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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261112T180000
DTSTAMP:20261020T234749Z
CREATED:20261020T234749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T234749Z
UID:10016598-1794506400-1794506400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Wendelin Van Draanen discusses & signs Ghosted
DESCRIPTION:Can a girl and a ghost get their happily ever after? Find out in this sweet new teen romance from the award-winning author of Flipped. \nGemma and Jimmy have known each other practically all of Gemma’s life\, but it isn’t until she starts high school that she notices that eternally-fifteen-year-old Jimmy is… well… dreamy! He’s kinder and funnier than the other boys her age\, and she feels like her best self when she’s with him. \nMeanwhile\, Jimmy is shocked to realize that Gemma is growing up. Soon enough\, she’ll overtake him in age\, and then one day\, she’ll lose interest in him entirely. He knows it’s selfish to want her to stay close forever\, but he can’t help it. \nThe problem is… their romance is doomed to fail. Jimmy is a ghost. No one except Gemma can see him\, and he can’t leave the graveyard where he lives. How could they ever have a shot at love? \nSet in a cozy small town and told in dual POV\, this page-turning romance from the bestselling author of Flipped has all the high-stakes emotion and grandeur of a great first love story. Readers will be rooting for Gemma and Jimmy to make it\, despite every obstacle thrown their way.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-wendelin-van-draanen-discusses-signs-ghosted/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/wendelin-van-draanen_0.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261111T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261111T190000
DTSTAMP:20261020T234224Z
CREATED:20261020T234224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T234224Z
UID:10016597-1794423600-1794423600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Saira Mohamed\, in conversation with Ted Braun\, discusses & signs What a Country Owes Its Soldiers
DESCRIPTION:A clarion call to recognize soldiers’ rights\, arguing that volunteering to fight and die for one’s country does not mean consenting to exploitation in the process. \nAmerican leaders endlessly profess their admiration for military service members. But these effusive declarations hardly comport with reality. Soldiers receive shoddy equipment and inadequate medical care; they are ordered to commit crimes and deployed to illegal wars. Such treatment is rarely recognized for what it is: a violation of the duty owed to soldiers by their government. When American service members are injured or killed during training\, for example\, they and their families are barred from suing the military for negligence or malfeasance. And when the torture of detainees at Abu Ghraib came to light\, the subsequent proceedings focused just on low-ranking perpetrators. The psychological harm done to the soldiers themselves by commanders who ordered them to commit torture in the first place went unacknowledged. \nExamining statutes\, treaties\, court cases\, and congressional hearings\, Saira Mohamed shows how the law encourages the treatment of soldiers as mere instruments\, to be used and abused however the government wishes. She also unearths overlooked laws that point in the other direction\, suggesting the possibility of robust protections for service members. Paradoxically\, these get ignored in part because of the popular adulation of the military–the vision of service members as heroes who selflessly endure unlimited sacrifice. The all-volunteer nature of the force also promotes the misguided notion that soldiers have willingly accepted whatever mistreatment they might experience. \nWhat a Country Owes Its Soldiers shows how laws and mindsets can change\, enabling genuine respect for soldiers’ humanity. Acknowledging their rights can transform our understanding of those who fight America’s wars\, and of American warmaking itself.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-saira-mohamed-in-conversation-with-ted-braun-discusses-signs-what-a-country-owes-its-soldiers/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/saira-mohamed-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261108T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261108T150000
DTSTAMP:20261020T233944Z
CREATED:20261020T233944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T233944Z
UID:10016596-1794150000-1794150000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore  Truong Tran reads from & signs How to Exi(s)T: A Poet's Memoir\, in celebration with fellow poets Prageeta Sharma and Mimi Tempestt
DESCRIPTION:A neurodivergent gay war refugee navigates academia\, racism\, and indeed life itself as a poet\, artist\, and teacher \nHow to Exi(s)t: A Poet’s Memoir is an experiment in nonlinear autobiography by the author of the American Book Award-winning Book of the Other\, Truong Tran. Beginning in the present–at a writing residency in the aftermath of this success–How to Exi(s)t moves back and forth in time\, in bursts of brief poetic essays grouped by theme. The duality of the title thematizes a dilemma at the heart of the book: how does a poet separate himself from the academic career to which he’s devoted his professional life and what does being a teacher mean outside of it? \nUnpeeling the layers between present and past\, Tran proceeds in reverse as he explores crucial events and figures in his life\, including the reaction to the publication of Book of the Other\, the dynamics of whiteness and power framing his repeated rejection for a tenure track position\, the profound effect of his dyslexia on his evolution as a writer and artist\, the repercussions of being outed by a newspaper after winning an undergrad poetry prize\, traumatic episodes growing up in the Vietnamese diaspora in San Jose\, and complicated relationships with both his family and his chosen family. Attempting to fathom these experiences and connect them to his present self\, Tran examines and reexamines key details rather than dispensing with them in neat anecdotes\, reflecting the volatile process of imagination and memory. \nUnsparing\, even caustic in its instance on racism as a dominant note of American life\, but marked by surprising tenderness and humor\, How to Exi(s)t is a compelling portrayal of Tran’s pedagogical philosophy as well as an interrogation of a poetic language that conceals as much as it reveals.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-truong-tran-reads-from-signs-how-to-exist-a-poets-memoir-in-celebration-with-fellow-poets-prageeta-sharma-and-mimi-tempestt/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/truong-tran_0-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261107T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261107T113000
