BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Playhouse Village Association - ECPv6.18.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://playhousevillage.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Playhouse Village Association REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE 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 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/9781668037898.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT 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 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/heading-26.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT 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 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dolph-lundgren-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT 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 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/alina-chau.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260919T153000 DTSTAMP:20260818T161103Z CREATED:20260818T161103Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T161103Z UID:10015822-1789821000-1789831800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore - Blood Drive DESCRIPTION:Draw Hours : 9 – 11 a.m. and 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.\nLunch/Break : 11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.\nPlease click here to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins are welcome!\nPlease eat and stay hydrated prior to donation.\nFor any questions regarding donating blood\, please call Huntington Hospital’s Blood Donor Center at (626) 397-5422.\nAll donors will receive a $10 giſt card to In-N-Out or Starbucks for their\nlifesaving donation URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-blood-drive/2026-09-19/2/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/D84CE80947F7A2C559243268A728D594_200124925.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT 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 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/caroline-l-perry-sydney-hanson.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260915T190000 DTSTAMP:20260818T160652Z CREATED:20260818T160652Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T160652Z UID:10015820-1789498800-1789498800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Kaitlin Reilly\, discusses & signs Look What You Did DESCRIPTION:A page-turning debut thriller for fans of Kathleen Glasgow and Megan Lally about a teen who must confront her own buried trauma to clear her friend’s name of murder and expose the dark secrets of her small town. \n“I know about Will….I know what he did that night” \nAfter the tragic death of golden boy Will Ashford\, everyone in town is in mourning. Or almost everyone. Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie couldn’t be more relieved. Because she knows Will’s veneer of perfection hid something dark and dangerous. It was a truth she learned one night at the Ashford house and swore never to tell. \nBut her plan is threatened when she starts receiving texts from an unknown number. Someone knows the secret Mackenzie has tried so hard to hide–and they are determined to reveal it. \nWhen Mackenzie’s former best friend is found dead\, she is convinced the anonymous texter is connected to her murder\, and she will stop at nothing to find them. But doing so will mean confronting the trauma she’s fought so hard to suppress and exposing the dark secrets her town has tried to keep buried–or risk being the next girl dead. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-kaitlin-reilly-discusses-signs-look-what-you-did/ 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/kaitlin-reilly.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260913T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260913T150000 DTSTAMP:20260817T231605Z CREATED:20260817T231605Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T231605Z UID:10015819-1789311600-1789311600@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Marie Miranda Cruz discusses & signs A Boy Called Hero DESCRIPTION:A time-travel adventure story about finding ways to make a difference\, connect with others\, and be true to yourself no matter where (or when) you are. \nTwelve-year-old Hero Del Rosario isn’t happy about staying with his grandfather in the Philippines while the rest of his family takes a trip back to the States. He’s always been the overlooked one\, the one who gets left behind\, the one who–despite his name–is nothing special. But when he’s transported more than a century into the past\, he suddenly has bigger problems. \nIt’s 1892\, and the Philippines is controlled by Spain. Hero doesn’t know how he got here or how to get home. Luckily\, he meets two kids his age–his great-great-grandfather\, Teo\, and Teo’s twin sister\, Olivia–who take Hero under their wing. \nHero’s ancestors are secretly resisting the oppressive colonial government and working for Philippine independence. Their current mission: distributing copies of a banned book that promotes revolutionary ideas. Soon\, Hero is drawn into this work . . . and discovers that he may be able to live up to his name after all. \nAs the Spanish authorities close in\, Hero must act fast to save his family and the seeds of revolution―without losing his chance to return to his own time. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-marie-miranda-cruz-discusses-signs-a-boy-called-hero/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/9798765690734.