9 p.m. Saturday Sept. 8
Spike’’s Bar & Billiards, 7813 Garvey Ave., Rosemead
$10
562-804-0200
www.spikes-bar.com, www.gamblersmark.com

By Michelle J. Mills

twitter.com/mickieszoo
Fresh from the Gaswerk Augsburg Rock n’ Roll Festival in Germany, rockabilly outfit Gambler’s Mark will play a few local shows before heading to gigs in Michigan and Chicago in mid-September. One spot you can catch them will be Spike’s Bar & Billiards in Rosemead on Saturday Sept. 8.
The El Monte trio, vocalist and guitarist Dave Gambler, upright bassist Danny Exito and drummer Ricky Lobo, have been playing together as Gambler’s Mark since 2004. The men collaborated on the music for 2006’s “National Lampoon’s TV the Movie” and self-released their own effort, “The Last Chance Saloon,” in 2007.
Gambler is the most prolific writer of the group and gets things going when they’re ready to pen new material.
“Usually I come into rehearsal with an idea and then we all throw in our two cents,” Gambler said. “From there we starting piecing it little by little until we have something down.”
He also writes the bulk of the lyrics, drawing storylines from his experiences.
“I write a lot about life and previous events that have happened, anything that has affected me deeply in my life,” Gambler said. “When I was younger it was a little bit more crazier, more rugged, like punk rock lyrics crazy. Now you live and you learn.”
All three members of Gambler’s Mark grew up and went to school in El Monte. Today, they give back to the community, playing at local schools when invited.
“We play all the schools in El Monte which is really awesome, we love doing that,” Gambler said. “The only thing is that it’s a bummer because the kids get so excited and they want to start a mosh pit. We try not to do music that will get a mosh pit going, but sometimes it’s hard to control them. For the most part, nobody gets hurt.”
Gambler’s father sang and played guitar, so it was natural for him to begin playing as well by the time he was 10. He took his music seriously, studying with various teachers, including local guitarist Pat O’Brien, and carried his guitar with him everywhere, which garnered him the nickname “Ritchie Valens.”
Gambler works several jobs to support the lulls in his music career. He is an independent tattoo artist, a bartender at Old Towne Pub in Pasadena and, with friend Matthew Geizer, the owner of Nature’s Mistake, a graphic t-shirt company licensed with Warner Bros. And Paws Inc. <NO1>Gamble enjoys barbecuing and watching movies at home with his family.
Gambler’s family and music mesh in the form of his brother and bandmate Exito. The two men get along well.
“We have a great relationship as brothers,” Gambler said. “We’ll fight for two minutes and then 30 seconds later, we’re laughing and normal. We’ve always been like that.
“We have our disagreements about music, but we always work it out. Actually all three of us. I think that’s why we’ve lasted as a band with original members for so long because we get along really well,” Gambler said. “We are able to write music and get through it without killing each other.”
Gambler’s Mark is currently finishing up its next self-release, “The Cho Incident,” due out in November. The album will feature 13 songs and artwork by rockabilly artist and illustrator Vince Ray. As for playing live, the band’s calendar is full through the end of the December and it’s already scheduling shows for next year.

GERSHWIN ON THE GREEN
Pianist Kevin Cole and conductor Larry Blank join the Pasadena Pops and the newly-created JPL Chorus in a celebratory performance, “Gershwin on the Green” at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 8. The final concert in the summer series features George Gershwin’s powerhouse piano works “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Concerto in F” alongside selections from “Porgy and Bess,” and hits including “Foggy Day,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Strike Up the Band.” Kevin Cole is regarded as one of the greatest interpreters of Gershwin’s music by critics and has been described as “America’s Pianist.” Larry Blank was a close colleague of the late Marvin Hamlisch and appeared alongside Hamlisch in a Pops concert in July. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20 for lawn seating and $35 to $96 for a place at a table. Contact the box office at www.PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org or call 626-793-7172.
Free parking is available at the adjacent Westfield Santa Anita shopping center.

A ROCKIN’ HOMECOMING

In the ’80s and ’90s, The Trax was a staple in the local music scene. It was common to catch them at various San Gabriel Valley hangouts, such as Bucky’s Bar and Grill (now The Rude Dog) in Covina, offering up a selection of rock covers and originals. The Trax is back for its 30th Year Reunion Show with Gorilla Cookies, Xenoterra and Square One. 8 p.m. Saturday Sept. 8 at Michaelangelo’s Pizza and Laser Galaxy, 1549 N. Citrus Ave. in Covina. $10. 626-966-8750; www.m-angelos-pizza.com

MORE MUSIC TRIPLE PLAY

Trough Records boasts a roster of some of the best singer/songwriters around and for one night each year you can treat your ears to many of them on one stage. Catch performances by Dave Morrison, Phil Ward, Tedrow-Vreeland, Andrew Lorand, Lisa Johnson, Piper-Grey, Mark Humphreys and Paul Zollo, plus special guest artists at the <MC>Trough Singer/Songwriter Show. 7 p.m. Sunday Sept. 9 at Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont St., South Pasadena. $15. 626-969-0778; www.fremontcentretheatre.com
Laurie Lewis is a singer, songwriter, fiddler and guitarist. She has won a Grammy, appeared on Prairie Home Companion, played the Grand Ole Opry, and has been named Female Vocalist of the Year twice by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Lewis plays traditional songs as well as new ones, at 8 p.m. Friday Sept. 7 in Caltech’s Beckman Institute Auditorium, 400 S. Wilson Ave., Pasadena. $15. 626-395-4652; events.caltech.edu

The Walking Phoenixes offer a Johnny Cash tribute at 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 8 at the Farnsworth Park Amphitheater, 568 E. Mt. Curve Ave. This outdoor summer concert is free.

