Happy Mother’s Day (Sunday)

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses.

Did you know? Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Jarvis, who organized the first celebration in 1908 to honor her late mother — but by 1920, she had grown so disgusted by its commercialization that she spent her final years actively trying to abolish the holiday she created.

Just remember: Mother’s Day isn’t about gifts and restaurants. It’s about showing your appreciation to the woman who has been pouring herself into you since the day you were born, and hasn’t stopped since.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Unified to Tear Down Eliot Arts Magnet Tower

• Nana’s Green Tea Comes to Pasadena

• Events this Weekend

  • The Box Office: Plays & Musicals

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom!

THE DIGEST

Pasadena Unified to Tear Down Eliot Arts Magnet Tower

You may recognize this iconic tower — it’s the beloved landmark at Eliot Arts Magnet in Altadena, and it’s coming down.

Pasadena Unified School District has announced plans to demolish it, citing structural damage from fire, heat, and seismic impacts deemed unsafe by engineers and insurers.

For Altadena residents, many still recovering from the Eaton Fire, which destroyed numerous historic buildings in the area, the news hit especially hard. The tower served as a neighborhood beacon for generations, and its loss compounds an already painful season of displacement and grief.

Community frustration is compounded by a feeling of exclusion from the process. Members of Altadena’s Land Use Committee say they were blindsided by the decision and had no seat at the table and still don’t know what, if anything, will replace the structure. No demolition date has been set.

Residents have taken to the streets in protest to stop the demolition. If you’d like to make your voice heard, you can sign the petition demanding a transparent preservation review.

Nana’s Green Tea Comes to Pasadena

Tokyo-born matcha chain Nana’s Green Tea is making its California debut with a flagship location in Old Pasadena (45 N Raymond Ave), opening Saturday, May 9. Founded in Jiyugaoka in 2001, the brand has grown over two decades to locations across Hawaii, Vancouver, Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, and beyond — but this Pasadena spot marks its first company-operated U.S. location (others are franchised).

The menu leans heavily into matcha: lattes, frappes, soft serve, and elaborate layered parfaits, with teas like sencha, hojicha, and genmaicha rounding things out. There’s also a savory side featuring Japanese comfort dishes like chicken katsu curry and salmon sashimi don.

The Pasadena opening is just the start of a broader U.S. push — locations in San Mateo, Meridian (Ohio), and Boston are slated for this summer.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

🎭 The Box Office 🎫

🧜‍♀️ The Little Mermaid JR: Young Stars Theatre Academy performs Disney’s musical about a curious mermaid who makes a daring deal with a sea witch in pursuit of love and adventure. Fremont Centre Theatre | This Weekend | Various Times

👑 Exit the King: An absurdist comedy by Eugene Ionesco about a crumbling king who refuses to accept that his last day on Earth has arrived. A Noise Within | This Weekend | Various Times

🎭 Café Incoherent: The Impressionists: The Parson’s Nose Players explore the Impressionists through the lens of the chaotic Café Incoherent, in Lance and Mary’s final presentation at the theater. Parson’s Nose Theater | Saturday & Sunday | Various Times

🎬 FILM | Frank Hegyi’s Celebrity Caregiver: A reality-bending documentary about a local gas station owner thrust into the world of international celebrity, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Sunday | May 10 | 8PM

Friday (5/8)

🧦 Kids Sock Puppets: A two-hour class where kids create their own sock puppets using hand stitching or gluing techniques with a variety of fabrics and materials. Remainders Creative Reuse | Friday | 4PM

🥂 Kick-Off to Summer Happy Hours: An evening at The Old Mill with wine, beer, light snacks, live music, and two sommeliers on hand. The Old Mill | Friday | 5PM – 7PM

🏡 Friday Nights at The Gamble House with West Altadena Wine + Spirits: Enjoy curated wine flights, live music, and access to the first floor of the Gamble House with docents on hand, plus food from Triple Beam Pizza. The Gamble House | Friday | 5:30PM

🐱 Sketch & Purr: Feline Figure Drawing with Tail Town Cats: An open art session inside the cat lounge featuring sketching, gesture drawing, and still life with some supplies provided. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Friday | 6PM

🥋 Caltech Tai Chi Club: A free weekly class open to all levels covering Hao-style tai chi chuan, Yang-style tai chi, kung fu, and other forms in a no-pressure environment. Caltech’s Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | 7PM

Saturday (5/9)