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260912T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260912T110000 DTSTAMP:20260817T230936Z CREATED:20260817T230936Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T230936Z UID:10015818-1789210800-1789210800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Sandra Equihua reads from & signs Hola\, Lola! to the Bodega: A Bilingual First Words Book/¡hola\, Lola! a la Bodega: Un Libro Bilingã1/4e de Primeras Palabras DESCRIPTION:A bilingual picture book from the Emmy Award-winning creator of El Tigre\, featuring a spunky girl on a mission at the local bodega for her grandfather’s birthday. With over 100 first words in English and Spanish! \nUn libro bilingüe\, de la creadora de la serie El Tigre: las aventuras de Manny Rivera\, y ganadora de un premio Emmy\, protagonizado por una niña alegre con una misión en la bodega para el cumpleaños de su abuelito. ¡Con más de 100 primeras palabras en inglés y español! \nIt’s Abuelito’s birthday\, and Lola must go to the neighborhood bodega to get a candle for his cake! But there’s just so much at the store that catches Lola’s eye\, from the fresh fruits and vegetables to the delicious sandwiches at the deli counter–not to mention the sweet breads and paletas. \nLittle ones will lose themselves in the aisles along with Lola as she delves into all areas of the bodega. English and Spanish labels introduce young readers to all the common foods and items found at the grocery store. \nEs el cumpleaños del abuelito de Lola\, y ella debe ir a la tiendita de la esquina a comprarle ¡una vela para el pastel! Pero hay tanto que ver en la tienda que se distrae\, desde la fruta fresca y los vegetales hasta los sándwiches en los mostradores. ¡Y no hay que olvidar el pan dulce y las paletas! \nLos pequeños se perderán en los pasillos junto con Lola mientras ella explora la bodega. Las etiquetas en inglés y español introducen a pequeños lectores a todas las comidas y los artículos que se encuentran en una tienda. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-sandra-equihua-reads-from-signs-hola-lola-to-the-bodega-a-bilingual-first-words-book-ahola-lola-a-la-bodega-un-libro-bilinga1-4e-de-primeras-palabras/ 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/sandra-equihua.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260910T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260910T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T230437Z CREATED:20260817T230437Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T230437Z UID:10015817-1789066800-1789066800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Michelle Berenfeld discusses & signs Lessons from a Lost Republic: What Ancient Rome Can Teach Us about This American Moment DESCRIPTION:A lively pocket history of the Roman Republic’s collapse–and its unsettling echoes in our own political moment. \nAmericans are obsessed with Rome. Billionaires and manosphere pundits wax on about its military might\, its gladiators\, its emperors\, its greatness. \nBut we’re telling ourselves the wrong story. \nIn this sharp\, eye-opening account\, classics professor Michelle Berenfeld redirects our gaze. The Roman Empire isn’t the lesson–the Roman Republic is. Nearly five centuries of representative government\, undone by forces that should sound familiar: wealth and power concentrated in the hands of elites\, rampant political violence\, endless expansionist wars\, and a Senate that normalized emergency measures until it had nothing left to protect. One by one\, aspiring strongmen seized what the Senate had surrendered\, stretching the limits of their legal power\, using the military against their own people\, undermining elections\, and killing their enemies–until one of them\, Augustus\, gained total control and became an emperor. \nBerenfeld’s argument is both clarifying and urgent: Rome’s slide into autocracy was not inevitable–and neither is ours. Smart\, spirited\, and packed with revelatory detail\, Lessons from a Lost Republic is a wake-up call two thousand years in the making\, a reminder that the republic is ours to protect. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-michelle-berenfeld-discusses-signs-lessons-from-a-lost-republic-what-ancient-rome-can-teach-us-about-this-american-moment/ 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/michelle-berenfeld.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260909T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T230055Z CREATED:20260817T230055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T230055Z UID:10015816-1788980400-1788980400@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Kate Stayman-London\, in conversation with Maurene Goo\, discusses & signs See You Next Tuesday DESCRIPTION:From the bestselling author of One to Watch comes a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance perfect for fans of The West Wing and When Harry Met Sally\, featuring two campaign staffers who agree on their politics\, but disagree on everything else. \n“A West Wing love story with Heated Rivalry storytelling . . . all of the heat of an enemies-to-lovers romance with the adrenaline-pumping excitement of a political drama . . . charming\, propulsive\, topical.”–Iman Hariri-Kia\, bestselling author of Female Fantasy \nIn every election\, they’re the issue. \nAnya Katz is Type A and highly driven with unfaltering morals; she’s never met a group project she wouldn’t rather do all by herself. Gabe Hunt is a staggeringly handsome and charming golden boy who’ll do whatever it takes to win. At work on Democratic campaigns\, Anya and Gabe fight about everything–but how long can they fight their undeniable attraction? \nSee You Next Tuesday follows Anya and Gabe through a decade of elections\, from all-night phone banks and piles of greasy takeout to glitzy celebrity fundraisers and presidential debates. They say politics is the art of making change\, but working in politics changes you–and Anya and Gabe navigate dizzying highs and devastating lows in their professional and personal lives as they evolve from enemies to grudgingly respectful colleagues to best friends to lovers . . . to bitter rivals. \nWith breakneck banter\, sizzling chemistry\, and clear-eyed optimism\, See You Next Tuesday is an uplifting and addictive portrait of two lovers passionately working to make history–if only they can overcome their own. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-kate-stayman-london-in-conversation-with-maurene-goo-discusses-signs-see-you-next-tuesday/ 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/kate-stayman-london.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260908T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260908T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T225709Z CREATED:20260817T225709Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T225709Z UID:10015815-1788894000-1788894000@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Dan Werb discusses & signs Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World DESCRIPTION:A dazzling journey into the hidden lives of synanthropes\, the wild animals who’ve found ingenious ways to survive and thrive in human communities—from award-winning writer and scientist Dan Werb \nSynanthropes have always been an immutable part of the tapestry of our lives. They are the reason we hear birdsong in the morning and skittering throughout the day\, and why we take such pains to fix lids to our garbage cans. But they are so much more than that\, too: epidemic vectors\, churners of soil\, ecosystem evolvers\, spiritual lodestars\, and\, sometimes\, sharp-toothed marauders making their way through our most intimate spaces with cruel intent. But beyond their quotidian impact on our lives\, synanthropes have a critical part to play in how our communities are shaped and how sustainably they function. These creatures are ambassadors from nature\, arbiters of our planet’s future\, and a key influence on our species’ ongoing evolution; and recently\, something essential has shifted with them. \nWe are in a fraught era of environmental disruption\, habitat destruction\, and human population expansion that is ravaging formerly wild and untouched habitats. That’s caused us to become ever more inundated with synanthropes\, which are bringing delight\, chaos and danger to our doorstep. These species\, so long dismissed\, are forcing us to reckon with them—from the hundreds of thousands of raccoons in urban spaces that spread our refuse no matter how many “raccoon-proof” bags and bins we invent\, to the invasive kudzu plants that grow a foot a day\, enveloping houses\, telephone poles\, trees\, and any other structures into their green abyss. Now\, as urban spaces increasingly become wild spaces\, we have a choice: continue to resist them by any means necessary\, or take the opportunity to promote a more harmonious coexistence. \nThrough vivid storytelling\, Our Wild Familiars brings to spectacular life the world’s most successful synanthropes\, from bats\, raccoons\, and crows\, to some of its weirdest\, including the Giant Pacific Octopus. Acting as a guide to the curious\, Werb reveals how the cracks in our millennia-long efforts to shield ourselves against the outside world might just lead us to a new and necessary balance with nature—or to an ever more savage future. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-dan-werb-discusses-signs-our-wild-familiars-how-animals-are-adapting-to-cities-and-reshaping-the-natural-world/ 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/dan-werb.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260904T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260904T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T225445Z CREATED:20260817T225445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T225445Z UID:10015814-1788548400-1788548400@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Sara Kehaulani Goo discusses & signs Kuleana: A Story of Family\, Land\, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i DESCRIPTION:Set in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes\, Kuleana is the story of an award-winning journalist’s effort to hold on to her family’s ancestral Hawaiian lands—and find herself along the way. \n“A powerful story of land\, belonging\, loss\, and survival that challenges us all to think about what we are responsible for.” —Rebecca Nagle\, bestselling author of By the Fire We Carry \nFrom an early age\, Sara Kehaulani Goo was enchanted by her family’s land in Hawai‘i. The vast area on the rugged shores of Maui’s east side—given by King Kamehameha III in 1848—extends from mountain to sea\, encompassing ninety acres of lush\, undeveloped rainforest jungle along the rocky coastline and a massive sixteenth-century temple with a mysterious past. \nWhen a property tax bill arrives with a 500 percent increase\, Sara and her family members are forced to make a decision about the property: fight to keep the land or sell to the next offshore millionaire. When Sara returns to Maui from the mainland\, she reconnects with her great-uncle Take and uncovers the story of how much land her family has already lost over generations\, centuries-old artifacts from the temple\, and the insidious displacement of Native Hawaiians by systemic forces. \nPart journalistic offering and part memoir\, Kuleana interrogates deeper questions of identity\, legacy\, and what we owe to those who come before and after us. Sara’s breathtaking story of unexpected homecomings\, familial hardship\, and fierce devotion to ancestry creates a refreshingly new narrative about Hawai‘i\, its native people\, and their struggle to hold on to their land and culture today. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-sara-kehaulani-goo-discusses-signs-kuleana-a-story-of-family-land-and-legacy-in-old-hawaii/ 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/sara-kehaulani-goo.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260903T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260903T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T224932Z CREATED:20260817T224932Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T224932Z UID:10015813-1788462000-1788462000@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Sonali Kolhatkar discusses & signs Breaking Ice: Community Defense Against State Terror and Maga Fascism DESCRIPTION:A gripping\, on-the-ground account of the growing movement against state violence\, featuring interviews with those on the frontlines of the fight for immigrant justice and what it means to belong. \nFeatures a foreword by Salvadoran American journalist and author Roberto Lovato. \nA war is being waged on the streets of the United States of America: MAGA’s violent anti-immigration regime is being challenged by a growing national movement dedicated to protecting communities and reversing racist and authoritarian policies. In Breaking ICE\, award-winning journalist Sonali Kolhatkar presents her conversations with over a dozen movement organizers\, lawyers\, artists\, labor leaders\, and scholars on the frontlines of the fight. Through their courageous stories\, Kolhatkar documents the impact of ICE violence\, workplace raids\, mass surveillance\, and intimidation tactics\, and how communities from Maine to California are organizing for a better world. Our present actions will not only determine the nature of American demographics from here on out\, but also whether the future of the United States will look like an open multiracial democracy or a fascist police state. \nFeatures conversations with: Pablo Alvarado\, Nikki Marín Baena\, Eduardo Delgado\, Adela de la Torre\, Shannon Gibney\, Ron Gochez\, David Huerta\, Ibram X. Kendi\, Robin D. G. Kelley\, Josefina Lopez\, Leonardo Martinez\, Christine Neumann-Ortiz\, Viet Thanh Nguyen\, Favianna Rodriguez\, Luis Rodriguez\, Ruben Torres\, Richard Wallace\, Yohuru Williams\, and Kent Wong. Foreword by Roberto Lovato. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-sonali-kolhatkar-discusses-signs-breaking-ice-community-defense-against-state-terror-and-maga-fascism/ 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/sonali-kolhatkar.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260902T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260902T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T224626Z CREATED:20260817T224626Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T224626Z UID:10015812-1788375600-1788375600@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Andre Hardy\, in conversation with Mark Sarvas\, discusses & signs Tear the City Down DESCRIPTION:This debut novel from a former NFL player is a hard-hitting\, heart-wrenching crime novel that brilliantly blends elements of jazz\, football\, and a gritty portrait of a city divided–perfect for fans of S.A. Cosby and Walter Mosley. \nColtrane Davis is at once a knight and a hustler. He has risen to wealth and success\, graduating from San Diego’s back alleys to the halls of power through his partnership with Saul Sollman\, a crooked kingmaker among the city’s elite. Running multimillion-dollar scams with Saul\, he has been Saul’s fixer\, but now he wants out of the hustle so that he can focus on his teenage daughter’s burgeoning tennis career and finally be the dad he has always wanted to be. \nBut when the Los Angeles Chargers’ star running back vanishes one evening before a big game\, Coltrane is drawn into an investigation of what happened by Saul and his protégé\, the player’s agent; the stakes escalate with a gut-punch when the trail leads into San Diego’s underworld of drugs and prostitution and reveals clues to the disappearance of his daughter’s best friend\, whose loss has haunted him. \nTorn by the unreconcilable demands of the life he can’t seem to quit and the fierce desire he has to protect his own\, Coltrane brings himself and his loved ones to the brink of destruction in his quest to free himself once and for all of Saul’s control–and focus on what really matters: family. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-andre-hardy-in-conversation-with-mark-sarvas-discusses-signs-tear-the-city-down/ 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/andre-hardy.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260901T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260901T190000 DTSTAMP:20260817T224348Z CREATED:20260817T224118Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T224348Z UID:10015811-1788289200-1788289200@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Joseph Fink\, in conversation with Mara Wilson\, discusses & signs The Nudge: A Psychological Thriller DESCRIPTION:A purchase of the book from Vroman’s is greatly appreciated and makes events like this possible.\nA new horror novella from the creator of Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead featuring original illustrations from Night Vale series artist Jessica Hayworth. \nOn the open road\, evil doesn’t chase you. It waits . . . \nLate one night\, a wounded man checks into a remote roadside hotel. He’s running from something he can’t explain or escape. And over the course of a night\, he’ll tell the hotel’s proprietor how his life fell apart. \nIt started with his wife. Subtle changes. Smiles that didn’t belong to her. Then violence–sudden\, intimate\, almost casual. Therapy offered hope. Recovery seemed possible. Until it wasn’t. He believes a hidden influence has attached itself to him\, one that never forces\, never commands. It whispers. It suggests. Nudges people toward their worst impulses. \nNow the man wanders the country as a fugitive\, hoping to break free from the evil that’s wormed its way into him. But as our narrator’s story unfolds\, he begins to question whether he’s fled far enough . . . \nTense\, atmospheric\, and chilling\, The Nudge is a slow-burn tale of suspense that will linger like a whisper in the dark\, long after the story is over. \nCan’t make it to the event but still want a signed copy? Pre-order your signed copy here. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-2/ 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/joseph-fink-2_0.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260831T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260831T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T193636Z CREATED:20260806T193636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T193636Z UID:10015775-1788202800-1788202800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Sam Quinones discusses & signs Our Lady of the Angels: The Virgin of Guadalupe on the Walls of Los Angeles DESCRIPTION:On storefronts\, alleyways\, and street corners across the city\, murals of the Virgin of Guadalupe grace the walls of Los Angeles in a tapestry of faith\, identity\, and culture. Our Lady of the Angels: The Virgin of Guadalupe on the Walls of Los Angeles captures the sacred and everyday presence of Guadalupe murals across the city\, offering a poignant lens into the cultural heartbeat of LA neighborhoods. Each image is a testament to community\, artistry\, and devotion—a visual pilgrimage through urban altars where spirituality meets street art. Whether you’re drawn to religious iconography\, Latino culture\, or the layered stories of LA itself\, this collection invites you to see the city anew—through the lens of its most beloved saint. \nEn escaparates\, callejones y esquinas de toda la ciudad\, murales de la Virgen de Guadalupe adornan los muros de Los Ángeles como un tapiz de fe\, identidad y cultura. Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles: La Virgen de Guadalupe en los muros de Los Ángeles captura la presencia sagrada y cotidiana de los murales guadalupanos en la ciudad\, ofreciendo una mirada conmovedora al pulso cultural de los vecindarios angelinos. Cada imagen es un testimonio de comunidad\, arte y devoción: una peregrinación visual a través de altares urbanos donde la espiritualidad se encuentra con el arte callejero. Ya sea que te atraiga la iconografía religiosa\, la cultura latina o las historias entrelazadas de Los Ángeles\, esta colección te invita a ver la ciudad de una nueva manera: a través del lente de su santa más querida. \n  URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-sam-quinones-discusses-signs-our-lady-of-the-angels-the-virgin-of-guadalupe-on-the-walls-of-los-angeles/ 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/sam-quinones.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260829T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260829T110000 DTSTAMP:20260806T193442Z CREATED:20260806T193442Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T193442Z UID:10015774-1788001200-1788001200@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Linda Liu reads from & signs I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms DESCRIPTION:Yup! You read that right . . . WORMS! \nOnly thing for an outcast to eat . . . \nBut what if wet\, gooey\, chewy worms could be a way to meet someone new? What if there’s somebody out there who wallows in worms just as much as you do? Well\, for an ugly duckling and a black sheep\, there may just be a cure for their loneliness . . . \nAnd you know the cure can only be one thing: worms–I mean\, friendship. \nIn this hilarious remix of the classic nursery rhyme\, Linda Liu breathes new life into the importance of connection–with a book that demands to be sung URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-linda-liu-reads-from-signs-i-guess-ill-go-eat-worms/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/linda-liu.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260828T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260828T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T193245Z CREATED:20260806T193245Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T193245Z UID:10015773-1787943600-1787943600@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Yance Wyatt discusses & signs The Watersmith DESCRIPTION:When hard-drinking handyman Jack Calloway discovers an old moonshine still behind the Smoky Mountain cabin he plans to flip\, his teenage son dares him to get it running. Jack accepts– until his wife\, Jolene\, tries to sabotage the first batch and is horribly burned in the process. Wracked with guilt\, Jack sends their son away and moves Jolene into the cabin to recover while he tries to sober up. Doctors diagnose Jolene with a rare post-traumatic dementia that responds only to scent– smell being the strongest trigger of memory. Desperate to help\, Jack begins distilling essential oils from her favorite flowers\, searching for the one that might bring her back. When a fleeting moment of clarity during a visit from their son slips away again\, Jack grows frantic– willing to distill anything in his grasp to reach her. A haunting\, tender tale of love\, regret\, and the volatile bonds between parents and children\, The Watersmith is a story of oil and water\, memory and mercy– and how far one man will go to bring his family home. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-yance-wyatt-discusses-signs-the-watersmith/ 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/yance-wyatt.