Arroyo Monthly by Southland Publishing

FINE FI NE LIVING IN THE GREA GREATER EATER TER ER PASADENA PA PASA SADEN SAD ENA AREA

December 2015

The Nutcracker’s

STELLA ABRERA The American Ballet Theatre Star Comes Home Pasadena Int’l Film Fest Ready for Its Third Close-up

HOT HOLIDAYS IN SANTA FE Gifts That Give Back to Kids

A GUIDE TO HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Ph to Pho o by by Alexan Alexa der er Vert Vertifko iffkoff L ic.6 Lic.6 i 5 533 5334 3 0

From our family to yours,Happy Holidays. A R C H I T E CT U R E . C O N S T R U CT I O N . I N T E R I O R S . 626.486.0510

HartmanBaldwin.com

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arroyo

VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 12 | DECEMBER 2015

PHOTOS: (Top) Courtesy of d.Light; (bottom left) Courtesy of Santa Fe Botanical Garden; (bottom right) Jamie Pham

HOLIDAYS AND ENTERTAINMENT 13 STELLA ABRERA The South Pasadena–bred American Ballet Theatre star returns to Southern California in The Nutcracker. —By SCARLET CHENG

16 HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK TO CHILDREN —By IRENE LACHER

33 DIM THE LIGHTS The third annual Pasadena International Film Festival is getting ready for its close-up. —By NOELA HUESO

36 SPICY HOLIDAYS IN SANTA FE In The City Different, you can enjoy Christmas all year round — as long as it’s on your plate. —By IRENE LACHER

DEPARTMENTS 11

FESTIVITIES Red Hen Press’ Champagne toast, Breaking Through opens at the Pasadena Playhouse, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ 60th anniversary

KITCHEN CONFESSIONS When you’re compiling the guest list for your fantasy dinner party, seat Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton at separate tables.

THE LIST Scrooge stages a comeback at A Noise Within, an Appalachian Christmas at Caltech, L.A. Phil’s “Deck the Hall” series and more

ABOUT THE COVER: Photo of Stella Abrera by Rosalie O’Connor 12.15 ARROYO | 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

As I write this, I hear a newscaster say the innocent victims of terrorists’ bombing of Russia’s Metrojet 9263 included 25 children. I can’t be sure, but it seems to me that more than ever, I’ve been hearing heartbreaking stories about violence against children — the dead Syrian refugee boy whose body washed up on a beach, the 6-year-old boy caught in police crossfire in Louisiana, the 15-year-old girl body slammed by a cop in her South Carolina classroom. And, of course, Sandy Hook. This may seem like a grim way to start off our otherwise festive holiday issue, and for that, my apologies. But I wanted you to know why this season, our thoughts are with children everywhere. So we’ve put together a special holiday guide of gifts that give back to kids. And this year, we hope you’ll consider making your presents do double-duty by delighting the recipient and helping kids, around the world and in your own backyard, lead a better life. On a brighter note, Scarlet Cheng introduces you to an Arroyoland star — Stella Abrera, raised in South Pasadena and now a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. Trace her path from Pasadena’s erstwhile Le Studio Dance to one of the world’s top ballet companies, and go to Costa Mesa this month to see her dance in that seasonal classic, The Nutcracker. Also on our entertainment radar is the Pasadena International Film Festival, whose scrappy organizers will unveil its third incarnation in early March. Noela Hueso talks to co-founder Jessica Hardin about why, in a world teeming with film festivals, Pasadena needs one of its own. And have I got a spicy holiday trip for all you foodies: Santa Fe, where you might even see a bit of snow. —Irene Lacher EDITOR IN CHIEF Irene Lacher ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, Richard Garcia EDITOR-AT-LARGE Bettijane Levine COPY EDITOR John Seeley CONTRIBUTORS Leslie Bilderback, Martin Booe, Michael Cervin, Scarlet Cheng, Patt Diroll, Carole Dixon, Noela Hueso, Kathleen Kelleher, Rebecca Kuzins, Diana Palmer, Ilsa Setziol, John Sollenberger, Nancy Spiller ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lisa Chase, Brenda Clarke, Leslie Lamm ADVERTORIAL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Bruce Haring ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, Richard Garcia HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Andrea Baker PAYROLL Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Kacie Cobian, Sharon Huie, Teni Keshishian OFFICE ASSISTANT Ann Turrietta PUBLISHER Jon Guynn 8 | ARROYO | 12.15

arroyo FINE LIVING IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA

SOUTHLAND PUBLISHING V.P. OF FINANCE Michael Nagami V.P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin CONTACT US ADVERTISING dinas@pasadenaweekly.com EDITORIAL editor@arroyomonthly.com PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave., Ste. 200, Pasadena, CA 91105 ArroyoMonthly.com ©2015 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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FESTIVITIES

PHOTOS: Jamie Clifford (Red Hen Press Annual Champagne Luncheon ); Earl Gibson III (Breaking Through ); Vince Bucci Photography (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles)

Brian Turner, Amy Bloom and Major Jackson

Mark E. Cull, Kate Gale and Brendan Constantine

Red Hen’s biannual journal, The Los Angeles Review, on display

Pasadena’s Red Hen Press celebrated its 21st birthday at its annual Champagne luncheon benefit Nov. 8. More than 200 supporters of the literary publisher gathered at The Westin Pasadena to hear readings by National Book Award nominee Amy Bloom, prizewinning poet Major Jackson and Iraq War memoirist Brian Turner. Hosting the festivities, which also included live music and games of chance, were Red Hen poet Brendan Constantine and Managing Editor Kate Gale... Angela Bassett, French Stewart and Mickey Dolenz turned out Nov. 1 for the world premiere of Breaking Through at the Pasadena Playhouse, which shepherded the musical through its Hothouse play development program. Leading the cast of 17 was Alison Luff (Matilda the Musical on Broadway), who plays Charlie Jane, a young singer/songwriter trying to make it in the treacherous music business... Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles toasted its 60th anniversary and honored Emmy Award–winning producer Suzanne de Passe, businessman and BBBSLA Finance Committee Chair William R. Davis and the late romance novelist Jackie Collins at its annual Big Bash benefit Oct. 23 at The Beverly Hilton. Actor Wilson Cruz (Red Band Society) emceed. The organization provides mentors to L.A. County’s disadvantaged kids to help them secure a better future.

Sonya Sones, Ron Koertge and Janet Fitch

George Schlatter and Suzanne De Passe

Angela Bassett

Sherry Lansing, William Davis and Sarah Purcell

Alison Luff

Georgia Dolenz and Micky Dolenz

Wilson Cruz

Tiffany Siart, Tiffany Sachs, Rory Green and Kathy Griffin 12.15 | ARROYO | 11

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STELLA ABRERA The American Ballet Theatre star balances art and athleticism. BY SCARLET CHENG

“MY SISTER TOOK ME TO MY FIRST BALLET CLASS WHEN I WAS 5,” RECALLS STELLA ABRERA, A LEAD BALLERINA WITH AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE (ABT), ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP CLASSICAL BALLET COMPANIES. “SHE WAS IN COLLEGE AT THAT TIME AND INTERESTED IN MODERN DANCE, AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR ME TO CHECK OUT THE LOCAL BALLET SCHOOL.” THAT WAS THE NOW-

PHOTO: Rosalie O’Connor

SHUTTERED LE STUDIO DANCE IN PASADENA. Young Stella was entranced by the art form. “It was a natural fit for me, music and performance,” she says in a telephone interview from New York, where ABT is based. Abrera had already been introduced to classical music by her mother, who had been a serious student of classical piano. “I grew up in quite a musical household,” she recalls, “and I guess I was a little bit of a ham.” Still, many are called but few are chosen, as the saying goes. Abrera’s childhood discovery would grow and blossom into a marquee career. In June, her exceptional talent was recognized when she was named a principal dancer at ABT, her professional home for 17 years now. “She has a pure classical style with a command of character to shade it,” says Kevin McKenzie, the company’s artistic director. With the promotion, Abrera, 37, became the first Filipina American to reach ABT’s top ranks. The announcement was made in tandem with Misty Copeland’s ascent to the same high status, making Copeland the first African American woman to achieve that stature. Those moves, part of the company’s recent diversity campaign to help expand its dwindling audience, mark 2015 (also ABT’s 75th anniversary) as a truly historic year. –continued on page 14 12.15 | ARROYO | 13

PHOTO: Jade Young

after school, and all day Saturday and Sunday.” She was also learning jazz, tap, flamenco and modern, which at the time she considered distractions from her true calling. Now she’s grateful for that training, since ABT incorporates other dance forms into its repertoire. “Stella is uniquely ‘American’ in that her ability to assimilate different styles of technique is what gives her a versatility and comfort to be grounded for contemporary work and the classical canon alike,” says McKenzie. After the family moved to Sydney, Australia, when Abrera was 13, she enrolled in a program based on the curriculum of the London-based Royal Academy of Dance. Three years later, she faced Ross Stretton, assistant artistic director of ABT, during a final exam. He was so impressed he recommended that she apprentice with them in New York. So at 17 she moved to the Big Apple, and, in less than a year, she joined the corps de ballet. In 2001 she became a soloist — she thinks it may have been because of her acclaimed turn as Myrtha, the merciless Queen of the Wilis in Giselle. Her career was rocketing upward — until physical injury nearly ended it. Seven years ago Abrera suffered a severe back injury which, when combined with her sciatic nerve damage, made even walking difficult. She was sidelined for 18 months. Finally, after seeing a pain management specialist who ordered cortisone shots and daily ballet lessons, she began to recover. Abrera returned to the stage in 2009. Ballet is her life in more ways than one. The day she auditioned for ABT, Abrera met fellow dancer Sascha Radetsky, who grew up in San Francisco. They quickly bonded, and married in 2006. Last year Radetsky retired from the company and now pursues writing, teaching and acting in addition to dance. “We’ve been together almost since the beginning of our careers,” Abrera says. She recalls how they would see each other every day at ABT and be able to share so much of what they were going through each day. “I’m now in a place of having to get used to not having him there,” she says wistfully. While The Nutcracker is the nimble warhorse of holiday-season ballet, Abrera has performed Clara in ABT’s production, choreographed by Artist-in-Residence Alexei Ratmansky, only once before. Clara’s dreams set the ballet in motion, and most productions cast the character only as a child, but ABT’s also projects her into the future (a change pioneered by Russian choreographer Alexander Gorsky in 1919). “This particular version is quite interesting,” says Abrera. “In most versions there’s a pas de deux, usually performed by the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier. In the Alexei Ratmansky version, which is what we’re doing in Orange County, it’s performed by two adult leads [Clara, The Princess and Nutcracker, The Prince]. They’re representing the spirit of the young children.” What is the greatest joy in being a ballerina? “It’s such a huge part of my life, it’s hard to articulate,” she says. “I love the whole process, from the first plié of the day.” Admittedly, it is a demanding art form, requiring intense devotion. “We do ask our bodies to do extreme things,” she says. “That’s the beauty of this art form — it’s athletic, but it’s also artistic, this beautiful balance between artistry and athleticism.” |||

