Around & About

Around & About

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION EVENTS

City Council Candidates Forum — Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. The seven candidates in the upcoming La Cañada Flintridge City Council election will present their election platforms and answer questions during this forum at Flintridge Preparatory School, 4543 Crown Ave., La Cañada. Sponsors are the LCF Coordinating Council and both La Cañada Kiwanis Clubs. The candidates are incumbents Laura Olhasso and Don Voss plus Michael Davitt, Jacki Harris, James Hill, Charlie Kamar and Robert Richter. The forum will be moderated by the headmaster of Flintridge Prep, Peter Bachmann. For more information call Joyce Ruygrok at (818) 249-8680.

Breakfast with a candidate —Thursday, Feb. 10, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Complimentary breakfast of fresh fruit, scones, muffins, juice and coffee will be served at an event featuring City Council candidate Laura Olhasso at Dish Restaurant, 734 Foothill Blvd. Olhasso will hear residents’ concerns, answer questions and share her vision for the future of La Cañada Flintridge. Reservations to rsvp@lauraolhasso.org are encouraged, but not required.

CLASSES

Art demonstration — Friday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. Lucille de Thomas is the guest artist when the Verdugo Hills Art Association hosts its demonstration event at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. The event is open to the public. De Thomas has received top awards for her paintings in both oil and watercolor, as well as for her sculptures. To learn more about the Verdugo Hills Art Association, go online to www.verdugoarts.com.

Western Square Dancing — Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sets in Step Dance Club offers this class at the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. Ron Durkee is the caller. Dress is casual and the price is $6 (cash) per lesson. Refreshments included. A partner is suggested, but singles are welcome. For more information call Betty Woodhull at (818) 249-2651.

Music Appreciation — Tuesdays beginning Feb. 15, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dr. Ted Stern, professor of music at Glendale Community College, conducts this off-campus music appreciation class for adults. This semester will cover “Film Composers and Other Related Stuff.” Classes are held at Crescenta Valley United Methodist Church, 2700 Montrose Ave., Montrose. Cost for the 15-week course is $90. For more information call Dianne at (818) 248-8110 or (818) 445-2300.

Parenting children and teens with special needs — Thursdays, beginning Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA will host this free class, which is open to the entire community. The parenting class is designed to identify and support families with special needs children (i.e. ADHD, bipolar, oppositional defiant disorder, etc.) and to teach parenting skills for these unique families. Topics will include: identification and diagnosis, differentiating genetics, trauma, and environment, stigmas and shame of the special need parent, and much more. For more information or to RSVP call Ana-Marie Schaefer at (818) 790-0123, ext. 231.

EVENTS

Clock and Watch Convention — Saturday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Chapters 75 and 133 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors host the annual Greater Los Angeles Regional Clock and Watch Convention at the Pasadena Convention Center Exhibit Hall, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena 91101. Open to the public one day, Feb. 5. Thousands of antique and vintage clocks and watches will be for sale or viewing. Admission is $12.

Camellia Festival — Saturday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, is home to more than 34,000 camellia plants and has been designated an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. Horticulturist Wayne Walker will lead two programs during the festival: A class called “Things to Do with Sinensis” at 11 a.m. and a camellia “walk and talk” through the collection at 1 p.m. The class costs $20 ($10 for Descanso members) and will include a demonstration of applications for tea, such as green-tea ice cream. Advance registration is required and can be made by calling (818) 949-7980. The walking tour is free with admission and no registration is required.

Discovering Mushrooms — Saturday, Feb. 5, 9:30 a.m. Mycologist Florence Nishida leads a program that includes a one-hour lecture giving basic information about mushrooms, then a walk to find and identify mushrooms growing in Descanso Gardens, 1418, Descanso Drive, La Cañada. Free with Gardens admission: $8 adults; $6 seniors/students and $3 children 5-12. Call (818) 949-7980 for more information.

“Sex and the City Zoo 2” — Sunday, Feb. 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Presented by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association in the L.A. Zoo’s Witherbee Auditorium. The event begins with a reception with desserts and wines followed by a presentation by Jason Jacobs with insights about the pros and cons of relationships vs. staying single in the animal kingdom. Proceeds from this fundraiser go to support the Zoo’s wildlife preservation and conservation efforts. Adults only. Tickets are $25 per person for GLAZA members and $35 per person for non-members. Seating is limited and reservations are required by Feb. 9. Call (323) 644-6042 or visit www.lazoo.org for online reservations.

