101 Classic Literature Through Short Stories
Explore classic world literature through short stories by renowned authors. These concise works, compared to novels, vividly illuminate universal human experiences.
Monday, 12 noon, Jan 5; Feb 2; Mar 2
Leader Prakash Shrivastava Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
102 Movie STARs, Winter 2026 - Group A
Discuss critically acclaimed and notable films from various eras and countries, viewed online before each meeting. Streaming options include free, subscription, or pay-per-view formats, with costs covered by participants. Links to films, reviews and interviews are provided. For examples of movies from past seasons, contact the leader.
Monday, 4 pm, Jan 5, 19; Feb 2, 16; Mar 2, 16
Leader James Liu Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
103 Movie STARs, Winter 2026 - Group B
See Movie STARs, Winter 2026 - Group A
Monday, 7 pm, Jan 5, 19; Feb 2, 16; Mar 2, 16
Leader James Liu Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
104 Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024 by Hugh Howey, Editor
“These are dangerous stories. The kind that warp reality and threaten to change the world,” warns guest editor Hugh Howey in his introduction. The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024 promises a treasure trove of audacious characters, daring world-building, and twisted realities. These are stories that, for Howey, “challenged my worldview, made me exercise new mental muscles, and that brought me to tears.” The group will review two or three stories from the collection at each session. ISBN-13: 978-0063315785
Tuesday, 4 pm, Jan 6, 13, 20, 27
Leader Bill Urban Members $22
Zoom Non-Members $32
105 Current Movies, Wednesdays
As a group, we will choose the films either from a local theater or from a streaming source. We will watch them independently and then meet at El Portal Restaurant in Pasadena for discussion. Participants will pay for movie tickets or rental. Please only sign up if you anticipate being available for a majority of the meeting dates.
Wednesday, 3 pm, Jan 7, 21; Feb 4, 18; Mar 4, 18
Leader Lane Dolan Members $10
Non-Members $20
Place Pasadena, El Portal Restaurant, inside or outside
106 The Economist magazine
A review and discussion of selected articles from The Economist magazine. Participants are sent copies of articles about events and people around the world and they are expected to relate their views on each article.
Friday, 2 pm, Jan 9, 16, 23, 30; Feb 6,13
Leader David Whitcomb Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
107 What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
From the Booker Prize–winning author of Atonement and Saturday: a genre-bending novel of secrets and surprises, probing what can ever be truly known.
2014: At a candlelit dinner with guests, food, and wine, poet Francis Blundy reads a new poem ‘A Corona for Vivien’ to honor his wife’s birthday. The lost poem will haunt generations.
2119: In flooded post-nuclear England, scholar Thomas Metcalfe chases the vanished verses, yearning for memories of the vivid past. A clue uncovers tangled loves and a brutal crime, shattering his illusions.
What We Can Know: A masterful love tale of people, words, and hope amid catastrophe. ISBN-13: 978-0593804728
Monday, 2 pm, Jan 12, 19, 26; Feb 9
Leader Tony Koerner & Sue Komarek Members $39
Host Tony Koerner Non-Members $49
Place Pasadena
108 Selected Articles in the Natural Sciences
The group will select and discuss articles drawn from contemporary publications such as Scientific American and Science and Nature. Selections will focus on the natural sciences. Come learn and talk about the latest trends in biology, medicine and the like.