–continued from page 13

While Copeland has gotten more publicity, including a 60 Minutes profi le and the cover of Time magazine, Abrera’s tale is also remarkable. Both will be featured in a special fundraiser for ABT Dec. 7 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and in performances of the perennial holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Dec. 10 through 20. Stella Abrera was raised in South Pasadena, in a home her parents occupied until recently. “My parents settled in South Pasadena in 1977, and I was born a year later,” she says. While her civil engineer father’s job took them out of the area for two or three years at a time, they would always return to South Pasadena, so she considers it her hometown. Fortunately, her parents supported her balletomania, and her teachers showered her with encouragement. “They thought I had promise and that was motivating to me,” she says. Also, growing up the youngest in a family of fi ve kids, Stella found that ballet enhanced her sense of identity. “It was nice to find a place for myself, my own unique niche,” she says. “I thrived in the studio and working hard was actually fun for me.” When she was 10, her father’s career took the family to the San Diego area. Stella joined the West Coast Ballet Theatre, a semi-professional troupe of rising young stars. “That’s when I got really serious,” she recalls. “I danced for four to five hours every day 14 | ARROYO | 12.15

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HOLIDAY GUIDE TO GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK TO CHILDREN Around the World and Back Home

Preschool students at SOPUDEP School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti 16 | ARROYO | 12.15

BY IRENE LACHER

Ipad Tablet Sleeve, Brown and Orange Leather, “Orange Minimalism” $74.99 from UNICEF Quality leather and clean design with two compartments. Made by artisans in Guatemala. Visit market.unicefusa.org.

Royal Silk Scarf $99 from World Vision Colorful 68-inch-long scarf woven by Vietnam’s Ma Chau villagers, providing them with a sustainable income. Tax-deductible, less the fair market value of $22. World Vision works to end the hunger of children around the world. Visit donate.worldvision.org.

Limited Edition Creme de Corps $48 from Kiehl’s A Kiehl’s classic in a 16.9-ounce pump bottle with striking packaging by New York designers Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, nicknamed “the lumberjacks of fashion.” 100 percent of proceeds up to $100,000 go to Feeding America. Visit The Americana at Brand, 889 Americana Way, Glendale, or kiehls.com.

Bike Chain Wine Rack $49 from Ten Thousand Villages Bike chains cleverly transformed into an eight-bottle wine rack by artisans in Moradabad, India, where metalworkers have plied their craft since the 16th century. Ten Thousand Villages supports artisans in developing countries through fair trade. Visit 567 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, or tenthousandvillages.com.

Michael Aram Child Mind Institute Menorah “The Brooklyn” Backpack $64.95 from Krochet Kids Int’l. Made in Peru of 100 percent baby cotton and 100 percent acrylic. Krochet Kids helps empower women in Uganda and Peru to rise above poverty and help their families. Visit krochetkids.org for retailers.

$195 from Bloomingdale’s A nickel plate, goldtone and granite menorah adorned with a sculptural scene of children at play, exclusive to Bloomingdale’s. 12 inches long and 4 inches high. The designer will donate 5 percent of the purchase price to the Child Mind Institute, a New York–based nonprofit dedicated to the mental health of children worldwide. Visit bloomingdales.com.

The Semester City Bike $1,150 from Hero Bike A Shimano Nexus eight-speed with a bamboo frame, coaster brake, Velocity Synergy 650b wheel set, a Brooks B-17 saddle and Riser Tourist handlebars with leather grips from Hero, which works to end rural poverty in the Alabama Black Belt. Visit herobike.org.

Fair Trade Sterling-Silver Cuff, “Tropical Surf” $447.30 from UNICEF This stunning Achara Silver Co. cuff inspired by ocean waves is made by artisans in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 7.75 inches long and 1.2 inches wide. Visit market.unicefusa.org. –continued on page 18 12.15 ARROYO | 17

–continued from page 17

STOCKING STUFFERS WITH SOUL Kohl’s Cares Giraffe Plus $5 from Kohl’s A cuddly polyester giraffe that measures 12 inches high, for newborns and up. 100 percent of net profits supports kids’ health and education programs around the country. Visit kohls.com.

St. Jude Metallic Hearts Bowl + Mug $9 each plus free shipping from West Elm The home décor store donates 50 percent of the purchase price of these metallic-printed porcelain bowls and mugs to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, which treats kids with life-threatening diseases. Visit westelm.com.

Celebrity-signed Ornaments Auction price from Children’s Hospital From Dec. 1 through 12, Children’s Hospital L.A. is auctioning off special-edition ornaments signed by stars like Heidi Klum, Caitlyn Jenner, Drew Barrymore, Selena Gomez, L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick and many more. The proceeds help CHLA fight childhood cancer, heart disease and other catastrophic conditions. Visit ebay.com/CHLA.

Tava Ghee $12.99 to $23.99 from Tava Life Made in L.A., Tava Life’s organic Indian-style clarified butter comes in seven flavors: original, Himalayan salt, green chili, vanilla bean, brown butter sage, garlic and (drum roll, please) whipped white truffle. Proceeds benefit Yoga Gives Back, which mobilizes the global yoga community to help poverty-stricken mothers and children in yoga’s birthplace — India. Visit Whole Foods Market at 465 S. Arroyo Parkway or 3751 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, or Grassroots Natural Market, 1119 S. Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena.

Baby Age Blocks $40 from Save the Children Keep track of your kid’s age with these 2.5-inch wooden blocks that benefit Save the Children’s efforts to provide nutrition and education to hungry kids in the U.S. and around the world. Or give directly to a child in need: At $80, a goat and two chicks provide milk and eggs; mosquito nets that protect kids from disease-carrying insects go for $40. Johnson & Johnson matches donations up to $300,000. Visit gift.savethechildren.org.

Continuing the Spirit, Post-Season Want to give needy kids the gift of your time? Check out A Path Appears: Actions for a Better World, a new exhibition at the Skirball Cultural Center, running through Feb. 21, 2016, which offers specific ideas about how you can effect social change. Visit skirball.org. 18 | ARROYO | 12.15

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HOLIDAY FROM

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GIVING A TO Z

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ARROYO

HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

FIREPLACES ARE FUN – BUT DON’T GET BURNED BY THE RULES ON USE Restrictions on installation and burning wood abound in Southern California BY BRUCE HARING

EVERYONE LOVES A FIREPLACE IN THE HOME. NOTHING BEATS THE COZY FEELING OF A BLAZE IN THE HEARTH AND A GLASS OF BRANDY NEARBY AS YOU SIT IN YOUR GREAT CHAIR AND READ THE CLASSICS. Yes, it’s that time of year when the images of a New England winter creeps into the minds of Southern Californians, even though the temperatures outside are more worthy of a trip to the beach than to the barn for more wood. You can get heat from a furnace and a space heater, but there’s a romance to the fireplace that triggers something deep in most home owners, who imagine the crackling flames rather than the upkeep and costs of having a fireplace. But if you have a Southern California home that is currently without a wood-burning fireplace and are thinking of installing one, be aware that there are some rules in place that govern what type of fireplace you can install and where you can install it. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which governs air pollution in our region, has ruled that indoor and outdoor wood-burn-

ing devices (including fireplaces and stoves) cannot be installed in new developments. If you’re in new housing, gas or alcohol fuel-based log sets that don’t use wood (including flames in river rock or broken glass) are the only types allowed. As of September 2009, permanent indoors and outdoors woodburning devices can only be sold to or installed in existing homes and businesses if they include one of these options: 1) Is a dedicated gaseous-fueled fireplace; 2) Is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified fireplace insert or stove; 3) Is a pellet-fueled wood-burning heater; 4) Is a masonry heater that’s not an open-hearth wood-burning fireplace. There are more restrictions. From November through February each winter, there are mandatory days and specific areas where there is ban on burning wood when particulate matter in the air is forecast to –continued on page 25 12.15 | ARROYO | 23

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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

