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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250326T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250326T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T192659Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Silvia Park\, in conversation with Jonny Sun\, discusses Luminous
DESCRIPTION:Prescient yet timeless\, perfect for fans of Klara and the Sun and We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves\, this highly anticipated\, sweeping debut set in a unified Korea tells the story of three estranged siblings—two human\, one robot—as they collide against the backdrop of a murder investigation to settle old scores and make sense of their shattered childhood. \n“I once had a family. At least\, the earliest version of me had a family.” \nIn a reunified Korea of the near future\, the sun beats down on a junkyard filled with abandoned robots\, broken down for parts. Eleven-year-old Ruijie sifts through the scraps\, searching for a piece that might support her failing body. There among the piles of trash\, something catches her eye: a robot boy—so lifelike and strange\, unlike anything she’s ever seen before. \nSiblings Jun and Morgan haven’t spoken for years. When they were children\, their brother Yoyo disappeared suddenly\, leaving behind only distant memories of his laughter and near-human warmth. Yoyo—an early prototype of a humanoid robot designed by their father—was always bound for something darker and more complex. Now Morgan makes robots for a living and is on the verge of losing control of her most important creation. Jun is a detective with the Robot Crimes Unit whose investigation is digging up truths that want to stay buried. And whether they like it or not\, Ruijie’s discovery will thrust their family back together in ways they could have never imagined. \nAt once a thrilling work of speculative fiction and a poignant exploration of what it really means to be human\, Luminous is an unforgettably brilliant debut.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-silvia-park-in-conversation-with-jonny-sun-discusses-luminous/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250325T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250325T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T192443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T192443Z
UID:10013146-1742929200-1742932800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour discuss Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival
DESCRIPTION:In Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival\, New York Times bestselling authors Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour tell the no-holds-barred history of the iconic music festival. Through hundreds of new interviews with artists\, tour founders\, festival organizers\, promoters\, publicists\, sideshow freaks\, stage crews\, record label execs\, reporters\, roadies and more\, Lollapalooza chronicles the tour’s pioneering 1991-1997 run\, and\, in the process\, alternative rock’s rise – as well as the reverberations that led to a massive shift in the music industry and the culture at large. \nLollapalooza features original interviews with some of the biggest names in music\, including Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction\, Pearl Jam\, Soundgarden\, Nine Inch Nails\, Sonic Youth\, Tool\, Smashing Pumpkins\, Ice-T\, Rage Against the Machine\, Green Day\, Patti Smith\, Alice in Chains\, Metallica and many more. \nConceived by Farrell as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction\, Lollapalooza’s inaugural outing across the U.S. in the summer of 1991 helped to coalesce an ideology and aesthetic that not only washed over popular music but seeped into fashion\, film\, television\, literature\, food\, politics and more. Throughout the decade\, Lollapalooza offered a vast and diverse ensemble of bands\, breaking barriers of genre and uniting alternative rock\, heavy metal\, punk\, hip-hop\, industrial\, goth\, avant-garde\, spoken word\, electronic dance music\, and other styles under one big tent\, and setting the template for the modern American music festival and the scores of other contemporary destination fests that are now an integral part of how audiences experience live music. \nUnorthodox not just in music\, Lollapalooza also spotlighted visual arts\, nonprofit organizations\, political outfits\, and even the occasional freak show\, offering a tantalizing cocktail of culture\, art\, and activism that\, taken together\, defined the alternative mindset that dominated the 1990s. Echoes of its impact reverberate strongly today – cemented by annual sell-outs at destination events worldwide\, an estimated 400\,000 attendees at the flagship Chicago fest each summer\, and a spot among the world’s largest and longest-running music festivals. \nA nostalgic look back at 1990s music and culture\, Lollapalooza traces the festival’s groundbreaking origins\, following the tour as it progresses through the decade and documenting the action onstage\, backstage\, and behind-the-scenes in detailed\, uncensored\, and sometimes shocking first-person accounts. This is the story of Lollapalooza and the 1990s alternative rock revolution.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-richard-bienstock-and-tom-beaujour-discuss-lollapalooza-the-uncensored-story-of-alternative-rocks-wildest-festival/
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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250325T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250325T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250325T165037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250325T165037Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman's Fiction Reading Group
DESCRIPTION:Description\nINCLUDES A NEW INTRODUCTION BY PATRICK ROTHFUSS \nExperience one of the most enduring classics of the twentieth century and the book that The Atlantic has called “one of the best fantasy novels ever.” \nThe unicorn lived in a lilac wood\, and she lived all alone… \n…so she ventured out from the safety of the enchanted forest on a quest for others of her kind. Joined along the way by the bumbling magician Schmendrick and the indomitable Molly Grue\, the unicorn learns all about the joys and sorrows of life and love before meeting her destiny in the castle of a despondent monarch—and confronting the creature that would drive her kind to extinction…. \nIn The Last Unicorn\, renowned and beloved novelist Peter S. Beagle spins a poignant tale of love\, loss\, and wonder that has resonated with millions of readers around the world. \n“Peter S. Beagle illuminates with his own particular magic.”