Tribune, Fallen Fruit, Scott Martin Band, Laith Al-Saadi, Edyta Linek, Cinema Blend, Mariachi Divas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, California Feetwarmers, i09.

Looking for Something To Do? Free Events Aug. 1 to 7

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Aug. 1, to Friday, Aug. 7.

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

Shane Alexander and the Great Favorites will perform folk, pop and psychedelia Saturday, Aug. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado.

Vaud & the Villains will perform a New Orleans music and cabaret show Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. 

The Old Pasadena Film Festival closes with Barbarella (1968, PG) starring Jane Fonda and John Phillip Law Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8:30 p.m. at Central Park. Far in the future, a voluptuous woman must find and stop an evil scientist while encountering unusual situations. Come as early as 7 p.m. for DJ music and food trucks, or bring a picnic.

The California Art Club and La Casita Foundation will celebrate the beauty of the Arroyo Seco with a plein air art exhibition Sunday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Casita del Arroyo.  

The Playhouse District's Summer Jazz Series presents DAV Sunday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Vroman's courtyard.

Chiele Minucci & Special EFX will perform jazz Sunday, Aug. 2, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. 

Activities for Pasadena Public Library's Read to the Rhythm summer reading program include the following (and much more): 

For children: Sing along, clap and celebrate at Craig Newton's Really Big Music Show Monday, Aug. 3, at 10:30 a.m. at San Rafael Branch Library, 1 p.m. at Lamanda Park Branch Library and 3 p.m. at Hill Avenue Branch Library; Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Linda Vista Branch Library and 1 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library; Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Villa Parke Branch Library and 1 p.m. at Allendale Branch Library; and Thursday, Aug. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library and 1 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library.

For teens: Make your own no-sew blanket Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 3:30 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library to keep you or a loved one warm and cozy this winter, or donate it to charity. All materials will be provided. Sewing skills are not required.

Download the summer newsletter for the full schedule. 

 

Billy and the Hillbillies will perform bluegrass music and comedy Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the band shell at Memorial Park. Sponsored by the Pasadena Senior Center, all ages are welcome. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Movies in the Park presents Sixteen Candles (1984, PG) starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. at La Pintoresca Park. A girl's sweet sixteen birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment possible. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic.

Fantasia 2000 (1999, G) starring Steve Martin and Itzhak Perlman will be shown on the big screen Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. This update to the original film features new interpretations of great works of classical music.



The Block9 summer program for the entire community presents Bike-In Movie & Repair Thursday, Aug. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Day One headquarters featuring free bike repairs by volunteers from BikeSGV and mechanics from Performance Bikes Pasadena, giveaways, snacks and more. RSVP here.

Lythgoe Family Productions will perform for children (and everyone) Thursday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner in the park.

Admission to the Pasadena Museum of California Art is free the first Friday (and third Thursday) of every month. On Friday, Aug. 7, from noon to 5 p.m. see the current exhibitions Someday Is Now: The Art of Corita Kent; Alexandra Grant and Steve Roden: These Carnations Defy Language; and everything else the museum has to offer.

Timbuktu (2015, PG-13) starring Ibrahim Ahmed aka Pino and Layla Walet Mohamed will be shown on the big screen Friday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. A cattle herder and his family living happily in the dunes of Timbuktu find their quiet lives abruptly disturbed by Jihadists determined to control their faith. In Tasmasheq, Bambara, Arabic and French with English subtitles. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

The first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. is free admission night at the Norton Simon Museum. On Friday, Aug.  7, enjoy the current exhibitions Human/Nature: Photographers Constructing the Natural World, Fragonard's Enterprise: The Artist and the Literature of Travel, A Revolution of the Palette: The First Synthetic Blues and Their Impact on French Artists plus everything else the museum has to offer.

The Block9 summer program for the entire community presents Pachanga Pasadena Friday, Aug. 7, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Day One headquarters featuring a night of friends, family, traditional Mexican Banda music and more. RSVP here.



Movies in the Park presents Muppets Most Wanted (2014, PG) starring Ricky Gervaise and Tina Fey Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. at Grant Park. While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves caught up in a European jewel heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic.



