When the stars align, two major events occur at the Santa Anita Racetrack: the 626 Night Market and…read moreCal Phil's Festival on the Green. Despite their proximity, it's hard to believe that these events could exist in the same universe, as the two events could not be more different. While the former is overcrowded and unruly, the latter is relatively low-key and calm. Thus, if you're looking for a fun experience but not enthused about battling pushy people and lengthy lines, I'd highly recommend checking out Cal Phil's Festival on the Green. Since this is THE Cal Philharmonic Orchestra, the excellence of the music is indisputable. But, the selection of pieces could probably have been improved to better fit the advertised theme. For a concert entitled "Lights, Camera, Action," I expected more music from iconic movies, as we only heard one piece from Hercules, Jurassic Park, Lawrence of Arabia, Psycho, and Star Wars. Other selections, such as Korngold's Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony #5, were beautiful, but were less engaging given their disconnect from the night's theme. (The programs for the other concerts in the series seemed to feature a mix of pieces as well, but I can imagine that the musical / pop-oriented concerts allow for more crowd participation.) The setup of the venue is pretty straightforward: closest to the stage are tables; behind the tables are rows of benches; and further back is the eponymous green. While you could score seats closer to the stage, I'd recommend choosing the cheaper lawn seats, as this is the perfect spot to have a boozy picnic with friends before the concert. Just don't forget the corkscrew! Although lawn chairs are helpful, they are certainly not needed as long as you bring blankets or towels to sit on. There is a slight berm along the edges of the venue, so if you want to be elevated / avoid having someone stick their chair right in front of you, then arrive early to stake your spot! We arrived at approximately 6PM and most of the elevated lawn spots had already been claimed. Tickets can be purchased online via Cal Phil or Goldstar. If you choose to purchase food at the venue, you do have several options in the form of food trucks serving ice cream, sliders, and Cajun fare. Obviously, this can't compete with the fare you'd find at the Night Market. And, if you don't bring enough libations, there is a bar that sells various forms of booze, including entire bottles of wine. There is ample parking is available through Gate 6. It costs $15 per car, so it's definitely worth it to carpool. You probably could walk over from somewhere with free parking, but it would certainly take you awhile, especially if you have lots of stuff to carry. Definitely check out Cal Phil's Festival on the Green if you're interested in a fun experience with family and friends. Even if the music isn't your cup of tea, you'll have fun being outdoors and picnicking in good company!

Outdoor on the grass, temperature about 80 and the night sky is clear. Listening to singers,…read morechoral groups and a very talented orchestra perform Andrew Lloyd Webber meets Puccini. Movie scores, play scores and opera all in one evening. The sound system was good and the lighting was well done. One projection screen showed multiple views from the many cameras on stage. Parking is easy and the departure from the lot is easy. Great food and bar. Overall, a fine example of the arts in SoCal. Admittedly, this is a scaled-down version of the Hollywood Bowl experience, but not very scaled down on price with good seats at the A, B and C tables going for $90-120 each and parking at $14. Still, 4-5000 people show up every two weeks during summer. Last night's performance was underwritten by Smith Brothers Restaurants in Pasadena Current Developments in the Financial picture. The orchestra and management ratified a two-year Agreement in June of 2013, including an increase in wages. Performance scale increased from $139 to $142 in the first year, and from $142 to $145 in the second year. Rehearsal scale went from $114 to $116 in the first year, to $116 to $119 in the second year. Health & Welfare contributions also went from 7% to 8% for the duration of the agreement. The orchestra suffered a massive meltdown in the 2012 season, finishing the year owing musicians over $120,000 for three unpaid concerts; management also reneged on their obligations to make payments to the Health and Welfare Fund and the Pension Fund. After a protracted legal fight, including grievances and filings with the National Labor Relations Board, an agreement was reached in May that made all payments owed to the musicians, including late payment penalties, H &W and Pension Fund payments and work dues.

I have been coming for the afternoon social dance everyday latterly…read more. My favorite place ever . Nice price .

Lai Lai Ballroom Dance Studio is more than just a studio -- it's a community filled with passion,…read moredrive, and heart at every step. I danced here for five years and during that time, I was fortunate enough to win two championships in my category. But beyond the trophies, what made my experience was the environment. From the moment you walk in, you're met with positive energy and genuine encouragement. Peers uplift each other, cheer each other on, and admire one another's progress. It's rare to find a space where ambition is so deeply rooted across all ages, yet balanced so beautifully with support and camaraderie. The studio itself is spacious and thoughtfully designed, especially considering that it's one of the few in the area without a large beam awkwardly planted in the center of the floor. That means you get the freedom to move, spin, and perform routines without restriction. What makes Lai Lai even more special is its story. This locally owned family business was born from the grandmother's love for ballroom dance. That love blossomed into a sanctuary where people of all walks of life could come together to learn, grow, and share in that same joy. You can feel her spirit and legacy in every corner of the studio. To this day I believe she still dances occasionally. If you're even remotely curious about joining this beautiful dance family, I highly recommend attending one of their events. They host fantastic showcases that highlight both student and instructor performances just to see what you're getting yourself into. Though I've since retired from dancing, the good and the bad, Lai Lai was my home for five years. This studio doesn't just teach dance -- it cultivates passion, fosters community, and celebrates every little victory along the way.