DTSTAMP:20261020T233337Z
CREATED:20261020T233337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T233337Z
UID:10016594-1794051000-1794051000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: The Elephant and the Piano by Colette Hiller
DESCRIPTION:The Pasadena Conservatory hosts a special musical storytime featuring The Elephant and the Piano by Colette Hiller. Caregivers and children ages 3-9 enjoy a story paired with musical accompaniment\, interactive musical play\, and a mini-concert featuring PCM students!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-pasadena-conservatory-of-music-presents-musical-storytime-the-elephant-and-the-piano-by-colette-hiller/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/storytime-600-x-600-20.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261104T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261104T190000
DTSTAMP:20261020T232613Z
CREATED:20261020T232613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261020T232613Z
UID:10016592-1793818800-1793818800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Dr. Pedram Navab\, in conversation with Blake Boyd\, discusses and signs The Alchemy of Sleep
DESCRIPTION:With a special musical performance by Vanagon! \nA comprehensive guide to the science and sacred mystery of deep rest. From neurologist\, sleep specialist\, and integrative medicine practitioner Dr. Pedram Navab\, whose multidisciplinary approach has helped thousands reclaim the benefits of sleep. \nSleep is far more than a biological function–it is a sacred gateway to the unconscious\, a nightly journey into creativity and renewal. In The Alchemy of Sleep\, Dr. Pedram Navab blends rigorous neuroscience and sleep medicine with timeless perspectives from psychology\, religion\, and ancient traditions to revolutionize how we approach rest. \nMoving beyond simple sleep hygiene and optimization\, The Alchemy of Sleep explores sleep as a multidimensional phenomenon: a time of physical and emotional healing\, spiritual insight\, and personal growth. Through practical techniques such as shadow work\, dream journaling\, breathwork\, sound therapy\, and mindfulness\, readers are invited to engage with sleep as an active process of self-discovery–one that shapes not only brain and body health\, but also creativity\, relationships\, and spiritual well-being. \nAddressing sleep disorders like insomnia\, sleep apnea\, parasomnia\, and paralysis\, as well as highlighting the shortcomings of today’s sleep culture–from the perils of chronic exhaustion to the obsession with data-driven sleep “perfection”–this book offers a compassionate and integrative approach to reclaiming true rest. It provides hope for anyone ready to move beyond surface-level solutions. \nWith immersive storytelling and insightful reflection\, The Alchemy of Sleep invites you to rekindle wonder for the night and reconnect with ancient rhythms of renewal.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-dr-pedram-navab-in-conversation-with-blake-boyd-discusses-and-signs-the-alchemy-of-sleep/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Vromans-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261025T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261025T130000
DTSTAMP:20260922T200259Z
CREATED:20260922T200259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T200259Z
UID:10015885-1792933200-1792933200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Daniel Kwan & Julia Pott read from & sign Have You Ever Seen a Ghost?
DESCRIPTION:Help a shy ghost overcome their anxiety in time to attend a party in this whimsical picture book written by one of the creators of Everything Everywhere All at Once and the creator of Summer Camp Island! \nGhost is going to a party tonight\, and they are a little nervous. In fact… Would you go to the party with them? Maybe they would feel better if you were there! \nThis sweet and luminously illustrated picture book makes for a perfectly spirited\, interactive read-aloud that will charm and inspire even the shyest of partygoers. \nQuestions? email promo@vromansbookstore.com or call us at (626)449-5320
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-daniel-kwan-julia-pott-read-from-sign-have-you-ever-seen-a-ghost/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/daniel-kwan-julia-pott.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261024T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261024T150000
DTSTAMP:20260922T200038Z
CREATED:20260922T200038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T200038Z
UID:10015884-1792854000-1792854000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Marie Lu\, in conversation with Dahlia De La Vega\, discusses & signs Mortal Things
DESCRIPTION:This stunning first edition features a foiled jacket – a must-have for collectors everywhere! \n“A dark dream of a book.” –Victoria Aveyard\, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of the Red Queen series and the Realm Breaker trilogy \n“A riveting\, magical read that is impossible to put down.” –Rebecca Ross\, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Divine Rivals \nSet in a world of insatiable immortals\, their eternal rivalries\, and the humans trapped between them\, Mortal Things is a cinematic and sweeping new fantasy from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu\, perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter and A Darker Shade of Magic. \nRose Lin Fairchild didn’t believe in gods\, but one chose her anyway. \nRose despises Raven\, the god of Death. His mysterious commands. His mercurial moods. His closed heart. But most of all\, she loathes that she was forced to become his Harbinger\, a human mercenary tasked to fulfill their god’s every want and whim. Still\, she would do it again\, because being a Harbinger is the only thing keeping her best friend alive. \nWhen a murder rocks the world of the gods\, Rose is suddenly thrust into the immortal realm’s spotlight as Raven’s heir. This is her chance to free her friend once and for all. But in order for her to ascend\, she must first prove herself to the other gods–and the one person standing in her way is a fellow Harbinger. \nÉtienne Beauchard is notorious for his sly wit and charming good looks. Rose can’t stand that he is the one assigned to test her abilities\, but as their initial hostility evolves into an intense attraction\, they find that the gods’ secrets go deeper than they ever expected. Something is wrong in the immortal world\, something that threatens to break their bond and engulf them all in war. \nAs Rose and Étienne fight to uncover the truth and trust each other with their hearts\, they realize that everything hinges on the same question: How far would you go to save the person you love?
