Sunday, February 10: Wine tasting from 3-5 PM: Bordeaux wine tasting $25 per person, cheese and baguette included (tasting menu to come).

Tuesday, February 12:  Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras party. Cajun Food will be provided. Wear your favorite mask! 

The legendary Bob Stane spoke at the Allendale Branch of the Pasadena Library on Feb. 2. Photo: Laura Monteros.

The Ice House, Coffee Gallery Backstage, the Fork in the Road … Bob Stane is a local international legend

by Laura Monteros

If you’re a night person, working on a farm may not be the career for you.  

from gloriana casey

It’s February– and that means
the month for Black History.
And way back then —-1915
museum dream we’d see.

From Union Army Vets—this dream
and for their history.
one hundred years—-2015
and  long time dream will be.

It took a while, of course it did
for D.C. moves so slow.
In 1929 Hoover,
he gave idea a GO!

The old Soviet Union was a closed society that repressed and concealed information.  During the Cold War, “Kremlinologists” were adepts who could analyze photos of Communist Party leaders at parades, or analyze the placement of stories in Pravda, and divine what was really going on behind the scenes in the regime — who was in, who was out, what were they trying to say or not trying to say.

• Biking for a cure: Barbara Bax of Altadena will make up half of Team FARA at the 15th annual Tour de Palm Springs, a cycling event designed to raise money for non-profit organizations,.  FARA stands for  the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance: Bax and teammate Stephanie Magness are both battling the disease.  The event kicks off in Palm Springs on Feb. 9.  More details here.
• Scholar: Rachel Franco of Altadena, Calif.

• Best and the brightest: The Pasadena City Council race for District 3 in the northwest just gets more and more interesting:  for starters, at least two of the candidates may be actually be living in Altadena.  Candidate Ishmael Trone is under investigation  following allegations that he’s still living with his estranged wife on MARENGO;

The contest is open to all high school seniors who either live or attend school (including home school) within the Rotary District 5300 area (essentially the San Gabriel Valley to southern Nevada).  Contestants can play virtually any musical instrument, can perform in any style,

Saturday, Feb. 9: Rumba-Flamenco music at 8:30 pm

The classes will be held March 2, 9, and 17 from 9 AM-4 PM.  CERT will teach you important skills to aid your neighborhood in case of disaster.

Classes are free, but you must register at http://AltadenaCert.eventbright.com or call 661-287-3690.  Click on the graphic for more details.

Open to children ages 2-13, Legos and Duplos are provided — just bring your imgination.

Lego Club meets at the Altadena Main Library Community Room, 600 E. Mariposa St.  

• AUFM becomes Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Marketplace:  The design firm The Think Farm decided to so some pro bono work for a local do-good organization last year, and settled on the Altadena Urban Farmer’s Market (not to be confused with the current Altadena Farmer’s Market, which it spawned).  Now rebranded, it will re-emerge this spring as the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Marketplace (certainly not to be confused with the Walmart Neighborhood Market …)
• Scholar:  Amelia M.

by Timothy Rutt

Several months ago, we shared our journey with our son Jacob.  Jake has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and through most of 2012 we were traveling to and from UC-Davis Medical Center in Sacramento weekly while he underwent a clinical trial of a new drug.

Altadenans and residents of Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, and La Crescenta are being asked to cut down on water use — including outdoor watering — while two water suppliers are completing repairs and upgrades, starting next week.

Altadena customers of Las Flores Water Company are being asked cut back on water use from Feb. 18 through March 1.  Altadena residents who are supplied by the City of Pasadena are being asked to restrict water use from Feb.

The Altadena Crest Trail Restoration Working Group (ACTRWG) meeting for tonight has been cancelled so it will not conflict with the State of the Union address.

This class happens every Wednesday evening where we come to play and learn new things which maintain and create balance, hand-eye coordination, flexibility, agility and strength!  As we mature, we often don’t notice that we’re losing all of the above until we need it.  We’ll be working/playing with a variety of “toys” including Sand Bells, clubs, ropes, bands, and kettlebells!  This is a relatively new class ~ beginners welcome ~ based on safety first! 

The fifth (yes, FIFTH!) annual “Primavera in Altadena,” the annual San Gabriel Valley Blogger’s Potluck, will be Sat., March 30, at the Mt. Curve Pavilion in Farnsworth Park.  Bloggers, fans, family, pets, etc. are all welcome!  Put it on your calendar, and bring a dish to share!

This is a busy, busy evening, with something for everybody:

• Shrove Tuesday Pancakes: Traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper cooked by the Men of Saint Mark's Church 1014  Altadena Drive. Come enjoy pancakes, sausage and applesauce, for the bargain price of $5 per individual and $15 per family,

by Timothy Rutt

The Altadena Farmer’s Market is welcoming a new vendor today:

We are pleased to welcome Whisper Farms to our market vendor mix this Wednesday! Whisper Farms grows greens using aquaponic methods in their Altadena backyard. This week they are bringing Swiss chard, Nevada, Red Sails, Buttercrunch and bibb lettuces to the market. Welcome Whisper Farms!

All in addition to their usual farm-fresh and prepared foods.  

Former Assemblyman Anthony Portantino has been appointed to the California Film Commission, according to a release from Portantino’s office.

Portantino, who represented Altadena and La Canada Flintridge in the state assembly, was termed out last yet.  He had represented the State Assembly on the Film Commission.  Prior to running for the Assembly, Portantino worked in film and television for many years. 

“I’m thrilled to be back on the Film Commission and very grateful to [Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg] for this appointment.  

• Daycare center continued: The county planning department has a website with documentation for the proposed child care center on 3311 Canyon Crest Drive (it will come up for a hearing with Altadena’s Land Use Committee on Feb. 5 and town council on Feb. 19).  Documents are right here.
• A gem: Altadena jewelry artist Jill Morrison has set up a new website for her work at sterlingdesigns.com.

Webster’s Community Pharmacy, 2450 N. Lake Avenue, is holding a second and final flu shot clinic on Saturday, January 19, from 1-5 PM.

Pharmacy co-owner Meredith Miller says that they administered over 50 shots last weekend and “IWe still have vaccine available, but it will probably run out when this clinic ends (or before!).”  

There will be an RN available during these hours exclusively for vaccinations,

The classes are in four week sessions on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 PM and Thursdays from 1-2 PM.  Each session is $45, or $14 per individual class.  

For more information or to register,

from the South Pasadena Library

An Author Night with Michael Patris and Steve Crise, two of the foremost chroniclers of the fascinating history of Mount Lowe, will be the centerpiece of the Annual Meeting of the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library on January 31,