🐻 2 Bears 5K: Hosted by Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, this no-pressure 5K presented by Netflix Is a Joke Festival includes a post-race party with a finisher medal, event shirt, headband, beer, and Por Osos samples. The Rose Bowl | Saturday | 7:30AM – 2:30PM

🌽 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: A certified farmers’ market offering fresh, locally-grown fruits, vegetables, and farm products, plus vendors with jams, jellies, fish, and more. Victory Park | Saturday | 8AM – 12PM

🌱 Learn Regenerative Gardening by Doing it Yourself with Capri Kasai!: A hands-on volunteer gardening event where participants learn regenerative techniques with native and Mediterranean climate plants by working directly in the soil. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | 9AM

🚲 Beginner’s Bagel Ride: A relaxed 6-mile urban ride for new or returning cyclists, with a bagel breakfast included and tips on using your bike for everyday trips. Caltech Lot 10 (SW corner of Del Mar Blvd. and Michigan Ave) | Saturday | 9AM – 12PM

💡 TEDx Pasadena 2026: A full day of talks on technology, creativity, and human health under the theme “Growth Through Resilience,” featuring speakers spanning software, climate, performance art, and more. Boston Court | Saturday | 11AM – 4:30PM

🌸 Share A Special Mother’s Day 2026: A Mother’s Day brunch at the Showcase House featuring free-flowing mimosas, a buffet with egg dishes, a make-your-own French toast station, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Baldwin Oaks Estate | Saturday | 11AM – 1PM

🛍️ SoCal Etsy Guild Market Pasadena: A free, pet-friendly market featuring live art, handmade vendors, and more at The Paseo on Colorado Blvd. The Paseo | Saturday & Sunday | 12PM – 7PM

🎨 Drawn2Art Pasadena Pop-Up Art Show Returns!: A pop-up art show outside Vroman’s Bookstore featuring student artwork from Drawn2Art Pasadena, with staff and instructors on hand to meet. The Paseo | Saturday | 12PM – 2PM

✏️ Adult Art Classes: Second Saturday Sketching: A drop-in sketching program using guided prompts to explore the museum’s art collections, with all materials provided and a social sketch-share at the café afterward. Norton Simon Museum | Saturday | 3PM – 5PM

🤖 Matinees on the Mountain: Wall-E: Watch the 2008 film WALL·E in the Observatory’s 256-seat auditorium, with the option to explore the grounds, grab lunch at the Cosmic Cafe, or picnic before the show. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Saturday | 3PM – 5:30PM

🎩 Kids Magic Show on the Visionarium Rooftop: A rooftop magic show for kids featuring magician Mayseo, plus dance and circus performances. Visionarium Live Italian | Saturday | 4PM – 5:30PM

💐 Guest Artist: Mother’s Day Paper Bouquet with Tail Town Cats: Create a handmade paper flower bouquet for Mom inside the cat lounge, with all art supplies provided and BYOB welcome. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Saturday | 6PM

Sunday (5/10)

🛍️ Rose Bowl Flea Market: The legendary monthly flea market at the Rose Bowl, known for its unique vendors and shoppers of all ages — held rain or shine. Rose Bowl | Sunday | 9AM-3PM

🚴 Trek Pasadena Sunday Morning Shop Ride: A free weekly 20-mile intermediate shop ride through the Rose Bowl, South Pasadena, and San Marino — no pre-registration required, just show up. Trek Bicycle Pasadena | Sunday | 8AM – 11AM

🔭 Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: A behind-the-scenes tour of Mt. Wilson Observatory’s 60- and 100-inch telescopes, Snow Solar Telescope, powerhouse, and machine shop, with demonstrations of the telescopes’ motion controls. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Sunday | 9AM – 2:30PM

🌸 Share A Special Mother’s Day 2026: A Mother’s Day brunch at the Showcase House featuring free-flowing mimosas, a buffet with egg dishes, a make-your-own French toast station, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Baldwin Oaks Estate | Sunday | 11AM – 1PM

🎵 Mother’s Day Soul Brunch: A Mother’s Day brunch featuring live soulful music and soul food. Bacchus’ Kitchen + Wine Bar | Sunday | 11AM – 2:30PM

🌸 Mother’s Day Brunch: A Mother’s Day brunch at The Oaks of Pasadena featuring chef-prepared dishes and champagne, open to older adults (55+) and one guest per party, reservations required. The Oaks of Pasadena | Sunday | 12PM – 4PM

🧘 Yoga and Sounds in the Garden with Living Earth: A monthly outdoor yoga and sound journey blending flowing movement, breathwork, and live music in the garden — participation in yoga is optional. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Sunday | 12PM

🥂 Mother’s Day Wine Tasting: A guided sparkling wine tasting led by wine expert Nicole Lalagüe, featuring six half-glass pours of champagne-method wines from around the world paired with charcuterie boards. The Gamble House | Sunday | 1PM & 4PM

Upcoming Events

New events added to the News N’ Roses events page. Check them out here!

