Greek Fest this Friday

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Fun fact: Pasadena’s famous parrots have been flying around the city since at least the late 1950s, when some were first released. Decades later, they’re still one of the loudest and most recognizable birds—as you may know.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Greek Fest This Friday

• Step Inside Little Women at Heritage Square Museum

• Pasadena Could Soon Allow Small Restaurants in Home Kitchens

• Events this Monday & Tuesday

• Civic News

• NASADENA

• Weather

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Coco! 🎂

THE DIGEST

Pasadena Greek Fest This Friday

Pasadena Greek Fest is this weekend, September 18-20 at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, with three days of food, music, dancing, wine and plenty of baklava.

Throughout the weekend, there will be Greek dance performances and lessons, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, mixology sessions and church tours. There’s also a Kidzone for families and a “Greekify Your Name” activity if you’ve ever wondered what your name might sound like with a Greek twist. Food is a big part of the weekend too, with souvlaki, spanakopita, tyropita, Greek salad, baklava, loukoumades and other traditional dishes on the menu.

The festival runs Friday from 5–10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon–10 p.m. Free parking is available at Santa Anita Park Gate 3, with shuttle service to the festival. Click here for more details.

Step Inside Little Women at Heritage Square Museum

A Pasadena/Altadena ballet company is bringing one of its most immersive productions just down the road to Heritage Square Museum Oct. 2–4. Little Women Ballet, founded by Altadena native and Pasadena Civic Ballet alum Emma Andres, will transform the museum’s Victorian homes into scenes from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

Instead of watching from a traditional theater seat, guests move through the historic homes, following costumed characters and seeing ballet scenes unfold just a few feet away. The company features more than 20 dancers in handmade 19th-century costumes, telling the story of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy throughout the museum grounds.

Each ticket also includes an autumn goodie bag, seasonal drinks and treats, plus Victorian dancing with the cast at the end. There are five performances across the weekend, with one Friday evening and two each on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $65, or $68 with processing fees, and the experience is recommended for ages 10 and up. Click here if you’re interested!

Pasadena Could Soon Allow Small Restaurants in Home Kitchens

I’ve been keeping an eye on this proposal for a while, and it’s heading back to Pasadena City Council on Tuesday with a new two-year pilot program. The plan would allow residents in houses, apartments and condos to prepare and sell meals from their home kitchens. Operators would need a city health permit, food-safety certification, written procedures and an inspection before opening.

These would stay very small by design: no more than 30 meals a day or 90 per week, with annual sales capped at $107,121. Customers could pick up food, have it delivered or even eat at the home, though third-party delivery apps generally wouldn’t be allowed. The city says the program could give people a lower-cost way to start a food business while bringing existing informal operations under health and safety rules.

If the council approves the recommendation, the city attorney would have 60 days to draft the ordinance. The pilot would then run for two years while officials track complaints, economic impact and whether the program should become permanent.

SPONSORED BY 
ANDREW BERK | AVISON YOUNG

A Local Commercial Real Estate Broker Who Knows the Area

Commercial real estate is local, and Andrew Berk has spent decades building connections
across Pasadena and the surrounding communities. A Principal with Avison Young, Andrew works with property owners, investors and businesses on the sale/leasing of office, retail, industrial and multifamily properties. Born & raised in LA, he has lived in South Pasadena more than 24 years, serves on the Board of the SoPas Chamber of Commerce and has been a Pasadena Chamber member for 25+ years.

Andrew’s currently accepting new assignments throughout Pasadena, South Pasadena, the SGV and Northeast LA. If you are considering a move, sale/lease, Andrew can help you understand the market and your options.

