4 SUMMER GUIDE <strong>2019</strong> PASADENA WEEKLY
Ah, Summer CONCERTS, FESTIVALS, BOOK LAUNCHES, LUNAR LANDINGS … WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? BY KEVIN UHRICH So you say you want to have a fun summer but you don’t know what to do, where to go or how to find the people, places and events that will make your time off meaningful and memorable. Welcome to our annual Summer Guide, where you will find information for all the concerts, festivals and happenings that make May through August an extra-special time in Pasadena and the rest of Southern California. With three major symphony orchestras calling Pasadena home, people here seem to have always taken their outdoor concert pleasures seriously, and this year is no exception. The Pasadena Symphony & POPS features its annual five–show Summer Concert Series at the LA County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Arcadia. In addition, the POPS will be teaming up with country singer Dwight Yoakam on June 15 in its third annual summer concert festival “Live at the Arboretum.” The symphony will also be performing its annual free “Music Under the Stars” show on June 1 at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena. Victor Vener’s California Philharmonic also has a full slate of performances scheduled, as does Rachael Worby’s MUSE/IQUE Orchestra, with CalPhil performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA and MUSE/ IQUE working its musical magique on the lawn of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. The Rose Bowl has had quite a few big names play there over the past several years, but with the Arroyo Seco Weekend music festival and the Rolling Stones both rescheduling to still unspecified dates, the biggest show at the stadium this summer may be “Apollo 11: An Immersive 360 Adventure” from July 5 through July 29, marking the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing. Other area musical hotspots include The Rose — which will be hosting concerts by some of the biggest names in rock over the past few decades, among them Don McClean, Ted Nugent and Wilson Phillips — and Glendale’s Alex Theatre. On Saturday, May 4, they’ll be hosting former Rose Parade TV commentator Bob Eubanks, who is presenting “Bob Eubanks: Backstage with the Beatles.” On May 16, Johnny Mathis celebrates 63 years as a recording artist at a concert at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. For those who prefer their fun outdoors, a number of festivals, or as Arts Editor Carl Kozlowski calls them “a bountiful bevy of outdoor events,” are planned for the coming months, beginning June 8 with Eat See Hear. “Featuring the largest outdoor movie screens on the West Coast, along with pre-film concerts by bands on the rise and a tasty array of the region’s hottest food trucks, this is one series worth seeing,” Kozlowski writes. There’s also the Eat Drink Vegan (EDV) fest, or the “Vegan Coachella,” featuring food vendors, more than 250 vegan beverages, and a plant-based marketplace. On Saturday, May 4, the Kentucky Derby Trackside Beer Festival opens at Santa Anita Park racetrack, with local craft breweries, top food trucks and a day of racing honoring last year’s Triple Crown win by Justify. On June 15-16 the family-friendly Pasadena Chalk Festival, the world’s largest street-art festival, features hundreds of artists, and one block over, the 18th Annual Pasadena Police Classic Car Show includes antique cars parked on display on Green Street. Back at Santa Anita, the 626 Night Market is expected to draw thousands of people by building on the Asian cultural phenomenon of late-night street markets. Of course, what would summer be without the LA County Fair and the Orange County Fair, the latter this year including concerts by Chicago, Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan, grand marshal of the <strong>2019</strong> Tournament of Roses. For many children, summer time means camp. But not all camps are the same. Today, as writer Sheila Mendes Coleman found, “summer camps are designed for every kind of student with every kind of need and interest.” These days, Coleman writes, “the options are not only more plentiful — but also more specialized.” For those who enjoy the mountains, numerous trails are open for hiking this summer, only be sure to take along plenty of water, sun screen and a working phone. And for those who simply want to relax, Pasadena is home to numerous parks and gardens created specifically to relieve stress and restore a sense of calm and serenity. Summer is also a major time for new book releases, with a number of nationally known writers and local authors using these next few months to launch their latest works. There are no guarantees in life, but we are confident that after reading our handy guide and experiencing some of the terrific events taking place over the next few months, yours will be a summer to remember. ■ SUMMER GUIDE <strong>2019</strong> PASADENA WEEKLY 5