Around ‘N’ About

BOOK READINGS

Mystery Book Club — March 26 at 8:30 a.m. Mystery Book Club discusses “Jar City” by Indridason, over tea and scones. The story is about two investigators who discover the Icelandic city of Reykjavik has its secrets. Once Upon A Time bookstore, 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. For information, call (818) 248-9668.

CLASSES

Self-defense Workshop for Teens — March 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. As a teenager, the world can be an intimidating place. For one day only the Impact Personal Safety teen self- defense workshop, designed for students ages 12 to 17, will be held. This three-hour workshop will empower teens to make positive personal safety choices. To reserve a place in the workshop, or for more information about programs held at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, call (818) 790-4353 or visit www.cclcf.org. Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada Flintridge.

Tai Chi Class — Tuesdays, April 8 to June 10 at 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Rose Pavilion at Descanso Gardens is the setting for tai chi on Tuesdays, “meditation in motion,” tai chi emphasizes complete relaxation. It is characterized by slow, flowing-yet-precise movements that emphasize force rather than brute strength. Its philosophy is based on the free flow of ‘chi,’ a form of energy or breath. Instructor Laura Gloster studied martial arts for 20 years, expanding her studies into the internal art of T’ai Chi Ch’uan before beginning teaching. Students should wear exercise clothes and shoes. Single sessions are not available. Fees: $130 ($110 Descanso members). Reservations required. No walk-ins available. To register, call (818) 949-7980.

EVENTS

Descanso Spring Plant Sale — March 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Descanso Garden’s 28th annual Spring Plant Sale held in the Lake House Nursery. This popular event draws gardeners from far and wide. Many edibles will be for sale in honor of Descanso’s Edible Estates Demonstration Garden in the Center Circle, as well as rooted cuttings from the rose garden, warm weather lilacs developed at Descanso, native plants, and rare plants of all kinds. Parking is available in the auxiliary lot for easy access to the Nursery. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. For information call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org.

Caltech Architectural Tour — March 27 at 11 a.m. Architectural tour of the Caltech campus takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month except December. The Caltech Women’s Club provides the tours which last up to two hours. The tour is open to the public and meets at The Athenaeum (front hall), 551 S. Hill Ave., Pasadena. For reservations call (626) 395-6327. Other dates: April 24; May 22; June 26.

Firefighter Recruitment Fair — April 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by California Commission to recruit women for the fire service. Meet women firefighters and fire department recuiters. Learn about a career in the fire service. The fair will be held at 626 N. Eckhoff St., Orange. For information call (916) 648-1717.

EXHIBITIONS

“An Artful Spring Exhibit” — Through April 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Descanso Gardens presents “An Artful Spring Exhibit,” a fine art exhibit of three artists: oil paintings by Trish Kertes of La Cañada, ceramics by Rick Drobner of La Crescenta, and watercolor paintings by Belinda Del Pesco of Santa Clarita. The exhibit is being held in the Carriage House Gallery at Descanso Gardens. The Carriage House is located adjacent to the Boddy House. Descano Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada and is open daily. For more information on Descanso Gardens, call (818) 949-4200 or (818) 949-0125.

The Art of Silkscreen: WPA Posters 1935-1943 — Through April 13. On display at the Forest Lawn Museum at Forest Lawn-Glendale, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale. Admission and parking are free. For more information, call (800) 204-3131.

PERFORMANCE

“Evening with the Stars” in the Planetarium — Two shows March 21, at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Evening with the Stars” presentations will be held in the Glendale Community College Planetarium. The 60-minute shows will introduce guests to the stars, constellations and planets visible in the night sky. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under (cash only). The college is located at 1500 N. Verdugo Rd. Reservations may be made in advance at www.glendale.edu/planetarium. The reservations will hold seats for up to 15 minutes prior to the show. For more details call (818) 240-1000, ext. 5275.

American Ballet Theatre “Swan Lake” — March 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m., March 29, at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., March 30, at 2 p.m. Led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, the ABT returns to the Dance at the Music Center series with Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Tickets: $25-$95, Ticketmaster phone charge (213) 365-3500 or (714) 740-7878 or online: ww.ticketmaster.com. For information visit www.musiccenter.org/dance.

Don Juan — March 29 through May 24. Monsieur Don Juan, armed with a calloused and lustful heart, feeds his ravenous sexual appetite with boundless enthusiasm. Heedless of warnings both earthly and otherwise, history’s most notorious romantic devil rushes headlong toward retribution, in French genius Molière’s sparkling cautionary comedy. Translated by Richard Nelson. Previews March 22, 26, 27, 28 at 8 p.m; March 23 at 7 p.m. $28, general tickets $40 and $36. A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd, Glendale. Call (818) 240-0910 ext. 1.

“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” — Through April 6, performances are Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for students and seniors (I.D. required). Knightsbridge Theatre is located at 1944 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles. For information and reservations, call (323) 667-0955 or visit www.knightsbridgetheatre.com.

TO YOUR HEALTH

America in Health Crisis — March 21, 12 p.m. Learn how adding vitamins to your diet can help reverse the growing health crisis in America. Raya, a certified natural health practitioner and owner of Nature’s Treasures will speak at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. For information contact Nancy Turney, community senior services director, at (818) 790-0123 ext. 225.

Cancer Workshop: “Music Heals” — April 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. The Wellness Community-Foothills (TWC-F) will host a free workshop titled “Music Heals” featuring cellist Peter Kibbe on Thursday, April 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. Before the performance, Jane Kim, coordinator and founder of Music Heals, will speak about the program. The program is offered free of charge; however reservations are requested. The Wellness Community-Foothills is located at 200 E. Del Mar Blvd., Suite 118, in Pasadena. For more information, visit www.twcfoothills.org online or call (626)796-1083.

Autism Seminar — April 9, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Foothill Autism Alliance, Inc. will offer a free seminar at the Pasadena Child Development Associates. The topic will be “Abuse Risk Reduction for Children with Developmental Disabilities” and will feature guest speaker Karen Rogers, PhD, who is a licensed clinical psychologist and program leader for Project Heal, the trauma treatment and training program at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The Pasadena Child Development Associates is located at 620 N. Lake Ave., 2nd floor, in Pasadena, just north of the Foothill (210) Freeway. For more information visit www.foothillautism.org.

Free Blood Pressure Screening — Every Monday, 9 to 11 a.m. Community members can take advantage of Verdugo Hills Hospital’s free blood pressure screenings. Verdugo Hills Hospital is located at 1812 Verdugo Blvd., Glendale.

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