401 Current Movies, Wednesdays Register
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, Oct 1, 15; Nov 5, 19; Dec 3, 17
Leader Lane Dolan Members $10
Place Pasadena, El Portal Restaurant, inside or outside Non-Members $20
402 Classic Literature Through Short Stories Register
Explore classic world literature through short stories by renowned authors. These concise works, compared to novels, vividly illuminate universal human experiences.
Monday, 12 noon, Oct 6; Nov 3; Dec 1
Leader Prakash Shrivastava Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
403 Movie STARs, Fall 2025 - Group A Register
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, Oct 6, 20; Nov 3, 17; Dec 1, 15
Leader James Liu Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
404 Movie STARs, Fall 2025 - Group B Register
See Movie STARs, Fall 2025 - Group A
Monday, 7 pm, Oct 6, 20; Nov 3, 17; Dec 1, 15
Leader James Liu Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
405 Who is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service by Michael Lewis Register
The Trump administration has vilified federal employees and taken steps to drastically reduce their number. And yet “the government” is a vast, complex system that Americans pay for, rely upon, dismiss and celebrate. It’s also our shared resource for addressing the problems of society. Made up of people, mostly unrecognized and uncelebrated, doing work that can be deeply consequential and beneficial, here you’ll meet eight people doing interesting jobs for the government who blow up the stereotype of the federal bureaucrat. ISBN-13: 979-8217047802
Tuesday, 12 noon, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28
Leader Carla Barnes Members $34
Host Fran Blackwell Non-Members $44
Place Pasadena
406 Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa Register
Mario Vargas Llosa's brilliant, multilayered novel is set in the Lima, Peru, of the author's youth, where a young student named Marito is toiling away in the news department of a local radio station. His young life is disrupted by two arrivals. The first is his aunt Julia, recently divorced and thirteen years older, with whom he begins a secret affair. The second is a manic radio scriptwriter named Pedro Camacho, whose racy, vituperative soap operas are holding the city's listeners in thrall. Pedro chooses young Marito to be his confidant as he slowly goes insane. ISBN-13: 978-0312427245
Tuesday, 2 pm, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28
Leader Bob Diller Members $28
Host Margaret Hostrup Non-Members $38
Place Pasadena
407 The Catalyst by Thomas Cech Register
For over half a century, DNA has dominated science and the popular imagination as the "secret of life." But over the last several decades, a quiet revolution has taken place. In a series of breathtaking discoveries, a diverse cast of brilliant scientists have revealed that RNA - long overlooked as the passive servant of DNA - sits at the center of biology's greatest mysteries: How did life begin? What makes us human? Why do we get sick and grow old? In The Catalyst, Cech brings together years of research to demonstrate that RNA is the true key to understanding life on Earth. ISBN-13: 978-132110873
Wednesday, 12 noon, Oct 8, 15, 22, 29
Leader Susan Kane Members $29
Host Sue Hogan Non-Members $39
Place Pasadena
408 From Page to Silver Screen: Brokeback Mountain Register
Annie Proulx's short story was selected as one of the best short stories in the first 100 years of the New Yorker. The motion picture won Academy Awards for Best Director (Ang Lee), Best Screenplay, and Best Score, in addition to being nominated for Best Film. Session one discusses the story; session two explores the film. Copies of the short story as it appeared in the New Yorker (10/13/97) will be forwarded to the participants approximately two weeks before the first session. Any streaming costs will be borne by the participant. Note: Both story and film include explicit gay sexual content, presented tastefully.
