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

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

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

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, May 13-14 and 20-21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). 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

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

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.

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

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

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.

NEW YORK — “Some Like It Hot,” a Broadway musical adaptation of the cross-dressing movie comedy that starred Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, waltzed away Tuesday with a leading 13 Tony Award nominations, putting the spotlight on a show that is a sweet, full-hearted embrace of trans rights.

With songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and starring Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee, who all got nominations, the show follows two musician friends who disguise themselves as women and join an all-girl band to flee Chicago after witnessing a mob hit. Like the movie, there are men in dresses trying to pass as women. But this time, the dress awakens something in Ghee’s character, akin to a transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly.

The message of self-acceptance and respect for all was echoed across Broadway, from a revival of “Parade” to a Black actor-led “Death of a Salesman” to the new play “Ain’t No Mo’” and new musical “Kimberly Akimbo.”

“I think the pandemic put a lot of things in perspective, both in terms of improvements we needed to make in the community and also just the way that everybody’s feeling about the world and about being a human,” said Ben Platt, nominated for “Parade.” “The art people are making has a real urgency and a real purpose.”

Three shows tied with nine nominations each: “& Juliet,” which reimagines “Romeo and Juliet” and adds some of the biggest pop hits of the past few decades, “New York, New York,” which combined two generations of Broadway royalty in John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and “Shucked,” a surprise lightweight musical comedy studded with corn puns.

Betsy Wolfe, in her eighth Broadway show, earned her first nomination in “& Juliet,” playing Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. She had just dropped her daughter, almost 3, off at ballet class on Tuesday morning. “I hope she addresses me properly now when I see her,” she joked.

In the musical, playwright David West Read took an original story using “Romeo and Juliet” as a launch pad and mixed in hits by Swedish super-producer Max Martin, including Brittney Spears’ “Oops! … I Did It Again,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.” The musical imagines a happier ending for Juliet after a journey of self-discovery.

“It’s a beautiful story about second chances, which honestly is is what we’re all going through right now,” said Wolfe. “We’ve all been given a second chance after this time we’ve all been through. And so to have a musical that allows us all to celebrate in each individual way that we need to celebrate is really, really special and timely.”

The critical musical darling “Kimberly Akimbo,” with Victoria Clark playing a teen who ages four times faster than the average human, rounds out the best musical category, and earned a total of eight nominations.

Clark, who was nominated for best lead actress in a musical, hopes to add a second Tony to her trophy case, having previously won one in 2005 for “The Light in the Piazza.” But more than that she hopes more attention will be paid to her show, which she calls a “little under the radar.”

“It’s a special event that celebrates our collective humanity,” she said. “It doesn’t say life is perfect. The show doesn’t say there aren’t going to be strange and horrible people in your life. It doesn’t say life is going to be easy. But it does say life is worthwhile. And I think that is a message that we need to get out there. Life is worth living.”

In the best new play category, nods were distributed to Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt,” which explores Jewish identity with an intergenerational story, and “Fat Ham,” James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” set at a Black family’s barbecue in the modern South.

The rest of the category is made up of “Ain’t No Mo,’” the short-lived but critical applauded work by playwright and actor Jordan E. Cooper, Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Between Riverside and Crazy” and “Cost of Living,” parallel stories of two caretakers and their respective patients.

“Ain’t No Mo,’” which earned six nominations, begins with the United States government emailing every Black citizen with the offer of a free plane ticket to Africa, and each scene explores how various personalities respond to the offer.

Cooper learned he’s been nominated twice — as best playwright and as lead actor — while visiting his childhood home in Texas. He and his family learned of his triumph in the living room where, as a 6-year-old, he put on his first plays.

“It is a little bittersweet,” Cooper said. “We only got a chance to do about like 60 performances and this cast and this creative team were like some of the most talented you’ve ever seen. It was unfortunate that people don’t get a chance to experience it because we really felt like it was something special. Audiences felt like it was something special. And it’s just so beautiful to know that the work that we put in — that blood, that sweat and tears — are not in vain.”

“Parade,” a doomed musical love story set against the real backdrop of a murder and lynching in Georgia in pre-World War I, earned six nods, including for Platt, hoping to win a second Tony after his triumph in 2017 with “Dear Evan Hansen,” and rising star and first-time nominee Micaela Diamond.

Wendell Pierce, who has won a Tony for producing “Clybourne Park,” earned his first nomination as an actor on Broadway for a blistering revival of “Death of a Salesman” and Jessica Chastain, an Oscar-winner for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” got her first Tony nomination for a stripped down version of “A Doll’s House.”

Pierce will face-off against both stars of Suzan-Lori Parks’ “Topdog/Underdog” — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Corey Hawkins — as well as former “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes from “Good Night, Oscar,” and Stephen McKinley Henderson, who earned his second nomination, having gotten one in 2019 for “Fences.”

Jodie Comer, the three-time Emmy nominated star of “Killing Eve” earned a nomination in her Broadway debut — although her play, “Prima Facie,” did get a best new play nod — and Audra McDonald, who has won six Tony Awards can extend her reign if she beats Comer as best leading actress in a play for “Ohio State Murders.” The last slot in the category went to Jessica Hecht, staring in the play “Summer, 1976.”

Another show that closed quickly nevertheless picked up nominations — “KPOP,” which put Korean pop music on Broadway for the first time. “KPOP” got three — including best original score.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s frothy and widely panned “Bad Cinderella” earned zero nods, as did “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical,” a stage biography of the singer-songwriter who has had dozens of top-40 hits. Hollywood’s Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window” were left off the list of nominees, but Samuel L. Jackson earned his first Tony nod for “August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson.”

