Arcadia News: San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, May 19-26

Anissa Rivera — Thu, 18 May 2023 13:00:45 +0000

Artazan, a handcraft market inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement, roughly 1880-1920, is presented on May 20-21 at the Pasadena Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Artazan)

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, May 19-26.

Raging Waters celebrates its 40th season on May 20, with the debut of “Bombs Away,” its newest 300-foot plunge ride. Riders can choose from two drop tubes to either fly straight down at 26 feet per second or loop around to splashdown. The largest water park in California will also offer its Father’s Day Flop on June 18 and an all-new Pirates Day Treasure Hunt in September. Season passes start at $99. For more information, ragingwaters.com/buy-tickets/tickets

Forest Lawn Museum – Glendale: New: “Grand Views: The Immersive World of Panoramas,” through Sept. 10. The exhibit is in partnership with the Velaslavasay Panorama in Los Angeles (www.panoramaonview.org). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. forestlawn.com/events/grand-views/

An Evening with David Sedaris: Purchase presale tickets for the author’s talk, to be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The general sale begins at 10 a.m. May 19. The one-night-only event follows the release of Sedaris’ newest book “Happy Go Lucky.” For more information, go to visitpasadena.com and click on “Pasadena Events.”

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” through May 29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and Memorial Day (May 29). Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

Covina Woman’s Club’s Bunco Afternoon: Join the fun at 2 p.m. May 19. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Admission $20. Tickets will be sold at the door but come early to ensure a seat. Finger foods and drinks will be served after the games. Clubhouse, 128 S. San Jose Ave. (off of Badillo Street), Covina. covinawomansclub.org

Car show: Ruby’s Cruise car show starring American Streetrodders happens at 5 p.m. Fridays, through October. 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. Come for food, family fun, trophies and prizes. Location, 10109 Whittwood Drive, Whittier. For more information, SoCalCarCulture.com. Flyer: bit.ly/44MQ9D8

Vroman’s Bookstore: Holly Goldberg Sloan discusses her novel “Pieces of Blue,” 7 p.m. May 19. Local Author Day: Clarence Irwin (“The Fourth Canton: Adventures of the Rhett Family and Co.”), Anthony J. Mohr (“Every Other Weekend – Coming of Age with Two Different Dads”) and Melina Maria Morry (“The Manhattan Mishap”) discuss their books, 4 p.m. May 21. Héctor Tobar discusses “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino,’” 7 p.m. May 22. Louise Penny signs “A World of Curiosities,” 4 p.m. May 23. Joe Ide discusses “Fixit – An IQ Novel,” 7 p.m. May 24. T.J. Newman discusses “Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421,” 7 p.m. May 31. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

The Dance and the Railroad: The play by David Henry Hwang, set in 1867, follows two Chinese artists and their fellow railroad workers as they hold a strike to protest inhuman conditions suffered by Chinese laborers in the American West, opening night, 8 p.m. May 19. Show runs 8 p.m. May 20; 2 p.m. May 21 and 7 p.m. May 22. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose with options, $30 or $50. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now. www.anoisewithin.org/play/dance-and-the-railroad

Wheel fun time: The Los Angeles Invitational features three gravel ride options kicking off at 7:30 a.m. May 20 and followed by the sixth annual bike/car show and swap meet, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 21. The Cub House, 2510 Mission St., San Marino. 626-755-3003. losangelesinvitational.com

Farmers market at Mount San Antonio College Farm fresh everything is available, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 20 at Parking Lot B, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut. Aside from fruits and vegetables, find all kinds of nuts, breads, desserts, snacks, juices and ready-to-eat dishes such as dumplings. Vendors also sell handmade items and plants. 909-869-0701. Email: info@regionalchambersgv.com. Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley: bit.ly/3WK4ZFj. www.facebook.com/MTSacFarmersMarket

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Handcraft heaven: Artazan, a springtime market inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 20 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 21. Check out more than 200 exhibits, artist demos, food and live music. The exhibits celebrate handmade artisanship. Admission $8 online; $10 at the door; admission is good for both days. Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. Artazan.com

Repair Café: A free, all-purpose repair party, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. May 20. Learn how fix household appliances. Bring your torn jeans, dull knife or faulty lamp. Arrive early to ensure your item is looked at. Bring your own replacement parts (no replacement parts for items will be available. This event will be indoors. There will also be plant-sharing and a free market. Park across the library at 120 Artsakh Ave. The library validates for three hours parking. Glendale Central Library, 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale. For questions, 818-548-2021 or email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov. Details, and to see what can’t be repaired: bit.ly/44NRSIs

Glendora Genealogical Society: Penny Walters, speaking on Zoom from England, gives a talk at the society’s next meeting, noon May 20. Walters discusses ethical dilemmas in genealogy and considering ethical issues with empathy and diplomacy. For more information and to get the Zoom link, email lorman1237@gmail.com or call 909-592-4030.

Crown City Symphony: The program includes Pelleas et Melisande Suite by Faure, L’Arlesienne Suite by Bizet and Concertina for Flute by Chaminade, with flute soloist Debbie MacMurray, 2 p.m. May 20. Free admission. First Baptist Church, 75 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena. 626-797-1994.

Third@First Concert Series: Women composers are in the spotlight for “Joy of Chamber Music,” 4 p.m. May 20. The program includes Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G Minor and Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet in F-sharp Minor. Free admission. First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. thirdatfirst.org

Storied science: TechLit, Caltech’s creative writing club, invites the public to an author reading and Q&A at 7 p.m. May 20. Delve into “Inner Space and Outer Thoughts: Speculative Fiction from Caltech and JPL Authors,” the group’s first science fiction anthology. Award-winning alumni and sci-fi legends S. B. Divya, Larry Niven and David Brin will read and Caltech and JPL research scientists will talk about the science behind their stories. Free admission, but make a reservation on the Eventbrite link. Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Pasadena. bit.ly/Caltech-reading-tickets

Life in the Past Lane: “Museums of the Arroyo Day” returns, noon to 5 p.m. May 21. MOTA is the one day that five museums in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors to show off great architecture, historical discoveries, family fun and entertainment. Free shuttles will connect the museums: Gamble House; Heritage Square; Los Angeles Police Museum; Lummis Home and Garden; Pasadena Museum of History. The best plan would be to pick no more than three museums to visit. For more information, visit MuseumsOfTheArroyo.com

Civil War talk: The Pasadena Civil War Round Table presents a talk by author Mark Cannon at its next meeting,7:15 p.m. May 23. Cannon discusses his book “Lincoln’s Scout: The Diary of Horatio Cooke, Soldier, Spy, Escape Artist.” Free admission/donations appreciated. Enter the parking lot at the driveway at 165 N. Madison Ave. (second driveway south of Walnut Street). Use rear door entrance to the Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. For more information, PasadenaCWRT.org

Music on Main: The city of El Monte brings music to its farmers market, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25 with 4 The People. Main Street between Santa Anita and Tyler avenues, El Monte. For more information, 626-580-2200. ci.el-monte.ca.us

Water safety fundraiser: The award-winning Rose Bowl Aquatics Center hosts “Water Safety for All,” a fundraiser featuring a paella-themed cocktail reception and documentary screening of “Drowning in Silence” on May 25. Tickets $100; $75 ages 55 and older. Reservations required. Garland Auditorium on the grounds of Polytechnic School, 1070 Cornell Road, Pasadena. Tickets: rosebowlaquatics.org/water-safety-for-all. See May 4 posting on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheRBAC/

Save the theater dates: Whittier Community Theatre is back at the newly refurbished Whittier Center Theatre. Celebrate 100 years with a new season, including “The Importance of Being Earnest (A Wilde New Musical)” opening in September. “The Ghost Train” follows in November, Neil Simon’s “California Suite” in February and “Moon Over Buffalo” in May. For more information about the plays and tickets, 562-696-0600. www.whittiercommunitytheatre.org

Ongoing

Pasadena Showcase House of Design: The 58th showcase highlights the talents of 32 interior and exterior designers who have transformed the Stewart House, a 1933 Pasadena colonial estate designed by Marston & Maybury. The estate is open for tours through May 21. Explore more than 30 design spaces and check out 20 boutique shops vendors, two restaurants, a wine bar and more than two-acres of gardens. Tour hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tour tickets are by a timed entry: $40 (1:30-4 p.m.); $50 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); $35 (“Happy Hour,” 4 p.m. to closing). Parking and shuttles depart from Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6 Lot on Colorado Place. Proceeds from the tours of the house go to fund three music programs. For more information, pasadenashowcase.org

Pasadena Tournament of Roses House: The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association offers free guided tours, 2 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31. The Tournament House tours reveals little-known facts and trivia and also includes the Wrigley Gardens. Explore the house that has served as headquarters for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Reservations are required for the hour-long tours. For groups of 10 or more, call 626-449-4100 or email membership@tournamentofroses.com. Book a tour here: tournamentofroses.com/house-tours

Book a castle visit: Rubel Castle is an elaborate folk-art medieval castle in the foothills of Glendora, with five-story tall towers solidly built out of junk and river rocks by the late Michael Rubel and his friends. The castle offers eight scheduled tours each month. Tours are two hours long. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 ages 8-18. The property is not Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Descanso Gardens: Ongoing special art exhibit: “Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art,” in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and runs through May 21. Gardens hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The gallery is open, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $15; $11 ages 65 and older and student with valid ID; $5 ages 5-12. Location, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintidge. 818-949-4200. descansogardens.org

Kidspace Children’s Museum: The 27th annual “Butterfly Season” at the museum is open with children’s activities including going on a big safari, playing dress-up, viewing live caterpillars, moths and honeybees, through May 14. Also, learn from “Los Trompos,” an interactive art installation that honors the monarch butterfly’s cultural and ecological ties to Mexico. Tickets are by time and date: $14.95 ages 1-61; $12.95 ages 62 and older (purchase here: bit.ly/3mJOFoh). Location, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Purchase tickets online and in advance. Admission $15; $11 ages 62 and older and students with ID; $5 ages 5-12. Due to construction of a new visitor entrance, entrance is temporarily at the south parking lot and north of Ayres Hall. The arboretum is at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3222. arboretum.org

Monrovia Historical Museum: Explore the museum, 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Docent-led tours are available. Free admission/donation. The museum is at 742 E. Lemon Ave., Monrovia. 626-357-9537. monroviahistoricalmuseum.org

Norton Simon Museum: Ongoing special exhibits: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food,” through Aug. 14. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

USC Pacific Asia Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Global Asias: Contemporary Asian and Asian American Art — From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation,” through June 25. Also, explore the Sunkal Ceramics Gallery and the specific galleries for art of South and Southeast Asia, China, Himalaya, Pacific Island, Japan, Korea and Silk Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is by advance timed purchase, $10; $7 ages 65 and older and students with valid ID; free for ages 17 and under. Also, free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and on the second Sunday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu

Whittier Museum: Exhibits on aspects of Whittier history including agriculture and Quaker settlers. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission/donations. Location, 6755 Newlin Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Email: info@whittiermuseum.org. whittiermuseum.org/visit

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, May 12-19

Anissa Rivera — Fri, 12 May 2023 13:00:26 +0000

The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held on the second Sunday of the month. Purchase admission for May 14 online. In the photo, patches of blue above the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Thursday, March 30, 2023. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily New/SCNG)

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, May 12-19.

