Dine LA Starts Friday

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Everyone loves food and Pasadena has some of the best restaurants. Coming up in the next week is Dine LA Restaurant Week and Cheeseburger Week and I’m keeping you in the know. Probably gonna put on a few pounds too.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Dine LA Restaurant Week Starts January 23

• Events this Wednesday & Thursday

• Civic News

  • Amazon Buys East Pasadena Industrial Site

  • Meeting Updates

• In Defense of the Cheeseburger: Why Pasadena Does It Best

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my sister Raquel! I forgot to put in your shoutout on Friday—sorry, love you! 🎈

THE DIGEST

Dine LA Restaurant Week Starts January 23

Dine LA Restaurant Week is back, offering fixed-price menus at restaurants across Pasadena and Los Angeles. There’s no ticket or pass required — you simply dine at a participating restaurant and ask for the Dine LA menu.

Menus and pricing vary by restaurant and meal period, and don’t include drinks, tax, or gratuity. It’s best to confirm availability and details directly with the restaurant when making a reservation. Dine LA Restaurant Week runs from January 23 to February 6.

Pasadena’s participating restaurants span a wide range of styles, from casual neighborhood spots to higher-end dining.

Pasadena restaurants taking part include:

• Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery

• Alexander’s Steakhouse

• All India Cafe

• Bodegon No. 69

• Bone Kettle

• Fishwives

• Gaucho Grill

• Granville

• Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

• Kaviar Sushi Bar

• Maestro Restaurant

• Malbec

• Mama M Sushi & Rolls

• Marina Pasadena

• Mi Piace

• Neighbors and Friends

• Osa Rooftop

• Panda Inn

• Perle Restaurant

• Pez Coastal Kitchen

• Plate 38

• Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• Star Leaf

• Sushi Roku

• The Raymond 1886

• Yakiya

For the full list of restaurants, menus, and reservations, visit Dine LA.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wednesday (1/21/26)

🏗️ Rebuilding Altadena: Connect with SCORE mentors and local partners for resources, advice, and support to help small businesses recover and grow after the Eaton Fire. Alta Design Works | Wednesday, January 21 from 11AM–4PM

🎓 Academy Showcase: Meet representatives from PUSD’s College & Career Academies and learn about hands-on, career-connected learning pathways and internships. McKinley School Gymnasium | Wednesday, January 21 at 4:30PM

🐾 Hidden Gems: A Pop-Up Dog Adoption Event: Meet adoptable dogs from Pasadena Humane who are getting some extra spotlight during this weekly adoption pop-up. PetSmart Hastings Ranch | Wednesday, January 21 from 5PM–7PM

🍷 Anayas Restaurant: Winedown Wednesdays: Unwind with live music from Rodrigo while enjoying specialty wines paired with dinner. Anayas Restaurant | Wednesday, January 21 at 7PM

🎸 Wine & Song: Brad & Friends featuring Marina Rocks: Guitarist and songwriter Marina Rocks joins Brad & Friends for an evening of live music during NAMM week. Jeweled Universe | Wednesday, January 21 at 7PM

🧪 Watson Lecture: Lead Contamination — An Old Foe Rises from the Ashes of the Eaton Fire: Caltech geochemist Francois Tissot discusses environmental lead contamination, past research legacies, and new findings following the Eaton Fire. Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium | Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30PM

😂 Comedy Improv Happy Hours: Catch improv comedy with rotating guest comedians hosted by Paddy in a laid-back midweek show. The Mixx Pasadena | Wednesday, January 21 at 8PM

Thursday (1/22/26)

🥕 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: Shop certified California-grown produce, prepared foods, and more at this weekly Thursday market. South Pasadena Farmers’ Market | Thursday, January 22 from 4PM–7PM

🧋 K-Pop Photo Cards & Boba for Teens: Teens can decorate K-pop photo cards using provided supplies and enjoy boba from DYM Books during this hands-on hangout. Bob Lucas Library | Thursday, January 22 at 4PM

