Restaurant Spotlight Wednesday

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Today is National Dog Day. I don’t know who decides these national days but it’s a perfect excuse to spoil your dog even more than you already do and pretend those treats are for a special occasion.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Junior League of Pasadena Names New Board During Centennial Year

• Foster The Future 5K/10K Supports Local Foster Youth

• Little Shop of Horrors Comes to Altadena

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • El Portal

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Angela! Great job on your pitching debut in yesterday’s softball game!

THE DIGEST

Junior League of Pasadena Names New Board During Centennial Year

The Junior League of Pasadena has a new leadership team as it continues celebrating a pretty big milestone: 100 years in Pasadena. The organization announced its 2026–27 Board of Directors, led by President Lisa Glionna. She’ll be joined by Sarah Marie Campbell, Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, Sara Miller, Valerie Mendoza, Tori Fisk Tucker, Cynthia Bradley, Diana Zarate, Amy Kalpin and Linda Roth.

Founded in 1926, the Junior League of Pasadena has spent the past century helping women build leadership skills while volunteering and supporting projects around the community. Some of its past partnerships have included Kidspace Children’s Museum, Pasadena Senior Center and La Casita. And that work is still going strong. During the 2025–26 year, the League awarded $50,000 in grants to five local organizations, including Pasadena Humane, Altadena Girls and the Pasadena Educational Foundation. The new board will spend the coming year building community partnerships, creating more volunteer opportunities and continuing the League’s 100th anniversary celebration. Learn more about the JLP here.

Foster The Future 5K/10K Supports Local Foster Youth

The 9th annual Foster The Future 5K/10K is happening Sunday, Aug. 30, at Hahamongna Watershed Park, bringing runners and walkers together to support Pasadena-based Journey House. The nonprofit has been helping foster youth and former foster youth since 1983, providing mentoring, educational support and financial assistance as they work toward college, careers and independent adulthood. This year’s event is hoping to draw about 200 participants, and you definitely don’t need to be a serious runner to take part. Both the 5K and 10K are open to walkers, first-timers and experienced runners, with the courses winding through the Hahamongna area near JPL and the foothills. The race starts at 8:30 a.m., race-day registration closes at 8:15 a.m., and parking is free. Come out for a morning on the trails and help support an organization doing important work for foster youth in our community. More information here.

Little Shop of Horrors Comes to Altadena

Fresh off its sold-out run of Grease, Altadena Music Theatre is going a little darker with Little Shop of Horrors, opening Sept. 3 at Mountain View Mausoleum. There’s still the giant man-eating plant, catchy music and plenty of comedy, but this production is also leaning into the story’s themes of ambition, loneliness, addiction and what people are willing to sacrifice for a better life. Broadway veteran Ruby Lewis stars as Audrey, with James Byous as Seymour and Lord Kraven voicing the 10-foot Audrey II puppet. The company has kept producing shows around Altadena after losing its longtime home at Farnsworth Park in the Eaton Fire, so this is also a good chance to come out, catch a fun show and support local theater. Performances run Sept. 3–6 and Sept. 10–13 at 8 p.m. More details and tickets here.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wednesday (8/26)

🎶 Music at Noon: Judith Siirila Paskowitz, soprano: LA-native soprano Judith Siirila Paskowitz, known for leading roles in operas like Lucia di Lammermoor and Madama Butterfly, performs a free 30-minute midday concert. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday | August 26 | 12:10–12:40PM

🎤 America’s Got Talent Season 21: Live tapings of the competition series with judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Mel B, and Howie Mandel at the Civic Auditorium. Pasadena Civic Auditorium | Wednesday | August 26 | 2PM & 3PM

🌿 Overlook Community Listening Session 2: A community input session hosted by Jericho Road Pasadena for those involved in wildfire recovery efforts. Brookside Golf Club | Wednesday | August 26 | 5PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Weekly trivia with questions to test your knowledge over a Stone brew. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | August 26 | 6PM–8PM

🎵 MUSE/IQUE: Looking West: An outdoor evening concert by MUSE/IQUE held on the Huntington grounds. The Huntington | Wednesday | August 26 | 7:30PM

