Inside Scoop: Paseo's Next Tenant?

Good afternoon, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. One of my favorite bars in Pasadena is Lucky Baldwins. It is named after Elias "Lucky" Baldwin, the legendary 19th-century businessman and landowner whose influence can still be seen across Southern California. Baldwin Park, Baldwin Hills, and Baldwin Avenue all bear his name, a reminder of the enormous amount of land he once owned.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday to my awesome friend Chris Abrego! 🎂

Also, if anyone from Lucky Baldwins is reading: please bring back your mozzarella sticks. They were the best and it was a mistake to discontinue them.

Five Acres is teeing up for a day of golf, dinner, and giving back at its annual Golf Classic on Monday, August 24, at San Gabriel Country Club. This year's "Paradise on the Fairway" event also marks the final celebration of the centennial of the organization's historic Altadena campus.

Since 1888, Five Acres has helped children and families across Southern California heal from abuse, neglect, trauma, and other challenges through mental health services, foster care, adoption, and family support.

The day includes a shotgun scramble tournament, lunch, cocktails, live and silent auctions, dinner on the fairway, and a live performance by Grammy-nominated yacht rock band Ambrosia, featuring original member Joe Puerta, with Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass performing classics including Brandy (You're a Fine Girl).

Whether you play a round or join for dinner, it's a great way to support a local organization making a lasting impact. Purchase 2026 Golf Sponsorship & Dinner Tickets here.

Here's the inside scoop:

Leasing activity at The Paseo has picked up significantly over the past year, with nearly 95,000 square feet of space leased and another 16,000 square feet reportedly in the pipeline. One of the names expected to join the lineup is Round1, the popular Japanese entertainment chain known for bowling, arcade games, karaoke, billiards, and more. Current leasing information points to a spring 2027 opening, likely taking over the former H&M and West Elm space.

Nothing has been officially announced by Round1 yet, so consider this one a developing story. But if it happens, it would be one of the biggest additions The Paseo has seen in years and could bring a much-needed entertainment anchor to downtown Pasadena. I'll be keeping an eye on it.

Here’s the Paseo leasing plan that I found:

Another longtime Pasadena favorite is gone. The Lucky Baldwin's by Pasadena City College, officially closed this past Saturday after 15 years.

It was one of those places that always seemed to be there. Whether you stopped in after work, met friends before a game, watched a Premier League match on a Saturday morning, or just wanted a good pint and fish and chips, it had a loyal following and felt like a true neighborhood pub.

Apparently, the property is expected to be redeveloped into the Colorado Crest project, a seven-story mixed-use building with 90 residential units, including 88 affordable homes, along with ground-floor retail space. A construction timeline hasn't been announced yet.

The good news is Lucky Baldwin's isn't going away entirely. The original Old Pasadena location and the Sierra Madre pub are both staying open. Still, it's always a little sad to see another longtime local spot disappear. Places like this become part of the routine, and once they're gone, you realize just how much they were part of the neighborhood.

Pasadena has plenty of city-themed merchandise, but very little that celebrates the city's remarkable legacy in space exploration, astronomy, science, and engineering. Home to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, Mount Wilson Observatory, and other world-renowned institutions, Pasadena has played an outsized role in expanding our understanding of the universe.

That's what inspired the NASAdena shirt. The front features the NASAdena logo, while the back showcases three milestones that define Pasadena's scientific legacy: nearly five decades of Mars exploration, an alma mater of 12 astronauts, and the world's largest telescope from 1907 to 1949. The design is available as both a classic t-shirt and a crop top.

👉 Shop NASAdena Shirts here

🧵 Sewing and Lacing Workshop: Children in Early Preschool through Kindergarten can build fine motor skills through hands-on sewing, threading, and lacing activities in this free workshop. Stratford School Altadena | Wednesday | August 5 | 3:45–4:30PM

🧠 Trivia Night: Put your knowledge to the test with weekly Game Night Trivia while enjoying a Stone Brewing beer. Stone Brewing Tap Room – Pasadena | Wednesday | August 5 | 6PM

📚 D.K. Furutani in Conversation with Naomi Hirahara: Furutani discusses and signs his debut novel tracing four generations of a Japanese American family in California. Vroman's Bookstore | Wednesday | August 5 | 7PM

🧙 The Wizard of Oz on the BIG Screen: Follow Dorothy, Toto, and three unforgettable companions on the classic journey through the magical Land of Oz during this Flashback Wednesday screening. Regency Academy 6 | Wednesday | August 5 | 7:30PM

⚖️ Legal Consultations: Free one-on-one legal advice sessions available to seniors in the community. Pasadena Senior Center | Thursday | August 6 | 10AM

📚 Vroman's Summer Reading Program: End of Summer Celebration: A festive wrap-up to the season with a reading and arts and crafts led by illustrator Heidi Moreno. Vroman's Bookstore | Thursday | August 6 | 11AM

🎨 Faux Stained Glass Workshop: Create your own stained glass-style art in the beautiful setting of Descanso Gardens. Descanso Gardens | Thursday | August 6 | 11AM

