Around ‘N’ About

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Friday Storytimes — Through May 30. The La Cañada Flintridge Library has announced the addition of Friday Storytimes for April and May. Toddler storytimes are at 10:15 a.m., and preschool storytimes are at 11 a.m.

La Cañada Flintridge Library, 4545 Oakwood Ave, La Cañada. For more information about the library and its programs, call (818) 790-3330 or visit www.colapublib.org.

Healthy Kids Day — April 26, noon to 3 p.m. The Crescenta-Cañada and Verdugo Hills Family YMCAs host this event at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave., La Crescenta. Bring a family picnic and enjoy an afternoon of fun and games. Activities will include a climbing wall, Jr. Boot Camp, volleyball, extreme Twister, face painting, ultimate obstacle course, bouncers and face painting. Healthy snacks will be provided by Abundant Life Enterprises. Children will receive a special gift. Those who have registered for Y summer camps can pick up their free “All Systems Go” T-shirt at the park.

CLASSES

Baby-sitting classes — April 26, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Verdugo Hills Hospital Beginnings Family Education Program offers baby-sitting classes designed for boys and girls ages of 11-15. The class is an interactive course that teaches participants skills including infant/child CPR, basic first aid, home/auto safety, accident prevention, telephone skills, safety tips, when to call 911, poison control, fire/earthquake plans and other helpful child care advice. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a baby-sitting course completion certificate.

The class is held at the hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., on the 4th floor. Class fee is $35 per person. Reservations are required. For more information or to register, call Teri Rice at (818) 952-2272.

For a list of additional classes offered by the Family Education Program, visit www.vhhospital.org.

EVENTS

Library Book Sale — April 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friends of the La Cañada Flintridge Branch Library, 4545 Oakwood Ave., La Cañada has organized bins full of mysteries, romances, geographies, histories, self-help tomes, classic literature and materials for class projects and is offering them all at bargain prices. Members of the Friends of LCF Library may preview and purchase Friday, April 25, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, from 9 to 10 a.m. New ‘Friends’ are welcome to sign up at the sale.

Proceeds fund special library programs, including audio-visual materials, rental books, periodicals, fiction and young adult books, along with special programs for both adults and children. For more information call Rosemary Hook at (818) 353-8617 or at (818) 790-2010.

Group Hike — April 26, beginning at 8 a.m. GONE (Group Outdoor Nature Experience) will meet Saturday at the top of Lake Avenue in Altadena for a “go-as-far-as-you-want-to” hiking experience. The “Claus Hike” includes a 5-mile hike to Echo Mountain; 8 miles to Inspiration Point; or 11 miles to Mt. Lowe. Lots of history and beautiful views. For more information contact Claus Boettger at clausboettger@sbcglobal.net.

Kiwanis Club Travel Adventure Series — April 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada sponsors its 48th annual Travel Adventure Series. The final program, “Soul of Morocco” by Rick Rey, will be presented April 26. They are held in the auditorium of the Flintridge Preparatory School, at the corner of Crown Avenue and Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada Flintridge. Tickets for individual performances are $8. For more information, call the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada at (818) 790-9901.

Unity Church of the Valley Health Fair — April 26, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Health fair featuring keynote speaker Susan Smith Jones, PhD, the author of 17 books on how to live a healthier lifestyle, look younger and relieve stress. Jones will speak at the health fair at 10 a.m. and will sign books at the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse in La Cañada on Saturday, April 26 at 1 p.m. and Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose on Sunday, April 27 at noon. The health fair includes blood pressure and balance testing offered by Verdugo Hills Hospital. Alternative health practitioners include acupuncture, reiki, massage, energy healing, qui gong and others. Unity Church of the Valley is located 2817 Montrose Ave., La Crescenta. For more information call (818) 249-4396 or visit the website at unitylacrescenta.org.

Daughters of British Empire Fashion Show, Luncheon — April 26 at noon. Daughters of the British Empire, Caernarvon Chapter, is holding its annual Spring Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday, April 26 at noon. The event will be at First Congregational Church of Glendale, 2001 Cañada Blvd., Glendale, and will feature fashions from Holiday Hats & Gowns, Montrose. Tickets are $20. Deadline for reservations is April 21. For tickets, call or e-mail Anthea Macdonald (909) 624-9496, damacdonald@juno.com. Proceeds benefit the British Home in California.

