Thoughts of carefree days and balmy evenings is a reminder that summer must be just around the corner, and time to mark your calendar for Summer Jubilee and a variety of other fun-loving family-oriented activities taking place in and around Alhambra! Here are a few coming up...

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Thursday, May 8 - Fourth Annual FREE "Music on the Green" Series - noon to 2 p.m. in the Oval Mall, at the center of The Alhambra campus, 1000 South Fremont Avenue. Provided by the Los Angeles Music Academy at The Alhambra,  each concert features students Ben Antelis on drums, Drew Allsbrook on bass, and Jackson Allen on guitar, playing a range of musical styles including jazz, funk, Latin and fusion.     
   
• Saturday, May 10 - YMCA Pancake Breakfast – 7 a.m.-11 a.m. Sponsored by the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA’s “Help Send a KID TO CAMP” Program. Location: West Side Parking Lot of the YMCA facility, located at 410 West Corto Street. Adult tickets are just $5; tickets for children 3-11 are $3; kids 3 and under are free. For more information, click here.
   
• Saturday, May 10, 2008 – Rubberbanddance – Combining the explosive beats and rhythms of street hip-hop with the subtleties of contemporary dance, Rubbberbanddance (a Montreal based troupe, led by artistic director and choreographer Victor Quijada) has created a unique and thrilling performance style that has been bringing audiences to their feet. Luckman Theater, 5151 State University Drive, Cal State LA. Tickets: $40/$35. For more information, call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600 or click here.
   
• May 10-June 3, 2008 - La Femme Exhibition at Nucleus Gallery - La Femme is a visual celebration of mothers, daughters, and sisters everywhere—featuring a diverse and talented group of exclusively female illustrators. The artworks pay tribute to the complexities and joys of motherhood in addition to reflecting life from a woman’s perspective. Pieces range from the serious to cute, and the provocative to chic—covering the entire spectrum of what it is to be a woman. Through its exciting roster of artists, La Femme hopes to showcase and celebrate women in art. Free Admission & Refreshments, plus Free flowers to all mothers on opening night; This is an all-ages exhibition. 210 E. Main St., Alhambra. Click here for hours and additional information.
   
• Sunday, May 18 - Museums of the Arroyo Day - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Experience art, architecture, family fun, music, entertainment and historical discoveries in the celebrated Arroyo Seco when six museums stretching from Los Angeles to Pasadena will open their doors to visitors free of charge. The MOTA museums are: The Gamble House, Heritage Square, Los Angeles Police Historical Society, Lummis Home, Pasadena Museum of History and the Southwest Museum of the American Indian. For more information, visit www.museumsofthearroyo.com. 
   
• Thursday, May 22 - Fourth Annual FREE "Music on the Green" Series - noon to 2 p.m. in the Oval Mall, at the center of The Alhambra campus, 1000 South Fremont Avenue. Provided by the Los Angeles Music Academy at The Alhambra,  each concert features students Ben Antelis on drums, Drew Allsbrook on bass, and Jackson Allen on guitar, playing a range of musical styles including jazz, funk, Latin and fusion.    
   
• May 29, 30 and 31 - Old Pasadena Summer Fest with Playboy Jazz - 10 a.m.-8 p.m. each day. The Festival is five great events rolled into one. In addition to the jazz, R&B, Blues and Salsa presented on the Playboy stage, the Family Fun Fest offers fun for kids of all ages with its own entertainment stage and rides and amusements; the Summer Art Fest presents the work of over 100 fine artists and craftspeople; A Taste of Summer offers tantalizing food from around the world; and the Sports Zone lets you be a pro for a day with interactive sports games, Bike/Rollerblade and skateboard demonstrations and much more. Admission is free. Location: Brookside Park (a new venue), 360 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA.  For more information, call (626) 797-6803.
   
• Saturday, June 21, 2008 – Railford Rogers Modern Ballet – 8 p.m. A favorite of the Luckman stage, the LA-based company will present an engaging mix of daring new, original works and recent favorites using a movement style that is strongly rooted in classical ballet but moving boldly forward into new territory. Luckman Theater, 5151 State University Drive, Cal State LA. Tickets: $$35/30. For more information, call the Luckman Box Office at (323) 343-6600 or click here.
   
• Saturdays, July 19-August 23, 2008 -- The Tenth Annual Alhambra Summer Jubilee! --
  6 to 10 p.m. Featuring legendary entertainers each evening: July 19 & 26: to be announced; August 2: Foreigner; August 9: Kenny Loggins (Alhambra's Hometown Hero!); August 16: The Fab Four; August 23: Tower of Power. Free Admission & Parking; Children's games & crafts; Food vendors & much more. Click here for more information. 
   