5. FREE DAY IN THE GARDEN
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont is dedicated exclusively to California’s native plants, and displays about 2,000 of them across 86 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Check out the Indian Hill Mesa, a large flat-topped hill of dense clay soils, heavily planted with mature cultivars and wild species of native plants, prominently featuring wild lilacs and Manzanitas. The East Alluvial Gardens include the Desert Garden, the Coastal Dune and California Channel Islands collections, the Tongva Village interpretive site and the Majestic Oak. There also are large serene groves of pinyon, California Flannel Bushes and distinct jmlhua trees. Admission is usually $8, but to celebrate California’s admission to the United States, the garden will offer free admission to all on Sunday, Sept. 9,which is California Admissions Day. The garden is at 1500 N. College Ave. 909-625-8767

Compiled by Catherine Gaugh, Linda Fields Gold and Michelle J. Mills

CARRIE HAMILTON THEATRE
39 S. El Molino Ave.,
Pasadena. 626-356-7529.
“Bend in the Road,” a new musical version of “Anne of Green Gables,” opens Sept. 15-Oct. 7. Previews are $10, 7 p.m. Sept. 14 and 1 p.m. Sept. 15. Regular price tickets are $20-$25 and may be ordered at bendintheroadtickets. eventbrite.com/. Most shows are 7 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays. pasadenaplayhouse.org.

Nearby

ALEX THEATRE
216 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale. 818-243-2539.
Musical Theatre Guild presents “Titanic”; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24. $40.

AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER
4700 Western Heritage Way,
Los Angeles.
323-667-2000, ext. 299. Native Voices presents a staged reading of Jaisey Bates’ “The Day We Were Born,” the story of two Inupiat boys who are activated for service in the Alaskan National Guard and are sent to the sweltering heat of Iraq; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Staged readings are free, but reservations are recommended. NativeVoicesAtTheAutry.org.

FREMONT CENTRE THEATRE
1000 Fremont Ave.,
South Pasadena. 866-811-4111. “How Obama Got His Groove Back”; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, until Oct. 7. $25-$30.

GLENDALE CENTRE THEATRE
324 N. Orange St.,
Glendale. 818-244-8481.
“Little Shop of Horrors,” 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through  Oct. 6. $22-$28.

LOS ANGELES MUSIC CENTER
135 N. Grand Ave.,
Los Angeles

DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION
213-972-8001.
L.A. Opera season opens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 with “The Two Foscari,” starring Placido Domingo. Other performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 29, Oct. 9 and 2 p.m. Sept. 23 and Oct. 7. $20-$270, tickets at L.A. Opera Box Office or laopera.com.

MARK TAPER FORUM
213-628-2772.
Artistic temperament colors “Red,” with Alfred Molina as Mark Rothko, ends Sept. 9. $45-$55. CenterTheatreGroup.org.

PANTAGES THEATRE
6233 Hollywood Blvd.,
Los Angeles. Box office, 323-468-1770 or 800-982-2787.
“Book of Mormon,” Sept. 5-Nov. 25. Tickets on sale now, start at $30. Ticketmaster or BroadwayLA.org.

REDCAT
631 W. Second St., inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex, Los Angeles. 213-237-2800.
“Gob Squad,” a British- German collective of artists who blend live video and performance to explore the meeting of art, media and real life; Sept. 20-23.

SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE
87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. 626-355-4318. Arthur Miller’s “Incident at Vichy,” runs 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, ends Sept. 8. $15-$25. Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Ruddigore” opens Sept. 21. sierramadreplayhouse.org.

MUSIC

ALLENDALE BRANCH LIBRARY
1130 S. Marengo Ave.,
626-744-7260.
“Woody Guthrie’s Music and Legacy”; 2 p.m. Sept. 15.
Folk singer, guitarist and political activist Ross Altman will perform a selection of Guthrie’s songs.
Peter Dreier, from Occidental College, will discuss how Guthrie’s experiences during the Depression inspired his radical views.
pasadenapubliclibrary.net.

AMBASSADOR AUDITORIUM
131 S. Saint John Ave.,
626-793-7172.
Rachmaninoff season opener with the Pasadena Symphony; 8 p.m. Oct. 6. $35-$100.

CALTECH

Beckman Institute Auditorium,
400 S. Wilson Ave.,
626-395-4652.
Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands; 8 p.m. Sept. 7.
$22; $5 for Caltech students and children.

LAKE AVENUE CHURCH
Worship Center 393 N. Lake Ave.
Goldline Concert Series; 12:05-12:45 p.m. Sept. 6. Free.

LEVITT PAVILION
Memorial Park, 85 E. Holly St., corner of Walnut and Raymond Avenues,
Pasadena Senior Center Concerts, 626-795-4331.
Sept. 6: The Great American Swing Band; 6-7 p.m. Sept. 6.
pasadenaseniorcenter.org

PASADENA CITY HALL
100 N. Garfield Ave.,
626-793-7172.
“Music under the Stars” with the Pasadena Symphony and Pops; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Free.

PASADENA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
585 E. Colorado Blvd.,
626-793-2191.
Music at noon:
Sept. 5: Michael Sellers, pianist
Sept. 12: Paul Anthony Pomero, pianist
Sept. 19: Amanda Sparfield, flutist. ppc.net.

Nearby

ARBORETUM
301 N. Baldwin Ave.,
Arcadia.
626-793-7172.
“Gershwin on the Green,” Sept. 8.
Gate opens at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking or other dinner options, concert starts at 7:30 p.m. $20-$85, tickets at PasadenaPOPS.org.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF GLENDALE
209 N. Louise St., Glendale.
818-242-2113.
Ergo Musica; 12:10-12:40 p.m. Sept. 19. Free.

SOUTH PASADENA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Outside of the Community Room, 1115 El Centro St.,
South Pasadena.
626-799-6333.
“End of Summer concert celebration” with Lisa Haley and the Zydecats; 5-6:30 p.m. Aug. 30.
Restoration Concert Series: Pantoum Trio; 4 p.m. Sept. 16. $88 for eight concerts or $18 each.