—Ursula K. Le Guin \nAbout the Author\nPeter S. Beagle was born in 1939 and raised in the Bronx\, just a few blocks from Woodlawn Cemetery\, the inspiration for his first novel\, A Fine and Private Place. Today\, thanks to classic works such as The Last Unicorn\, Tamsin and The Innkeeper’s Song\, along with his forthcoming novel I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons\, he is acknowledged as America’s greatest living fantasy author; and his dazzling abilities with language\, characters\, and magical storytelling have earned him many millions of fans around the world. \nIn addition to stories and novels Beagle has written numerous teleplays and screenplays\, including the animated versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Last Unicorn\, plus the fan-favorite “Sarek” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. His nonfiction book I See By My Outfit\, which recounts a 1963 journey across America on motor scooter\, is considered a classic of American travel writing; and he is also a gifted poet\, lyricist\, and singer/songwriter.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-fiction-reading-group-4/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250322T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250322T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T191940Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T191940Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Matthew Burgess and Doug Salati present Words with Wings and Magic Things and Marla Frazee presents How Elegant the Elephant: Poems about Animals and Insects
DESCRIPTION:Matthew Burgess and Doug Salati present Words with Wings and Magic Things \nFrom award-winning author Matthew Burgess and Caldecott Medalist Doug Salati comes a spellbinding collection of poems for young readers that celebrates the power of words to awaken the imagination and alchemize the everyday. A gorgeous gift book for fans of Shel Silverstein with seven die-cut spreads throughout. \nBeyond the doorway of the first page of this collection awaits a dragon piñata\, an alligator on the A train\, a hungry yeti\, an ice cream dream\, jetpack sneakers\, midnight firelight\, a gray day\, a plump tomato\, a serious question and so much more. Whether you’re feeling blue\, lemon yellow or Day-Glo green\, this inviting and magical book of poems takes young readers on an uplifting journey through everyday moments\, moods and experiences\, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. With enchanting illustrations throughout and seven die-cut portals that open into the realms of Welcome\, Wonder\, Wild\, Weee!\, Whoops & Wallops\, Windows and Whispers & Well Wishes\, Words With Wings and Magic Things explores how words can awaken us to a world of wonder and possibility. Step inside . . . and take flight! \n\nMarla Frazee presents How Elegant the Elephant: Poems about Animals and Insects \nA rollicking collection of poems about the enchanting world of animals and insects\, from former children’s poet laureate and New York Times bestselling author Mary Ann Hoberman and Caldecott Honoree illustrator Marla Frazee. \nSo many kinds of animals\nSo many shapes and sizes\nSo many funny spots and dots\nSo many strange disguises \nWith her signature wordplay and wit\, former children’s poet laureate Mary Ann Hoberman celebrates the magnificence\, ingenuity\, and quirky qualities of creatures big and small. This thoughtfully crafted collection features sixty of Mary Ann’s personal favorite poems curated from her sixty-five-year body of work\, as well as eight new poems. \nFrom a fine fat pig and backward running porcupines to a beastly card game and a yoga class for agile animals\, this memorable menagerie is cunningly brought to life by three-time Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee\, in an imaginary world where the characters meet and tell an entertaining tale all their own. \nA tour de force collection of poems and pictures by two legendary talents\, this book creates a world that readers will never want to leave.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-matthew-burgess-and-doug-salati-present-words-with-wings-and-magic-things-and-marla-frazee-presents-how-elegant-the-elephant-poems-about-animals-and-insects/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250321T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250321T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T190914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T190914Z
UID:10013144-1742583600-1742587200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Scaachi Koul\, in conversation with Franchesca Ramsey\, discusses & signs Sucker Punch: Essays
DESCRIPTION:The long-awaited follow-up from one of the most original and hilarious voices writing today. \nScaachi Koul’s first book was a collection of raw\, perceptive\, and hilarious essays reckoning with the issues of race\, body image\, love\, friendship\, and growing up the daughter of immigrants. When the time came to start writing her next book\, Scaachi assumed she’d be updating her story with essays about her elaborate four-day wedding\, settling down to domestic bliss\, and continuing her never-ending arguments with her parents. Instead\, the Covid-19 pandemic hit\, Scaachi’s marriage fell apart\, she lost her job\, and her mother was diagnosed with cancer. \nSucker Punch is about what happens when the life you thought you’d be living radically changes course\, everything you thought you knew about the world and yourself has tilted on its axis\, and you have to start forging a new path forward. Scaachi employs her biting wit to interrogate her previous belief that fighting is the most effective tool for progress. She examines the fights she’s had–with her parents\, her ex-husband\, her friends\, online strangers\, and herself–all in an attempt to understand when a fight is worth having\, and when it’s better to walk away.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-scaachi-koul-in-conversation-with-franchesca-ramsey-discusses-signs-sucker-punch-essays/
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/2025/02/torrey-peters-ticketed-600-x-600-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250319T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250319T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T190715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T190715Z
UID:10013143-1742410800-1742414400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Jennifer Chen\, in conversation with Edward Underhill\, discusses Hangry Hearts
DESCRIPTION:Love\, family\, and food collide in this sparkling Romeo and Juliet-inspired romance. \nJulie Wu and Randall Hur used to be best friends. Now they only see each other on Saturdays at the Pasadena Farmers Market where their once close families are long-standing rivals. \nWhen Julie and Randall are paired with ultra-rich London Kim for a community-service school project\, they are forced to work together for the first time in years. It quickly becomes obvious that London has a major crush on Julie. But Julie can’t stop thinking about Randall. And Randall can’t stop thinking about how London is thinking about Julie. Soon\, prompted by a little jealousy and years of missing each other\, school project meetings turn into pseudo dates at their favorite Taiwanese breakfast shop and then secret kisses at the beach—far from the watchful eyes of their families. \nJust as they’re finally feeling brave enough to tell their grandmas\, the two matriarchs rehash their old fight and Julie and Randall get caught in the middle and Julie’s brother finds out they are dating. Their families are heartbroken. \nBut it’s the Year of the Dragon\, an auspicious time to resolve disagreements and start anew\, and Randall isn’t going down without fighting for what—and who—they love. Could the Lunar New Year provide not only a second chance for Randall and Julie\, but for their families as well? \nJennifer Chen’s Hangry Hearts is a funny\, big-hearted romance about friendship\, family\, and first love—and being brave enough to have it all.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jennifer-chen-in-conversation-with-edward-underhill-discusses-hangry-hearts/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250318T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250318T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T190527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T190527Z
