Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. If you’re celebrating Bicycle Day this weekend, I must let you know: this Bicycle Day is when people take LSD and ride bikes to celebrate Albert Hofmann’s discovery of the drug in 1943. The World Bicycle Day you were thinking of is on June 3rd .
In today’s News N’ Roses:
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Pasadena Humane’s Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run Returns Sunday
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Events this Weekend
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The Box Office: Plays & Musicals
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Live Music Lowdown
Let’s get to it.
—Matthew Ramirez
THE DIGEST
Pasadena Humane’s Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run Returns Sunday
One of Pasadena’s best Sunday plans is back. Pasadena Humane’s 28th annual Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run takes over Brookside Park at the Rose Bowl this Sunday, April 19, and yes, your dog is absolutely invited.
The 5K kicks off at 9 a.m. — walk or run the perimeter of the Rose Bowl with your pup — followed by a vendor marketplace with around 80 pet-focused vendors, food trucks, dog demonstrations, and a dog costume contest (get your pup’s outfit ready; registration starts at 10:10 a.m.).
The event is one of Pasadena Humane’s largest fundraisers, with a goal of raising $382,000 this year to support foster care, a kitten nursery, an animal ICU, wildlife services, and more. Last year the organization helped over 55,000 animals, and they’re already on pace to beat that.
Organizers are expecting over 3,000 people and close to 1,000 dogs. Dogs must be on a six-foot leash. Register at here or at the door, though signing up early guarantees a shirt and medal.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The Box Office
🎭 Death of a Salesman: A Noise Within presents Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, following aging salesman Willy Loman as his dreams and sense of identity unravel. A Noise Within | Fri. @ 7:30PM | Sat. @ 2PM @ 7:30PM | Sun. @ 2PM
🎭 The Play that Goes Wrong: An Olivier Award-winning farce about a disastrous amateur production of a 1920s murder mystery, featuring an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t stay still, and actors tripping over everything. Theatre 360 | Fri. @ 7PM | Sat. @ 7PM | Sun. @ 2PM
🎭 ABVM Spring Musical: “Once on This Island, Jr.”: Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary School presents the Broadway musical based on Rosa Guy’s novel My Love, My Love, performed by students in their annual spring musical. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School | Fri. @ 7PM | Sat. @ 7PM | Sun. @ 2PM
🎭 NT Live: Mrs. Warren’s Profession: A filmed West End production of Bernard Shaw’s classic, featuring Imelda Staunton and her real-life daughter Bessie Carter playing mother and daughter for the first time, directed by Dominic Cooke. Boston Court Pasadena | Sunday | April 19 | 2PM
Friday (4/17)
🎬 Friday Movie Matinee: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935): A screening of the 1935 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, starring James Cagney, Mickey Rooney, Olivia de Havilland, and Joe E. Brown — members may bring one non-member guest. Pasadena Senior Center | Friday | April 17 | 1PM
🌟 Pasadena Showcase House of Design’s Annual Premiere Night Gala: An exclusive preview of the 2026 Showcase House followed by a 1920s speakeasy-themed gala at the Santa Anita Racetrack Clubhouse, featuring fine dining, live music, dancing, a performance by LA Philharmonic Fellow Bradley Parrimore, and an auction. Baldwin Oaks Estate | Friday | April 17 | 5PM
✂️ Analog Hangout with Typewriters Anonymous & Modern Mending: Write letters and poetry on classic typewriters in an unplugged creative hangout, or bring a garment to repair and upcycle using modern mending and patching techniques. Remainders Creative Reuse | Friday | April 17 | 6PM
🥋 Caltech Tai Chi Club: The Caltech Tai Chi Club meets weekly to practice Hao-style tai chi chuan, Yang-style tai chi, kung fu, and other forms, with instruction open to all levels at no charge. Caltech’s Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | April 17 | 7PM
💃 Beginners Salsa Series & Bachata Series: Two back-to-back 5-week Latin dance series with instructor Alicia Valiente — salsa covers basic footwork, patterns, and turns at 7PM, followed by bachata’s signature hip motions and side-to-side footwork at 8PM. Remainders Creative Reuse | Friday | April 17 | 7PM & 8PM
Saturday (4/18)
🌽 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: A certified farmers’ market offering locally-grown fruits, vegetables, and farm products including jams, jellies, and fish, bought directly from local growers. Victory Park | Saturday | April 18 | 8AM
🐐 City of Pasadena and One Arroyo Foundation Earth Day Celebration and Launch of Goat Grazing Initiative: A free Earth Day celebration marking the release of over 800 goats into the Arroyo Seco for wildfire prevention, featuring goat yoga, a petting zoo, educational talks, and interactive booths. Arroyo Seco | Saturday | April 18 | 8:30AM
🌳 Arbor Day: The Department of Public Works and Pasadena Beautiful Foundation host a community tree planting event, starting with a demonstration followed by volunteer teams planting 15 donated street trees in the surrounding neighborhood. Villa Parke | Saturday | April 18 | 8AM
🌺 The Great Altadena Poppy Festival: A free community celebration featuring a self-guided drive through blooming California poppy fields and a passport booklet trail supporting small businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire, with prizes for completing the route. 2270 Lake Ave. | Saturday | April 18 | 8:30AM