MOVIES

LAEMMLE PLAYHOUSE 7 THEATRE
673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-844-6500.
(Dates subject to change)
Sept. 7:
“Astrid”
“Blinky and Me”
“The Expatriate”
“The Eye of the Storm”
“Family Dinner”
“Heroes”
“Keep the Lights on”
“Kiruna-Kigali”
“Wild Horse, Wild Rise”

Sept. 11:
“La Boheme”

Sept. 14:
“Arbitrage”
“Beauty is Embarrassing”
“Je Sens Le Beat Qui Monte En Moi!”
“The Little Big Band”
“Sleepwalk with Me”

Sept. 18:
“17 Girls”
“Tosca”

Sept. 21:
“Hello, I Must Be Going”
“Lay the Favorite”
“Liberal Arts”
“Mulberry Child”
“Serving Up Richard”
“The Unfit Mother”

Nearby:

ARCADIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
20 W. Duarte Road,
Arcadia. 626-821-5565.
Foreign Film Evenings:
“Central Station,” Brazil, 1998; 6 p.m. Sept. 12.

AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER
Wells Fargo Theatre, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. 800-838-3006. <NO1><NO>
What is a Western? film series: “Mark of Zorro,” 1940, Sept. 8.
Museum admission rates apply, $6-$10.

FUN

CALTECH
Athenaeum, 551 S. Hill Ave., Reservations 626-395-6328.
CATS, a special service of the Caltech Women’s Club, leads architectural tours of the campus, 10:30 a.m. Sept. 27. (Some stairs, uneven footing.)

GAMBLE HOUSE TOURS
4 Westmoreland Place, 626-793-3334, ext. 16.
Guided one-hour tours, noon-3 p.m. Thursdays- Sundays, starting every 30 minutes. $10. Tickets go on sale tour days in the Bookstore, starting at 10 a.m. (11:30 a.m. Sunday). $12.50 for 2 p.m. tours. Flat-heeled shoes required. Specialized tours: $40-$75.

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Grace Hall, behind the church, 73 N. Hill Ave.,  626-799-5689.
Swing dance with the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association, live band 8-11:30 p.m. Saturdays. Dance lessons, 7:30-8 p.m. $15, includes refreshments. Check website for schedule. pasadenaballroomdance.com.

KIDSPACE MUSEUM
480 N. Arroyo Blvd., 626-449-9144, ext. 5219.
Yucca Cordage Science Workshop, for those ages 5-10; 2 p.m. Sept. 16. $7. Learn about all the uses for this amazing plant, plus a hands-on craft, turning a yucca leaf into a cord.
Museum admission of $10. Reservations may be made online, kidspacemuseum.org. Park in Rose Bowl Lot I.

NORTON SIMON MUSEUM
411 W. Colorado Blvd.,
626-449-6840.
Spotlight talks are at 1:30-1:50 p.m. and encore at 2:30-2:50 p.m.:
“Fete Champetre: Quintessential French Rococo,” Sept. 8.
“Falling Leaves: a Celebration of the Season,” Sept. 15.
“Matisse: Master of Color and Pattern,” Sept. 22.
“Reigning Cats and Dogs: Norton Simon’s Animal Kingdom,” Sept. 29.
Adult art-making workshop: Epic Proportions: Character Design and Visual Development; 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 22.
$7-10. nortonsimon.org.

PACIFIC ASIA MUSEUM
46 N. Los Robles Ave.,
626-449-2742, ext. 20 for reservations.
Highlights of the Collection: 1-1:30 p.m. Sept. 8, 15.
Demonstration: Yuzen and Shibori Dyeing, classic techniques as featured in the fabrics of Kimono in the 20th century, in Japanese and English; 2-3 p.m. Sept. 16.
Workshop on Shibori Dyeing; 3-5 p.m. Sept. 16. $5. Registration required at website, or ext. 19.
Sept. 28 is Free Friday.
Admission is $7-$9. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

PASADENA CITY COLLEGE
1570 E. Colorado Blvd.,
Flea Market; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 7. Free admission.

PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER
300 E. Green St.,
626-793-1833.
A-CAT-A-ME Awards Cat Show, featuring Sphynx (no fur) and Persian (lots of fluff) championship and household cats; 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sept. 15. $5-$7. oppositesattractcatclub.com.

PASADENA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
470 W. Walnut St.,
626-577-1660.
New exhibit: “What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been: 35 Years of the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade,” noon-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays, until Jan. 13, 2013. Also, “Pacific Electric Railway, Then and Now,” until Jan. 13. $6-$7 admission.
pasadenahistory.org.

ROSE BOWL
1001 Rose Bowl Drive,.
Flea Market: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 9. Admission $10, children younger than 12 are free.
L.A. Kidney Walk; Oct. 21. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 9 a.m. Pre-registration and additional information at www.kidney.org or 800-747-5527.
Walk to End Epilepsy; 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Includes 5K run/walk, 1-mile stroll, family-friendly games and activities, food trucks. $25 per person, 800-564-0445.

THROOP UNITARIAN CHURCH
300 S. Los Robles Ave., 818-300-8138.
Fun with Pasadena Folk Dance, 9-11 p.m. Fridays. Dance lessons, 7:45-9 p.m. $6. Check website for schedule.

Nearby:

ALTADENA COMMUNITY GARDEN
3330 Lincoln Drive, Altadena
Beginning Victory Garden classes; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 15, 22, 29, and Oct. 6. $55 for series or $15 each class. Register to jeri.huston@yahoo.com or 626-372-1509.

