JLP Celebrates Centennial, Armenian Festival this Saturday!

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Did you know, before Kidspace Children’s Museum became a Pasadena favorite, it was originally launched in 1979 as a hands-on “museum without walls” program. The Junior League of Pasadena played a key role in helping establish it.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Junior League of Pasadena Marks 100 Years of Service

• Pasadena Armenian Festival Returns This Saturday

• Events this Weekend

• The Box Office: Plays & Musicals

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

🌹 Junior League of Pasadena Marks 100 Years of Service

The Junior League of Pasadena gathered last night at the historic Tournament of Roses House (Wrigley Mansion) for its Annual Meeting, celebrating the organization’s centennial year and recognizing the volunteers, nonprofits, and community leaders helping shape Pasadena.

Founded in 1926, the Junior League of Pasadena is a women’s leadership and service organization dedicated to developing civic leaders and creating meaningful community impact through volunteer action, training, and collaboration. The organization has spent the last century empowering women with leadership skills while supporting charitable and educational initiatives throughout Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. As one of hundreds of Junior League chapters worldwide, the Pasadena chapter continues to focus on strengthening local communities through service, philanthropy, and civic engagement.

A highlight of the evening was the distribution of $50,000 in grants to local organizations making a meaningful impact in the community, including Altadena Girls, Pasadena Humane, Pasadena Senior Center, Kidspace Children’s Museum, and the Pasadena Educational Foundation. Home Brewed Bar was also recognized for its commitment to community involvement and local impact.

Guests enjoyed dinner and tours of the iconic mansion, while Tournament of Roses President Terry Madigan shared remarks about community service and civic engagement. Several Junior League awards were presented throughout the evening, including recognition for outgoing leadership and service to the organization. The League also presented its 40 Under 40 Award to Emily Suñez and its Volunteer Excellence Award to Nadia Trejo for their outstanding contributions to the community and the League’s mission. Additional awards recognized members for exceptional leadership, participation, and contributions to Junior League initiatives throughout the year.

The evening also recognized the League’s newest members through the Rosebud Award, celebrating women who began their volunteer journey with the Junior League this year, including my wife Sirina Nabhan! The organization will soon begin accepting new members, offering local women opportunities for leadership development, volunteer service, and community involvement.

The meeting concluded with Junior League President Lisa Glionna’s closing remarks and receiving the gavel to continue her service as president for the 2026–2027 term.

As the organization enters its second century, the Annual Meeting served as both a celebration of the Junior League’s legacy and a reminder of its ongoing commitment to developing women leaders and strengthening the Pasadena community.

Pasadena Armenian Festival Returns This Saturday

After rain forced last year’s event to be postponed, the Pasadena Armenian Festival is finally returning to Victory Park this Saturday from 11AM to 7PM. The free festival brings together about 30 Armenian churches, schools, and community organizations to celebrate the culture and heritage of Pasadena’s Armenian community, which numbers more than 25,000 residents.

There will be live music and dance performances, around 80 vendors, Armenian food, artwork, crafts, children’s activities, and plenty of opportunities to learn about Armenian culture. Proceeds from the event will benefit three local Armenian schools in Pasadena.

The inaugural festival drew thousands of attendees in 2024, and organizers hope this year’s event will be even bigger. Whether you’re Armenian or simply looking for a fun family-friendly event, this is a great chance to experience one of Pasadena’s most vibrant cultural communities.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

This Weekend

👻 Monsterpalooza 2026: Explore a weekend dedicated to monsters, horror, sci-fi, and movie magic with celebrity guests, exhibits, panels, collectibles, and more than 450 vendors. Pasadena Convention Center | This Weekend | Fri. 6PM – 11PM, Sat. & Sun. 11AM – 6PM

Friday (5/29)

🎉 YWCA Glendale & Pasadena’s Centennial Gala: Celebrate 100 years of YWCA Glendale & Pasadena and its work advancing peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. La Cañada Flintridge Country Club | Friday | 6PM

😂 Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena Presents “Pasadena Loves Comedy”: Enjoy an evening of stand-up comedy, food, and drinks while supporting programs that empower local youth. Boys & Girls Club Slavik Clubhouse | Friday | 6PM

☯️ Caltech Tai Chi Club: Learn and practice Hao-style tai chi along with other martial arts forms in a beginner-friendly environment. Caltech’s Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | 7PM

