World Cup Watch Party & New Merch!

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. The Rose Bowl isn’t just a college football icon—it hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, where Brazil defeated Italy in the first men’s World Cup championship ever decided by a penalty shootout. More than 94,000 fans packed the stadium, making it one of the most-attended World Cup finals in history!

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Hosting Free World Cup Watch Party This Friday

• Introducing News N’ Roses Merch: NASAdena T-Shirts

• Pasadena Throws a Birthday Party This Sunday

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • Millie’s Cafe

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

Pasadena Hosting Free World Cup Watch Party This Friday

Soccer fans, take note. Pasadena is throwing a free public watch party for Team USA’s match against Paraguay this Friday, June 12, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza.

The event kicks off at 4:30PM, with the match starting at 6PM. Expect food trucks, live music, family activities, soccer games, a beer garden, and appearances from Angel City FC. Fans can also customize jerseys with iron-on artwork and score giveaways throughout the evening.

If you’re from out of town, organizers are encouraging attendees to take Metro, with both Memorial Park and Del Mar stations just a short walk away. Limited-edition World Cup-themed TAP cards will also be available while supplies last.

Click here to see more details.

Introducing News N’ Roses Merch: NASAdena T-Shirts

Pasadena has no shortage of city-branded merchandise, but not much that celebrates the city’s connection to space exploration, astronomy, science, and engineering. After all, Pasadena is home to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, Mount Wilson Observatory, and many other institutions that have helped shape our understanding of the universe.

That’s the inspiration behind the NASAdena shirt. The front features the NASAdena logo, while the back highlights three local milestones: nearly five decades of Mars exploration, an alma mater of 12 astronauts, and the world’s largest telescope from 1907 to 1949. The design is available as both a classic t-shirt and a crop top.

👉 Shop NASAdena Shirts here

Pasadena Throws a Birthday Party This Sunday

Pasadena is throwing a triple celebration on June 14 at the Pasadena Museum of History, marking the city’s 140th birthday, the 100th anniversary of Route 66, and the 150th anniversary of Colorado Boulevard.

The free event runs from noon to 4PM and includes vintage cars and motorcycles, live music, arts and crafts, face painting, historic tours of the Fényes Mansion, photo ops, and other family-friendly activities. Mayor Victor Gordo will cut the official birthday cake at 2PM, with free cake and lemonade available afterward.

It’s a rare chance to celebrate three pieces of Pasadena history in one afternoon. Click here for more details.

A MESSAGE FROM ANGELA NG

Pasadena Photographer for Local Businesses & Brands

Whether you run a café, wellness studio, creative brand, restaurant or community space, strong visuals can completely change how people connect with your business.

I’m Angela Ng, a Pasadena based photographer and creative with 8+ years of experience creating imagery for brands like Sephora, HBO, Pizza Hut, USC and more. I specialize in:

• brand photography

• events

• product & lifestyle shoots

• social media content

I bring a polished and collaborative approach to every shoot, with a focus on telling stories that feel genuine and engaging.

Currently booking summer shoots & events.

View portfolio → ingstories.com
Contact → [email protected]

@NEWSN_ROSES

Check out this video recap of the Golden Five Acres Gala!

📷@newsn_roses📍Annandale Golf Club, Pasadena
Tag @newn_roses to get your photos in New N’ Roses!

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wednesday (6/10)

🤖 Pasadena Rotary Weekly Club Meeting with Speaker Neil Siegel, Professor at the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC: Professor Neil Siegel will discuss how artificial intelligence is expected to transform medicine and healthcare. University Club of Pasadena | Wednesday | June 10 | 12PM

📖 Summer Storytelling Studio: Zine Crafting: Memory, Future, and Expression (Day 1 of 3): Explore self-expression through zinemaking in this beginner-friendly workshop using mixed-media techniques. Octavia’s Bookshelf | Wednesday | June 10 | 6PM–7:30PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Test your knowledge at this weekly trivia night hosted by Game Night Trivia. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | June 10 | 6PM