ARBORETUM
301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-4623.
Reservations for both the following at 626-821-4623:
Fresh: Celebrating the table: Gale Kohl (of Gale’s Restaurant) and Claud Beltran (Executive Chef of Noir Food and Wine) will speak, demonstrate and entertain; 3-5 p.m. Sept. 12. $50-$60
Thursday Talks: Brian Sullivan will highlight new projects at Descanso Gardens; 9:30 a.m.- noon Sept. 13. $20 per class or $100 for series of eight.
Docent-led walking tours; 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tours of the Santa Anita Depot; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Garden admission $8; $6 for seniors and students.

DESCANSO GARDENS
1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge. 818-949-4290.
Six-week class for those aged 9-15 about the horticultural connections in “Shakespeare’s Theater and Plants,” 1-3 p.m. begins Sept. 15. $120-$140. Deadline for registration is Sept. 7. descansogardens.org.

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino.
626-405-2100.
Exhibit on American painter Roger Madearis “His Regionalism” ends Sept. 17. “Royals, Courtiers, and Confidants: Early English Portrait Drawings from The Huntington’s Art Collections,” through Oct. 29.
Admission of $20-$23.

PAHTHER RIDGE FARMS
2915 Emerson Way, Altadena.
Beginning Victory Garden classes; 2-5 p.m. Sept. 16, 23, 30, and Oct. 7. $60 for series or $20 each class. Register to mark.rice2alumni.usc.edu or 626-272-2752.

SANTA ANITA PARK
285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia.
Pasadena Greek Fest; 5-10 p.m. Sept. 14, noon-10 p.m. Sept. 15, 16. Admission is $5, parking is $4 per car at the main entrance of the race track, Holly Avenue and Huntinton Drive. Highlights include Greek entertainment, cooking demonstrations, wine from Greece, homemade Greek cuisine and pasteries.

ZORTHIAN OUTDOOR LEARNING ACADEMY
3990 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena.
Beginning Victory Garden classes; 2-5 p.m. Sept. 15, 22, 29, and Oct. 6. $60 for series or $20 each class. Register to mark.rice@alumni.usc.edu or 626-272-2752.

LECTURES

DISTANT LANDS
20 S. Raymond Ave.,
Free, but RSVPs requested, 626-449-3220:
Angel Castellanos will discuss “Travel Skills, Tips and Tricks,” including sight-seeing planning, airport dos and don’ts, TSA rules, packing tips; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10.

JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
4800 Oak Grove Drive,
818-354-4641.
Von Karman lecture series, “The Challenge of Mars Exploration”; 7 p.m. Sept. 13. Admission and parking are free.

PASADENA AREA LIBERAL ARTS CENTER
1015 N. Lake Ave., Suite 108,
626-797-2380.
San Gabriel Valley adults can enjoy continuing liberal arts education through study- discussion groups in the homes of members. For classes in the fall session, call or go online to palac.office@gmail.com.

PASADENA CITY COLLEGE
Vosloh Forum,
1570 E. Colorado Blvd.
818-354-0112.
Von Karman lecture series, “The Challenge of Mars Exploration”; 7 p.m. Sept. 14.
Admission free, parking is $2, purchase ticket from machine in lot.

Nearby:

AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER
4700 Western Heritage Way,
Los Angeles. 323-667-2000.
Highlights from the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection: A Behind- the-Scenes Tour; 1-3 p.m. Sept. 8, at the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, 234 Museum Drive, Los Angeles. Reservations at 323-667-2000, ext. 326.
Collecting Contemporary Katsina Dolls; 2-4 p.m. Sept. 9.
Book Talk with actor Henry Darrow, part of Latino Heritage Month; 1-3 p.m. Sept. 15.
Each is included with museum admission of $6-$10.
TheAutry.org.

CRESCENTA VALLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
2700 Montrose Ave.,
Montrose.
Ted Stern, Professor of Music at Glendale Community College, will conduct off-campus music appreciation classes for adults from 2:30-4:30 Tuesday afternoons, Sept. 18-Dec. 18. Cost for the 14 weeks is $90. Register at 818-445-2390.

CROWELL LIBRARY
1890 Huntington Drive,
San Marino. 626-300-0777.
L.A. Opera talk on Mozart’s “Don Giovanni;” 2 p.m. Sept. 16. Free.
“Everything you ever wanted to know about college application writing”; introductory workshop, 7 p.m. Sept. 19. Open to the public. Editing workshop; 7 p.m. Oct. 10. Registration required.
“How to reduce test stress and raise test scores”; 7 p.m. Sept. 20.

HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTION, AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino
626-405-2100.
“Witch-Hunting and the Sadness of Everyday Life: An Alternative Perspective on Early New England”; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12, Friends’ Hall. Free.
huntington.org.

LOS ANGELES ZOO
Children’s Discovery Center, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles.
Observing Animals: Behavioral Studies in Zoos, UCLA extension, lectures, demonstrations, and a study project on selected species at the Zoo. No prerequisites. Thursday evenings, 7:30-10 p.m. Sept. 27-Dec. 13. $365. Registration 310-825-9971, 818-784-7006, or uclaextension.edu.

TEMPLE CITY LIBRARY
5939 Golden West Ave.,
Temple City. 626-285-2136.
12-part lecture, presented in English and Chinese, by Master Henry Chang on “Awakening of Body, Mind and Soul”; begins 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Free.

BOOKS

ALL SAINTS CHURCH
132 N. Euclid Ave., 626-796-1172.
The Reverend Ed Bacon, rector of the church, launches his guidebook “8 Habits of Love: Open Your Heart, Open Your Mind,” 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 9, on the Quad Lawn/ Cloister. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

VROMAN’S BOOKSTORE
695 E. Colorado Blvd.,. 626-449-5320.
Jane Porter speaks about “The Good Woman,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 6.
Regina Leeds discusses “The 8 Minute Organizer”; 7 p.m. Sept. 10.
Kathy Reichs’  “Bones Are Forever,”  7 p.m. Sept. 12.
Lydia Netzer ‘s “Shine, Shine, Shine” at 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
Ann Gentry’s “Vegan Family Meals: Real Food for Everyone”; 7 p.m. Sept. 14.
Spencer Quinn speaks about “A Fistful of Collars: A Chet and Barnie Mystery,” 4 p.m. Sept. 16.
Naomi Wolf’s “Vagina: A New Biography,”  7 p.m. Sept. 17.
Ian Whitcomb discusses and signs “Ukulele Heroes: The Golden Age”; 7 p.m. Sept. 18.
Tatjana Soli discusses “The Forgetting Tree,” 7 p.m. Sept. 20.
vromansbookstore.com.

