Around & About
CLASSES: Square dancing — Thursdays, beginning Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sets in Steps offers a beginner’s square-dance class at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. Ron Durkee is the professional caller. Dress is casual and cost is $6 per person. For more information, call Betty Woodhull at (818) 249-2651.
Gardening: Budding Botanists (for children ages 6 to 10) — Sept. 18, 11 a.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Hannah Wiggins teaches youngsters the uses of native plants. Meets at the Magnolia Lawn. Cost: $12 per child; $6 for each additional sibling. Advance registration required. Information: (818) 949-7980.
Fall Vegetable Garden — Sept. 18, 11 a.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Mike Brown gives adult gardeners guidance on growing vegetables through the fall. Meets at the Center Circle. Cost: $10 for members of the general public, free for Descanso members. Advance registration is required; call (818) 949-7980.
Ballroom dance — Friday nights, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Take a partner or attend on your own and make new friends. Teacher is Celia Weis. Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Call Ana-Marie Schaefer at (818) 790-0123, ext. 231, for information and fees.
EVENTS
Art Sale and Auction — Sept. 19, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Main Hall, McGroarty Arts Center, 7570 McGroarty Terrace, Tujunga, 91042. More than 50 pieces on display. All proceeds will benefit the Little Landers Historical Society, McGroarty Arts Center and the Sunland-Tujunga Alliance, a volunteer organization that informs the community about land-use and planning issues. For more information about the art sale call (818) 438-7076 or visit https://www.sunlandtujungaalliance.com.
Wiggle, Waggle, Walk — Sept. 26, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 12th Annual Wiggle, Waggle, Walk will benefit the Pasadena Humane Society. Families, friends, and canines are welcome to participate in either the 3-mile or 1-mile walk around the Rose Bowl. Participants are requested to fundraise on behalf of the animals in the care of Pasadena Humane Society. Every $25 that is raised helps care for a domestic animal at the shelter for one day. Prizes are available for the fundraising efforts. To register visit https://www.wigglewagglewalk.org. There will also be pet-related exhibitions, food and contests, such as best-dressed dog and best dog trick at the Fair and Pet Expo. For more information call (626) 792-7151 ext.167.
Architectural Tour of Caltech — Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m. The Caltech Women’s Club will be offering architectural tours of the campus. The tours last up to two hours and are open to the public. The meeting place is the Athenaeum, 551 S. Hill Ave, Pasadena. Street parking only. For reservations call (626) 395-6328.
Foothill Artists League Annual Exhibition — Oct. 3, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lanterman House will be holding an open house featuring art, music, history and refreshments. Local artists’ work will be featured including plein air and studio oil paintings by the Foothill Artists League. In addition, there will be guided tours of the historic museum and a raffle. 4420 Encinas Drive. For more information call (818) 790-1421.
LECTURES
Encore speakers’ program for seniors — Saturdays, Sept. 25 to Oct. 16. Glendale Community College presents its Encore speakers’ program. These are two-hour sessions for six weeks this fall. Encore, coordinated by Roberta Vadman, meets at the Life Skills Building at the east end of campus. Enter the college parking lot off Mountain Avenue near the Glendale (2) Freeway.
Looking for Life on Mars — Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dr. Max Coleman, director of the JPL Center for Life Detection, will talk on the history of NASA’s missions to Mars, as well as future missions, at the La Cañada Flintridge Public Library, 4545 N. Oakwood Ave., La Cañada. Admission is free. For more information contact Kevin Hasely, adult reference librarian, at (818) 790-3330.
Energy Efficiency — Sept. 25, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The La Cañada Flintridge Public Library, 4545 N. Oakwood Ave., will host a speaker from a local utility company who will discuss recent breakthroughs in energy-efficient technology and how La Cañada residents can use this information to save money and help the environment. Admission is free. To learn more contact Kevin Hasely, adult reference librarian, at (818) 790-3330.
PERFORMANCES
Benefit Concert for Union Station — Oct. 2, Doors open at 5 p.m., concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Music of Bob Mintzer and the USC Big Band with special guest performers. The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and wine, followed by the concert. At the conclusion of the performance there will be dessert and coffee with the artists. The concert will benefit Union Station Homeless Services, assisting homeless men, women and children. Individual tickets are $50 ($35 for young professionals) and can be purchased by visiting https://www.unionstationhs.org or by calling (626) 250-4557.
Pasadena Dance Theatre “Master DanceMaker” — Sept. 25, 8 p.m. Pasadena Dance Theatre challenges three choreographers to become 2010’s “MasterDancemaker” in this event held at the Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Colin Connor, Andre Tyson and Laurence Blake will present three original works. Audiences will then vote on their favorite and the winning choreographer will take home a $500 prize. Tickets are priced from $20 to $50 and can be purchased in advance by calling (626) 683-3459 or online at https://www.pasadenadance.org.
TO YOUR HEALTH
What is Qigong? — Oct. 9, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Patio Room, Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Find out how Qigong can be helpful for those suffering from any chronic medical condition or for those wishing to maintain optimal health and calmness. Presented by Antoinette Rohner and Simone Alexandrino, directors of Moving into Peace. Rohner also teaches Qigong at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and has a private acupressure practice. Free.
Women in Pain Conference: Gender Matters — Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For Grace, a nonprofit organization, hosts its third annual conference. The theme is “Raising the Curtain on Pain,” and the event will be held at the California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities, 1000 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, 90012. Women in pain and their caregivers may attend at no charge. For more information and to register visit https://www.forgrace.org or call (818) 760-7635.
WORKSHOP
45+ and Job Hunting — Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Women At Work, 3871 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Career counselor Diane Woodard will cover topics such as how to package your skills, how to maximize your opportunities and discover what has worked for other women over the age of 45. Cost is $20. To register, call (626) 796-6870, ext. 14.