Thursday, 10 am, Oct 9, 16
Leader Charles Schufreider Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
409 Everyone Who is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer Register
Jonathan Blitzer’s Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here explores the immigration crisis, tracing its roots to the complex history between the United States and its southern neighbors. Over the past decade, border crossers have shifted from Mexican laborers to Central Americans and others seeking asylum. Named one of the New York Times’ top 10 books of 2024, this book anchors our discussions, alongside recent immigration developments. ISBN-13: 978-1984880826
Thursday, 2 pm, Oct 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov 6, 13
Leader Louis Rubenstein Members $29
Host Susan Zucker Non-Members $39
Place Pasadena
410 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: A George Smiley Novel by John le Carré Register
In John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the death of ‘Control’ leaves British Intelligence, known as the Circus, in the hands of ambitious newcomers. George Smiley, nearing retirement, is drawn back when a would-be defector reveals a Soviet mole at the agency’s core. Guided by his wits and a loyal team, Smiley confronts his Moscow Center rival, Karla, in a gripping hunt for the traitor. ISBN-13: 978-0143119784
Friday, 11 am, Oct 10, 17, 31
Leader Julio-Cesar Marin Members $23
Host Katherine Gavzy Non-Members $33
Place Sierra Madre
411 The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology is Bringing us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants by Karen Bakker Register
Karen Bakker’s The Sounds of Life takes readers on a fascinating journey into nature’s hidden soundscapes. Using cutting-edge digital technologies, scientists uncover vibrant communication among creatures across ecosystems, revealing the interconnectedness of life. ISBN-13: 978-0691240978
Thursday, 10 am, Oct 23, 30; Nov 6
Leader Gay Bruveris Members $29
Host Gay Bruveris Non-Members $39
Place Pasadena
412 The Economist magazine Register
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, Oct 31; Nov 14, 21; Dec 5, 12, 19
Leader David Whitcomb Members $10
Zoom Non-Members $20
413 Developing an Eye for Life with Photography Register
Inspired by the New York Times, five photography assignments that invite you to look closely at the world. How often do you look, really look at the world around you? These assignments will challenge group members to do just that.
Tuesday, 12 noon, Nov 4, 25; Dec 16; Jan 6, 27
Leader Gay Bruveris Members $10
Host Gay Bruveris Non-Members $20
Place Pasadena
414 My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Register
Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, named the New York Times’ #1 book of the 21st century, is a timeless novel about the lifelong friendship of two women in post-World War II Naples. Growing up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood shaped by the black market, their bond navigates love, rivalry, and societal change. ISBN-13: 978-1609450786
Wednesday, 10 am, Nov 5, 12, 19; Dec 3
Leader Jane Crane Members $22
Host Jane Crane Non-Members $32
Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
415 Transitions (40th Anniversary Edition): Making Sense of Life's Changes by William Bridges & Susan Bridges Register
In Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William and Susan Bridges, named one of the top 50 self-help books, the authors offer a roadmap for navigating life’s personal, cultural, and political changes. Whether chosen or unexpected, transitions bring opportunities and challenges. We’ll discuss the Bridges’ stages of transition and apply them to our own lives. ISBN-13: 978-0738285405
Thursday, 4 pm, Nov 6, 13, 20
Leader Judy Blanton Members $27
Host Joan Stafford Non-Members $37
Place Pasadena
416 Kudos by Rachel Cusk Register
Rachel Cusk’s Kudos, the final novel in her acclaimed trilogy, follows Faye, a writer navigating a Europe in flux. Amid shifting personal and political identities, she confronts tensions between truth and representation in literary culture. Exploring family, art, justice, love, and the value of suffering, Cusk delivers a profound narrative from one of today’s most important writers. ISBN-13: 978-1250207395
Monday, 2 pm, Nov 10, 17, 24; Dec 1
Leader John Swain Members $23
Host Tony Koerner Non-Members $33
Place Pasadena
417 Movie & Dinner with Charlie Chaplin at The Circus (1928)! Register
What could be better than Charlie Chaplin or the circus in 1928? Join us to watch and discuss Chaplin's silent masterpiece, The Circus together! We will enjoy popcorn during the movie, followed by a light dinner and a discussion of the film, which was nominated for Best Actor and Best Director at the first Academy Awards in 1929.