Nearby:
JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE SAN GABRIEL AND POMONA VALLEYS
530 S. Second Ave.,
Arcadia.
RSVP to 626-744-9904 or ethiopianjewishexodus@jewishsgpv.org.
Micha Feldmann, author of the newly-published “On Wings of Eagles,” will speak about his experiences over 40 years of working with Ethiopian Jews and furthering their ability to move to Israel; 10 a.m. Sept. 23. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

SAN GABRIEL LIBRARY
500 S. Del Mar Ave.,
San Gabriel. 626-287-0761.
Cartoonist Leigh Rubin, author of “Rubes,” will speak at 2 p.m. Sept. 8. Free.

Compiled by Linda Fields Gold

By Michelle J. Mills
Dusty trails, the yip of coyotes and an occasional gunfight make up some of Tom Russell’s creative world. Russell is an author and a painter, but perhaps best known as a singer/songwriter who espouses creatively on themes of the Old West, American folk and the blues.

He will be bringing tunes from his 2011 effort, “Mesabi” (Shout! Factory), along with a clutch of fan favorites to Pasadena on Saturday Aug. 11 when he performs as part of the Caltech Folk Society concert series.
Splitting his time between the road and homes in El Paso, Texas and Switzerland, Russell makes time to play guitar or piano and write every day. For him, songwriting is akin to weaving, in that the words and music come together while composing. Russell credits his successful career to good writing, which like good art, stems from allowing one’s authentic voice to come through and draws the listener or viewer in.
“It’s like a good painting – you can’t describe why one painting is magic and another one doesn’t move you,” Russell said. “Art seeps into your heart in mystical ways. A great song pulls you into it and makes you want to hear it again and again.”
Russell grew up in Los Angeles and played autoharp and banjo as a child. When he discover Bob Dylan, he decided to be a songwriter. But he has done more than that.
Russell corresponded with poet and writer Charles Bukowski for 30 years; their letters appear in the book, “Tough Company” (Mystery Island Press, $20). He also published a detective novel and a book of songwriting quotes and is a writer for Ranch and Reata magazine.
Russell describes his painting style as “primitive colorist” and “hillbilly Fauvist.” His works reflect his surroundings in bold hues with a western bent, focusing on Native Americans and mountains to chickens and horses.
He now is working on the soundtrack for the documentary, “California West,” and is writing a novel about Juarez and a collection of songs for a book that will be published in fall by Bangtail Press.

Waitress Franchesca Guerra holds fettucine primavera and caprese appetizer at Spaghetti Eddie’s Italian Restaurant in Glendora.  Photo by Watchara Phomicinda

SPAGHETTI EDDIE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
946 S. Grand Ave., Glendora. 626-963-0267
Lunch and dinner, every day; breakfast buffet Sunday mornings.
The Food: The very essence of red-sauce Italian cooking, drawn from an oversized menu heavy with specials (try the Red Button Special on the website, and the daily specials on the Twilight Menu), served in a shopping mall setting, in a lively restaurant that seems to always been full of hungry locals, in need of serious pasta.
About $20 per person. MC, V.
Beer and wine.
Reservations: Important.
Rating: THREE STARS