–continued from page 23

exceed 30 micrograms per cubic meter. The curtailment days may be town-specific or for the entire region, so it is important to be set up at www.airalerts.org for automatic e-mails on the daily burning status. The past few winters have averaged about 20 days of banned wordburning. Still, that doesn’t mean wood-burning fireplaces are gone forever. In fact, the AQMD reports that half a million to 600,000 households in Los Angeles County enjoy wood fires each year. The AQMD estimates that about 50 pounds of wood are burned annually by 90 percent of those households, while the remaining 10 percent – the real heavy users - burn more than 800 pounds per year. THE REASONS FOR RESTRICTIONS Why are wood-burning fireplace restrictions necessary? Is this another case of the nanny government at work? The AQMD claims our region has some of the highest levels of fine particulate pollution in the United States. Smoke from fireplaces and stoves can emit an especially harmful particulate matter – known as PM2.5 – which consists of very small particles. PM2.5 can easily bypass the body’s natural defense systems and lodge deep in the lungs. This can cause major health risks such as: A reduction in lung function; aggravating bronchitis and related lung conditions; or triggering asthma and heart attacks. Children and the elderly are especially sensitive to these health risks. That’s the bad news. The good news is that gas or other fuels are perfectly fine, and if you imagine hard enough, they’re just as cozy, especially after a few glasses of brandy. INSTALLATION Getting a fireplace installed takes anywhere from a day to several days, depending on the home and the location in the home that’s it’s installed. Costs are anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 and up, the price depending on the design, location and any extenuating circumstances of the installation in your home, such as adding ventilation or rebuilding walls. Your first step in getting a fireplace installed is to check with the local government to see if permits are available. As noted, some locations are limiting the number of wood-burning fireplaces they allow, or ban them outright in new construction. If you manage to secure a permit for your construction, finding a fireplace contractor is your next step. The usual methods apply – ask around through friends and social media, and/or ask local realtors for any suggestions. After that, it’s a matter of determining what you’ll have installed in the home, the details of the fireplace, and whether any gas lines or other fuel or emissions standards need to be handled. Once the dry wall is replaced from the construction, you should be able to use your fireplace on the same day. –continued on page 26

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—ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT—

–continued from page 25

While fireplaces are romantic and provide home value, keep in mind several reasons why gas-fired fireplaces that ignite at the flick of a switch are gaining in popularity. For one, fire wood is relatively expensive. A cord can cost up to $500 plus delivery charges, depending on the type of wood you wish to burn. A case of wood can run about $50. That’s a lot of money for an amenity that you’ll rarely use in our local climate. WHAT IT ADDS The National Association of Realtors takes an annual survey of homebuyer preferences. The National Association of REALTORS® survey of homebuyers’ preferences typically lists fireplaces as one of the most-preferred home features. Approximately 40 percent of the homebuyers surveyed by the organization claimed they would pay more for a home that has at least one fireplace. Those results are mirrored in a similar survey by the National Association of Home Builders, where more than half of responders claimed that a fireplace was essential or desirable. How much value it adds depends on the type of home you have. If it’s a 17-room mansion, a large fireplace will certainly add a large value. In a modestly priced home, it may not hold as much weight with a buyer. Ultimately, what type of fireplace you install in your home is as important a decision as where you’ll install it in the home. Because fireplaces are dark for much of the year in most United States locations, keep in mind that the cozy blaze of January may be the dark, yawning cavern of July. It may take a lot of brandy to overcome that issue. ||||

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arroyo

™

~HOME SALES INDEX~

-3.82% ALHAMBRA ALHAMBRA (NEW) Homes Homes Sold Sold Median Median Price Price Median Median Sq. Sq. Ft. Ft. ALTADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. ARCADIA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. EAGLE ROCK Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. GLENDALE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. LA CAÑADA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SAN MARINO Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SIERRA MADRE Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. SOUTH PASADENA Homes Sold Median Price Median Sq. Ft. TOTAL Homes Sold Avg Price/Sq. Ft.

OCT. ‘14 ‘14 OCT. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a OCT. ‘14 35 $629,000 1440 OCT. ‘14 36 $1,115,500 1920 OCT. ‘14 22 $675,000 1908 OCT.‘14 106 $592,500 1457 OCT. ‘14 18 $1,492,000 2765 OCT. ‘14 122 $625,000 1408 OCT. ‘14 8 $1,713,750 2091 OCT. ‘14 13 $779,000 1786 OCT. ‘14 23 $1,000,000 1911 OCT. ‘14 383 $82

HOMES SOLD

OCT.‘15 OCT.‘15 21 21 $520,000 $520,000 1342 1342 OCT.‘15 32 $689,500 1497 OCT. ‘15 30 $894,000 2161 OCT. ‘15 14 $675,000 1665 OCT. ‘15 117 $623,000 1516 OCT. ‘15 20 $1,428,250 2074 OCT. ‘15 137 $635,000 1450 OCT. ‘15 9 $2,300,000 2898 OCT. ‘15 6 $745,000 1592 OCT. ‘15 14 $715,000 1581 OCT. ‘15 379 $504

379

AVG. PRICE/SQ. FT.

oct. 2015

HOMES SOLD

-1.04%

oct. 2014

383

HOME SALES

HOME SALES ABOVE RECENT HOME CLOSINGS IN THE PASADENA WEEKLY FOOTPRINT ADDRESS

ALTADENA 1854 Braeburn Road 806 West Gabrielino Court 2080 New York Drive 1194 Boston Street 1330 Rubio Vista Road 1603 New York Drive 408 Buena Loma Street 840 Ventura Street 462 Devonwood Road 2182 Grand Oaks Avenue ARCADIA 388 Torrey Pines Drive 1445 Rancho Road 610 Gloria Road 901 East Camino Real Avenue 540 Gloria Road 1228 North Baldwin Avenue 1850 Wilson Avenue 146 Luben Lane 1242 Oakglen Avenue 1837 Chantry Drive 155 Sierra Madre Boulevard 521 East Norman Avenue 320 Danimere Avenue 139 Eldorado Street #B 338 East Forest Avenue 815 Camino Grove Avenue 1120 Highland Oaks Drive 15 Alta Street #C 210 Joyce Avenue 51 West Forest Avenue 34 West Forest Avenue EAGLE ROCK 5015 Eagle View Circle 4844 Hartwick Street 2508 Medlow Avenue 5414 Mt. Helena Avenue GLENDALE 1650 Oakengate Drive 900 West Mountain Street 430 Nolan Avenue 422 Nolan Avenue 2310 Hermosita Drive 953 Calle Del Pacifico 988 West Glenoaks Boulevard 243 West Dryden Street 1725 Ridgeway Drive 1400 Greenmont Drive 645 West Glenoaks Boulevard 2721 Sycamore Avenue 3308 Emerald Isle Drive 3199 Beaudry Terrace 521 Vine Street 265 Mesa Lila Road 1915 Canada Boulevard 944 East Stocker Street 2660 East Glenoaks Boulevard 950 East Dryden Street 347 Scholl Drive 3637 Los Amigos Street 1223 North Verdugo Road 1221 Dorothy Drive 950 Coronado Drive 1610 Sheridan Road

CLOSE DATE

PRICE

BDRMS.

SQ. FT.

source: CalREsource YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE

PREV. SOLD

10/22/15 10/22/15 10/20/15 10/08/15 10/30/15 10/30/15 10/09/15 10/06/15 10/27/15 10/26/15

$1,400,000 $1,294,500 $1,275,000 $1,155,000 $926,500 $899,000 $859,000 $850,500 $845,000 $834,000

4 3 4 5 3 3 3 4 4 2

2588 3035 3223 2989 1440 2100 2666 2521 2241 2080

1926 1997 1924 1919 1972 1915 1940 1945 1959 1941

$965,000 $910,000 $369,000 $189,000 $279,500 $805,000 $323,000 $810,000 $610,000

03/27/2015 06/02/2004 01/23/1990 07/16/1986 08/21/1990 05/29/2015 01/16/2002 07/22/2005 08/26/2010

10/19/15 10/28/15 10/01/15 10/27/15 10/29/15 10/27/15 10/29/15 10/26/15 10/27/15 10/23/15 10/09/15 10/19/15 10/14/15 10/15/15 10/28/15 10/27/15 10/14/15 10/29/15 10/01/15 10/09/15 10/20/15

$6,330,000 $6,050,000 $2,200,000 $2,040,500 $1,735,000 $1,680,000 $1,485,000 $1,430,000 $1,360,000 $1,250,000 $1,080,000 $1,038,000 $972,500 $920,000 $913,000 $875,000 $870,000 $870,000 $868,000 $860,000 $835,000

6 6 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 4 2 3 4 3 2

8553 9044 2351 3463 3025 2582 2625 3381 2787 1987 2487 1354 1585 2366 1384 1973 1430 2476 2296 1705 1564

2005 2011 1951 2004 1951 1953 1952 1987 1957 1955 1950 1949 1950 2007 1940 1970 1946 2004 1970 1947 1942

$5,080,000 $4,600,000 $230,000 $1,720,000 $1,735,000 $1,600,000 $265,000 $500,000 $298,481

03/13/2014 07/14/2011 10/19/1979 01/03/2014 09/06/2013 03/13/2015 02/14/1985 09/29/1987 05/17/1994

$605,000 $868,000

05/04/2004 01/15/2014

$763,000 $910,000

09/10/2009 06/25/2014

$795,000 $663,000

09/25/2007 07/22/2009

$305,364

06/07/2001

10/08/15 10/06/15 10/13/15 10/09/15

$1,500,000 $1,035,000 $900,000 $892,000

3 3 3 3

2256 1812 1618 1653

1941 1960 1958 1950

$725,000 $922,000 $560,000 $675,000

10/07/2014 06/26/2014 06/20/2008 12/27/2006

10/30/15 10/08/15 10/23/15 10/08/15 10/09/15 10/13/15 10/14/15 10/07/15 10/09/15 10/27/15 10/15/15 10/07/15 10/19/15 10/23/15 10/30/15 10/09/15 10/19/15 10/06/15 10/06/15 10/09/15 10/27/15 10/23/15 10/06/15 10/28/15 10/27/15 10/20/15

$1,492,000 $1,450,000 $1,400,000 $1,263,000 $1,240,000 $1,190,000 $1,150,000 $1,100,000 $1,100,000 $1,100,000 $1,095,000 $1,072,500 $1,035,000 $1,035,000 $1,000,000 $980,000 $980,000 $975,000 $970,000 $929,000 $918,000 $915,000 $910,000 $900,000 $895,000 $870,000

6 4 4 3 3 4 6 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 8 2 4 6 3 3 3 3 6 3 4 3

4021 3213 2701 2505 2635 2618 3555 3000 3891 2196 4370 2631 2184 2850 3964 1529 1997 2708 2038 1708 2494 2244 2396 1918 1652 1953

1966 1934 1963 1964 1935 1989 1948 1951 2003 1958 1931 1946 1968 1974 1928 1955 1942 1924 1936 1925 1947 1965 1944 1922 1924 1956

$908,000 $385,909 $1,150,000 $1,200,000 $693,000 $1,150,000 $810,000 $320,000 $950,000 $875,000 $555,000 $995,000 $868,000 $480,000 $820,000 $805,000 $469,000 $869,000

02/12/2003 02/19/2013 11/06/2009 04/26/2005 12/12/2012 09/06/2005 12/16/2003 02/04/2000 02/25/2013 03/23/2007 09/27/2002 08/23/2005 12/28/2006 01/24/2000 11/04/2004 12/29/2005 01/29/2002 06/30/2005

$750,000 $569,000 $640,000

02/12/2007 03/05/2015 12/17/2003

$256,000 $750,000 $595,000

02/02/1994 08/27/2004 01/12/2011

–continued on page 31

The Arroyo Home Sales Index is calculated from residential home sales in Pasadena and the surrounding communities of South Pasadena, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, Eagle Rock, Glendale (including Montrose), Altadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia. Individual home sales data provided by CalREsource. Arroyo Home Sales Index © Arroyo 2015. Complete home sales listings appear each week in Pasadena Weekly.