📚 Vroman’s Fiction Reading Group: This month’s pick is Bug Hollow by Michelle Huneven, discussed in a free, drop-in one-hour meeting. Vroman’s Bookstore | Wednesday | August 26 | 7PM

🎬 Rudy on the Big Screen: The football classic follows Rudy as he works to overcome the odds and pursue his dream of playing for Notre Dame. Regency Academy 6 | Wednesday | August 26 | 7:30PM

🎭 August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: Gregg T. Daniel directs this 1927 Chicago recording studio drama, the seventh in ANW’s August Wilson American Century Cycle series. A Noise Within | Wednesday | August 26 | 7:30PM

Thursday (8/27)

⚖️ Mediation and Dispute Resolution: Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution covers tenant disputes, property ownership, family disagreements, and workplace issues with a trained mediator. Pasadena Senior Center | Thursday | August 27 | 10AM

🎨 Japanese Screen Art Workshop: Artist Yumiko Glover leads a hands-on workshop where participants create a miniature folding screen in the style of a traditional Japanese byobu. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | August 27 | 10AM

🪵 All Abilities – Wood Creature Craft: An accessible craft program where participants make wood creature art. Santa Catalina Branch Library | Thursday | August 27 | 10:30AM

📚 Barks & Books: Read with Cody: Kids ages 3–12 read aloud to Cody, a therapy dog from Pet Partners, with handler Sharon present. San Rafael Branch Library | Thursday | August 27 | 11AM

🐾 Mocktails and Mutts Pop-Up Dog Adoption Event: Pasadena Humane’s Wiggle Waggle Waggin’ brings adoptable dogs to this South Pasadena bar. Burden of Proof | Thursday | August 27 | 3:30PM

🍹 Garden to Glass: A Cocktail-Making Experience: Farmhouse bartenders walk you through making two cocktails — one signature, one classic — paired with chef-curated small bites. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | August 27 | 4PM

🌽 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: California-certified produce, prepared food vendors, and live music under a canopy of trees near the Gold Line station. South Pasadena Farmers’ Market | Thursday | August 27 | 4–8PM

🏆 2026 Champions of Change Awards Gala: The YWCA of San Gabriel Valley honors State Senator Sasha Renée Perez, Covina PD Detective Billy Sun, and the Eaton Fire Collaborative Leadership Council at this dinner gala marking the 40th anniversary of its senior services program. Hilton San Gabriel | Thursday | August 27 | 5:30–9:30PM

🥊 Wellness in the Park: Brick City Boxing LA leads a free outdoor boxing tutorial covering basic fitness, technique, and light sparring. Playhouse Village Park | Thursday | August 27 | 6PM

🛣️ Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66: Author Cheryl Eichar Jett presents on women who worked Route 66 as gas pumpers, architects, muralists, and elected officials. Pasadena Museum of History | Thursday | August 27 | 7PM

🎭 Pericles: Bardfly Theatre performs Shakespeare’s seafaring epic in Ellen McLaughlin’s translation, with movement and music woven throughout. Boston Court Pasadena | Thursday | August 27 | 7:30PM

🎤 Jay Leno, Craig Robinson, Jiaoying Summers & More!: A multi-comic lineup featuring Craig Robinson, Adam Ray, and Freddy Lockhart in the Legendary Room. Ice House Comedy Club’s Legendary Room | Thursday | August 27 | 7:45PM

🎷 Jazzy Jam Summer Series Concert Returns to The Paseo: Orange County band B.I.G. (Brothers Igniting A Groove) plays R&B, smooth jazz, and old-school funk alongside DJ T3, line dancing, vendors, and a 360 photo booth. The Paseo | Thursday | August 27 | 6PM pre-show, 7PM concert

🎤 Secret Comedy Show: A pop-up showcase hosted by Ernesto Ledezma and Remi Escobar, featuring Elyssa Phillips, Jay Washington, Christian Zaragosa, Steven Briggs, and an unannounced guest. Ice House Comedy Club’s California Room | Thursday | August 27 | 8:30PM

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

Planning Commission Meeting

The Planning Commission will meet Wednesday, August 26, at 6:30PM in the City Hall Council Chamber (Room S249) to discuss land use, development, and planning matters affecting Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