Two well-received revivals from the late Stephen Sondheim — “Sweeney Todd” with Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban, and a star-studded “Into the Woods,” were recognized. “Sweeney Todd” received eight nominations including for Groban and Ashford, and “Into the Woods” earned six, including for Brian d’Arcy James and Grammy Award-winning Sara Bareilles, her third Tony nomination.

“Almost Famous,” the stage adaptation of Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical coming-of-age story, earned just one nomination — for music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Crowe and Kitt. And choreographer Jennifer Weber had two reasons to smile Tuesday: Weber earned nominations for “& Juliet” and “KPOP,” her first Broadway shows.

Ariana DeBose will host the June 11 awards celebration from New York City’s United Palace theater live on CBS and on Paramount+. It is her second-straight stint as host.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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.

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

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/events/egg-ceptional-celebration-2/2023-04-07

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

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

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

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

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 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

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.

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, March 24-31.

Mamma Mia!: Catch the final spring musical of Alverno Heights Academy’s production of the musical by Catherine Johnson, music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bjõrn Ulvaeus, 7 p.m. March 24-25. Tickets $20. Lanterman Auditorium, 4491 Cornishon Ave., La Cañada Flintridge. For more information,  626-355-3463. alvernoheightsacademy.org; www.facebook.com/AlvernoHeightsAcademy

Unrivaled: A world premiere of a play by Rosie Narasaki about friendship, rivalry and being a female artist, preview 8 p.m. March 24. Show runs 2 p.m. March 26; 8 p.m. March 30; dates through April 23. Tickets $22 for preview; $47; $42 ages 65 and older; $37 students. Boston Court, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena. 626-683-6801. bostoncourt2.wpengine.com/upcoming-events/

Peacock Day: Celebrate Arcadia’s favorite peafowl, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 25. Arrive in peacock cosplay (mind that this is a family event), take a guided walk, pose in a photo booth and sample a special menu (like a churro topped with peacock-colors sugar). Purchase timed admission in advance. Admission is $15 ages 18-61; $11 ages 62 and older and students; $5 ages 5-12. Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3222. arboretum.org

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 March 25-26, 29-30; 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

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

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, previews 2 p.m. March 26; 7:30 p.m. March 29-30; 8 p.m. March 31. Minimum age: 16. Opening night, 8 p.m. April 1. Show runs various 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/

Vroman’s Bookstore:  Local Author Day: Barbara Hanky-Rogers (“It’s a No Grainer Cookbook”). Laurie Markvart (“Somewhere in the Music, I’ll Find Me”) and Kenneth Strange Jr. (“It’s Your Camino — One Couple’s 100-Mile Pilgrimage Across Spain”) discuss their books, 4 p.m. March 26. Nathan Masters discusses “Crooked – The Roaring 20s Tale of a Corrupt Attorney General, a Crusading Senator and the Birth of the American Political Scandal,” 7 p.m. March 28. Jacqueline Winspear discusses “The White Lady,” 7 p.m. March 30. Tara Ison discusses “At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf,” 7 p.m. March 31. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Glendora Genealogical Group: Anne Sonner discusses “Tales of Mining in the Old West,” 6 p.m. March 28. Mark Cross will speak about telling a more robust family narrative at 7 p.m. Cross attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research in Georgia. Free admission. La Fetra Senior Center, Elm Room,333 East Foothill Blvd., Glendora. 909-592-4030.

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. March 29 (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

At the Huntington: R. Isabela Morales, winner of the 2023 Shapiro Book Prize, discusses her award-winning work “Happy Dreams of Liberty: An American Family in Slavery and Freedom,” 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 29. Morales is a public historian and project manager of the Princeton & Slavery Project and digital projects manager at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum in Skillman, New Jersey. Free lecture with reservations. Rothenberg Hall at the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Ave., San Marino. huntington.org. Reservations for in-person or to receive a Zoom link: bit.ly/3JCBtwZ

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

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. to 4 p.m. April 1. East Whittier United Methodist Church, 10005 Cole Road, Whittier. 562-857-0955. Email: princessberta@msn.com.

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, with a spring craft and bake sale in the parish hall. A Tenebrae service of shadow and light is set for 6 p.m. April 5; with Taize-style music featured for a Maundy Thursday service at 6 p.m. April 6. Stations of the Cross and an Easter Vigil service completes the week with Easter Sunday on 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

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

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

For cheese heads: Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery presents the return of “Cheese 101” class, 6 p.m. April 4. 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

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: March 24-26 and 30-31; 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 24-26 and 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

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 ADA 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

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

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 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

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.

JERUSALEM — Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. He was 87.

The cause was not immediately released.

Israeli leaders on Thursday tweeted their memories and condolences to Topol’s family.

Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog hailed Topol as “one of the most outstanding Israeli actors,” who “filled the movie screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Topol’s “contribution to Israeli culture will continue to exist for generations.”

Benny Gantz, Israel’s former minister of defense, praised Topol for helping Israelis connect to their roots.

“We laughed and cried at the same time over the deepest wounds of Israeli society,” he wrote of Topol’s performance.

Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition, said Topol taught Israelis “love of culture and love of the land.”

Topol’s charity, Jordan River Village, also announced his death, paying tribute to him as an “inspiration” whose “legacy will continue for generations to come.”

