Pasadena in Indie Book Crawl

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Long before Amazon wish lists and audiobooks, Pasadenans were browsing the shelves at Vroman’s. Founded in 1894, the bookstore has spent more than a century helping shape the city’s literary culture.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Vroman’s Joins First-Ever L.A. Indie Book Crawl

• The Rat Pack Comes to the LA Arboretum This Saturday

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • Gyu-Kaku

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my mother-in-law Khālto Samia! 🎂💐

A MESSAGE FROM FIVE ACRES

Five Acres is inviting the community to tee off for a good cause at its annual Golf Classic on Monday, August 24, at San Gabriel Country Club. This year’s “Paradise on the Fairway” event also serves as the final celebration of the centennial of the organization’s historic Altadena headquarters, bringing supporters together for a day of golf, dinner, and fundraising.

Founded in 1888, Five Acres is an Altadena-based nonprofit that helps children and families heal from abuse, neglect, trauma, and other challenges through mental health services, foster care, adoption, and family support programs across Southern California.

The day begins with golf registration at 10 a.m., followed by a shotgun scramble tournament, lunch, a cocktail reception, silent auction, live auction, awards, and dinner served right on the fairway. The evening’s entertainment features Grammy-nominated yacht rock favorites Ambrosia, including original member Joe Puerta, joined by Elliot Lurie, founder and lead singer of Looking Glass, performing classics like Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).

Whether you’re hitting the links or joining for dinner, the event offers a chance to celebrate more than a century of Five Acres while supporting its mission to strengthen children and families throughout Southern California. Purchase 2026 Golf Sponsorship & Dinner Tickets here.

THE DIGEST

Vroman’s Joins First-Ever L.A. Indie Book Crawl

Book lovers have a reason to hit the shelves this weekend. Vroman’s Bookstore is one of 13 independent bookstores participating in the inaugural Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl, taking place July 24–26. The free event encourages readers to explore bookstores across Los Angeles County using a passport system: spend at least $10 at each participating shop to collect a stamp, and visit all 13 stores to earn a book-themed goodie bag and be entered to win a grand prize of $325 in bookstore gift cards.

Participating bookstores include:

• Vroman’s Bookstore – Pasadena

• Annabelle’s Book Club L.A. – Studio City

• The Book Jewel – Westchester

• Book Soup – West Hollywood

• Chevalier’s Books – Larchmont Village

• Children’s Book World – West Los Angeles

• Diesel – Santa Monica

• Malik Books – Culver City

• Once Upon a Time – Montrose

• Pages: a Bookstore – Manhattan Beach

• The Ripped Bodice – Culver City

• Skylight Books – Los Feliz

• Village Well Books & Coffee – Culver City

If your bookshelf has been looking a little neglected, this is a pretty good excuse to fix that. For more information, click here.

The Rat Pack Comes to the LA Arboretum This Saturday

The Pasadena POPS is bringing the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. to the LA Arboretum this Saturday for a night of big band classics and timeless standards. Conductor Larry Blank joins vocalists Carmen Bradford, Steve Lippia, and Todd Murray for performances of favorites like My Way, Come Fly With Me, I’ve Got the World on a String, and Come Rain or Come Shine.

If you’ve never been to a Pasadena POPS concert, they’re a little different from your typical symphony performance. People arrive early with picnic baskets, wine, and lawn chairs, turning the evening into one of the best outdoor summer traditions around. Gates open at 5:30 PM, so there’s plenty of time to grab a spot before the concert begins at 7:30 PM. If you’re looking for a relaxing Saturday night, this one’s hard to beat. Get your tickets here.

News N’ Roses Merch: NASAdena T-Shirts

Pasadena has plenty of city-themed merchandise, but very little that celebrates the city’s remarkable legacy in space exploration, astronomy, science, and engineering. Home to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, Mount Wilson Observatory, and other world-renowned institutions, Pasadena has played an outsized role in expanding our understanding of the universe.

That’s what inspired the NASAdena shirt. The front features the NASAdena logo, while the back showcases three milestones that define Pasadena’s scientific legacy: 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

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wednesday (7/22)

🪁 Make a Kite Workshop: Kids build their own kite while exploring wind, weather, and basic science concepts. Stratford School Altadena | Wednesday | July 22 | 3:45–4:30PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Put your knowledge to the test with weekly trivia hosted by Game Night Trivia. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | July 22 | 6PM

📚 Vroman’s Fiction Reading Group: The monthly fiction book club tackles July’s pick, The Measure by Nikki Erlick. Vroman’s Bookstore | Wednesday | July 22 | 7PM

🎬 INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM on the BIG screen!: Watch Indiana Jones race to recover a mystical stone while uncovering a sinister cult’s plot beneath an ancient palace. Regency Academy 6 | Wednesday | July 22 | 7:30PM

🎤 Jay Leno, Tiffany Haddish, Natasha Leggero & more: A stacked comedy night in the Legendary Room with an all-star lineup curated by Dusted Company. Ice House Comedy Club’s Legendary Room | Wednesday | July 22 | 7:45PM