Chats and Snacks with a Housing Counselor

Pasadena’s Rent Stabilization Department is hosting a drop-in session where residents can get housing guidance, resources and one-on-one help while enjoying free coffee and snacks. No appointment or registration is required. It takes place this Friday, August 28, from 11AM to 1PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave. Click here for more info.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

El Portal

El Portal has been serving Pasadena since 1995, and part of what makes the restaurant interesting is the family story behind it. Owner Abel Ramirez is from the Yucatán region of Mexico, and that influence shows up throughout the menu. The restaurant is still family-run today, with the next generation involved too.

Armando Ramirez grew up around the restaurant business. His father was the maître d’ at Caltech’s Athenaeum, and Armando got some of his earliest experience helping him there. After finishing his culinary studies, Armando came to El Portal as a line cook and worked his way through different parts of the restaurant. He still gets into the kitchen when he can and also comes up with new cocktails for the drink menu.

As for the food, there’s a lot to choose from. El Portal serves tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chile rellenos, fajitas, carne asada, seafood dishes, tostadas, combination plates, nachos, flautas and quesadillas.

The Yucatán dishes are especially worth looking at. The Cochinita Pibil is slow-roasted pork marinated with achiote and lime, wrapped in banana leaves and served with pickled onions, rice, black beans and tortillas. There’s also a Yucatán Trio with cochinita pibil, a chicken tamal and grilled Poc-Chuc.

There are plenty of Mexican restaurants around, but Mexican food goes far beyond the tacos and burritos we often reduce it to in the U.S. It can be complex, deeply flavorful and full of real culinary craft. El Portal does a great job of showing that. The food feels genuinely Mexican, with dishes and flavors that reflect the restaurant’s Yucatán roots, and it’s one of the reasons the place has stayed such a favorite in Pasadena.

WEATHER

Wednesday

97 🌡️ 74 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 64 (Moderate)

Thursday

93 🌡️ 75 |☁️| 💨 SW 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Music at Noon: Judith Siirila Paskowitz, soprano: LA-native soprano Judith Siirila Paskowitz, known for leading roles in operas like Lucia di Lammermoor and Madama Butterfly, performs a free 30-minute midday concert. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday | August 26 | 12:10–12:40PM

🎷 The David Eastlee Trio: Guitarist David Eastlee performs jazz standards, drawing on a career that includes work with musicians such as John Pisano, Pete Christlieb, Earl Palmer and Doug Webb. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | August 26 | 6PM–10PM

🎵 MUSE/IQUE: Looking West: An outdoor evening concert by MUSE/IQUE held on the Huntington grounds. The Huntington | Wednesday | August 26 | 7:30PM

🎸 My New Band Believe: Cameron Picton’s band blends complex storytelling, experimental rock and a constantly shifting sound. Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Wednesday | August 26 | 7PM

🎶 DeissMarie, What The Funk: DeissMarie brings a neosoul sound influenced by Moonchild, Hiatus Kaiyote, D’Angelo and Charlie Hunter, with What The Funk opening. Healing Force of the Universe | Wednesday | August 26 | 8PM–11PM

🎷 World Jazz Night: Jazz musicians from around the world perform an evening set in Pasadena. 1881 Pasadena | Wednesday | August 26 | 8PM–11PM

🎷 Jazzy Jam Summer Series Concert Returns to The Paseo: Orange County band B.I.G. (Brothers Igniting A Groove) plays R&B, smooth jazz, and old-school funk alongside DJ T3, line dancing, vendors, and a 360 photo booth. The Paseo | Thursday | August 27 | 6PM pre-show, 7PM concert

🎸 Doug MacDonald: Jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald brings a bop-based style shaped by decades of performing with musicians including Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, Buddy Rich and Ray Charles. Edwin Mills | Thursday | August 27 | 6PM–10PM

🎤 Ursula Lari Live at Visionarium: International singer Ursula Lari performs with Tatiana Vinci and the Gene Butler Band, featuring songs in Italian, Spanish, English, French and Portuguese. Visionarium Live Italian | Thursday | August 27 | 6:30PM–8:30PM

THANKS!

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