A recipient of two Golden Globe awards and nominee for both an Academy Award and a Tony Award, Topol long has ranked among Israel’s most decorated actors. More recently in 2015, he was celebrated for his contributions to film and culture with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, his country’s most prestigious honor. Up until a few years ago, he remained involved in theater and said he still fielded requests to play Tevye.

Topol got his start in acting in a theatrical troupe in the Israeli army in the 1950s, where he met his future wife, Galia. His first major breakthrough was the lead role in the 1964 hit Israeli film Sallah Shabati, about the hardships of Middle Eastern immigrants to Israel. The film made history as the first Israeli film to earn an Academy Award nomination and also gave Topol his first Golden Globe Award.

Two years later, he made his English-language film debut alongside Kirk Douglas in “Cast a Giant Shadow.” But the role of his life arrived in the long-running musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” in which he played the dairyman protagonist, Tevye, a Jewish father trying to maintain his family’s cultural traditions despite the turmoil gripping their Russian shtetl.

With his rich voice, folkish witticisms and commanding stage presence, Topol’s Tevye, driving his horse-drawn buggy and delivering milk, butter and eggs to the rich, became a popular hero in Israel and around the world.

After years of playing Tevye on stage in London and on Broadway, he scored the lead role in the 1971 Norman Jewison-directed film version, winning the Golden Globe award for lead actor and being nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award. He lost out to Gene Hackman in “The French Connection.”

Topol played the part more than 3,500 times on stage, most recently in 2009. With the help of heavy makeup and costume work, he first portrayed the much older, burlier dairyman in his 30s and quite literally aged into the role.

Topol faced tough competition securing the role in Jewison’s hit film — scores of talents have played Tevye in over a dozen languages since “Fiddler on the Roof” first appeared. Topol has said his personal experience as the descendant of Russian Jews helped him relate to Tevye and deepen his performance.

In an interview with The Associated Press from his Tel Aviv home in 2015, on the occasion of accepting the Israel prize for lifetime achievement, Topol traced his meteoric rise from modest beginnings to worldwide fame.

“I wasn’t brought up in Hollywood. I was brought up in a kibbutz,” he said. “Sometimes I am surprised when I come to China or when I come to Tokyo or when I come to France or when I come wherever and the clerk at the immigration says ‘Topol, Topol, are you Topol?”

Topol also starred in more than 30 other movies, including as the lead in “Galileo,” Dr. Hans Zarkov in “Flash Gordon” and James Bond’s foil-turned-ally Milos Columbo in “For Your Eyes Only” alongside Roger Moore.

But he became synonymous with just one role — Tevye. Pouring his heart out about his impoverished Jewish community over the years, Topol made audiences laugh and cry from Broadway and West End stages.

“How many people are known for one part? How many people in my profession are known worldwide?” he told the AP. “I’m not complaining.”

Yet Topol said he sometimes needed to look outside of acting to find meaning in his life. He devoted much of his later years to charity as chairman of the board of Jordan River Village, a camp serving Middle Eastern children with life-threatening diseases.

Topol is survived by his wife and three children.

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 March 23, 25-26, 29-30; 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

Abilities Expo – The Event for the Disability Community: The three-day event includes exhibitors (including French Toast Adaptive, a school-wear clothing company just for children with disabilities, www.frenchtoast.com/adaptive), demonstrations, dance performances, wheelchair tune-up booth, adaptive fitness and sports and workshops. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 10-11; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12. Plan your visit with the schedule: www.abilities.com/losangeles/#sports. Register in advance for free admission on the website. Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall A, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. www.abilities.com/losangeles

USC Pacific Asia Museum: March 10: “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

Empty Bowls benefit: First Christian Church of Glendora invites the community to the 20th annual fundraiser, 5-7 p.m. March 10. For $20, participants receive a delicious bowl of soup and bread donated by local restaurants and go home with a beautiful handmade ceramic bowl. The best part of the deal? The warm feeling of satisfaction that you’re helping fight hunger one bowl at a time. Proceeds will benefit food assistance programs administered by Shepherd’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Glendora Police Department. Event is at the church, 300 N. Glendora Ave., Glendora. For more information, 626-335-4058 or email pastorhillary@umcglendora.org. Also, 626-335-2240 or email rev.kkd@verizon.net. Details: bit.ly/3J1YI4s

Much Ado About Nothing: A Noise Within presents William Shakespeare’s hilarious and profound rom-com, as directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. Show runs 8 p.m. March 10; 2 and 8 March 11; 2 p.m. March 12. Check the website for ticket prices. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org

Pasadena Festival of Women Authors: The event at 8 a.m. March 11 is sold out, but you can get on the wait list on the website (admission $100). Authors include National Book Award winner Tess Gunty, author of “The Rabbit Hutch,” Nikki Erlick, Karen Joy Fowler, Lan Samantha Chang, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Tara Stringfellow, Belinda Huijuan Tang. Pasadena Hilton, 168 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. pfwa2023.org

Family Day at the Huntington: Discover Asian American experiences through music, stories and art, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11. Nathan Wang performs and the Blue13 Dance Company will lead guests in Indian dance styles. The choose-your-own “drop-in” activities is free with a timed weekend admission ($29; $24 ages 65 and older and students; $13 ages 4-11). Location, 1151 Oxford Ave., San Marino. For more information, huntington.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

