Parks After Dark Kicks Off Just in Time to Beat the Heat

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. The newsletter that serves up daily events like unlimited food on a cruise. 🛳️

In Today’s News N’ Roses:

• Parks After Dark Is Back!

• Heat Wave Hits Pasadena—But Cool Relief Is Coming

• Events This Wednesday & Thursday

• Parks After Dark Lineup

Let’s get to it.

— Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Dad!

THE DIGEST

Parks After Dark Is Back!

Pasadena’s beloved Parks After Dark program is lighting up the summer once again, transforming local parks into lively hubs of free family fun. From outdoor movies and concerts to sports, foam parties, swimming, and more, there’s something happening nearly every night of the week.

It all kicks off tomorrow! Head to the Parks After Dark Kickoff Festival on Thursday, July 10 from 6–9PM at Robinson Park Baseball Diamond (1081 N. Fair Oaks Ave.) for free food, inflatable games, arts & crafts, a live DJ, and a friendly softball game between community members and Pasadena Police.

No registration needed—just show up and dive into a summer packed with fun, friendly faces, and local energy. Be sure to check the Parks After Dark section of this newsletter for the full event lineup!

Heat Wave Hits Pasadena—But Cool Relief Is Coming

Pasadena is heating up this week, with temps peaking at 97° on Thursday—the hottest day of this mini heat wave. Blame a high-pressure system rolling in from Arizona, pushing us well above normal. But don’t sweat it too long: a cool-down kicks in Friday, with highs dipping back into the comfy mid-80s by the weekend (and maybe even a little morning fog to greet you). No official heat advisories, but fire danger is high—so stay cool, drink water, skip the midday jog, and keep an eye on pets and neighbors.

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WHAT'S HAPPENING

Wednesday

• 🔔 Pasadena Rotary Weekly Meeting with President Hillary Schenk: Join the Rotary Club for its weekly gathering and hear from President Hillary Schenk. Wednesday, July 9 at 12PM. Open to non-members—call for details.

• 🌱 Gardening 101 at Altadena Library: Learn the essentials of gardening from a UC Master Gardener in this free lunchtime workshop. Wednesday, July 9 from 12–1PM.

• 🎹 Music at Noon: Kasper Yoder, piano: Enjoy a free midday concert featuring award-winning pianist Kasper Yoder, performing at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Wednesday, July 9 from 12:10–12:40PM.

• 📚🎨 Book Construction & Jaipur Block Printing at Remainders: Choose between two hands-on creative workshops—learn to hand-bind your own book using beautiful papers, or explore the art of Jaipur block printing with hand-carved stamps and vibrant inks. Wednesday, July 9 at 6PM at Remainders Creative Reuse. $30 per class, all materials included.

• 🎨 Pasadena Paint & Sip at We Olive: Unwind with wine, pop & hip hop vibes, and step-by-step painting at this creative night out hosted by Boozy Pigments. Wednesday, July 9 at 6PM at We Olive Wine Bar. 25% off with code BoozyPigments-WEOLIVE25.

• 🍷 Wine & Song: Korey Simeone; Maurice Tani: Enjoy an evening of Americana with Korey Simeone’s genre-blending fiddle work and Maurice Tani’s soulful songwriting and sharp guitar. Wednesday, July 9 at 7PM at Lost Parrot Café.

• 🔥 Six Months After the Fires: Stories Shared, Lessons Learned: LAist hosts a powerful conversation with fire survivors and advocates reflecting on recovery, resilience, and what comes next. Wednesday, July 9 at 7PM.

• 🧠 Game Night Live Trivia at Stone Brewing: Every Wednesday at 6PM, join the fun at Stone Brewing Tap Room. Enjoy fast-paced trivia with word jumbles, picture rounds, and game show-style play. Free to play and open to all—win prizes, sip great brews, and test your brain.

• 🎤 Wednesdays at the DL with DL Hughley & Friends: Comedy legend DL Hughley hosts a night of sharp stand-up with surprise guests and rising stars. Wednesday, July 9 at 8PM at The Ice House.

Thursday

• 🎨 Painting with Negative Space at Descanso Gardens: Elevate your watercolor technique in this four-part series with artist Julie Crouch, focused on creating depth through negative space. Classes meet Thursdays: July 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 9:30AM–12PM. Advance registration required.

• ☕ “Meet Me at the Village” In-Person Event: Enjoy coffee, bagels, and friendly conversation while learning about Pasadena Village and how to get involved. Thursday, July 10 at 10AM. Free and open to all—bring a friend!

• 🥕 South Pasadena Farmers' Market: Shop fresh produce, enjoy live music, and grab dinner under the trees near the Gold Line. Thursday, July 10 from 4–7PM. Rain or shine!

• ✂️ Office Ribbon Cutting with Pasadena Chamber of Commerce: Celebrate Pasadena Village’s new office with a ribbon cutting, photo op, and hosted reception. Thursday, July 10 at 4PM at the Flintridge Center (Suite 113). Free—bring coffee or tea for a chance to win a door prize!

• 🌿 Descanso Gardens Summer Music & Dance Series: Enjoy live music and dance under the stars in a stunning garden setting. Each week brings new performers across genres—from jazz to salsa—plus dance lessons, food, and drinks. Thursdays in July from 6–7:30PM at Descanso Gardens. Included with admission.

• 🌙 Park After Dark Kickoff Festival: Celebrate summer at Robinson Park with a softball tournament, free food, inflatables, arts & crafts, and a live DJ. Thursday, July 10 at 6PM. Free and fun for the whole family!