There are as many activities to do on Sunday, Mother’s Day, as there are kinds of moms. Whether you go for brunch, a hike or the theater, here’s hoping this holiday make all the mothers of the San Gabriel Valley happy.

Jazz on Hill: Returns after three years with a celebration of Roy McCurdy at 10 a.m. for a history class, 4 p.m. for a master class, and 7 p.m. concert on May 12. Free admission. Reservations required: pasadenaconservatory.org/event/jazz-on-hill-2. Pasadena Conservatory of Music, 100 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. 626-683-3355. pasadenaconservatory.org

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” through May 29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Sunday and Memorial Day on May 29. Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

Open house: Discover young artists at Glendora Art Academy’s open house, 7 p.m. May 12. Pick up students’ work and enjoy light refreshments. Free admission. First Christian Church of Glendora, 300 N. Glendora Ave. 626-335-2240. Email: fccgfaa@gmail.com.

Farmers market at Mount San Antonio College: Farm fresh everything is available, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13 at Parking Lot B, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut. Aside from fruits and vegetables, find all kinds of nuts, breads, desserts, snacks, juices and ready-to-eat dishes such as dumplings. Vendors also sell handmade items and plants. 909-869-0701. Email: info@regionalchambersgv.com. Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valley: bit.ly/3WK4ZFj. www.facebook.com/MTSacFarmersMarket

Whittier’s Founders Day Community Picnic: The Whittier Historical Society and city of Whittier present the picnic, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 13. The event includes living history performers, live music, vintage car display, crafts, lawn games, a slam poetry contest and vendors. There will also be a beard and mustache competition. The city of Whittier was incorporated in 1898 and was named in honor of the Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. Fun dress code: 1890s period attire. Central Park, 6532 Friends Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Details: bit.ly/42daz6Z

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 13 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

San Gabriel Fire Department’s Fire Service Day: Event includes tours, mock firefighting demonstrations, paramedics demonstrations and fire safety information, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 13. Station 51, 1303 S. Del Mar Ave., San Gabriel. SanGabrielCity.com

Community expo: The Shops at Montebello host a community expo, “Peace, Love and Good Vibes,” with games for children, live performances, demos and raffles, noon-4 p.m. May 13. Shoppers may receive coupons, freebies and samples. Event is “mall-wide” at 2134 Montebello Town Center Drive. montebellochamber.org/expo

Noise Now: A Noise Within and TheatreWorkers Project present “Unmasked,” an interactive theater piece written and performed by 11 members of Cal State Los Angeles’ Project Rebound, at 4 and 7 p.m. May 13. Admission is pay-what-you-choose among these price options: $5, $15 and $25. Location, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now

Rose Bowl Flea Market: Find what you’ve been searching for or discover a new collectible, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 14. Admission $12; ages 11 and younger are free with an adult; $20 for early admission between 5 and 8:45 a.m. (purchase all admissions online). The flea market is held on the second Sunday of the month. Location, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. 626-577-3100. rgcshows.com/rose-bowl

Forest Lawn Museum – Glendale: May 14: “Grand Views: The Immersive World of Panoramas,” through Sept. 10. The exhibit is in partnership with the Velaslavasay Panorama in Los Angeles (www.panoramaonview.org). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission. Location, 1712 S. Glendale Ave. forestlawn.com/events/grand-views/

Mount Wilson Observatory’s Concerts in the Dome: The Lounge Art Ensemble of Peter Erskine on drums, Bob Sheppard on saxophone and Darek Oles on bass takes the stage, so to speak, within the 100-inch dome at 3 and 5 p.m. May 14. Tickets $55. Notes on attending the concerts: Access to the dome performance level is by a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory is a mile high in elevation so the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access. No children ages 12 and younger are permitted. Angeles Crest Highway (CA Highway 2) from the 210 Freeway at La Cañada Flintridge (use the map here: www.mtwilson.edu/1map). For more information, mtwilson.edu. Details and purchase tickets: www.mtwilson.edu/events/sunday-afternoon-concert-in-the-dome-may-14-tbd/

Camerata Pacifica: Sopranista Samuel Mariño makes his United States debut performance, 7:30 p.m. May 16. Tickets $68. Rothenberg Hall at the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 626-405-2100. huntington.org. Details and to purchase tickets: huntington.org/event/camerata-pacifica-sopranista-samuel-marino

Vroman’s Bookstore: Erica Baurmeister discusses her novel “No Two Persons,” 7 p.m. May 15. Dean King discusses “Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite,” 7 p.m. May 16. Connie Wang discusses “Oh My Mother! A Memoir in Nine Adventures,” 7 p.m. May 17. Andrew McCarthy discusses “Walking with Sam: A Father, A Son and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain,” 7 p.m. May 18. Holly Goldberg Sloan discusses her novel “Pieces of Blue,” 7 p.m. May 19. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

An Evening with David Sedaris: Purchase presale tickets for the author’s talk, to be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium: use offer code “David” to access the presale price through 10 p.m. May 18. The general sale begins at 10 a.m. May 19. The one-night-only event follows the release of Sedaris’ newest book “Happy Go Lucky.” For more information, go to visitpasadena.com and click on “Pasadena Events.”

The Dance and the Railroad: The play by David Henry Hwang, set in 1867, follows two Chinese artists and their fellow railroad workers as they hold a strike to protest inhuman conditions suffered by Chinese laborers in the American West, opens 8 p.m. May 19. Show runs 8 p.m. May 20; 2 p.m. May 21 and 7 p.m. May 22. Tickets are pay-what-you-choose with options, $30 or $50. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org/noise-now. www.anoisewithin.org/play/dance-and-the-railroad

Ongoing

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, May 5-12

Anissa Rivera — Thu, 04 May 2023 13:00:58 +0000

Vendors sell antiques, vintage clothes, collectibles and vinyl records in Pasadena City College parking lots on May 7 at the Pasadena City College Flea Market. Upcoming dates, June 4 and July 2, (Google Street View)

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, May 5-12.

Raise a glass to the 1862 Mexican victory over French troops and celebrate Mexican culture at the many Cinco de Mayo parties in the San Gabriel Valley.

Have fun at the Cinco de Mayo Festival in South El Monte with live performances, a boxing show and food vendors, 6-9 p.m. May 5. Free admission. South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave. 626-579-2043.

Cinco de Mayo at the Rose Bowl, the second-annual event, 1-7 p.m. May 6. The family-friendly event includes family fitness activities, live music, a youth soccer tournament, a marketplace and screenings of “Coco” (2017) and “Encanto” (2021). Free but reservations are requested on the website. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Details on the website: bit.ly/41ZzXwp

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” May 5-29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. May 6 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Family art workshop at the Huntington: Get inspired at a collage art workshop, 9:30 a.m.-noon May 6. Start at the gallery with a talk about Los Angeles-based artist Njideka Crosby’s collage-based paintings and end with a workshop where children can create their own self-portrait collage. All materials provided. This program is for children ages 7-11. Fee $45, for one child plus an accompanying adult, as well as admission to The Huntington. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, email mahverdyan@huntington.org. huntington.org. Reservations: huntington.org/event/family-workshop-collage-creation

Vroman’s Bookstore: Stephen Buoro discusses “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa,” 1 p.m. May 6 (on Crowdcast; register for the link: bit.ly/41Xl51g). Mona Gable discusses “Searching for Savanna — The Murder of One Native American Woman and the violence Against the Many,” 7 p.m. May 9. Vanessa Wilkie discusses “A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England,” 7 p.m. May 11. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

The Pasadena Chorale: “Brahms and Beyond,” at 7:30 p.m. May 6. Enjoy some of Brahms’ most beloved choral works and explore the music of living composers influenced and inspired by the German composer. Admission is free but ticket reservations are required. First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. pasadenachorale.org

Pasadena City College Flea Market: Find antiques, vintage collectibles, new treasures or vinyl records, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. May 7. Free admission. Upcoming dates: June 4; July 2. Use the parking structure #5 on Bonnie Avenue ($2). The market is in outdoor parking lots 1, 3 (on Hill Avenue) and also in parking lot structure #4 (levels 2 and 3; Del Mar Boulevard). The college is located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-585-7906. Email: fleamarket@pasadena.edu. pasadena.edu/community/flea-market. Updates, www.facebook.com/pccfleamarket

Home Sweet Monrovia: Save the date for the 39th annual tour of vintage homes curated by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group. Explore Monrovia’s rich architectural heritage, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 7. Houses include: an 1887 Queen Anne; 1900s Craftsman homes; a 1931 Spanish Colonial Revival; an 1885 Eastlake Victorian. The Monrovia Historical Museum and Anderson House Museum will also be open for viewing. Tickets are $25 advance; $30 on event day (purchase on the website or at Charlie’s House, 430 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia). mohpg.org

For little gardeners: Get an inspiring view seated in front of Diego Rivera’s “The Flower Vendor” as you listen to “The Little Gardener” by Emily Hughes, during “Stories in the Afternoon,” 3 p.m. May 7. Ideal for ages 4-8. Storytime is limited to 15 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at the Information Desk when the museum opens. Free with museum admission. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

Octavia’s Bookshelf: Denise Crittendon discusses “Where It Rains in Color,” 6 p.m. May 9. Location, 1361 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. 626-421-6222. octaviasbookshelf.com

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. May 10 (and most other Wednesdays). Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. duartechamber.com/duarte-farmers-market. Updates on Facebook: bit.ly/41OI0wJ

Music on Main: The city of El Monte brings music to its farmers market, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Mariachi Divas celebrates Mother’s Day on May 11 and 4 The People takes the stage on May 25. Main Street between Santa Anita and Tyler avenues, El Monte. For more information, 626-580-2200. ci.el-monte.ca.us

Just Like Heaven Fest: The lineup includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Azealia Banks, Future Islands, Empire of the Sun, M83, Hot Chip, Caribou and the Walkmen, noon-11 p.m. May 13. Tickets $369 or $389 VIP (plus fees); $649 Clubhouse (all general admission tickets are sold out). No refunds. Brookside at the Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. justlikeheavenfest.com

Ongoing

Norton Simon Museum: New exhibit: “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food,” through Aug. 14. Ongoing special exhibit: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

5 best Mother’s Day dining options in the San Gabriel Valley

Merrill Shindler — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:06:17 +0000

Cleaning out a cabinet in the garage, I came upon a box labeled “Mother’s Day cards.” It shared a shelf with other boxes variously labeled “Valentine’s Day cards,” “Birthday cards” and “Holiday cards.”