UID:10013142-1742324400-1742328000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore (Ticketed):  Torrey Peters discusses Stag Dance
DESCRIPTION:This is an in-store ticketed event with two ticket options: \n\nGeneral Admission to the event + 1 copy of Stag Dance which will be handed out at check-in\nGeneral Admission to the event\n\n  \nIn this collection of one novel and three stories\, bestselling author Torrey Peters’ keen eye for the rough edges of community and desire push the limits of trans writing. \nIn Stag Dance\, the titular novel\, a group of restless lumberjacks working in an illegal winter logging outfit plan a dance that some of them will volunteer to attend as women. When the broadest\, strongest\, plainest of the axmen announces his intention to dance as a woman\, he finds himself caught in a strange rivalry with a pretty young jack\, provoking a cascade of obsession\, jealousy\, and betrayal that will culminate on the big night in an astonishing vision of gender and transition. \nThree startling stories surround Stag Dance: “Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones” imagines a gender apocalypse brought about by an unstable ex-girlfriend. In “The Chaser\,” a secret romance between roommates at a Quaker boarding school brings out intrigue and cruelty. In the last story\, “The Masker\,” a party weekend on the Las Vegas strip turns dark when a young crossdresser must choose between two guides: a handsome mystery man who objectifies her in thrilling ways\, or a cynical veteran trans woman offering unglamorous sisterhood. \nAcidly funny and breathtaking in its scope\, with the inventive audacity of George Saunders or Jennifer Egan\, Stag Dance provokes\, unsettles\, and delights.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-torrey-peters-discusses-stag-dance/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250315T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250315T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T190103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T190103Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Rima Fakih Slaiby & Theresa AlHayek read from Brave Buzzy Bee
DESCRIPTION:From Miss USA 2010\, Rima Fakih Slaiby\, and debut author Theresa AlHayek comes a story about a brave little bee who never gives up. \nBuzzy Bee is excited to participate in the Colony’s upcoming race. There’s just one problem: he isn’t very fast! But Buzzy is not a quitter\, so he practices tirelessly to get better and better. But on the day of the race\, things don’t exactly go as expected. Can Buzzy save the day and win the race? \nTold in beautiful bouncing rhyme with gorgeous illustrations by Angela Li\, Brave Buzzy Bee provides a lesson for young readers about the true meaning of bravery\, featuring a character that audiences can’t help but fall in love with.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-rima-fakih-slaiby-theresa-alhayek-read-from-brave-buzzy-bee/
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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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250313T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250313T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T185905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T185905Z
UID:10013139-1741892400-1741896000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Mallory O’Meara discusses Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding\, Train-Leaping\, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson\, Hollywood's First Stuntwoman
DESCRIPTION:From LA Times bestselling author Mallory O’Meara\, the story of America’s first professional stuntwoman\, Helen Gibson\, who rose to fame during a time when women ruled Hollywood. \nHelen Gibson was a woman willing to do anything to give audiences a thrill. Advertised as “The Most Daring Actress in Pictures\,” Helen emerged in the early days of the twentieth-century silent film scene as a rodeo rider\, background actor\, stunt double\, and eventually one of the era’s biggest action stars. Her exploits on motorcycles\, train cars\, and horseback were as dangerous as they were glamorous\, featured in hundreds of films and serials–yet her legacy was quickly overshadowed by the increasingly hypermasculine and male-dominated evolution of cinema in the decades that would follow her. \nAward-winning author Mallory O’Meara presents her life and career in exhilarating detail\, including: \n\nHelen’s rise to fame in The Hazards of Helen\, the longest-running serial in history\nHow Helen became the first-ever stuntwoman in American film\nThe pivotal role of Helen’s contemporaries–including female directors\, stars\, and stunt women who shaped the making of cinema as we know it.\n\nThrough the page-turning story of Helen’s pioneering legacy\, Mallory O’Meara gives readers a glimpse of the Golden Age of Hollywood that could have been: an industry where women call the shots.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-mallory-omeara-discusses-daughter-of-daring-the-trick-riding-train-leaping-road-racing-life-of-helen-gibson-hollywoods-first-stuntwoman/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250313T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250313T193000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T185452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T185452Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman’s Ed – Romance Writing Class with Amy Spalding (8 weeks)