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260825T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260825T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T193000Z CREATED:20260806T192949Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T193000Z UID:10015772-1787684400-1787684400@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Diana Giovinnazzo discusses & signs Daughters of Naples DESCRIPTION:Diana Giovinazzo returns to the historical genre in a lush and thrilling novel\, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Elena Ferrante. \nSet in Naples\, Italy\, during World War II\, three sisters must survive in the face of danger. \nNaples\, 1940. The three Cozzolino sisters\, Leta\, Marcella\, and Bianca\, live together in their small home during Mussolini’s domination. Leta runs the De Rosa dress shop\, where she takes care of her mother-in-law while her husband is at war. Marcella is an apprentice to a midwife\, bringing up the next generation of Italian soldiers\, much to the pride of her boyfriend\, who is inspired by Mussolini’s rule. But when their youngest sister\, Bianca\, decides to join the partigiani–the Italian resistance–after her childhood sweetheart is sent to war\, familial tensions are brought to light. \nThe sisters are soon at odds\, questioning where they stand in the war effort. When Leta’s old flame\, Pasquale\, asks if he can use the dress shop to send messages for the partigiani\, she refuses. But when Naples is bombed\, the sisters are forced to reevaluate their stances and how far they are willing to go for each other and their country. With the threat of Nazism looming over the city after Mussolini is ousted\, the Cozzolino sisters will have to confront what they are willing to sacrifice and their loyalties to each other and to their country. \nThis inspiring novel examines the true nature of sisterly bonds and what one will do to survive. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-diana-giovinnazzo-discusses-signs-daughters-of-naples/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/diana-giovonazzo-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260823T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260823T160000 DTSTAMP:20260806T192727Z CREATED:20260806T192727Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T192727Z UID:10015771-1787500800-1787500800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Local Author Day Introducing Joe Belk\, Dan Joyce & Jason Mahoney DESCRIPTION:Joe Belk presents A Fan’s Calendar\nA Fan’s Calendar is a fun ride through popular culture throughout the 20th century and up to the present day. The book reflects the enthusiasms of author Joe Belk\, who has enjoyed and often written about music\, film\, and other forms of art and entertainment throughout his life. No matter what your tastes are\, you will find areas of overlap with this personally specific yet culturally vast appreciation of a wide variety of cinematic and musical genres and styles. \nDan Joyce presents Have You Taken Your Meds? Part 1\nHave You Taken Your Meds? Part 1 is an illustrated autobiographical graphic novel by Dan Joyce exploring mental illness\, addiction\, homelessness\, family conflict\, and survival with humor\, raw honesty\, and surreal imagination Through art\, storytelling\, and dark comedy\, Joyce invites readers into a chaotic yet journey understanding\, recovery\, and hope. \nJason Mahoney presents Song of a Dromedary\nSomething is terribly wrong with Vernon Rivers\, a young boy whose parents have taken him to every specialist they can think of. At the end of their rope\, they finally take him to see a priest\, who determines the only remedy is an exorcism. Before the big night\, his father\, Kirk\, has his first of many encounters with the paranormal: an encoded message telling him he must intervene in the exorcism\, and to his wife’s dismay\, Kirk obeys. Throughout his childhood\, Vernon\, a musical phenomenon\, shows signs of demonic possession in benign ways. But as the danger grows more apparent\, Kirk engages with his own outrageous and time-distorting obstacles to save him–and discover the unfortunate truth about his prodigious son. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-local-author-day-introducing-joe-belk-dan-joyce-jason-mahoney/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/local-author-3-august.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260822T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260822T160000 DTSTAMP:20260806T192523Z CREATED:20260806T192523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T192523Z UID:10015770-1787414400-1787414400@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Jaime Parker Stickle discusses & signs Take Hart: A Thriller (Corey in Los Angeles #2) DESCRIPTION:Between her LAPD consulting gig\, fledgling indie news blog\, and postpartum panic disorder\, former TV journalist Corey Tracey-Lieberman is barely keeping it together. Then a mother named Sonja Hart vanishes in her Highland Park neighborhood\, and the case is all but ignored. Sparked by maternal fury\, Corey’s investigative instincts come roaring back to life. \nTo see the truth clearly\, Corey must stop taking the meds that keep her anxiety at bay. Forced to confront her own failing marriage\, she struggles with her growing feelings for her crime-fighting partner. Strapping her fifteen-month-old son to her chest\, she follows a trail that leads from a suspicious house fire to the furtive activities of new neighbors. \nThe more she digs\, the more she uncovers about the secret toll of gentrification–and the closer she comes to the verge of a breakdown. And the horror dawns that the killer she’s been chasing has been watching her all along… URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jaime-parker-stickle-discusses-signs-take-hart-a-thriller-corey-in-los-angeles-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/2026/08/jaime-parker-stickle.