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-marie-lu-in-conversation-with-dahlia-de-la-vega-discusses-signs-mortal-things/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/marie-lu_0.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261023T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261023T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T213916Z
CREATED:20260922T195522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T213916Z
UID:10015882-1792782000-1792782000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  DC Frost and Gary Phillips: An evening of contemporary LA Noir moderated by Saul Gonzalez
DESCRIPTION:A Shadow of Jaguars (Detective DJ Arias Mystery #2) \n“Pulling back the curtain in Hollywood . . . twisty enough to tie you in knots\, exciting enough to keep you guessing\, and smart enough to make you think.”–Ilana Berry\, author of The Peacock and the Sparrow \nA Shadow of Jaguars by D.C. Frost is a gripping cross-border noir thriller that follows Detective DJ Arias as he navigates murder\, Hollywood intrigue\, and immigrant struggles across Mexico City and Los Angeles\, blending fast-paced suspense and richly drawn characters. \nIn Mexico City for a family funeral\, Detective DJ Arias encounters a group of Robin Hood-style thieves who call themselves the Jaguars. Their activities reach across the border into Los Angeles with a Hollywood murder that entangles LA’s elite and the nannies\, housekeepers\, and gardeners who serve them\, and threatens DJ’s own loved ones. A sequel to the mystery A Punishing Breed\, A Shadow of Jaguars finds DJ and partner Bobby Talbot struggling to untangle a murder where Hollywood\, wealthy powerbrokers\, and an immigrant population struggle to coexist and survive. Throughout it all\, his faithful dog Evidence is by his side. \nThe Haul: A Heist Novel \nA professional thief takes the chance of a lifetime when he agrees to mastermind the raid of a tech billionaire’s secret bunker in this action-packed heist thriller set in the heart of contemporary Los Angeles\, from master of West Coast noir Gary Phillips.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-dc-frost-and-gary-phillips-an-evening-of-contemporary-la-noir-moderated-by-saul-gonzalez/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dc-frost-3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261021T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261021T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T195259Z
CREATED:20260922T195259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T195259Z
UID:10015881-1792609200-1792609200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Vroman's Bookstore & The Braille Institute Present: Barbara Kingsolver discussing Partita
DESCRIPTION:The Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Demon Copperhead discusses her highly-anticipated new novel \nThe story of a brief\, passionate\, life-changing love affair\, wrapped up in what might be the greatest romance of all: our eternal human longing for art and beauty. \nLivia Cable has made her peace with her marriage and modest livelihood in the farm country where she grew up\, until a shocking phone call from an old lover shakes her to the core. Decades earlier\, this man knew her as Livia Bohusz\, a music conservatory student estranged from her home and family\, uncertain of anything except her passion for music and promise as an extraordinary pianist. His request\, now\, to see her again stirs up ghosts she’s kept at bay for a lifetime. \nShifting between past and present\, Livia’s decision to meet or reject the reunion means confronting step by step\, in memories framed as musical dances\, the experiences of childhood loss\, abandonment\, self-immolating passion\, and perilous attachment to a man who broke her belief in love and ruptured the course of her life. \nWith razor-sharp acuity and deep affection\, Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver’s unforgettable new novel reflects on class barriers\, the risks of ambition\, and the timeless power of art and how it can transform a life.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-vromans-bookstore-the-braille-institute-present-barbara-kingsolver-discussing-partita/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/barbara-kingsolver-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261020T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261020T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T195101Z
CREATED:20260922T195101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T195101Z
UID:10015880-1792522800-1792522800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: John Stephens discusses & signs Age of Fury
DESCRIPTION:In Gilded Age New York\, a fierce seventeen year-old Irish girl joins forces with a notorious gangster to hunt down her sister’s killer. Told from both perspectives\, their search for justice pulls them from the city’s darkest corners to glittering ballrooms\, where a secret can mean death\, and love comes at a perilous price. \nTwo unlikely allies must venture into dangerous places–perhaps into each other’s arms–to solve a brutal crime. \nCaitlin \nMary\, my darling twin. I came on the instant of getting your letter. Leaving home in Ireland\, crossing the ocean and still arriving too late. Because you’re gone. Murdered and left in a dark alley! But I will avenge you\, my love. I swear it. Even if I must make a deal with the devil. Or\, in this case\, the most blood-soaked gangster in New York. \nWilliam \nThere is blood on my hands I cannot wash away. But if finding this girl’s killer proves that I am more than the dark thing inside me\, more than a monster\, then I will. Only I did not forsee Caitlin. Now I have to make a choice. About who I am\, who I will be\, and who I love. \nA producer\, director\, and writer for shows like Gossip Girl\, Gilmore Girls\, The O.C.\, and Gotham turns his attention to the underbelly of Gilded Age New York in this riveting suspense novel that blends tension and humanity–and deftly showcases a heart-stirring exploration of truth\, identity\, and love. \nQuestions? email promo@vromansbookstore.com or call us at (626)449-5320
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-john-stephens-discusses-signs-age-of-fury/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/john-stephens.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261018T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261018T160000
DTSTAMP:20260922T194837Z
CREATED:20260922T194837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T194837Z
UID:10015879-1792339200-1792339200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Local Author Day Introducing Jerell Hill\, Elliot Blake & Travis Johns