Andrew Berk, Principal | Avison Young
(626) 676-4230 | [email protected]

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Monday (9/14)

📚 Family Storytime: Pajama Storytime: A 30-minute bedtime storytime with books, songs, puppets, and fingerplays for ages 0–5. Hastings Branch Library | Monday | September 14 | 6PM

🏃 Run With Us: Monday Fun Run: A weekly social run/walk open to all paces, with free health screenings by a Huntington Health registered nurse. Run With Us | Monday | September 14 | 6PM

🎤 Open Mic Night at Callisto Tea House: Performers take the stage at this open-format evening hosted at a local tea house. Callisto Tea House | Monday | September 14 | 6PM

🎭 Pericles: Shakespeare’s Pericles performed in Ellen McLaughlin’s translation, using movement and music to tell the story of a prince fleeing a deadly royal secret. Boston Court Pasadena | Monday | September 14 | 7:30PM

Tuesday (9/15)

🌽 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Villa Parke: Certified vendors sell only what they grow, with produce, fish, jams, and jellies on offer. Villa Parke | Tuesday | September 15 | 8:30–12:30PM

🚶 Neighborhood Walk and Roll: A community walk and roll event starting from Villa Parke Community Center. Villa Parke Community Center | Tuesday | September 15 | 9–11AM

🎴 Loteria Scavenger Hunt! (All Ages): A lotería-themed scavenger hunt open to all ages at the library. Crowell Library | Tuesday | September 15 | All day

🎭 Shakespeare’s Macbeth: An Imaginative Workshop for Theatre Beginners: Kids ages 5–8 explore scenes from Macbeth through games, art, and scaffolded script readings. Hastings Branch Library | Tuesday | September 15 | 4–5:30PM

🔖 Hispanic Heritage Month: Mayan Bookmarks: Make Mayan-inspired bookmarks at this drop-in craft activity. La Canada Flintridge Library | Tuesday | September 15 | 4:30PM

📄 Teen Resume Workshop: Teens get hands-on help building a resume at the Bob Lucas Library. Bob Lucas Library | Tuesday | September 15 | 5PM

📚 Kaitlin Reilly, in conversation with Monica Suriyage, discusses & signs Look What You Did: Reilly discusses and signs her debut YA thriller about a teen uncovering secrets behind a golden boy’s death. Vroman’s Bookstore | Tuesday | September 15 | 7PM

💃 The Mixx: Salsa Mixx: Weekly salsa night at The Mixx Pasadena. The Mixx Pasadena | Tuesday | September 15 | 8PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events posted regularly on the wbsite. 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

Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee (Special Meeting)

The Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee will hold a special meeting Monday, September 14, at 5PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, to discuss housing, homelessness, and planning matters in Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

City Council Meeting — Canceled

As of September 14, the Pasadena City Council meetings have been moved to Tuesdays.

Finance Committee Special Meeting

The Pasadena City Council’s Finance Committee will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 4PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.

City Council Special Meeting

Pasadena City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 6PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.

NASADENA

NASAdena T-Shirts

Pasadena’s connection to space and science runs deep. JPL, Caltech and Mount Wilson Observatory have all helped shape major discoveries and missions over the years.

The NASAdena shirt pulls those pieces together, with references to Mars exploration, Caltech astronauts and Mount Wilson’s 100-inch telescope.

Available as a classic tee or crop top.

👉 Shop NASAdena Shirts here

WEATHER

Monday

83🌡️63 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 63 (Moderate)

Tuesday

78🌡️62 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎸 The Riner Scivally Trio: Riner Scivally, Mike Alvidrez and Paul Kreibich perform jazz standards, Brazilian tunes and original compositions. Edwin Mills | Monday | September 14 | 6PM

🎷 Alabaster DePlume: The London-based saxophonist, singer and songwriter brings his mix of folk, jazz, electronic, punk and indie to Lodge Room. Lodge Room Highland Park | Monday | September 14 | 7PM

🎷 Jumpin Joz Band: The band plays swing, jump, jazz, early R&B and old-school rock ’n’ roll inspired by artists like Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles. Edwin Mills | Tuesday | September 15 | 6PM

🎸 The Colorado Jam: Every Tuesday, LA musicians gather to jam out and hang out together. The Colorado Bar | Tuesdays | September 15 | 9PM-12AM

THANKS!

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