DESCRIPTION:Please note\, this class has been moved from January 9th. (Please note: this 8 week class will be held on Thursdays\, 6:30-8:30pm – *3/13\, 3/20\, 3/27\, 4/3\, 4/10\, 4/17\, 4/24 and 5/1)\nHave you always wanted to write your own HEA (that’s a happily-ever-after)? This class is for anyone interested in writing a romance novel—or who’s started one but feels like they need some help getting to that happy ending! In this 8-week course\, bestselling author Amy Spalding will teach you the fundamentals of romance novels. \nFrom Meet Cute to HEA: Writing the Modern Romance Novel will focus on structure\, with specialized lectures each week to learn more about each beat\, from the setup to the meet-cute\, all the way through to that glorious HEA. Topics covered will include genre conventions (yes\, like tropes!)\, dialogue/banter\, building tension (sexual and otherwise!)\, inclusivity/diversity in storytelling\, common pitfalls\, and more. \nClasses will be mostly lecture/discussion\, with time set aside each week for writing exercises and brainstorming. The goal is for each writer to leave class with a full outline of their romance novel\, as well as some example scenes and exercises they may be able to use in the manuscript as well. \nStudents will also leave class with resources: each week’s presentation will be sent out to all students\, as well as additional links for further examples/education. \nAmy Spalding is the author of several adult and YA novels\, including the bestselling romance For Her Consideration\, We Used to Be Friends\, and YA romance The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles)\, which was named the best book of 2018 by NPR\, the Boston Globe\, Kirkus Reviews\, and more. She is a recipient of the 2023 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award for the authentic\, funny\, and diverse representation of the LGBTQ+ community in her books. \nAmy grew up in St. Louis and now lives in Los Angeles. She has a B.A. in Advertising & Marketing Communications from Webster University and an M.A. in Media Studies from The New School. Amy studied long form improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. \n*This class will be held on the following dates – 1/9\, 1/16\, 1/23\, 1/30\, 2/6\, 2/13\, 2/20\, and 3/6 (with no class on 2/27) and will take place in the Vroman’s Meeting Room located next door to Vroman’s Main Store in the Atrium at 709 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 120. \n(Please register by the end of day 1/8/25) \nQuestions? Email@vromansbookstore.com or call (626)449-5320
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-ed-romance-writing-class-with-amy-spalding-8-weeks-4/
LOCATION:Atrium Building\, 709 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore,Workshop
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250312T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250312T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T185134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T185134Z
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SUMMARY:Vroman’s presents Joel Stern presenting "In the Easter Egg Workshop" Papercraft Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Join origami artist and author Joel Stern for a creative craft workshop on March 12th\, from 4-5pm! Watch as Easter pop-ups and origami creatures come to life through the magic of paper folding. \nJoel is the author of the newly published In the Easter Egg Workshop: A Pop-Up Adventure\, as well as many other papercraft books. His art has been featured in movies\, commercials\, and on television. Visit his website here. \nPlease RSVP at rsvp@vromansbookstore.com with the subject “Stern Workshop” 
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-presents-joel-stern-presenting-in-the-easter-egg-workshop-papercraft-workshop/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Craft & DIY,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250311T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250311T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T184544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T184544Z
UID:10013136-1741719600-1741723200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Kim Fay\, in conversation with J. Ryan Stradal\, discusses Kate & Frida: A Novel of Friendship\, Food\, and Books
DESCRIPTION:From the author of instant national bestseller Love & Saffron\, this bright and comforting novel follows the surprising friendship between two young women in 1990s Seattle and Paris\, illuminating the power of books to change our lives. \nSometimes a book can change your life…\nTwentysomething Frida Rodriguez arrives in Paris in 1991\, relishing the city’s butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent. But then she writes to a bookshop in Seattle\, and receives more than just the book she requests. A friendship begins that will redefine the person she wants to become. \nSeattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida’s free spirit\, spurred to believe in herself as a writer\, to kiss her handsome coworker\, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives—personally and globally—Kate and Frida sustain and nourish each other as they learn the necessity of embracing joy\, especially through our darkest hours. \nThis mouthwatering oasis of a novel is a love letter to bookshops and booksellers\, to the passion we bring to life in our twenties\, and to the last precious years before the internet changed everything.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-kim-fay-in-conversation-with-j-ryan-stradal-discusses-kate-frida-a-novel-of-friendship-food-and-books/
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/2025/02/kim-fay-600x600-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250308T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250308T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T184342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T184342Z
UID:10013135-1741431600-1741435200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Angie Kang discusses Our Lake
DESCRIPTION:A tender and vulnerable exploration of love and loss that follows two boys as they take their first trip back to the lake without their father\, from debut author-illustrator Angie Kang. \nToday\, Brother is taking me up to swim in the lake like Father used to. \nI want to thank him for bringing us here\, but I can’t find the words. \nInstead\, I loop my arms around his torso\, and he does the same back. \nHere\, in our lake\, the water holds us close. \nOn a sweltering hot day\, a little boy mirrors his brother as he takes off his shirt\, stretches\, and walks toward the edge of the tall rock\, ready to dive into the cool lake waters glistening below. Only this time\, Father is not here. And the water looks so far away. How can he take the plunge? \nWith a gorgeous\, deft touch in her exquisitely soft illustrations and words\, Angie Kang conveys vulnerability\, longing\, and connection as these two boys hear Father’s laugh and see his memory all around them\, uniting them in a bittersweet moment.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-angie-kang-discusses-our-lake/
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/2025/02/angie-kang-600.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250307T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250307T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T184147Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T184147Z
UID:10013134-1741334400-1741366800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Surekha Davies\, in conversation with Megan Kate Nelson\, discuss Humans: A Monstrous History