DESCRIPTION:Jerell Hill presents Developing Conscious Gratitude in Schools: A Blueprint for Shifting from Burdens to Brilliance\nDeveloping Conscious Gratitude in Schools transforms how educators address systemic inequality in American education. Jerell Hill presents a comprehensive blueprint for creating inclusive\, empowering learning environments that shift students from burdens to brilliance\, particularly those from low-income and marginalized backgrounds.\nThis book explores how neighborhood conditions\, public health\, housing policy\, and segregation profoundly impact educational opportunities. Through compelling research\, case studies\, and practical strategies\, Hill provides concrete approaches educators and administrators can implement immediately. Unlike theoretical works that merely describe problems\, this offers actionable transformation.\nConscious gratitude is not about avoiding hardship\, but transforming it into purpose\, resilience\, and meaningful connection while honoring the sacred practice of teaching. \nElliot Blake presents Into the Great\nSparks fly when Lilah\, a thief from a colony outside the borders of the Federated Solar Republic\, meets Bax\, an FSR security officer at a colony within those borders\, during a time of heightened tensions for humanity as the silent\, staring\, seemingly invulnerable aliens dubbed The Aureum begin to meddle in human affairs. \nTravis Johns presents The Used Parts of Jimbo Winslow\nJames “Jimbo” Winslow is the football golden boy of a forgotten Tennessee town in the Appalachian Mountains. But growing up in an abusive home leaves a mark\, and his mother’s twisted love drives him to a violent act that nearly destroys his future. \nA last-minute scholarship pulls him from his hometown just as it threatens to swallow him whole. Leaving comes at a cost\, though\, as he abandons his high school sweetheart\, and when a brutal injury ends his NFL dreams\, Jimbo is left untethered. \nWith his mother’s violent warning to never return home\, Jimbo drifts to Hollywood\, where ambition turns corrosive. Chewed up by the city’s underbelly\, reduced to selling his body to survive\, and ultimately landing in jail\, Jimbo loses every illusion he once believed about success\, love\, and himself. \nSpit back out and broken\, he finally returns to Tennessee\, where his mother’s sudden tenderness feels like another cage\, and her new husband dredges up memories of his absent father. Jimbo\, faced with the demons he’s run from his entire life\, must decide if he’s ready to face the woman he abandoned and the small town that both raised and ruined him. \nThe Used Parts of Jimbo Winslow is a raw\, darkly funny\, and devastating coming-of-age novel about what dies in the cracks where love should’ve grown and the fierce\, perilous grace of offering your heart anyway-even when loving someone means cutting loose a piece of yourself and laying it in their hands. \nFor readers of Demon Copperhead\, Friday Night Lights: A Town\, a Team\, and a Dream\, The Prince of Tides\, and Jesus’ Son.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-local-author-day-introducing-jerell-hill-elliot-blake-travis-johns/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/local-authors-600-x-600-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T170000
DTSTAMP:20260922T194615Z
CREATED:20260922T194615Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T194615Z
UID:10015878-1792256400-1792256400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Vroman’s Bookstore celebrates 100 years of Caltech with David Zierler
DESCRIPTION:David Zierler\, Caltech’s institutional historian\, is the Ronald and Maxine Linde Director of the Caltech Heritage Project.  This year he published To Illuminate Nature\, from Molecules to the Cosmos\, a beautifully illustrated book about Caltech’s first century of discovery and impact.  Based on oral history interviews of Caltech’s leading faculty\, staff\, trustees\, and alumni with accompanying essays and photographs\, To Illuminate Nature charts the remarkable story of a small research institute in Pasadena whose researchers have changed the world through their world-leading work in science\, engineering\, and space exploration. \nThis is a free event in celebration of Caltech. Please use our free RSVP form to let us know if you can join us. The book\, which is not available for sale\, will be made available to the first 50 attendees who arrive for the presentation. The event space will be open for seating by 4pm and early arrival is encouraged.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-vromans-bookstore-celebrates-100-years-of-caltech-with-david-zierler/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/david-zierler.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261017T140000
DTSTAMP:20260922T194356Z
CREATED:20260922T194356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T194356Z
UID:10015877-1792245600-1792245600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Leslie Adame\, in conversation with Ashley Granillo\, discusses & signs Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen (Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic #2)
DESCRIPTION:Secrets\, magic\, and danger collide in the second book of Leslie Adame’s thrilling middle grade fantasy series\, as Chloe must master her newfound powers to stop a destructive sorcerer — perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Witchlings. \nAfter saving her parents from the clutches of an evil sorcerer\, Chloe Vega just wants a normal year at her magical academy. But when you wield legendary new powers\, danger is never far behind. \nHer enemies will stop at nothing to use her to reveal the Agents of Magic to the rest of the world. And with their secret society on the brink of discovery\, the agency begins to question whether Chloe is their best weapon–or their greatest risk. \nWhen Chloe’s powers spiral out of control\, the cost isn’t just their chance at victory\, it’s the people she loves. Can she master her powers in time or will she lose everything? \nQuestions? email promo@vromansbookstore.com or call us at (626)449-5320
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-leslie-adame-in-conversation-with-ashley-granillo-discusses-signs-chloe-vega-and-the-missing-unseen-chloe-vega-and-the-agents-of-magic-2/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/leslie-adame.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261016T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T194153Z
CREATED:20260922T194153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T194153Z
UID:10015876-1792177200-1792177200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Rebekah Faubion\, in conversation with Liz Kerin\, discusses & signs What a Nightmare
DESCRIPTION:They called her a nightmare\, so she became one. \nHaven Powers has spent years trying to disappear. Once a loud\, troublemaking girl who defied every expectation in her small town of Friendship\, Texas\, now she’s learned to hide her fire behind a quiet receptionist’s smile. It’s safer that way–for her\, and for everyone else. \nWhen an unsettling encounter with her predatory boss cracks open the tightly locked box inside her\, Haven dreams a terrifying dream about him\, only to wake up and discover it’s come true; he’s dead. Desperate to gain control of this deadly power once and for all\, Haven returns home. \nWelcomed suspiciously with open arms\, Haven is immediately met with the ghosts of her past. Under the suffocating pressure of the town and her family who believe obedience is next to godliness\, Haven soon finds herself on a path to revenge. She’ll show them what happens when the girl they called too much\, too loud\, too everything\, finally lets her demons loose.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-rebekah-faubion-in-conversation-with-liz-kerin-discusses-signs-what-a-nightmare/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/rebekah-faubion-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261012T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261012T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T193847Z
CREATED:20260922T193847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T193847Z
UID:10015875-1791831600-1791831600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Joey Clift\, in conversation with Ally Beardsley and illustrator Julie Fiveash\, discusses  We've Been Here the Whole Time!