🎷 Jazz Night at the Historic Blinn House: Enjoy live jazz by The Bohemians alongside French-inspired bites and drinks in an intimate historic setting. The Blinn House | Thursday, January 22 at 6PM

🎤 Thursday Open Mic on Mission: Singers and musicians of all styles take the stage for a community open mic with full sound support and in-house instruments. Jeweled Universe | Thursday, January 22 from 6:30PM–9:30PM

✍️ Writer’s Block: Creative Writing & Meaningful Connection: Connect with other writers for free-writing time, sharing, and supportive feedback in a welcoming group setting. Octavia’s Bookshelf | Thursday, January 22 from 6PM–8PM

🥃 Anayas Restaurant: Whiskey & Mojitos: Sip whiskey and mojitos while enjoying live music from Rodrigo during this Thursday night hang. Anayas Restaurant | Thursday, January 22 from 7PM–9PM

Save the Date

🍽️ Dine LA Restaurant Week: Enjoy special prix-fixe menus at participating Pasadena and Los Angeles restaurants—just dine out and ask for the Dine LA menu. Participating Restaurants | Friday, January 23 – Friday, February 6

🎻 Mendelssohn & Meyer: Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony pairs with Edgar Meyer’s genre-blending violin concerto performed by Tessa Lark. Pasadena Symphony Pops | Saturday, January 24 at 2PM & 8PM

🦸 Pasadena Comic Con: Spend the day exploring pop culture with celebrity guests, artist booths, panels, toys, and collectibles in a family-friendly convention setting. Pasadena Comic Con | Sunday, January 25 from 10AM–5PM

🍔 Pasadena Cheeseburger Week: Celebrate Pasadena’s claim as the birthplace of the cheeseburger with a citywide week of signature burgers and special creations honoring Lionel Sternberger’s 1924 invention. Pasadena (citywide) | Sunday–Saturday, January 25–31

🛍️ 1042 Flea: Nothing Over 25: Shop art, jewelry, vintage, plants, totes, and more from 45+ vendors, with everything priced under $25. CTRL Collective | Saturday, January 27 from 11AM–4PM

🛍️ Pasadena City College Flea Market: Browse antiques, collectibles, and vintage finds from 400+ vendors spread across PCC’s campus parking lots. Pasadena City College | Sunday, February 1

🌿 Free Day at The Huntington: Visit The Huntington with free admission by advance reservation during its monthly Free Day. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens | Thursday, February 5

🧸 Free First Fridays at Kidspace Children’s Museum: Explore Kidspace for free during this monthly open window with advance reservation required. Kidspace Children’s Museum | Friday, February 6 from 2PM–5PM

📚 Rare Books Pasadena: Browse rare and antiquarian books from dozens of booksellers from around the world as this major book fair returns to Pasadena across two venues. Raymond Theatre | Saturday, February 21 from 10AM–6PM & Sunday, February 22 from 11AM–4PM

Nothing in this section is sponsored. These are just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if something is sponsored!

CIVIC NEWS

Amazon Buys East Pasadena Industrial Site

Amazon has purchased an industrial property in East Pasadena last month for $78.8 million, more than doubling the building’s value since it last sold in 2021. The two-story site at 2964 Bradley Street totals about 168,000 square feet along the 210 freeway. Amazon paid roughly $469 per square foot, a premium for flex industrial space.

The seller, Alvarez & Marsal Capital Real Estate, bought the building for $33 million four years ago. Amazon hasn’t disclosed plans for the site, but the deal fits with its ongoing investments in cloud, data-center, and AI infrastructure. The property adds to Amazon’s local footprint, which already includes the AWS Center for Quantum Computing operated with Caltech.

Why does this matters to the Pasadena community? Well, the purchase reinforces demand for industrial and research-oriented space in Pasadena at a time when traditional office space is struggling. It supports continued job concentration near the 210 corridor, signals long-term confidence in the city as a tech and research hub, and may help stabilize commercial tax revenue even as office vacancies remain elevated.

