Chalk Festival, Playhouse Party, and Vroman’s Sold!

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Vroman’s has been part of Pasadena since 1894, surviving wars, recessions, the rise of Amazon, and just about every prediction that bookstores were finished. More than 130 years later, it’s still here—and now heading into a new chapter with a new owner.

In this weekend’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Chalk Festival Is This Weekend

• Party in the Park Celebrates 30 Years of Playhouse Village

• Vroman’s Bookstore Has Finally Been Sold!

• Events this Weekend

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Emily Bohannan! 🎂

THE DIGEST

Pasadena Chalk Festival Is This Weekend

Brookside Park is about to get a lot more colorful. The Pasadena Chalk Festival is happening this weekend, Sept. 26–27, with more than 500 artists creating huge chalk murals right on the pavement.

Now in its 33rd year, the free festival features everything from portraits and pop culture to original designs, tributes, 3-D art and recreations of famous masterpieces. The event was moved to Brookside Park to give artists and visitors more shade and more room to spread out.

One of the best parts is getting to watch the artists work and see the pieces come together throughout the weekend.

The festival runs Saturday from 10 AM–6:30 PM and Sunday from 11 AM–6:30 PM at Brookside Park, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd. Admission is free. Click here for details.

Party in the Park Celebrates 30 Years of Playhouse Village

Playhouse Village is turning 30, and they’re celebrating with a free ’90s-themed Party in the Park this Saturday. From 6–8 PM at Playhouse Village Park, expect live music from the Hit Me 90s tribute band, throwback arts and crafts, and plenty of nostalgia from the decade when the Playhouse Village Association was founded. El Portal will also be there selling food and drinks.

The event will also look back at how the district has changed over the past three decades while celebrating what Playhouse Village has become today. So dig out the denim, windbreakers and whatever else survived the ’90s and bring a blanket or low-backed chair for the lawn.

Party in the Park is Saturday, Sept. 26, from 6–8 PM at Playhouse Village Park, 701 E. Union St. Admission is free and no RSVP is required. Click here for details. 

Vroman’s Bookstore Has Finally Been Sold

After a two-year search, Vroman’s Bookstore has a new owner!

The Pasadena landmark, along with its sister store Book Soup in West Hollywood, has been purchased by Robert Hoffman, a Pasadena native who has been going to Vroman’s since he was five years old. Hoffman currently works in government relations and regulatory affairs at AMD and comes from a family with deep Pasadena ties.

Longtime owner Joel Sheldon announced his retirement in 2024 and said he wanted to find someone who would preserve Vroman’s as a community institution. Sheldon said Hoffman and his family understood what made the store special and were committed to carrying that legacy forward.

The good news for Pasadena: Vroman’s flagship Bookstore on Colorado Boulevard is staying open under a long-term lease. The bookstore has been serving Pasadena since 1894, making it one of the city’s longest-running institutions.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

This Weekend

🎨 Pasadena Chalk Festival: Hundreds of artists cover Brookside Park in large chalk murals spanning portraits, recreated masterpieces, and original designs. Brookside Park | Saturday-Sunday | September 26-27 | 10AM-6:30PM (Saturday) and 11AM–6:30PM (Sunday)

Friday (9/25)

🧶 Cozy Crafters at Callisto Tea: A crafting meetup at a local tea house, though specific activities weren't listed. Callisto Tea House | Friday | September 25 | 4PM

🦌 Cemetery Wildlife Walk: Pasadena Humane leads a walk through Mountain View Cemetery to spot birds, squirrels, and coyotes and look at historic gravestones. Mountain View Cemetery | Friday | September 25 | 5:30PM

🥋 Caltech Tai Chi Club: A presentation on hip and knee replacement surgery covering what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. Caltech's Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | September 25 | 7PM

✂️ Junk Journaling with Tail Town Cats: You assemble a junk journal using provided collage materials while hanging out in the cat lounge. Tail Town Cafe | Friday | September 25 | 7PM

🎭 The Visit: A stage production playing at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Pasadena Playhouse | Friday | September 25 | 8PM

Saturday (9/26)

🥦 Pasadena Farmers' Market at Victory Park: A weekly outdoor market with fresh produce and local vendors. Victory Park | Saturday | September 26 | 8AM–12PM

🔭 Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: A guided behind-the-scenes look at the engineering and facilities of Mt. Wilson Observatory. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Saturday | September 26 | 9AM–2:30PM

🌱 Student Community Service Day: Youth ages 12–15 earn school service hours doing light gardening or educational projects at the gardens. Descanso Gardens | Saturday | September 26 | 9–11AM

🎵 Drop-in Sound Bath: Outdoor sound bath sessions held in the gardens with staggered start times. Descanso Gardens | Saturday | September 26 | 9AM, 9:30AM & 10AM

🌿 La Canada Farmers' Market: Weekly outdoor market next to the La Cañada Flintridge Post Office. Rinetti Lane | Saturday | September 26 | 9AM–1PM

🎮 Worldwide Day of Play: A Nickelodeon-themed play day for kids 0–6 with water tables, bubble blowing, a Paw Patrol obstacle course, and sensory bins. Southern California Children's Museum | Saturday | September 26 | 9AM–4PM

🌱 Weekend Projects at Arlington Garden: Volunteers work on hands-on garden maintenance projects at this drought-tolerant Pasadena garden. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | September 26 | 9AM–12PM

🧵 Quilt for Democracy: A Community Quilting Bee: A community quilting session at the Armory with a civic theme. Armory Center for the Arts | Saturday | September 26 | 10AM–12PM