Norwegian Heritage Faire — April 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Salem Lutheran Church, 1211 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Edvard Grieg Lodge, Sons of Norway, celebrates Norwegian heritage by producing this cultural event for the community. It features Norwegian displays, exhibits, arts and crafts demonstrations, and vendors offering Norwegian and Scandinavian wares. Homemade refreshments, bake sale, and entertainment. $3 per person. Call (818) 249-8102. for more details.

Celebrate La Cañada: Past & Present — April 27, 5-7 p.m. Steep yourself in the history of this valley when you engage the authors of “Flintridge,” “La Cañada” and “La Crescenta,” on Sunday, April 27 at the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse during a special event benefiting Lanterman House museum.

The Lanterman Historical Museum Foundation will host a wine and cheese reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Flintridge Bookstore, an historic La Cañada venue that housed the Totta Garage for decades. Outside the garage, local collectors will display and discuss their vintage automobiles. Bringing the past to the present and future, LCF City Council members and developer Darren Mattix will be on hand to update all on the progress of the Town Center.

Yana Ungermann-Marshall will regale guests with tales gleaned during her research into the history of La Cañada and Flintridge. Mike Lawler and Robert Newcombe will expand your knowledge of La Crescenta, as defined by its early residents. Books will be available for purchase.

Reservations are $30. Tickets for an opportunity drawing to enjoy an elegant dinner for eight catered and served in the beautiful Lanterman House dining room are $50. Call the Lanterman House Visitors Center at (818) 790-1421 for reservations or information. Deadline for reservations is April 24.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books — April 26 and 27. Presented with UCLA at its Westwood campus, with more than 450 authors, 300 exhibitors, 100 author panels, six outdoor stages, two children’s areas, and more than 140,000 people expected to attend.

Julie Andrews, Valerie Bertinelli, Ray Bradbury, Mary Higgins Clark, Tommy Lasorda, Mike Mignola, Arianna Huffington, Aimee Mann, Maria Shriver, and Gore Vidal are scheduled to be at the event this year.

Genealogy Tour — April 27, 2 p.m. The Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley hosts a private tour of the Southern California Genealogical Society headquarters, 417 Irving Drive, Burbank. For more information call (818) 957-2968.

Annual Pet Adoption Festival — April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The world’s largest pet adoption event, the annual Best Friends Animal Society’s Spring Super Adoption Festival, will take place at the North Hollywood Recreation Center, 11430 Chandler Boulevard (Tujunga Ave.& Magnolia Blvd), in North Hollywood.

More than 1,000 homeless dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, rabbits and birds, representing all sizes, breeds and personalities, will be available for adoption from more than 60 rescue groups, as well as from Los Angeles area city and county shelters.

In a single day, the Super Adoption event typically finds new homes for more than 400 animals. The event is organized by the Los Angeles Programs of Best Friends Animal Society.

For more information about Best Friends Animal Society, visit www.bestfriends.org. To find out more about Best Friends’ programs in Los Angeles, visit www.bestfriends.org/la.

Descanso Hosts African Violet Show & Sale — May 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hundreds of African violets will be judged by experts and exhibited at Descanso Gardens during this show and sale sponsored the Montrose African Violet Society.

Descanso Gardens is at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. For information call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org.

Second Annual Taste Of Montrose — May 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The second annual Taste of Montrose event will be held on Sunday, May 4 along Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. The Taste of Montrose provides ticket holders with a sample of the fare from many of the restaurants located in the area.

Tickets are $20 and are for sale now. To reserve tickets, call (818) 248-2740; or, on the day of the event, buy a ticket from one of the sellers stationed along the sidewalks. Proceeds benefit Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus committee.

13th Annual Historic Home Tour — May 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sunland Tujunga Coordinating Council with the Little Landers Historical Society presents the 13th Annual Historic Homes, Garden and Landmarks Tour. This year along with five extraordinary and unique homes and a local landmark, the first Verdugo Hills High School Student Art Exhibit will be held at the McGroarty Art Center during the hours of the home tour from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Tickets for this event are $20 each, children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets can be purchased in advance. For information call Bolton Hall Museum, 10110 Commerce Ave., (818) 352-3420 or McGroarty Art Center (818) 352-5285.