• Ongoing -- The new Garden of Flowing Fragrance at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is drawing crowds who want to see the $18.3 million addition built as a traditional Chinese garden. Craftsmen traveled from China to build the stone bridges and pavilions. The Huntington is open noon-4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays. $15-$20; $12-$15 seniors; $10 students; $6 ages 5-11. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. For more information, please call (626) 405-2100, or visit www.huntingtonlibrary.org  
   
• Ongoing – Campo Gorilla Reserve – If you haven’t heard, six low-land gorillas are now back at the L.A. Zoo and living in their new $19 million habitat. Zoo visitors will journey along a forested pathway for close-up views of the gorillas and their plush digs. There are two separate habitats—one for a family troop of gorillas led by a silverback male named Kelly and the other habitat for a pair of bachelors. The three-quarter acre Campo Gorilla Reserve completes the Zoo’s Great Ape Forest and distinguishes the Los Angeles Zoo as one of only a handful of zoos to house three species of great apes: chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas. The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2 to 12. The Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For general information, call (323) 644-4200. 
   
• Ongoing – Tuesday Night Hikes at Griffith Park - Meet at 6:45 p.m.; hike begins at 7 p.m. See the other kind of night life in Hollywood, and the other kind of stars. The Sierra Club leads these two hour hikes through the park; children (ages 8 and up) are welcome as long as they're with an adult. Wear comfortable shoes and meet at the Upper Merry-Go-Round parking lot.
   
• Ongoing Wednesdays – Family Story Time at the Alhambra Public Library – 7 p.m. Share some quality family time at this fun activity featuring stories, songs, puppets and crafts for children of all ages. For more information, call (626) 570-5008, ext. 5630.
   
• Ongoing:  Saturday Mornings - Family Nature Walk - 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Families gather outdoors for a guided walk in Eaton Canyon Natural area. The hike is appropriate for small children. Walking shoes, sunscreen, water and a hat are recommended. Participants should meet in front of the Nature Center building, 1750 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena. (626) 398-5420.
   
• Ongoing on Saturdays (10 a.m. to noon) and Monday and Tuesday Evenings (6 to 8 p.m.) -Healthy Eating Lifestyle Program - A five-session nutritional and exercise workshop designed to help families with kids who are at risk for being overweight. Classes include smart shopping tips, family meal planning advice, creating simple recipes, games, parties and activities for kids aged 5 to 12 and their entire families. Families must register and complete medical screening in order to attend. Contact health educator Kam Miller at 626-397-3660 or via email: healthy.eating@huntingtonhospital.com. Huntington Hospital, 100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena.
   
• Ongoing on Sunday Mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Alhambra Farmer's Market - Do you savor country fresh fruits and vegetables that are tasty and chock full of vitamins and minerals for good health? Surely then, you'll want to make a trip to Alhambra's Farmer's Market which is held every Sunday rain or shine (except Easter) from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. on Monterey Street––one block east of Garfield and one block south of Main Street. The market features over 600 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as various kinds of flowers and plants. For more information on the Farmer's Market, call (626) 570-5081.
   
• Griffith Observatory- Restored to its 1930s grandeur, from the murals to marble floors, and with more than twice the exhibit space. The new Richard and Lois Gunther Depths of Space gallery displays huge planetary models of our solar system and a vast photo wall spotlighting more than a million galaxies. The Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater offers films, lecture and exhibits, while a new state-of-the-art domed ceiled now appears seamless. Reservation center hours: Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. While admission to the grounds, exhibit halls and telescopes is free, there is a non-refundable charge for the required timed-entry and shuttle reservation, as parking is off-site at three locations. General reservations are $8 each; Children 5-12 years, $4 each; Children 4 years and under, Free; Seniors 60+, $4 each. There is also an admission charge to the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. For reservations or more information, call (323) 664-1181 or visit their website.
   
• Anytime - The Huntington Library - Nature activities are scheduled on Saturdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Kids of all ages can explore the world of nature at hands-on plant discovery carts located at the Lily Ponds, Desert Garden and Japanese Garden. Older kids can examine plant cross-sections under a microscope, learn how plants and animals use camouflage, compare soil and water samples, or look for local wildlife using a field guide. Younger children can make leaf rubbings, examine seed pods, create origami, or experience “a bug’s life” through insect puppet play. On the first Saturday of each month, nature crafts are also offered near the entrance pavilion. No reservations required; free with museum admission. $15 adults, $12 seniors (65+), $10 students (ages 12-18 or with student I.D.), $6 for youth (ages 5-11), free for children under 5. Information: 626-405-2100. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino.

Family-oriented Websites:
AsianFamily.com
FamilyCorner.com
FamilyFun.com
FunSites.com - "Your Family-Friendly Website"
Family Geneology Information
KCET: Kids & Family