Rose Court Finalists + ArtNight Returns

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Oktoberfest started in Munich in 1810 as a celebration for a royal wedding, and the tradition has somehow grown into one of the world’s biggest parties. And don’t worry, you can still celebrate in October too. We’re not in Germany so let’s not be pretentious.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• 28 Finalists Named for the 2027 Rose Court

• A Musical Zoo Comes to Life at the Arboretum

• Pasadena Turns Into One Big Art Night

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • Wa-Iro

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my lovely wife Sirina! Love you ❤️ 🎂

THE DIGEST

28 Finalists Named for the 2027 Rose Court

The Tournament of Roses announced 28 finalists yesterday, selected from students representing 41 Pasadena-area schools. Next Monday, that group will be narrowed down to the seven members who will represent the Tournament of Roses throughout the year.

Finalists were chosen based on academics, school and community involvement, public speaking and leadership. The seven students selected for the Rose Court will each receive a $7,500 scholarship and take part in programs focused on confidence, public speaking and presentation skills. They’ll also attend community events, meet local leaders and, of course, ride down Colorado Boulevard in the 138th Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

The new Rose Court will be announced Monday, so by this time next week, Pasadena will know its newest seven representatives. Congrats and good luck!

A Musical Zoo Comes to Life at the Arboretum

What does an elephant sound like on a double bass? Or a swan on a cello? Kids can find out when Melodia Mariposa brings Carnival of the Animals to the Los Angeles County Arboretum.

The free family concert is designed as a fun introduction to classical music, with lions, kangaroos, birds, tortoises and more brought to life by the orchestra. The performance will feature the Melodia Mariposa Chamber Orchestra, two pianos, conductor David Cubek and narration by Tony-nominated actor and singer Dorian Harewood.

There’s also a sweet local connection: cellist and Melodia Mariposa co-founder Tina Soule will perform the famous solo from The Swan, a piece her three-year-old grandson has already reviewed as “too sad.” Melodia Mariposa has continued putting on free community concerts even after several members of the organization lost their homes in the Eaton Fire. The concert begins at 4 PM on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Ayres Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Click here to learn more.

Pasadena Turns Into One Big Art Night

ArtNight Pasadena is back Friday, Oct. 9, and for four hours, museums, galleries and cultural spaces across the city will open their doors for free.

This year’s fall ArtNight includes 23 participating venues with live music, dance, theater, exhibitions, hands-on art and plenty of slightly spooky October programming. You can catch Bob Baker’s Marionettes at City Hall, sing show tunes at the Pasadena Playhouse Piano Bar, hear ghost stories at Parson’s Nose Theatre, sketch costumed models at the Gamble House or hit a dance party and art workshop at the Armory.

And you don’t have to spend the night figuring out parking at every stop. Free shuttles run between participating venues, making it easy to bounce around and see a few different corners of Pasadena’s arts scene.

ArtNight Pasadena runs Friday, Oct. 9, from 6–10 PM. Admission and shuttles are free. For more info, click here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Wednesday (9/23)

🎬 Retro Replay: Miss Congeniality: The 2000 Sandra Bullock comedy screens twice, with FBI agent Gracie Hart going undercover in a beauty pageant. Landmark Theatre Pasadena | Wednesday | September 23 | 2PM & 7PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Weekly trivia with questions to test your knowledge over a Stone brew. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | September 23 | 6PM–8PM

🎭 The Visit: Friedrich Dürrenmatt's dark comedy, directed by Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak and starring Jefferson Mays, about a wealthy woman's conditional offer to save her hometown. Pasadena Playhouse | Wednesday | September 23 | 7:30PM

📚 Vroman's Fiction Reading Group: Monthly book club discussing Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt this session. Vroman's Bookstore | Wednesday | September 23 | 7PM

🍹 Garden to Glass: A Cocktail-Making Experience: Hands-on cocktail class at Farmhouse bar where you make two drinks alongside expert bartenders, paired with chef-curated small bites. Descanso Gardens | Wednesday | September 23 | 7–8PM

Thursday (9/24)

🧩 Play For All Abilities: Monthly dedicated play hours at the children's museum with reduced crowds, low lights, no music, and sensory backpacks for kids with developmental differences. Southern California Children's Museum | Thursday | September 24 | 12–3PM

🎮 Video Game Club: Teens ages 14–19 can drop in for Nintendo Switch gaming at the library, no registration needed. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | September 24 | 4PM

🥦 South Pasadena Farmers' Market: A weekly outdoor market under tree canopy near the Gold Line station, with California-grown produce and prepared food vendors. South Pasadena Farmers' Market | Thursday | September 24 | 4–8PM

