SPIKED FRIDAYS Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, hosts Spiked Fridays in the Grove of Thorns, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. “Spiked plants make fabulous spiked drinks—get even with the plants that cause you pain and enjoy wicked cocktails made with spiny botanicals,” a Garden press release read. “Sip away in the Grove of Thorns, an installation of gigantic spines, prickles and thorns brilliantly lit on these magical evenings.
AUTHOR TALK: Pilgrim Congregational Church Memorial Library invites the public to attend its annual free and open library coffee at 10 a.m. The event features a talk from former COURIER staff writer Chris Bray, author of Court-Martial: How Military Justice Has Shaped America from the Revolution to 9/11 and Beyond. Pilgrim Congregational Church is at 600 N. Garey Ave., Pomona. Refreshments will be served, followed by Mr. Bray’s talk.
10-MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL The Claremont Colleges’ free and open to the public 10-Minute Play Festival kicks off at 3 p.m. at Seaver Theatre, Pomona College, 300 E. Bonita Ave., Claremont. Each year, all members of The Claremont Colleges community are invited to submit new plays inspired by a common theme. This year’s theme is “Environmental Justice.” Winners are selected in December.
FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS The Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College, 385 E. Eighth St., hosts a free 9 a.m. panel discussion, Free Speech on Campus, with panelists from the Claremont Colleges, Yale Law School, UC Berkeley and the American Civil Liberties Union, among others. “Free speech is once again the center of debate on college campuses. At several colleges, including at CMC, speakers have been shut down by protests for what was deemed offensive speech."
REGISTER FOR MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ MATH DAY Today is the last day to register for Pomona College’s free, first annual Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day, which takes place February 10. The event is an opportunity to engage middle school and high school girls in a day of networking, mentoring and fun. More info is at pomona.edu/events or (909) 607-2671.
NOONISH CONCERT Scripps College’s free Friday “Noon” Concert Series continues at 12:15 p.m. today with a show at Balch Auditorium, 1030 Columbia Ave., Claremont, Rachmaninoff, Symphonic Dances with Phil Young and Jocelyn Chang on pianos. The weekly concerts are a joint production of Scripps and the Pomona College Music Department. More info is at collegescalendar.org or (909) 607-3266.
CONTRA DANCE CONTRAversial, the contra dance club of the Claremont Colleges, invites the community to attend Claremont Contra Dance from 8 to 11 p.m. at Edmunds Ballroom, 170 E. Sixth St., Claremont. The event is free for Claremont Colleges students. A $5 donation is suggested for the general public. “Contra dance is an energetic, accessible, and enjoyable style of social folk dance.”
KINDRED NATURES CONTINUES FRIDAY: The Claremont Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Kindred Natures,” which highlights the kindred links between the sculptures of Aldo Casanova and the paintings of the late Claremont artist James Fuller, who died November 28, continues during museum hours of noon to 4 p.m. today. The museum, located at 200 W. First St., in the Claremont Depot, is open today, tomorrow and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
THE BLACK WATCH PUB: 497 N. Central Ave., #B, Upland. Live music at 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and some Sundays, unless otherwise noted. No cover. Info: theblackwatchpub.com or (909) 981-6069.
RAVELERS CELEBRATE MILESTONE The Ravelers’ 30th anniversary dinner concert takes place at 6 p.m. at Candlelight Pavilion, 455 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont. Tickets for the show and dinner are $50, and are available at the Candlelight’s box office. Ravelers Hai Muradian, Martie Echito, Pat Naish and Rob Haerr, have been playing classic rock covers in Claremont since 1987. More info is at ravelers.com or candlelightpavilion.com.
SCHOOOOL’S OUT…FOR…WINTER! That’s right folks, kids across the city are officially underfoot, as Claremont schools shut down for winter break at the completion of today’s classes. Schools will reopen next year, on Monday, January 8, 2018. If you’re looking for family-friendly activities this week, read on…
LUMINARIA NIGHTS Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden’s annual Luminaria Nights holiday celebration takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. This Claremont tradition features illuminated evening walks with live acoustic music, cookies and hot cider, and more than 1,000 glowing luminarias. The event repeats and concludes Saturday, December 16.
The free and festive Claremont Holiday Promenade and Tree Lighting Ceremony runs from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Village. The annual holiday kickoff event features live performances, a photo-op with Santa, the annual tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Depot,
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