DESCRIPTION:A history of how humans have created monsters out of one another—from our deepest fears—and what these monsters tell us about humanity’s present and future. \n Monsters are central to how we think about the human condition. Join award-winning historian of science Dr. Surekha Davies as she reveals how people have defined the human about everything from apes to zombies\, and how they invented race\, gender\, and nations along the way. With rich\, evocative storytelling that braids together ancient gods and generative AI\, Frankenstein’s monster and E.T.\, Humans: A Monstrous History shows how monster-making is about control: it defines who gets to count as normal. \n In an age when corporations increasingly see people as obstacles to profits\, this book traces the long\, volatile history of monster-making and charts a better path for the future. The result is a profound\, effervescent\, empowering retelling of the history of the world for anyone who wants to reverse rising inequality and polarization. This is not a history of monsters\, but a history through monsters.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-surekha-davies-in-conversation-with-megan-kate-nelson-discuss-humans-a-monstrous-history/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/surehka-davies-600.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250306T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250306T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T183927Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T183927Z
UID:10013133-1741287600-1741291200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Tim Z. Hernandez discusses They Call You Back
DESCRIPTION:A haunting\, an obsession\, a calling: Tim Z. Hernandez has been searching for people his whole life. Now\, in this highly anticipated memoir\, he takes us along on an investigative odyssey through personal and collective history to uncover the surprising conjunctions that bind our stories together. \nHernandez’s mission to find the families of the twenty-eight Mexicans who were killed in the 1948 plane wreck at Los Gatos Canyon formed the basis for his acclaimed documentary novel All They Will Call You\, which the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed “a stunning piece of investigative journalism\,” and the New York Times hailed as “painstaking detective work by a writer who is the descendant of farmworkers.” \nIn this riveting new work\, Hernandez continues his search for the plane crash victims while also turning the lens on himself and his ancestral past\, revealing the tumultuous and deeply intimate experiences that have fueled his investigations—a lifelong journey haunted by memory\, addiction\, generational trauma\, and the spirit world. \nThey Call You Back is the true chronicle of one man’s obsession to restore dignity to an undignified chapter in America’s past\, while at the same time making a case for why we must heal our personal wounds if we are ever to heal our political ones.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-tim-z-hernandez-discusses-they-call-you-back/
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/2025/02/tim-z-hernandez-600x600-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250305T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250305T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T183650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T183650Z
UID:10013132-1741201200-1741204800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Margaret Chandra Kerrison\, in conversation with Todd Martens\, discusses The Art of Immersive Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Level up your storytelling with award-winning experience designer\, world builder\, and former Disney Imagineer. \nImmersive experiences and interactive exhibits are popping up all over the world\, telling stories that engage our imaginations and sense of play like never before. \nExploring the parallels between video games and the world’s most exciting\, innovative spaces\, this sequel to the groundbreaking Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds explains how the same techniques that pull players into games for hours at a time can be employed to draw participants into immersive experiences. Join Margaret Kerrison as she guides our next generation of immersive storytellers on a deep dive into the creative possibilities of this new realm of storytelling. \nTodd Martens is a features columnist at the Los Angeles Times who writes about theme parks and West Coast Experiences\, among other topics. Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and has covered a mix of interactive entertainment as its game critic and pop music as a reporter and editor.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-margaret-chandra-kerrison-in-conversation-with-todd-martens-discusses-the-art-of-immersive-storytelling/
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/2025/02/margaret-kerrison-600x600-updated.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250303T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250303T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T183420Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T183420Z
UID:10013131-1741028400-1741032000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Nicole Maggi\, in conversation with Gretchen McNeil\, discusses & signs A Murder in Zion
DESCRIPTION:When the body of a childhood friend turns up in the Narrows of Zion National Park\, Emmeline Helliwell\, a special agent with the National Park Service\, is called in to investigate. As bodies start to pile up\, Emme soon realizes that the breathtaking beauty of Zion National Park may hide sordid secrets in its depths.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-nicole-maggi-in-conversation-with-gretchen-mcneil-discusses-signs-a-murder-in-zion/
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/2025/02/rick-and-matthew-600_0-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250227T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250227T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T233329Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T233407Z
UID:10008065-1740682800-1740686400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Michael Hiltzik discusses Golden State: The Making of California
DESCRIPTION:California has long reigned as the land of plenty\, a place where the sun always shines and opportunity beckons. Even before its statehood in 1850\, it captured the world’s imagination. We think of bearded prospectors lured by the promise of gold; we imagine its early embrace of immigrant labor during the railroad boom asa  prologue to its diverse social fabric today. But what lies underneath the myth is far more complicated. \n  \nThanks to extensive research by Michael Hiltzik\, one of our longstanding voices on California\, Golden State uncovers the unvarnished truth about the state we think we know well. From Spanish incursions into what became known as Alta California to the rise of Big Tech\, the history of California is one of stark contradictions. In rich\, previously overlooked detail\, we see its earliest statesmen wreak havoc among native peoples while racing to draft their own constitution even ahead of statehood. Gold-hungry settlers venture into the Sierra foothills only to leave with little\, while a handful of their suppliers turn themselves into millionaire railroad magnates. Wars erupt in the name of water as Los Angeles booms\, and early efforts to tame the vast landscape create a haven for fossil fuel extraction and environmental conservation alike. Hollywood politicians stoke fear\, contributing to a centuries-long tradition of anti-Asian violence\, and\, remarkably\, legal redlining and free higher education take root together. \n  \nGolden State brings a fresh critical eye to the origins of the state against which the rest of the country measures itself. From its very start\, Hiltzik shows\, that the story of the United States was written in California.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-michael-hiltzik-discusses-golden-state-the-making-of-california/