🎸 Wine & Song: Rick Shea/Tony Gilkyson; Dana Cooper: Acclaimed singer-songwriters Rick Shea, Tony Gilkyson, and Dana Cooper perform an evening of roots, folk, and Americana music. The Daily | Wednesday | June 10 | 7PM

🎤 FREE Open Mic Night @ Altadena Music Center: Share a song, poem, story, or simply enjoy performances from local artists during this monthly all-ages open mic night. Altadena Music Center | Wednesday | June 10 | 7PM–9PM

⚽ “Summer of 94” Screening and Discussion: Watch a documentary about the U.S. Men’s National Team’s journey to the 1994 World Cup followed by a discussion with members of the filmmaking team. The Crawford | Wednesday | June 10 | 7PM

😂 Jay Leno, Steph Tolev, Nick Thune and more!: See Jay Leno, Steph Tolev, Nick Thune, Francisco Ramos, Matt Fulchiron, Jefferson McDonald, and Mark Serritella perform live in the Legendary Room. The Ice House Comedy Club | Wednesday | June 10 | 7:45PM

Thursday (6/11)

☕ Meet Me at the Village!: Learn more about Pasadena Village during this casual gathering with coffee, bagels, and conversation. Pasadena Village Office Community Room | Thursday | June 11 | 10AM

🏛️ Wrigley Mansion House Tour: Take a guided tour of Tournament House and learn about its history, the Rose Parade, and the Rose Bowl Game. Tournament of Roses Wrigley Mansion | Thursday | June 11 | 2PM

🥕 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: Shop certified California-grown produce, prepared foods, and more at this weekly farmers market. 913 Meridian Ave. | Thursday | June 11 | 4PM–8PM

🎶 Summer Music and Dance: Enjoy performances by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and the Tony Guerrero Quintet during this evening of live music in the gardens. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | June 11 | 4:45PM–6:45PM

🧵 Jaipur Block Printing: Learn the East Indian art of Jaipur block printing using hand-carved wooden blocks, colorful inks, paper, and fabric. Remainders Creative Reuse | Thursday | June 11 | 6PM

🍷 Aleksander Wine Pairing Dinner at Alexander’s Steakhouse: Enjoy a multi-course dinner paired with Bordeaux-style wines from Aleksander Winery. Alexander’s Steakhouse | Thursday | June 11 | 6:30PM–9:30PM

🎭 Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon: Two American travelers discover a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years in this classic musical. The Pasadena Playhouse | Thursday | June 11 | 7PM

🦇 THE DARK KNIGHT on the BIG screen!: See Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight as part of Regency Academy 6’s Flashback Wednesday movie series. Regency Academy 6 | Wednesday | June 10 | 7:30PM

Upcoming Events

🎶 Sunset Sessions: Live Music at One Colorado – Stefan Poole: Enjoy an evening of live music, courtyard vibes, and margaritas during this all-ages performance. One Colorado | Friday | June 12 | 7:30PM

🏳️‍🌈 Pasadena Pride: Pasadena’s annual Pride celebration returns with drag performances, music, food trucks, photo opportunities, and local LGBTQIA+ organizations. Pasadena City Hall | Saturday | June 13 | 6PM–9PM

🎉 Happy Birthday Pasadena!: Celebrate Pasadena’s 140th birthday with vintage vehicles, live music, art activities, exhibits, and free birthday cake. Pasadena Museum of History | Sunday | June 14 | 12PM–4PM

🏰 Castle Green Spring Tour: Explore Castle Green’s historic spaces, select private apartments, and exhibits during this self-guided tour. Castle Green | Sunday | June 14 | 11AM–3PM

Upcoming events are 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!

CIVIC NEWS

Arts & Culture Commission

Pasadena’s Arts & Culture Commission will meet Wednesday, June 10 at 5:30PM in the George Ellery Hale Building Hearing Room to discuss arts, cultural programming, and initiatives that support Pasadena’s creative community. Click here to view agenda.