Swing into St. Patrick’s Day: The community is invited for a wee bit o’ fun at an early St. Patrick’s Day with the 14-piece Great American Swing Band concert and dance, 1:30 p.m. March 11. Light snacks will be available. Admission $10 for nonmembers. Walk-ins are welcome but will need to pay cash. First come, first served. Scott Pavilion of the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St. To register, 626-795-4331 or click on “Activities & Events” at www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Vroman’s Bookstore: John Sayles discusses “Jamie Macgillivray: The Renegade’s Journey,” 3 p.m. March 11. Arielle Estoria discusses “The Unfolding – An Invitation to Come Home to Yourself,” 7 p.m. March 13. Kristin Hannah discusses “The Four Winds,” 7 p.m. March 14. Elizabeth McKenzie discusses “The Dog of the North” and Yxta Maya Murray discusses “God Went Let That,” 7 p.m. March 15. Auriane Desombre discusses her children’s book “The Sister Split” at 6 p.m. March 16. Eric Conway discusses “The Big Myth — How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market,” 7 p.m. March 20. Cathleen Schine discusses “Künstlers in Paradise,” 7 p.m. March 21. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

CROP Walk: The 24th annual East San Gabriel Valley Communities Reaching Out to People (aka CROP) Walk returns at 1:30 p.m.  March 12. The CROP Walk supports local anti-hunger efforts such as Shepherd’s Pantry, East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, St. Vincent de Paul, and Action Food Pantry-Baldwin Park. Meet up at the patio behind the United Methodist Church, 201 E. Bennett Ave., Glendora. 626-335-4058. Email: pastorhillary@umcglendora.org. Also, 626-335-2240, and email rev.kkd@verizon.net. Details: bit.ly/3IZ738Y

Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum: Upcoming events: “Gathering the Sparks of LA’s Jewish Past” with Edmon J. Rodman, 2-3:30 p.m. March 12. Los Angeles’ Jewish community began to develop around 1850, but the stories of these Jewish pioneers are not so known. Find out if they left anything behind that tells their story. Rodman is a journalist and collector who will share tangible items he has found and explores the remarkable stories behind them. Free but reservations are required: bit.ly/3F3rwa6

Also, in honor of Women’s History Month, take a look at the reasons behind women’s clothing styles during the 19th and early 20th century in “A Changing Silhouette.” 2 p.m. March 19. Costumer Natalie Meyer will lead the discussion, part fashion show and part hands-on experience. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Free but reservations required: bit.ly/3F3rwa6

Location, 15415 E. Don Julian Road, City of Industry. For more information, 626-968-8492. homesteadmuseum.org

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. March 15 (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

Third@First concerts: Concert series are on for the third Saturday of the month. March’s offering is the Bob Cole Chamber Choir from Cal State Long Beach, conducted by Jonathan Talberg, performing new music from around the world and celebrating the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, 4 p.m. March 18. Free/donations appreciated. First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, 500 E. Colorado Blvd. 626-796-0157. thirdatfirst.org

Crown City Symphony: Arman Keyvanian conducts the orchestra with violinist David Park in a program with Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 and Saint-Saens’ Violin Concerto No. 3, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19. Free admission. First Baptist Church of Pasadena, 75 N. Marengo Ave., Pasadena. 626-797-1994.

Descanso Gardens: New: “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

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: March 10-12, 16-19, 23-26 and 30-31; 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 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 and 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

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 ADA accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

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

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 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.

It’s a fitting spot to meet and talk about a play set amid the Los Angeles riots that erupted after the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Department officers charged in the 1991 videotaped beating of Black motorist Rodney King.

One of the 320 interviews Smith conducted with Los Angeles residents, gathering anecdotes and dialogue for the play, was done with the founder of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee where the theater is located. And the WLCAC center was among many places in Los Angeles that burned to the ground in the riots.

When “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” premiered at the Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum in May 1993, it was a one-woman show, a bravura performance by Smith as she shifted from one real-life character to the next, the story of the riots unfolded from many different perspectives.

Now, Smith has revised the play for five actors in multiple roles, opening it up in new ways even as the original heartbreak of its inspirations – racism, injustice, police brutality, and income inequality among them – remains as freshly painful as yesterday’s news.

“I think the show is still, 30 years later, a very useful project for people of different races and different genders to come together,” Smith says, sitting next to Gregg T. Daniel, director of the new production that returns to the Mark Taper Forum from March 8 to April 9. “And to portray an issue that in America just will not go away.

“When Tyre Nichols was killed, I Immediately wrote to (Center Theatre Group’s) Tyrone Davis and to Gregg, and said, ‘Are you watching this?’” Smith says of the recent beating death of a young Black man in Memphis at the hands of police officers.

“One line: ‘Are you watching?’” Daniel says, shaking his head.

Smith continues, “And Tyrone wrote back: ‘It looks like your play just can’t become historical drama.’ In terms of this thing keeps happening again and again.”

Words and voices

Smith built her career as a playwright who interviewed real people, often around issues on which they could not agree, and then pieced their words together to bring the drama to life.

“I was said to have created a form of theater,” she says. “Of course, how do you know? Maybe somebody did it wherever. But I had been trying to find a way of working that would be with real people.”

Her breakthrough came in 1992 with “Fires in the Mirror,” a one-woman play at the Public Theater in New York City, which was based on the Crown Heights riot when Black and Jewish residents of that Brooklyn neighborhood clashed.

That play was set to open the day after the Los Angeles riots began, and though it was postponed, the shadow of the L.A. uprising hung over the success it found

“I performed that show with the audience having what happened in Los Angeles in their mind,” Smith says. “I mean, it was just an extraordinary thing that had happened here in America.”

