Plays, Live Music, & Markets

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Apparently, roughly two thirds of emails never get opened. That’s why I want to thank you for opening this one. 😃 

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Reader Survey

• Rose Bowl Egg Bowl & Bunny Brunch

• Events this Weekend

• Pasadena Playbook

• Live Music Lowdown – This weekend is packed!

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

Quick Favor

I put together a 6-question survey to better understand who’s reading News N’ Roses and what you actually want more of. It takes about 10 seconds. If you’ve got a moment, I’d really appreciate it. Thank you! 😃 

Rose Bowl Egg Bowl & Bunny Brunch

Pasadena’s annual Egg Bowl returns to the Rose Bowl Stadium on Saturday, April 4 (11AM–2PM). It’s free, with egg hunts for kids up to 12 at 11AM, 12PM, and 1PM, plus a spring festival after with games, crafts, inflatables, and food for purchase.

The free egg hunts require tickets and they’re limited. Registration opens March 9 at 12PM for Pasadena residents, and March 23 at 12PM for non-residents. Everyone in your group needs a ticket to enter.

There’s also a separate Bunny Brunch ticketed option inside the Terry Donahue Pavilion with breakfast, photos with the Bunny, and a VIP egg hunt on the stadium field (doors 8:30AM, VIP hunt 10AM).

For more information, click here.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Friday (2/27)

☕ Coffee, Tea and Chat: Connect with neighbors and learn more about the community in this Mandarin-language gathering for adults 18+. Crowell’s Thornton Conference Room | Friday | 10AM

🇫🇷🎬 Cafe Culturel: A Celebration of French Cinema at Alliance Française de Pasadena: Join a French-language breakfast discussion exploring iconic and contemporary actresses of French cinema and what makes their performances so enduring. Union Cafe | Friday | 10AM

🐱 Cat Pass with Tail Town Cats: Spend 60 minutes in the cat lounge playing, relaxing, or working alongside adoptable cats in this open lounge session. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Friday | 11AM–4PM

📖 Celebrate Black History: From 1865 to Juneteenth!: Artist John Barge leads an interactive Black History Month program exploring key milestones from 1865 through Juneteenth, including a hands-on coloring activity for students. Hastings Branch Library | Friday | 4PM–5PM

🧶 Cozy Crafters Club: Bring your own craft project or use shared supplies for a relaxed afternoon of creating, socializing, and swapping tips. Callisto Tea House | Friday | 4PM

🎨 No Sew Art of Fabric Inlay & Action Figure Remix: Choose between a hands-on fabric inlay workshop inspired by Japanese Kimekomi or a mixed-media session creating custom action figures from repurposed parts. Remainders Creative Reuse | Friday | 6PM

🐙 Octopus’s Garden: This world premiere explores what happens when two marine biologists and a composer discover an octopus has created a transcendent piece of music. Boston Court Pasadena | Friday | 7:30PM

🛩️ Pasadena Modelers February Meeting: Model builders are invited to bring finished pieces and works-in-progress, enjoy a slideshow, and take part in this month’s theme focused on Iwo Jima and the Pacific War. Admission is $10, with an ongoing club contest themed “American” (military or civilian). 179 N Vinedo Ave | Friday | 7:30PM

😂 Black History Month Comedy Celebration: Dannon Green hosts a lineup featuring James Davis, Larry Lala, Jeff Arnold, Geoff Brown, and Mark Prince for a night of stand-up in the California Room. The Ice House Comedy Club | Friday | 7:45PM

🔭 Stargazing Lecture: Revealing the Primordial Universe Through Its Oldest Light: Caltech physicist W. L. Kimmy Wu explores the cosmic microwave background and what it reveals about the universe’s origins, followed by Q&A and guided stargazing (weather permitting). Caltech’s Cahill Center | Friday | 8PM

Saturday (2/28)

🥕 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: Shop fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, plus farm products like jams, jellies, and fish—sold directly by the farmers who grow them. Victory Park | Saturday | 8AM–12PM.

🧧 Arboretum’s 3rd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration: Celebrate the Year of the Horse with lion dance and kung fu demonstrations, family crafts, a red envelope seed giveaway, food trucks, and more. LA County Arboretum | Saturday | 9AM–2PM.