Neither my wife nor I have any notion why we keep cards from celebrations past. And yet, we do. While it makes me sound like a hoarder, I still couldn’t bring myself to throw them out.

I don’t imagine that future generations will sort through the cards looking for artifacts from an era long gone by. And yet, for me, they have a curious sentimental value. They’re just cards from the drugstore, but they also carry as much meaning as finding a long-lost tomb in the Egyptian desert.

The history of the holiday card is unexpectedly recent. They date back to 1843, when Sir Henry Cole – who pushed through a bill lowering the cost of postage in Britain to a penny (the “Penny Post”) – commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to create a card in order to encourage greater use of the British postal service. The advent of cards worked wonders, as they became a standard for Christmas that year.

It took a long time for cards to be used for Mother’s Day, simply because Mother’s Day didn’t exist until 1914 – not because no one had thought of it, but because our leaders at the time were largely opposed to the idea.

In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday. You read that right – Congress voted against motherhood. They thought the notion was a joke, and argued more than a little absurdly that it would lead to more holidays, like Mother-in-Law’s Day. (You think we’ve got an obstructionist Congress now? Given the opportunity, they probably would have voted against the flag and apple pie as well!)

But thanks to the creator of Mother’s Day – peace activist Anna Jarvis – in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson sidestepped Congress with a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor motherhood.

So, who was Anna Jarvis? She had cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, during which she created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to deal with public health issues. And when her own mother died in 1905, she began a campaign to create a special day to honor motherhood.

She had the support of the growing women’s rights movement, including suffragette Julia Ward Howe, who made a Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870. It took 44 years for that notion to finally be adopted – but only a decade for it to be turned into one of the biggest sales days of the year for greeting cards and also boxes of candy.

For the record, that upset Jarvis so much she organized boycotts of companies selling cards, and showed up to protest at a candymaker’s convention in Philadelphia in 1923. She wanted the day kept pure and non-commercial, with mothers being thanked with hand-written letters. She even objected to the selling of flowers. How she would feel about the notion of taking mothers out for nice meals can only be imagined.

Ironically, the founder of Mother’s Day never married, and had no children of her own.

Back to the notion of Mother’s Day meals, I suspect Jarvis would have insisted you need to do the cooking yourself, giving mom a day off. But a massive culinary industry has grown over the years, with restaurants gifting moms with flowers, and family groups gathering around large tables to offer more boxes of See’s candy than seems rational.

Growing up back east, fancier folks than I would take their moms to somewhat fussy, upscale restaurants with names like Patricia Murphy’s Candlelight, and the fabled Tavern on the Green in New York’s Central Park.

By contrast, nothing made my working-class mother happier than a mixed plate of brisket and corned beef from a local deli. My wife often opts for dim sum. My mother-in-law loves IHOP. So, my selection of restaurants below is a bit random, but they lean toward the nicer side.

I think the notion of handing mom a rose when she enters is a fine gesture. But then, I miss wearing ties too. Times change. And as my mother used to say: “Every day should be Mother’s Day.” Right she is.

Din Tai Fung

Westfield Santa Anita, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; 626-446-8588, www.dintaifungusa.com

You’ll know you’re at Din Tai Fung as soon as you step out of Nordstrom’s, and confront a medium-sized mob waiting in front. They’re actually waiting to give their names to a young lady at the check-in stand, who takes your name and cell number, and sends a text to you immediately to make sure the phone works.

She’ll probably tell you the wait is about an hour – and indeed, it often is. (You also have to check in if you want to sit at the bar, where the wait can be shorter. Or not.)

Eventually, your phone will buzz. And you’ll get on a second line, from which you’ll be escorted to a table somewhere in this cavern of a restaurant. On the way, of course, you’ll go past the glassed-in prep kitchen, with its army of white clad, surgical-masked cooks, making dumplings as if the end of the world were just around the corner. (Some people spend their entire wait staring through the glass, mesmerized. Others go shopping. My daughter vanished into Forever 21, returning just before we were called with a bagful.)

For those who are old Chinese restaurant hands, there’s a great surprise to be found at the new Din Tai Fung – the staff is about as affable as it is at a Houston’s. Rather than impatiently waiting for you to mark the two-sided checklist of dishes, they’ll chat with you about what you want. They’ll make suggestions. They’ll discuss the maddeningly complex tea selection (Taiwanese jasmine? Green milk tea? Sea salt cream black tea?). This is not easy.

What is easy, for those of us who have been regulars at Din Tai Fung over the years, is ordering because it’s long become obvious that pretty much everything is worth eating. There are 15 steamed dumpling options – and as long as they include the soup-filled xiao long bao, all is right with the world. (The light green vegetarian dumplings come as a great, and wonderful surprise!)

Sautéed string beans are essential. But then, so is sautéed broccoli, bok choy, mustard greens and kale. I can’t imagine a meal here without a plate of cucumber salad – so fresh and clean.

Both the seaweed and bean curd in vinegar, and the soy noodle salad are sublime palate-cleanser; the steamed chicken soup makes me believe that the people of Taiwan are one of the 12 Lost Tribes of Israel; and the noodles with sesame sauce, and with spicy sauce, and with minced pork sauce are both good fresh from the kitchen, and the next day.

There are more noodles, more rice, even a smattering of desserts. The red bean rice cake is a lovely thing. But then, back out in the mall, there’s a Beard Papa, a Dippin’ Dots and more. There’s a Kelley’s Cookies right next door. And a Lollicup is not far away for boba. No disrespect to Eight Treasure Sticky Rice, but the Sweet Factory has hundreds of treasures, which Mom can eat as she returns to shopping.

Bistro 45

45 S. Mentor Ave., Pasadena; 626-795-2478, www.bistro45.com

Owner Robert Simon and his staff have long been committed to keeping our culinary life interesting – and at Bistro 45, they do it with a style of flavor. As in the Bistro’s Hawaiian yellowfin tuna with pea tendril and broccolini sautéed and fresh soba noodles, and crispy skin New Zealand king Salmon – all of which is still available from week to week.

Now that the Bistro is open nightly, the menu is, I think, pretty much the same as it was in the Before Times. Or at least, close enough for government work. There are tempting starters, seafood on one side of the menu, soups, salads and more on the other, along with five pizzas, a couple of pastas, 10 large plates, and nine desserts – which emerge from the kitchen with impressive regularity.

Bring on the Meyer Lemon Trio and the Pineapple Upside Down Tart!

The food, though recognizable to anyone who eats around, is blessed with a creative streak that guarantees no edible boredom on the Bistro’s plates. Consider the appetizer of braised Spanish octopus. Now, I like octopus as much as the next guy, though usually hidden in a ceviche. But in this case, the lobster is there with no sense of shyness – this is octopus qua octopus, cured and marinated till it tastes not quite like anything I’ve ever had before, and flavored with lemon and olive oil, topped with pickled onions and fennel, with a tasty arugula salad on the side. (The restaurant is masterful with its greens!) Can octopus make you happy? This one sure did.

There are clever twists and turns throughout the menu; often, I find myself wanting to order a dish, just to taste one of the unexpected ingredients. That happened with the smoked chickpea sautéed in the cast-iron Monterey calamari. And the brown Turkish figs on the prosciutto & mozzarella fresca pizza. And the Quail Farms yam “hummus” served with the roasted “colorful harvest” cauliflower.

How about the crispy artichokes in the “composed” heirloom beet salad? Or the toasted pearl pasta and charred tomatoes with the New Zealand king salmon, along with the sorrel crème? Those are ingredients I want to know about, to taste, to dwell on, before getting to the centerpiece of the dish.

There’s a compulsive need to push the edge of the envelope, though without tearing through. Bistro 45 is an eminently serious restaurant. But it’s also a Southern California serious restaurant – which means a certain amount of fun and games, of happy culinary nuttiness.

There’s a reason Bistro 45 has been around for so long: it never disappoints, and it never bores. Not then, and not now.

Clearman’s North Woods Inn

540 N. Azusa Ave., Covina, 626-331-5477; 7247 Rosemead Blvd., San Gabriel, 626-286-3579; www.clearmansrestaurants.com

Since 1958, this chain has attracted legions of loyal meat eaters, hungry for a taste of the fine (and well-priced) steaks that are the Clearman’s North Woods Inn hallmark. The motto, after all, is “Huge portions & great memories await.” And for the many seated on the patio that surrounds the restaurant, those desires are well satisfied – in the open air.

As you may know, the look of Clearman’s is pure Sergeant Preston meets Robert Service in the Yukon. Even outside, it’s a great rambling place, perhaps without the signature sawdust and peanut shells on the floor, beamed walls and ceilings, and snappy piano-playing (as Robert Service wrote in “The Shooting of Dan McGrew,” “A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute Saloon/The kid that handles the music box was hitting a jag-time tune…”).

But still, the service here is crisp – the food comes flying out of the kitchen. And it comes flying out in quantity; this is a restaurant where small portions are unknown. This is a place you go, when you want to do some serious feeding.

The bar sells big schooners of draft beer, which is a fine way to ease into a feed that begins with baskets of cheese bread, thickly slathered with the signature Clearman’s cheese butter spread (several recipes for which can be found online; they all seem to boil down to butter mixed with several cheeses, tricked up with a number of other ingredients, none of which are especially notable beyond the unctuous intensity of the butter and the cheese).

Dinners include just about everything – they come with not one, but two salads (including a red cabbage salad that’s impossible to stop eating), along with two starches (both rice pilaf and a baked potato the size of a well-fed gopher, packed with more of the – what else? – cheese butter), your protein of choice, and a topping of either (more) butter or mushroom gravy.