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!

WEATHER

Friday

76 🌡️ 57 |🌤️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 54 (Moderate)

Saturday

79 🌡️ 57 |⛅| 💨 S 8 mph

Sunday

81 🌡️ 58 |🌤️ | 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

🎶 Live Music Night at Visionarium Live Italian with Alicia Beach – Jazz: An evening of live jazz with Alicia Beach on vocals, Adam Cohen on bass, and Wayne Wilentz on piano, paired with authentic Italian food and curated wines. Visionarium Live Italian | Friday | May 8 | 7PM – 9PM

🎻 Pasadena Community Orchestra Featuring YAC Winner in the Open Division: The PCO’s 43rd season continues with music by Mozart, Florence Price, Shostakovich, and Arturo Márquez, plus a performance by the Young Artist Competition winner, with a pre-concert discussion at 7:15PM. First Church of the Nazarene | Friday | May 8 | 8PM

🎺 Bandorama Concerts: Caltech Bands performs classic and contemporary wind band works by Holst, Grainger, Ticheli, and Sparke, followed by the Caltech Jazz Ensemble in the second half. Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Friday | May 8 | 8PM

🎵 Live Jazz with Eric Garcia & Friends: Eric Garcia & Friends perform live jazz. Criterion Coffee | Saturday | May 9 | 12PM – 2PM

🎸 Jazz on Hill | John Clayton: PCM’s 11th annual Jazz on Hill features a master class and concert with Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and arranger John Clayton. Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) | Saturday | May 9 | 2:30PM

🎺 Bandorama Concerts: Caltech Bands performs classic and contemporary wind band works by Holst, Grainger, Ticheli, and Sparke, followed by the Caltech Jazz Ensemble in the second half. Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Saturday | May 9 | 8PM

🎤 Mike Doughty Solo Tour ’26: The founder and frontman of Soul Coughing performs stripped-down, intimate solo material in a fully seated, first-come-first-served show. Sid The Cat Auditorium | Saturday | May 9 | 8PM

🎻 JAZZ | John Clayton – double bass – trio: Renowned double bassist John Clayton performs in an intimate trio format, bringing his jazz and classical mastery to a small venue setting. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | May 9 | 8PM

🎷 Jazz and Blues Saturday Night at The Barkley!: The Silver Foxes perform live jazz and blues. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Saturday | May 9 | 9PM – 1AM

🎸 Friends You Can Kill At The Old Town Pub: Friends You Can Kill returns to The Old Town Pub — wear your F.Y.C.K. Colors. Old Towne Pub | Saturday | May 9 | 10PM

🎷 Live Jazz at Visionarium during Brunch with Patrick Barnitt & Billy Paul Trio: A Mother’s Day brunch with live jazz from Patrick Barnitt and the Billy Paul Trio, paired with authentic Italian flavors. Visionarium Live Italian | Sunday | May 10 | 12PM – 2PM

🎼 Crown City Symphony Concert: The Crown City Symphony performs Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, featuring cellist Garik Terzian and conductor Arman Keyvanian. First Baptist Church | Sunday | May 10 | 2PM

🎶 Live Music with Joe Lopiccolo: Joe Lopiccolo performs live at Criterion Coffee. Criterion Coffee | Sunday | May 10 | 2PM – 4PM

🎹 Restoration Concert Series: Robert Thies (piano) and Guest Collaborator: Gold Medal-winning pianist Robert Thies performs with a guest collaborator as part of the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library’s 30th anniversary concert series. South Pasadena Library Community Room | Sunday | May 10 | 4PM

🎶 Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Spring Concert: The LACC’s Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, and Chorale perform together in an evening concert celebrating the organization’s 40th anniversary season. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Sunday | May 10 | 7PM

🎷 Mother’s Day Jazz Night at The Barkley!: The Richard Glaser Quartet performs live jazz for Mother’s Day, with dinner and a full bar available. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Sunday | May 10 | 7PM – 11PM

THANKS!

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