DESCRIPTION:Peabody and Emmy-nominated Native comedian Joey Clift takes you on a journey to discover the largest population you don’t know in his hilarious debut for fans of Michael Harriot\, Mo Rocca\, and Phoebe Robinson. \nForeword by Shane Hawk\, writer and co-editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology! \nPut away the construction paper: This contraband book is here to teach you everything your high school refused to teach about Native American history\, people\, and culture. From misunderstood figures like Pocahontas\, to sports mascots\, to the Land Back movement\, to how cool Lily Gladstone is\, this hilarious NDN-approved guide is the first of its kind–illustrated in an irreverent\, textbook-meets-notebook style by DinÃ(c) artist Julie Fiveash. Share with your loved ones and transform your boring Thanksgiving into a big “You’re Welcome” dance party! \nJoey Clift (Cowlitz tribe) walks you through a wide range of information that will answer provocative questions and debunk Americans’ wildest assumptions\, like: \n\n“Native American” or “American Indian” What the heck do we call you?\nIs it appropriate to do a Land Acknowledgement over Zoom?\nWhy saying “I’m 1/16th Cherokee” is like saying you’re “1/16th Californian’\nColumbus Day is a holiday for a guy who was bad at pretty much everything\nAre Native American people extinct? No! Stop asking!\n\nThis giftable\, conversation-starting book is perfect for history buffs\, teachers\, and comedy lovers alike. Funny\, fearless\, and deeply informative\, Joey Clift’s debut reminds readers that Native people aren’t just part of history–they’ve been here the whole time.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-joey-clift-in-conversation-with-ally-beardsley-and-illustrator-julie-fiveash-discusses-weve-been-here-the-whole-time/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/joey-clift-2.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261011T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261011T140000
DTSTAMP:20260922T193401Z
CREATED:20260922T193401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T193401Z
UID:10015874-1791727200-1791727200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Matt Singer\, discusses & signs Funny Business
DESCRIPTION:A celebration of a generation of iconic comedies–the raunchy\, blockbuster “Frat Pack” films of the early 2000s–and a no-holds-barred look at their rise and fall in Hollywood\, the effects of which can still be felt in the fractured media landscape of today \nIf you were a moviegoer in the early aughts\, you had a front-row seat to a golden age of comedy. Ben Stiller\, Seth Rogen\, Will Ferrell\, Owen Wilson\, Steve Carell\, and Vince Vaughn became unlikely leading men–a band of rowdy wedding crashers\, hungover bachelors\, and 40-year-old virgins dubbed the “Frat Pack” that took Hollywood by storm over the span of a single decade. Then\, seemingly overnight\, Frat Pack movies vanished. Or did they? \nIn Funny Business\, award-winning author and film critic Matt Singer traces the path these gonzo stars and directors took from the fringes of comedy to the mainstream–beginning on tiny stages like Second City and the Groundlings\, then infiltrating into talent incubators like SNL\, eventually leading to the big screen. Along the way\, he shares insider stories of the films that raised a generation\, including: The 40-Year-Old Virgin\, Zoolander\, Borat\, Anchorman\, Old School\, and The Hangover. \nHow did these movies and their stars come to dominate a generation of moviemaking? Who won–and who was left out–of this comedy boom? And can studio comedies make a comeback in our modern digital and streaming world? Funny Business points the way forward to a (possible) new future for cinema–never forgetting that the audience always gets the last laugh. \nBio: \nMatt Singer is the editor and film critic of ScreenCrush.com and a member of the New York Film Critics Circle. He is also the author of Marvel’s Spider-Man: From Amazing to Spectacular and Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel & Ebert Changed Movies Forever. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-matt-singer-discusses-signs-funny-business/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/matt-singer.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261010T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260922T192942Z
CREATED:20260922T192942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T192942Z
UID:10015873-1791630000-1791630000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: A Celebration of 100 Years of Winnie the Pooh!
DESCRIPTION:Hip Hip Pooh-ray! Join us for a special Winnie-the-Pooh 100th anniversary party. Hear your favorite tales from the Hundred Acre Wood. Make a birthday card for Pooh! Wander the store on a special Winnie-the-Pooh and friends scavenger hunt. And more!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-a-celebration-of-100-years-of-winnie-the-pooh/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/pooh-100social-graphicfb-or-ig.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261009T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261009T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T185518Z
CREATED:20260922T185518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T185518Z
UID:10015872-1791572400-1791572400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Playhouse Village: Trish Lundy\, in conversation with Veronica Bane\, discusses & signs The Worst is Yet to Come
DESCRIPTION:From the author of The One That Got Away with Murder comes a fresh YA mystery about a girl who survives a murder attempt and the boy who finds her bleeding on the side of the road as they team up to find out who is targeting teen girls in their small\, Rust Belt community. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus. \nHigh school might be officially over\, but the real nightmare is just beginning. When two best friends are attacked on graduation night\, only one of them makes it out alive. \nLeft for dead at an abandoned house but determined to find out who killed her best friend\, Rose is rescued by former high school quarterback and heartthrob\, Jake\, who becomes an unexpected ally. . . and maybe something more. But when she learns that seventeen years ago\, another girl suffered the exact same fate in the exact same place\, she wonders if a murderer might be back with a vengeance. . . or is a copycat killer on the loose? \nTime is running out\, because whoever the killer is\, they’re eager to correct their biggest mistake: letting Rose live. As Rose follows the trail of evidence\, she’s led down a path of horrors that threatens to expose the insidious secrets at the heart of her community–secrets the killer will do anything to keep quiet.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/playhouse-village-trish-lundy-in-conversation-with-veronica-bane-discusses-signs-the-worst-is-yet-to-come/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/trish-lundy-2.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261008T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261008T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T185256Z
CREATED:20260922T185256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T185256Z
UID:10015871-1791486000-1791486000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Hernan Diaz\, in conversation with Percival Everett\, discusses Ply