Human Services Commission Meeting

Pasadena’s Human Services Commission will meet Wednesday, June 10 at 6PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center to discuss community human service needs and advise the City Council on issues affecting residents of all ages. Click here to view agenda.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

Millie’s Cafe

Millie’s Cafe has been serving breakfast since 1926, and it’s one of my favorite places in Pasadena for a weekend brunch. Located at 1399 E. Washington Blvd., the restaurant sits along one of Pasadena’s most pleasant neighborhood corridors, surrounded by local businesses and tree-lined streets. Whether I’m meeting friends or grabbing breakfast with family, it’s a spot I find myself coming back to regularly. The staff is always friendly, the service is quick, and the atmosphere feels comfortable and unpretentious.

What I appreciate most about Millie’s is that they still focus on the basics. They use real butter for their eggs, fresh-baked bread, quality dairy products, and make much of their food from scratch. It sounds simple, but you can taste the difference.

The menu is huge, covering everything from omelets and scrambles to Benedicts, waffles, pancakes, sandwiches, and Mexican breakfast favorites. My personal favorite is the Chilaquiles. Crispy tortilla chips are covered in ranchero sauce and melted cheese, then topped with eggs, black beans, and guacamole. It’s filling, packed with flavor, and the dish I order most often.

One of the nice things about the Pasadena location is the outdoor seating. On a sunny morning, it’s a great place to sit outside with a cup of coffee and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Just be prepared for a wait on weekends. Millie’s is popular with locals, and the dining room and patio can fill up quickly during peak brunch hours.

Pasadena has plenty of breakfast restaurants, but Millie’s has remained a local favorite for generations. The food is consistently good, the portions are generous, and the service always makes you feel welcome. If you’re looking for a reliable brunch spot in Pasadena, Millie’s is hard to beat.

WEATHER

Wednesday

85 🌡️ 62 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 56 (Moderate)

Thursday

84 🌡️ 63 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Music at Noon: Riner Scivally Trio, jazz ensemble: The Riner Scivally Trio performs jazz standards, Bossa Nova selections, original works, and pop favorites. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday | June 10 | 12:10PM–12:40PM

🎸 The David Eastlee Trio: Guitarist David Eastlee and his trio perform an evening of jazz standards. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | June 10 | 6PM–10PM

🎸 Moon Walker – Wasteland Country Tour: Brooklyn indie rocker Moon Walker brings his Wasteland Country Tour to Highland Park with Pretoria and Super Cassette. Lodge Room | Wednesday | June 10 | 7PM

🪗 Stanley Oropesa Performs: Enjoy a live accordion performance featuring classical works, original compositions, Irish music, ragtime, pop, and film scores. Jones Coffee Roasters | Thursday | June 11 | 11AM

🎵 Jones House Band: Enjoy a family-friendly performance featuring pop songs, movie scores, original compositions, and more from this local trio. Jones Coffee Roasters | Thursday | June 11 | 4PM

🎸 Doug MacDonald: Jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald performs an evening of standards and swing with bassist Ken Wild and drummer Harold Acey. Edwin Mills | Thursday | June 11 | 6PM–10PM

🎸 Liam Finn with Special Guest Lucky Paul: Liam Finn performs with special guest Lucky Paul for an evening of live music in Los Angeles. Permanent Records | Thursday | June 11 | 6PM

🎤 She’Chinah & Friends at Visionarium: Enjoy a live performance by She’Chinah featuring her signature blend of alternative R&B sounds. Visionarium Live Italian | Thursday | June 11 | 6:30PM–8:30PM

🎶 Thee Marloes: Indonesian soul trio Thee Marloes brings its blend of soul, reggae, and rocksteady influences to Highland Park, joined by Thee Heart Tones and DJ Wyldeflower. Lodge Room | Thursday | June 11 | 8PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who want the Knicks to win the NBA finals. 🏀

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