Pasadena’s Streets Will Be Yours for the Day!

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Get ready to drop, cover, and hold on! Tomorrow (October 15) at exactly 10:15AM, Pasadena is joining the Great ShakeOut, a worldwide earthquake drill reminding us that living in Southern California means it’s always a good idea to be ready for the next big one.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena Is Going Car-Free for CicLAvia!

• Oktoberfest at Santa Anita Park!

• Pasadena Elks Lodge Celebrates 125 Years with a Western Hoedown!

• Civic News

• Restaurant Spotlight

  • Magnolia Pizza Company – Pop-up Today!

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my nephew Malik! 🎂

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 Is Going Car-Free for CicLAvia!

Imagine cruising down Colorado Boulevard on your bike without a single car in sight. That’s exactly what’s happening on Sunday, November 15, when CicLAvia returns to Pasadena!

From 9AM to 3PM, nearly three miles of streets will be closed to cars and opened to cyclists, pedestrians, skaters, and anyone looking to enjoy Pasadena from a different perspective. The route stretches along Colorado Boulevard from Pasadena Avenue to Allen Avenue, with a connection down Raymond Avenue near Memorial Park. There will also be two additional miles of temporary bike lanes extending toward the Rose Bowl and Lamanda Park.

And you don’t even need a bike! Walk the route, explore local shops, grab a bite to eat, or check out activities at the event hubs. It’s also completely free. There’s no starting line, finish line, or registration required. Just show up and enjoy the streets!

Click here for the route map and event details.

Oktoberfest at Santa Anita Park!

Break out the lederhosen and get ready to raise a stein! Oktoberfest is happening at Santa Anita Park for its second weekend, October 17–18, bringing Bavarian beer, food, live music, and a little horse racing into the mix.

The festivities take over the Trackside Apron, where you can sample Oktoberfest beers from breweries like Paulaner, Spaten, Enegren, and more. There will also be live music from Past Action Heroes, playing your favorite hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

Feeling competitive? Try your hand at the stein-holding contest, keg rolling, cornhole, or the lederhosen costume competition for a chance to win Santa Anita credit.

General admission is $40.69, which includes eight beer tastings, a souvenir mini stein, admission, parking, and a $5 betting voucher. VIP packages are also available for $82.69. The celebration runs Saturday and Sunday from noon–5PM, with the first horse race starting at 1PM. Click here for more info!

Pasadena Elks Lodge Celebrates 125 Years with a Western Hoedown!

Dust off those cowboy boots! The Pasadena Elks Lodge is turning 125 years old, and they’re celebrating with a good old-fashioned country and western party.

On Sunday, October 25, the lodge is hosting The 125th: A Country & Western Affair, transforming its parking lot into an outdoor celebration complete with live music, line dancing, a beer garden, food trucks, and a classic car show.

There will also be a silent auction, plenty of barbecue, and opportunities to show off your best two-step moves. Whether you’re there for the dancing, the classic cars, or just some good food and music, there’s a little something for everyone.

The celebration marks 125 years of community, service, and charity for Pasadena Elks Lodge #672. The festivities run from 2–8PM at 400 W. Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.

Click here for event details and tickets.

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 (10/14)

🃏 DIY Tarot Card Collage Art: A library program where you create your own tarot cards using photo collage. Crowell’s Barth Community Room | Wednesday | October 14 | 2PM

🔐 Escape Room: A teen escape room (ages 11–17) with puzzles and clues, plus Halloween-themed crafts after. Jefferson Branch Library | Wednesday | October 14 | 4–5PM

🔬 WOW! That’s STEM: Pasadena-area high school students lead a free kids’ workshop on tensegrity, where participants build a “floating” structure. Hastings Branch Library | Wednesday | October 14 | 4PM

🔨 The Craft of Greene & Greene Restoration: A Conversation with Jack Ipekjian: Restorer Jack Ipekjian discusses the woodworking techniques behind preserving Greene & Greene architecture. The Blinn House | Wednesday | October 14 | 5:30–7:30PM

🧶 Stitch & Share: A drop-in crafting session where you bring your own project and work alongside other makers. Sierra Madre Library | Wednesday | October 14 | 5:30PM

💧 #LATechWeek: Climate Commons: The Water-Energy Nexus & Startup Showcase: Panelists from NASA JPL, Pasadena Water & Power, and the Metropolitan Water District join a startup showcase of regional climate tech. FoundrSpace Coworking | Wednesday | October 14 | 6PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Game Night Trivia hosts its weekly trivia night at Stone Brewing Tap Room. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | October 14 | 6PM

Thursday (10/15)

🦷 Young & Healthy and USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry Free Dental Care: A mobile dental clinic offering free services for kids ages 5–18, with pre-registration required by calling (626) 795-5166. McKinley School/Eliot Arts Magnet | Thursday | October 15 | 8AM–4PM

🏟️ Rose Bowl Public Tours: Guided tours of the National Historic Landmark, including original 1922 features, as the stadium prepares for the CFP game. Rose Bowl Stadium | Thursday | October 15 | 10:30AM & 12:30PM

🌍 The Great ShakeOut: Pasadena participates in the statewide earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. Citywide | Thursday | October 15 | 10:15AM

