Pasadena Looking For Queen

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Did you know Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade started as an idea among friends drinking at a local bar in 1978? What was supposed to be a one-time joke poking fun at the Rose Parade turned into one of Pasadena’s most beloved traditions, nearly 50 years later!

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade Announced and Looking for Its Next Queen!

• AI Is Coming for Hollywood. Here’s What Filmmakers Think.

• America Sings! Celebrating 250 Years of American Music

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • 🍕 $1 Pizza Slices at Prince Street Pizza Today!

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my little sister Sarah and my good friend Gio!🎂

A MESSAGE FROM
HOVSEPYAN FAMILY OPTOMETRY

Your Eyes Deserve More Than a Quick Exam

When was your last eye exam?

At Hovsepyan Family Optometry in Pasadena, appointments don’t feel rushed. Dr. Jivan Hovsepyan takes the time to explain what he sees, answer questions, and make sure you actually understand what’s going on with your eyes.

The practice offers comprehensive eye care for adults, seniors, and kids, including routine exams, contact lens fittings, dry eye treatment, pediatric care, and medical eye exams.

The office is modern, the technology is state-of-the-art, and local patients have given the practice a 5.0 Google rating!

Call (626) 345-5279 to schedule an appointment or visit www.hovopto.com.

News N’ Roses readers can also receive a special $25 gift card from Hovsepyan Family Optometry.

THE DIGEST

👑 Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade Announced and Looking for Its Next Queen!

Pasadena’s famously unconventional Doo Dah Parade is returning Sunday, November 22! If you’re unfamiliar, the parade started in 1978 as a quirky alternative to the Rose Parade, featuring outrageous costumes, bizarre floats, and plenty of satire.

But first, the parade needs a queen! This Sunday, October 25, the annual Doo Dah Queen Tryouts are happening at Old Towne Pub in Old Pasadena. Contestants get three minutes to impress the crowd with just about anything: singing, dancing, comedy, outrageous costumes, or whatever unusual talent they can come up with. Even pets have competed in past years!

The event is free to attend, with sign-ups and live music starting at 2PM and the competition beginning at 3PM. The Doo Dah Parade will take place on November 22 at 11AM. Click here for more information.

🎬 AI Is Coming for Hollywood. Here’s What Filmmakers Think.

Artificial intelligence is changing how movies get made, and this Pasadena-based team is helping lead the conversation.

This Saturday, October 24, the Pasadena-based organizers behind AI Film Summit Los Angeles 2026 are bringing filmmakers, producers, and creative professionals together at City Club Los Angeles to explore what AI actually means for the future of filmmaking. The event will focus on how AI tools are being used in professional productions, from generating visuals to helping smaller teams create work that once required much bigger budgets.

Among the speakers is Tony Roman, a producer whose credits include NBC’s New Amsterdam and the upcoming Baywatch reboot. He’ll discuss what it takes to combine AI technology with traditional production techniques to create studio-quality work.

Click here for summit details and tickets.

🎶 America Sings! Celebrating 250 Years of American Music

Lake Avenue Church is hosting America Sings!, a free concert celebrating 250 years of American music.

The performance will feature the church’s choir, orchestra, pipe organ, handbells, and guest soloists, with music from iconic American composers like Irving Berlin and Aaron Copland.

The concert takes place Sunday, October 25, from 4–5:30PM at Lake Avenue Church. Admission is free, but registration is required. Also, arrive early to find parking!

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

Wednesday (10/21)

🦉 Art with Jeanette: Kids ages 7 to 12 draw spooky birds like owls, ravens, and crows, then work them into a Halloween collage. Hastings Branch Library | Wednesday | October 21 | 3:30PM

🐾 Tails & Tales: Kids practice their reading by reading aloud to a therapy dog from Love on a Leash. Sierra Madre Library | Wednesday | October 21 | 3:30–4:30PM

🎃 Adult Crafternoon: Pumpkin Painting: Head to Loma Alta Park to paint a pumpkin at this adults-only afternoon craft session. Altadena Library at Loma Alta Park | Wednesday | October 21 | 4–5:30PM

🎃 Little Ghouls Paint & Sip: Kids ages 6 to 11 paint a spooky mini canvas and sip apple cider or sparkling grape juice, no experience needed. Bob Lucas Library | Wednesday | October 21 | 5–6PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Game Night Trivia hosts its weekly trivia night at Stone Brewing Tap Room. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | October 21 | 6PM

📚 Vroman’s Bookstore & The Braille Institute Present: Barbara Kingsolver discussing Partita (TICKETED): Pulitzer winner Barbara Kingsolver talks about her new novel Partita, and your ticket includes a copy of the book. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Wednesday | October 21 | 7PM

Thursday (10/22)

💜 24th Annual Women For Justice Breakfast: Kaiser Permanente’s Michelle Gaskill-Hames keynotes this YWCA fundraiser for local domestic violence and girls’ empowerment programs; wear purple. Hilton Pasadena | Thursday | October 22 | 8AM

🏟️ Rose Bowl Public Tours: A guided tour of the Rose Bowl takes you through the 1922 locker room, press box, and Court of Champions. Rose Bowl Stadium | Thursday | October 22

🏛️ Campus History & Architectural Tour: Volunteer docents walk you through Caltech’s original campus, from Goodhue Associates’ arched portals to Gordon Kaufmann’s 1930 Athenaeum. Athenaeum | Thursday | October 22 | 10:30AM

🐾 Memory Café: Paint Your Pet: Artist Sally Weiss guides seniors and their caregivers through painting a portrait of their pet, with all materials provided. Sierra Madre Library | Thursday | October 22 | 10AM