🍽️ Chef's Tasting Menu: Summer Flavors: A three-course seasonal menu with optional wine pairing and live music at the gardens. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | September 24 | 5–8PM

🏛️ El Retiro and the Culture of Modernity during the Progressive Era in Southern California: A talk exploring the Lanterman family's 1915 Craftsman home as a window into Progressive Era reform and Southern California's early development. Pasadena Heritage | Thursday | September 24 | 6PM

🧘 Wellness in the Park: Gentle Yoga with Anytime Fitness: Anytime Fitness leads a free outdoor yoga class open to all experience levels at Playhouse Village Park. Playhouse Village Park | Thursday | September 24 | 6PM

🎸 Live Music at Farmhouse: Multi-genre LA guitarist Stuart Crespo plays at the Farmhouse alongside drinks and food. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | September 24 | 6–8PM

📚 Nadia Bowers & Stephanie Wittels Wachs discuss "Dear Dealer" and "Last Day": Bowers shares her memoir about investigating her sister's fentanyl overdose death, joined by Wittels Wachs for a conversation on the opioid crisis. Vroman's Bookstore | Thursday | September 24 | 7PM

🎬 The Song Remains The Same Film Screening: A screening of Led Zeppelin’s 1976 concert film featuring live footage from Madison Square Garden along with fantasy sequences and backstage scenes. Healing Force of the Universe | Thursday | September 24 | 8PM–11PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events are regularly added to the News N’ Roses events page.

*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

Brookside Park Stormwater Capture Project Community Update

Pasadena Public Works is hosting a community meeting Wednesday, September 23 from 5–7PM at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd., to share updates on the Brookside Park Stormwater Capture Project, including the 90% design, project funding, timeline and next steps. Click here to learn more.

Planning Commission Meeting

Pasadena’s Planning Commission meets Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.

Transportation Advisory Commission Meeting

Pasadena’s Transportation Advisory Commission meets Thursday, September 24 at 4PM in the City Hall Grand Conference Room, Room S038. Click here to view the agenda.

Economic Development and Technology Committee Special Meeting

Pasadena’s Economic Development and Technology Committee will hold a special meeting Thursday, September 24 at 5PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

Wa-Iro

I’ve been to Japan, and one of the things that amazed me most was just how many bakeries there are. And I don’t mean places with a few cakes and cookies. I’m talking savory breads, croissants in every flavor you can imagine, stuffed pastries, sandwiches and rows of fresh-baked bread coming out all day. Wa-Iro in Old Pasadena brings a little bit of that experience here.

Wa-Iro’s specialty is shio pan, or Japanese salt bread, made with flour imported from Hokkaido. The classic version is probably where you should start: soft, buttery bread with just enough flaky salt to balance everything out.

From there, things get more interesting. There’s a cookie version with a crispy, buttery edge, a purin à la mode inspired by Japanese custard, and French toast made from thick milk bread with a caramelized outside and soft center. Also worth trying are the yakisoba panini and sausage bun if you want something savory. The yakisoba panini packs noodles into the bread for a very Japanese bakery-style snack, while the sausage bun is simple, filling and easy to grab on the go. I’d just try to get there earlier in the day, because both can start to dry out a bit if they’ve been sitting for a while.

And to add something even more interesting: Wa-Iro also serves a Wa-Iro Burger after 4 PM every Friday and Saturday. I haven’t tried them but I’ve heard great things about their burgers. You can watch a short video on it here.

The drinks are worth a look too, especially the matcha lattes made with matcha from Kyoto, along with black sesame lattes, espresso and cold brew.

Wa-Iro’s shio pan is the main attraction, but the real fun is seeing how far the menu goes beyond it, from custard-filled milk bread to caramelized French toast and Kyoto matcha drinks.

WEATHER

Wednesday

87 🌡️ 61 |☀️| 💨 SW 6 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 55 (Moderate)

Thursday

83 🌡️ 64 |☀️| 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎹 Music at Noon: Hui Wu, piano: Pianist Hui Wu, called "a rising star" by China Musical Weekly, performs a midday recital blending contemporary and classical programming. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday | September 23 | 12:10–12:40PM

🎷 The David Eastlee Trio: Guitarist David Eastlee performs jazz standards, drawing on a career that includes work with John Pisano, Bruce Forman, Pete Christlieb, Earl Palmer and Doug Webb. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | September 23 | 6PM–10PM

☘️ Irish Music Night: Live Irish music every Wednesday night in South Pasadena. Griffins of Kinsale | Wednesday | September 23 | 8PM

🎸 Live Music at Farmhouse: Multi-genre LA guitarist Stuart Crespo plays at the Farmhouse alongside drinks and food. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | September 24 | 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 24 | 6PM–10PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who thinks Oktoberfest can be celebrated in October too, not just September.

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