🏠 Village Connections: Home Modification Workshop: Pasadena Village walks through home safety upgrades room by room, covering quick fixes and longer-term improvements based on universal design principles. Washington Park Community House | Thursday | October 15 | 2PM

🎨 Library Art Collective: An art-focused study hall where kids can bring their own projects or work on a group creation with shared materials provided. Allendale Branch Library | Thursday | October 15 | 3:45–5PM

🎮 Video Game Club: Drop-in Nintendo Switch gaming for teens ages 14–19, no registration needed. Hastings Branch Library | Thursday | October 15 | 4PM

🌽 South Pasadena Farmers’ Market: A weekly certified farmers’ market with California-grown produce, prepared food vendors, and live music under a canopy of trees near the Metro A Line station. South Pasadena Farmers’ Market | Thursday | October 15 | 4–8PM

🏛️ ASID Pasadena Installation of the 2026-2027 Board: The American Society of Interior Designers installs its incoming Pasadena chapter board at the historic Fenyes Mansion, with a mansion tour and refreshments. Fenyes Mansion | Thursday | October 15 | 4–7PM

🪦 Craftsman Week 2026: A Night Among the Monuments: Mountain View Cemetery Tour: A guided evening tour of the historic 1882 cemetery led by Pasadena Heritage board member Brian Alan Baker and local historian Nick Lewis. Mountain View Cemetery | Thursday | October 15 | 6–8PM

🍻 #LATechWeek: Pasadena Tech Happy Hour: A monthly networking happy hour for local tech professionals, co-hosted by Innovate Pasadena and AI LA. Hawg Heaven BBQ | Thursday | October 15 | 6PM

🎨 Introduction to Water Color Classes: A five-week watercolor course for all experience levels, with tea and cookies while you paint. 50 W Sierra Madre Blvd. | Thursday | October 15 | 6:30–8PM

🎤 Toastmasters Talk of the Town: A drop-in public meeting where visitors can practice short speeches and receive coaching from club members. Crowell’s Thornton Conference Room | Thursday | October 15 | 6PM

🎭 Come from Away: The Tony-winning musical about 7,000 airline passengers stranded in Newfoundland on 9/11, performed in A Noise Within’s intimate theater. A Noise Within | Thursday | October 15 | 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

Urban Forestry Advisory Committee Meeting

Pasadena’s Urban Forestry Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, October 14 at 6PM at City Yards – Public Works, 233 W. Mountain St., Second Floor, to discuss matters related to the city’s trees and urban forest. Click here to view agenda.

Human Services Commission Meeting

Pasadena’s Human Services Commission meets Wednesday, October 14 at 6PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., to discuss community needs and human services programs. Click here to view agenda.

Planning Commission Meeting

Pasadena’s Planning Commission meets Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30PM in the City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, to discuss planning and land-use matters in Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

District 6 Town Hall Meeting

Pasadena City Councilmember Steve Madison will host a District 6 town hall meeting Wednesday, October 14 from 7–8:30PM at the Huntington Medical Research Institute, 686 S. Fair Oaks Ave., featuring updates on Measure PFD, the Pasadena Avenue and St. John Avenue Mobility Improvement Project, and other district issues. Click here for more information.

Open House / Resource Fair for Environmental Justice Element

Pasadena’s Planning and Community Development Department is hosting an open house and resource fair Thursday, October 15 from 6–8PM at Robinson Park Recreation Center, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave., to gather community input on the city’s first Environmental Justice Element, answer questions, and share neighborhood resources. Click here for more information.

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT

🍕 Magnolia Pizza Company

Magnolia Pizza Company is an LA-based pizza pop-up making its way around local breweries, taprooms, and coffee shops.

Their dough is made with a blend of high-protein flour and sourdough, then cold-fermented for an extended period before being fired in their cool portable Gozney ovens. The result is a light, airy crust with a nice char and crispy exterior.

On the menu, you’ll find a Margherita with garlic confit, pepperoni with jalapeños, and other rotating options. The pepperoni is the cupped kind that gets crispy around the edges.

You can catch them tonight at Stone Tap Brewery from 5–9PM. Grab a pizza fresh out of the oven and enjoy it with a beer.

WEATHER

Wednesday

80 🌡️ 55 |☀️| 💨 SW 6 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 48 (Good)

Thursday

87 🌡️ 63 |☀️| 💨 NE 12 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 14 | 6PM

🎤 Free Open Mic Night: Perform a song, poem, story or other piece, or just listen, at Altadena Music Center’s monthly open mic hosted by Quazar. Altadena Music Center | Wednesday | October 14 | 7PM

🎸 Giraffe Album Release Show – In the Round: Dave Harrington, Robert Walter, Spencer Zahn and Kosta Galanopoulos perform improvised music spanning psychedelic rock, jazz and experimental sounds. Lodge Room Highland Park | Wednesday | October 14 | 7PM

🎸 Doug MacDonald: Jazz guitarist Doug MacDonald performs standards with a style rooted in swing and bebop. Edwin Mills | Thursday | October 15 | 6PM

🎤 Tyler Ballgame: Tyler Ballgame performs live with a sound rooted in classic songwriting and melodic hooks. Lodge Room Highland Park | Thursday | October 15 | 7PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who’s been yelled at by a Rose Bowl Cyclist gang while you were just peacefully strolling around.

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