🌿 Garden Rebuild Project with Sybil Grant: Get hands-on with regenerative gardening alongside volunteers as you help rebuild and rejuvenate areas of the garden using native and Mediterranean climate plants. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | 9AM–12PM.

🍓 La Cañada Farmers’ Market: Browse fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, breads, jams, pickles, juices, and more at this weekly Saturday market. 1346 Foothill Blvd. | Saturday | 9AM–1PM.

⚽ Villa Parke Youth Soccer League Inauguration Ceremony & Celebration: The 2026 season kicks off with a parade of 70 youth teams, arts and crafts, photo ops, and a free soccer clinic hosted by Pasadena City College Athletics. Villa Parke Turf Field | Saturday | 11AM–12:30PM.

🛍️ SoCal Etsy Guild Market Pasadena: Shop local artists and crafters, catch live art, and browse handmade goods at this pet-friendly market. The Paseo | Saturday | 12PM–7PM.

🎶 America Sings! Pasadena: Hundreds of student singers from across the country gather for a day of music and community service, culminating in a grand finale massed choir performance on the steps of City Hall. Pasadena City Hall | Saturday | 1PM–4PM

🖋️ Altadena Poets Laureate: “Rooted in Us”: An afternoon of poetry and remembrance celebrating Black writers and honoring the lasting legacy of S. Pearl Sharp. Loma Alta Park | Saturday | 2PM–4PM.

🏆 57th NAACP Image Awards: The nationally televised awards honoring excellence in entertainment and literature by artists of color will air live from Pasadena, celebrating achievements across film, television, music, and more. Pasadena Civic Auditorium | Saturday | 5PM

🥂 Pasadena Jaycees Annual Awards & Installation Gala: An elegant evening celebrating 97 years of community service with dinner, awards, and the installation of the incoming Board of Directors and President. The Maxwell House | Saturday | 6PM.

💃 Dave Stuckey & the Hot House Gang – Saturday Swing Out: Take a swing lesson, then hit the floor as Dave Stuckey & the Hot House Gang play live, with coffee, lemonade, snacks, and door prizes included. Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association | Saturday | 7:30PM–11PM.

🐙 Octopus’s Garden: A world premiere about two marine biologists and a composer whose lives unravel after discovering an octopus has composed a transcendent piece of music. Boston Court Pasadena | Saturday | 7:30PM.

Sunday (3/1)

🛍️ Pasadena City College Flea Market: Browse antiques, collectibles, and a wide range of vintage finds from more than 400 vendors spread across the PCC parking lots. Pasadena City College | Sunday | 8AM-3PM

🏃‍♂️ The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Los Angeles Run/Walk: A family-friendly morning bringing together those affected by Parkinson’s and supporters to raise awareness and fund research. Rose Bowl Stadium | Sunday | 8AM.

🎨 Paint Nite with Boozy Pigments – Adults Only: A laid-back 18+ paint night with music, drinks, and no-pressure creativity at The Corner Craft Kitchen + Bar. Pasadena Hilton Hotel | Sunday | 7PM.

Save the Date

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!

PASADENA PLAYBOOK

🧞‍♂️ Aladdin: Pasadena Civic Ballet brings this magical adventure to life with over 120 dancers, lavish costumes, animated sets, and a flying carpet on stage. San Gabriel Mission Playhouse | This Weekend, Various Times

🎼 Amadeus: A gripping stage drama exploring the rivalry between Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, directed by Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak and starring Jefferson Mays. The Pasadena Playhouse | This Weekend, Various Times

👻🎭 Beetlejuice JR.: Young Stars Theatre presents this lively stage adaptation following Lydia Deetz and the mischievous ghost Beetlejuice in a fast-paced musical adventure. Fremont Centre Theatre | This Weekend, Various Times

🐉 Hamid Rahmanian’s Song of the North: A visually stunning shadow-puppet and animated retelling of the Persian epic Shahnameh, following the heroine Manijeh on a mythical rescue mission. The Pasadena Playhouse | This Weekend, Various Times

🎭 Letters to Harriet Tubman: A two-character musical play that tells Harriet Tubman’s story through Civil War–era songs and storytelling, featuring spirituals like “Go Down, Moses” and “Oh, Freedom.” Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | 11AM.