There are things on the menu that are not steaks. Chicken comes both broiled and fried. There’s seafood – cod, scallops, halibut, shrimp, king crab legs and Australian rock lobster tail. There are several hamburgers and a hot dog. There’s a ham sandwich and a corned beef sandwich. There’s a French dip, a Cobb salad and a soup of the day. All of those may be good. I wouldn’t know; I go to Clearman’s for the steak.

Most folks seem to go for the Lumberjack Steak, which appears to be a sirloin, cut both large and medium, quite flavorful and no more chewy than it usually is. You want to sacrifice some flavor for tenderness, go with the filet mignon. You want to split the difference, there’s the New York and the porterhouse, which weighs in at an outlandish 25 ounces.

Contrary to the cowboy tradition of incinerating the meat, the menu makes this point: ”We do not recommend cooking steaks past medium as they tend to lose their flavor.”

Not surprisingly, this is a hotbed of surf and turf – the medium-sized Lumberjack Steak comes with a choice of jumbo shrimp, king crab legs and lobster tail. Clearman’s is an homage to the joys of supersizing that long predates Mickey D’s.

The postcard that’s been given away at the cash register for as long as I can remember speaks of “the huge logging wheels holding our sign … mounted on a slab cut from a 1,000-year-old mammoth redwood. Inside, you will find steaks, seafood and sandwiches, also of giant size and quality.”

Diets are fine in their place. But this is not a place in which to diet. It’s time for meat and more.

Porto’s Bakery & Café

584 S. Sunset Ave., West Covina; www.portosbakery.com

Porto’s Bakery & Café is a culinary theme park – Pastry World – packed with gleaming, glistening cases crammed with every manner of temptation. In fact, there should be a sign over the front door that reads: “Abandon diets, all ye who enter here.”

We go to Porto’s to feast, to indulge – and to carry home bulging bags of tasty things for later. This really is The Happiest Place on Earth. In many ways, this Cuban bakery and café is the defining pastry shop in Southern California. What Zabar’s bagels are to New York, the pastries of Porto’s are to us. It’s where we go for a taste of pure joy.

It’s impossible to spend a morning at Porto’s, without feeling unabashedly cheery. The place works better than Ativan to calm a nervous soul. In its nearly 60 years of growth, Porto’s has grown from a small business founder Rosa Porto ran out of her house to a pastry powerhouse, with branches not just in West Covina and Buena Park, but also in Glendale, Burbank and Downey.

Porto’s arrived in West Covina with enough buzz to get the lines going – and to keep them going. There are several lines, the longest for pastries, followed by sandwiches and prepared dishes, with the line for coffee and beverages not especially daunting, probably because not as many decisions are required.

There’s a line as well for pre-ordered items, mostly large boxes of many things, wrapped in the trademark butternut-colored plastic bags. There’s an army of folks leaving Porto’s with those bags.

Since the pastry line moves slowly, there’s lots of time to study the temptations. And there are so many! Look at those meringue tarts – each meringue peak just perfect, and perfectly browned! (How do they do that?) How about the phalanx of chocolate domes filled with … what? Some sort of sweet cream, I’ll bet – the sort of thing that leaves you licking your fingers clean, and scraping off the wrapping paper.

When in a Porto’s pastry frenzy, even the fussiest of folks goes a bit rogue, a tad primordial. Manners be damned – this stuff tastes so good! And how about those cakes? The Cuban Cake, sponge cake soaked in a French brandy syrup and filled with custard or pineapple, or both! The triple chocolate mousse, layers of dark, milk and white chocolate! The mango cheesecake, as heavy as a brick, but so much tastier! There’s so much, it’s crazy making.

But not the whole menu is dedicated to the serious pleasure of sugar. There are Cuban dishes as well – another line of perhaps more subtle temptations. There’s much to be said for the chorizo and cheese omelet on Cuban bread, and the guacamole and cheese omelet. But I lean toward the classic Cuban savory dishes – the papa rellena, a ball of mashed potatoes packed with spiced ground beef, then deep-fried. Also, there’s the chorizo pie – pastel de chorizo – which is an empanada from heaven.

Of course the two Cuban sandwiches – both with pork and ham and Swiss – differ in their roles, but not their rolls. You want to get more serious, there’s ropa vieja, pork lechon and more, with rice, beans and plantains.

In the midst of all this, the baby kale salad seems … silly. I go to Porto’s, and happily, for pastries and Cuban cuisine and amazing coffee drinks. Kale? It seems like the punchline to a joke. I guess it’s required by law or something. But it takes up room better occupied by a slice of tiramisu cake. I mean – really!

The Benediction by Toast

Puente Hills Mall, 17501 Colima Road, City of Industry; 626-225-3642, www.thebenedictionla.com

The Benediction by Toast – which refers to itself as a “social eatery” – sits in the sprawling Puente Hills Mall, adjacent to branches of Chipotle and Panera Bread on one side, and Asian concepts like TeaTop and Lobster Now on the other. It’s a mix that speaks volumes about the eclectic ethnic melting pot of the east SG Valley, into which The Benediction fits unexpectedly well.

This is an American breakfast restaurant on steroids – a re-creation of our many breakfast-only old-timers with a very 21st century spin. It’s a crazy concept – and crazy good, too.

If you show up on a Sunday, expect a wait for a table inside or outside on the patio, for The Benediction has found an audience of locals hungry for breakfasts of Brobdingnagian proportions. This is not a restaurant where you go for a small bite, something to cut your morning hunger. The food here overflows the plate, filling every inch of space with eggs, spuds and, mostly, hollandaise sauce over English muffins.

There’s more on the menu than 13 eggs Benedict variations, but that’s the dominant dish. They must make their hollandaise by the truckload here. And they make it very well, not too unctuous or heart-stopping in its texture and taste.

More Merrill Shindler: Also see, Where to find the best eggs Benedict in the San Gabriel Valley

Hollandaise can be a sadly abused sauce, hard to make by amateurs. But these are hollandaise pros … with a serious Benedict obsession. Eggs Benedict has been a big part of our breakfast life for a long time. And it clearly still is – especially on a Sunday morning, when it still may be consumed (unintentionally) as a hangover cure. Does it work? Darned if I know; I haven’t had a hangover in a long time. But it sure does make me happy for the whole day.

And the Benedicts at The Benediction are both perfectly made – and crazy creative. There’s a Classic, made with hickory smoked shoulder bacon. There’s one made with corned beef hash, and another with lobster. The Santa Barbara has Norwegian smoked salmon, capers and red onions.

There are two surf-and-turf models, both with lobster and steak. There’s one where the hollandaise is replaced with Béarnaise. There are a trio of vegetarian ones, one with grilled crimini mushrooms, one with tomato and spinach, and one with broccoli and asparagus. (Vegetarian, that is, as long as eggs are still part of the diet. And butter, too.)

From there, the menu meanders into big piles of more or less standard breakfast joint chow, though the kitchen can’t seem to resist putting a twist on whatever it can. Thus, there’s a three-egg Spanish omelet, made with peppers, tomatoes, onions, Monterey Jack and Tillamook Cheddar. And a Super Spanish that’s the same – except it’s also built with six eggs (yes, a half-dozen!), bacon and portobello mushrooms. Extra jalapeños too.

There are also Spanish omelets with filet mignon, and with chicken breast. But what appealed to me even more were the four twists on avocado toast – which is kind of the healthy living version of the Benedict, for those who just don’t want the egg yolk and butter of hollandaise running around in their bloodstream.

It’s a California standard these days, usually done just one way. But at The Benediction (of course), it’s served with heirloom tomatoes and garlic salt, with three eggs and bacon crumbles, with Alaskan sockeye salmon, and with a cucumber salad and red onions. As long as there’s avocado and toast, it’s avocado toast. Though I do like the notion of bacon. Crunchy!

And should you not want breakfast, The Benediction is open for lunch, though the choices are finite – a couple of salads, and a trio of steaks. But then, I’ve always believed there’s really no reason to eat breakfast … only for breakfast. Eggs Benedict for lunch? Why not? Sounds good for dinner, too, though sadly that’s not when they’re open.

Merrill Shindler is a Los Angeles-based freelance dining critic. Email mreats@aol.com.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, April 28-May 5

Anissa Rivera — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:00:25 +0000

(Left) A ballet folklorico entertains the crowd at a past Cinco de Mayo Mercado in the Mission District in San Gabriel; (Middle) A band performs at a past Cinco de Mayo Mercado in the Mission District in San Gabriel. The family-friendly event takes place this year on May 3 in the district. (Right) Artists show and sell their work at the Cinco de Mayo Mercado in the Mission District in San Gabriel. (Photos courtesy of the City of San Gabriel)

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, April 28-May 5.

Go beyond margaritas at San Gabriel’s celebration of Cinco de Mayo, 6-9 p.m. May 3. The annual Cinco de Mayo Mercado event in the Mission Playhouse plaza is a free outdoor event with local artisans, live music, crafts, food trucks and a cocktail and beer garden.

Performers include Sol de Fuego Ballet Folkorico, Soto Band, and Roosevelt Elementary School’s Music Immersion Experience Mariachi Ensemble. Mission District, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. 626-308-2875. SanGabrielCity.com/Cinco

Vroman’s Bookstore: Maggie Smith discusses her memoir “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” 7 p.m. April 28 (ticketed event; $28 plus fees, includes hardcover book and admission; register here: bit.ly/3KM2n78). Angela Tucker discusses “You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity and Trans-racial Adoption,” 7 p.m. May 1. Lan P. Duong (“Nothing Follows”) and Diana Khoi Nguyen (“Ghost of”), discusses their books, 7 p.m. May 2. Ava Chin discusses “Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Exclusion and Homecoming,” 7 p.m. May 4. Stephen Buoro discusses “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa,” 1 p.m. May 6 (on Crowdcast; register for the link: bit.ly/41Xl51g). Mona Gable discusses “Searching for Savanna — The Murder of One Native American Woman and the violence Against the Many,” 7 p.m. May 9. Vanessa Wilkie discusses “A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England,” 7 p.m. May 11. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Underdog Bookstore: Check out the newest indie bookstore that is whimsical, dog-themed and focused on diverse authors. Underdog Bookstore is also Queer, Latine, AAPI and Indigenous-owned. Store hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29; noon-5 p.m. April 30. Location, 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. For more information, including weekday hours, 626-415-1031. Follow “Underdog Bookstore” on Instagram.