By Merrill Shindler

Spaghetti Eddie’s Italian Restaurant first opened in Glendora in 1985, a more modest space than it’s in now.
It was mostly a pizzeria at first. But owners Eddie Inglese and his brother-in-law Jim Hermanson had a dream of bringing the joys of oregano, garlic and red sauce to the barren shoals of the central San Gabriel Valley. Which they’ve done over the years with new concepts like Tutti Mangia and Eddie’s Pizzeria & Eatery (both in Claremont), Eddie’s Cucina Italiana in Rancho Cucamonga — and in the much-expanded mothership of Spaghetti Eddie’s just north of the 210 in Glendora — arguably the most popular Italian restaurant this side of Pasadena.
It’s grown a lot over the years. And yet, as much as it’s grown, Spaghetti Eddie’s always seems to be jammed with locals (and not so locals; it is freeway adjacent, after all) — large groups taking up large tables covered from edge to edge with large platters of chow. Indeed, the best way to eat at Eddie’s is to go with a crowd: that way you get to taste a little of a lot (or in some cases, a lot of a lot).
Show up at prime dinner times, on prime dinner days, and you should expect a wait; acolytes tend to linger at Eddie’s, where they’re having too much fun to dine and dash.
Indeed, the appetizers alone can keep you planted to your seat for a long time. The garlic puffs aren’t so much a dish, as an addiction — puffy balls of cooked dough jumbled in a mix of olive oil, roasted garlic and various herbs and spices. (Betcha can’t eat just one!) There are remarkably good crispy artichoke hearts that come with a lemon-garlic sauce that’s so tasty, you may start licking it off your fingers. The garlic bread is a serious exercise in the spreading of the Stinking Rose: it’s thick with the stuff. And I like the tasty addition of gorgonzola cheese to the bruschetta — making an ordinary dish extraordinary.
You can put three of the appetizers together on one plate for $11.99, a terrific deal. And enough food to pass as a meal. But then, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the classic, thick-as-a-stew minestrone, one of the best around. And if you’ve never tried Italian wedding soup, this is the one to sip: chicken broth with tiny meatballs, escarole and orzo pasta — perfection!
And let us remember: This is Spaghetti Eddie’s. Which means the pastas are a dominant motif. They’re divided into “Pasta Classics,” “Eddie’s Favorite” and “Baked & Stuffed Pasta.” Once again, they offer a trio, in this case of Eddie’s Favorite, a platter (for $18.99) of the thick-as-a-brick (which is a good thing!) house lasagna, the chicken parmigiana, and the fettuccine Alfredo, a trio of dishes from the Jurassic Period of Italian-American cooking (which is also a good thing!)
For those who prefer to focus on a single dish, go for the rigatoni Bolognese, an exercise in the joys of meat sauce and thick, al dente pasta. The beef ragu used by Eddie is a work of art, a hearty beef stew that covers every pasta tube inside and out.
I’m also kind of mad for the tortellini casalinga: three colors of tortellini tossed with Italian sausage and a pesto sauce, a dish to warm you on the coldest of days. And if your cholesterol is under control, try the gemelli mac ‘n cheese, an S-shaped strand of pasta twisted into a braid, jumbled with applewood bacon, spinach, a béchamel sauce, toasted bread crumbs, and a pair of cheeses: Romano and caciovallo. Not a dish for the faint of appetite. But for those with a heavy fork, a real joy.
And, of course, Spaghetti Eddie’s isn’t just spaghetti, though many of the main courses are served with pasta (and with a choice of soup or salad: a deal!). There’s a terrific retro quality to the selection: chicken marsala and veal marsala, chicken piccata and veal piccata, chicken alla Vesuvio and veal saltimbocca (a great fave from back in the day, of veal medallions topped with prosciutto and provolone). There’s no cioppino, but there are two cioppino wannabes, the seafood misto and the linguine pescatore, close enough for rock ’n’ roll.
And yes, there’s pizza; Eddie’s did begin as a pizzeria. The toppings are both traditional and premium, and the pre-mades are more than worth it. Especially the Bada Bing — mozzarella, gorgonzola, Roman, goat cheese, and Italian sausage. There’s a Twilight Menu, a great deal, served weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. And there’s a three-course special for $14.95, that really can’t be beat.
Why is Spaghetti Eddie’s jammed? That’s easy: They do it right, and have for more than 25 years. Go early; that crowd isn’t going away.

Jenny and Peter Wannier holds books published in the Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse. Photo by Walt Mancini

ESPRESSO BOOK MACHINE

Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse
1010 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge
818-790-0717; www.flintridgebooks.com.

By Michelle J. Mills
In 2009, a runaway truck destroyed Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse in La Cañada Flintridge, but the rebirth from the rubble has produced a stronger and more unique store. Open for more than a year at its new location, just two doors down from the original site, the venue has expanded its services to become one of 28 places in the United States (and the only site in Southern California) that boasts an Espresso Book Machine.
The Espresso allows readers to print books on demand and authors to self-publish their works.
“When we opened up the business, we could see the handwriting on the wall,” said store owner Peter Wannier. “Small backwards-looking, mom and pop bookstores were disappearing and one of the services we wanted to promote to our customers was we can get books faster than anyone else.”
Flintridge Bookstore can have special orders in their customers’ hands within 24 hours and Espresso titles can be ready in an hour or less. The only drawback to the book machine method is that most of the titles still under copyright are not available to print, but there are more than three million books that readers can select from, including many literary classics and ones on academic subjects.
The books cost $10-$20 and have the print quality of a trade paperback. Customers can order their selections by telephone or online and pick up the finished book or have it shipped to their home.
For authors seeking an easy way to self-publish, the Espresso is a boon. There is no minimum print run and writers can sell their books (retaining complete rights and setting the price) or keep their works private.
“We have had all kinds of authors, from people making a living writing books to people writing for their extended families, their memoirs,” Wannier said.
Wannier has seen authors publish everything from coloring books to technical treatises. Local artist Patricia Krebs used Espresso to print her book, “Wings and Roots/Alas y Raices,” which can be found on the shelves of Flintridge Bookstore.
The store offers four different levels of support. Depending on the author’s expertise, they can e-mail PDF files and have a book in about an hour or they can get help as needed, including file manipulation, obtaining an ISBN, registering with the Library of Congress and the creation of cover graphics.
“The hardest page to write in a book is the cover because it’s multi-colored, it has a front and a back and a spine and you have to get everything lined up right and then looking attractive. The cover is important,” Wannier said.
Self-publishing setup costs $99-$459 which includes one book. After setup, additional books may be printed for $7 for 100 pages to $18 for 500 pages, depending on the writer’s paper selection.
Wannier is pleased with his investment in the Espresso and even happier with how it has affected his customers.
“It empowers people,” he said. “You’d be amazed at the number of people who have a book in their system waiting to get out and it’s all ages, all kinds of people. The book machine always generates a lot of interest and people love to see a book popping down the shoot.”

Chef Bryant Wigger, center, and his crew prepare a sampling of the Trattoria Neapolis menu. Photo by James Carbone

TRATTORIA NEAPOLIS
336 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena
11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
626-792-3000; www.trattorianeapolis.com

