Pasadena is the center of the universe
That’s the claim of our Mayor Victor Gordo. And the ‘Dena proves it every day. And you know what they say about when the going gets tough…
that’s why This year’s neighbor day WAS needed more than ever.
On Sunday Jan 19 2025 we got together with our neighbors, got to know each other better, and made sure we know we have each other’s backs when it really counts. Six local acts with host Mr. Pasadena helped raised over $3500 for fire relief efforts.
The Nextdoors are joined by members of Title Trackers and Urban Homestead Hootenanny for a heartfelt rendition of Let It Be. Video Louis Ng and Mika Larson.
Only a band whose singer and drummer lost their homes would be able to pull off a celebratory and fun version of Burning Down the House and get the whole crowd singing along! Video edit Chris Carlone
Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo delivers his 3rd annual community toast. Video Louis Ng and Mika Larson.
Pasadena Symphony CEO Andy Brown talks about the role of musicians in times of crisis. Video Louis Ng and Mika Larson.
PHOTOS FROM THE 3rd ANNUAL PASADENA NEIGHBOR DAY
Photos Melody Chang, courtesy City of Pasadena
IN THE PRESS
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KQED California Report Podcast
Steven Cuevas interviews Neighbor Day Co-founders The Nextdoors, host Mr Pasadena, partners Urban Homestead, and supporters Sierra Madres Float Association about the event and the Eaton Fire.
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Pasadena Weekly Review
Pasadena Weekly was on-hand at the 3rd annual Neighbor Day to document the music, the speeches, and the camaraderie of the day, with Chris Mortenson snapping photos.
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PASADENA NOW review
Pasadena Now’s Eddie Rivera reviews some highlights of the 3rd annual Neighbor Day - with a video featuring Mayor Gordo’s speech, The Nextdoors’ performance, and more.
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NPR KCRW Interview
NPR reporter Kerstin Zilm interviewed The Nextdoors’ Russell Mark after he donated his old trumpet to the Pasadena Symphony Eaton Fire instrument drive.
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NBC Los Angeles
Alysia Gray Painter reached out to inquire about details of the 3rd Annual Pasadena Neighbor Day, and previewed the event in this article highlighting the acts, and how people could reach out to neighbors.
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Pasadena Weekly
The Weekly was on-hand for the 2nd Annual Pasadena Neighbor Day in January 2024, capturing the acts and attendees at the Wild Parrot and discussing the highlights of the event.
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Pasadena Weekly
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski interviews The Nextdoors about their debut album and the inaugural Neighbor Day event that started it all in 2023.
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PASADENA MEDIA
A preview of the 3rd annual neighbor day, with a picture of Mayor Gordo and Mr. Pasadena at the 2nd annual event
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Local News Pasadena
Victoria Thomas interviews the Nextdoors on the roots of their band and how Pasadena Neighbor Day came to be, in advance of the 2024 event.
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Colorado Blvd newspaper
Pasadena and the SGV’s very own daily print paper previews the 3rd annual Pasadena Neighbor Day at the Wild Parrot.
OUR 2025 PARTNERS
Co-founders, Americana band from Pasadena.
How they can help: music for fundraisers/events, songwriting for orgs, booking for events.
How you can help them: hire them for events, buy music from their site, buy 2025 Neighbor Day T-shirt with profits going to fire relief.
Sponsors of 2025 Event, City of Pasadena
How they can help: If you’re a Pasadena business owner with questions on business recovery resources, navigating government and/or how to get one-on-one business assistance contact economicdevelopment@cityofpasadena.net
How you can help them: learn more about their goals at their website.
Co-founders, Brewery in Pasadena.
How they can help: event space, donation to fire relief for special items purchased.
How you can help them: patronage, good reviews, getting to know neighbors in Lamanda Park neighborhood.
Partner, non-profit in Pasadena.
How they can help: care for displaced animals, food donations for displaced families, animal therapy for kids.
How you can help them: monetary donations, volunteer, learn more about their mission at their website.
Beneficiary, non-profit in Pasadena.
How they can help: support for PUSD schools in STEM, arts, and more.