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260822T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260822T110000 DTSTAMP:20260806T192051Z CREATED:20260806T192051Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T192051Z UID:10015769-1787396400-1787396400@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Lisa Johnston Hancock reads from & signs Santiago and Great Bear: A Friendship Written in the Stars DESCRIPTION:Santiago and Great Bear tells the story of a boy who moves from the busy city to the quiet countryside. Surrounded by stars\, Santiago feels lonely and misses his friends. When he wishes on Great Bear\, the constellation becomes his companion. But Great Bear cannot stay forever. With creativity and courage\, Santiago helps his friend return to the sky. Though sad\, he discovers resilience\, hope\, and the joy of new friendships in this lyrical\, socially relevant tale. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-lisa-johnston-hancock-reads-from-signs-santiago-and-great-bear-a-friendship-written-in-the-stars/ 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/2026/08/lisa-johnston-hancock.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260821T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260821T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T191736Z CREATED:20260806T191736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T191736Z UID:10015768-1787338800-1787338800@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Brian Clune discusses & signs Legends & Lore Along Route 66: Tales from the Mother Road DESCRIPTION:100 years of cruising from Chicago to Santa Monica. \nOpened in 1926\, Route 66 was one of America’s original highways. In modern times\, the Mother Road is an icon of nostalgia and kitsch\, but behind each pit stop is a uniquely human story. From Alberta Ellis\, who created safe havens for African American travelers in the first half of the twentieth century to Bob Waldmire and Angel Delgadillo\, who worked to preserve the history of the route after the interstates came through\, the people behind these places are what truly make them special. \nJust off the well-traveled path are places like the Santa Fe Internment Camp\, where many Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during World War II\, and the Apache Death Cave near Two Guns\, Arizona\, said to be the site where many Native Americans lost their lives. Visit the Amboy Crater\, a dormant volcano in the Mojave Desert of California that hints at the distant geological past\, and the town of Baxter Springs\, which was once a major part of America’s Main Street. \nAuthor Brain Clune brings to life the tales that left a legacy along Route 66. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-brian-clune-discusses-signs-legends-lore-along-route-66-tales-from-the-mother-road/ 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/2026/08/brian-clune.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260818T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260818T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T191508Z CREATED:20260806T191508Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T191508Z UID:10015767-1787079600-1787079600@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: James Queally discusses & signs Surviving the Lie: A Russell Avery Novel DESCRIPTION:From the critically acclaimed author of Line of Sight and All These Ashes comes the exciting final installment of the Russell Avery series\, a trilogy of “turnpike noir” that brings the neighborhoods of New Jersey to life (CrimeReads) \nAfter the death of his two oldest sources\, Russell Avery trades in his life as a former journalist turned private investigator for peace and quiet at home. Aside from the occasional online reporting under the safety of an alias\, Russell is enjoying being a normal guy with a normal girlfriend and suburban bliss just within reach. Until his onetime mentor disappears. Russell soon learns that other journalists in the area have gone missing\, too\, all under mysterious circumstances. Unable to resist the pull of a good story\, he quickly finds himself at odds with a violent band of conspiracy theorists and ex-cops convinced that reporters are the “enemy of the people.” Russell sacrificed two careers to the belief in the power of truth. But now\, face-to-face with an America where facts are more fluid than Newark’s Passaic River\, he must decide if the truth is still worth fighting for. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-james-queally-discusses-signs-surviving-the-lie-a-russell-avery-novel/ 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/2026/08/james-queally.