Happy Monday, Pasadena!

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Did you know Pasadena has an asteroid named after it? In 1980, an asteroid was officially given the name Pasadena, in part because it was described as a middle-sized “suburban” asteroid. It’s about eight miles across, which feels like an oddly appropriate way for Pasadena to make it into space.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena’s Latino Heritage Parade Nominations

• Chappell Roan Makes a Surprise Appearance at Noah Kahan’s Rose Bowl Show

• Events this Monday & Tuesday

• Civic News

• Local Business Spotlight

  • Five Acres

• Weather

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Nicki Holcomb! 🎂🎉

A MESSAGE FROM FIVE ACRES

Five Acres is teeing off for a good cause at its annual Golf Classic on Monday, Aug. 24, at San Gabriel Country Club. This year’s “Paradise on the Fairway” also marks the final celebration of the centennial of the nonprofit’s historic Altadena headquarters.

The RSVP deadline has passed, but you may still be able to get in while spots last. And even if you can’t make it, you can still support Five Acres and its work helping children and families across Southern California.

The day includes golf, dinner, auctions and live music from Ambrosia, joined by Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass. Click here for tickets and information.

THE DIGEST

Pasadena’s Latino Heritage Parade Nominations

Pasadena’s Latino Heritage Parade is looking for its 2026 grand marshals — and there’s still time (closing today) to nominate someone who deserves the spotlight.

This community event celebrates Latino culture, heritage and contributions in Pasadena, bringing residents together for a parade and festival centered around community, culture and local pride. It’s organized by the Pasadena Latino Heritage Committee in partnership with the City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. This year’s theme, “Unidos por el Latido de Nuestra Comunidad” (United by the Heartbeat of Our Community), is all about recognizing the local leaders and everyday people who help strengthen Pasadena’s Latino community.

Nominations are open for both Grand Marshal and Community Grand Marshal, with the latter reserved for Pasadena residents. Current City employees and elected officials aren’t eligible. The parade dates back to 1999, and past honorees have included NASA astronaut José M. Hernández and local educator Martín Dorado. I actually attended the festival and got a chance to meet him!

Nominations may be emailed to [email protected], or click here. Nominations close today, Monday, Aug. 17 (the website says Aug 5, but they are allowing more until today). As for the date of the festival, it hasn’t been officially announced but it’s usually in October. I’ll keep you posted!

Chappell Roan Makes a Surprise Appearance at Noah Kahan’s Rose Bowl Show

Noah Kahan’s Rose Bowl show already had plenty of buzz and caused plenty of traffic off the 210, but fans got an extra surprise when Chappell Roan unexpectedly walked onstage. Kahan brought his Great Divide World Tour to Pasadena on Saturday, playing to more than 56,000 fans at the Rose Bowl — the biggest headlining show of his career.

But then Chappell Roan joined him for a duet of “California,” easily becoming one of the biggest moments of the night! Kahan also played “Stick Season,” “Northern Attitude” and “The Great Divide,” before closing things out with an encore and fireworks over the stadium. I guess that’s what the hype was all about.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Monday (8/16)

🏃 Run With Us: Monday Fun Run: A weekly social run/walk open to all paces, with a chance to try shoes from top brands. Run With Us | Monday | August 17 | 6PM

📚 April Dávila discusses & signs Sit Write Here: Novelist and certified mindfulness instructor Dávila talks Insight Meditation as a tool for writers, in conversation with Lian Dolan. Vroman’s Bookstore | Monday | August 17 | 7PM

Tuesday (8/17)

🌽 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Villa Parke: Certified vendors sell only what they grow, including fruits, vegetables, fish, jams, and jellies. Villa Parke | Tuesday | August 18 | 8:30–12:30PM

🔬 Science Tuesdays: Pilar Vergeli: Pilar Vergeli presents “Applications of Chemical Space for Life Detection” at Caltech’s Newport Beach marine lab, with guided tours and hands-on activities. Caltech’s Kerckhoff Marine Lab | Tuesday | August 18 | 4:30PM

🎩 Pasadena Senior Center Summer Concert Series: Pam Kay’s Tap Chicks: Tap dance troupe Pam Kay’s Tap Chicks opens this three-week series, with special guest Franny McCartney adding music and comedy. Pasadena Senior Center | Tuesday | August 18 | 5PM

📚 James Queally discusses & signs Surviving the Lie: Queally talks with Tod Goldberg about the final book in his Russell Avery “turnpike noir” trilogy, featuring a journalist-turned-PI in New Jersey. Vroman’s Bookstore | Tuesday | August 18 | 7PM

💃 The Mixx: Salsa Mixx: Salsa and Bachata lessons with LA instructor Rogelio Moreno, then open social dancing with DJ Salsa y Sabor. The Mixx Pasadena | Tuesday | August 18 | 8PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events posted regularly on our website. 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

Hammond Street Partial Closure Starts Monday

Hammond Street at Raymond Avenue will be partially closed for about three weeks starting Monday as Pasadena Water and Power continues work to move overhead electric and communication lines underground along Raymond Avenue. For more info, click here.

City Council Meeting

The Pasadena City Council will meet Monday at 6PM in the City Hall Council Chamber (Room S249) to consider city business, hear public comment, and vote on matters affecting the community. Click here to view agenda.

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

The Historic Preservation Commission will meet Tuesday at 6PM in the George Ellery Hale Building Hearing Room to review matters related to the preservation of Pasadena’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural resources. Click here to view agenda.

LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Five Acres

This week’s spotlight is on Five Acres, an Altadena nonprofit with roots going all the way back to 1888.

The organization began as an orphanage in downtown Los Angeles, providing a safe place for children without homes. In 1921, it moved to a five-acre property in Altadena, which is where the name comes from, and commissioned famed architect Myron Hunt to design its new campus.

Over the decades, Five Acres evolved far beyond its original role. It launched therapeutic education, foster care, adoption, mental health and community-based programs, all with the goal of helping children find safe, stable and loving homes. Today, it serves more than 7,000 children and family members each year across six counties.

Its work now centers around three big ideas: safety, well-being and permanency, with services for families dealing with abuse, neglect, trauma and other challenges.

More than 135 years after it started, Five Acres has grown into one of those local institutions that’s easy to drive past without realizing just how much history and impact is behind it.

WEATHER

Monday

90🌡️66 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 49 (Good)

Tuesday

91🌡️67 |☀️| 💨 SW 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎸 The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Whiskey Myers: The Black Crowes, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Whiskey Myers perform at the Hollywood Bowl. Hollywood Bowl | Monday | August 17 | 6PM

🎷 The Riner Scivally Trio: Jazz standards, Brazilian tunes and original compositions from Riner Scivally on guitar, Mike Alvidrez on bass and Paul Kreibich on drums. Edwin Mills | Monday | August 17 | 6PM–10PM

🎶 Ida: The experimental pop band brings its subtle arrangements, rich harmonies and intimate songwriting to Highland Park. Lodge Room Highland Park | Monday | August 17 | 7PM

🎷 Jumpin Joz Band: Swing, jump, jazz, early R&B and old-school rock ’n’ roll inspired by artists including Count Basie, Louis Prima, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles. Edwin Mills | Tuesday | August 18 | 6PM–10PM

🎧 Turntable Tuesday: Open turntables run before karaoke, with 20-minute sets and on-site sign-ups starting at 6PM. The OffBeat – A Bar On York | Tuesday | August 18 | 6PM–9PM

🎸 Silkworm: The storied rock band, formed in 1987, performs in Highland Park following a long career that includes nine albums and extensive touring. Lodge Room Highland Park | Tuesday | August 18 | 7PM

THANKS!

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