Wednesday, 12 noon, Jan 14, 21, 28; Feb 4, 11
Leader Susan Kane Members $10
Host Sue Hogan Non-Members $20
Place Pasadena
109 The Golden Road: How Ancient India transformed the World by William Dalrymple
For a millennium and a half, India confidently exported its diverse civilization, weaving an empire of ideas across a vast Golden Road that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific. In The Golden Road, William Dalrymple draws on decades of scholarship to reclaim India's forgotten centrality in ancient Eurasia. He names this transformative flow of Indian influence, from the colossal Hindu temple at Angkor Wat to the Buddhism that reshaped China, from spice trades fueling the Roman Empire to the numerals—including zero—that underpin our modern world, profoundly altering global culture and technology. ISBN-13: 978-1408864425
Thursday, 4 pm, Jan 15, 22, 29; Feb 5
Leader Bhargav Oza Members $40
Zoom Non-Members $50
110 We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (and Maybe You Should Too) by Kate Cohen
This is not a book about religion bashing or whether or not God exists. It's about a woman conflicted over what to teach her children about religion, and her ensuing journey of questioning whether a meaningful life might be had without depending on God as a basis. A deeply personal, thought-provoking, and entertaining read, this is the perfect book for people who are atheism-curious, and for those who are religious but open-minded. For me, it was illuminating ISBN-13: 978-1567927368
Tuesday, 2 pm, Feb 3, 10
Leader Donna Cunningham Members $31
Host Joan Stafford Non-Members $41
Place Pasadena
111 Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find
Common Ground by Kurt Gray
Conflict arises when we have different perceptions of harm, and we become outraged when we disagree about who is the “real” victim. Gray tackles popular myths that prevent us from understanding ourselves and those around us. While it is commonly believed that our ancestors were apex predators, Gray argues that for most of our evolutionary history, humans were more hunted than hunters, explaining why our minds are hard-wired to perceive threats and providing insights into the scientific origins of our values and beliefs. Gray unveils new research that finds our moral judgments are based on gut feelings rather than reason, reminding us that we are more alike than we might think. His argument provides a compelling new explanation for our moral outrage and suggests how to best bridge divides. ISBN-13: 978-0593317433
Tuesday, 2 pm, Feb 17, 24; Mar 3
Leader Bob Diller Members $32
Host Margaret Hostrup Non-Members $42
Place Pasadena
112 Two "Reunions"
In 1962 John Cheever published “Reunion” (New Yorker 10/27/1962). It required only a single page in the New Yorker, confirming that “good things come in small packages.” Almost forty years later in 2000 Richard Ford published his own “Reunion” (New Yorker 5/15/2000), a tribute to both Cheever and the original short story. Copies of both short stories will be provided to the participants approximately two weeks before the session.
Thursday, 2 pm, Feb 19
Leader Charles Schufreider Members $5
Host Jake Broderick Non-Members $10
Place Pasadena
113 Great Decisions 2026
The Foreign Policy Association, an independent, non-profit organization, publishes Great Decisions, a yearly series of in-depth articles by policy experts and global thinkers. The leader, with participants' input, will choose six articles from the series for discussion. Series topics are: 1) America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy; 2) Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy; 3) US - China Relations; 4) Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation; 5) Ukraine and the Future of European Security; 6) Multilaterals Institutions in a Changing World Order; 7) US Engagement of Africa; 8) The Future of Human Rights and International War.
Friday, 2 pm, Feb 20, 27; Mar 6, 13, 20, 27
Leader Bhargav Oza Members $47
Zoom Non-Members $57
114 The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Oscar is a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd who—from the New Jersey home he shares with his old world mother and rebellious sister—dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and, most of all, finding love. But Oscar may never get what he wants. Blame the fukú—a curse that has haunted Oscar’s family for generations, following them on their epic journey from Santo Domingo to the USA. Encapsulating Dominican-American history, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao opens our eyes to an astonishing vision of the contemporary American experience and explores the endless human capacity to persevere—and risk it all—in the name of love. ISBN-13: 978-1594483295
Monday, 2 pm, Feb 23; Mar 9, 23, 30
Leader John Swain Members $20
Host Jake Broderick Non-Members $30
Place Pasadena
115 Restoring Notre-Dame de Paris: Rebirth of the Legendary Gothic Cathedral by Patrick Zachmann
In April 2019, the world watched in horror as flames nearly destroyed Notre-Dame — Paris’s revered 900-year-old Gothic icon. France responded with an audacious vow: to rebuild and restore the cathedral to its former glory in just five years. This extraordinary effort united scholars, technicians, artisans, and volunteers from around the globe. Journey with us through Notre-Dame’s architectural, cultural, and spiritual significance — from its founding in 1163 to the present day — and discover the remarkable coordination that made the 2024 reopening possible. Primary source: Restoring Notre-Dame de Paris, supplemented by articles and videos on the marvels of Gothic cathedrals. Come explore this timeless masterpiece with us.
ISBN-13: 978-0764367274
Wednesday, 11 am, Mar 11, 18, 25
Leader Katherine Gavzy Members $49
Host Katherine Gavzy Non-Members $59
Place Sierra Madre
116 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
It’s an ordinary Thursday lunchtime when Arthur’s house—and then the entire Earth—is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. With his alien friend revealed, they hurtle through the galaxy armed only with towels and a book emblazoned with the reassuring words DON’T PANIC. The weekend has just begun…
Celebrating its pivotal 42nd Anniversary, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the first of five classic novels contained in one complete volume. ISBN-13: 978-0345453747
Thursday, 2 pm, Mar 12, 19, 26
Leader Gay Bruveris Members $23
Host Gay Bruveris Non-Members $33
Place Pasadena
117 The Measure by Nikki Erlick
Imagine waking up one morning to find a small wooden box on your doorstep containing a string with no explanation. You soon discover that everyone in the world has received an identical box, but the strings inside vary in length. People quickly realize that the length of each string represents their exact remaining lifespan. The story follows several characters as they grapple with the profound societal, political, and personal implications of this knowledge—forcing them to confront impossible choices, navigate brutal new conflicts (such as discrimination against “short-stringers”), and redefine what gives life meaning. The Measure explores timeless themes of fate, control, family, friendship, and how to live meaningfully when the end is known. ISBN-13: 978-0063204201
Thursday, 10 am, Mar 5, 12, 19
Leader Marilynne Wilander Members $24
Host Marilynne Wilander Non-Members $34
Place Arcadia
All those who have registered for this Safari are automatically registered for the new date.