🌿 Soak up the Fun Lawn Games!: A laid-back afternoon of outdoor games and friendly competition for kids of all ages. Lower Loma Alta Park | Thursday | August 6 | 1PM

🌽 South Pasadena Farmers' Market: Fresh California produce, prepared food vendors, and live music under a canopy of trees. South Pasadena Farmers' Market | Thursday | August 6 | 4–8PM

🚛 Touch-A-Truck Event at National Night Out Duarte: Kids and families can get up close with big rigs and emergency vehicles at this community night out. 751 Encanto Pkwy | Thursday | August 6 | 5PM

🎶 Concert in the Park: Serenade Under the Sycamores: LA artists Brighton Thomas and Louis Cheong bring soul, jazz, and indie vibes to a free outdoor evening. Washington Park | Thursday | August 6 | 6–7PM

🏨 Lecture | Pasadena Hotels, Motels & Resorts: PMH Curator Julia Long traces Pasadena's overnight accommodations from dusty agricultural town to grand resort destination. Pasadena Museum of History | Thursday | August 6 | 7PM

🎬 Grease: Altadena Music Theatre brings the beloved musical to the stage with classic songs including Summer Nights, Greased Lightning, and You're the One That I Want. Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum | Thursday | August 6 | 8PM

Upcoming events are added to the News N’ Roses events page. Check them out!

*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 Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee will meet Wednesday at 5PM in the City Hall Council Chamber (Room S249) to discuss housing, homelessness, and planning issues affecting Pasadena. Click here to view agenda.

The Commission on the Status of Women will meet Wednesday at 6PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center to discuss issues affecting women and promote equity, opportunity, and inclusion in the Pasadena community. Click here to view agenda.

The South Lake Parking Place Commission will hold a special meeting Thursday at 9AM in the City Hall Grand Conference Room (Room S038) to discuss matters related to the South Lake Parking Place district. Click here to view agenda.

The Pasadena Rental Housing Board will meet Thursday at 6PM in the City Hall Council Chamber (Room S249) to discuss matters related to the city's rental housing policies and tenant-landlord issues. Click here to view agenda.

After spending my Sunday afternoon at the batting cages in South Pasadena, I figured it was finally time to try Neighbors & Friends Kitchen. I'd heard good things since it opened, but hadn't made it over yet. Safe to say, I'll be back.

If the space feels familiar, that's because it was formerly home to Communal Food & Drink, and before that, Firefly Bistro. Earlier this year, South Pasadena resident Kaiy Smith-Biesman, founder of the original Neighbors & Friends café in Old Pasadena, transformed the space into Neighbors & Friends Kitchen, complete with a full dinner menu, cocktails, table service, and a great lineup of craft beer.

Walking in, I immediately liked the space. The dining room has a cozy, dimly lit feel with small table lamps on each table, while the floor-to-ceiling windows and covered patio give it an open, airy vibe that almost feels like you're dining outside.

I started with the brisket meatballs, and they were excellent. They're rich, tender, and packed with flavor. The chicken parmesan was another standout, with a crispy breaded chicken cutlet, plenty of sauce, and a generous layer of melted cheese that hit all the right notes without feeling overly heavy. I also tried the Oxtail Ragù Bianco, which features slow-smoked brisket folded into a silky white ragù with fresh mezze paccheri pasta, and it was outstanding. The mac and cheese was just as good: rich, creamy, and made with fresh conchiglie pasta.

I also wasn't expecting such a great beer selection. Neighbors & Friends Kitchen partners with Inglewood's Crowns & Hops, and it was refreshing to see a lineup you don't find at every restaurant. If you enjoy craft beer, it's worth trying something from their curated list.

Neighbors & Friends Kitchen is a great addition to South Pasadena. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the Crowns & Hops beer selection, it's a spot I'll definitely be coming back to.

87 🌡️ 66 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 55 (Moderate)

90 🌡️ 67 |☀️| 💨 SW 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

🎸 Doug MacDonald at Edwin Mills: Acclaimed guitarist Doug MacDonald brings an evening of jazz standards and masterful musicianship shaped by decades of performing with some of the genre's biggest names. Edwin Mills by Equator | Thursday | August 6 | 6PM

🎤 Matt Barber Live at Visionarium: Matt Barber returns with an evening of vocal jazz, pop, and timeless favorites after his previous performance at Visionarium. Visionarium Live Italian | Thursday | August 6 | 6:30PM

🎶 Concert in the Park: Serenade Under the Sycamores: LA artists Brighton Thomas and Louis Cheong bring soul, jazz, and indie vibes to a free outdoor evening. Washington Park | Thursday | August 6 | 6–7PM

🎸 Kid Congo Powers + The Pink Monkey Birds: Legendary guitarist Kid Congo Powers returns with The Pink Monkey Birds for an evening of rock after a career spanning The Gun Club, The Cramps, and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The Lodge Room | Thursday | August 6 | 7PM

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who can only drink coffee from their favorite mug. ☕

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