DESCRIPTION:The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust turns to the future with a novel that examines the place of technology in the American imagination \nCenturies from now\, at the dawn of a historical epoch filled with both uncertainty and promise\, an orphan is adrift in a city on the brink of a great transformation. The state has been dismantled\, and humans are reinventing social bonds and learning new ways to coexist with nature. Following a childhood defined by loss\, survival\, and found family\, the orphan grows up to become a “pincher\,” someone who steals electricity from the grid to sell it on the black market. It’s a high-risk life\, one that brings her into a rich art and music scene where she powers underground concerts. It also leads her to a colossal scientific invention that could change the very fabric of reality. \nAfter rewriting America’s past with his two previous novels\, Hernan Diaz defies expectations with his third and gives us a breathtaking glimpse into the future. A major achievement from a major contemporary writer\, Ply questions the place of technology in the American experiment with a plot that grabs both heart and mind. It is a novel of ideas built from a story of people. Combining Dickensian odyssey\, family drama\, and scientific thriller\, Ply poignantly charts the tenuous boundaries of selfhood and the distance that inevitably stands between us and those we love.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-hernan-diaz-in-conversation-with-percival-everett-discusses-ply/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hernan-diaz.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261005T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261005T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T163827Z
CREATED:20260922T163827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T163827Z
UID:10015869-1791226800-1791226800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  TICKETED - Leigh Bardugo\, Christopher Rice\, & Eric Shaw Quinn discuss & sign Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire: 50th Anniversary Edition
DESCRIPTION:The 50th anniversary edition of the spellbinding classic that started it all\, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author. \nThis dazzling special edition features a jacket with foil and embossing\, sprayed edges\, designed endpapers\, a new foreword from Leigh Bardugo\, an afterword by Christopher Rice\, and never-before-seen bonus pages from the original manuscript. \nHere are the confessions of a vampire: a hypnotic\, shocking\, and chillingly sensual story of Louis de Pointe du Lac’s first two hundred years as one of the living dead. We begin on the night when Louis\, disaffected and reluctant heir to a Louisiana plantation\, is turned into a vampire by Lestat. Radiant\, petulant\, and powerful\, Lestat becomes Louis’ companion and urges him to embrace the hungers and feelings of vampirism: the detachment\, the hardened will\, the “superior” sensual pleasures. As Louis struggles to retain the last residue of human feeling within him\, he discovers must commit the ultimate act: to break away from his creator and discover the new world to which he belongs–whatever the cost. \nThis is a story of danger and flight\, of loyalty and treachery\, of gaining humanity and losing it\, and of the extraordinary power of the sense
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-leigh-bardugo-christopher-rice-eric-shaw-quinn-discuss-sign-anne-rices-interview-with-the-vampire-50th-anniversary-edition/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/web.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261003T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261003T113000
DTSTAMP:20260922T162133Z
CREATED:20260922T162133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T162133Z
UID:10015868-1791027000-1791027000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: The Bats on the Bus by Alison Jackson
DESCRIPTION:The Pasadena Conservatory hosts a special musical storytime featuring The Bats on the Bus by Alison Jackson. Caregivers and children ages 3-9 enjoy a story paired with musical accompaniment\, interactive musical play\, and a mini-concert featuring PCM students!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-pasadena-conservatory-of-music-presents-musical-storytime-the-bats-on-the-bus-by-alison-jackson/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Pasadena Conservatory of Music,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/storytime-600-x-600-19.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261002T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20261002T190000
DTSTAMP:20260922T161852Z
CREATED:20260922T161852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T161852Z
UID:10015867-1790967600-1790967600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Vroman’s Bookstore & Tepito Coffee Present: Leslie Priscilla discussing & signing Chancla
DESCRIPTION:A parenting guide that speaks directly to Latinx families with language\, history\, and lived experience that honors and celebrates our cultura–while helping readers unlearn violence and shame as tools of discipline. \nFor many in the Latinx community\, “la Chancla”–what we learn to see as the warning sign for disciplinary violence–has become a cultural symbol that has spawned relatable memes that many of us laugh about and bond over. But what if it’s also a symbol of something more harmful? \nIn Chancla\, educator and Latinx Parenting founder\, Leslie Priscilla\, invites readers\, parents\, and the Latinx community on a transformative journey away from cycles of fear\, shame\, and corporal punishment. With warmth and deep cultural insight\, Priscilla explores the historical legacies attached to Chancla while offering a path forward rooted in connection\, self-reflection\, and ancestral healing. Chancla is the nonviolent parenting practice that celebrates Latinx cultura\, while teaching its readers–and their Mamis\, Papis\, Tias\, and Tios–how to heal from generational violence. \nBlending personal storytelling\, historical context\, and actionable tools\, Chancla helps readers not only nurture their children\, but their wounded inner child. Readers will see themselves in these pages\, because ultimately Chancla encourages them to unlearn what they’ve inherited and make space for what they deserve: homes full of love\, safety\, and respect.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-vromans-bookstore-tepito-coffee-present-leslie-priscilla-discussing-signing-chancla/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Tepito Coffee,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/leslie-priscilla-edit.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260929T190000
DTSTAMP:20260818T164228Z
CREATED:20260818T164228Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T164228Z
UID:10015830-1790708400-1790708400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Miriam Pawel discusses & signs California Dreams
DESCRIPTION:Pulitzer Prize winner Miriam Pawel’s epic history of one of the world’s elite public universities\, its sweeping social impact\, and hopeful lessons about endurance in troubled times. \nDistinguished by its founding mission as an engine of upward mobility\, the University of California-a constitutionally independent public trust-is a great American experiment that has persevered through fraught battles over access\, funding\, and leadership. \nThe University has been at the nexus of nearly every public policy debate and social movement since the Civil War\, from women’s rights to student protests\, from academic freedom to affirmative action\, shaping policies that reverberate throughout the United States. \nCalifornia Dreams narrates UC’s rise and resilience through the lens of those whose lives it has transformed-in particular\, five pioneering graduates whose diverse paths underscore why the University remains\, in the words of Berkeley graduate Joan Didion\, “California’s best idea of itself.” \nAt a time of staggering inequality and uncertainty\, as higher education faces unprecedented threats\, that role has never been more crucial. Drawing on extensive research in ten archives and dozens of interviews\, California Dreams weaves together the linked history of the school and state in all its drama\, signi?cance\, and humanity; the result is a magisterial narrative of both a remarkable public institution of higher education\, and also California itself.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-miriam-pawel-discusses-signs-california-dreams/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/miriam-pawel.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260928T190000