12.15 ARROYO | 29

30 | ARROYO | 12.15

–continued from page 29 ADDRESS

CLOSE DATE

GLENDALE 2664 East Glenoaks Boulevard 10/22/15 260 Caruso Avenue 10/13/15 1339 Corona Drive 10/15/15 1255 Graynold Avenue 10/06/15 1010 Cumberland Road 10/20/15 1648 North Pacific Avenue 10/09/15 1411 Belleau Road 10/14/15 1641 Ramona Avenue 10/13/15 3631 Urquidez Avenue 10/09/15 1531 North Pacific Avenue 10/20/15 LA CAÑADA 4055 Chevy Chase Drive 10/30/15 4260 Commonwealth Avenue 10/20/15 914 Valley Crest Street 10/30/15 4349 Cobblestone Lane 10/14/15 5165 Alta Canyada Road 10/06/15 3860 Madison Road 10/13/15 4150 Forest Hill Drive 10/07/15 270 Baptiste Way 10/05/15 1036 El Vago Street 10/09/15 4345 Beulah Drive 10/27/15 4815 Daleridge Road 10/14/15 1022 El Vago Street 10/06/15 4709 Viro Road 10/09/15 1903 Ravista Lane 10/20/15 4643 Alveo Road 10/29/15 4526 El Camino Corto 10/05/15 5337 Godbey Drive 10/15/15 5508 Rock Castle Drive 10/26/15 1702 Foothill Boulevard 10/13/15 PASADENA 905 Hillcrest Place 10/27/15 320 North San Rafael Avenue 10/30/15 1185 Parkview Avenue 10/28/15 1086 Armada Drive 10/27/15 1091 Arden Road 10/28/15 555 Fillmore Street 10/23/15 345 East Colorado Boulevard #302 10/26/15 3830 Shadow Grove Road 10/14/15 331 Glen Summer Road 10/23/15 527 Bradford Street 10/15/15 820 Seco Street 10/22/15 1301 Mt. Vernon Place 10/30/15 3635 Fairmeade Road 10/09/15 303 South San Rafael Avenue 10/30/15 1505 Rose Villa Street 10/02/15 979 Mesa Verde Road 10/30/15 517 South Orange Grove Blvd. #100 10/16/15 1450 Casa Grande Street 10/16/15 1329 Ontario Avenue 10/06/15 1030 Stoneridge Drive 10/30/15 3216 San Pasqual Street 10/07/15 1425 Lida Street 10/23/15 494 Ellis Street 10/19/15 116 San Miguel Road 10/29/15 652 North Marengo Avenue #101 10/22/15 2750 Morningside Street 10/23/15 1304 Linda Vista Avenue 10/29/15 655 South Hudson Avenue 10/01/15 3693 Yorkshire Road 10/30/15 3785 Ranch Top Road 10/08/15 707 South Orange Grove Boulevard #H10/23/15 1354 Brixton Road 10/29/15 295 Glenullen Drive 10/26/15 2250 Loma Vista Street 10/07/15 1301 East Topeka Street 10/15/15 207 North Grand Avenue #10 10/07/15 1110 Bella Vista Avenue 10/16/15 SAN MARINO 1426 Hampton Road 10/30/15 1272 Roanoke Road 10/13/15 1187 Adair Street 10/13/15 1300 Waverly Road 10/14/15 2764 Carlaris Road 10/21/15 1665 South Euclid Avenue 10/14/15 1335 Vandyke Road 10/20/15 1915 Sycamore Drive 10/27/15 1954 South Euclid Avenue 10/23/15 SIERRA MADRE 526 West Highland Avenue 10/14/15 445 East Highland Avenue 10/09/15 405 Mariposa Avenue 10/21/15 SOUTH PASADENA 519 Prospect Avenue 10/27/15 1921 Via Del Rey 10/14/15 1601 Huntington Drive 10/22/15 1458 Oak Crest Avenue 10/20/15 1108 Beech Street 10/21/15 1244 Brunswick Avenue 10/30/15

PRICE

BDRMS.

SQ. FT.

YR. BUILT PREV. PRICE

$870,000 $870,000 $860,000 $850,000 $850,000 $840,000 $840,000 $840,000 $835,000 $825,000

3 2 4 3 5 3 3 3 3 3

2172 1560 2404 2040 3368 1991 1799 2926 1721 1631

1935 2008 1960 1940 1938 1957 1960 1936 1949 1925

$6,600,000 $3,394,500 $2,995,000 $2,270,000 $2,250,000 $2,030,000 $1,850,000 $1,662,500 $1,520,000 $1,506,500 $1,350,000 $1,290,000 $1,208,000 $1,154,000 $1,075,000 $1,005,000 $920,000 $885,000 $862,000

4 5 5 3 3 1 3 2 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 2

8011 5506 4211 2086 3929 2065 3794 1531 2076 2071 1558 2299 2253 1686 1776 1686 2084 1980 1396

2003 1941 1956 1957 1941 1953 1962 1950 1966 1931 1948 1966 1946 1951 1947 1947 1973 1958 1951

$5,378,000 $3,300,000 $3,075,000 $2,900,000 $2,780,000 $2,450,000 $2,250,000 $1,920,000 $1,870,000 $1,795,000 $1,650,000 $1,536,000 $1,500,000 $1,495,000 $1,440,000 $1,425,000 $1,420,000 $1,345,000 $1,302,500 $1,265,000 $1,219,000 $1,217,000 $1,158,500 $1,098,000 $1,095,000 $1,095,000 $1,049,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $998,000 $989,000 $950,000 $893,000 $855,000 $845,000 $838,000 $835,000

5 4 7 4 6 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 2 4 4 2 3 3 4 2 10 5 2 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2

5148 3911 3533 3166 3873 4600 3540 4298 2837 2280 2897 2341 2627 2200 2144 1572 2448 2566 1596 1352 2198 1969 2117 1661 3756 2496 1591 2278 2870 2238 2603 1568 1719 1875 1618 1824 1372

$3,680,000 $3,400,000 $3,200,000 $2,536,000 $2,300,000 $2,250,000 $1,650,000 $1,450,000 $1,388,000

6 5 4 4 5 2 3 3 4

$1,584,500 $971,000 $900,000 $1,908,000 $1,400,000 $1,385,000 $1,100,000 $1,055,000 $990,000

PREV. SOLD

$405,000

02/03/1989

$600,000 $687,000 $1,645,000 $230,000 $325,000 $700,000 $475,000 $270,000

04/22/2013 09/15/2004 10/30/2006 04/04/1986 06/14/1988 11/19/2004 11/17/2006 09/14/1995

$2,100,000 $821,000 $1,285,000 $1,950,000

12/23/2003 06/20/1996 04/29/2014 12/04/2013

$999,000 $787,500 $420,000 $690,000 $895,000 $910,000 $1,105,500

08/08/2000 04/01/2013 01/10/1995 06/12/2001 07/16/2009 12/23/2003 05/22/2015

$425,000

07/01/1997

$290,000

04/08/2004

1949 1948 1937 1922 1918 1914 2007 1949 1939 1949 1962 1949 1948 1951 1946 1941 1988 1927 1958 1950 1937 1948 1915 1948 1905 1937 1938 1907 1983 1960 1951 1951 1952 1937 1922 1979 1927

$2,660,000 $1,250,000

06/15/2012 06/02/1989

$1,801,000

08/18/2014

$1,070,010

05/16/2001

$944,000 $625,000 $1,195,000 $875,000 $1,380,000 $1,226,000 $1,400,000

05/28/2010 06/23/1999 06/08/2005 06/25/2004 06/27/2013 03/15/2013 02/23/2007

$665,000 $1,120,000 $360,000 $1,100,000 $1,174,500 $1,110,000 $980,000

06/28/2000 03/31/2005 11/17/1988 09/29/2010 10/15/2008 04/17/2013 12/19/2006

$1,024,000 $850,000 $555,000 $915,000 $690,000 $825,500 $865,000 $415,000 $925,000

07/24/2007 12/02/2005 06/10/2004 01/25/2007 04/02/2003 10/05/2010 06/28/2013 10/08/1998 05/01/2014

$409,000 $180,000 $465,000

07/25/2000 12/21/1979 09/12/2002

3340 3889 3549 2719 3076 2898 1578 2255 1717

1948 1927 1929 1951 1930 1935 1941 1940 1925

$1,360,000 $901,000 $2,000,020

10/22/2004 03/28/2000 05/26/2005

$1,555,000 $1,280,000 $1,590,000 $1,150,000

05/26/2005 10/14/2004 10/17/2014 01/29/2013

5 4 0

3094 1592 0

2006 1995

$1,150,000

02/02/2009

5 3 6 4 3 3

2913 2508 3360 2100 1532 1760

1953 1967 1936 1955 1923 1947

$1,070,000

12/10/2004

$366,000

11/30/1999 12.15 ARROYO | 31

32 | ARROYO | 12.15

DIM THE LIGHTS

The third annual Pasadena International Film Festival is getting ready for its close-up. BY NOELA HUESO

