Workshops

This story has been corrected. Please see note below. "The Virgin and Child With Saint Anne," a highly prized painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the collection of the Louvre, is having a big year. Last spring, the sensitive portrayal of St. Anne with her daughter and grandson was the keystone of an exhibition at the Parisian museum. For the first time, Leonardo's "final masterpiece" - in process for years and left unfinished at the artist's death in 1519 - was exhibited with his compositional sketches, preparatory drawings and landscape studies, along with related works by other artists.

SAFETY Workshop For the winter backcountry traveler, this two-hour session introduces and explains where and why avalanches occur and provides a basic approach to managing risk. Learn to recognize basic signs of avalanche danger and how to avoid it. When, where: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the REI store in Tustin, 2962 El Camino Real. Admission, info: Free. (714) 505-0205 Please email announcements at least three weeks before the event to travel@latimes.com .

Home coffee roasting: Looking to brew like a barista? Daniel Kent of Plow & Gun Coffee will teach a coffee roasting workshop on Saturday at the Institute of Domestic Technology's headquarters in Altadena. Coffee enthusiasts are welcome to join in from 10 a.m. to noon and learn how to roast, brew and taste coffee. The session costs $95 per person and includes ingredients, supplies and snacks. Register online . Zane Grey Estate, 396 E. Mariposa St., Altadena, www.instituteofdomestictechnology.com . Cupcake decorating: Georgetown Cupcake will host a holiday cupcake decorating workshop at the cupcakery's recently opened location on Robertson on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants can frost, decorate and gift-wrap a dozen of their favorite holiday flavors such as gingerbread, white chocolate peppermint, English Christmas cake and chocolate eggnog.

SAFETY Workshop For the winter backcountry traveler, this two-hour session introduces and explains where and why avalanches occur and provides a basic approach to managing risk. Learn to recognize basic signs of avalanche danger and how to avoid it. When, where: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Manhattan Beach, 1800 Rosecrans Ave. Admission, info: Free. (310) 727-0728. ADVENTURE Presentation Follow a group of adventure seekers as it explores the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County.

Mercado La Paloma has launched a new educational culinary program called “Mercado Cooks” as part of the center's “Cultural Continuum” series kicking off Sunday with the Mercado's holiday marketplace where local artisans and vendors will be selling their goods from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. A tamale-making workshop on Dec. 14 will be the first in a series of cooking classes offered by “Mercado Cooks,” which aims to connect members of the...

Michael Phillips, co-founder of Handsome Coffee Roasters (and a World Barista Champion) will conduct three brew classes on Tuesdays in December, starting tonight, at Handsome Coffee's  downtown cafe. Each class will cover how to make a great cup of coffee with a different style of brewer, starting with the Chemex and V60 class today from 6 to 7 p.m. For $65, each student receives a Chemex brewer, filters and a 12-ounce bag of coffee. Phillips will demo how to brew an amazing cup using the Chemex and V60 pour-over brew methods.

TRAVEL Presentation Angel Castellanos will show travelers how to pack light without feeling deprived as well as offer tips on how to make the most of your trip. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. SNOWSHOEING Workshop Experts will offer tips on snowshoeing basics, gear and where to go to get started. When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday at the REI store in Rancho Cucamonga, 12218 Foothill Blvd.

Looking to learn some do-it-yourself skills for holiday gift giving this year? The Institute of Domestic Technology has a one-day food-crafting class Saturday focusing on homemade gifts for the holidays at the Zane Grey Estate in Altadena. A repeat of the class will take place at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills on Dec. 8.  From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., instructors Kevin West and Joseph Shuldiner will teach a smorgasbord of useful skills for making a variety of D.I.Y. gifts.

Ricardo Sepida gets emotional when he sees his son-in-law in a Navy uniform. Even aircraft carriers make him misty-eyed. There is no better country than the United States, says Sepida, an immigrant from the Philippines. Yet despite possessing a green card for 40 years, Sepida has never become an American citizen. Life got in the way, as he raised two children, worked a full-time job as a biomedical technician and ran side businesses on the weekends. "I was so busy at work, I had so many things to do and I'd forget about it," said Sepida, 61, of Sylmar.

CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY AND AUSTRIA Slide show Roberta Kritzia will speak about her travels to Prague, Budapest and Vienna. When, where: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. Admission, info: Free. RSVP to (626) 449-3220. SNOWSHOEING Workshop Experts will offer tips on snowshoeing basics, gear and where to go to get started. When, where: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the REI store in Tustin, 2962 El Camino Real. Admission, info : Free.