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260817T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260817T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T191239Z CREATED:20260806T191239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T191239Z UID:10015766-1786993200-1786993200@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: April Dávila discusses & signs Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less DESCRIPTION:A transformative path to overcome creative blocks and cultivate a joyful\, sustainable writing practice through mindfulness. \nIn Sit Write Here\, award-winning novelist and certified mindfulness instructor April Dávila presents a groundbreaking approach to writing that integrates the practice of Insight Meditation. Drawing from her personal journey and professional experience\, Dávila reveals how mindfulness can help writers improve their craft and navigate common challenges such as writer’s block\, self-doubt\, and ubiquitous distractions. Through practical exercises and relatable anecdotes\, she demonstrates how cultivating present-moment awareness can enhance creativity and bring greater ease to the writing process. \nStructured around six key practices\, the book guides writers to: \n-Get Writing by developing deep concentration to foster a state of creative flow. \n-Embrace Discomfort to better portray conflict on the page. \n-Keep Going by identifying and overcoming internal obstacles that masquerade as “writer’s block.” \n-Explore Emotions to deepen authenticity. \n-Engage Reality to refine the editing process with mindful awareness. \n-Find Equanimity to maintain resilience in the face of feedback and rejection. \nWhether you’re a seasoned author or just beginning your writing journey\, Sit Write Here offers a compassionate and practical framework to transform your writing practice. By embracing mindfulness\, writers can not only enhance their craft but also find greater fulfillment and joy in the creative process. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-april-davila-discusses-signs-sit-write-here-6-mindfulness-practices-to-help-you-write-more-and-suffer-less/ 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/april-davila-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260814T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260814T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T190925Z CREATED:20260806T190903Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T190925Z UID:10015765-1786734000-1786734000@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Bridget Morrissey discusses & signs In What World DESCRIPTION:Two high school rivals begrudgingly reunite as adults to investigate the disappearance of their beloved former teacher\, only to wind up traveling through a series of alternate realities together. \nTotal opposites\, Marlowe Jenkins and Priscilla Covington-French hated each other in high school. Now in their thirties\, Marlowe is barely scraping by while Priscilla is wildly successful. Their rivalry should be long dead\, yet both women remain connected through their mutual mentor\, drama teacher Dallas Winthrop. Their unending tension has nothing to do with the fact that they’ve kissed. More than once. \nWhen Dallas goes missing\, each woman believes she can figure out where he is. Except this is no ordinary disappearance. Dallas has found a way to explore alternate versions of reality. While trying to follow him\, Marlowe and Priscilla find other versions of themselves instead\, surprised to learn not all Marlowes and Priscillas are fueled by hate. In fact\, some Marlowes and Priscillas have very different strong feelings for one another. . . \nThe more Marlowe and Priscilla are forced to rely on each other\, the harder it becomes to ignore their simmering attraction. But with every alternate reality they search\, they only get further from their real life and responsibilities. Do they play it safe and hide behind their rivalry\, or take a chance on each other that could permanently change the world as they know it? URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bridget-morrissey.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260813T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260813T190000 DTSTAMP:20260806T185317Z CREATED:20260806T185140Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T185317Z UID:10015764-1786647600-1786647600@playhousevillage.org SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Kate Eberle discusses & signs If Books Could Kill DESCRIPTION:A NOVEL LOVE STORY meets LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS in this rom-com following Roxie Mitchell\, an adventure-loving romance reader who finds herself trapped in a meet-cute turned murderous \nWhen Roxie makes a tongue-in-cheek wish to live out the plot of her favorite author’s next novel\, she has romance in mind–namely\, the sweet\, safe\, swoon-worthy storylines Anna Matthews is known for. It should be a dream come true when her wish is granted and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger who seems designed to take her breath away. \nExcept for one little hiccup: That handsome stranger tries to take her breath away. Literally. With a knife. The thing is\, Roxie may be the new Anna Matthews protagonist–but this time\, Anna is writing a crime thriller. \nThrown into a perilous genre she’s never read\, Roxie is desperate for help. So when her escape takes her straight into the path of Grant Hoffman\, an anxious English professor with a convenient love of crime novels\, she decides that kidnapping a grown man is a small price to pay for her own survival. Together\, Roxie and Grant navigate a madcap story in which the lines between fiction and reality blur. They’ll find out if they have what it takes to make it to The End–or maybe even Happily Ever After. \nKate Eberle studied journalism at Boston University before rediscovering her love of fiction. She lives and writes in Connecticut\, where she spends the rest of her time being the ultimate menace to society: a grown-up Theater Kid. If Books Could Kill is her first novel. \nElissa Sussman is the bestselling author of Totally and Completely Fine\, Once More with Feeling\, Funny You Should Ask\, and three young adult novels. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their many pets. URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-kate-eberle-discusses-signs-if-books-could-kill/ LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Blog-Post-Header-.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR