Craftsman Tours & New Pizza Spot

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Fun fact: a lot of Pasadena’s Craftsman bungalows were not designed by famous architects. Many were built from pattern books or even prefabricated kits that came with lumber, nails, doors, windows, hardware, paint and instructions.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Craftsman Week: Rare Tours Across Pasadena

• Mid Valley Arts League Opens 71st Members Exhibit

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • Burattino Pizza Is Coming to Washington & Hill

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

Craftsman Week: Rare Tours Across Pasadena

Pasadena Heritage’s Craftsman Week returns Oct. 11–18, and this year’s lineup gives you access to some places you normally don’t get to see. There are tours of the 1906 Duncan-Irwin House, a behind-the-scenes visit to Judson Studios, a nighttime tour of Mountain View Cemetery, a Craftsman Heights walking tour, an open house at the Lanterman House and special programming throughout the week at the Gamble House. There’s even an evening at the private Magic House with Craftsman-era cocktails.

The Blacker House is also a big part of Saturday’s lineup, with several tours focused on its architecture, glass and woodwork. That night, the house opens for a rare evening reception where guests can tour the first floor before heading out to the terrace and backyard for drinks and live music.

More than 1,200 people took part in Craftsman Week last year, and tickets for this year’s tours are already selling quickly, so it’s worth looking through the schedule sooner rather than later. Tickets and the full schedule are available through Pasadena Heritage.

Mid Valley Arts League Opens 71st Members Exhibit

More than 70 years of local art will be on display at the Mid Valley Arts League’s Members Exhibit, running Sept. 19 through Oct. 3 at the historic Millard Sheets Art Center at Fairplex.

The show will feature paintings, drawings and mixed media from artists across the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire. An opening reception takes place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11AM to 4PM, with an awards ceremony at noon. This year’s juror is award-winning watercolor artist Frank Eber. Admission and parking are free.

Built in 1937, the Millard Sheets Art Center was one of the first major galleries in Los Angeles County dedicated entirely to art and has exhibited works by artists including Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso and Rodin. Not quite in Pasadena, but the exhibit features work from several Pasadena and local artists. For more details, click here.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Wednesday (9/2)

📚 Leeme Un Cuento (“Read Me a Story”): A weekly Spanish-language storytime for families with stories, music, and crafts. La Pintoresca Branch Library | Wednesday | September 2 | 4PM

🌿 Nature Journaling Series: Into the Garden: A guided nature journaling session held among the gardens at Descanso. Descanso Gardens | Wednesday | September 2 | 5:30PM

🙏 The 13th Annual South Pasadena Pray for Schools: An annual community gathering at South Pasadena High School to pray for local schools. South Pasadena High School | Wednesday | September 2 | 6PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Weekly trivia with questions to test your knowledge over a Stone brew. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | September 2 | 6PM–8PM

📚 Andre Hardy, in conversation with Mark Sarvas, discusses & signs Tear the City Down: Hardy’s debut crime novel, blending jazz and football in a portrait of San Diego’s criminal underworld, gets a reading and signing with novelist Mark Sarvas. Vroman’s Bookstore | Wednesday | September 2 | 7PM

🎤 Alfred Robles: The Big Drama Show (Live Taping): Alfred Robles records a live comedy special at the Ice House. Ice House Comedy Club’s Legendary Room | Wednesday | September 2 | 7:30PM

Thursday (9/3)

🧘 An Introduction to Pilates: A beginner-friendly Pilates session held at the local branch library. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | September 3 | 10:30AM

🪑 Chair Pilates: A seated Pilates class held at the local branch library. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | September 3 | 11:35AM

🎮 Video Game Club: Drop-in gaming session at the Hastings Branch Library. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | September 3 | 4PM

🎨 Tween Decoden: Back to School: Kids ages 8–12 decorate pencil cases in the Japanese decoden style, while supplies last. Bob Lucas Library | Thursday | September 3 | 4PM

🌽 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: A weekly outdoor market with local produce and vendors. South Pasadena Farmers’ Market | Thursday | September 3 | 4–8PM