PASADENA IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED METROPOLIS WITH ITS OWN SYMPHONY, LIVE THEATER, MUSEUMS, ART GALLERIES, ART NIGHTS, COMEDY CLUBS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS. UNTIL NEARLY THREE YEARS AGO, HOWEVER, WHAT THIS ARTS MECCA DIDN’T HAVE WAS A FILM FESTIVAL BEFITTING SUCH A

PHOTO: André Coleman

SAVVY CITY. Actress Jessica Hardin, with the help of her actor-husband Marco Neves, set out to change that in 2012 and, two years later, the inaugural Pasadena International Film Festival (PIFF) was born. Dedicated to showcasing a wealth of independent fi lms from around the world, it also celebrates Pasadena’s uniqueness by incorporating into the festivities many of the city’s best-known landmarks and institutions, including Caltech, the Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena Museum of History. “[In creating the festival], I really wanted to get to know all facets of Pasadena,” says Hardin, an Illinois native who grew up in South Carolina and married Pasadena resident Neves in 2009. “I did tons of research and met with lots of people. I noticed how, even before I was 100 percent definite that I wanted to do it, people were really excited about it. It was such a wonderful, juicy idea that it got to the point where I thought, ‘I have to do this. Come hell or high water, this has got to happen.’” The seeds of the festival were planted after Neves, who was born in Brazil and raised in Portugal, returned from a visit to the Almería International Short Film Festival in Spain. “He said the festival was kind of a mess, a bit disorganized,” Hardin recalls. “Then, after going to the Beverly Hills Film Festival, it occurred to us that Pasadena didn’t have one — and that we could do a great job creating one.” While Hardin readily admits that there are “a million” fi lm festivals around the country, including the greater Los Angeles area, “there’s only a handful of really good ones,” she asserts. “Our niche is quality and excellence. The most important thing, of course, is that this festival is in Pasadena,” and that it adds to the city’s rich cultural makeup. PIFF’s third edition, which takes place March 2 through 10 at the Laemmle Theater in the Playhouse District, has grown into a nine-day event, up from six days in 2015 and five in 2014. It will screen more than 100 fi lms, and feature panels and parties at nearby Actress Jessica Hardin, with actor-husband Marco Neves

–continued on page 42 34 12.15 | ARROYO | 33

Festival entry After Kony: Staging Hope producers Martin Sheen, Melissa Fitzgerald and Katy Fox with PIFF Creative Director Marco Neves (second from left) at the inagural festival

Festival honoree and La Cañada Flintridge resident Michael Gross

Kirstin Zotovich, writer/director/ actor of Lucky 13th, parties at The Great Gatsby Gala. 34 | ARROYO | 12.15

venues. “The festival brings a diverse collection of independent feature fi lms, short films and documentaries to audiences who may not have an opportunity to see these films elsewhere,” says PIFF juror and former Universal Pictures Vice President Monika Skerbelis, a Pasadena resident who also serves as the programming director for The American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Through PIFF, “local audiences get to experience various cultures and topics,” she says. Skerbelis sees another bonus, too: “Filmmakers from all over the country learn about Pasadena and can see what the city has to offer. Hopefully, they’ll [consider Pasadena] for future fi lm shoots,” which would bring more revenue to the city. Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek concurs. “Anecdotally, I would say that fi lm is an important medium in this city as Pasadena is an active and popular location for all forms of fi lming,” he said in an email. “Now in its third year, the Pasadena International Film Festival attracts fi lmmakers from all over the world, adding to Pasadena’s rich cultural community and global appeal. “The fi lm festival in particular and the arts in general contribute to the city’s economic health,” he continued. “A National Endowment for the Arts Economic Impact Study for Pasadena revealed that at least $24 [per person] is generated in our local economy by arts and cultural events.” For the benefit of both international travelers and Angelenos who attend the festival — “We’ve had a number of Westsiders who had never been to Pasadena before,” Hardin says incredulously — she purposefully keeps all aspects of the festival centrally located between the Playhouse District and Old Pasadena. Last year, industry mixers and parties were held at Vertical Wine Bistro, redwhite+bluezz and The Speakeasy, a hip, must-have-a-password-to-get-in retro cocktail lounge on Raymond Avenue. The fest’s annual Great Gatsby–themed gala is likely to take place at another hot spot — the chic new DusitD2 Constance Pasadena hotel on Colorado Boulevard, where last year’s closing party took place. “I love that community mindset where you can just walk around and not have to worry about calling a car service,” Hardin says. Unlike some festivals with predetermined categories, Hardin programs PIFF from among the festival’s own submissions. (PIFF accepts all genres in all forms, from features, shorts and documentaries to webisodes, animation and music videos.) “It’s a full-time job because we set [some] submission deadlines as early as April,” Hardin says. “April through December we’re watching movies.” She expects to receive more than 700 entries by the 2016 festival’s Dec. 21 deadline. Though she works alone “about 90 percent of the time,” Hardin has an advisory board of entertainment industry professionals that meets several times a year. Fifteen board members help narrow down the contenders and a five-member jury of industry pros decides on the winning fi lms. In 2015, there were eight awards categories: actor, actress, director and screenplay, plus feature, animated, documentary and short fi lms. Last year’s celebrity honorees included actors Eric Roberts and Doris Roberts (no relation), who received Lifetime Achievement Awards; Jason Ritter (Parenthood), recipient of the fest’s Breakthrough Performance Award; Tom Lenk (Buff y the Vampire Slayer), who received the Comedic Mastery Award; and Rising Star Award winner Sadie Calvano (Mom). The 2016 honorees are still under consideration. While the festival lineup was still a work in progress at press time, festivalgoers can expect to see programming blocks aimed at specific audiences, such as young adult females, who will be able to see a documentary about the country’s fi rst all-female acappella group. The Smiffenpoofs was founded in 1936 at Hardin’s alma mater, Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts. In keeping with the theme of the documentary, Hardin has reached out to Pasadena’s Westridge School for Girls and enlisted its own acapella chorus, the Madrigals, which is slated to perform right before the screening. The City of Roses block will feature fi lms made in or about Pasadena, such as Go Public, a documentary about the Pasadena Unified School District’s success stories.

PHOTOS: PHOTOS TOS: Courtesy Courtes r tesyy of of Pasadena International Interna rnatio tional Film Festival Festiv tival al

–continued from page 33

2014 PIFF honoree Jay O. Sanders

A bonus for some PIFF fi lmmakers has been the opportunity to participate in Cannes’ American Pavilion’s Emerging Showcase, thanks to Pasadena juror Skerbelis’ encouragement — and her role as its programmer. Thus far, two PIFF fi lms have enjoyed that route to the Riviera, one in 2014 and one in 2015. Last year’s entry, the 20-minute short fi lm Bis Gliech/Til Then, directed by Benjamin Wolff, won the showcase’s Best Short Film award. “I tell people, ‘If you want to go to Cannes, come to Pasadena first!’” Hardin says with a laugh. Getting the first Pasadena festival off the ground meant relying heavily on the financial support of local businesses to fund and provide in-kind sponsorships, Hardin says. Early friends who’ve continued their support include Boston Court Performing Arts Center, Pasadena Water and Power, the Pasadena Film Office and Woodbury University. After consulting someone with experience running festivals, Harden realized the costs could be steep, so she’d have to get “creative, crafty and scrappy” if she wanted to launch one in Pasadena. “She told us we had to get a limo for every star in attendance,” she says. “Well, that’s like $700 a star. That would have been nearly $4,000, which [was] insane [for our budget at the time]. As it happened, Uber was just getting started three years ago, and they became an in-kind sponsor, providing free rides for the celebrities in attendance.” “Jessica has managed on a shoestring budget to put on an event that rivals other older, more established festivals,” says documentary fi lmmaker Heather Connell, who showed Forget Us Not at the inaugural PIFF. “It’s a thankless task to constantly be out there asking for support, but the passion she and Marco bring to the project shows in the quality of the festival they’ve created.” Hardin has had a passion for show business since she began acting at age 6. After studying drama in high school and college, she attended the National Theater Institute in Connecticut and London’s British American Drama Academy before moving to New York to pursue her craft in the early 2000s. For now, however, she has put her own acting ambitions on the back burner. While she still has active SAGAFTRA and Equity memberships “in case something comes along,” she says she’s having too much fun with PIFF. She discovered she prefers to be in the driver’s seat — “I really like making decisions,” Hardin says. “Imagine being an auditioning singer on American Idol and then imagine being a judge. It’s a lot nicer being the judge. How many people can say, ‘I love what I do?’ I’m really fortunate. I’m excited to get up in the morning [and get to work].” ||| Interested in submitting a film to the Pasadena International Film Festival? Dec. 4 is the “late” deadline for submissions via pasadenafilmfestival.org, filmfreeway.com or withoutabox.com. The deadline for submitting via withoutabox.com only has been extended to Dec. 21. Visit pasadenafilmfestival.org for details, schedule and tickets. 12.15 | ARROYO | 35

SPICY HOLIDAYS IN SANTA FE Wreaths of ristras and corn at the Santa Fe Farmers Market

In The City Different, you can enjoy Christmas all year round — as long as it’s on your plate. STORY AND PHOTOS BY IRENE LACHER

VIRTUALLY EVERY CHEF DU JOUR TOUTS REGIONAL CUISINE THAT’S LOCALLY SOURCED. BUT REALLY, IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY, YOU SEE ONE REGIONAL CUISINE, YOU’VE SEEN THEM ALL. HOW DIFFERENT IS AN L.A. CHEF’S HOUSEMADE A farmer selling prized chiles from Chimayó