S14 The Robe (1953)
The Robe (1953), a Biblical epic adapted from Lloyd C. Douglas’s novel, follows a Roman tribune overseeing Jesus’ crucifixion. The first film in CinemaScope, directed by Henry Koster, it stars Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and others. Join us to watch and discuss its themes and cinematic impact.
Wednesday, 1 pm, Mar 4
Leader Bob Koster Members $5
HostGaye Shepard Non-Members $10
PlaceVilla Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
S01 Fulcrum Arts Exhibitions and Programs
Fulcrum Arts presents exhibitions, performances, artist talks, and educational programs in its Pasadena gallery and with partners across Southern California. It highlights diverse perspectives at the intersection of art, science, and social activism, with a focus on Pacific Rim artists. “Sam Shoemaker: Mushroom Boat” is the gallery’s first major exhibition. The boat itself—alongside large-scale projections, time-lapse videos, and soundscapes that immerse visitors in Shoemaker’s ocean journey and the process of constructing the boat—will be on display. We can gather for a no-host lunch after the visit. Gallery space is wheelchair accessible.
Friday, 12 noon, Jan 16
Leader Susan Phifer Members $5
Host Susan Phifer Non-Members $10
Place Fulcrum Arts, 544 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena
S02 A visit to the Museum of Neon Art
The Museum of Neon Art (MONA), in Glendale, California, United States, is an art museum that exhibits historic neon signs, and electric and kinetic art. The collection notably includes neon signs from the Brown Derby and Grauman's Chinese Theatre. In addition to exhibitions and tours, the museum offers introductory classes in glass bending held in the museum's own studio.
Thursday, 12 noon, Feb 12
Leader Sara Munshin Members $5
Host Neon Museum of Art Non-Members $10
Place 216 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale
S03 Egypt: Kings, Pharaohs and Pyramids
Come join Patti and John Brugman as they share highlights from their recent trip to Egypt and Jordan. We’ll begin in Cairo at the great pyramids, then fly to Luxor to explore the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Queens, and the stunning Dendera Temple. After sailing the Nile, we’ll fly to Abu Simbel, then continue on to Jordan to visit the Dead Sea and Petra. This journey is like time travel into the ancient past—brilliance, beauty, and history combine to make this slideshow one of the best.
Wednesday, 1 pm, Feb 25
Leader Patti Brugman Members $5
Host Gaye Shepard Non-Members $10
Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
S04 An Early American History Tour: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown
Travel back in time to visit the “Historic Triangle”: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown and the beginning of America (including a bit of modern times thrown in for good measure) through the eyes of Adrienne’s camera.
Colonial Williamsburg was the original capital of Virginia (1699-1780) and is now a Living History Museum. Jamestown settlement was the original site of the first permanent English colony and is also a Living History
Museum. Yorktown, established in 1691, was a key colonial tobacco port and historic Civil War battlefield.
Wednesday, 1 pm, Mar 25
Leader Adrienne Bass Members $5
Host Gaye Shepard Non-Members $10
Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
S05 The Cheech Museum in Riverside
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture (“The Cheech”) showcases Cheech Marin’s gifted collection of over 700 Chicano artworks in Riverside’s former mid-century modern library. It is a partnership between Cheech Marin, the City of Riverside, and the Riverside Art Museum Carpool from Pasadena to Riverside for a no-host lunch at the historic Mission Inn. Afterward, walk across the street for a one-hour guided tour of The Cheech, then one block more to the Riverside Art Museum (a 1929 Julia Morgan-designed former YWCA) to see its permanent collection. Not suitable for walkers or wheelchairs; wear comfortable shoes.
Tuesday, 1:00 pm, Mar 31
Leader Carla Lazzareschi Members $5
Host Cheech Marin Non-Members $10