👑 Richard III: Shakespeare’s gripping drama follows the cunning Richard as he schemes his way to the throne in a ruthless pursuit of power. A Noise Within | This Weekend, Various Times

NEWS N’ ROSES WEATHER

Friday

89 🌡️ 64 |🌤️| 💨 W 5 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 68 (Moderate)

Saturday

82 🌡️ 58 |🌤️| 💨 S 6 mph

Sunday

76 🌡️ 53 |🌤️| 💨 SW 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

🎹 Larry Garf Performs: Pianist Larry Garf plays a mix of ragtime, early jazz, blues, standards, and Beatles favorites in this morning set. Jones Coffee Roasters | Friday | 9AM

💿 90’s Night at The Mixx: Throw it back with Basura (Garbage Tribute) and Not No Doubt (No Doubt Tribute), plus DJs spinning all the nostalgic hits. The Mixx Pasadena | Friday at 8PM (Live Bands at 10PM)

🎷 Live Jazz at Café 1881: Live jazz every Friday night featuring artists from around the world. Café 1881 | Friday | 8:30PM–11:30PM.

🎶 Jenny & The Jazz Birds: This homegrown South Pasadena group brings their classic jazz sound—with touches of blues and funk—to their longtime Saturday morning set. Jones Coffee Roasters | Saturday | 10AM.

🍺 Live Music & Food Popups at Stone Brewing Pasadena: Hang on the patio with live music from Jake Cassman and a food popup from The Chansmoker’s. Stone Brewing Tap Room | Saturday | 1PM–9PM.

🎹 Scaleful Music Annual Recital: An afternoon of student solo performances, vocals, special farewell duets, and a piano duet by Erik and Rhonda, ending with a contemporary piece with a cross-cultural twist. AGBU Vatche & Tamar Manoukian Performing Arts Center | Saturday | 1PM.

🎶 Musical Interludes: Songs About Love: An intimate concert exploring love in all its forms, featuring works by Beach, Franck, and Schoenberg, followed by a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. PCM’s Barrett Hall | Saturday | 4PM.

🎸 Bruce Forman: The Red Guitar – A Jazz Libretto: An evening of music and storytelling as Bruce Forman presents his one-of-a-kind jazz libretto performance. Bacchus’ Kitchen + Wine Bar | Saturday | 6PM.

🎤 Altadena Musicians Showcase: Courtney opens the night with a 30-minute solo set, followed by David Kaiser, Khemet McConville, Margo May, and Buck Down in this all-ages indoor showcase. Altadena Musicians (1260 Lincoln Ave.) | Saturday | 7PM.

🔥 The Burning Doors @ Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastro Pub: Experience two 45-minute sets celebrating the music of Jim Morrison & The Doors, from early club days to late-era classics. Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastro Pub | Saturday | 7PM.

🎼 Pop Up! from Brightwork New Music: A boundary-blurring chamber music concert that reimagines artists like The Beatles, Sonic Youth, and Prince alongside contemporary works by leading composers. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | 8PM.

🎻 Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners: The Caltech Orchestra performs Finlandia, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and a showcase from this year’s student concerto competition winner(s). Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Saturday | 8PM–9:30PM.

🇧🇷 Brazilian Live Music at Café 1881: Ted Falcon and rotating musicians bring live Brazilian jazz to the stage. Café 1881 | Saturday | 8:30PM–11:30PM.

🎷 The Gold Line Jazz Collective: Led by pianist Hank Mehren, this rotating jazz group blends cool jazz, hard bop, and Latin fusion with a core lineup of piano, guitar, upright bass, and drums. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | 10AM.

🎶 Jazz Sundays with Catlin & Rosser: Barb Catlin and Ken Rosser perform an eclectic mix of jazz standards and originals, drawing from composers like Carla Bley, Billy Strayhorn, and Wayne Shorter. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | 2PM.

🎻 Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners: The Caltech Orchestra performs Finlandia, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and a spotlight performance from this year’s student concerto competition winner(s). Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Sunday | 3PM–4:30PM.

🎻 Main Series No. 4: Beethoven and Schubert: Hear Beethoven and Schubert performed on period instruments, including the “Spring” Sonata and Schubert’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major, followed by a wine reception with the artists. Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music | Sunday | 3PM.

🎷 George Brown Ansambel: A boundary-crossing sextet blending jazz, world music, and chamber-style interplay with rich ensemble textures and improvisation. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Sunday | 8PM.

THANKS!

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