CHARCUTERIE FROM ONE SERVED IN SAN FRANCISCO — OR NEW YORK, FOR THAT MATTER? Not so in Santa Fe, where a multiculti stew from its diverse ancestry — Spanish colonials, Mexicans, Anglos and Native Americans — has produced a cuisine that is truly specific to the place. Chile (the pepper), yes; chili (the dish), not so much. That’s due in part to the region’s particular botanical bounty, where the chile is king. Ergo, the ubiquitous ristras, decorative strings of dried red peppers dangling from eaves all over town. And Christmas isn’t just a holiday in The City Different — it’s a condiment option. In Santa Fe, you can have Christmas all year round, provided you like splashes of red and green chile with your meal. But not all chiles are created equal: Local connoisseurs claim to be able to taste the difference between peppers planted a mere hour apart by car and will argue their respective merits with passion. The most coveted include the smoky, earthy chiles that grow in tiny Chimayó, 25 miles south of Santa Fe, where hot days, cool nights, high altitude and the dry climate produce a pepper dubbed “legendary” and “unmistakable” by Saveur. Terroir, baby, terroir. Chimayó chiles are rare because only 500 acres are cultivated and much of the crop is consumed by locals. You could drop $9 for four ounces of ground Chimayó chiles at americanspice. com. Or you could do as I did during a recent Santa Fe trip and savor a different Chimayó experience at Restaurante Rancho de Chimayó (ranchodechimayo.com) in a 19th-century adobe structure that once housed Mexican colonials. The colorful eatery, which favors jalapeños, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year under original owner Florence Jaramillo, serving dishes “the way our grandmothers used to cook,” as someone there described it. Reserve a table on the flower-splashed terrace and dig into her specialty sopaipilla relleno — fried pastry stuffed with beef or chicken, beans

36 | ARROYO | 12.15

Casa Chimayó’s Three Sisters Enchilada, Christmas-style

Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe

Luminaria Restaurant’s outdoor patio

and rice, topped with cheddar, guacamole and red or green chile (or a double-barreled Christmas-style serving). Chiles even make it into several Mesoamerican elixirs — unsweetened chocolate drinks based on historical recipes — at Kakawa Chocolate House (kakawachocolates. com). Sample the Mayan Full Spice Elixir, made with chihuacle negro chile, herbs, flowers and Mexican vanilla, or the Rose Almond Elixir, spiced with chipotle morita chile. My favorite was the earthy Chile Elixir, simply crafted with agave nectar, mild ancho chile and vanilla. Even artisan liquor gets the local treatment at Santa Fe Spirits (santafespirits. com), which makes truly unique vodka, gin, brandy and whiskey, blended with local flora, such as sage, juniper, osha root, maize or Sangre de Cristo mountain water. Oddly, because I never considered myself a whiskey fan, I was most taken with the smoky Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey, also a favorite of Santa Fe Spirits’ English founder, Colin Keegan. Peat-smoked Scotch gets the Santa Fe treatment with a smoked-malt and barrel-aging process different from its low-altitude British competitors. Stop by the distillery for tastes or savor Santa Fe Spirits in mixed drinks at Hotel Chimayó’s retro Low ’n Slow Lowrider Bar just off the the Santa Fe Plaza. But not all local cuisine is spicy. One of the more intriguing meals I enjoyed there was also the simplest, inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s Abiquiu garden and the Three Sisters — Native Americans’ main crops of squash, corn and beans. The setting was a Santa Fe School of Cooking class (santafeschoolofcooking.com), using recipes from A Painter’s Kitchen: Recipes From the Kitchen of Georgia O’Keeffe by her assistant Margaret Wood. O’Keeffe was a follower of health food pioneer Adele Davis, and our meal of corn soup and baked chicken with lemon was typical of the artist’s fare, cooked in “the spirit of fresh flavor and good health,” in the painter’s words. If your holidays are already booked, swing by anytime from Jan. 15 through 17, 2016, for the new Santa Fe Foodie Classic (santafefoodieclassic.com). Look for a tempting “7 Deadly Sins” dinner at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, a tasting of New Mexico’s craft beers and much more. |||

A tasting table at Santa Fe Spirits

–continued on page 38 12.15 | ARROYO | 37

Fried eggs served Christmasstyle at Luminaria

PHOTO: Courtesy of Santa Fe Botanical Garden

SANTA FE’S HOLIDAY LIGHTS

If you prefer a white Christmas to Pasadena’s green one (which can be an acquired taste), consider a jaunt to Santa Fe. This month, you’ll probably encounter some actual snow in the evenings, although it might melt by the following noon — still snowy enough for us delicate Southern Californians. (Hard-core snow lovers can hit the slopes at Ski Santa Fe, 16 miles from and 3,350 feet higher than the city.) But one thing is certain: Santa Fe excels in a different sort of white Christmas, winter wonderlands created with ethereal light. Dec. 24 — Perhaps the best-known tradition is the free Canyon Road Farolito Walk, which falls on Christmas Eve, when the city’s half-mile-long road lined with adobe art galleries is adorned with farolitos (votives placed in sand-fi lled paper bags) and luminarias (small bonfires). Revelers, some caroling as they go, pop into galleries offering hot chocolate, cider and biscochitos — New Mexico’s official state cookies. Visit farolitowalk.com. SOME OTHER HOLIDAY-SEASON EVENTS: Th rough Jan. 2 — The Santa Fe Botanical Garden dazzles with Glow — A Winter Lights Event in the Garden, accented by geodesic domes lit from within, amid trees that, well, glow with colored lights. Glow lights up Thursdays through Saturdays, from 5 to 8 p.m. Admission costs $9; $6 for adult members, seniors, military and children 4 to 12 ($4 for child members). Children 3 and younger are admitted free. The Santa Fe Botanical Garden is located at Museum Hill, 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe. Call (505) 471-9103 or visit santafebotanicalgarden.org. Dec. 6 — Downtown Santa Fe Plaza is illuminated for the Jewish Festival of Lights (a.k.a. Hanukkah) with the annual lighting of a community menorah in a 90-minute event starting at 3 p.m. Look for speakers, entertainment and refreshments. Dec. 13 — Santa Fe flaunts its Hispanic roots with Las Posadas (which means “lodgings”), a free annual candle-lit procession around the downtown plaza from 5:30 to 7 p.m., re-creating Mary and Joseph’s Christmas Eve search for a place to give birth to Jesus. The procession ends at the nearby Palace of the Governors (recently deemed a National Historic Treasure), where the festivities continue with free courtyard caroling and cookies. The Palace of the Governors is located at 105 W. Palace Ave., Santa Fe. Visit palaceofthegovernors.org. —IL 38 | ARROYO | 12.15

–continued from page 37

IF YOU GO WHERE TO EAT: Casa Chimayó This temple to authentic Santa Fe cuisine is family owned and dedicated to presenting spicy cuisine as a goodwill ambassador for the culture of Nueva Espaňa. Try the robust Three Sisters Enchilada, blue corn tortillas with Mexican squash, corn, cheese and chile. 409 W. Water St., Santa Fe, (505) 428-0391, casaChimayósantafe.com L’Olivier An intimate restaurant serving Chef Xavier Grenet’s superb and unusual fusion of French and ﬁne Southwestern cuisines. The tender grass-fed, rosemarybraised beef short ribs are a must for your bucket list. 229 Galisteo St., Santa Fe, (505) 989-1919, loliviersantafe.com Luminaria Restaurant The dining room of the four-diamond Inn and Spa at Loretto has a sustainable menu and one of the most romantic patios in town, accented by an outdoor ﬁ replace, chandeliers, a white cabana and adobe-colored umbrellas. 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, (505) 984-7915, innatloretto.com

WHERE TO SLEEP: Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe This boutique hotel cocooned in ristras is very plugged into its surroundings — the lobby and large rooms are decorated with weavings and custom artwork by local Chimayó artists. Mine was festooned with an atmospheric cluster of simple crosses handcrafted from branches. 125 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, (505) 988-4500, hotelChimayó.com La Fonda on the Plaza Centrally located, this landmark hotel sheltered trappers and gold seekers before morphing into a Harvey House in 1925. It’s since been carefully restored, decorated with local artwork while maintaining its historic sheen. 100 E. San Francisco St., Santa Fe, (505) 982-5511, lafondasantafe.com Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi A luxury hotel (named for a New Mexico tribe) with an extensive art collection and a chic spin on the city’s multiculti inﬂuences. Don’t miss the recently renovated earth-toned Anasazi Restaurant Bar & Lounge, which boasts a dedicated tequila table for tasting its sizable collection of premium tequilas. 113 Washington Ave., Santa Fe, (505) 988-3030, rosewoodhotels.com

12.15 ARROYO | 39

KITCHEN CONFESSIONS

FANTASY LEAGUE 2.0

When you're compiling the guest list for your fantasy dinner party, seat Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton at separate tables. BY LESLIE BILDERBACK

’T

is the season of entertaining, and while I partake in the standard social fare — in-laws, work parties, potlucks — there is only one social event I want to be at. My fantasy dinner party. If fantasy sports leagues can be a thing, why not fantasy culinary events? I’ve been hosting a fantasy dinner party in my head for years. If you Google “fantasy dinner party” you will see this is not a new idea. But what I am proposing is a competitive league. It is no more ridiculous than fantasy sports, and 40 | ARROYO | 12.15

it is 100 times more creative. Plus, there will be no money changing hands, therefore no danger of insider trading. (Unless it catches on. In which case there might be money. Never say never.) Here’s how we’ll do it: First, compile your guest list. You can choose anyone living. Chefs are often asked whom they’d most like to cook for, and most answers include Julia Child and Albert