Director Gordon Davidson, the late founding artistic director of the Center Theatre Group, flew from Los Angeles to New York City to see Smith perform.

“He was really enthralled with it,” Smith says of Davidson’s reaction to “Fires in the Mirror.” “It had reminded him of some things that he had produced earlier in his Taper days.”

Over breakfast at the Algonquin Hotel, Smith and Davidson agreed to work together on a play for the Mark Taper Forum.

“We kind of looked at each other,” Smith says. “I don’t know who said it first, but I agreed to come out here and write a play based on interviews in the wake of the riots.”

She arrived in September 1992, spending Mondays through Wednesdays at Stanford University, where she was coming up for tenure, then flying to Los Angeles to interview people the rest of the week.

With the backing of Davidson and the Center Theatre Group, doors opened quickly to Smith.

“They just said, ‘Well, who are some of the people you’d like to talk to?’” she says. “I mean, there are obvious people. Can we get to Rodney King? No, but maybe we can get to his aunt.”

The late attorney Johnnie Cochran, his client Reginald Denny, who was pulled from his truck and beaten as the riots kicked off, an anonymous juror from the Rodney King beating trial, actor Charlton Heston, and many, many ordinary residents of neighborhoods from South Los Angeles to Koreatown to Beverly Hills all soon joined her cast of characters.

All of it combined for a chorus of voices that reflected the vast diversity of the city.

“I felt that ‘Fires In The Mirror’ was like an aria,” Smith says. “And this was an opera.”.

Memories of the past

Daniel, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, lived in Koreatown when the L.A. riots broke out.

“I just remember going up on the roof of my girlfriend’s apartment, and looking around and seeing smoke, black smoke in all areas of the city,” he says. “It was people off the streets. Whispering, calling. It was quite a frightening time. This sense of instability, just a sort of, ‘My God, what’s going to happen now?’”

Daniel has worked extensively in Los Angeles theater, and both he and Smith say they felt it was important that this new production rely largely on Los Angeles theater veterans.

Four of the five actors in the cast, each of whom plays 10 or more characters, were also at the Watts theater to talk about their earliest memories of both “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992″ and the riots that inspired it.”

Lovensky Jean-Baptiste was a 10-year-old boy in Florida. A few years later, in high school, he chose a monologue from the play to perform in academic competitions.

“It’s crazy,” he says. “I was in a high school library and I really don’t know this play. I open it and it just speaks to me. And now it’s 30 years later and I’m doing the monologue in the play.”

Jeanne Sakata had just opened in Shakespeare’s “Richard II” at the Mark Taper Forum when the King beating trial verdicts were delivered. The production by director Robert Egan was crafted to address racial divisions in contemporary society: Richard II (Kelsey Grammer) and his court and cronies were White actors; Rival leader Bolingbroke and his rebels all were people of color.

“All of a sudden what we were doing was very immediate,” Sakata says. “Later, when we heard Anna was working on this piece, I thought, ‘Wow, this sounds revolutionary.’ She was taking this vast kaleidoscope of voices from Los Angeles, from all different walks of life, and she was going to put this on stage and perform that herself.”

Hugo Armstrong was a high school student in Santa Rosa in the spring of 1992. He remembers talking with school friends about the possibility that revolutionary change might be imminent.

“We were all looking at each other like, ‘Oh, this is it,’” he says. “Like, it’s finally happening. We assumed it was going to spread, and that wasn’t a bad thing. Finally, there was going to be a change.

“In retrospect that was a little naive,” he says. “As the details came out, you realized how complex a situation it was, and how much harm was done with the good.”

Like Jean-Baptiste, Lisa Reneé Pitts, a native New Yorker, watched the riots on television from across the continent.

“It was very traumatizing to think that, ‘Oh my goodness, look at what’s going on over there,’” she says. “But underneath that understanding of the times, of racism and the different trials that were going on, I was blessed to know about Anna Deavere Smith.

“I didn’t live too far from where she (set) her play, ‘Fire in the Mirror,’” Pitts says. “I knew who the incomparable Anna Deavere Smith was.”

Alchemy in the dark

In another person’s hands, the interviews Smith conducted might have been a book, an oral history like those done by journalist and author Studs Terkel, a hero to the young playwright, and eventually a friend.

But in the dark of a theater, a different kind of alchemy is made.

“It’s a very holy thing to me,” Armstrong says of his work as a theater actor. “In that empathy, in that humanity, is where I think human beings just shine. And it’s possible, you know, that with this piece, being together in that space and shining together like that, could only do good.”

The art of drama creates an emotional engagement between the words in the script spoken on stage and the audiences that come to the play with their own thoughts and memories, Smith says.

“I always think a lot about what the audience is bringing into the room,” she says. “]

In the dark, when it works, something happens, Smith says.

“After all these years, I don’t really understand it,” she says. “But it could be something somebody said. It could be the charisma of one or two of the actors. It could be the visuals that Gregg brings, or the sounds.

“But it’s meant to be an emotional experience and an intellectual experience and a civic experience,” Smith says. “To be conscious that you could be laughing at something and somebody else down the row is crying.”

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley area.