DTSTAMP:20260818T163810Z
CREATED:20260818T163810Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T163810Z
UID:10015829-1790622000-1790622000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Jon Else discusses & signs Frenchman Flat: The Rise and Fall of Atomic Bombs
DESCRIPTION:The story of a single nuclear bomb’s deep origins\, brief life during the Cold War\, and lasting environmental and political legacies–as a fresh path to consider the entire sweep of the American nuclear enterprise. A grave reminder of the frightening truth about nuclear testing\, as international norms waver. \nAs the US and Russia let one treaty after another falter and expire\, this urgent book reminds us of the price of those tests. Frenchman Flat recounts the science\, politics\, and human experience of those who developed nuclear weapons\, suffered the consequences\, and fought for and against arms control between the 1940s and 1990s. The throughline of this vast\, complex story is a 37-kiloton atomic bomb dubbed “Priscilla” that was exploded above a custom-built mini-civilization at Frenchman Flat\, Nevada\, in 1957. Jon Else uses Priscilla and the bombs that preceded and followed to highlight the terrifying ways we have stockpiled and tested nuclear weapons\, how near and often we came to self-annihilation\, how we managed to avoid it\, and what we did to the planet and to our own bodies in the process\, from wartime Los Alamos to the suspension of US and Soviet nuclear testing in 1992. \nIn the two decades after Hiroshima\, a pair of dramatic stories unfolded alongside each other: the scramble to produce ever more powerful nuclear weapons\, and the struggle to ban testing of those same weapons. The dramatic narrative takes in the physics of the megaton postwar bombs\, the role of private industry\, the near misses of the Cuban Missile Crisis and less well-known events\, and the testimony of scientists\, politicians\, doctors\, weapons developers\, test-site workers\, ranchers\, and families downwind of test sites. \nThis powerful and persuasive book reminds us how we have–so far–prevented nuclear war by deterrence\, diplomacy\, and luck. It is for the moment a success story\, and a warning.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jon-else-discusses-signs-frenchman-flat-the-rise-and-fall-of-atomic-bombs/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/jon-else.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T160000
DTSTAMP:20260818T163030Z
CREATED:20260818T163030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T163030Z
UID:10015828-1790524800-1790524800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Local Author Day Introducing m.a. Arana\, Esma Ali & Paul J. Ramirez
DESCRIPTION:With entrancing violet eyes and telepathic gifts\, Jalyn Wilds has spent years hiding from her former mentor\, the enigmatic Madam. But when an attempted robbery at Jones’ Store reveals her powers\, she becomes the center of a dangerous conspiracy. \nDetective Ed Daza senses something otherworldly in Jalyn\, and as he follows the trail\, he discovers a hidden network of “Others”-individuals with extraordinary abilities targeted by Madam’s shadow organization with deadly plans. Each step pulls Ed deeper into a world of manipulation\, betrayal\, and supernatural intrigue\, where those he trusts may not be who they seem. \nHunted and caught between forces far beyond ordinary law enforcement\, Jalyn must navigate a web of psychic danger and hidden agendas to survive. Violet Mystique is an urban fantasy thriller that pulses with suspense\, mystery\, and supernatural power-a story of gifts\, secrets\, and the lengths one young woman will go to protect herself and the lives she touches.\nEsma Ali presents Was Jesus A Narcissist?: A Muslim’s Defense of Jesus!\nAs a Christian\, I found this book thought provoking. Well-researched. It has helped me understand the Muslim mindset. I appreciate Esma’s use of Psychology in her illustrations. \n-Anne Nolty\, PhD\, Psychologist\, Pasadena\, CA. \nAs a Catholic\, I have immensely enjoyed the reading!!! Esma Ali brings out perspectives that have never crossed my mind. The book has enhanced an understanding of my own faith as well as Islam. Although I disagree with some of her statements\, I recommend this book. A good educational source for everyone! \n-Adolfo Sanchez\, Accountant \nAs a Bible Study Pastor\, I have grasped the Muslim viewpoint on scripture. This book has enhanced my knowledge. Esma Ali has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the Bible. \n-Jolene Cadenbach\, Pastor\, Arcadia Congregational Church \nAs a Muslim\, I value this book. Esma Ali has illuminated me about the Bible. Her work has enabled me to converse intelligently with Jews and Christians. \n-Dr. Tehmina Khan \nPaul J. Ramirez presents The Fatherless Life: Letters From an Abandoned Playground\nGrowing pains\, adversity\, love\, sadness\, and joy. A broken father preparing his children for the future without him by writing them personal letters from the now abandoned playground they used to play on. A book all should read Please note that purchasing the hardcover helps Paul with his auto-immune treatments. The softcover is at the lowest price possible.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-local-author-day-introducing-m-a-arana-esma-ali-paul-j-ramirez/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/local-authors-600-x-600.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260924T190000
DTSTAMP:20260818T162749Z
CREATED:20260818T162749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T162749Z
UID:10015827-1790276400-1790276400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Nadia Bowers & Stephanie Wittels Wachs discuss their books\, Dear Dealer: A Memoir\, and Last Day: How to Stop Losing Our Loved Ones to the Opioid Crisis
DESCRIPTION:About Dear Dealer: \nFor readers of Beautiful Boy and The Night of the Gun\, this gripping memoir explores addiction\, grief\, and family trauma as one woman goes in search of her sister’s killer. \nIn the summer of 2015\, Nadia Bowers’s beloved older sister\, Sasha—a social worker and Ivy League graduate—was found in her car in a restaurant parking lot in their hometown outside New Haven\, Connecticut\, dead from a fentanyl overdose. Plunged into grief\, equipped with Sasha’s phone\, and just weeks from giving birth to her first child\, Nadia began to investigate her sister’s shadow life: who sold Sasha the drugs that killed her? Did they know each other well? Did the dealer have any idea who Sasha was\, outside of addiction? \nExpanding on her viral 2018 This American Life essay of the same name—a letter to this imagined dealer—Bowers’s memoir is a love letter\, a diary\, and a quest in search of the dealer’s identity\, as well as her own. Who is she without her sister? Who is she because of her sister? And what now? Bowers reflects on her shifting roles as sister and mother\, examining how loss has reshaped her sense of self. Her letters to the faceless dealer are interwoven with rage\, reflection\, and even moments of humor as she recounts their intertwined lives alongside memories of charismatic and complex Sasha. \nRooted in unflinching honesty and poetic prose\, Dear Dealer is a richly