🎵 ACT-MOVE-FLOW: Music, Dance, and Acting for Neurodiverse Teens and Adults: Neurodiverse teens and adults blend music and movement to build emotional expression and social connection at the library. Santa Catalina Branch Library | Thursday | October 22 | 11AM

🎃 Succulent Pumpkin Decorating: Hot-glue real succulent cuttings onto a pumpkin in this no-carve decorating workshop at Descanso’s Harvest Garden. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | October 22 | 11AM–1PM

🏙️ Pasadena Chamber Economic and Business Summit 2026: Mayor Victor Gordo joins business and industry leaders to talk Pasadena’s economic health and the city’s future over lunch. Brookside Golf Club (Mediterranean Ballroom) | Thursday | October 22 | 11:30AM

🪡 Chinese Patchwork: Ancient Traditions and Current Expressions: Nancy Berliner, curator emerita at the MFA Boston, shares decades of fieldwork on Chinese village women’s patchwork tradition, followed by a talk with Huntington curator Lauren Cross. The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall and Livestream | Thursday | October 22 | 2:30PM

🎮 Video Game Club: Teens drop in to play Nintendo Switch games and meet other players at Hastings Branch Library. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | October 22 | 4PM

🥦 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: California-grown produce straight from local farms, plus prepared food vendors and live music under a canopy of trees. 920 Meridian Ave | Thursday | October 22 | 4–8PM

🎉 City of La Canada Flintridge 50th Anniversary Celebration “Together for 50 Years”: La Cañada Flintridge turns 50 with live music, an inflatable obstacle course, and a scavenger hunt at Olberz Park. Olberz Park | Thursday | October 22 | 5–7PM

🍷 Vintage! Aging in Place Like a Fine Wine: Pasadena Village’s annual fundraiser brings live music, a hosted bar, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, and a wine pull to the Scott Pavilion. Pasadena Senior Center | Thursday | October 22 | 6PM

🎞️ Flickers from the Silver Scream: Film historian Galen Wilkes screens vintage horror clips spanning the 1890s to 1940s, including the earliest surviving Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Pasadena Museum of History | Thursday | October 22 | 7PM

✈️ Come and Away: Sankoff and Hein’s hit musical retells the true story of 7,000 passengers stranded in Newfoundland on 9/11. A Noise Within | Thursday | October 22 | 7:30PM

🐟 At the Very Bottom of a Body of Water: A world-premiere play about a woman whose carefully ordered life is disrupted by grief, romance and a wave of unexpected magic. Boston Court | Thursday | October 22 | 7:30PM

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

Municipal Services Committee Meeting

The Pasadena City Council’s Municipal Services Committee meets Wednesday, October 21, at 5PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, to discuss matters related to the city’s municipal services and infrastructure. Click here to view agenda.

Library Commission Meeting

The Pasadena Library Commission meets Wednesday, October 21, at 6PM at Hill Avenue Library (55 S. Hill Ave.) to discuss library services, programs, and resources for the community. Click here to view agenda.

Free Flu Vaccine Clinic

The Pasadena Public Health Department is offering free flu vaccines Thursday, October 22, from 1:30–4PM at La Pintoresca Library (1355 N. Raymond Ave.). Vaccines are available for everyone ages 6 months and older. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and masks are recommended. Click here to view event details.

Transportation Advisory Commission Meeting

The Transportation Advisory Commission meets Thursday, October 22, at 4PM in the City Hall Grand Conference Room, Room S038 (Basement Level), to discuss transportation planning, traffic, and mobility matters in Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

🍕 $1 Pizza Slices at Prince Street Pizza Today!

When was the last time you got a slice of pizza for $1 in LA?

If you’re unfamiliar, Prince Street Pizza is a popular New York-born pizza shop known for its thick, square Sicilian-style slices, especially its famous Spicy Spring pepperoni pizza.

Now, I love pizza. So much that I bought a massive pizza oven just to make 18-inch New York-style pies at home. After making well over 100 pizzas in the past year, I’d say I’ve gotten pretty serious about it. And honestly? I think Prince Street Pizza is pretty good.

I’ve seen some people on the Pasadena Reddit board disagree, but no offense, I’m not convinced Californians have the best judgment when it comes to New York pizza. Full disclosure: I was born and raised in NYC, although I’ve been living in Pasadena for almost 10 years now. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s pizza.

Anyway, Prince Street Pizza is offering $1 Original Prince slices today, Wednesday, October 21, to celebrate National Pizza Month, including at its Pasadena location! No membership required. Just walk in and grab a slice (limit one per person). You can also sign up for Prince St. Rewards for a chance to win a free slice every week for a year. For a dollar, you can decide for yourself!

WEATHER

Wednesday

70 🌡️ 58 |🌧️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 36 (Good)

Thursday

64 🌡️ 53 |🌧️| 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎸 The David Eastlee Trio: Guitarist David Eastlee and his trio perform jazz standards. Edwin Mills | Wednesday | October 21 | 6PM

🎸 Frankie Cosmos – Celebrating 10 Years of Next Thing: Frankie Cosmos performs Next Thing in full to mark the album’s 10th anniversary, along with reworked songs from across the band’s catalog. Lodge Room Highland Park | Wednesday | October 21 | 7PM

🎸 Doug MacDonald: Jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald performs standards with a style rooted in swing and bebop. Edwin Mills | Thursday | October 22 | 6PM

🐝 Weatherday – Hornet Disaster Tour 2026: Weatherday performs in support of Hornet Disaster, the follow-up to Come In and Weatherglow. Lodge Room Highland Park | Thursday | October 22 | 7PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who would pick pizza if they could only eat one food for the rest of their life. 🍕

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