🎶 Pakaraguian Kulintang: A kulintang ensemble performs at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | September 26 | 11AM

🎬 Movie & Craft: Bring your own craft project and work on it while watching a movie at the library. Santa Catalina Branch Library | Saturday | September 26 | 11AM

🔭 The Past, Present, and Future of Astronomy at Carnegie Observatories: A Carnegie Observatories presentation covering the history and future of astronomical research. Linda Vista Branch Library | Saturday | September 26 | 11AM–12PM

🏛️ Her Pasadena: Women Remaking Home and Civic Life: A guided tour of the 1906 Prairie-style Blinn House explores how it became the Women's City Club, using original photography, period clothing, and stationed guides. Pasadena Heritage | Saturday | September 26 | 11AM

📚 Teacher Appreciation Day: Vroman's marks the day for educators, though specific activities weren't listed. Vroman's Bookstore | Saturday | September 26 | 11AM–7PM

🎡 St. Rita School's 30th Annual Harvest Festival: A school fundraiser festival with rides, games, face painting, food, a bar, and live entertainment. St. Rita School | Saturday | September 26 | 12–9PM

🎭 Pericles: Shakespeare's Pericles in Ellen McLaughlin's translation, told through movement and music as a prince flees a deadly royal secret into storms and shipwrecks. Boston Court Pasadena | Saturday | September 26 | 2PM

🤠 Fall Rodeo: Boots, Bites, and Western Beats: A western-themed outdoor event with food and live music at One Colorado's courtyard. One Colorado Courtyard | Saturday | September 26 | 4–8PM

♟️ Checkmate! Chess at the Norton Simon Museum: Drop-in chess in the Sculpture Garden, with U.S. chess expert Jay Stallings on hand to teach beginners. Norton Simon Museum | Saturday | September 26 | 4PM

🐐 Goat Yoga At The Gamble House: Outdoor yoga class on the Gamble House lawn, with goats. The Gamble House Lawn | Saturday | September 26 | 5PM & 6:15PM

🎨 Meow N Paint with Tail Town Cats: A cat-themed canvas painting session at the cat cafe, with all art supplies provided and BYOB welcome for 21+ attendees. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Saturday | September 26 | 6PM

🎉 Party in the Park: 90s Concert & Celebration: A 90s-themed outdoor concert and celebration at Playhouse Village Park. Playhouse Village Park | Saturday | September 26 | 6PM

🎭 A Complete History of the American Musical in 90 Minutes or Less: Professor Barry Gordon leads a cast of nine through American musical theater history, from George M. Cohan to Sondheim. Parson's Nose Theater | Saturday | September 26 | 7PM

🎹 The Music Time Machine featuring Pacia Piano Duo: The Pacia Piano Duo performs at Pasadena Conservatory of Music's intimate Barrett Hall. Pasadena Conservatory of Music's Barrett Hall | Saturday | September 26 | 7PM

🎵 Midterms: This Will Hurt Someone: Brightwork newmusic performs politically inspired works including pieces by Matt Marks, Frederic Rzewski, and Ian Dicke. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | September 26 | 8PM

♟️ LA Chess Social 10-Year Anniversary: The LA Chess Social marks its tenth year with an evening gathering at a Freemason Lodge. South Pasadena Freemason Lodge | Saturday | September 26 | 8PM

Sunday (9/27)

🌱 Holding Space With Hands in The Soil: A communal gardening gathering at Arlington Garden with no additional details provided. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Sunday | September 27 | 12PM

🀄 MEOWjong with Tail Town Cats: An experienced-level Mahjong session run by Common Ground Mahjong, played inside the cat lounge with free-roaming cats. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Sunday | September 27 | 4PM

🎨 Mesmer Mesmer presents IN SITU: An exhibition or performance at Mesmer Mesmer, though specific details about the work or artists weren't provided. Mesmer Mesmer | Sunday | September 27 | 4PM

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!

WEATHER

Friday

83 🌡️ 64 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 74 (Moderate)
💧Humidity: 59%

Saturday

86 🌡️ 65 |☀️| 💨 S 7 mph

Sunday

80 🌡️ 62 |☀️| 💨 S 6 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎸 Daryl Darden: Guitarist Daryl Darden brings more than 55 years of experience performing jazz and blues, with a career that includes collaborations with George Benson, B.B. King, Albert King and Kenny Burrell. Edwin Mills | Friday | September 25 | 7PM–11PM

🌙 Ghostly Kisses – North American Tour 2026: The Quebec City duo brings its ethereal dream-pop sound, cinematic minimalism and intimate songwriting to Highland Park. Lodge Room Highland Park | Friday | September 25 | 7PM

🎉 Party in the Park: 90s Concert & Celebration: A 90s-themed outdoor concert and celebration at Playhouse Village Park. Playhouse Village Park | Saturday | September 26 | 6PM

🎶 Sylvia & The Rhythm Boys: Jazz standards from the Great American Songbook, featuring popular music from the 1920s through the 1960s. Edwin Mills | Saturday | September 26 | 7PM–11PM

🎹 The Music Time Machine—Pacia Piano Duo in Concert: Pacia Piano Duo performs music spanning Bach and Mozart to Tchaikovsky and Piazzolla, followed by a reception with the artists. Barrett Hall | Saturday | September 26 | 7PM

🎸 Vieux Farka Touré: Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré brings a style rooted in his family’s musical legacy and the traditions of Mali. Lodge Room Highland Park | Saturday | September 26 | 7PM

THANKS!

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