The green agenda
A list of upcoming earth-friendly events shows environmentalism isn’t all hard work
By Grace Persico , Nyrie Chaparian 04/23/2009
April 25
Arroyo Seco Family Walk
8 to 10 a.m.
Meet at Brookside Park picnic area, 260 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 744-3883
cityofpasadena.net/publicworks/PNR/arroyoseco
Discover shaded trails, natural streams and wildlife habitats under the Colorado Street Bridge and learn about efforts to restore this important ecosystem during a guided tour led by naturalists from Pasadena’s Parks & Natural Resources Division and the Arroyo Seco Foundation.
April 25
Greening the Earth Day & Family Arts Festival
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Memorial Park, Raymond Avenue and Holly Street, Pasadena
Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
(626) 744-4721
cityofpasadena.net
Who says greening the earth can’t come with a little color? Add excitement to being environmentally friendly with this family-oriented festival, which features arts and crafts for kids at the Armory and, across the street in the park, more than 60 booths about green products, water and energy conservation, recycling and more. A number of musical performers are also on the bill, including pop rockers the Breakup, country rockers I See Hawks in LA (pictured), Taiko drummers, ballroom dancers, Folklorico dancers and even some ska. Remember to bring recyclable beverage containers: For every 100 received at the event, Lifestraw will donate one of their water-purifying filters to a refugee camp in Africa. One Lifestraw filter could provide a child with clean drinking water for up to a year.
April 30
Cities and Climate Change: A Solutions-Oriented Conference
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Davidson Conference Center, University of Southern California
3415 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(213) 740-5570
usc.edu/sustainablecities/iccc.html
Everyone’s aware of the stress that cities have caused our planet, but this conference’s keynote speakers will be focusing on how cities can actually help in the effort to turn things around. Speakers such as Dr. Phillip Duffy — scientific director of Climate Central, director of the University of California Institute for Research on Climate Change and its Societal Impacts and a professor in the School of Natural Sciences at UC Merced — and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins (pictured), CEO of the green-collar jobs advocacy group Green for All, will discuss what SoCal residents should know about cleaner cities, protecting public health and stimulating the “Green Economy.” Admission is $15 or $10 for students. Tickets for Lamkins lunchtime speech only are $12, food not included.
MAY 8 and 9
Alternative Building Materials and Design Expo
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica
(310) 390-2930 | altbuildexpo.com
Southern California’s most extensive showcase of sustainable building and landscaping materials is the perfect place to start greening your home. Admission is free. Check the Web for a schedule of speakers.
May 9
Friends of the Los Angeles River 20th annual Great River Cleanup
9 a.m. to noon
Various locations, including one under the Colorado Street Bridge Meet at Brookside Park picnic area, 260 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena (323) 223-0585 | folar.org
The plastic bottles and other debris we see in the river aren’t just an eyesore and a threat to our fragile river ecosystem. If no one picks it up, this stuff flows straight out into the ocean. So get together with friends and family and do your part — believe it or not, it’s actually good fun. What other chance do you get to walk the river?
Through May 10
Power of Flowers: Beauty with Purpose
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge
(818) 949-4200
descansogardens.org
These guided tours of the gardens teach visitors about the larger role that flowers play in our environment and are free with Descanso admission ($8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, $3 for children 5-12 and free for children 5 and under). Before your visit, check out the companion Web site, powerofflowers.org, to learn more about specific plants and pollinators.
May 11 through 16
Pasadena Bike Week
cicle.org/bwp_2008/bike_week_pasadena.html
See Pasadena in a whole new way during a week of festivities designed to promote bicycling as a carbon-free alternative to driving that reduces traffic congestion and air pollution — not to mention global warming. It’s also a great way to stay in shape. Bike Week highlights include a Ladies’ Night at One Colorado and a party at The Shops on Lake Avenue. A full schedule of events goes up on the Web soon.
May 16 and 17
New World Fair
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena
(805) 462-9700
newworldfair.org
Enjoy more than just “going green” tips at this healthy lifestyle fair. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit 225 booths that focus on everything from organic food to health care to eco-friendly products, while also catching performances from reggae, jazz and pop rock groups, as well as belly dancers and an eco-friendly magic show. If more than 70 speakers (including actor Ed Begley Jr.!) and workshops don’t pique your interest, view award-winning films, join a drum circle or get a massage. Tickets are $10, or free for children 12 and under.
May 17
Organic tie-dyeing for kids
11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m.
Kidspace Children’s Museum, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena
kidspacemuseum.org
Register online and take your kids to this fun-filled event for ages 3 and up, where children can learn how to use natural ingredients to make their own organic tie-dye bandanas. The rest of the museum ain’t bad, either.
June 25 and 27
Water Smart Gardens Workshop
9 a.m. to noon
Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St., Pasadena
(626) 773-4400
cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower
Space is limited and reservations are needed for this free workshop about how to choose and maintain native and drought-tolerant plants that are easy to care for and require little watering.
Ongoing
Eaton Canyon Nature Center
1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena | (626) 398-5420 | ecnca.org
If you have ever taken a walk through Eaton Canyon’s winding trails, you can imagine how much work it must be to keep these trails in good shape. Volunteers are always encouraged, so come lend a hand with some light trail maintenance and native plant species restoration. If you haven’t fallen in love with the trails yet, take your loved ones on a family nature hike, held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, attend a moonlight walk (the next one’s June 20; check the Web site for details) or enjoy any of a variety of other programs.
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