First Christian Church of Glendora invites the community to the 20th annual “Empty Bowls” benefit, 5-7 p.m. March 10. For $20, participants receive a delicious bowl of soup and bread donated by local restaurants and go home with a beautiful handmade ceramic bowl. The best part of the deal? The warm feeling of satisfaction that you’re helping fight hunger one bowl at a time. Proceeds will benefit food assistance programs administered by Shepherd’s Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Glendora Police Department. Event is at the church, 300 N. Glendora Ave., Glendora. For more information, 626-335-4058 or email pastorhillary@umcglendora.org. Also, 626-335-2240 or email rev.kkd@verizon.net. Details: bit.ly/3J1YI4s

Community art project: Kidspace Museum and Transformative Arts present “Lineage,” a collaborative art project. Artists Chelle Barbour and Rosalyn Myles will lead guests in creative large-scale collages in the style of Romare Bearden, 3-6 p.m. March 3 (free), and also, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 4-5 (admission to Kidspace, $14.95 ages 1-61; $12.95 ages 62 and older). Contribute to the collage and create your own artwork to take home. Select a time and date and purchase tickets here: bit.ly/3ZeGphZ. Kidspace, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org

Much Ado About Nothing: A Noise Within presents William Shakespeare’s hilarious and profound rom-com, as directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. Show runs 8 p.m. March 3; 2 and 8 p.m. March 4; 2 p.m. March 5; and dates through March 12. Check the website for ticket prices. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org

AlienCon: Lectures and panel discussions on unexplained mysteries and marketplace, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. March 4 and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. March 5. Autographs and photo opportunities are an extra fee (see the schedule). Schedule: www.thealiencon.com/schedule/#/schedule/byHour. Admission $65 for one-day pass; $120 Weekend pass; $349 Cosmic Pass (see the website for details and other passes). Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. www.thealiencon.com

Covina Woman’s Club Spring Boutique: There will be 45 vendors selling everything from baked goods, crafts, plants, clothes and jewelry. Guests can also join a raffle for gift baskets, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 4. There will be a taco truck and a flower truck. Covina Woman’s Club, 128 S. San Jose Ave., Covina. 626-967-1963 or email covinawomansclubinfo@gmail.com. covinawomansclub.org

Asian American stories: The Huntington offers a one-day symposium on “Asian American Experiences in California,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  March 4. Explore how museum collections continue to activate and preserve history with speakers Gordon Chang; Naomi Hirahara; Jean Chen Ho; Marci Kwon. Registration is free, but an optional lunch costs $30 or $10 for students. Reservations here: bit.ly/3ZrXPr5. Rothenberg Hall of the Huntington, 1151 Oxford Ave., San Marino. huntington.org

Open Mind Saturday: TJ Campbell, outgoing president of the San Gabriel Valley NAACP and Thomas Allison, professor of legal studies at the University of La Verne, will lead “Glendora Together  Identifying and Addressing Microaggressions,” 4-6 p.m. March 4.   Community members, including students and adults, are invited to learn from a panel and the moderators. Students from Glendora High School and residents will also speak on their experiences in the community. Free admission. Legion Building, 159 N. Cullen Ave., Glendora. For more information, email 626.glendora.together@gmail.com. Details: bit.ly/3J1YI4s

Tea with Louisa: Valerie Weich presents her “Living History” portrayal of Louisa May Alcott, 2 p.m. March 5. Weich will speak on the author’s views about her fame, women’s inequality, her experience as a Civil War nurse, her father’s ideas on education and transcendental philosophy. The program is presented by the Pasadena Museum of History. Tickets $28.16 (pasadenahistory.org/events-calendar). Shakespeare Club of Pasadena, 171 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena. 626-577-1660. pasadenahistory.org

Tuesday musicale: Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena invites everyone to a free concert at 12:30 p.m. March 7. Enjoy Mozart’s Kegelstatt Trio in E Flat major K. 498 with Emily Denney on clarinet, Sue Reinecke on viola and Sharon Chan on piano; Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 1 F major Op. 8, with Ann Levi on violin and Louise Earhart on piano; Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 with piano soloist Anna Ching; and a duet from “Aida” by Verdi with vocalists Diana Briscoe and Bernice Brightbill and Geraldine Keeling on piano. Altadena Baptist Church, 791 E. Calaveras St., Altadena. 626-797-1994. tmpasca.org

Vroman’s Bookstore: Cara Black discusses “Night Flight to Paris,” 7 p.m. March 8. Michelle Dowd discusses her memoir “Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult,” 7 p.m. March 9. John Sayles discusses “Jamie Macgillivray: The Renegade’s Journey,” 3 p.m. March 11. Arielle Estoria discusses “The Unfolding – An Invitation to Come Home to Yourself,” 7 p.m. March 13. Kristin Hannah discusses “The Four Winds,” 7 p.m. March 14. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Standards and show tunes: The Pasadena Senior Center presents a concert by pianist Bob Lipson, singer Don Snyder and bassist David Young, 2 p.m. March 9. Location, 85 E. Holly St., Pasadena. 626-795-4331. To register, click on “Activities and Events” and then, “Special Events” here: www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org

Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery at ArtCenter: The opening reception for “Hello L.A.: Clive Piercy — Inside the Mind of a Designer,” 6-9 p.m. March 9. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (reservations requested). Location, 1700 Lida St., Pasadena. For more information, email exhibitions@artcenter.edu. Facebook, see the post on Jan. 27: www.facebook.com/artcenteredu. Details: bit.ly/3SgKdg3.