🎵 Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Masterclass: A choral masterclass led by acclaimed conductor Dr. Anthony Trecek-King, open to the public with a focus on Los Angeles-based music educators — RSVP required. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Saturday | April 18 | 9AM
🧵 Skillshares: Stitch & Stick: A free hands-on workshop led by Teaching Artist Issella Martinez where participants create fabric plush pins or keychains — all ages and skill levels welcome, registration required. Picnic Studio | Saturday | April 18 | 10AM
🛍️ SoCal Etsy Guild Market Pasadena: A free, pet-friendly monthly market at The Paseo featuring live art, handmade vendors, and more. The Paseo | Saturday & Sunday | April 18 & 19 | 12PM
🎷 Jazz Festival: An outdoor jazz festival featuring three groups — the Caltech Jazz Band, the Joey Navarro Band, and the Chris Wabich Trio — on the Hameetman Patio; bring a portable chair, blanket, and picnic items. Caltech’s Hameetman Center Patio | Saturday | April 18 | 1PM
📚 Octavia E. Butler Science Fiction Book Club: A monthly book club discussing science fiction by authors of color, this session covering Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. Octavia’s Bookshelf | Saturday | April 18 | 3PM
🎨 ArtCenter 2026 Gala: A fundraising gala celebrating the 50th anniversary of ArtCenter’s Hillside Campus, with proceeds supporting student scholarships, food insecurity programs, and campus employment. ArtCenter College of Design, Hillside Campus | Saturday | April 18 | 5:30PM
🎉 Chandler School’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Dinner: A milestone dinner gathering families, alumni, faculty, and friends to celebrate 75 years of Chandler School, held at Rose Bowl Stadium. Rose Bowl Stadium | Saturday | April 18 | 5PM
🎨 Whiskers & Watercolors with Tail Town Cats: A cat-themed watercolor painting session for adults 18 and up, with all art supplies provided. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Saturday | April 18 | 6PM
🕺 Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association’s Weekly Saturday Night Swing: Flattop Tom & His Jump Cats: The Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association’s weekly swing dance features live music from Flattop Tom & His Jump Cats, open to dancers of all ages and experience levels, with a complimentary swing lesson at 7:30PM. Grace Hall | Saturday | April 18 | 8PM
Sunday (4/19)
🐾 28th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk & Run 2026: Pasadena Humane’s annual dog walk and run around the Rose Bowl featuring vendor booths, food trucks, an agility course, and a dog costume contest — no dog required to participate. Brookside Park | Sunday | April 19 | 8AM
🏡 61st Pasadena Showcase House: The Baldwin Oaks Estate: Tour a historic 8,000-square-foot Craftsman estate in Arcadia redesigned by 19 interior and landscape designers, with on-site dining, shopping, and special experiences including wine tastings and floral workshops — timed-entry tickets required. Santa Anita Park, Huntington Gate 3, Lot C | Sunday | April 19 | 9:30AM – 5PM
🚶 Historic Old Pasadena Walking Tour: A 1.5-hour guided walk through the northern section of Old Pasadena, featuring historic alleyways, the ruins of Pasadena’s second library, and the preservation stories behind this National Register Historic District. Memorial Park Pasadena | Sunday | April 19 | 10AM
🧘 The Courtyard Series | Wellness Activities: A free weekly wellness session featuring Pilates, yoga, sound bath, and breathwork — bring a mat, towel, and water for fitness classes, or blankets and pillows for sound baths. One Colorado | Sunday | April 19 | 10AM
🥂 Bottomless Mimosa Sunday Brunch: A Sunday brunch with bottomless mimosas at the Showcase House’s Hole in the Wall Tavern — must be 21 or older for mimosas. Baldwin Oaks Estate | Sunday | April 19 | 11AM
🎭 Three Sisters: Theater Arts at Caltech presents a bold reimagining of Chekhov’s classic tragicomedy, adapted into late-1950s California and directed by Brian Brophy. Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Sunday | April 19 | 12PM
🍽️ Masters of Taste LA 2026: A premier outdoor food and beverage festival on the field of the Rose Bowl featuring LA’s top chefs and restaurants, with 100% of ticket proceeds benefiting Union Station Homeless Services. Field of the Rose Bowl Stadium | Sunday | April 19 | 3PM
🎤 Anthony León Recital & Masterclass: Tenor Anthony León performs a recital followed by an interactive masterclass, presented by The Opera Buffs and The Opera League of Los Angeles. Pasadena Conservatory of Music | Sunday | April 19 | 3PM
🎸 Wine & Song: Rick Hayes Memorial Hootenanny: A community song swap in memory of Rick Hayes, a beloved music supporter and neighbor — bring your instrument and something to sip on, no ticket needed. Clover Cottage | Sunday | April 19 | 3PM
🎉 ISAAC’s 20th Anniversary Gala: A milestone celebration marking 20 years of ISAAC’s community impact, featuring food, fellowship, and reflections on the organization’s achievements. Maxwell House | Sunday | April 19 | 4PM
🍷 PEN’s 20th Anniversary Wine Tasting: A fundraising evening for Pasadena Education Network featuring curated wines, food, live music, and a silent auction, with honors presented to outstanding parent volunteers. Shakespeare Villa | Sunday | April 19 | 5PM
Upcoming Events
🎭 Three Sisters: Theater Arts Caltech presents a new adaptation of Chekhov’s classic, transposed to 1950s California and directed by Brian Brophy. Caltech’s Ramo Auditorium | Thursday–Saturday | April 23–25 | 7:30PM (Sunday April 26 at 2:30PM)
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!
