Around & About
CLASSES
Teen Self-Defense Workshop — Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m. to noon. This workshop, taught by instructors from Impact Self Defense, is designed to empower teens and enhance their personal safety. Students learn to handle themselves in challenging situations. For ages 11-18. Fee: $30. Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, 4469 Chevy Chase Drive. Class size is limited. Phone (818) 790-4353 for details.
‘Book Publishing 1-2-3’ — Saturday, March 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. La Cañada native Laurie Gibson, an editor/proofreader, presents this workshop at Vroman’s Bookstore Atrium, 709 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Participants will learn about the book business, traditional and self-publishing, children’s literature and marketing ideas to help writers sell their work. Cost is $30 per person. To register or for more information, call (626) 449-5320, ext. 200.
EVENTS
Cherry Blossom Festival — March 19-20. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada, unveils a new Japanese-themed festival tied to the blooming of its cherry trees. A traditional Japanese tea ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19 and a Japanese cooking demonstration will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 20. Take a guided tour of seven flowering cherry trees at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days. Cherry trees will be available for purchase. The Camellia Lounge will sell a cocktail created especially for this event, as well as bento box lunches both days. The festival is free with admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students and $3 children 5-12.
EXHIBITS
Visions of the Orient: Western Women Artists in Asia 1900-1940 — Opens March 4, hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This exhibition, which features more than 125 paintings and prints, explores the intersection of Euro-American art, the woodblock print movement, women and East Asia. Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101. Admission is $9 general, $7 seniors/students and free for children ages 11 and younger. Admission is free the fourth Friday of the month. For more information visit www.pacificasiamuseum.org.
“Lover’s Past” — Through March 25; Modest Fly Art Studio Gallery, 7576 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga 91042. This exhibit features photography by Elena Zadouri, makeup by Amy Seyfi. For more information, visit www.modestflyartgallery.com.
Camellia Show — March 12-13. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. The Pacific Camellia Society Late Bloomers Show will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 13.
KID PICKS
Western Round-Up — Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The La Cañada Flintridge Community Center Preschool hosts the 18th Annual Western Round-Up. This western-themed fundraiser will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival games and prizes, a silent auction, raffle drawing, bake sale, inflatable slide and the IN-N-OUT Burger wagon! LCFCC Preschool is located at 4469 Chevy Chase Drive, La Cañada. Game tickets and IN-N-OUT Burger meals are available for purchase at the school the day of the event. Event happens rain or shine. For more info call (818) 790-8687 or visit www.lcfccpreschool.com.
Civic Heroes and Safety Day at Kidspace Children’s Museum — Saturday, March 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pasadena Fire Department and Pasadena Police Department personnel and vehicles will be on site, pending any emergency situations. Tickets for children and adults are $10; children under 12 months of age and Kidspace members are admitted free. The museum is located at 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. Free parking.
Summer Camp Sign Up Day and Carnival — Saturday, March 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. YMCA of the Foothills, which includes the Crescenta-Cañada and Verdugo Hills YMCAs, offers summer camps for kids entering grades 4-12. Campers can experience Camp Fox on Catalina Island, hiking in Big Bear at Camp Oakes Mountain Camp, extreme water sports at Camp Surf in San Diego or explore the Southwest on a caravan camp. Day camps are also held at the local Ys. Those registering for camp on Camp Sign Up Day & Carnival can enter a drawing to win a free week of camp. Go online to www.ymcafoothills.org for more information. The Crescenta-Cañada YMCA is located at 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada.
PERFORMANCE
Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” — Through May 14. A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale 91204. Directed by Michael Michetti. Tickets are $46 for Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees; $42 on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and Saturday matinees. Group rates are also available. To purchase tickets or for a full season brochure, call (818) 240-0910 ext. 1 or visit www.ANoiseWithin.org.
SENIOR INTEREST
Glendale Community College Encore Program — Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Barry Allen, a former public investigator who is also a Glendale city activist, will address the group at 10 a.m. The 1 p.m. speaker will be Kathy Hickman, a traveler who will describe visits to four national parks as well as a cruise from Africa’s Kenya to Cape Town in South Africa. The Encore series is held in the Life Skills Building at Glendale Community College, located at the eastern edge of the campus off of Mountain Street. Visitors are admitted free.
To submit calendar listings, send an e-mail with the pertinent details to lcnews@valleysun.net.