Valentine’s event at Lanterman House — Sunday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. “Love is In The Aire,” a champagne tea and concert of love songs for Valentine’s Day, will be offered in the ballroom at Lanterman House, 4420 Encinas Drive, La Cañada. The unique ballroom setting was designed nearly 100 years ago by Emily Lanterman for special events such as tea dances, chamber music recitals and dinner dances. A champagne tea will be served on the patio from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. before the concert, where music will be performed by a string quartet from La Cañada High School. The concert will feature singers Teresa Parente and Michael Shaughnessy, accompanied by pianist Lance Merrill. Cost is $35 per person. For reservations call (818) 790-1421.

EXHIBITS

Christina Song’s “Paper Idylls” — Through Feb. 19. Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery, 7576 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga 91042, shows the work of Christina Song, a graduate of Art Center College of Design. Song’s work consists primarily of cut paper, mixed media, three-dimensional objects, drawings and paintings.

Mad for Hats! — Through June 12, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. This new exhibition at Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena, explores 100 years of hats. An in-depth, docent-led tour will be offered at 12:15 p.m. Fridays, beginning March 4. An optional tea following the tour has been arranged at the Tea Rose Garden in Old Pasadena. Tickets: Pasadena Museum of History members $4; non-members $8. Tea is $25, payable at the restaurant, with 20% returned as a donation to the museum. Advanced reservation and tour payment is required; call (626) 577-1660, ext. 15 and ask for the “Tour and Tea Package.”

KIDS’ PICKS

Winter Acorn Bear for toddlers — 4 weeks, beginning Friday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada. For children 2 to 4 and their caregivers. Includes story time, crafts and a snack. Class fee includes child’s T-shirt. Cost is $45 ($35 Descanso members); $25 sibling ($15 Descanso member sibling). Registration is required and can be made by calling (818) 949-7980.

‘Faery Tours’ of the Enchanted Forest at Descanso — Saturday, Feb. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Forest faeries lead children and adults through the Descanso Gardens camellia collection during the Camellia Festival. First come, first served. Free with admission: $8 general, $6 seniors/students with I.D.; $3 children 12-5. For information call (818) 949-4200.

Snow Days at the L.A. Zoo — Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 5-6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Los Angeles Zoo will transform the Asian elephant, American black bear, Sumatran tiger and snow leopard habitats into snowy wonderlands this weekend. Visitors will experience seeing the animals play in the snow. The zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive, in Griffith Park. Admission is $14 for adults and $9 for children ages 2-12. Visit www.lazoo.org for more information.

Valentine’s Day in 3D — Saturday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 13. “Love-in 3-D” at Kidspace Museum offers children the opportunity to make 3-D pop-up greeting cards, create “love bugs,” make heart-shaped soap and Valentine’s Day bracelets. Some activities are fee-based; check www.kidspacemuseum.org for more details. The museum is located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena.

PERFORMANCE

“Museum” — Feb. 3, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 at 8 p.m.; matinee Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. The Pasadena City College Performing and Communication Arts Division will perform “Museum” in The Little Theater (Room C106) at PCC, 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. The play was written by Tina Howe and is directed by PCC instructors Duke Stroud and Whitney Rydbeck. Tickets are priced at $10 general admission and $5 for PCC students, PCC staff and seniors. They will be sold at the door starting one hour prior to curtain time. For more information call (626) 585-7216.

Brass & Jazz Bash — Friday, Feb. 11. The Crescenta Valley Arts Council presents its fourth annual music Bash at La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, 2902 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta. Professional brass players will jam with student musicians from Crescenta Valley and other Southland schools for a concert that’s open to the public. To learn more go online to crescentavalleyartscouncil.org.

“A Valentine’s Eve Treat” — Sunday, Feb. 13, 4 p.m. A concert of classic love songs performed by the Jack Lantz Big Band in the La Cañada Presbyterian Church sanctuary, 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance at the church office, 626 Foothill Blvd., or from Lori MacDonald, (626) 794-1522. They will also be sold at the door. For more details call the church office at (818) 790-6708 or visit www.lacanadapc.org.

REUNIONS

La Cañada High Class of 1971 — Fall date to be announced. The Spartans’ Class of 1971 will hold its 40th reunion in the autumn and organizers are asking classmates to go online to LCHS71.com and register there to be included in further announcements.

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