By Michael Davis and Michelle J. Mills

We stopped in at the newTrattoria Neapolis in Pasadena for a tasting and spent some time with restauranteur Perry Vidalakis. His infectious personality and knowledge of the restaurant, food and beverage industry enriched our knowledge of the complexities of Italian cuisine.
The restaurant was10 years in the making (yes, we said 10 years). The ambience is ambitious, yet quaint and unpretentious. Neapolis features five dining areas that offer a different perspective of the restaurant depending on what you’re in the mood for that particular moment.
Enjoy the filtered sunlight and gorgeous tile in the Garden room; the Bar area harkens a speakeasy feel; the Kitchen allows a view of the choreography it takes to create the meals; the Balcony upstairs overlooks the goings-on below; and the Wine room offers a private spot for special events.
The staff guides diners through the menu in every detail.For starters, there are four sommeliers to make sure drink pairings enhance the overall dining experience. Cocktails are headed by the award-winning mixologist Vincenzo Marianella. His wizardry draws on Italian and American influences combined with an extremely creative flair. Beer sommelier (or “the beer chick”) is Christina Perozzi; L.A. Magazine refers to her as the best beer sommelier in Los Angeles.
Coffee service is headed by Stumptown Coffee and wine sommelier is Diego Meraviglia, who is a musician as well. (Music and food are parallel worlds.)
Where there’s smoke, there’s Chef Bryant Wigger who embraces the subtle nuance of smoky flavor in his cuisine. Trattoria is not afraid to play with fire: it has a 7,000-pound wood- burning oven, a wood-burning grill and a smoker.
The menu offers a tour of Italy with new takes on old favorites and more progressive fare.
Michael: Among my favorites is Roast Garlic Gnocchi with Smoked Pork Shoulder. First off, you cannot go wrong with smoked pork shoulder. The gnocchi (dumplings) was not heavy, very light and creamy with smoky overtones. Flanked by artichoke, asparagus and finished with L.A.-based brewery, Brouwerij West’s Blond, this dish is perfect for those who don’t usually eat pork.
Michelle: I acquired a love of gnocchi when I lived on the East Coast and am often disappointed with how heavy it seems to be here in SoCal. But Trattoria’s gnocchi is light enough to eat any time. I relished its unique smoky taste and was thrilled by the accompanying greens.
Michael: I also really enjoyed the lasagna, I thought it was perfect for the summer. What? Lasagna, the perfect comfort food for summer? Yes, I am crazy, but not about this. It is a substantial dish featuring wood stove-grilled vegetables, and house-made ricotta and mascarpone cheeses. This delivers the aforementioned “new take” on an old favorite.
Michelle:  For me, the lasagna and its pairing with Nora — Birreria La Baladin beer from Torino, Italy — was absolutely perfect. The lasagna boasted big slices of vegetables and wasn’t smothered with cheese, allowing all the flavors to burst unfettered. The beer was unlike any I’ve had before. It is brewed with myrrh and ginger for a layered — and refreshing — taste.
Michael: The Bistecca (flat iron steak) was impeccable. Cooked perfectly on the wood grill, this dish has the perfect flavor profile. Joined by a Salsa Verde, Crispy Temecula Onions and an awesome Porcini Mushroom BBQ sauce, I have to say this is the perfect marriage of flavor and imagination. I absolutely love porcinis and the utilization of their unique earthiness in a barbecue sauce is fantastic. The crispy char of the steak, crispy sweet onion, tang of the salsa verde and the boldness of the porcini make for a re-invention of a classic. Served with the Valpolicella “Ripasso,” this dish is flawless.
Michelle: The Bistecca gave me a minor dilemma with two sauces, each good in its own way. The green was sweet with a chunky texture, while the red was spicy. My solution was to keep alternating my dipping, but the red sauce won out as my favorite in the end because of the mushrooms. The meat was sliced to the perfect thickness and melted in my mouth; the crunch of onion served as a nice juxtaposition.
I suggest that you save room for dessert. We had the Greek Yoghurt-Honey Panna Cotta with Apricot Granita and Basil Gelatini. It was sensuous and smooth, but not overly sweet: here the apricot and honey provided all the sweetness it needed. Nuts added crunch and the there was a hint of spice. This is a treat that I could eat every day.
At one point during our tasting, owner Vidalakis said, “I hope people can come here for a decade and still have something new.” With all the possible mixes and matches, I think he’s right. I hope his eatery will be around for a long time.
Michael: All in all, Trattoria Neapolis sets high expectations and delivers tenfold. Be sure to have a chat with your favorite beverage sommelier and enhance your experience with the exceptional pairings that are suggested with your meal; I guarantee that you will leave with a new love and respect for the charm of the Italian kitchen.
Michael Davis is a sous chef and musician. Michelle Mills is a writer and a dancer.

Photographer George Barris, 90, recalls his time with Marilyn Monroe. Photo by Gabriel Luis Acosta

MARILYN MONROE
George Barris signs copies of his book “Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words: Marilyn Monroe’s Revealing Last Words and Photographs”
4 to 6 p.m. Saturday Aug. 4.
‘Marilyn: The Exhibit’ features iconic photos by George Barris. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, through Sept. 2
Both events take place at the Hollywood Museum, 1660 Highland Ave., Hollywood.
$15 museum admission
323-464-7776.  www.thehollywood.museum.com