Public Safety Committee Meeting

Attend the City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting covering public safety topics and agenda items for the month. Pasadena City Hall Council Chambers | Wednesday, January 21 at 4PM

Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) Meeting

Sit in on the monthly commission meeting advising City Council on transportation policies and projects. Click here for agenda. Pasadena City Hall Basement | Thursday, January 22 at 4PM

NEWS N’ ROSES WEATHER

Wednesday

67 🌡️53 |☁️| 💨 SE 2 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 42 (Good)

Thursday

64 🌡️ 52 |☁️65%| 💨 N 5 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

In Defense of the Cheeseburger: Why Pasadena Does It Best

by Peter Dills, Local Food Dude ([email protected])
Listen to the ‘Peter Dills AKA LA Foodie’ podcast here or SoundCloud here.

You see the lines at In-N-Out Burger, and whether you’re a regular or just driving by, it’s hard not to think: they must be doing something right. Freshly cut fries, a real deal on the cheeseburger, and a product that hasn’t strayed far from its roots. There’s a reason the crowds keep coming.

But this isn’t just about In-N-Out.

Here in Pasadena, we’re celebrating the cheeseburger for a very good reason. It’s often said the cheeseburger was invented right here in our own backyard, and whether you take that as fact or folklore, there’s no denying Pasadena has earned its place in cheeseburger history.

There are good burgers, very good burgers, and then there are the ones that make you pause after the first bite and think, yes, this is what a cheeseburger should be.

For my dollar, Hook Burger on Foothill Boulevard makes a very good one. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t fall apart in your hands, and it understands restraint. Just down the street, Islands, as far as chains go, also delivers a solid cheeseburger—proof that consistency still counts.

Then there’s Amigos. Yes, a Mexican restaurant. And yes, they make a good cheeseburger. One of the fun things about Pasadena is that the best burger isn’t always coming from a place with “burger” in the name.

So what makes a great cheeseburger?

For me, it starts with two things: the bun and the patty. The bun needs to hold up without stealing the show, and the patty should be hand-patted—after all, that’s why it’s called a patty. You can tell the difference in the first bite.

Dog Haus will likely garner plenty of votes in the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce cheeseburger contest, and deservedly so. It’s very good. My only quibble? It tends to fall apart a bit too fast. Flavor is there; structure could be better.

Of course, Pie ’n Burger will also be popular—and for good reason. It could probably make the case for what makes Pasadena Cheeseburger Week so special. The downside? The price is now hovering around $20, which gives some folks pause, even if the quality is still there.

Personally, I like the kind of burger that arrives with a steak knife. You cut it in half, see the juices run just a bit, and that first bite tells you everything you need to know. That’s the moment of truth. That’s success.

I threw the question out to my Facebook followers (yes, Peter Dills, playing Switzerland here), and Tom’s on Walnut picked up a few votes as well. Another reminder that Pasadena has no shortage of strong opinions—or strong burgers.

The bottom line? There are many great choices, and that’s what makes Cheeseburger Week here so much fun. This city doesn’t crown just one king; it hosts a very competitive court.

Now I’ll turn it over to you:
Where’s your favorite cheeseburger in Pasadena?

Email me at [email protected] and let me know.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

🎼 Music at Noon: Elixir Piano Trio: Enjoy a midday performance by the Elixir Piano Trio, blending classical, folk, and jazz influences in a concise live set. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday, January 21 from 12:10PM–12:40PM

🎶 Music in the Chinese Garden: Hear unamplified solo performances on traditional Chinese instruments like dizi, pipa, and erhu during a peaceful afternoon stroll. The Huntington’s Chinese Garden | Wednesday, January 21 at 1PM

🎷 Jazz Night at the Historic Blinn House: Enjoy live jazz by The Bohemians alongside French-inspired bites and drinks in an intimate historic setting. The Blinn House | Thursday, January 22 at 6PM

THANKS!

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