compelling account of one woman’s search for meaning\, forgiveness\, and hope in the aftermath of tragedy. \nAbout Last Day: \nBased on the groundbreaking podcast of the same name\, Last Day weaves together a heartbreaking story of personal loss and an unflinching investigation of what could have prevented it. Alongside expert voices on opioid addiction\, Stephanie Wittels Wachs issues a clarion call for change in an ongoing and overwhelming opioid crisis. \nBased on the groundbreaking podcast of the same name\, Last Day is borne of Stephanie Wittels Wachs’s determination to shed light on the ongoing opioid epidemic in America. \nAfter the tragic and untimely death of her brother Harris Wittels to an opioid overdose\, Stephanie connected with Jessica Cordova Kramer\, whose brother died under nearly identical circumstances. Together they launched Last Day\, a podcast that facilitates unflinching conversations with addiction specialists\, harm reductionists\, people in long-term recovery\, public policy experts pushing for reform\, and many others\, to determine what could have saved their brothers lives and how we can prevent overdose deaths moving forward. \nTen years ago\, Stephanie lost her brother—her person—and over the last seven years\, her interviews and research have become a vital resource for others fighting not to lose their person. Heartbreaking yet deeply hopeful\, Last Day is\, at its core\, a powerful story of love that endures long after loss.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-nadia-bowers-stephanie-wittels-wachs-discuss-their-books-dear-dealer-a-memoir-and-last-day-how-to-stop-losing-our-loved-ones-to-the-opioid-crisis/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260923T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260923T190000
DTSTAMP:20260818T162515Z
CREATED:20260818T162515Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T162515Z
UID:10015826-1790190000-1790190000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Reading Group: Remarkably Bright Creatures
DESCRIPTION:The Vroman’s Fiction Reading Group explores contemporary fiction -– long and short -– from a diverse selection of writers.  Enjoy lively discussions at our one-hour meetings.  Our Fiction Reading Group is free and inclusive – there are no requirements nor criteria to join. We announce upcoming titles 3-6 months in advance and choose titles that are available in paperback.  Drop by our next meeting! \nSeptember’s pick is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. \nFiction Reading Group meetings are held inside Vroman’s Bookstore on the second floor in the event space.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-reading-group-remarkably-bright-creatures/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T190000
DTSTAMP:20260818T161500Z
CREATED:20260818T161500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T161500Z
UID:10015823-1789844400-1789844400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  TICKETED - Dolph Lundgren\, presents Fights Worth Fighting
DESCRIPTION:Best known for his role as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV\, Lundgren skyrocketed to fame in the 1980s and has since built a remarkable career spanning over a hundred films—including producing\, writing\, and directing multiple projects. But beyond the on-screen battles lies a far more compelling story: the real-life fights Lundgren has faced behind the scenes. \nIn this deeply personal account\, Lundgren opens up about his upbringing in Sweden\, his rise from a chemical engineering student to a martial arts champion\, and his eventual transformation into an international movie star. He explores the pressures of fame\, the emotional and physical toll of life in a cutthroat industry\, and his private struggles. Now\, as he faces his most difficult challenge yet—a fight against cancer—Lundgren reflects on the cost of survival and what it truly means to keep going. \nMore than just a Hollywood memoir\, Fights Worth Fighting is a guide to resilience. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Be Useful\, it blends life lessons with personal storytelling\, offering practical insights on discipline\, reinvention\, and the importance of mental and emotional strength. \nLundgren’s story arrives at a time when audiences crave authenticity. This isn’t just the tale of a movie star—it’s a call to arms for anyone struggling with their own battles. Candid\, inspiring\, and unexpectedly vulnerable\, Fights Worth Fighting shows us that real strength isn’t just about winning—it’s about continuing the fight when no one’s watching. \nThis is a ticketed event at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Tickets include one entry and one copy of Fights Worth Fighting to be handed out at check-in.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-dolph-lundgren-presents-fights-worth-fighting/
LOCATION:Pasadena Presbyterian Church\, 585 East Colorado Boulevard\, Pasadena \, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T140000
DTSTAMP:20260818T162217Z
CREATED:20260818T162217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T162217Z
UID:10015825-1789826400-1789826400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Alina Chau discusses & signs Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven
DESCRIPTION:Drawing from classic Chinese adventure Journey to the West\, Alina Chau’s bright new adaptation centers on the Monkey King’s wild beginnings and brings one of mythology’s most unforgettable troublemakers to life in a whole new way. \nSun Wukong wasn’t born in the usual way–he hatched from an egg atop Hua Guo Mountain\, full of big dreams and an even bigger attitude. With a shape-shifting staff\, a cloud he can ride like lightning\, and an unstoppable belief in himself\, Wukong isn’t just another monkey . . . he’s the Monkey King. \nWhen word of his wild powers reaches the Heavenly Realm\, the gods try to keep him close to prevent any chaos. But Wukong didn’t come all this way to play by someone else’s rules. And when he decides to shake things up\, the skies themselves might not be ready for the storm he’s about to unleash. Can one monkey’s mischief really cause an uproar in heaven? \nCombining Alina’s sumptuous\, dreamy art with a faithful\, respectful adaptation of a favorite mythical tale\, Uproar in Heaven still manages to be as much fun as a barrel full of monkeys.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-alina-chau-discusses-signs-monkey-king-uproar-in-heaven/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T110000
DTSTAMP:20260818T161955Z
CREATED:20260818T161955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T161955Z
UID:10015824-1789815600-1789815600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Caroline L. Perry & Sydney Hanson read from & sign I Am Not Grumpy! (Critter Complaints)
DESCRIPTION:In the vein of Grumpy Monkey and Unicorns are the Worst!\, this laugh-out-loud picture book from the creators of I Am Not Happy! gives voice to a black rain frog who swears she’s not grumpy–despite what her expression may suggest! \nWith a cozy burrow\, puddles to play in\, and a never-ending buffet of juicy bugs\, this black rain frog is the happiest amphibian in the land…so why does everyone think she’s grumpy? Sure\, she may have a permanent pout that you might call a serious case of “Resting Frog Face\,” but this sulky squeaker is as content as can be. Don’t you believe her? \nThe cheerful little frog teaches her animal neighbors to not judge a critter by its cover in this hilarious and heartwarming story.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-caroline-l-perry-sydney-hanson-read-from-sign-i-am-not-grumpy-critter-complaints/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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