NEWS N’ ROSES WEATHER
Friday
74 🌡️ 51 |🌤️| 💨 S 7 mph
🌆 Air Quality Index: 27 (Good)
Saturday
79 🌡️ 52 |🌤️10%| 💨 S 8 mph
Sunday
75 🌡️ 53 |🌤️ | 💨 S 8 mph
Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.
LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN
🎺 Club 1881 Live Jazz: Live jazz every Friday night featuring artists from around the world. Club 1881 | Friday | April 17 | 8:30PM
🎸 The Cursed Machine @ Old Towne Pub: Live music from The Cursed Machine at the Old Towne Pub. Old Towne Pub Pasadena | Friday | April 17 | 9PM
🎷 Jenny & The Jazz Birds: A South Pasadena jazz group known for their classic blues, funk, and jazz sound performs at Jones Coffee Roasters. Jones Coffee Roasters | Saturday | April 18 | 10AM
🎷 Jazz Festival: An outdoor jazz festival featuring three groups — the Caltech Jazz Band, the Joey Navarro Band, and the Chris Wabich Trio — on the Hameetman Patio; bring a portable chair, blanket, and picnic items. Caltech’s Hameetman Center Patio | Saturday | April 18 | 1PM
🌈 MUSE/IQUE: Back to OZ: A musical journey through the stories and songs of Oz, from The Wonderful Wizard to The Wiz to Wicked, featuring reimagined songs like “We’re Off to See the Wizard” and “For Good.” Mark Taper Forum | Saturday | April 18 | 5PM
🎻 Delirium Musicum: MusiKaravan: Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim and cellist Stella Cho perform an eclectic program spanning French chansons, Brahms, Vivaldi, and Brazilian and Korean pop, inspired by their six-month road trip adventure. Boston Court Pasadena | Saturday | April 18 | 8PM
🎤 Live Vocal Jazz – Gina Kronstadt: Vocalist Gina Kronstadt performs live vocal jazz. Club 1881 | Saturday | April 18 | 8PM
🎷 Saturday Night Jazz at The Barkley!: The Elliott Caine Quartet performs live jazz with no cover charge — cash-only bar with ATM on-site. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Saturday | April 18 | 9PM
🎹 The Gold Line Jazz Collective: Pianist Hank Mehren leads a local jazz collective performing cool jazz, hard bop, and Latin fusion with a core group of piano, guitar, upright bass, and drums. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | April 19 | 10AM
🎸 Jazz Sundays with Catlin & Rosser: Barb Catlin and Ken Rosser perform an eclectic jazz set featuring works by Carla Bley, Billy Strayhorn, Steve Swallow, and Wayne Shorter, alongside their own original compositions. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | April 19 | 2PM
🎤 Anthony León Recital & Masterclass: Tenor Anthony León performs a recital followed by an interactive masterclass, presented by The Opera Buffs and The Opera League of Los Angeles. Pasadena Conservatory of Music | Sunday | April 19 | 3PM
🎸 Wine & Song: Rick Hayes Memorial Hootenanny: A community song swap in memory of Rick Hayes, a beloved music supporter and neighbor — bring your instrument and something to sip on, no ticket needed. Clover Cottage | Sunday | April 19 | 3PM
🎻 Restoration Concert Series: Joshua Ranz & Friends String Quartet: The Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library’s 30th anniversary concert series continues with a chamber performance led by Joshua Ranz, principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. South Pasadena Library Community Room | Sunday | April 19 | 4PM
🎭 NT Live: The Fifth Step: A filmed West End production starring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman as an AA sponsor and newcomer whose fragile friendship is tested as dangerous truths emerge, directed by Finn den Hertog. Boston Court Pasadena | Sunday | April 19 | 7PM
THANKS!
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