CROP Walk: The 24th annual East San Gabriel Valley Communities Reaching Out to People (aka CROP) Walk returns at 1:30 p.m.  March 12. The CROP Walk supports local anti-hunger efforts such as Shepherd’s Pantry, East San Gabriel Valley Coalition for the Homeless, St. Vincent de Paul, and Action Food Pantry-Baldwin Park. Meet up at the patio behind the United Methodist Church, 201 E. Bennett Ave., Glendora. 626-335-4058. Email: pastorhillary@umcglendora.org. Also, 626-335-2240, and email rev.kkd@verizon.net. Details: bit.ly/3IZ738Y

Discover Debussy: The Norton Simon Museum and LA Opera offer an audio tour exploring the legacy of Claude Debussy and his relationship to visual artists of his time, such as Claude Monet and Edouard Vuillard. James Conlon, LA Opera’s musical director, narrates the tour titled “Claude Debussy: Refracting his Music through Art,” which pairs Debussy’s art with paintings in the museum’s 19th-century galleries. The audio tour can be streamed in the galleries using a smartphone (411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena) or enjoyed at home as an audio slideshow during March at nortonsimon.org. 626-449-6840. Information on the Los Angeles-wide celebration of Debussy, colburnschool.edu/discovering-debussy

Descanso Gardens: New: “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

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: March 3-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26 and 30-31; and dates through May. 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 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26 and 31; April 1-2. 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

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 ADA accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Duarte Historical Museum: 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

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 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

USC Pacific Asia Museum: 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

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.

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier areas, Feb. 24 to March 3.

It’s a two-fer at the next Local Author Day at Vroman’s Bookstore. Estani Frizzell presents a special storytime featuring her book, “Sai the Peacock: The Unique Beak.” at 11 a.m. Feb. 26.

Then, spend time with local adult authors Scott D. Dovale (“The Blue Leash – A Year of Mourning”), Alden Reimonenq (“The Upside-Down Tree”) and Nita Whitaker (“When Your Hand Is in the Lion’s Mouth – The Life and Wisdom of a Man Named Green”) as they discuss their books, 4 p.m. Feb. 26. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromansbookstore.com

Descanso Gardens: New: “Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art,” in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and runs through May 21. 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

At the Huntington: Join design researcher Jason E. C. Wright at a Burntsienna Art Book Library Reading Room pop-up class, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and also, 2-5 p.m. Feb. 24, in the Maple Orientation Gallery of the Huntington. Library curators David Mihaly and Krystle Satrum host a show and tell of selected objects from the Jay T. Last Collection. Wright will then lead a tour of the “Inspiring Walt Disney” exhibition. This program is geared toward adult learners and students of art, architecture, design or fashion. Class fee $21 and reservations are required: bit.ly/3Er2JfV. Location, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, 626-405-2100. huntington.org

Tour the Rose Bowl: Guided public tours of the Rose Bowl are available at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 24. 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. Tours are on the last Friday of every month. Also, VIP group tours are available at other times (check the website). Location, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. 626-437-8558. rosebowlstadium.com/tours

Temple City Camellia Festival: The 79th event brings the fun to town, Feb. 24-26, with Jon Howie, grand marshal and honorary grand marshals Annette Constantino, Kathy Mushinskie and Ann Seitz. Carnival hours: 4-10 p.m. Feb. 24; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 25; noon-8 p.m. Feb. 26. Live entertainment: Free Wing classic rock band takes the stage, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 24; Pretzel Logic, a Steely Dan tribute band, 8-10 p.m. Feb. 25; Cold Duck, 5-8 p.m. Feb. 26. The Children’s Parade, with the them “Imagine If,” begins at 10 a.m. Feb. 25 and runs along Las Tunas Drive in downtown Temple City. Get a complete lineup and schedule at camelliafestival.org

Black History Month – Pasadena: The city of Pasadena commemorates Black History Month by offering a month-long series of programs from Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Pasadena Public Library, Pasadena Black History Committee, and the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library. There will be in-person and virtual programs, events and activities for all ages. All programs and events are free.

Events include

• Kimberly Cox Marshall will talk about her father Don Cox, member of the Black Panther Party, and her book “Making Revolution,” 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Books will be available for sale and author signing. Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena. www.cityofpasadena.net/library/branches/hastings-library
• Black History Movie Night screening of “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever,” 5 p.m. Feb. 24, at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena. Bring your lawn chair or picnic blanket and listen to some live music. The movie will start at dusk at Centennial Square in front of City Hall. For more information, 626-744-7311. cityofpasadena.net
• “Celebrating Diversity through Photography,” exhibit, through Feb. 28 at the Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena.
• An online tour of Pasadena landmarks and spots impacted by Black Pasadenans at cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec
• Check with the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center for its programs, including a genealogy workshop, Capoeira lecture, performances, book talks and an arts festival. For more information, 626-807-4006. Location, 1425 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.
• Pasadena Public Library celebrates Black History Month with a variety of programs and activities for all ages that honor the cultures and contributions of Black Americans. Details, www.pasadenapubliclibrary.net

For more information on other Black History Month events in Pasadena, 626-744-7311. Details: bit.ly/3H5DvEk