🎼 Chamber Music Concerts: Caltech students perform chamber music for strings, winds, and piano featuring works by Mozart, Corelli, Boccherini, Haydn, Brahms, Weber, and more. Caltech’s Dabney Hall | Friday | 8PM

🔭 Stargazing Lecture: “Images of the Hidden Universe” with Katie Bouman: Caltech professor Katie Bouman explores how physics and machine learning are used to create images of black holes, dark matter, and other difficult-to-observe phenomena. Caltech’s Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics | Friday | 8PM

Saturday (5/30)

🥕 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: Shop fresh locally grown produce and farm products directly from certified California farmers. Victory Park | Saturday | 8AM – 12PM

🌱 Join a Garden Rebuild Project with Sybil Grant!: Help with hands-on garden restoration projects while learning regenerative gardening techniques alongside other volunteers. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | 9AM

🎓 PCC First Year Experience OPEN HOUSE: New students and their families can explore campus resources, attend enrollment workshops, and connect with programs and services at PCC. Pasadena City College | Saturday | 9AM

🚀 Space-based Abundance: Explore how emerging space technologies are transforming energy, data, and health through talks, panels, company showcases, and networking with industry leaders. 1216 East California Blvd. | Saturday | 10AM

🇦🇲 2nd Annual Pasadena Armenian Festival: Experience Armenian culture through food, performances, artisan vendors, cultural exhibits, and family-friendly activities at this free community festival. Victory Park | Saturday | 11AM

♠️ Poker Night at the Blinn: A Roaring 20s Fundraiser: Enjoy a 1920s-themed evening featuring a Texas Hold’em tournament, live jazz, a roaming magician, and craft cocktails at the historic Blinn House. The Blinn House | Saturday | 5PM

🍺 Route 66 Centennial Beer Release: Wild Parrot Brewing is releasing a collaboration cream ale celebrating the Route 66 Centennial, with a Hot Wheels drag race at 4PM, live music by Road Trippin at 6PM, and BBQ specials from Smokehouse Social. Wild Parrot Brewing | Saturday | May 30 | 4PM

⚽ Mexico vs Australia: Mexico’s Men’s National Team faces Australia at the Rose Bowl in its final U.S. match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Rose Bowl Stadium | Saturday | 6PM

🎨 Dreamscape: Art Show Reception with Tail Town Cats: Enjoy an opening reception for a community art show inspired by the dreams of cats, with refreshments and artwork benefiting Tail Town’s rescue cats. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Saturday | 6PM

🎵 Grand Opening Launch Party: A Night of Music, Community, and Recovery: Celebrate the opening of the Record Shop with live DJs, community vendors, food, and information about programs supporting musicians impacted by natural disasters. 1260 Lincoln Ave #1300 | Saturday | 6PM

Sunday (5/31)

🚴 Trek Pasadena Sunday Morning Shop Ride: Join this weekly 20-mile group ride through Pasadena, South Pasadena, and San Marino at an intermediate pace. Trek Bicycle Pasadena | Sunday | 8AM

🎉 Kidspace Neighborhood Block Party: Celebrate the start of summer with live entertainment, a community mural, local food vendors, family activities, and free admission to Kidspace all day. Kidspace Children’s Museum | Sunday | 10AM

🏛️ Explore Historic Architecture in the Playhouse Village: Discover the Art Deco, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Mediterranean Revival buildings that shaped Pasadena’s Playhouse District on this guided walking tour. Pasadena Heritage | Sunday | 10AM

🏛️ Museums of the Arroyo Day (MOTA): Visit five history-focused museums across the Arroyo Seco area for free and explore art, architecture, and local history. The Gamble House, Pasadena Museum of History, LA Police Museum, Heritage Square Museum, Lummis Home | Sunday | 12PM

🎨 Unveiling of “From Rails to Trails: Echo Mountain” Community Mural Honoring Mt. Lowe History: Join the public unveiling of Altadena’s largest mural, created by artist Austin Scott and more than 80 community volunteers to honor Mt. Lowe history. Altadena Crest Trail | Sunday | 4PM–6PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events get added to the News N’ Roses events page. 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!