Einstein. It would make for interesting dinner conversation, to be sure — except they are gone. And while I am putting a pin in a Dining with Dead People idea for next year’s Halloween column, for me, the real thrill of a fantasy dinner party is that there is a 99.9 percent chance that it could actually happen. I suppose there is technically a chance that a fantasy sports team could come true too — but I think my dinner party odds are better. The perfect dinner party roster has eight guests, but you need two extra in case of casualties. (Events like a sex scandal, bribery accusations or a stint in rehab will move your guest to the DL.) Choose a group of people who will offer lively, fascinating conversation. Points are earned for clever banter, so think carefully. Kardashians should be drafted only as a last resort. Interests should intersect, or at least complement. You will earn more points if your guests become unlikely friends. Imagine how many points you’d have if you'd invited Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan before they were married. Just because dinner party stats don’t exist doesn’t mean we can't start a database. In the meantime, use common sense. Consider Twitter popularity, TMZ appearances and general polling. Points are deducted for faux pas, outbursts and physical altercations. When your guests blunder in real life, you lose, so consider past performance when compiling your roster. Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton might each make lively guests in certain company, but sitting them at the same table is just going to make everyone else uncomfortable. Points deducted. In my Fantasy Dinner Party League (now it’s capitalized, because now it’s a real thing), the menu is key. You will be awarded points for menu and ambience by votes from other league members. Think Academy Awards meets Michelin. Since there will be no actual eating, creativity wins out over deliciousness. I have been planning my menus for years and have come to favor theme dinners for fantasy dining. I have several menus set around particular historical eras and regions, such as the United States in the 1930s, because Depression-era food is hilariously inventive. The Imperial Rome menu features cuisines from enslaved peoples of the second century, because I like spices and controversy. I have also created menus around iconic cultural events, including the Dark Side of the Moon menu. This has dishes inspired by Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 album — though to be honest, it is mostly food I was craving when I listened to it at Laserium in 1979. The Star Wars menu is corny, with things like Gungan Gumbo and Aunt Beru’s Blue Milk. And then there is The Walking Dead menu, which tastes way better than it looks, but is definitely not suitable for vegans. As you can no doubt tell, I have been thinking about this for a long time. I keep a list on my fridge of potential guests, which is constantly evolving as my interests change, as people fall in and out of favor or they leave this space-time continuum. The official Fantasy Dinner Party League will have ranked draft picks, so my guest list will be partially reliant on the luck of the draw. That said, here is my dream roster:

Bernie Sanders I know he will not have time to come, because (if I’m reading the current political climate correctly) he will be the President. But the invitation is extended, and if he comes, I will seat him next to George Takei because I think Mr. Sanders needs an evening of joviality. He can go back to worrying about the impending doom of our planet in the morning.

Marc Maron This comedian and podcast host needs to be at my party because he is a skilled interviewer, and we will no doubt be in need of conversation jump-starters. Also, he always seems a little tense, which I think is both funny and oﬀ putting — a classic dinner party combo. Plus, if the prez comes, they can reminisce about the time they tied up traﬃc from the Rose Bowl to Highland Park.

Dave Grohl I am only a part-time Foo Fighters fan, but Mr. Grohl is on my list because I hear he is a really nice guy and will therefore get along with everybody. And I ﬁgure if I add him I can also get the musician I really want, Josh Homme. If you are not a rock ’n’ roller these names will mean nothing to you. Suﬃce to say, it is the equivalent of inviting Dino over so you can get to Frank.

Norm Macdonald Leading oﬀ the SNL Weekend Update with “And now the fake news” will always be hilarious to me. If the conversation gets dull, he can read the menu to the rest of my guests, because he can make anything funny.

Vin Scully Even Giants fans love him. It’s a win-win draft pick. I’m not convinced he has a sense of humor, but he’ll know the stats of the rest of my guests, which will be amusing.

Scott Kelly If you don’t follow this astronaut on Twitter or Instagram, you should. And when you do, you will know why he must attend this party. He is the one guest everyone will be giddy to meet. He will be the thing, apart from the menu, that makes this the party of the century.

The President or Vice President of the U.S.

Clive Owen

Of course, POTUS will certainly be the No. 1 draft choice, so I thought it prudent to include Uncle Joe Biden as my backup. Either way I’m golden. If I end up with Uncle Joe, I will have him inappropriately whisper into the ears of the other guests — which will be my creepy but awesome party favor to everyone.

This choice is really just for decoration.

Patrick Stewart This multifaceted actor will certainly hold his own in any conversation. And he is clearly very gracious. I actually did cook for him once. Several of us from the pastry department pretended to be busboys so we could get close. He’s really, really bald.

George Takei Besides the Star Trek connection (a show I pretended to like in the ’80s so my [now] husband would like me, but ended up really liking it), Mr. Takei is damn funny, which is a must at my dinner party. If it is ever determined that a guest on my list is not actually funny, oﬀ they go. He can sit next to Mr. Stewart.

One’s Fantasy Dinner Party roster is always telling. It has been pointed out on several occasions that my roster is only men. It’s not that there are no women I want to meet — it’s just that, well…there are more men. Michelle Obama was on the list for a while, but she never responded to my many letters. I think Patty Smith would be a fascinating guest, but honestly, she intimidates me. Frankly, it’s a competition thing. I have similarly left chefs oﬀ the list. I just don’t need that kind of pressure. Now that I’ve sold you on my Fantasy Dinner Party League, it’s time to start compiling your list. Recruit your friends! Create your own division! I’m telling you, this is going to be bigger than the Ramen Burger. |||| Leslie Bilderback is a certified master baker, chef and the author of Mug Meals: More Than 100 No-Fuss Ways to Make a Delicious Microwave Meal in Minutes. She lives in South Pasadena and teaches her techniques online at culinarymasterclass.com. 12.15 | ARROYO | 41

A SELECTIVE PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EVENTS COMPILED BY JOHN SOLLENBERGER

THE LIST Christmas Shines at Americana at Brand

Young Voices Celebrate the Season

Ongoing through

celebrates the season with a pair of winter

Dec. 31 — The

concerts at its home venue, the Pasa-

Dec. 6 and 13 — The L.A. Children’s Chorus

dena Presbyterian Church. The program

up the holidays with two of the tallest

includes “Let Beauty Awake” by Vaughan

Christmas trees on the West Coast, twinkling

Williams, part of a nine-song cycle set to PHOTO: Jamie Pham

Americana at Brand in Glendale lights

lights, Yuletide carols, daily entertainment and nightly snowmaking. Download the Caruso App at americanaatbrand.com or thegrovela.com to make a reservation for a visit with Santa. Events include festive shopping and dining, valet parking and concierge services, extended shopping hours and Caruso double points. The Americana at Brand is located at 889 Americana Way, Glendale.

La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin Returns

MASTER CHORALE BRINGS SEASON’S SOUNDS TO DISNEY HALL

Robert Louis Stevenson poems and the inspiration for the concert’s theme. Also on the program is “Something Like a Star” by Randall Thompson, plus holiday favorites in English and Spanish and works celebrating the holidays by Mozart and Debussy. Both concerts start at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $26 to $44, half-price for children. Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 793-4231 or visit lachildrenschorus.org.

Dec. 3 and 4 — The Latino Theater

Dec. 5 and 12 — “The Festival of Carols" is scheduled for 2 p.m. matinee

A Pirate’s Christmas at Pasadena Playhouse

Company brings two performances of

performances both days.The concerts feature new arrangements of time-honored

Dec. 9 through Jan. 3 — Lythgoe Family

La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inantzin to

carols and traditional favorites, performed by 110 chorale members and conducted

Productions presents Peter Pan and Tinker

the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels. The

by Grant Gershon.Tickets cost $29 to $119 for adults, $22 to $74 for children 6 to 12.

Bell — A Pirate’s Christmas at the Pasa-

story of indigenous peasant Juan Diego,

Dec. 6 and 20 — Handel’s Messiah is performed by 48 chorus members and four

dena Playhouse. The holiday spectacular

who has a vision of the Virgin Mary in the

soloists with an orchestra. Concerts start at 7 p.m.Tickets cost $29 to $129.

follows Tinker Bell, Peter Pan and Wendy on

mountains of Tepeyac, near Mexico City,

Dec. 13 — “Rejoice! Brass Tidings" at 7 p.m. features a brass ensemble and 62

their quest to foil the pirates’ plot to kidnap

in 1531, the production features music,

singers, conducted by Grant Gershon and featuring organist Szymon Grab.

Peter as Captain Hook’s Christmas pres-

dance and a message of love, faith and

Selections include Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata” for chorus and double

ent. This swashbuckling adventure features

perseverance. Pasadena's renowned

brass, Giovanni Gabrieli’s “Christmas Motets” for double and triple choirs, John

comedy, magic, dancers from So You Think

mezzo-soprano, Suzanna Guzmán, stars

Rutter’s “Gloria,” Paul Gibson’s “Rejoice in the Lord” and Shawn Kirchner’s “Behold

You Can Dance as well as music ranging

as the Virgin, and Sal Lopez plays Juan

New Joy: Ancient Carols of Christmas.”Tickets cost $29 to $129.

from Taylor Swift to the Bee Gees. It opens

Diego. Latino Theater Company Artistic

Dec. 16 — The 35th annual “Messiah Sing-Along” spotlights a professional chamber

at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and continues at 7:30

Director Jose Luis Valenzuela directs, with

orchestra and a quartet of professional soloists, as the audience sings the chorus,

p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; noon, 4 and

original music composed and performed

starting at 7 p.m.Tickets cost $29 to $99. Messiah scores are available at the door

7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and noon and 4 p.m.

by Alfredo Lopez Mondragon. The curtain

for $10.

Sundays through Jan. 3. Special matinees

rises at 7:30 p.m. General admission is free,

Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Call (213) 972-7282

are scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 22, 23, 24,

with reserved seating available for $35.

or visit lamc.org.

29 and 30. No performances to be held

The L.A. Master Chorale presents a series of holiday concerts in downtown L.A.:

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels is

Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or New

located at 555 W. Temple St., L.A. Call

soorders.com is Dec. 13.

Year’s Day. Tickets cost $25 to $125.

Botany and Breakfasts at Descanso Gardens

Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Des-

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39

canso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge. Call (818)

S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 356-

A Noise Within Gives Scrooge Another Chance

Dec. 5 — A class teaches guests how

949-4200 or visit descansogardens.org.

7529 or visit pasadenaplayhouse.org.

Dec. 5 through 23 — A Noise Within

materials, with sessions at 11 a.m. and

presents its annual staging of the

2 p.m. The $40 fee includes all materials.

Drawbridge Open at Castle Green

An Appalachian Christmas at Caltech

Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, the

Call or visit the website to register.

