Pasadena Playhouse District’s Blog

The Playhouse District Association is proud to announce that the District’s own Japon Bistro, Pasadena Playhouse, and Vroman’s Bookstore were voted San Gabriel Valley’s Best in the 2011 Pasadena Star-News Readers Choice Awards!! These outstanding businesses were selected by readers poll, and were chosen for offering the tastiest food, most exciting entertainment, and outstanding goods and services. A big congratulations to these  businesses for making this year’s list.

For more information on these businesses, please visit their websites:

For Japon Bistro, click here.

For Pasadena Playhouse, click here.

For Vroman’s Bookstore, click here.

Beckman Auditorium

The Playhouse District Association encourages you to attend a fascinating two-day lecture series on the nature of virtue, offered by Fuller’s Travis Research Institute and the California Institute of Technology.

From a recent press release:

“Fuller’s Travis Research Institute and Caltech are partnering in a two-day lecture series to better understand the mysteries and nature of virtue through the twin lenses of neuroscience and philosophy on Thursday, May 19, and Friday, May 20.

The lectures, free and open to the public, are part of a major conference funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The conference brings together stellar scientists as well as philosophers, ethicists, and theologians for a discussion of interdisciplinary perspectives on the neuroscience of moral action. ”

Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91101; Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium is located at 332 S. Michigan Ave. (south of Del Mar Blvd.), Pasadena 91106.

For more information, please contact:

• Fred Messick, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs at Fuller Seminary,  fmessick@fuller.edu, 626-584-5367
• Deborah Williams-Hedges, Interim Director of Media Relations at Caltech, debwms@caltech.edu, 626-395-3227

The Playhouse District Association is pleased to announce two very exciting events hosted by Japon Bistro!

On Saturday, May 21^st, Japon Bistro will be hosting the Okonomiyaki Cooking Series sponsored by Takara Sake and the Sake Institute of America. The event will run from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. The cost is $45 per person, and includes one meal and pairings.

On Wednesday, June 8^th, they will present the Dassai Sake Event from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The event will be hosted by Japan’s premium Daiginjo Brewery. The cost is $65 per person, and includes a 7 course food pairing by Japon Bistro featuring California cuisine by Noir Food & Wine.

To RSVP for one or both of these events, call 626-744-1751.

More information can be found at their website.

Japon Bistro

May 17^th through June 2^nd, Galerie Gabrie will be displaying works by celebrated landscape artist Charles Muench. Muench is the recipient of the2010 Edgar Payne award for best landscape and the California Art Club’s Southwest Art Award of Excellence. The artist’s reception will be on Friday, May 20^th, from 5:00-9:00 pm. More information can be found at Galerie Gabrie’s website.

RSVP by calling 626-577-1223.

"Tejon Canyon Colors" by Charles Muench

The Playhouse District Association extends a warm welcome to Pacific Asia Museum’s new Executive Director, Charles Mason. Mr. Mason has over 15 years of museum experience and has produced numerous exhibitions exploring a wide variety of Asian art forms from different cultures and historical periods. He brings a commitment to creating a collaborative working environment and a strong focus on engaging local communities with dynamic, participatory exhibits and programs. With the appointment of Charles Mason, the museum continues a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary. This year the museum opened The Art of Pacific Asia, currently on view and located in the new permanent Orientation Gallery and Visions of the Orient: Western Women Artists in Asia 1900-1940, on view now through May 29. 40 Year of Building the Pacific Asia Museum Collection will open on July 7 and be on view through October 23, 2011.

More information can be found at their website.

Charles Mason

On May 15^th, Elements Kitchen will host a very special five-course pre fixe wine dinner, focusing on Adelaida wines, which hail from the west side of Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast. Adelaida wine maker Terry Culton will be in attendance to discuss the history of Adelaida and share info about each wine featured, Seating begins at 6pm. Please click HERE to see the full menu. Make your reservations online here or by calling us at 626.440.0044.

The Pasadena Playhouse will be hosting THE FIRST ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL on Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature eight local high schools, each performing a musical number from their school’s theatre program’s repertoire. Admission to the Festival is $1.00 and all proceeds will go towards funding next year’s High School Theatre Festival. This special community price was created so that all friends, family and supporters of the surrounding communities and the local schools may enjoy the talent of the participating students.

Participating high schools include: Alverno High School, Blair High School, Flintridge Preparatory High School, La Salle High School, Maranatha High School, Mayfield High Senior School, Polytechnic School and St.Francis High School.

Tickets may be purchased the day of the event at the door.

Refreshments and festivities follow in the Engemann Family Courtyard and will be catered by the students of Blair High School.

For more information, call 626.356.7529 or visit our website.

Click HERE to read Larry Wilson’s feature about THE FIRST ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE FESTIVAL in the Pasadena Star-News.

Two shows that debuted on stage at The Pasadena Playhouse, BABY IT’S YOU! and SISTER ACT, are now on Broadway and have been nominated for a total of 6 Tony Awards including:

- SISTER ACT: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical -Victoria Clark and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical -Patina Miller.

- BABY IT’S YOU!: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role -Beth Leavel

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Elements Kitchen begins “Making a Difference Mondays” tonight where each month, a selected charity will receive a portion of sales generated from Monday dinners at the restaurant. This month proceeds from Monday sales will go to Young & Healthy. Young & Healthy is a health care program that provides free medical, dental, psychological and case-management services to low-income, uninsured children in Pasadena schools. To learn more, please visit their website here. 

Elements Kitchen

37 S. El Molino Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91101

ph 626.440.0044