🎭 Mexodus: A new musical exploring the lesser-known Underground Railroad route that led south into Mexico. The Pasadena Playhouse | Wednesday | July 22 | 8PM

Thursday (7/23)

🎭 Bob Baker Marionettes: A classic puppet show from one of LA’s most beloved marionette troupes. Loma Alta Park Gymnasium | Thursday | July 23 | 12:30PM

🌿 Rooted Workshop: Summer Bonsai: A hands-on intro to bonsai where you’ll leave with your own finished Tiger Bark Ficus tree. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | July 23 | 2PM

🌽 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: Fresh California-grown produce, prepared food vendors, and live music under a canopy of trees. South Pasadena Farmers’ Market | Thursday | July 23 | 4–7PM

🎨 Altadena Arts Magnet “We’re Back on the Block!” Welcome Back Event: A community welcome back celebration at the neighborhood arts magnet school. Altadena Arts Magnet | Thursday | July 23 | 4–6PM

💡 Lighting the Way: An Evening with the Museum of Neon Art: A glowing night celebrating neon art history hosted by Pasadena Heritage. The Blinn House | Thursday | July 23 | 5PM

🎵 Concerts & Movies: Groovis Maximus and Lilo & Stitch: Enjoy a Motown concert by Groovis Maximus followed by a screening of Lilo & Stitch at dusk. Arcadia City Hall Lawn | Thursday | July 23 | 6:30PM

📚 Brooke Nevils discusses & signs Unspeakable Things: The author discusses her memoir on silence, shame, and the stories we choose to believe around sexual harassment. Vroman’s Bookstore | Thursday | July 23 | 7PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events are added to the News N’ Roses events page. Check them out!

*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

Transportation Advisory Commission Meeting

The TAC gathers monthly to advise City Council on local transportation policies at the City Hall Grand Conference Room S038. Thursday, July 23 at 4PM.

Pasadena Opens Cooling Center During Heat Wave

With high temperatures sticking around this week, the City of Pasadena has opened a cooling center at the Jackie Robinson Community Center (1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) for anyone needing a break from the heat.

Hours:

• Wednesday–Friday (July 22–24): 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

• Saturday–Sunday (July 25–26): 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Los Angeles County Public Health is urging residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, and never leave children or pets in parked vehicles. Officials also encourage checking in on older adults, neighbors living alone, and others who may be especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

Gyu-Kaku

When you’re eating at Gyu-Kaku, nobody is disappearing into their phone. You’re too busy making sure your short ribs don’t overcook.

Japanese barbecue is meant to be enjoyed at a slower pace. Plates of marinated meats, seafood, vegetables, and sides arrive throughout the meal, and everything is cooked right at your table on the built-in grill. Instead of waiting for a main course, you’re grilling a few bites at a time, making dinner feel more like a shared experience than a typical restaurant meal.

The Harami Skirt Steak and Prime Kalbi Short Rib are two of the menu’s signature cuts and are easy recommendations for a first visit. We usually add an order of garlic noodles and pork gyoza to round out the table, and if you’re marking a special occasion, the Japanese A5 Wagyu is worth the splurge. Finish with the DIY s’mores—a surprisingly fun way to end the meal.

Gyu-Kaku isn’t somewhere you go when you’re in a hurry. It’s where you end up lingering over “just one more plate,” accidentally ordering another round of meat, and realizing you got too much food. Those are usually the best dinners anyway.

WEATHER

Wednesday

86 🌡️ 67 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

⚠️EXTREME HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT MONDAY

🌆 Air Quality Index: 51 (Moderate)

Thursday

94 🌡️ 69 |☀️| 💨 S 9 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎷 Hagen Jazz: Hear Hagen Jazz perform classic, contemporary, and original jazz compositions in an intimate setting. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | July 22 | 6PM

🎷 Summer Sax Jazz Experience with Chuck Johnson at Visionarium: Enjoy a live jazz performance featuring smooth saxophone melodies and improvisation by Chuck Johnson. Visionarium Live Italian | Wednesday | July 22 | 6:30PM

🎶 City of Temple City Summer Concert featuring FUNK STATION!: Enjoy a free outdoor concert with FUNK STATION performing old school funk, soul, and R&B. Temple City Park | Wednesday | July 22 | 7PM

🌍 World Jazz Night: Enjoy an evening of live jazz featuring musicians from around the world. Club 1881 | Wednesday | July 22 | 8PM

🎸 Doug MacDonald: Jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald brings his acclaimed style and decades of performing experience to the stage. Edwin Mills | Thursday | July 23 | 6PM

🎵 Concerts & Movies: Groovis Maximus and Lilo & Stitch: Enjoy a Motown concert by Groovis Maximus followed by a screening of Lilo & Stitch at dusk. Arcadia City Hall Lawn | Thursday | July 23 | 6:30PM

🎸 .com: Catch .com live with Famous Friend and Paradise Blossom. The Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Thursday | July 23 | 7PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who has a giant bookshelf wall in their home. 📚

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