Dec. 6 — Pasadena’s Castle Green cel-

Dec. 12 — Grammy Award–winning fid-

time-honored tale of Ebenezer Scrooge

Dec. 5 and 6 — Descanso’s Botanic

ebrates the holidays, Victorian-style, with

dler Mark O’Connor brings his blend of

and his Yuletide epiphany. Will he learn

Bling trunk show features nature-themed

its annual Holiday Tour from 1 to 5 p.m.,

folk, country, jazz and classical music to

compassion for those less fortunate

jewelry and accessories, just in time for

when the historic 118-year-old building

a concert of holiday melodies from the

and make amends for his selfish ways?

Christmas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both

is transformed with music, entertainment

Smoky Mountains, at 8 p.m. in Caltech’s

Performances start at 1 and 4 p.m. Dec.

days.

and self-guided tours, including visits to

Beckman Auditorium. Tickets cost $35 to

5 and continue through Dec. 23. Tickets

Dec. 20 — All ages can share breakfast

25 private apartments. Tickets cost $30

$45, $10 for youth.

start at $48, with children’s tickets $14 off

with Santa, with seatings at 9:30 and

online in advance, $35 at the gate day

Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium is located

the regular price.

11:30 a.m. The buffet-style meal costs $66

of the event.

on Michigan Avenue south of Del Mar

A Noise Within is located at 3352 E. Foot-

for adults ($57 for adult members) and

The Castle Green is located at

Boulevard, Pasadena. Call (626) 395-4652

hill Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 356-3100

$28 for children ($24 for child members).

99 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Visit

or visit events.caltech.edu.

or visit anoisewithin.org.

The deadline for reservations at descan-

castlegreen.com.

(866) 811-4111 or visit thelatc.org.

42 | ARROYO | 12.15

to create holiday wreaths using natural

–continued on page 45

12.15 ARROYO | 43

44 | ARROYO | 12.15

THE LIST –continued from page 42

Canadian Conducts Classics for Chamber Orchestra

Dec. 22 — “White Christmas Sing-Along”

Dec. 12 and 13 — L.A. Chamber Orches-

classic White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby,

tra’s December concerts feature critical-

Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera

ly acclaimed conductor Peter Oundjian,

Ellen singing Irving Berlin hits, as the audi-

music director of the Toronto Symphony

ence sings along with the lyrics onscreen.

Orchestra. The program includes Bartók’s

Ticket prices range from $38 to $74.50.

“Divertimento,” Beethoven’s Symphony

Dec. 23 — The Grammy-winning Soweto

No. 4 and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

Gospel Choir from South Africa performs a

in E minor. The concert starts at 8 p.m.

blend of African gospel, spirituals, reggae

Saturday at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, re-

and American popular music at

peating 7 p.m. Sunday at UCLA’s Royce

8 p.m. Tickets cost $43 to $106.

Hall. Ticket prices start at $27.

Dec. 31 — “New Year’s Eve with Natalie

The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N.

Cole” spotlights the sultry, romantic sounds

Brand Blvd., Glendale. Call (213) 622-

of Cole singing classics from the American

7001 or visit laco.org.

songbook, jazz and Latin standards, ac-

features an 8 p.m. screening of the 1954

companied by a big band, at 7 and

Walking for Arthritis

10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $93.50 to $208.50.

Dec. 13 — The Jingle

S. Grand Ave., L.A. Visit laphil.com or call

Bell Run/Walk for

(323) 850-2000.

Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111

Arthritis is held in cities

Pasadena Symphony’s Candlelight Christmas

nationwide, and the local edition starts at Glendale’s Alex Theatre. Participants are encouraged to wear a holiday-themed costume, as they run or walk a 5K route

Dec. 19 — The

from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Registration costs $40, $20 for children.

Pasadena Symphony presents its annual

The Alex Theatre is located at 216 N.

“Holiday Candlelight” concert at the

Brand Blvd., Glendale. Register at jbr.org.

acoustically exquisite All Saints Church. The program features vocalist Christina

L.A. Phil Decks Disney Hall

Saffran and the orchestra performing

The L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra presents

traditional and diverse holiday music by

its “Deck the Hall” holiday performance

candlelight. In addition, the L.A. Children’s

series through December at Walt Disney

Chorus makes its eighth guest appear-

Concert Hall.

ance with the orchestra; guest performers

Dec. 17 — “A Chanticleer Christmas”

also include the Donald Brinegar Singers

features 12 male vocalists from the mostly

and the L.A. Bronze Handbell Ensemble.

acapella group Chanticleer performing an

Concerts start at 4 and 7 p.m. Ticket prices

eclectic Christmas program, starting at 8

start at $20.

p.m. Tickets cost $43 to $106.

All Saints Church is located at 132 N. Euclid

Dec. 18 — In “Holiday Organ Spectacular,”

Ave., Pasadena. Call (626) 793-7172 or visit

organist David Higgs plays devotional and

pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

festive holiday favorites on the majestic

cost $38 to $92.50.

Chandler Pavilion Hosts Holiday Celebration

Dec. 19 — At L.A. Phil’s “Holiday Sing-

Dec. 24 — The 55th annual L.A. County

Disney Hall pipe organ at 8 p.m. Tickets

Along,” the audience can chime in on

Holiday Celebration features more than 20

popular seasonal songs, backed by the

music ensembles, choirs and dance com-

hall’s pipe organ, a choir and jazz combo,

panies representing the area’s diverse

with performances at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30

neighborhoods and cultures. The free

p.m. Tickets cost $38 to $92.50.

event will be broadcast live on PBS SoCal

Dec. 21 — “A Swingin’ Christmas” features

(pbssocal.org) from 3 to 6 p.m. Entertain-

guest vocalist Carmen Bradford with the

ment starts at 12:30 p.m. on the Music

Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty

Center Plaza; at 2:30 p.m., the doors open

Barnhart, performing jazzy Christmas fa-

to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion where

vorites along with the best of Count Basie

the event continues until 6 p.m. No tickets

tunes at 8 p.m. Tickets are $43 to $106.

–continued on page 46 12.15 | ARROYO | 45

THE LIST –continued from page 45

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is located

Equestfest Spotlights Parade’s Four-Legged Stars

at 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Call (213) 972-

Dec. 29 — Equestfest offers a preview

3099 or visit holidaycelebration.org.

of the equestrian units performing in the

or reservations are required.

Rose Parade as they practice drills and

Rose Parade Float Decoration Viewing

dances, trick riding and roping at the L.A.

Before they travel

equipment and the breeds of horses

down Colorado

participating. Live music is included, and

Equestrian Center. Tour the stables, meet the riders and learn about the riding

Boulevard on New Year’s Day, see the

food and beverages are available for

floats being decorated. Tickets are

purchase. Gates open at 10 a.m. Admis-

available at the door or through Sharp

sion costs $15 to $40, free for children 5

Seating, free for children 5 and younger.

and younger. Tickets are available at the

Locations are Rosemont Pavilion,

venue or through Sharp Seating.

Brookside Pavilion and the Rose Palace.

The L.A. Equestrian Center is located at

Dec. 27 through 30 — View the decorat-

480 Riverside Dr., Burbank. Call Sharp Seat-

ing in action at Rosemont Pavilion and

ing at (626) 795-4171 or visit sharpseating.

Brookside Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m.

com. Visit tournamentofroses.com/events

Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and

for information.

Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednes-

day through Wednesday.

Lights and Libations at the Zoo

Dec. 27 through 31 — Viewing of deco-

Ongoing through Jan. 3 — The L.A. Zoo's

rating at the Rose Palace runs from noon

new holiday tradition, L.A. Zoo Lights,

to 5 p.m. Sunday ($5), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

continues through Jan. 3, offering a daz-

Monday through Wednesday ($10) and 9

zling display of thousands of LED lights,

a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday ($15).

illuminated snow flurries, 3-D animated

Rosemont Pavilion is located at 700

projections, light tunnels and fanciful

Seco St., Pasadena. Brookside Pavilion is

animal characters. The zoo lights up from

located at Lot I, south side of Rose Bowl

6 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays,

Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena.

6 to 11 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and

The Rose Palace is located at 835 S. Ray-

Dec. 21 through 23, closed Christmas Eve

mond Ave., Pasadena. Call or visit Sharp

and Christmas Day. Regular admission fees

Seating at (626) 795-4171 or sharpseating.

($20, $17 for seniors, $15 for children ages

com. Visit tournamentofroses.com/events

2 to 12, free for children younger than 2)

for information.

apply. While the zoo does not encourage

day. Tickets cost $5 on Sunday, $10 Mon-

patrons to get lit up, it does offer Holiday

46 | ARROYO | 12.15

Sneak Peek at Parade Marching Bands

Happy Hour for adults, with express entry

Dec. 29 and 30 —

cocktails, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

Get a first look at

Tickets to Holiday Happy Hour cost $75.

the marching bands

Family New Year’s Eve, starting at 6 p.m.

to the zoo and a private lounge with hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and hot and cold

scheduled to perform in the Jan. 1 Tourna-

Dec. 31, also offers express entry to L.A.

ment of Roses Parade during Bandfest at

Zoo Lights, along with a dinner buffet, soft

Pasadena City College. Bandfest I starts at

drinks, complimentary Champagne for

1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Bandfest II starts at 9:30

adults, apple cider for kids, a ride on the

a.m. Wednesday, followed by Bandfest III

conservation carousel, crafts for children,

at 2 p.m. Tickets to each session are $15,

a DJ dance party, cash bar and a live

free for children 5 and younger, available

broadcast from New York’s Times Square

through Sharp Seating.

at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $65 ($60 for Greater

Pasadena City College is located at

Los Angeles Zoo Association members),

1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Call

$40 for children ($35 for child members).

Sharp Seating at (626) 795-4171 or visit

The L.A. Zoo and Botanical Gardens is

sharpseating.com. Visit tournamento-

located at 5333 Zoo Dr. in Griffith Park. Call

froses.com/events for information.

(323) 644-4200 or visit lazoo.org. ||||

48 | ARROYO | 12.15