Mountain View News May 2, 2026 
77FOOD -DRINK - FUN Mountain View News May 2, 2026 
77FOOD -DRINK - FUN 
Peter A. Dills 

L.A.’s King of Cuisine

https://
podlink/1116885432 


Mother’s Day, the Norman Rockwell Way 

Let’s take a short, easy drive east of Pasadena this Mother’s Day—where 
things slow down just enough to matter, and where a lunch still feels 
like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting. 

Before we grab a table, a quick toast to history. Mother’s Day began in 
1908, thanks to Anna Jarvis, who simply wanted to honor her mother. 
By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it official. 

And yes, she later pushed back on how commercial it all became.
But here we are—reservations made, families gathered, and Mom… 
hopefully smiling. 

And before we go any further—a quick cheers to Susan, our fearless 
leader and editor at Mountain Views News. She keeps the trains 
running on time, keeps me on point, and reminds us all that local 
stories—and local restaurants—still matter. 

SIERRA MADRE – CHARMING, EASY, AND JUST RIGHT 

We’re technically heading east, but Sierra Madre counts—and you 
know why. It’s close, it’s comfortable, and it still feels like a small-town 
secret hiding in plain sight. 

Casa Del Rey 

This one just works. The relaxed patio, the easygoing vibe, the kind of place where nobody rushes you 
out the door. The margaritas? Strong, smooth, and memorable—ask for the Peter Special. The shredded 
chicken tacos and chile relleno are flavorful, satisfying, and built for a long, happy lunch. This is a 
Mother’s Day winner without trying too hard. 

The Only Place In Town 

Warm, welcoming, and exactly what the name promises. This is classic comfort dining done right—
hearty breakfasts, dependable favorites, and the kind of friendly service that makes Mom feel like she’s 
been coming here for years… even if it’s her first visit. No pretense, just good food and good people. 

Lucky Baldwin’s Pub 

A little lively, a little unexpected, and a lot of fun. If your Mother’s Day leans casual—with a pint, a laugh, 
and a bit of energy—this British-style pub delivers. It’s festive without being over the top, and sometimes 
that’s exactly the right call. 

ARCADIA – OPTIONS, ENERGY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING 

Now we head a touch further east into Arcadia, where the choices open up and the family debate begins. 

The Derby 

Classic, polished, and just a little bit glamorous. White tablecloths, attentive service, and that 
unmistakable old-school steakhouse feel. If Mom appreciates tradition—and maybe a perfectly made 
martini—this is your moment. Take your time here, it deserves it. 

Din Tai Fung 

Lively, bustling, and absolutely worth the buzz. The soup dumplings are delicate, flavorful, and 
conversation-stopping—in the best way. It’s a shared experience, a little bit of theater, and a guaranteed 
crowd-pleaser. Go early, be patient, and enjoy the ride. 

A FINAL THOUGHT (FROM ME… AND MAYBE MY DAD) 

Mother’s Day doesn’t need to be overthought. My mother, Rosemary, preferred something simple—a 
thoughtful card, an easy meal, and real conversation. No fuss, no pressure, just time well spent. 

So here’s your plan: 

• 
Make one solid reservation. 
• 
Show up on time—don’t test Mom’s patience. 
• 
Keep it to a couple of relaxed hours. 
• 
And maybe finish the day with ice cream somewhere along the way.
That’s your Norman Rockwell ending. 
IN SUMMARY 

Head just east this year. Sierra Madre brings the charm. Arcadia brings the options.
Pick the place that fits your family—not the one that looks best on paper. 

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the table…it’s about who’s sitting at it.

 Cheers ! Happy Mother’s Day. — Peter Dills 


SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE CONTINUES ITS 
INAUGURAL OPERA SERIES WITH DOMENICO 
CIMAROSA’S SHORT COMIC INTERMEZZO IL 
MAESTRO DI CAPPELLA (“THE MAESTRO”) 
a Hilarious Parody of the 
Music Business,Reimagined 
and Produced by SourceFilter Music 

This witty one-act satire of ego and 
rehearsal chaos stars baritone Caleb 
Yanez Gickman as a pompous maestro 
more focused on himself than the music 
he is conducting. 

Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 PM, at 
Sierra Madre Playhouse 

Sierra Madre Playhouse, which this 
season launched its inaugural opera 
series, continues its vibrant exploration 
of the art form’s myriad con-temporary 
and traditional styles with Domenico 
Cimarosa’s short comic intermezzo Il 
maestro di cappella (“The Maestro”). The witty one-act parody of the music business, reimagined and 
produced by Source/Filter Music, runs one night only on Saturday, May 30, 2026, 8:00 PM, at the historic 
venue. 


In this production, baritone Caleb Yanez Glickman stars as the self-important conductor who lectures 
and berates his orchestra while attempting to lead it. With a new hybrid Eng-lish–Italian libretto bySource/Filter Artistic Director Britta Sterling, Glickman’s character becomes hilariously tangled in 
language, rhythm, and pride. The role demands both vocal virtuosity and comic timing, as he sings, 
conducts, and unravels in real time. The perfor-mance features a 17-piece orchestra. 

Performed without microphones and minimal staging, The Maestro thrives on intimacy and spontaneity. 
With musicians in concert black and the “maestro” dressed in a flamboyant costume, the orchestra 
responds to his every whim. Cimarosa, who was considered Italy’s most popular opera composer 
towards the end of his career, wrote The Maestro between 1786 and 1793. 

The first half of the program includes a selection of works for stage and screen by Ital-ian and Italian-
American composers, curated to complement Cimarosa’s humor and lyri-cism. Highlights include 
works by Gioachino Rossini, Dominic Argento, Gian Carlo Menot-ti, Michael Giacchino, Jeanine Tesori, 
and more, featuring soloists Rachel Yeo (soprano), Rae Shrum (mezzo-soprano), and Eric Castro 
(baritone) alongside pianist Milena Gligić. 

This event, a playful blend of classical precision and theatrical absurdity, captures Source/Filter Music’s 
mission: to celebrate live music as both art and experiment, where the line between performance 
and play beautifully blurs. Founded in 2022 by a collective of lo-cal artists and spearheaded by Britta 
Sterling and Rae Shrum, Source/Filter Music was born out of a desire to create interesting, unique 
site-specific musical projects in Los Angeles that spotlight the works of local, living composers as well 
as seldom-performed works by other beloved composers to showcase the exceptional talents of local 
musicians and per-forming artists. 

Caleb Yanez Glickman (baritone) is an accomplished and opera singer, and pianist. He was recently 
appointed Music Director of Opera Modesto, which brings opera to Califor-nia’s Central Valley. From 
2022-2024, he served as music director of the Hollywood Youth Orchestra, an El-Sistema-inspired 
program. He has conducted several productions with Pacific Opera Project, quickly becoming one of 
their mainstay conductors. Glickman has also worked with the Spoleto Festival USA, Opera Southwest, 
Lyric Opera of Orange Coun-ty, Opera in the Ozarks, Opera Saratoga, Savannah Opera, Washington 
National Opera and Fargo-Moorhead Opera. He earned a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University 
(CMU) in Vocal Performance and Conducting. 

For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or vis-it www.sierramadreplayhouse.
org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Ma-dre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 

ABOUT SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE 

Sierra Madre Playhouse, a vibrant Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a 
century, energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions and captivating 
live performances. Hailed as a “jewel” (Pasadena Weekly) and “a landmark theater” (ABC7 Los 
Angeles), the performing arts center has garnered tremen-dous accolades for its varied repertoire and 
thought-provoking education and outreach programs curated with social impact in mind. The Los Angeles 
Times proclaims, “This is theater from the heart.” As one of San Gabriel Valley’s only performing 
arts centers present-ing a broad spectrum of performance genres, including theater, music, dance, film, 
come-dy, and family-friendly productions featuring eminent local and national professional art-ists, 
the treasured artistic beacon draws audiences from across the Southland. The inti-mate 99-seat Sierra 
Madre Playhouse offers an up-close and personal connection to per-formances that resonate deeply, 
earning multiple Ovation Awards, NAACP Awards, and LA Times Critics' Choice honors. It is nestled 
into a historic building on the inviting Main Street of Sierra Madre, a charming village in the foothills 
of the San Gabriel Mountains. Retaining its distinctive movie theater façade and instantly recognizable 
marquee, the structure has undergone numerous transformations since opening in 1910, from furniture 
emporium to silent movie theater to the artistic institution that now stands as a vibrant embodiment 
of the region’s rich cultural legacy. The Sierra Madre Playhouse fosters creativity that aspires to 
bridge divides and spark dialogue, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of the American experience 
and the enduring pursuit of shared understanding. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com