Vroman’s Bookstore: Tara Ison discusses her novel “At the Hour Between Dog and Wolf,” 7 p.m. Feb. 24. Local Author Day: Scott D. Dovale (“The Blue Leash – A Year of Mourning”), Alden Reimonenq (“The Upside-Down Tree”) and Nita Whitaker (“When Your Hand Is in the Lion’s Mouth – The Life and Wisdom of a Man Named Green”) discuss their books, 4 p.m. Feb. 26. Charlotte Maya discusses “Sushi Tuesdays – A Memoir of Love, Loss and Family Resilience,” 7 p.m. Feb. 28 (free to attend; pre-order the book on the website; talk is at All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid St., Pasadena). Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Marcelo Bucater Quartet: Los Angeles College of Music presents the concert, 8 p.m. Feb. 24. Free admission but make a reservation to attend. The Garage at LACM, 300 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. Reservations here: bit.ly/3S0SwME. Email: events@lacm.edu. lacm.edu/2023

Much Ado About Nothing: A Noise Within presents William Shakespeare’s hilarious and profound rom-com, as directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. Show runs 8 p.m. Feb. 24; 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 25; 2 p.m. Feb. 26; 8 p.m. March 3; 2 and 8 p.m. March 4; 2 p.m. March 5; and dates through March 12. Check the website for ticket prices. A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. 626-356-3100. anoisewithin.org

African American genealogy online: Los Angeles County Library offers an African American genealogy workshop from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Get guidance in researching your African American ancestry from Charlotte Bocage, a professional genealogist and family historian. She will provide instructions and resources to help in family history research. To register, click on the “Events” tab and then “Virtual Programming,” at lacountylibrary.org

Music from (mostly) between the wars: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents “Musical Interludes” featuring classical music from 1918 to 1924 at 4 p.m. Feb. 25. Musicians: Nadine Hall, Amy Hershberger, So Jin Kim, Brian Lauritzen, Andrew Picken, Joshua Tan, Alexander Zhu. Tickets are $100 and include a post-concert wine and hors d’oeuvres reception in the courtyard. Reservations are required (purchase here: bit.ly/3YSoFcg. Barrett Hall, 100 N. Hill Ave., Pasadena. pasadenaconservatory.org

Glendora Genealogical Group: The group welcomes the community to its next meeting, 6 p.m. Feb. 28. Amber Oldenberg, a researcher and lecturer who specializes in Midwest and Great Lakes Research, presents information on the “Overland Trails.” Learn about the various trails that were used by pioneers heading west to California and other territories, understand what they experienced along the way and how you can discover your pioneer ancestors in the records they left behind. Free admission. La Fetra Senior Center, 333 E. Foothill Blvd., Glendora. For more information, 909-592-4030. See a listing here from the Whittier Area Genealogical Society: bit.ly/3lTNjdB

The Huntington: March 1: “Stories We Tell: Founders’ Day at the Huntington” is a panel talk on the quirky and serious stories about the various collections at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 7 p.m. Presenters: Sean Lahmeyer, Silas Munro, Karla Nielsen, Pilar Tompkins Rivas and Li Wei Yang. The presentation is in-person and live streamed. Free with a reservation. Location, Rothenberg Hall, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. huntington.org. Details and to register to attend in-person or watch the live stream here: huntington.org/founders-day

AlienCon: Lectures and panel discussions on unexplained mysteries and marketplace, 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. March 4 and 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. March 5. Autographs and photo opportunities are an extra fee (see the schedule). Schedule: www.thealiencon.com/schedule/#/schedule/byHour. Admission $65 for one-day pass; $120 Weekend pass; $349 Cosmic Pass (see the website for details and other passes). Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. www.thealiencon.com

Covina Woman’s Club Spring Boutique: There will be 45 vendors selling everything from baked goods, crafts, plants, clothes and jewelry. Guests can also join a raffle for gift baskets, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 4. There will be a taco truck and a flower truck. Covina Woman’s Club, 128 S. San Jose Ave., Covina. 626-967-1963 or email covinawomansclubinfo@gmail.com. covinawomansclub.org

 Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery at ArtCenter: The opening reception for “Hello L.A.: Clive Piercy-Inside the Mind of a Designer,” 6-9 p.m. March 9. Gallery hours: noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (reservations requested). Location, 1700 Lida St., Pasadena. For more information, email exhibitions@artcenter.edu. Facebook, see the post on Jan. 27: www.facebook.com/artcenteredu. Details: bit.ly/3SgKdg3.

Ongoing

Dinos Alive Exhibit – An Immersive Experience: For all ages who love finding out about dinosaurs. The experience runs various times and dates: Feb. 24-26; March 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26 and 30-31; dates through May. 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: Feb. 24-26; March 3-5, 10-12, 17-19 and 24-26. 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

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 ADA accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Hoffmitz Milke Center for Typography at ArtCenter College of Design: Celebrate Poland’s rich heritage of graphic communication in “Polski Projekt.” The exhibition represents the history of poster and type design emerging from a society with strong sociopolitical disruptions, a cultural dependence on national traditions and a slow pace of economic and commercial growth. Free admission. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28. ArtCenter College of Design, 950 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. For more information, 626-396-2200. artcenter.edu. Details on the exhibit: bit.ly/3Vh3XRv

Duarte Historical Museum: The Monrovia-Duarte Black Alumni Association display a Black History Month exhibit, “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint? through February. 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

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

Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery – ArtCenter: “Victor Estrada: Purple Mexican,” through Feb. 26. Estrada’s more than 30-year career in abstract art inspired by the cultural landscape of Los Angeles and the Southwest. Free admission. Gallery hours: noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, at ArtCenter, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena. ArtCenter, South Campus, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena. 626-396-2200. Email: exhibitions@artcenter.edu. Gallery details: bit.ly/3ESJeho. Exhibit details: bit.ly/3yQQWou

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

USC Pacific Asia Museum: 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

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.