10th Anniversary, reunion swing dance — May 23, at 8 p.m. Swing Inc., a popular local swing band, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a reunion dance at the Romanesque Room of the Green Hotel in Old Pasadena. It was 10 years ago that over 650 people jammed the historic 1890s room for the beginning of two years of weekly swing dances. There was a loyal following of dancers who attended every week. To celebrate this occasion, Swing Inc. is seeking any former dancers from the series. Anyone who knows of a former dancer can contact Swing Inc. at SwingIncorporated@yahoo.com. The 10th Anniversary dance will occur at the Green Hotel at 50 E. Green St. in Pasadena. There will be a free dance lesson at 8 p.m. and the live band will play at 9 p.m. Admission is being kept at the 1998 price of $8 plus a $4 beverage minimum. All ages are admitted and all current swing dancers are welcome.

EXHIBITIONS

Gold Medal Juried Exhibition — April 27-May 18. The California Art Club presents its annual exhibition of contemporary-traditional fine art, the 97th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. This extensive exhibition will include plein air landscapes, portraits, still lifes and sculpture. The Gold Medal Exhibition celebrates California Impressionism, the artistic movement that has been attributed to the club’s founding members nearly a century ago and continues the legacy of such artists as Franz A. Bischoff, Guy Rose, and William Wendt, who were attracted by the Golden State’s natural beauty. On April 26, the evening before the exhibition opens to the public, the club will host the Artists’ Gala Reception, which will allow art enthusiasts to preview the works and meet the participating artists. Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door (includes exhibition catalog).

Educational programs to be presented during the exhibition include the panel discussion When Fine Art Meets Moviemaking, on Sunday, May 11, from 3 to 5 p.m., and a closing tour on Sunday, May 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. during which Gold Medal artists will share personal insights about their works in the exhibition.

Both events are free with museum admission, but space is limited. Contact the club at (626) 583-9009 to make a reservation. For more information go online to www.californiaartclub.org.

Schuyler Standish — May9-31. Local artist Schulyer Standish, who had his first one-man show in Los Angeles in 1954 at the then-renowned Falk-Raboff Gallery, will be one of the featured painters at the Tah Gallery in South Pasadena. A special opening with hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be held at the gallery on Friday, May 9, from 6 to 10 p.m. to celebrate the oil on canvas, pencil and charcoal works of Standish, a former art teacher at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in La Cañada for over 30 years.

A child prodigy, he began studying violin at the age of 3. He entered UCLA at the age of 13 as a music major and a year later was named concert master of the university’s symphony orchestra.

He began working in motion pictures at the age of 6, first as a dancer and then as an actor. He started teaching art in 1982 at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, from which he retired in 2002.

The Tah Galleryis located at 1015 Mission St. in South Pasadena. For more information contact her at (626) 441-6846 or www.tahgallery.com.

‘Marcel Duchamp Redux’ — April 25 – Dec. 8. An installation at the Norton Simon Museum that commemorates the 45th anniversary of the artist’s retrospective at the Pasadena Art Museum. A series of programs will accompany the installation, including the upcoming lecture “Nothing Left to Chance: Duchamp’s First Retrospective” by Dickran Tashjian on May 4, at 4 p.m.Norton Simon Museum, 411 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For information call (626) 449-6840.

Trish Kertes — Through April 26. Local landscape paintings on display at Segil Fine Art, 110 W. Lime Ave., Old Town Monrovia. For information call (626) 358-5563 or visit online segilfineart.com.

Mount Lowe: Souvenirs from the Incline Railway — Through July 27. The displays feature souvenirs created during the life of the railway above Altadena, from photographs taken by Pacific Electric Railway photographer Charles Lawrence to pieces purchased at the gift store at Alpine Tavern.

Pasadena Museum of History. Suggested donation: $5; children under 12, free.

The Museum is located at the corner of Orange Grove Boulevard and Walnut Street in Pasadena.

Directions and additional information are available online at www.pasadenahistory.org or by calling (626) 577-1660, ext. 10.

Suzanne Saul — Through May 17. One of 12 artists included in an exhibition at The Folk Tree titled “Endangered Species: Honoring & Acknowledging our Vulnerable Natural World.” A portion of the proceeds from this exhibition will benefit the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

Saul contributes paintings and mixed media pieces addressing the disappearance of forests throughout the world.

The Folk Tree, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. For information call (626) 795-8733.

•To submit an article for Entertainment or Around & About, e-mail items to lcnews@valleysun.net or send a fax to (818) 790-5690.