THE BOX OFFICE

👑 Exit the King: An absurdist comedy by Eugene Ionesco about a crumbling king who refuses to accept that his last day on Earth has arrived. A Noise Within | This Weekend | Various Times

🎶 Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon: This classic musical follows two American travelers who discover a mysterious Scottish village that appears only once every hundred years. The Pasadena Playhouse | This Weekend | Various Times

🪴 Little Shop of Horrors: Lineage Performing Arts Center closes its season with a dance-infused production of the sci-fi musical about a florist’s assistant and a mysterious plant. Lineage Performing Arts Center (LPAC) | This Weekend | Various Times

🎼 MUSIC | Source/Filter Music: “The Maestro”: This comic opera satire follows an overconfident conductor whose rehearsal spirals into chaos as he attempts to lead a 17-piece orchestra. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | May 30 | 8PM

🎭 Silent Voices: This work-in-progress performance explores the stories and experiences of family caregivers through personal narratives created by writer-performers. A Noise Within, Lawrence Hall | Sunday | May 31 | 4PM & 7PM

WEATHER

Friday

67 🌡️ 53 |🌤️| 💨 S 10 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 25 (Good)

Saturday

75 🌡️ 54 |🌤️| 💨 SW 9 mph

Sunday

81 🌡️ 58 |🌤️ | 💨 SW 8 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎵 Musical Performance: Golden Hour: Music in the Garden: Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of live music in the Sculpture Garden with drawing supplies and refreshments available for purchase. Norton Simon Museum | Friday | 4:30PM

🎻 MUSIC | Aperture Duo – “as wave as stone”: Violinist Adrianne Pope and violist Linnea Powell perform a program exploring the expressive possibilities of music written for violin and viola. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Friday | 8PM

🎷 Live Jazz: Live jazz returns to Club 1881 with featured artists performing every Friday night. Club 1881 | Friday | May 29 | 8:30PM

🎼 Chamber Music Concerts: Caltech students perform chamber music for strings, winds, and piano featuring works by Mozart, Corelli, Boccherini, Haydn, Brahms, Weber, and more. Caltech’s Dabney Hall | Friday 8PM | Saturday 3PM | Sunday 2:30PM

🎼 America @ 250: The Pasadena Symphony & Pops presents a program of American works featuring pianist Joyce Yang and music by John Williams, Jonathan Leshnoff, and Aaron Copland. Ambassador Auditorium | Saturday | 2PM & 8PM

🩰 Conservatory in Concert & The Développé Project: Pasadena Dance Theatre students showcase a year of training and artistry, including original choreography created by advanced dancers. PDT’s Studio Theater | Saturday | 2PM & 5PM

🎺 Mariachi Pasadena! Spring Concert: Enjoy an evening of mariachi favorites including Caminos de Guanajuato and El Relampago, along with Mexican food in a family-friendly setting. PCM’s Webster Amphitheater | Saturday | 6:30PM

🎶 Echoes of China Folk Ensemble Spring Concert: Students of Echoes of China perform music they have learned throughout the year on traditional instruments including the pipa, guzheng, and erhu. Pasadena Conservatory of Music | Saturday | 6:30PM

🎼 MUSIC | Source/Filter Music: “The Maestro”: This comic opera satire follows an overconfident conductor whose rehearsal spirals into chaos as he attempts to lead a 17-piece orchestra. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Saturday | 8PM

🕺 ALL-STAR SOUL & FUNK REVUE: Funky But Chic and The Magnificent! team up for a night of soul and funk featuring members of Schizophonics and Sirius XM’s Mighty Manfred. Permanent Records Roadhouse | Saturday | May 30 | 8PM

🇧🇷 Brazilian Live Music: Ted Falcon and rotating musicians perform an evening of live Brazilian jazz. Club 1881 | Saturday | May 30 | 8:30PM

🎶 Bernstein & Lang: The Angeles Chorale concludes its 51st season with works by Leonard Bernstein and david lang, including Chichester Psalms and The Little Match Girl Passion. Alex Theatre | Sunday | 2:30PM

🩰 Conservatory in Concert & The Développé Project: Pasadena Dance Theatre Conservatory students of all levels will perform works celebrating a year of training, including original choreography by advanced dancers. PDT’s Studio Theater | Sunday | 2PM

🎷 JAZZ | Katisse Buckingham: Katisse Buckingham and his Woodwinds Quartet will perform a blend of jazz, funk, soul, and classical music featuring saxophones and flutes. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Sunday | 8PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who’s felt the spirit of Ada Wrigley in the Tournament House. 👀

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