Independent Bookstore Day – April 29: Indie bookstores have specials events and deals to celebrate the day including a performance by The Ukulele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere, 1 p.m. April 29 at Vroman’s Bookstore (695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena). Learn more about the day and type in a zip code to find participating Indie Bookstore Day shops: www.bookweb.org/independent-bookstore-day

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 29 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Immerse yourself in the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and have some fun with cosplay of the time period, speaking the lingo, shopping in the marketplace, listening to music and laughing at performances, Saturday-Sunday, to May 21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). This weekend’s special theme: “Renncon,” with a “Time Traveler Costume Contest,” April 29-30). Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission $42; $21 ages 5-12; $225 season pass. There is a mandatory entry fee $12 to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area. Parking is free, first-come, first served; VIP parking $25 (must be purchased in advance online). Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale. 626-969-4750. renfair.com/socal

Jackalope Pasadena: Shop the artisan market of more than 200 local vendors selling indie goods, clothing, jewelry, home décor, housewares, art and food. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29-30. Free admission. Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. jackalopeartfair.com/visitpasadena

Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl: Explore the sounds and sights at the 13th annual event, 3-10 p.m. April 29. The event includes 15 music stages, an Artisans’ Alley with 80 vendors, a children’s activity zone, three beer gardens and a vintage flea market. Free admission. Central business district, 1121 Mission St., South Pasadena. www.instagram.com/sopaseclectic. TheEclectic.Rocks

The Drowsy Chaperone: Catch the closing night performance of the 1998 musical by Lisa Lambert, Bob Martin, Dan McKellar and Greg Morrison, 8 p.m. April 29. The play is presented by the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Tickets $25; $35. Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. jewishsgpv.org. www.jewishsgpv.org/our-work/cultural-arts/jfedplayers

Treat yourself and help a cause: As if you need a reason to get shaved ice. Meet Fresh and Michelin-starred chef Jon Yao is raising funds for the Downtown Women’s Center Los Angeles by collaborating on a special dessert through April 30. The shaved ice specialty features grass jelly, potaro balls, mini taro balls, boba, condensed milk and infused with a creamy milk tea sauce. Pick some up at the Meet Fresh stores in Arcadia, Hacienda Heights or Temple City. More on the product and the fundraiser: meetfresh.us/chef-jon-yao-collab. For more information, meetfresh.us

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery: The restaurant launches its “Agnes Cheese Club” on May 1, just in time for American Cheese Month. Join a cheese club giveaway on Cheesery Instagram and an in-store launch party from 2-4 p.m. Location, Old Town Pasadena, 40 W. Green St., Pasadena. 626-389-3839. agnesla.com

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. May 3 (and most other Wednesdays). Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. duartechamber.com/duarte-farmers-market. Updates on Facebook: bit.ly/41OI0wJ

National Day of Prayer in South El Monte: The city of South El Monte invites everyone to its National Day of Prayer breakfast, 10 a.m.-noon May 4. South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave. 626-579-2043. www.cityofsouthelmonte.org/250/Special-Events

National Day of Prayer service: Arcadia Interfaith Council holds an event with the theme “Together Under One Roof,” 7 p.m. May 4. Temple Beth David, 9677 Longden Ave., Temple City. 626-287-9994. www.templebethdavidsgv.org/events/calendar

Cinco de Mayo Festival: The event in South El Monte includes live performances, a boxing show and food vendors, 6-9 p.m. May 5. Free admission. South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave. 626-579-2043.

Cinco de Mayo at the Rose Bowl: The second annual event, 1-7 p.m. May 6. The family-friendly event includes family fitness activities, live music, a youth soccer tournament, a marketplace and screenings of “Coco” (2017) and “Encanto” (2021). Reservations are requested on the website. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Details on the website: bit.ly/41ZzXwp

Ongoing

Duarte Historical Museum: Closed for remodeling. Scheduled re-opening May 6. Hours: 1-3 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free/donation. Encanto Park, 777 Encanto Parkway. 626-357-9419. www.ranchodeduarte.org

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, April 14-21

Anissa Rivera — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:00:30 +0000

The 58th Pasadena Showcase House of Design is the Stewart house, a grand colonial estate built in 1933 by Marston and Maybury in Pasadena. Purchase tickets for the opening night gala on April 21 or timed tickets from April 23 to May 21. (Photo by Susan Pickering/courtesy of Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts)

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, April 14-21.

The 2023 Pasadena Showcase House of Design opens on April 23. Be among the first to see the transformation of Stewart House, a 1933 grand colonial estate designed by Marston & Maybury, with more than 11,000 square feet of living space situated on two acres of carefully landscaped and exquisitely manicured grounds. Explore more than 30 design spaces and check out 20 boutique shops vendors, two restaurants, a wine bar and more than two-acres of gardens.

The 58th showcase highlights the talents of 32 interior and exterior designers. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tour tickets are timed entry: $40 (1:30-4 p.m.); $50 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); $35 (“Happy Hour,” 4 p.m. to closing). Parking and shuttles depart from Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6 Lot on Colorado Place. The official unveiling happens at “Premiere Night,” 5 p.m. April 21 ($300; reservations required). Proceeds from the event go to fund three music programs. For more information, pasadenashowcase.org

Vroman’s Bookstore: Debra Thomas discusses “Josie and Vic” and Gayle Brandeis discusses “Drawing Breath,” 6 p.m. April 14. Local Author Day: Howard Kaplan (“The Syrian Sunset”), Gay Paris Pratt (“K.C. of a Thousand Trails: The Cat Who Saved My Life”) and M.M. Shelley (“Broken Saints – Of Vice and Vindication,” book three of three) discuss their books, 4 p.m. April 16. Tananarive Due discusses “The Wishing Pool and Other Stories,” 7 p.m. April 18. Jeff Benedict discusses “LeBron,” 7 p.m. April 24. Dan Jones discusses “Essex Dogs,” 7 p.m. April 25. Victoria Ying discusses her young adult book “Hungry Ghost,” 6 p.m. April 26. Maggie Smith discusses her memoir “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” 7 p.m. April 28 (ticketed event; $28 plus fees, includes hardcover book and admission; register here: bit.ly/3KM2n78). Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Kiss of the Spider Woman: A two-person drama by Manuel Puig, with English translation by Allan Baker, about danger and love in a prison cell. Minimum age: 16. Show runs 8 p.m. April 14; 2 and 8 p.m. April 15; 2 p.m. April 16; 7:30 p.m. April 20; 8 p.m. April 21; 2 and 8 p.m. April 22; 2 p.m. April 23. Tickets $25 and up. Location, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. www.anoisewithin.org/play/kiss-of-the-spider-woman/

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 15 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Immerse yourself in the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and have some fun with cosplay of the time period, speaking the lingo, shopping in the marketplace, listening to music and laughing at performances, Saturday-Sunday, April 15 to May 21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). Check the website for details on theme weekends (Pirate and Marketplace Weekend, April 15-16, and “Renncon, with a “Time Traveler Costume Contest,” April 29-30). Also, get tickets in advance, $65, for one of the “Pub Crawl” dates (must be age 21 to attend; this is an additional charge). Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission $42; $21 ages 5-12; $225 season pass. There is a mandatory entry fee $12 to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area. Parking is free, first-come, first served; VIP parking $25 (must be purchased in advance online). Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale. 626-969-4750. renfair.com/socal

Art class for children at the Huntington: Peifang Liang leads a hands-on Chinese brush painting workshop inspired by the Dragon Boat Festival, 10 a.m.-noon April 15. Learn about the holiday while using traditional Chinese brush painting materials to create an artwork to take home. This class is ideal for children ages 6-12. Tickets $55 and includes admission and supplies for one child and one accompanying adult. The Huntington’s Roger’s Classroom, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, email Maria Ahverdyan at mahverdyan@huntington.org or call 626-405-3457. Details and reservations here: bit.ly/3m0kYmF

Norton Simon Museum: The art museum celebrates the opening of the exhibition “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food” with “A Night in Focus” event, 4-6:30 p.m. April 15. Explore the representation of food and drink in artworks in the exhibit and in the museum’s permanent collection. The event includes live music in the galleries, a still-life drawing demonstration by Melissa Manfull and art-making activities. Activities are included with museum admission $15 for adults and $12 ages 62 and older; free for students with ID and age 18 and younger. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For more information, email educate@nortonsimon.org. nortonsimon.org. Details about the event: bit.ly/3KQ5smB

Third@First Concert Series: Free concerts on the third Saturday of the month. April’s offering is “4 Hands on 1 Piano” with Vicky Ray and Junko Ueno Garrett, 4 p.m. April 15. Learn how American composers utilized piano duets for concert hall performances. Free, but an offering is accepted. First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. 626-796-0157. Details: bit.ly/3zxpHPK. thirdatfirst.org

Earthquake relief: Enjoy an evening of Middle Eastern music benefiting earthquake relief efforts in Turkey and Syria. Azam Ali, Loga Ramin Torkian, Naser Musa, Misaq Eshaghi and the AKM Turkish Music Chorus, conducted by Ali Tolga Demirtas, perform at 5 p.m. April 15. Tickets $50; $25 for students; free for ages 12 and younger. Ticketed reception, 4 p.m. ($100). Proceeds go to the Turkish Philanthropy Fund and World Central Kitchen. Throop Unitarian Universalist Church, 300 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. For more information, email chigmaproductions@gmail.com. Details and to purchase tickets on Eventbrite: bit.ly/43lQooe

Old Town Monrovia Wine Walk: Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board presents the sixth event, 6-9 p.m. April 15. Tickets are $40 pre-sale and $50 on event day and include tickets for 12 wine tastings. Participants must check-in at the park (between 5:30-8 p.m.) and pick up a tasting glass and a map where the tasting will be offered. Library Park, 321 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. For more information, 626-256-8426. Details and to purchase tickets: bit.ly/3o5Amid

Unrivaled: A world premiere of a play by Rosie Narasaki about friendship, rivalry and being a female artist. Show runs 8 p.m. April 15; 2 p.m. April 16; 8 p.m. April 17; 8 p.m. April 20; 2 and 8 p.m. April 22; 2 p.m. April 23. Tickets $47; $42 ages 65 and older; $37 students. Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. 626-683-6801. bostoncourt2.wpengine.com/upcoming-events/

