Weekendin' July 21-25: it's music and Shakespeare!

Yes, there's so much going on this weekend it bleeds into Monday!  Keep checking in as new stuff comes through the door ...

Thurs. July 21

• Two events today at the Altadena Main Library, 600 E. Mariposa St.: Toddler Story Time, 11 AM-12 PM; and weave a “Chinese Staircase” patterned friendship bracelet and sample a variety of Asian snacks as part of the Teen Summer Reading Program, 4-5 PM.

Fri., July 22

• Beach Bus to Santa Monica: pickups start at 9 AM. $3. See here for details.
• The Altadena Library's Summer Movie Extravaganza: "Beastly", rated PG, free, free popcorn and drink, starts 3:30 PM.
• Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake; front stage, open mic night, starts 8 PM, free; backstage, Susan Anders with Tom Manche (folk-pop). 8 PM, $12.50. Reservations:  (626) 798-6236.

Sat., July 23

• Beach Bus to Santa Monica: pickups start at 9 AM. $3. See here for details.
• Athens Services will hold a public Q&A and explain Altadena's new trash collection service, 10-11:30 AM, Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.
• Giant Fish Fry and Bake Sale, at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, 185 West Altadena Drive (corner of Glenrose) 11 AM-3 PM. For just a $9 donation you can enjoy deep-fried catfish or tilapia, green beans, your choice of salads, bread, and an ice-cold drink.  Also available will be a wide variety of home-baked pies, cakes, cookies and other desert delectables.  Proceeds will support CTS' efforts in the community.
• Huge Craftsman and more sidewalk sale at 2487 Highland Ave. (between Mendocino and Altadena Dr.)  Altadenablog readers Kate Sullivan & Karen TenEyck are unloading some good things!  8 AM-4 PM, Sat. and Sun.
• Ellen Snortland in two performances this weekend of her one-woman play, "Now She's Gone," at the Coffee Gallery Backstage. Sat., 3 PM, and Sun 5:30 PM.  TIckets are $7.50 through $15 through BrownPaper Tickets,  http://tiny.cc/Snortland.  Tickets may be available at the door. It's the "festival version," just before Ellen goes to perform it at the Edinborough, Scotland theater festival next month.
• Big Hat Promotions Cowboy Concert: Pianist Dave Bourne and singer/songwriter/guitarist Ray Doyle, at a private home in Altadena.  It's sold out, but you can still get tickets to the grand finale, Belinda Gale, on Aug. 6. Go to http://www.bighatonline.com/Calendar.php for details.
• Sheriff Support Group Summer Concert Series welcomes the return of the phenomenal jazz guitarist Brian Hughes to the Farnsworth Park stage, 7 PM. Before the concert, you can pick up a dinner from Amy’s Patio Café  http://www.amyspatiocafe.net/id3.html or El Patron  http://elpatrononline.com/.   During the concert, beer and wine are available for purchase courtesy of the Altadena Rotary Club.  Webster's Fine Stationers provides refreshment for the performers. Concerts are hosted by the Altadena Sheriff’s Station and Farnsworth Park.  Sponsors of the summer concert series are: Warner Bros., Rotary Club of Altadena, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, Toyota of Pasadena, Baietti Seyffert/Podley Realtors, All American Audio Visual,  M & M Printing, Trinity ThreadWorks, My Irish Pride,  Georgia Rutherford in memory of Don Rutherford, and Altadenablog.  The concerts this year are dedicated to the memory of Cue MacKenzie.
• The Folly Bowl, 1601 E. Loma Alta Dr. kicks off a Shakespeare weekend in Altadena with early music ensemble Tesserae on Sat., July 23 at 7:30 PM. Joined by soprano Suzanne Anderson, Tesserae performs settings of Shakespeare's texts, along with music by Dowland, Byrd, and many more.  Bring your blankets and picnic to enjoy the beauty of the Folly Bowl together with some of the most beautiful repertoire of the Late Renaissance. Suggested donation is $15. 
• Italian movie night at  Bulgarini Gelato, 749 E. Altadena Dr. "Il Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch)" starring Gianni Di Gregorio. Dinner starts at 7:30 PM, $13 (reservations required) including a pasta dish, salad and drink. The film is free, no reservations are required, and starts after dark.  Gelato available throughout. Dinner reservations must be made by Friday by email at catering@bulgarinigelato.com or by calling (626) 791-6174.
• Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake: backstage, Sligo Rags (Irish traditional), 7 PM, $18, Reservations:  (626) 798-6236.

Sun., July 24

• Altadena Baptist Church community picnic:  Enjoy music, inspiration and friendship in the great outdoors at Altadena Baptist Church (corner of Calaveras and El Molino) starting at 11 AM.   A free picnic lunch at noon. Afternoon activities include clown Darien DeVries, games, crafts, balloon creations, face painting, etc.
• Leslie Perry and Kalen Tolces will be reading stories from Leslie's upcoming book "Wednesdays With Leslie" at the Coffee Gallery, 2-5 PM, Free.
• Shakespeare by the Sea presents "King Lear" at the Farnsworth Park Amphitheater, 7 PM.  Admission is free. Audiences are encouraged to gather with friends and family early to dine picnic-style under the stars to make the most of this classic entertainment experience.
• Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake: open mic at the front stage, 8 PM, free; backstage, Lorin Sklamberg (lead singer of the Klezmatics, Yiddish songs), 7:30 PM, $18. Reservations:  (626) 798-6236.

Mon. July 25

• Coffee with Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean, Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake, 8-10 AM. Meet the captain and ask questions. Lots of information will be available.
• The Altadena Historical Society will present "The Purchase of the Cobb Estate: 40 Years Later," in a free program starting at 7:30 at the Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr.  Bob Barnes, who was there, will talk about the unusual story of the acquisition of the estate, at one time owned by the Marx Brothers but now a well-loved hiking area.