Around & About

BOUTIQUES: Gifts and Greens — Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase botanical décor and greenery to decorate for the holidays, and handcrafted gift items made by volunteers. Descanso Gardens, 1418, Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. The boutique is free with admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children 5-12 and free to children 4 and younger. For more information call (818) 949-4200 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org.

Holiday Boutique — Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church, 2563 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta. For more information call (818) 326-1115.

Botanic Bling — Saturday, Dec. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12, noon to 4 p.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Celebrity stylist and TV personality Mark-Alan Harmon offers tips on selecting chic items to give. Find the perfect gift for that special someone at this trunk show of botanic-inspired jewelry and accessories from a diverse collection of independent vendors and craftspeople. Free with admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children 5-12, and free to children 4 and younger. For more information, call (818) 949-4200 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org.

EVENTS

Thanksgiving Day at Descanso — Thursday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive. Take the family out for a stroll either before or after the big meal. Or enjoy Patina Catering’s Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. Descanso admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $3 children 5-12. Thanksgiving dinner: $45, $37 members, $15.95 children 4-12. For dinner reservations, call Patina at (818) 790-3663.

Old Pasadena Holiday Celebration — Friday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 28. Performances, the arrival of Santa in the Courtyard at One Colorado, a tree-lighting ceremony, Holiday Open House with special in-store events. Free. For more information including a complete list of in-store, restaurant, coffee shop and beauty salon promotions and events, visit https://www.oldpasadena.org or call (626) 356-9725.

Self-guided Gamble House Holiday Tours — Friday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 2, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. both days. The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena 91103, will adjust its regular schedule of docent-led tours to also offer self-guided tours on Nov. 26 and Jan. 2. The Gamble House Bookstore will keep regular hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, except for Dec. 26 and Dec. 31. For more information about the self-guided tours or hours of docent-led tours, go online to https://www.gamblehouse.org.

Coyotes in our Midst — Tuesday, Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Project Coyote, Animal Welfare Institute, Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and the San Gabriel Valley Friends of Wildlife present the documentary film, “American Coyote — Still Wild at Heart,” and a discussion with coyote expert Camilla H. Fox on coyote ecology and how communities can coexist with wildlife in the midst of increasing urban sprawl. The event will be held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Free.

Lighting ceremony for Christmas Tree Lane, plus parade — Saturday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m., preceded by a Winter Festival at 2 p.m. The 90th Annual Christmas Tree Lane Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade will get underway at the Altadena Public Library, 600 E. Mariposa Street, Altadena. Christmas Tree Lane Boutique features mugs, T-shirts, toys, and memorabilia. Refreshments served. The library parking structure will close at 1:30 p.m.; parking will be available after that on surrounding streets. Santa Rosa Avenue in Altadena, between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive, is transformed each year into Christmas Tree Lane, with lights being strung on the 100 deodar trees that line the street. Free.

KIDS’ PICKS

Babysitting Course for Ages 11 to 15 — Saturdays, Dec. 11 and Jan. 29, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Verdugo Hills Hospital Beginnings Family Education Program offers babysitting classes at the hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale for boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15. The interactive course teaches infant/child CPR, basic first aid, home/auto safety, accident prevention, telephone skills, safety tips and more. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate. Class fee is $35 per person and reservations are required. To register call (818) 952-2272.

Holiday Day Camp — Friday, Nov. 26, full day, or one of two sessions: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Kidspace Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena 91103. Cost is $60 per session or $100 for all day. For more information go to https://www.kidspacemuseum.org.

Train Rides to Santa’s House —Nov. 27-28, Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12; and Dec. 15-23, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting. Travel Town Transportation Museum, 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Families can take a miniature train ride to visit Jolly Old Saint Nick. Travel past the reindeer barn and Santa’s workshop before arriving at the “North Pole,” where photos with Father Christmas will be available. Digital photographs will be available for $5, or guests may bring their own cameras but will be limited to two shots. Tickets are $7 per person; children 18 months old or younger can ride for free. Advance ticket purchases are suggested and can be made through https://www.TravelTownRailroad.com.

Kids Talent Contest — Sunday, Dec. 19, 12:00 p.m. WAW California Starz Talent Contest at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, LCF. Youths ages 5-21 will demonstrate their talents as singers, dancers, musicians and models and will compete in front of entertainment industry professionals. The event is presented by the Kiwanis Builders Club of LCHS 7/8, Kiwanis K-Kids of the Community Center, WAW Talent Training Studios and the Community Center. Cost to attend is $5.

PERFORMANCE

Cosmic Christmas — Sundays through Dec., 19 (beginning Nov. 28), at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. A multi-media presentation of composer/songwriter Eban Schletter, based on his 2009 concept album. Featuring live Theremin performance, SkySkan star fields and real-time animation performed by J-Walt, creator or “Spontaneous Fantasia” shows. Glendale Community College Planetarium, 1500 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale 91208. Admission at the door is $10 general and $5 for children under 12. For information go to https://www.glendale.edu/planetarium.

The Towne Singers present “Christmas is a Feeling” — Sunday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m. The Towne Singers, a 100-plus member chorus based in La Cañada, present its annual holiday concert at Pasadena First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91101. “This holiday concert will be a wonderful treat for everyone,” said Beth Richey, music director of the group. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance and may be purchased by calling (818) 952-2429, or by visiting https://www.TowneSingers.org. Children under age 10 will be admitted for $8.

TO YOUR HEALTH

Weight-loss surgery seminar — Wednesday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Verdugo Hills Hospital will hold a free educational seminar on weight-loss surgery in the hospital’s Council Room, located on the 4th floor lobby. The seminar, “Find Out if Weight-Loss Surgery is Right for You,” will be given by fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon Dr. Nilesh Bhoot of the Southern California Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at VHH. Topics will include weight-loss procedures offered at the Institute, benefits of weight-loss surgery, dietary issues and ideal candidates for surgery. For more information call (877) 365-0156 or visit https://www.vhhospital.org.

To submit calendar listings, send an e-mail with the pertinent details to lcnews@valleysun.net.