Workman & Temple Family Homestead Museum: Paul R. Spitzzeri, museum director, discusses “Twists and Turns in the Twenties: The Workman and Temple Families in 1920s Los Angeles,” 2 p.m. April 16. During the boom in greater Los Angeles, members of the Workman and Temple families were involved in important developments in the region. Boyle and Mary Julia Workman and their cousin Walter P. Temple were prominent figures in their fields, including politics, social welfare, oil and real estate. The lecture is free but reservations are required: bit.ly/3nIhKof. Location, 15415 E. Don Julian Road, City of Industry. 626-968-8492. homesteadmuseum.org

For Baby Boomers – an online author talk: Pasadena Senior Center presents British author Tim Albert discussing “Mostly We Had It Good: A Baby Boomer’s Journey,” 10:30 a.m. April 17, on Zoom. Fee $5. Register here: bit.ly/40UamEQ. 626-795-4331. www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Gardening the Earth – Plants and People for the Future: Stephen Blackmore, chairman of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International Board and His Majesty’’ Botanist in Scotland, discusses the topic with an emphasis of worldwide botanic gardens, 7 p.m. April 17. Admission is free with a reservation here: bit.ly/3KOl6iw. The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, 626-405-3457. huntington.org

Camerata Pacifica: A concert that includes the world premiers of a new work for French horn, cello and piano by the Grammy Award-winning composer Libby Larsen, 7:30 p.m. April 18. See the website for the program. Tickets $68. The Huntington, Rothenberg Hall. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Tickets are $68. For more information, 626-405-3457 or email Maria Ahverdyan at mahverdyan@huntington.org. huntington.org. huntington.org/event/camerata-pacifica-virtuosic-passionate-lyrical

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. April 19 (and most other Wednesdays). Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. duartechamber.com/duarte-farmers-market. Updates on Facebook: bit.ly/41OI0wJ

Take no quarters: The California State Numismatic Association presents its convention and coin show, 1-6 p.m. April 21; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 22-23. Admission $3 on April 21; $4 on April 22-23. Free parking. Arcadia Masonic Hall, 50 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia. For more information, Phil Iversen, 818-439-9097.

Cherry Blossom Time: The East San Gabriel Valley Cherry Blossom Festival is held from noon-6 p.m. April 22 at Plaza West Covina. Free admission but registration is required. The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center and Plaza West Covina presents this annual festival celebrating the start of spring. The newly-emerging blooms represent hope, beauty, and new life. Learn about Japanese culture, explore Japanese and Japanese American flavors, listen to traditional music and dance, shop, watch Japanese taiko drums and martial arts. Take pictures with beloved Japanese characters, too. Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Drive, West Covina. Register here: plazawestcovina.com

Heart of the Foothills: Get ready for 626 Golden Streets, the San Gabriel Valley open streets initiative, with a foothills-focused route, allowing bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate roads car-free over a 5-mile course through San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and Claremont, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 23. Hubs will feature entertainment, food and special activities. Free event. Join at any point on the route. Free event. 626GoldenStreets.com

Ongoing

Norton Simon Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.

Easter egg hunts and services in the Los Angeles area, April 6-9

Holly Andres — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:39:40 +0000

Egg Hunts

Spring Egg Hunt at Ritchie Valens Recreation Center: Event includes arts and crafts, egg dyeing, egg hunts, games and face painting, 4 p.m. April 6. Children should bring a basket. Location, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Pacoima. 818-834-5172. Flyer: bit.ly/3TWjNkt

Spring Egg Hunt at Valley Plaza Recreation Center: Event includes arts and crafts, games and relay races, 4 p.m. April 7. Timed egg hunts by age: ages 3 and younger, 4:30 p.m.; ages 4-6, 5 p.m.; ages 7-9, 5:30 p.m.; ages 10-12, 5:45 p.m. (egg hunts are on diamond #1). Children should bring a basket. Location, 12240 Archwood St., North Hollywood. 818-765-5885. Flyer: bit.ly/40s3q1E

Spring Glow-in-the-Dark Egg Hunt at Sylmar Recreation Center: Event includes activities and goodie bags, 5-9 p.m. April 7. Timed egg hunts by age: ages 3 and younger, 7:30 p.m.; ages 4-6, 7:45 p.m.; ages 7-9, 8 p.m.; ages 10-12, 8:15 p.m. Children should bring a basket. Location, 13109 Borden Ave., Sylmar. 818-367-5656. Flyer: bit.ly/42UAXD5

Spring Fling at the Arboretum: Activities include egg races, crafts, scavenger hunts and bunny photos, 5-8 p.m. April 7, at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Activities include egg races, crafts, scavenger hunts, and bunny photos. Picnic boxes will be available for purchase from Peacock Café. Bring your own blanket or lawn chairs for seating. Registration is required in advance and tickets are limited. Tickets are $15; $10 children. Event is rain or shine. No outside food or drinks allowed. Location, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3233. arboretum.org.

Egg’Straordinary – Pancake Breakfast and Egg Hunt: The city of San Gabriel and the San Gabriel Kiwanis Club host the 78th annual event, from 7-11 a.m. April 8. The event also includes a pancake race, bubble zone, coloring contest and photo opportunity with Mr. Bunny. Free admission. Pancake breakfast $5. Smith Park, 232 W. Broadway, San Gabriel. For more information, 626-308-2875. SanGabrielCity.com/Easter

Easter Egg Hunts in Glendora: Activities for children at two parks, 9 a.m.-noon April 8. Pancake breakfast, 9 a.m. Hunts begin, 10 a.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Glendora Kiwanis Club. Finkbiner Park, 160 N. Wabash Ave., and Gladstone Park, 600 E. Gladstone Ave. cityofglendora.org. Click on the Activity Guide to see the flyer: bit.ly/3zukcRQ

Spring Egg Hunt at Panorama Recreation Center: Event includes arts and crafts and performances, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 8. Egg hunts begin at 12:15 p.m. Children should bring a basket. Location, 8600 Hazeltine Ave., Panorama City. 818-893-3401. Flyer: bit.ly/3lZAtuN

Egg Hunt at Winnetka Recreation Center: Event includes crafts, games, music and prizes, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 8. Children should bring a basket. Location, 8401 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka. 818-756-7876. Flyer: bit.ly/40KjKuf

Egg Bowl at the Rose Bowl and Spring Festival: The “Egg Bowl” is a free, community egg hunt and spring festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 8. The egg hunts are timed and you need a ticket in advance from here: CityOfPasadena.net/reserve. The spring festival includes games, performances and food for purchase (in Area H, just outside the stadium). Tickets are not required for the festival. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. For more information, rosebowlstadium.com

Spring Egg Hunt at Encino Park: Event includes arts and crafts, bubble play, cookie decorating, egg dying, games, inflatables and a photo booth, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 8. Egg hunts at 1 p.m.: ages 4 and younger (field #1); ages 5-8 (field #2); ages 9-12 (field #3). Children should bring a basket. Location, 16953 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 818-995-1690. Flyer: bit.ly/3G1UMOZ

Spring Eggstravaganza at Sunland Recreation Center: Event, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 8. Performances, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Timed egg hunts by age: ages 3 and younger, 12:30 p.m.; ages 4-5, 1 p.m.; ages 6-7, 1:30 p.m.; ages 8-12, 2 p.m.; ages 13 to adult, 2:30 p.m. Children should bring a basket. Location, 8651 Foothill Blvd., Sunland. 818-352-5282. Flyer: bit.ly/3Klh9lj

Spring Egg Hunt at Reseda Recreation Center: Event includes arts and crafts, a bunny photo opportunity and lawn games, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 9. Timed egg hunts by age: ages 5 and younger, noon; ages 6-8, 12:30 p.m.; ages 9-14, 1 p.m. Spring festive attire is encouraged. Children should bring a basket. Location, 18411 Victory Blvd., Reseda. 818-881-3882. Flyer: bit.ly/40q3Mpt.

Long Beach Exchange Easter Maker Market: Celebrate Easter with Angel City Markets, with over 30 creative makers, egg hunt, Bunny Meet n’ Greet Photo Op, and live music. 1-8 p.m. April 8. Long Beach Exchange Hanger, 4150 McGowen St., Long Beach. Free to attend. thelongbeachexchange.com.

Egg Hunt in the Heights: Easter Egg Hunt at Belmont Heights, at Red Car Greenbelt on Fourth St. and Park Ave., Long Beach. 10 a.m. April 8. mybelmontheights.org.

Kids Easter EGGstravaganza: Egg hunt, picnic lunch and photo with the Easter Bunny. Presented by First Baptist Long Beach, 1000 Pine Ave., Long Beach. 5-6:30 p.m. April 8. fbclb.org.

Easter Egg Hunt and Earth Month Celebration: Easter Egg Hunt, face painting, wildlife learning center and more. Dignity Health Sports Park, 18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson. Noon-3 p.m. April 7. 310-630-2200. Admission is $6 per child (ages 1-10). Register at dignityhealthsportspark.com.

Center of Hope 2nd Annual Easter Festival & Celebration: Music, food, carnival games and family fun. Center of Hope, 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. April 9. Street parking is available. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. More information at bit.ly/416PnOM.

Easter Eggstravaganza: Face painting, puppet shows, musical shows, photo booth, Easter egg hunt and more. Manhattan Village, 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach. Noon-2 p.m. April 8. All ages are welcome. Register at shopmanhattanvillage.com.

EGGstravaganza at Sound House Church: Free event features an egg hunt, bounce houses, a balloon artist, crafts and more. Sound House Church, 1429 Clark Ave., Long Beach. 9-10 a.m. April 8. bit.ly/3mjeUp8.

Easter Eggstravaganza at Nakaoka Community Center: The ticket includes breakfast, crafts and egg hunt. Tickets $10. Nakaoka Community Center, 1700 162nd St., Gardena. 3:30 p.m. April 8. 310-217-9537. cityofgardena.org/events.

Easter at Connection Point: Easter egg hunt, games, food, photo booth and more. Noon-2 p.m., April 8 at Lago Seco Park, 3920 W. 235th St., Torrance. cpsouthbay.com.

Easter at the Park: Free event at Rowley Park, 13220 Van Ness Ave., Gardena. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., April 8. Fun games, crafts, and egg hunt at 11 a.m. 310-217-9537. cityofgardena.org/events.

Easter Egg Hunt: City of Lomita is hosting an Easter egg hunt at Lomita Park, 24428 Eshelman Ave., Lomita. 9 a.m., April 8. For more information call 310-326-0140 or visit lomitacity.com.

Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza and Camp Expo: Join the annual Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza where Bunny and his friends will be available for pictures throughout the event at Recreation Park, 401 Sheldon St., El Segundo. 9:30-11 a.m., April 8. For more information call 310-524-2700 or visit elsegundorecparks.org.