By Michel Nolan
Photographer George Barris  has created some of Hollywood’s most iconic images. Many of the most famous photos of Marilyn Monroe, for example, are among his works.
Barris, who has a new museum exhibit under way, was the last photographer to capture the actress on film, just three weeks before her death on Aug. 5, 1962 — a half-century ago this weekend.
Barris, 90, remembers vivid details of that summer 1962 photo shoot on Santa Monica Beach. He also recalls the phone call he received from Marilyn the day before her death.
He feels strongly that her death was not suicide, as widely supposed.
“She called me on Friday and I was in New York and she wanted to know if I could come to see her that weekend and that it was urgent,” he said. “I told her I had plans to go out to the country and see my family in New York and could I come back to see her on Monday? She said if that was the best I could do, it would be OK.”
She died that weekend.
Barris, 90, has published a book, “Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words: Marilyn Monroe’s Revealing Last Words and Photographs.”
Marilyn herself helped write the book, Barris said, explaining that the project was begun long ago when Marilyn still was alive. “We were writing the book together,” he said.
Suicide was the last thing on her mind, he said. “She had too many things going for her. She told me her career was only beginning. She had a cover and 12 pages in Cosmopolitan magazine, she had many offers for appearances and films and a new contract with Fox and an increase in salary.”
Barris said he always has regretted not going out to see her on that fateful weekend.
He recently sat in a director’s chair in the Hollywood Museum, surrounded by the largest exhibit of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia in the country.
A focus of the exhibit is a collection of Barris’ photos of Marilyn including some never-before-seen candid  shots of the star.
“She was one-of-a-kind,” he remembers with a wistful smile.
Barris, who grew up in New York City before World War II, first met and photographed Marilyn in 1954 when she was on location in New York City for the film, “The Seven Year Itch.”
“When I first saw her I thought she was the most beautiful, fantastic person I’d ever met,” Barris said. “She completely knocked me off my feet.”
The two remained friends for the rest of her life. Barris recalls the final photo shoot with her on July 13, 1962.
“Late in the afternoon it turned cold and Marilyn was tired. We’d been working hard. She didn’t complain, though, and she sat on the beach wrapped in a fisherman’s sweater, so I put a blanket over her,” he said.
“She puckered up and said, ‘This is just for you, George,’ and blew a kiss to me. That’s the last picture I took of her.”
Barris recalls he was 6 when his older brother, Willie, gave him a camera. He’s been a freelance photographer ever since.
After Marilyn’s death, Barris moved to Paris and lived there for 20 years. He returned to the United States with his French wife, Carla, and two daughters, Caroline and Stephanie.
Through his 84-year career, he has photographed the great ones — from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower to John Wayne, Steve McQueen, Sophia Loren, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra and Charlie Chaplin, among many others.
Marilyn was special, though.
“There was nobody like Marilyn Monroe,” he said. “There never was and there never will be.”

Tessa Thompson and Michael Dorn star as daughter and father in “As You Like It” at the Veterans Administration West Los Angeles Healthcare Center Campus July 10-29. Photo by Ed Krieger.

AS YOU LIKE IT

8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday July 10- July 29
Japanese Garden, Veterans Administration West Los Angeles Healthcare Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
$25-$50; free for active military, veterans and their guests, with reservations
213-481-2273
www.shakespearecenter.org

By Michelle J. Mills,SGVN

twitter.com/mickieszoo

You probably know him as Lieutenant Commander J.G. Worf of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek Deep Space Nine,” but Michael Dorn has been a staple in television and film since 1976.
He has appeared in commercials and has done voices for animated series and video games. His new role on stage is actually two parts, playing brothers Duke Frederick and Duke Senior in The Shakespeare Center’s production of “As You Like It” in the Japanese Garden of the Veterans Administration West Los Angeles Healthcare Center through July 29.
Military veterans are involved in the production as performers, backstage crew and front of house staff.
“It’s a very good play,” Dorn said. “Shakespeare is pretty brilliant. This play was written in the 16th century, but the things that we say (on stage), interestingly enough, are the things that are still happening today. ”
This “As You Like It” is set in present day Los Angeles with the Forest of Arden now the local orange groves and the Angeles Crest Forest campgrounds. The storyline remains intact, relating how Duke Frederick has banished Duke Senior from the kingdom in a power play. Duke Senior then works to create a new life in the forest with the people who have voluntarily exiled with him until his brother realizes the error of his ways.
“I identify with the Duke Senior because I’m going through an interesting part of my life right now, nothing major, but just looking at life and looking at how I look at life and how I look at people,” Dorn said. “I’ve always been optimistic and always sort of easygoing and naive in a lot of ways. Duke Senior is not naive, but he’s trying to make something out of a bad situation.”
Dorn said he has assigned each brother particular traits so they will be distinct to the audience. And, no, neither character resembles Dorn’s longtime role of Worf.
Worf  wanted to be a soldier and care for his family, while the dukes both have power and extensive responsibility.
“Worf  is the ultimate guy,” Dorn said. “He’s a little awkward, but he’s loyal and doesn’t crave the spotlight. He’s strong and athletic and likes to fight.”
These traits are part of what have drawn many “Star Trek” fans to Worf. People also like Worf’s frankness; he doesn’t say much, but what he says, you get.
Dorn didn’t want to be an actor when he was growing up in Pasadena; his passion was for music. He played flute as a child and took on bass guitar in high school. He planned to be a musician, but changed his major to communications while at Pasadena City College, which led him to directing and acting.
Dorn’s family liked the small-town atmosphere of Pasadena and rarely ventured out, not even to Los Angeles, but after college, Dorn was itching to see more of the world.
“I knew there was something else out there,” he said. “If I stayed, I knew I would end up working at the Post Office or the utilities or something that’s in the community, and I wouldn’t go five miles outside of that, except for vacation.”
Dorn’s parents still live in Pasadena and he visits them every week. He also comes into town to go to Green Earth, a vegetarian restaurant.
“I would live in Pasadena in a heartbeat, but it’s just 10 minutes too far from Los Angeles and I need to be here,” said Dorn, who recently moved to Hancock Park. “I did that many years commuting from Altadena to L.A. and it gets to be a lot.”
Dorn still plays music (he plays the flute in “As You Like It”) and would like to get a casual group together to play old-school R&B, Motown and related genres around town.
Dorn has also been writing scripts and has finished a romantic comedy for which he is currently seeking funding. He already has some fellow “Star Trek” actors on tap to be in the film, which he plans to star in and direct.
“I want to be able to just do things that I love,” Dorn said. “After 11 years on a TV show and six movies, I just want to do the things that I’m excited about.”

Film fans can enjoy free movies under the stars at the Old Pasadena Film Festival  in One Colorado Courtyard, Pasadena.

The fifth annual Old Pasadena Film Festival is in full swing, offering screenings of a selection of movies old and new, from comedy to drama, at three different outdoor locations Thursdays through Saturdays.

Films include “The Miracle Worker,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Psycho.”
The action starts at 8  p.m.  or 8:30 p.m. depending on the venue and the movie.

The locations are One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley; Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave.; and Central Park, 99 S. Raymond Ave.

Through July 28. Free. 626-356- 9725. Find the entire schedule at www.old pasadena.org/filmfestival.