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/2025/01/michale-hiltzik-600.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T182221Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T182221Z
UID:10013130-1740510000-1740513600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Rick Jackson and Matthew McGough discuss Black Tunnel White Magic: A Murder\, a Detective’s Obsession\, and ’90s Los Angeles at the Brink
DESCRIPTION:Detective Rick Jackson\, a decorated LAPD detective and a key inspiration in the development of Harry Bosch\, delivers a shocking and immersive look into the one case he could never let go. \nIn June 1990\, Ronald Baker\, a straight-A UCLA student\, was found repeatedly stabbed to death in a tunnel near Spahn Ranch\, where Charles Manson and his followers once lived. Shortly thereafter\, Detective Rick Jackson and his partner\, Frank Garcia\, were assigned the case. Yet the facts made no sense. Who would have a motive to kill Ron Baker in such a grisly manor? Was the proximity to the Manson ranch related to the murder? And what about the pentagram pendant Ron wore around his neck? \nJackson and Garcia soon focused their investigation on Baker’s two male roommates\, one Black\, and one white. What emerges is at once a story of confounding betrayal and cold-hearted intentions\, as well as a larger portrait of an embattled Los Angeles\, a city in the grip of the Satanic Panic and grappling with questions of racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of Rodney King. \nIn straightforward\, matter-of-fact prose\, Rick Jackson\, the now-retired police detective who helped inspire Michael Connelly’s beloved Harry Bosch\, along with co-writer\, Matthew McGough\, take us through the events as he and his partner experienced them\, piecing together the truth with each emerging clue. Black Tunnel White Magic is the true story of a murder in cold blood\, deception and betrayal\, and a city at the brink\, set forth by the only man who could tell it.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-rick-jackson-and-matthew-mcgough-discuss-black-tunnel-white-magic-a-murder-a-detectives-obsession-and-90s-los-angeles-at-the-brink/
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/2025/02/rick-and-matthew-600_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T233057Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T233057Z
UID:10008064-1740510000-1740513600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Jennifer Finney Boylan\, in conversation with Colm Tóibín\, discusses Cleavage
DESCRIPTION:This event is co-sponsored by PEN America.\nWhat is the difference between men and women? Jennifer Finney Boylan\, bestselling author of She’s Not There and co-author of Mad Honey with Jodi Picoult\, examines the divisions—as well as the common ground—between the genders\, and reflects on her own experiences\, both difficult and joyful\, as a transgender American. \nJennifer Finney Boylan’s She’s Not There was the first bestselling work written by a transgender American. Since its publication twenty years ago\, she has become the go-to person for insight into the impact of gender on our lives\, from the food we eat to the dreams we dream\, both for ourselves and for our children. But Cleavage is more than a deep dive into gender identity; it’s also a look at the difference between coming out as trans in 2000—when many people reacted to Boylan’s transition with love—and the present era of blowback and fear. \nHow does gender affect our sense of self? Our body image? The passage of time? The friends we lose—and keep? Boylan considers her womanhood\, reflects on the boys and men who shaped her\, and reconceives of herself as a writer\, activist\, parent\, and spouse. With heart-wrenching honesty\, she illustrates the feeling of liminality that followed her to adulthood\, but demonstrates the redemptive power of love through it all. \nWith Boylan’s trademark humor and poignancy\, Cleavage is a sharp\, witty\, and captivating look at the triumphs and losses of a life lived in two genders. Cleavage provides hope for a future in which we all have the freedom to live joyfully as men\, as women\, and in the space between us.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jennifer-finney-boylan-in-conversation-with-colm-toibin-discusses-cleavage/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/updated-jennifer-600.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250225T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T192920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T192920Z
UID:10013148-1740470400-1740502800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Unsolicited Press Reading featuring Raki Kopernik\, Darci Schummer\, Robin Leigh Lear\, and Kerry Donoghue
DESCRIPTION:Raki Kopernik Bio: \nRaki is a first generation American\, queer\, Jewish writer. She is the author of The Things You Left and The Memory House\, both Minnesota Book Award finalists. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and has been shortlisted and nominated for several other awards\, including the Pushcart Prize for Fiction and the Pen Faulkner Award in Fiction. Her queer travel novel\, No One’s Leaving\, is forthcoming from Unsolicited Press in 2025. She teaches creative writing both at The Minneapolis College of Art and Design and at Augsburg University. You can find her here and follow on Instagram @rakikopernik \nWebsite: https://www.rakikopernik.com/ \nDarci Schummer Bio:  \nDarci Schummer is the author of the story collection Six Months in the Midwest (Unsolicited Press)\, the novel The Ballad of Two Sisters (Unsolicited Press)\, and the poetry chapbook The Book of Orion (Bottlecap Press). Her fiction\, poetry\, and essays have appeared in Ninth Letter\, Folio\, Jet Fuel Review\, MAYDAY\, Matchbook\, Necessary Fiction\, Sundog Lit\, and Pithead Chapel\, among many other places. She has been nominated both for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net\, and in 2023\, she was the artist-in-residence at the LaPointe Center for the Arts in LaPointe\, Wisconsin\, on Madeline Island. She is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and the Director of Creative Writing at Colorado State University Pueblo. \nWebsite: https://www.darcischummer.com/ \nRobyn Leigh Lear Bio: \nRobyn Leigh Lear is the Creative Director for April Gloaming Publishing\, Associate Professor\, and poet living in Nashville\, TN. She is currently finalizing her second manuscript\, Yonderling\, written under the mentorship of Diane Seuss. \n\nKerry Donoghue Bio:\nKerry Donoghue’s poetry and stories have appeared in Ninth Letter\, Painted Bride Quarterly\, Permafrost\, the Louisville Review\, and the South Carolina Review\, among other journals. She also wrote The Loudest Voice of All\, a children’s book\, to fundraise for an organization that educates girls about the power of voting. She earned an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and lives in the Bay Area with her family. Mouth is her first book. \nWebsite: www.kerrydonoghue.com
