Three days after the one-year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, a local wine bar whose owner lost their home in the blaze is helping to raise money for Altadena recovery efforts, placing the venue at the center of a pattern of local business owners personally affected by the January 2025 disaster who continue serving their communities.
The event, hosted by owner Lucy Tarin, starts Saturday at 2 p.m. and plans to feature musical performances by Gerardo Morales, a flamenco guitarist with more than 20 years of professional experience who studied at Pasadena City College and the Pasadena Conservatory and serves as a teaching artist at the Neighborhood Music School in Boyle Heights. He performs from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Alex Sanchez, a Los Angeles-based jazz-pop cellist trained at Berklee College of Music, performs from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Open mic, poetry, and raffle segments fill the intervals between performances, with a final music slot from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. featuring performers to be announced. Pasadena’s ‘favorite band,’ the NextDoors will close the evening at 7:30 pm.
Raffle prizes have been donated by Playhouse Village businesses. At least one local artist has publicly confirmed donating a painting. The event also includes donated wine and a complimentary grazing table.
Profits will be donated to an Eaton Fire organization to directly benefit Altadena rebuilding, according to event listings.
Monopole by WineRx operates as both a wine bar and retail shop in Pasadena’s Playhouse Village, offering hand-selected premium wines and regularly hosting community events.
“Celebrating Altadena’s Grit & Courage” takes place Saturday, January 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Monopole by WineRx, 21 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. The event is open to all. Street parking is available in the Playhouse Village district.