Underwater Eggstravaganza – El Segundo: Dive-in to some fun and catch floating eggs at the Aquatics Center, 2240 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo. 1:30-3:30 p.m., April 8. Register at esrec.org or call 310-524-2738.

Easter Bunny photo opportunities

Westfield Topanga: Make a reservation for an Easter Bunny photo session, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. April 6; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. April 7-8. Location, level one near Target, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park. 818-594-8732. westfield.com.

West Covina Farmers Market: The Easter Bunny will appear at the market, 10-11 a.m. April 8. The market is open, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (and also on most Saturdays). The market offers fruits and vegetables, prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket.

Bunny Photo Experience: South Bay Galleria, 1815 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach. Level 1 at the Center Court. 3-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 6-8. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ups are welcomed. Register at bit.ly/3zyMo5U or call 310-371-7546.

Hoppin’ Photos with Bunny: Photos with Bunny, crafts and face painting will be at 2nd & PCH, 6400 Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach. Noon-4 p.m., April 8. First come, first serve. For more information call 424-217-2337 or visit 2ndandpch.com.

Visit the Easter Bunny: Photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny at Southbay Pavilion Mall, 20700 Avalon Blvd., Carson. Noon-7 p.m., April 8. For more information call 310-366-6636 or visit southbaypavilion.com.

Easter religious services

Shepherd Church: Services, 7 p.m. April 7; 5 and 7 p.m. April 8; 9 and 11 a.m. April 9. Location, 19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch. 818-831-9333. theshepherd.org.

Easter Sunrise service at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills: 6 a.m. April 9. Location, Court of Liberty, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. forestlawn.com.

Church of the Good Shepherd: A Sunrise Service, 6 a.m. April 9 (church courtyard). Also, a 10 a.m. service inside the church. Location, 400 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia. 626-447-2181. cgsum.org

Easter Sunrise service at Forest Lawn – Long Beach: 6 a.m. April 9. Location, Paradise Mosaic forecourt, 1500 E. San Antonio Drive, Long Beach. forestlawn.com.

Wayfarers Chapel: Sunrise service, 6 a.m. April 9. Followed by three more services, 9, 10 and 11 a.m. Location, 5755 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. 310-377-1650. wayfarerschapel.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church: Easter Mass on the beach, 6 a.m. April 9 (service in English; 11th Street, south of Hermosa Beach Pier; bring a beach chair/blanket; bring a radio to listen to the “Beach Mass” on FM 100.9). Easter Mass is also at 7 and 8; a 10 a.m. Children’s Mass (in English; an egg hunt at 10 a.m. at Friendship Park, 350 Prospect Ave.). Also, a noon Mass and 6:30 p.m. Location, 440 Massey St., Hermosa Beach. 310-372-7077. ourladyofguadalupechurch.org.

Easter sunrise service at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park: 6 a.m. April 9. Parking lot of the main building, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. 818-889-0902. facebook.com/PierceBrosValleyOaks.

Northridge United Methodist Church: Sunrise service, 6 a.m. and a 10 a.m. service (English-language), and a 11:30 a.m. service (Korean-language). The April newsletter: bit.ly/3TZTHxe. Northridge United Methodist Church, 9650 Reseda Blvd. 818-886-1555. northridgeumc.org.

North Hollywood First United Methodist Church: Interim pastor, the Rev. Christian Washington delivers the Easter message at the sunrise service, 6:30 a.m. (courtyard patio) and at the traditional service, 10:30 a.m. Location, 4832 Tujunga Ave. 818-763-8231. Church details: bit.ly/3LLOlDn. Updates on services: facebook.com/nohofumc1.

Easter services with La Cañada Presbyterian Church: Sunrise service, 6:30 a.m. April 9 at La Cañada Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge. The church also holds Easter services, 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. at its location, 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge. 818-790-6708. lacanadapc.org.

Manhattan Beach Community Church: Sunrise service 6:30 a.m. April 9 (north of the Manhattan Beach Pier). Also, a 10 a.m. service at the church, followed by an egg hunt. Location, 303 S. Peck Ave., Manhattan Beach. 310-372-3587. mbccucc.org.

Revive LA: Easter sunrise service, 6:31 a.m. April 9. Tower #8 at Will Rogers State Beach, 17000 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades. revivela.net. Reservations requested here: bit.ly/3ZM4bS2.

Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church: Sunrise, 6:31 a.m. Traditional, 8 a.m. and Festival service, 10 a.m. April 9. Location, 14847 Dickens St. 818-789-0215. facebook.com/ShermanOaksLutheran. shermanoakslutheran.org

Bethel Church: Easter sunrise, 7 a.m., followed by a breakfast, 8:45 a.m., and a children’s Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m. April 9. Location, 10725 Penrose St., Sun Valley. 818-767-4488.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church: Resurrection Sunday, 7 a.m. April 9. Location, near Lifeguard Tower #26 on Santa Monica Beach. Church service at 9 a.m. and Easter brunch at 10:30 a.m. Location, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica. mtolivelutheranchurch.org.

First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena: Easter services, 7 and 10 a.m. April 9. Location, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena. 626-351-9631. paznaz.org.

Prince of Peace Episcopal Church: 8 and 10 a.m. April 9. Location, 5700 Rudnick Ave., Woodland Hills. 818-346-6968. popwh.org.

First Christian Church of North Hollywood: The Rev. Jonathan B. Hall delivers the Easter message, 9 and 11 a.m. April 9. See note on the newsletter about parking. Location, 4390 Colfax Ave. 818-763-8218. fccnh.org. Newsletter: bit.ly/3maSBlz.

Canoga Park Lutheran Church: The Rev. Timothy Jenks delivers the Easter message, 9:30 a.m. April 9. Location, 7357 Jordan Ave. 818-348-5714. cplchurch.org.

St. Luke Lutheran Church: The Rev. Janet Hansted delivers the Easter message, 9:30 a.m. The service is followed by a potluck brunch and an egg hunt. Location, 5312 Comercio Way, Woodland Hills. 818-346-3070. stlukelutheran.com.

Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles: Maundy Thursday Service with Footwashing, noon-1 p.m. April 6. Christ Episcopal Church, 408 S. Broadway, Redondo Beach. Presented by the Mutual Ministry of Christ Church and St. Andrew’s, Torrance. diocesela.org.

Calvary Chapel North Long Beach: Easter Son-Rise Service. 6 a.m. April 9, parking lot at 5722 Lime Ave., Long Beach. A limited number of free breakfasts will be available immediately following service. Main Service, 9 a.m. April 9. Spanish service, 1:30 p.m. April 9. calvarynlb.org.

Bay Shore Community Congregational Church: Easter services at the Bay Shore Church Sanctuary, 5100 E. The Toledo, Long Beach. 9 and 10:30 a.m. April 9. bayshorechurch.org.

Easter Service at GLB Church: Located at 7025 Parkcrest St., Long Beach. 9 a.m. breakfast and refreshments, 9:45 a.m. Easter egg hunt, 10:30 a.m. service on April 9. Glbchurch.com.

St. Bartholomew Catholic Church: 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil in the Holy Night, April 8. 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. Easter service, April 9. Located at 5100 E. Broadway, Long Beach. stbartholomewcclb.org.

Holy Innocents Catholic Church: Holy Thursday, 5 p.m. April 6. Good Friday, 3:30 p.m. Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday, 6 p.m. stations prayed in the streets, April 7. Holy Saturday, 8 p.m. Solemn Vigil Mass, April 8. Easter Sunday Masses 9 a.m. Latin, 11 a.m. English, 1 p.m. Spanish. Located at 425 E. 20th St., Long Beach. Lbcatholic.com.

Bethany Church: Sunrise service at 6 a.m. in the courtyard and worship service at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, April 9. Located at 2250 Clark Ave., Long Beach. bethanylb.org.

Easter at City Church Long Beach: Good Friday Potluck and Prayer Experience at Bill’s, 2490 Main Ave., Long Beach. 6:30 p.m., April 7. Easter Sunrise Service at Alamitos Beach, 6 a.m., April 9. Community Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast at 10 a.m. and Easter Worship Celebration at 10:30 a.m., April 9 at Lafayette Elementary Auditorium, 2445 Chestnut Ave., Long Beach. citychurchlongbeach.org.

St. Philomena Catholic Church: Located at 21900 S. Main St., Carson. Easter services at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. in English, and 2 p.m. Spanish mass on April 9. stphilomenaparish.org.

Connection Point Church: Located at 2501 W. 237th St., Suite A, Torrance. 10:30 a.m. – noon, April 9. cpsouthbay.com.

Hope Chapel: Good Friday Service at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., April 7, at Hope Chapel, 2420 Pacific Coast Hwy., Hermosa Beach. Easter Sunrise Service at 6 a.m., April 9 at Lazy Acres Parking Lot, 2510 Pacific Coast Hwy., Hermosa Beach. Easter Sunday Service at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., April 9 at Hope Chapel. hopechapel.org.

American Martyrs Catholic Church: Easter Sunday in the church, 700 15th St., Manhattan Beach. 6:30 a.m. in Latin, 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. services, April 9. americanmartyrs.org.

Arcadia couple accused of 60 Freeway hit-and-run that killed girl

Ruby Gonzales — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 23:49:08 +0000

Authorities filed charges Wednesday against an Arcadia couple for a March 22 hit-and-run on the 60 Freeway in Industry that killed an 11-year-old girl and injured her father.

The California Highway Patrol alleged one of the suspects, 39-year-old Priscilla Cornejo, was driving the wrong way when she crashed into the victims’ car. Angelique Zarate died from blunt trauma, according to the coroner’s office.

Priscilla Cornejo will be arraigned April 18 at Pomona Superior Court for murder, hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury, hit-and-run, driving on the wrong side of the road resulting in injury or death, reckless driving and filing a false report of car theft, according to court records.

Johnathon Cornejo, 33, who was charged with murder and being an accessory after the fact, has the same arraignment date.

Investigators with the California Highway Patrol arrested the Cornejos at their Arcadia home on April 3 and also searched the residence, a department statement said.

It wasn’t clear how the CHP identified the couple as suspects. A CHP spokesperson couldn’t be reached for comment on Thursday.

Priscilla Cornejo was driving a Hyundai Sonata westbound on the 60 Freeway, east of the 605 Freeway, just after 4 a.m. on March 22. Her husband was following her in a Ford Taurus.