• 🧵 Slow Stitch Fabric Collage & Beginner Sewing 2 at Remainders: Choose your creative path—either explore mindful fabric journaling with vintage textiles and embellishments, or advance your sewing machine skills with hands-on stitching techniques. Thursday, July 10 at 6PM. All materials included.

Save the Date

• 🏡 Friday Nights at The Gamble House: Stroll through Pasadena’s iconic Craftsman home after hours with live music, drinks, and architecture under the stars. Fridays in July from 5:30–7:30PM. Admission includes a self-paced house tour.

• 🥁 Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl: Experience the thunderous energy of world-class drum corps as top teams perform precision marching and music under the lights. Saturday, July 12 at the Rose Bowl. Doors open at 3:30PM. A must-see for fans of pageantry and performance!

• 🎶 Moonlight Melodies: An Evening with The Crooners: Spend a magical night with the Pasadena POPS at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Friday, July 12 at 7:30PM. Enjoy timeless tunes from Broadway to Bond under the stars. Gates open at 5:30PM for picnicking at 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia.

• 🌼 Mariposa Night: Celebrate the heart of Altadena with an evening of storytelling, music, food, and community on Saturday, July 12 from 7PM–9PM at Beckman Auditorium. Come early for a 5:30PM resource fair with food trucks, live music, and local nonprofits on the lawn. Free and open to all—RSVP requested!

• 🧪 Quantum for Kids @ Caltech: Dive into the strange and exciting world of quantum science with hands-on demos, crafts, coding workshops, and a campus-wide scavenger hunt on Saturday, July 12 from 10AM–2PM at Caltech. Aimed at middle schoolers but open to all ages—free with registration!

• 🌉 Pasadena Heritage Bridge Party: An unforgettable community celebration atop the Colorado Street Bridge! Saturday, July 19th from 6–11PM. Enjoy live music, local eats, kids' activities, and vintage vehicles—all while supporting historic preservation.

• 🎨 Pasadena Bead & Design Show: Discover handcraft at its finest with over 300 artisans showcasing jewelry, textiles, beads, gemstones, and wearable art at the Pasadena Convention Center on Friday–Sunday, July 25–27 from 10AM–5PM. Enjoy workshops, live demos, and rare finds from makers across the country.

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!

CIVIL NEWS

Pasadena Slashes Development Fees

Pasadena plans to cut transportation impact fees—by up to 50% for apartments and $5,700 for homes—to reduce housing costs while still funding infrastructure. The City Council will vote soon. Officials say the new fees comply with state law and keep Pasadena competitive. Councilmember Rick Cole called it “a step in the right direction.”

Planning Commission Meeting

Learn about Pasadena’s future development plans and zoning updates at this public commission meeting. Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30PM. Free and open to the public. Held at Pasadena City Hall Council Chambers.

Human Services Commission Meeting

Join the conversation on how Pasadena supports community well-being and addresses unmet human service needs. Wednesday, July 9 at 6PM at the Jackie Robinson Community Center. Free and open to the public.

NEWS N’ ROSES WEATHER

Wednesday

88 🌡️ 66 |☀️| 💨 SW 6 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 71 (Moderate)

Thursday

91 🌡️ 64 |☀️| 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler radar.

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

• 🎹 Music at Noon: Kasper Yoder, piano: Enjoy a free midday concert featuring award-winning pianist Kasper Yoder, performing at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Wednesday, July 9 from 12:10–12:40PM.

• 🌸 Music in the Chinese Garden: Stroll the Garden of Flowing Fragrance as traditional Chinese melodies fill the air, performed live on instruments like the dizi and erhu. Wednesday, July 9 at 1PM at The Huntington. $13–$29 admission.

• 🎶 Jones House Band at Jones Coffee: Enjoy pop, retro, and cinematic tunes from a talented trio while you sip coffee and browse the nearby farmers market. Thursday, July 10 at 4PM in South Pasadena. Free and family-friendly!

• 🕺 Summer Music and Dance: Viver Brasil at Descanso Gardens: Experience the vibrant rhythms and ancestral Afro-Brazilian dance traditions of Viver Brasil. Thursday, July 10 from 5:30–6:45PM.

• 🎻 Summer of Angels Concert #1 at The Huntington: Experience world-class chamber music in a stunning garden setting. The New Hollywood String Quartet and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet perform works by Schubert, Debussy, and Barber. Thursday, July 10 at 7:30PM in Rothenberg Hall.

PARKS AFTER DARK

For all ages to enjoy and participate in, unless otherwise specified. Registration is not required unless noted in the activity description.

This week’s Parks After Dark Lineup:

🏀 Adult Basketball League
Thursday, July 10 at 5:30PM
La Pintoresca Park
Show off your skills! Register a team to compete in weekly 20-minute games. All experience levels welcome. Runs Thursdays from July 10–Aug. 7, 5:30–10PM, Ages 18+.

⚽ Adult Soccer League (Ages 18–34)
Thursday, July 10 at 5:30PM–9PM
Robinson Park Turf Field
Fast-paced 7v7 soccer—two games run at once! One match per team per week. Runs July 10–Aug. 14.

⚽ Adult Soccer League (Ages 35+)
Friday, July 11 at 5:30PM–9PM
Villa Parke Turf Field, 363 E. Villa St.
Same format, different vibe! 7v7 matches weekly on Friday nights. Runs July 11–Aug. 15.

📽️ Movies in the Park: Moana 2
Friday, July 11 at 7-9PM
Villa Parke Community Center (363 E. Villa St.)

Activities are subject to change without notice. For more information, visit CityOfPasadena.net/Parks-And-Rec or call (626) 744-6530.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who can dunk a basketball. 🏀

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