Brightside will perform folk, rock and reggae Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Photo credits: rtvrijinmond, Jessica Verma, Games Radar, Karen Winters, ColoradoBoulevard.net, Chieli Minucci, Flick River, IMDB, Walt Disney Pictures, Mountain Bike Geezer, Lythgoe Family Productions, Lakako, Abderrahmane Sissako, The Norton Simon Foundation, World Music, Hollywood Reporter, Brightside

Looking for Something to Do? Free Events July 25 to 31

Here are events scheduled Saturday, July 25, to Friday, July 31.

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 Read to the Rhythm summer reading program include the following (and much more):
• For everyone: Enjoy an old-fashioned sing-a-long Saturday, July 25, from 3 to 4:45 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Songs will include Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Pirate's Life for Me, High Hopes, Swinging on a Star, Happy and some old favorites. Song sheets and kazoos will be provided. 
• For children: Have fun playing percussion instruments and making music Thursday, July 30, at 10 a.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library.
• For adults: Pasadena's own premier blues guitarist, Brother Yusef, will sing and play Thursday, July 30, at 3 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library.
• Download the summer newsletter for the full schedule. 

Tlen-Huicani will perform songs of Latin America Saturday, July 25, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Movies in the Park presents The Goonies (1985, PG) starring Sean Astin and Corey Feldman Saturday, July 25, at 8 p.m. at Victory Park. To save their home from foreclosure, a group of misfits sets out to find a pirate's ancient treasure. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic.

The Old Pasadena Film Festival presents Field of Dreams (1989, PG) starring Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones Saturday, July 25, at 8:30 p.m. at Central Park. An Iowa corn farmer interprets voices he hears as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields. Come as early as 7 p.m. for DJ music and food trucks, or bring a picnic.

The Old Pasadena Film Festival presents Pitch Perfect (2012, PG-13) starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson Saturday, July 25, at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado. A university freshman is cajoled into joining The Bellas, an all-female singing group that takes on their male rivals in a campus competition.

The Playhouse District's Summer Jazz Series presents Tony Inzalaco Sunday, July 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Vroman's courtyard.

Donald Harrison will perform jazz Sunday, July 26, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

The Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra will perform a program titled From Bach to The Beatles Tuesday, July 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the band shell at Memorial Park. Sponsored by the Pasadena Senior Center, all ages are welcome to attend. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Captains Courageous (1937, NR) starring Spencer Tracy and Freddie Bartholomew will be shown on the big screen Wednesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A rich, spoiled brat who falls overboard on an ocean liner is picked up by a fishing boat and must adapt to the ways of the captain and crew and learn about the real world.

Meet and greet Pasadena police officers, detectives and volunteers Wednesday, July 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Grant Park, discuss issues, enjoy some refreshments, register your bike and much more. 

The Bob Baker Marionettes will perform for children (and everyone) Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Movies in the Park presents Big Hero 6 (2014, PG) with the voice talents of Ryan Potter and Scott Adsit Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at Robinson Park. An inflatable robot and his prodigy team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic.

Movies in the Park presents The Lego Movie (2014 PG) with the voice talents of Chris Pratt and Will Ferrell Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at Villa-Parke. An ordinary Lego construction worker is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic.

Movies in the Park presents Paddington (2014, PG) starring Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at Victory Park. A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home and finds himself lost and alone at Paddington Station where he meets a kind family that offers him a temporary haven. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic.

The Old Pasadena Film Festival presents Sixteen Candles (1984, PG) starring Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall Friday, July 31, at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado. A girl's sweet sixteen birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment possible.

The Old Pasadena Film Festival presents Tea with Mussolini (1999, PG) starring Cher and Judi Dench Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at Distant Lands. British lady expats in Florence, Italy, at the brink of World War II are kept out of harm's way by a young outcast boy and a brazen American woman.

Caroline Aiken will perform contemporary folk music Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.



Photo credits: Tlen-Huicani, Open Heaven, Brownstone Productions, The Arizona Republic, IMDB, Bob Baker Marionettes, Walt Disney Pictures, StudioCanal, Warner Bros., Vinnieh, Bold Spicy News,