How you can help them: monetary donations, volunteer, learn more about their mission at their website.
Beneficiary, non-profit in Pasadena.
How they can help: instrument replacement, youth orchestra initiatives, tickets for 1st responders and displaced.
How you can help them: monetary donations, instrument donations (working instruments of any kind), purchase tickets for Symphony performances.
Host: Mr. Pasadena
How he can help: support for Pasadena orgs and events, hosting, connections for charitable causes
How you can help him: spend your time and money in the Pasadena community, help your neighbors rebuild and thrive.
We are thrilled to announce we raised over $3500 in donations for PEF and Pasadena Symphony fire relief efforts (and over a dozen instruments donated!) This would not have been possible without the generous donation of raffle prizes from:
Pasadena Rose Parade
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Jump Smiles bounce houses
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California Cactus Center
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Pasadena Symphony and Pops
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Katie Glassman's Fiddle School
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Meow Meow'z Rock n Roll Thrift Store
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Brad Colerick's Wine & Song Series
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The Urban Homestead
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Mr. Pasadena
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Sierra Madre Rose Float Assoc.
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Pasadena Rose Parade 〰️ Jump Smiles bounce houses 〰️ California Cactus Center 〰️ Pasadena Symphony and Pops 〰️ Katie Glassman's Fiddle School 〰️ Meow Meow'z Rock n Roll Thrift Store 〰️ Brad Colerick's Wine & Song Series 〰️ The Urban Homestead 〰️ Mr. Pasadena 〰️ Sierra Madre Rose Float Assoc. 〰️
How we encouraged neighbors to get together in 2025!
We made it easy to connect with neighbors by creating postcards that we would hand deliver or make available at convenient locations in Pasadena - the idea was to fill them out, and deliver them to neighbors to invite them for an activity. Then come to the official celebration event and concert at Wild Parrot Brewing Co. Postcards were available at Lamanda Park Library, Wild Parrot Brewery, Meow Meowz, Neighbors and Friends, Tepito, and other places - and hey we say it’s Neighbor Day every day so if you still want some cards, let us know - cross out the old date, write in a new one! sayhello@nextdoorsmusic.com to request some!
LOCAL BUSINESSES: in 2026 we would love for you to mention Pasadena Neighbor Day and encourage your customers and neighbors to come to your place! Hold a “get to know the staff” event, offer a discount on a coffee or dish if someone comes in with a neighbor - do anything, get creative. When Mayor Gordo officially established this as a Pasadena holiday it was a mandate to do all we can for tighter, safer communities.
Our partners at City of Pasadena Economic Development know connected neighbors are good for small business, and thriving small business is good for neighbors.
THE STORY
Pasadena Neighbor Day was created by the East Pasadena band The Nextdoors and the Wild Parrot Brewing Company in Jan 2023. The concept was simply presenting a day of music for free at a fantastic new public house and encouraging neighbors to gather and get to know each other better, to strengthen community bonds.
The show got a preview in the Pasadena Weekly but no one was expecting The Nextdoors to land on the cover of the magazine. They decided to have some fun with that, filming videos in which they expressed their desire to meet the Mayor of Pasadena and have him declare the day as an official Pasadena happening.
They REALLY didn’t expect that to work. But it did. See the highlight video below showing the social media fun and the video the Mayor’s office ultimately put out on Instagram… as well as his speech at the inaugural Pasadena Neighbor Day.
THE SCHEDULE
This is how it all went down on Jan 19 2025, with over $3500 being raised for fire relief funds for Pasadena EDucational Foundation and Pasadena Symphony and pops!
12pm - Doors open
1:30 - LA River String Band (Bluegrass, SGV)
3:00 - Molly Mason Band (Jazz, San Gabriel)
3:55 - Gwendolyn (Singer/songwriter, Altadena)
4:45 - Mayor Victor Gordo community toast
5:00 - The Nextdoors (Americana, East Pasadena)
6:20 - Quazar and the Bamboozled (Rock, Altadena)
7:00 - Urban Homestead Hootenany (Bluegrass, Pasadena)
Hosted by Mr Pasadena, with remarks from Pasadena Symphony CEO Andy Brown.