🎸 Live Music at Farmhouse: Multi-genre LA guitarist Stuart Crespo plays while food and drinks are served at the Farmhouse. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | September 3 | 6–8PM

🎲 Broadway Gamble Ramble 2026: An evening event at the landmark Gamble House, though specific program details aren’t available. The Gamble House | Thursday | September 3 | 7PM

🎭 August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: August Wilson’s play set in a 1920s Chicago recording session follows blues legend Ma Rainey and her band. A Noise Within | Thursday | September 3 | 7:30PM

🪴 Little Shop of Horrors: Altadena Music Theatre stages the cult musical comedy at a mausoleum, with Seymour, Audrey II, and doo-wop numbers like “Suddenly Seymour.” Mountain View Mausoleum | Thursday | September 3 | 8PM

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

Pasadena Labor Day Closures

Pasadena City Hall and many City services will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day. Trash pickup will shift one day later, parking meters will be free, most transit routes won’t run, and libraries and community centers will be closed.

Commission on the Status of Women Meeting

The Commission on the Status of Women will meet Wednesday, September 2, at 6PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., to discuss issues affecting women and girls in Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

Code Enforcement Commission Meeting

The Code Enforcement Commission will meet Thursday, September 3, at 4PM in the George Ellery Hale Building Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave., to hear matters involving enforcement of Pasadena’s municipal codes and related violations. Click here to view agenda.

Pasadena Rental Housing Board Meeting

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board will meet Thursday, September 3, at 6PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, to discuss matters related to Pasadena’s rent stabilization and tenant protection programs. Click here to view agenda.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

Burattino Pizza Is Coming to Washington & Hill

There’s a new pizza place taking over the old Domino’s spot at Washington Boulevard and Hill Avenue, right across from Millie’s. Burattino Pizza, which got its start in San Pedro, is opening a Pasadena location.

This isn’t your standard pepperoni-and-cheese menu. Burattino is known for thin, crunchy-chewy crusts, heavy toppings and some pretty wild combinations. Its signature 120 Pepperoni pizza is covered with at least 120 slices, and there’s also a version made with black garlic marinara. Other options include the Pepperoni Mexicana with chorizo, bacon and jalapeños, plus the very cheesy Cheese Lava Pie.

People who’ve tried Burattino’s other Southern California locations seem especially enthusiastic about the black garlic sauce and 120 Pepperoni pizza.

No opening date has been officially announced yet, but the signs are already up at the former Domino’s location. I’ll make sure to let you know as soon as they announce it.

WEATHER

Wednesday

81 🌡️ 59 |☀️| 💨 S 9 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 48 (Good)

Thursday

79 🌡️ 59 |☀️| 💨 S 9 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎷 Hagen Jazz: Hagen Jazz performs classic, contemporary and original jazz compositions, drawing on experience opening for artists including Keiko Matsui, Hiroshima and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | September 2 | 6PM–10PM

🎸 SHĀHERI: The Los Angeles-based project blends Persian musical heritage with psychedelic rock, cinematic grooves and modern guitar-driven sound. Lodge Room Highland Park | Wednesday | September 2 | 7PM

☘️ Irish Music at Griffins of Kinsale: Enjoy an evening of live Irish music at Pasadena’s Griffins of Kinsale. Griffins of Kinsale | Wednesday | September 2 | 7PM

🎤 Sid The Cat: Hana Bryanne, Wesley Preis: Singer-songwriter Hana Bryanne brings lyric-forward alt-country and indie folk, with Wesley Preis also on the bill. Healing Force of the Universe | Wednesday | September 2 | 8PM–11PM

🎸 Live Music at Farmhouse: Multi-genre LA guitarist Stuart Crespo plays while food and drinks are served at the Farmhouse. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | September 3 | 6–8PM

🎸 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 | September 3 | 6PM–10PM

🎤 Yuma Abe: Japanese singer-songwriter Yuma Abe performs music shaped by his work as the vocalist and guitarist of never young beach and his solo career. Lodge Room Highland Park | Thursday | September 3 | 7PM

THANKS!

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