ArtNight Pasadena returns Oct. 9 with free arts and culture across 23 venues, plus a local high school night and Caltech alum Jessica Watkins commanding NASA’s Crew-13 mission.
Matthew Ramirez
October 05, 2026
Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Today’s weather is less “fall in Pasadena” and more “why is it nearly 100 degrees in October?”
In today’s News N’ Roses:
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ArtNight Pasadena Takes Over the City Friday Night
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High School Night at ABVM
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Former Pasadena Postdoc Jessica Watkins Commands NASA Crew-13 Mission
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Events this Monday & Tuesday
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Civic News
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NASADENA
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Weather
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Live Music Lowdown
Let’s get to it.
—Matthew Ramirez
THE DIGEST
ArtNight Pasadena Takes Over the City Friday Night
Pasadena is turning into one big arts district Friday night as ArtNight Pasadena returns October 9 from 6–10PM. The twice-a-year event opens 23 arts and cultural venues across the city for free, with exhibitions, live music, dance, theater, hands-on activities and free shuttles connecting participating locations.
At City Hall, Bob Baker Marionettes will perform a Halloween-themed puppet show alongside Theatre Americana, art activities and food trucks. Pasadena Playhouse will host a pop-up Piano Bar where visitors can request and sing along to show tunes, while Parson’s Nose Theater will present ghost stories throughout the evening.
Other highlights include live figure sketching with period-costumed models at The Gamble House, a DJ dance party and art workshops at the Armory Center for the Arts, and a Route 66 and Colorado Boulevard program at the Pasadena Museum of History.
USC Pacific Asia Museum will feature South Asian music and Pakistani art, while the Pasadena Conservatory of Music will have live performances across its campus throughout the night.
High School Night at ABVM
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School is hosting a High School Night tomorrow, Oct. 6, giving local students and families a chance to learn more about area high schools. Representatives from more than a dozen schools will attend, including La Salle College Preparatory, St. Francis High School, Mayfield Senior School, Damien High School, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Ramona Convent and Don Bosco Technical Institute.
The event is open to ABVM sixth- through eighth-grade students, Deanery 10 students, friends and family. High School Night runs from 5–7PM at the Assumption of BVM Gymnasium, 2660 E. Orange Grove Blvd. in Pasadena.
Former Pasadena Postdoc Jessica Watkins Commands NASA Crew-13 Mission
My friend and me with Jessica Watkins (center)
Former Caltech postdoc Jessica Watkins is back in space, this time commanding NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station.
Before becoming an astronaut, Watkins worked on the Curiosity rover science team at JPL and conducted postdoctoral research at Caltech, where she studied the geology of Mars.
This is her second trip to the space station after spending 170 days in orbit on Crew-4 in 2022. Crew-13 will spend the next several months conducting research, technology demonstrations and station maintenance.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Monday (10/5)
🍂 Autumn Festival: The Brendan Eder Ensemble performs ambient chamber music blending woodwinds, synthesizers, and live looping at the Shoya House. The Huntington’s Japanese Heritage Shoya House | Monday | October 5 | 12–4PM
🌹 Music in the Rose Garden: The Brendan Eder Ensemble performs ambient chamber music blending woodwinds, synthesizers, and live looping. The Huntington’s Rose Garden | Monday | October 5 | 1PM
🎭 Fine Arts Club of Pasadena 2026–27 Season Opening: A dinner banquet previewing the upcoming season, including a The King and I production and metal sculptures by Rand S. Rubin. Athenaeum | Monday | October 5 | 6PM
🏃 Walktober 2026: Run With Us Monday Fun Run: A social run and walk at 2, 4, or 6-mile distances, open to all paces. Run With Us | Monday | October 5 | 6PM
🧛 Leigh Bardugo, Christopher Rice, & Eric Shaw Quinn discuss & sign Interview with the Vampire: 50th Anniversary Edition: The special edition includes Bardugo’s new foreword, an afterword by Christopher Rice, and never-before-seen manuscript pages. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Monday | October 5 | 7PM
Tuesday (10/6)
💼 ShopTalk Business Breakfast: A monthly morning meetup for small business owners featuring networking and a business-topic presentation. Neighbors & Friends: The Kitchen | Tuesday | October 6 | 8AM
🌽 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Villa Parke: Certified vendors sell direct-from-farm produce, plus jams, jellies, and fish. Villa Parke | Tuesday | October 6 | 8:30AM–12:30PM
🎵 Tuesday Musicale in Concert: A free midday concert featuring works by Corelli, Copland, Menotti, Bizet, and Dohnanyi performed in the church’s Sunday School room. First Church of Christ, Scientist | Tuesday | October 6 | 12:30PM
🏫 High School Night: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School hosts an evening with representatives from 13 area high schools for ABVM 6th–8th graders, Deanery 10 students, friends and family. Assumption of BVM Gymnasium | Tuesday | October 6 | 5PM
♟️ Chess Night: Drop-in chess at the library’s outdoor Reading Court, with sets provided for all skill levels. Bob Lucas Library | Tuesday | October 6 | 5:30PM
💃 The Mixx: Salsa Mixx: Instructor Rogelio Moreno leads salsa and bachata lessons before open social dancing with DJ Salsa y Sabor. The Mixx Pasadena | Tuesday | October 6 | 8PM
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events posted regularly on the website. 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
Legislative Policy Committee Meeting
Pasadena’s Legislative Policy Committee meets Tuesday, October 6 at 4:30PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Pasadena’s Historic Preservation Commission meets Tuesday, October 6 at 6PM in the George Ellery Hale Building Hearing Room, 175 N. Garfield Ave. Click here to view the agenda.
Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting
Pasadena’s Recreation and Parks Commission meets Tuesday, October 6 at 6PM at City Yards – Public Works, 233 W. Mountain St., Second Floor. Click here to view the agenda.
City Council Meeting
Pasadena City Council meets Tuesday, October 6 at 6PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249. Click here to view the agenda.
Human Relations Commission Meeting
Pasadena’s Human Relations Commission meets Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30PM. Click here to view the agenda.
NASADENA
NASAdena T-Shirts
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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.
WEATHER
Monday
99🌡️74 |☀️| 💨 W 9 mph
🌆 Air Quality Index: 51 (Moderate)
Tuesday
98🌡️74 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph
Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.
LIVE MUSIC
🌹 Music in the Rose Garden: The Brendan Eder Ensemble performs ambient chamber music blending woodwinds, synthesizers, and live looping. The Huntington’s Rose Garden | Monday | October 5 | 1PM
🎸 The Riner Scivally Trio: Riner Scivally, Mike Alvidrez and Paul Kreibich perform jazz standards, Brazilian tunes and original compositions. Edwin Mills | Monday | October 5 | 6PM
🎵 Tuesday Musicale in Concert: A free midday concert featuring works by Corelli, Copland, Menotti, Bizet, and Dohnanyi performed in the church’s Sunday School room. First Church of Christ, Scientist | Tuesday | October 6 | 12:30PM
🎙️ Jullanar Gamboa: Los Angeles jazz vocalist Jullanar Gamboa performs timeless standards with a style inspired by the jazz singers of the 1920s. Edwin Mills | Tuesday | October 6 | 6PM
🎸 The Colorado Jam: Every Tuesday, LA musicians gather to jam out and hang out together. The Colorado Bar | Tuesday | October 6 | 9PM-12AM
THANKS!
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