Monday, 4:30 pm, Nov 10
Leader Deborah Fox Members $15
Host Deborah Fox Non-Members $20
Place South Pasadena
418 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner Register
Angle of Repose, Wallace Stegner’s 1971 Pulitzer Prize winner and Modern Library top 100 novel, follows Lyman Ward, a historian estranged from his family, as he chronicles his grandparents’ journey through the rugged American West. This historical novel explores family ties, resilience, and personal reflection. ISBN-13: 978-1101872765
Tuesday, 2 pm, Nov 11, 18, 25; Dec 2, 9
Leader Lisa Darling Members $20
Host Lisa Darling Non-Members $30
Place Pasadena
419 What's Been Happening in the Supreme Court? Register
All new cases! We’ll examine some of the most consequential decisions and emergency orders of the past term (2024-2025). New format: no more explanatory emails. Instead: an oral tutorial on the cases each week, with time for discussion. News articles, podcasts, court opinions, etc. sent via web links and PDFs. All reading is optional. Each week assumes some understanding of concepts discussed during prior weeks (e.g. executive power, enforcement of injunctions, due process, etc.).
Thursday, 2 pm, Dec 4, 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22, 29 Feb 5
Leader Susan Hershman Members $15
Zoom Non-Members $30
S12 Slide show of Artic region: Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Bay Register
World travelers Patti and John Brugman present a narrated slide show of their Arctic adventures in Iceland, Greenland, and Baffin Bay. Through vivid photos and stories from two recent trips, this presentation immerses you in the Arctic’s beauty. Visit Patti-world.com for a preview.
Friday, 2 pm, Oct 10
Leader Patti and John Brugman Members $5
Host Gaye Shepard Non-Members $10
Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
S13 Finding the past at Meridian Iron Works Museum Register
The Meridian Iron Works Museum, built in 1985 in South Pasadena has a rich history and holds a treasure trove of memorabilia to learn more about! From the Indiana Colony to the Oneonta Railway Station, Ostrich Farm, and the Raymond Hotel, come hear the stories and ask your questions on our own private tour, followed by a no-host lunch at Kaldi's and a chance to visit. Free parking available on Meridian Street, meet mid-street at the Watering Trough. Do wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to stand in a smaller museum space for an hour. Suggested $10 donation/person at entrance.
Friday, 11 am, Oct 24
Leader Deborah Fox Members $5
Host Colleen Boken, Archivist Non-Members $10
Place 913 Meridian Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030
S14 The Robe (1953) Register
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.
Friday, 2 pm, Nov 7
Leader Bob Koster Members $5
Host Gaye Shepard Non-Members $10
Place Villa Gardens, 842 E. Villa Street, Pasadena
S15 The Great Wall of Los Angeles Register
The Great Wall of Los Angeles is a roughly half-mile-long mural painted on the concrete sides of the Tujunga Wash, depicting the history of California from prehistoric times to 1960, as seen through the eyes of women and minorities. Designed in 1978 by artist Judy Baca and created with the help of over 400 community youth and artists, the Great Wall is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Current work is underway to add an additional half-mile of mural on the opposite side of the wash, portraying the period from 1960 to 2010. Carpool from the meeting place, Pasadena Museum of History. Enjoy a no-host lunch at a local restaurant after the tour. This event is not suitable for those using walkers or wheelchairs. Please wear comfortable shoes.
Saturday, 9 am, Nov 15
Leader Carla Barnes Members $5
Host Robb Grimm Non-Members $10
Place Valley Glen, CA
S16 USC Campus
Join us for an exclusive guided tour of the USC campus in November (date TBD), exploring new buildings and beautifully landscaped grounds in a comfortable tour car. Limited to 7 passengers for an intimate experience, the tour lasts approximately two hours, starting late morning. A no-host lunch will be arranged for your convenience. With limited on-campus parking, carpooling is strongly recommended. Reserve your spot for this special journey through USC’s vibrant campus!
Date and Time: TBD
Leader David Whitcomb and Bhargav Oza Members $5
Host David Whitcomb Non-Members $10
Place USC Campus