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-unsolicited-press-reading-featuring-raki-kopernik-darci-schummer-robin-leigh-lear-and-kerry-donoghue/
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/2025/02/unsolicited-press-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250222T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250222T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T231941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T231941Z
UID:10008063-1740222000-1740225600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  TICKETED - Patrick Renna signs A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life
DESCRIPTION:Patrick Renna (The Sandlot) signs copies of his book A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life.\nPatrick Renna\, best known for his role in the 1993 film The Sandlot\, offers baseball-themed anecdotes and affirmations. Heartfelt reminders that life’s a marathon\, not a sprint\, may be familiar\, but many young readers will find them revelatory. The author also stresses that failure is just as much a part of life as success\, encourages children to embrace individuality and work hard despite being the underdog\, and emphasizes that practice shows commitment and “prepares you for the big game or the test.” All these lessons will be relatable to young people\, and many are supported by real-life stories: basketball superstar Michael Jordan’s short-lived stint in minor league baseball\, an unexpected victory during Game One of the 2015 World Series\, and Renna’s willingness to swallow his fear when\, as a young teen\, he was handed a new script just an hour before shooting a pivotal scene inThe Sandlot. Each tidbit stands alone\, but taken together\, all 20 tenets provide a lively road map to life. The colorful spot art features images of diverse young baseball players\, plus some visually appealing double-page spreads filled with movement and action. White space is used thoughtfully\, allowing readers to reflect on how these words of wisdom might apply to them. A solid base hit\, with guidance on the great American pastime–and life itself. \nThis ticketed event is a book signing & photo op only and tickets include a copy of A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life\, to be picked up at check in the day of the event. \nEvent Guidelines: \nPatrick Renna will be signing the book only\, no memorabilia. \nPhoto op pictures will be taken with your camera by a Vroman’s employee.plays \nQuestions? Please email us at email@vromansbookstore.com
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-patrick-renna-signs-a-little-sluggers-guide-to-the-unwritten-rules-of-baseball-and-life/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Families,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ticketed-600-x-600.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250220T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250220T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T231413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T231413Z
UID:10008061-1740078000-1740081600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Jenn Bregman discusses The Last Hamilton
DESCRIPTION:After the last heir of Alexander Hamilton’s line is murdered\, her heartbroken husband and best friend team up in this twisty thriller where a mysterious death uncovers not just an ancient secret society\, but the treasures it holds—perfect for fans of Dan Brown and Sarah Penner. \nThe more they know\, the more danger they’re in. \nWhen Elizabeth Walker\, the last heir of the Alexander Hamilton line\, is tragically killed by a subway train in New York\, foul play is immediately suspected. Elizabeth had been terrified\, frantic\, and manic during her last days\, running mysterious errands\, searching for a strange antique key\, and sending cryptic messages to her best friend\, Sarah Brockman. \nThe morning after Elizabeth’s death\, a box of tattered documents lands on Sarah’s doorstep\, confirming her suspicions about Elizabeth’s strange behavior and shocking death. She brings the box to Elizabeth’s grieving husband\, Ralph. Working together\, they are stunned to discover that Elizabeth was part of a secret society established by Hamilton himself to keep the United States just and free\, its influence woven into every  corner of the country’s history. As Sarah and Ralph race through the streets of New York to uncover the truth behind Elizabeth’s death\, they must stop an ingenious and sinister plot before someone else catches up to them–and the secrets of Hamilton’s society are lost forever. \nWith fascinating details from the shadows of American history\, The Last Hamilton is a sweeping and fast-paced thriller reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jenn-bregman-discusses-the-last-hamilton/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/jen-bregman-website-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250219T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250219T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T230325Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T231123Z
UID:10008060-1739991600-1739995200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Julie Tieu\, in conversation with Erin La Rosa\, discusses Girl Most Likely To
DESCRIPTION:A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening\, almost entirely at a high school reunion…. \n“For the rom-com fans\, you can never go wrong with a Julie Tieu book.”— Buzzfeed \nRachel Dang once voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school\, is unemployed for the first time. After years of doing everything her boss asked\, it’s time to say yes to new opportunities. So when she gets invited to her twentieth high school reunion by none other than her former frenemy\, Danny Phan\, Rachel agrees despite their unresolved past. \nAs a teenager\, Danny was seen as smart\, but unfocused. Teachers often paired him with Rachel\, hoping her work ethic would rub off on him. Though Danny and Rachel weren’t exactly friends\, she had seen a different side of him\, one that only existed online over intimate late-night AIM chats that never translated into real life. When they meet again\, Rachel discovers their roles have reversed. Danny is thriving in his career while she’s the one flailing. \nThe reunion takes an unexpected turn when a simple errand takes them into town for a night of mishaps and misadventures where they run into a colorful cast of characters from their childhood. Rachel and Danny soon rediscover the feelings they once shared and must decide if this is only a quick trip down memory lane or a second chance for their happily ever after. \nErin La Rosa is the author of The Backtrack\, Plot Twist\, For Butter or Worse\, Womanskills\, and The Big Redhead Book. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and four daughters (two human\, and two feline).
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-julie-tieu-in-conversation-with-erin-la-rosa-discusses-girl-most-likely-to/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250217T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250217T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T225912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T225936Z
UID:10008059-1739818800-1739822400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Alejandro Heredia\, in conversation with Myriam Gurba\, discusses Loca
DESCRIPTION:If Junot Diaz’s critically acclaimed collection Drown and Janet Mock’s Emmy-winning series Pose produced offspring\, Alejandro Heredia’s Loca would be their firstborn. \nIt’s 1999\, and best friends Sal and Charo are striving to hold on to their dreams in a New York determined to grind them down. Sal is a book-loving science nerd trying to grow beyond his dead-end job in a new city\, but he’s held back by tragic memories from his past in Santo Domingo. Free-spirited Charo is surprised to find herself a mother at twenty-five\, partnered with a controlling man\, working at the same supermarket for years\, her world shrunk to the very domesticity she thought she’d escaped in her old country. When Sal finds love at a gay club one night\, both his and Charo’s worlds unexpectedly open up to a vibrant social circle that pushes them to reckon with what they owe to their own selves\, pasts\, futures\, and\, always\, each otherdd \nLoca follows one daring year in the lives of young people living at the edge of their own patience and desires. With expansive grace\, it reveals both the grueling conditions that force people to migrate and the possibility of friendship as home when family\, nations\, and identity groups fall short.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-alejandro-heredia-in-conversation-with-myriam-gurba-discusses-loca/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250216T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250216T170000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T225557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T225557Z
UID:10008058-1739721600-1739725200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Local Author Day Introducing Steve Fortunato & Nika Hogan
DESCRIPTION:Steve Fortunato presents The Urgent Recovery of Hospitality: How Rediscovering Generosity Restores a Civil World \nAre we losing the art of hospitality in an age dominated by entitlement and transactional relationships? \nIn The Urgent Recovery of Hospitality\, award-winning experience specialist Steve Fortunato illuminates how our modern interactions have been tainted by competition and celebrity culture\, leaving us feeling isolated and undervalued. Driven by his own personal confessions\, he implores us to rediscover the essence of true hospitality—where each interaction is rooted in authenticity and connection. Join Fortunato on this urgent journey to recover true hospitality\, where valuing others creates a virtuous cycle of generosity and understanding that enriches our communities and transforms our lives.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-local-author-day-introducing-steve-fortunato-nika-hogan/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T150000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250225T190254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250225T190254Z
UID:10013141-1739628000-1739631600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Henry Lien discusses & signs Spring\, Summer\, Asteroid\, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling
DESCRIPTION:Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators. Speculative fiction author and writing instructor Henry Lien makes the pathbreaking argument that diversity is about more than just plopping different faces into stories that are 100 percent Western in spirit; it can–and should–encompass diverse structures\, themes\, and values. \nUsing examples ranging from Parasite to The Thousand and One Nights to the Mario video game franchise\, Lien shows how storytelling staples in the West\, such as the three-act structure and themes of empowerment and change\, are far from universal. He introduces the East Asian four-act structure (kishotenketsu)\, as well as circular and nested structures\, and explains how Eastern value systems such as collectivism can dictate form. Spring\, Summer\, Asteroid\, Bird is essential reading for any writer or reader who wants to broaden their understanding of how to tell a satisfying story.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-henry-lien-discusses-signs-spring-summer-asteroid-bird-the-art-of-eastern-storytelling/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T150000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250129T225341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250129T225341Z
UID:10008057-1739628000-1739631600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Raegan Fordemwalt discusses Prince of Hearts
DESCRIPTION:Raegan Fordemwalt—poet and author of the runaway hit Lover Girl—is back with the highly anticipated follow-up collection of poetry and art\, Prince of Hearts. \nFollowing the success of Lover Girl\, Raegan Fordemwalt returns with Prince of Hearts. An indirect sequel to her bestselling debut\, this all-new collection of art and poetry takes readers along the narrator’s journey through abandonment and dismantled trust following the loss of significant relationships\, both platonic and romantic. \n A far-too-relatable retelling of the courage required to survive young love\, first heartbreaks\, and your early-20s\, Prince of Hearts is a look through both the rearview and the windshield along the journey to self-love.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-raegan-fordemwalt-discusses-prince-of-hearts/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250215T120000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250123T000604Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T000604Z
UID:10008036-1739617200-1739620800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Will Power discusses Nana’s New Soul Food
DESCRIPTION:Theater pioneer Will Power inspires families to connect through healthy eating choices\, vegan soul food\, and community in this heartwarming story of a boy’s love for his grandmother–and good food! Includes a vegan recipe! \nCan healthy food be delicious food\, too? A young boy helps us discover that yes\, it can! Nana’s New Soul Food follows this energetic boy on an adventure with his mom to find healthy food in his neighborhood. Motivated by his love for his nana\, who has to change the way she eats because of her health\, the boy rediscovers his neighborhood while finding tasty vegan soul food. \nAward-winning playwright\, pioneer of hip-hop theater\, and performer Will Power injects masterful rhythm into this uplifting story of family and community\, which teaches us that healthy food can be a joy. The pages are graced with beautiful\, vibrant illustrations from Coretta Scott King Award Honor and Caldecott Honor illustrator R. Gregory Christie\, who captures the loving relationships within a family as they connect through their mission to make better eating choices. Back matter includes a fun recipe for Mango-Coconut-Lime Ice Pops courtesy of Chef Bryant Terry\, along with a letter from Will Power.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-will-power-discusses-nanas-new-soul-food/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250212T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250212T200000
DTSTAMP:20260503T143103
CREATED:20250122T234812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250122T234812Z
UID:10008035-1739386800-1739390400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Tommy Siegel discusses The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts
DESCRIPTION:Never have the secret lives of relationships been so clearly and amusingly on display as in Tommy Siegel’s Candy Hearts comics. \nTommy Siegel’s Candy Hearts comics reveal the most awkward and amusing truths about relationships\, and since their viral debut in 2020\, the inner world of Candy Hearts has only gotten stranger. This new collection of Candy Hearts comics explores topics like commitment\, cohabitation\, family dynamics\, pets\, dating apps\, and wedding planning. With dozens of comics never before seen in print or online\, The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts hits everything from disaster to happily-ever-after\, with hilarious resu
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-tommy-siegel-discusses-the-secret-lives-of-candy-hearts/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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