We hired Immortals Lion Dance for our wedding and it was definitely the highlight of our night!…read moreVince is wonderful to work with- he is so helpful, professional, and efficient with his emails. We wanted the performance to be a surprise during reception, and it was easy to coordinate that with Vince. The whole performance was approx 15 min, and it was so fun to see them entertain the guests throughout the room. The performers were incredibly talented and energetic, and everyone was blown away with their acrobatic moves. The lions themselves were beautiful and their eyes even lit up! We received endless compliments on their performance, with many saying it was the best they've ever seen. We are fortunate to have different lion troupes to choose from in SoCal, but Immortals Lion Dance is the best of the best. You won't regret hiring them for your next event. Thank you Vince and the Immortals team for helping make our wedding night unforgettable!

My sister had her wedding earlier on this year and she used Immortal Lions. I was like wow! they…read moreare the best performance I have ever seen done for lion dancing. They do like acrobats and look like super realistic lion movements. I knew we had to book them! We reached out to Vince and he told us they are LA based so they usually would not do Orange County but they will make an exception for us because they had so much fun at my sister's wedding! We only had to pay a small free for travel. The usually throw lettuce but our venue did not allow it without a cleaning fee and they were able to accommodate for it. My guests had so much fun being "eaten" and giving tips and loved their acrobatic moves. We had so many people asked for their contacts to use for later. Overall, I would recommend immortal lions and say they are basically the best lion dancing in socal.

Been going the last 2 years and it's a great time and warm atmosphere. Delicious food and one of a…read morekind vendors. Looking forward to the next one!

Great Family Fun! Loved the different booths, food trucks, and activities for the kids, ALL while…read moreenjoying some great music.

This is my second time visiting the Performing Arts Center of Baldwin Park, both times for my…read moremother's concerts. The venue is spacious and bright, the auditorium seating is comfortable, the acoustics are excellent, and the restrooms are clean. Plus, there's plenty of parking (and it's free), making it a fantastic performance venue!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this performing arts theater in the middle of Baldwin Park…read moreis actually very nice. I don't know why, but whenever I hear Baldwin Park, I think ghetto. No offense to residents of Baldwin Park. It's not everyday that I decide to go see a play in B.P., but my old high school (Cathedral) was hosting their drama club's 10th anniversary there. So the sound system isn't the best and the place could have been a little cooler, temperature wise. Overall, it was a very enjoyable outing. I will never look down on Baldwin Park again.

Big place to host an event. The venue can hod over 100 people and there's ample parking. Also, they…read morehave a kitchen. Pricing for the venue is reasonable especially if you're a Rosemead resident

The Garvey Avenue Community Center always have a lot of activities going on. It has plenty of…read moreparking spaces in the front and the back of the building. It is also used for city council meeting so its location is well known within the city. Getting in and out is a bit of wait as Garvey is a major thoroughfare and traffic often backs up at Garvey and Rosemead. Sometime I turn on Lee Street to get around the jam. But I digressed. Back to the Center. For some reason I can't explain, I used to refer to this center as the senior center. I often see people playing table tennis, and hold yoga/dance & exercise classes here. Come on by when you are in the area. Staff at the reception counter are great resources to answer questions.

Yesterday, my husband and I went to celebrate the first exhibition of the short film of our friend…read morein this venue. Well, parking there is a little difficult, go early to find a spot. But, the space is really cool, big, and they give a good assistance. If you have something to exhibit m, or party, this place is cool. We had fun in this event.

I went here for a SAG Background Actors Award event. The parking situation sucked. Handicap people…read morecannot get up to the second floor. Seating capacity is limited.

I wish that the concerts would start on time, and limit the talking. The audience comes for the…read moremusic. I would love to stay for the entire concert, but as early risers, we have been leaving at intermission. That said, this symphony is a real gem. High quality, donation-supported so there is no cost barrier to attend, and easy parking across the street. I was mistaken in my previous review: this is a community orchestra, not a professional one, which speaks to the high quality of the music. We will keep going for the time being, but half a concert is almost not worth it.

Went tonight to the MLK Weekend Concert at the SGI Center in Santa Monica. Loved the program…read more Night on Bald Mountain, Firebird, a tuba concerto and Danzon No. 2. The symphony was well rehearsed and played well. My fav was Danzon, not your typical classical piece: think Latin jazz with lots of orchestration. The venue was a typical multi purpose hall: acoustics were crummy. The audience was the typical community symphony crowd, what my friend and I call "silver foxes." I.e. watch out for walkers. The usual venue for the symphony is the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. It's much larger than SGI, with poor acoustics, and pretty drafty. Parking is around $8. Concerts are free. If you've been thinking about checking out classical music but didn't want to deal with downtown traffic and $$$$ tickets, try the SM Symphony.