She rear-ended a tractor-trailer, causing it to jack-knife, the CHP statement said, adding the Sonata spun and came to a stop facing the wrong way in the westbound lanes.

The suspect fled and drove the the wrong way with the headlights turned off, the statement said. Johnathon Cornejo allegedly made a U-turn on the freeway and followed his wife, also driving the wrong way, CHP officials said.

About two minutes later, the Sonata collided head-on with a Corolla on the westbound 60, east of Crossroads Parkway. The Corolla’s driver, Rafael Zarate, was injured while his passenger and daughter, Angelique Zarate, died at the scene.

After the crash, authorities alleged the suspect abandoned the Sonata, got into the Taurus and the couple left.

As of Thursday, Priscilla Cornejo was being held at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood while Johnathon Cornejo remains in custody at Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. Their bail is $2 million each.

El Monte man pleads guilty to killing boss in Alhambra newspaper office

Ruby Gonzales — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:14:16 +0000

An El Monte man admitted this week to fatally shooting his boss at a newspaper office in Alhambra in 2018.

Zhong Qi Chen, 63, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 27, in Alhambra Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter and admitted to a gun allegation, said Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Chen will face 21 years in prison at his May 1 sentencing, Risling said.

Chen was originally charged with the murder of 58-year-old Yining Xie of Arcadia with the allegations that he personally used a handgun and caused great bodily injury and death. If he had been convicted as then charged, he would have faced a possible maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison.

On Nov. 16, 2018, Xie was shot in the head and torso at The China Press at 2121 W. Mission Road. Police found a handgun at the scene, and Chen was arrested that day.

As of Friday, Chen was being held without the possibility of bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.

Things to do in the San Gabriel Valley/Whittier, March 31-April 7

Anissa Rivera — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 13:00:38 +0000

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, March 31 to April 7.

Art Crawl: The South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl returns from 3-10 p.m. April 29 but you can get a preview and help support the free festival at the “Electric Preview Party and Creative Community Awards,” from 4:30-8 p.m. April 2. Help keep the family-friendly music and arts festival free. Tickets $70. Location, 815 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. For more information, go to TheEclectic.Rocks

Tour the Rose Bowl: Guided public tours of the Rose Bowl are available at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. March 31. Walk through a National Historic Landmark and see an original 1922 locker room, the Terry Donahue Pavilion, the Press Box and more areas. Tickets $20; $17 ages 65 and older and ages 5-12. VIP group tours are available at other times (check the website). Location, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. 626-437-8558. rosebowlstadium.com/tours

Vroman’s Bookstore: Tara Ison discusses “At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf,” 7 p.m. March 31. Jess Row discusses “The New Earth,” 7 p.m. April 3. Mary Otis discusses “Burst,” 7 p.m. April 4. Clancy Martin discusses “How Not to Kill Yourself – A Portrait of the Suicidal Mind,” 7 p.m. April 6. Emily Tesh discusses “Some Desperate Glory,” 7 p.m. April 11. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Kiss of the Spider Woman: A two-person drama by Manuel Puig, with English translation by Allan Baker, about danger and love in a prison cell, preview 8 p.m. March 31. Minimum age: 16. Opening night, 8 p.m. April 1. Show runs 2 p.m. April 2; 7:30 p.m. April 6; 8 p.m. April 7; 2 and 8 p.m. April 8; 2 p.m. April 9; other dates through April 23. Tickets $25 and up. Location, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. www.anoisewithin.org/play/kiss-of-the-spider-woman/

It’s a Barbie world: The 2023 Barbie Malibu Tour stops in Pasadena from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 1. Get retro-inspired merchandise and 70s beach vibes. Location, the courtyard of One Colorado Old Pasadena (by Il Fornaio and iPic Theaters), 41 Bonham Alley, Pasadena. www.facebook.com/BarbieTruckTour/

Whittier Women’s Club’s Spring Fling Boutique: More than 30 vendors will be on hand offering baked goods, handmade crafts, Easter and Mother’s Day items, jewelry, beauty items and plants, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 1. East Whittier United Methodist Church, 10005 Cole Road, Whittier. 562-857-0955. Email: princessberta@msn.com.

A Victorian afternoon: Bring the family to spend an afternoon at the Huntington, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 1. Experience Victorian Britain pastimes through art, hobbies and leisure activities such as country dancing. Free with admission: $29; $24 ages 65 and older and students; $13 ages 4-11; huntington.org/plan-your-visit. Location, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. huntington.org. Details on the event: bit.ly/40CWNsS

America’s Got Talent: Fans 8 and older can be part of the audience at the latest season of “America’s Got Talent” with Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Terry Crews. Fans get an chance to take photos at the judges’ desk, win prizes and influence judges through their cheers. Filming for the show is various times per day on April 1-2 and 4-6. Sign up for free tickets on the website: on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Americas_Got_Talent. Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St. www.visitpasadena.com/events/americas-got-talent

You Can Face the Future with Confidence: All 118,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses will offer two free programs on the theme, April 1-2. A 30-minute presentation will be held at the Whittier Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 11690 Slauson Ave., Whittier, with a videoconferencing option available. For more information, 562-332-0369. jw.org

Unrivaled: A world premiere of a play by Rosie Narasaki about friendship, rivalry and being a female artist. Show runs 8 p.m. April 1; 2 p.m. April 2; 8 p.m. April 3; 8 p.m. April 6; 2 and 8 p.m. April 8; 2 p.m. April 9; other dates to April 23. Tickets $47; $42 ages 65 and older; $37 students. Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. 626-683-6801. bostoncourt2.wpengine.com/upcoming-events/

Holy Week preparation: Palm Sunday, April 2, is the beginning of Holy Week. Check local churches for service schedules. At Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Covina, highlights include Palm Sunday services, in English and Spanish, 8, 9, 10:15 and 12:15 p.m., plus a spring craft and bake sale in the parish hall. A Tenebrae service of shadow and light, 6 p.m. April 5; with Taize-style music featured for a Maundy Thursday service at 6 p.m. April 6. Good Friday services, noon and 6 p.m. April 7 and an Easter Vigil service, 7:30 p.m. completes the week. Easter Sunday services, 8, 9 and 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. April 9. 626-967-3939. Holy Trinity,100 N. Third Ave., Covina. holytrinitycovina.com. www.holytrinitycovina.com/events/announcements/

Palm Sunday: Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, celebrates the beginning of Holy Week with the congregation of First United Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. April 2. Meet in front of the church, collect palm fronds and process into the sanctuary to celebrate as a community. Location, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-796-0157. fumcpasadena.org

Pasadena Senior Games: Registration is open for registration for the “Senior Games,” for adults 50 and older who are welcome to compete in 14 athletic events from archery to tennis. The games run from May 21 to July 15. Previous competition experience not required. Volunteers are also needed for many tasks. Volunteer by calling 626-685-6755 or email sports@pasadenaseniorcenter.org. For more information, 626-795-4331. To register, click on “Activities and Events” and then “Senior Games” on the website, www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena: A program of music by Borodin, Dvorak, Godoyan and Mozart, 12:30 p.m. April 4. Performers: soprano Helen Harboyan; pianists Sharon Chan and Anna Ching; Carlos Robles will perform Horn Concerto No. 3 in E Flat. Also, a string quartet with Ellen Buczo, Katie Boyle, Tammy Cognetta and Kim Ruys de Perez. Free admission. Altadena Baptist Church, 791 E. Calaveras St., Altadena. 626-797-1994. tmpasca.org

Whittier Reads: Whittier Public Library and the Whittier Public Library Foundation present a series of programs based on Javier Zamora’s memoir, “Solito.” Erick Galindo discusses “How to Prove You’re Undocumented,” at 6 p.m. April 4. Central Library, 7344 Washington Ave., Whittier. 562-567-9900. whittierlibrary.org. For upcoming speakers in the series: whittierlibrary.org/events/whittier-reads

For cheese heads: Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery presents the return of “Cheese 101” class, 6 p.m. April 4. Reservations required. Tickets are $95 per person on Resy; wine pairing extra (bit.ly/3Thgion). Also, see reservations for a class on April 18. Agnes, 40 W. Green St., Pasadena. 626-389-3839. agnesla.com

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. April 5 (and most other Wednesdays). Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. duartechamber.com/duarte-farmers-market. Updates on Facebook: bit.ly/41OI0wJ

Pasadena Senior Center: A virtual program on music appreciation, 10 a.m. April 6, on Zoom. Explore music from different eras and share your favorites. Register for the link here: bit.ly/3KfgrG5. The center also offers monthly food distribution, 8:30-10:30 a.m. April 7, in the parking lot, 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena (if you are 60 years or older and have your ID, you may be eligible to receive food the same day; contact 626-685-6732). The center, 626-795-4331. For other activities, click on “Lectures and Classes,” pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Easter planning: The city of San Gabriel and the San Gabriel Kiwanis Club invites everyone to the 78th annual “Egg’Straordinary Pancake Breakfast and Egg Hunt,” from 7-11 a.m. April 8. The event also includes a pancake race, bubble zone, coloring contest and photo opportunity with Mr. Bunny. Free admission. Pancake breakfast $5. Smith Park, 232 W. Broadway, San Gabriel. For more information, 626-308-2875. SanGabrielCity.com/Easter

Monsters are coming: Monster Truck Wars with two shows, 1 and 7 p.m. on April 8. Each show has a pre-show, meet-and-greet pit party with a Kids Zone (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for the 1 p.m. show; 5:30-6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show; $10 add-on purchase). Tickets in advance online: $30; $10 ages 3-12; $40 VIP (day of show tickets are more expensive at the gate and cash only). Grand Arena of Industry Hills Expo Center, 16200 Temple Ave., City of Industry. monstertrucks.fun

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: March 31; April 1-2, 6-9, 13-16, 20-23, 27-30; May 4-7, 11-14. Timed tickets are required. Admission $20 and up. 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. dinosalivelosangeles.com

Stranger Things – The Experience: The 45-minute immersion in all things based on the iconic Netflix show. Dates: March 31; April 1-2, 7-9, 14-16. Unlock your power in the Hawkins Lab, enjoy an 80s-style medley of locations and fan-favorite moments, including photo ops, food and drink, and interact with performers. If you’ve still got that MTV jacket and shoulder pads, dress like it’s the 80s. Minimum recommended age: 13. Tickets $39 and up. Location, 1345 N. Montebello Blvd., Montebello. strangerthings-experience.com/los-angeles/#faqs; feverup.com

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.