BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Playhouse Village Association - ECPv6.15.20//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:20220313T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20221106T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20230312T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20231105T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20240310T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20241103T090000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230919T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230919T170000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230919T225527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230919T225527Z
UID:10003824-1695110400-1695142800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman’s: Lidia Bastianich discussing Lidia's from Our Family Table to Yours
DESCRIPTION:Nothing brings a family together like food. And no one knows food like Lidia Bastianich. In this inviting\, deeply personal new cookbook\, she shares the dishes she cooks for those she loves the most. This is the first book Lidia has written since the death of her mother\, Nonna\, who was beloved not just by Lidia’s family but by millions of cookbook and TV fans. With all the family stories and passed-down recipes\, in many ways\, this book can be seen as a tribute to Nonna. \nHere are the traditional recipes that graced Lidia’s table as a young girl (Prosciutto and Onion Frittata\, Rigatoni with Sausage and Cabbage\, and Four-Cheese Baked Macaroni) alongside the new creations (Sweet Potato Chickpea Gnocchi with Gorgonzola\, Cheesy Baked Chicken Wings) that she makes for her children and grandchildren today. Bringing together more than a hundred delicious\, flavorful\, and easy-to-make Italian recipes\, From Our Family’s Table to Yours is a celebration of the dishes Lidia’s family turns to over and over–and yours will\, too. \nGA + book: This ticket includes one entry and one copy of Lidia’s from Our Family Table to Yours to be handed out at check-in. A book signing will follow the presentation. \nGA Only: This ticket is for general admission only and does not include a copy of the book or access to the signing line.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-lidia-bastianich-discussing-lidias-from-our-family-table-to-yours/
LOCATION:Pasadena Presbyterian Church\, 585 East Colorado Boulevard\, Pasadena \, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Pasadena Presbyterian Church,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Lidia-Bastianich-Banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230918T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230918T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T172312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T172409Z
UID:10003576-1695063600-1695063600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Marcie Bianco Discusses Breaking Free
DESCRIPTION:For more than a century\, women have fought for equality. Yet\, time and again\, their battles have fallen short. Even so-called constitutionally-protected equal rights can be withdrawn by judges and undermined by legislators. But the greater problem is in the notion of equality itself. \nIn Breaking Free\, culture writer Marcie Bianco persuasively argues that the very concept of equality is a fallacy\, an illusory goal that cannot address historic forms of discrimination and oppression. Starting with the campaign for women’s suffrage and traveling through modern history\, she shows us how equality has been designed to keep women and disenfranchised communities chasing an unobtainable goal. Conditioned for generations to want equality\, it has become an insidious mindset locking us into the gender binary and reductive identity politics. Bianco calls upon a long-overlooked lineage to argue that only freedom can liberate feminism from these constraints and proposes three freedom practices for women to reclaim their bodily autonomy and power. \nWhat happens if we free ourselves of equality? Controversial and thrilling\, Breaking Free guides readers toward new hope for the future of the feminist movement.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-marcie-bianco-discusses-breaking-free/
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/2023/08/Marcie-Bianco-banner_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230917T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230917T160000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T172009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T172009Z
UID:10003575-1694966400-1694966400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Local Author Day featuring Rings of Kindness
DESCRIPTION:Rings of Kindness is a compilation of 85 true stories of kindness received\, written by 80 plus authors\, 20 of whom reside in the Los Angeles area. The book was created and edited by Matthew J. Goldberg\, an inspirational humorist from the Philadelphia area\, and designed to spread optimism\, love and kindness via our stories of kindness. The contributing writers comprise a wide variety of backgrounds and range from high school students to senior citizens\, and geographically from Nova Scotia\, Canada to Queensland\, Australia.  All have stories that are highly relatable. \nThe contributors reading from their work this evening are Cathy Dreyfuss\, Boliang (Michael) Wang\, Lauri Fraser\, and Harri James. \nParticipant Bios  \nCathy Dreyfuss was born in New York\, raised in Los Angeles\, and has lived on Venice Beach for the last 45 years. She started out as a pianist\, cartoonist and hippie traveler\, then became an attorney and social justice activist\, dabbling in singing\, guitar playing and zydeco dancing in her spare time.  She represented indigent defendants and immigrants in criminal courts from 1984 to 2022\, when she decided to leave lawyering for a more creative life. She has been writing personal stories for several years and is currently working on a memoir about her travels in the 1970’s. \nBoliang (Michael) Wang is an award-winning student filmmaker and a published author. After acquiring his B.A. in screenwriting\, Michael has worked on productions produced by major Hollywood production companies such as Fox Sony\, and Paramount. Michael\, an international student\, is currently pursuing his Master’s in Film & TV Production at Loyola Marymount University. \nLauri Fraser is an American voice actress who has spent more than 20 years lending her talents to animation projects spanning film\, TV series\, commercials and video games.  Lauri’s vocal variations can be heard as: Marie Antoinette (“Peabody and Sherman); Mrs. Olson (“Olaf’s Frozen Adventure\,”); both Rocky and Natasha (“The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle’); and “Rocky J. Squirrel” (Geico Insurance).  When not in a recording booth\, Lauri can be found performing stories at venues in and around Hollywood. She produced her own acclaimed live storytelling series and podcast\, “I Love A Good Story\,” for eleven years.  But she’s most proud of her performance as herself on the mega-hit ABC television series “Shark Tank.”  Lauri and her sister pitched their father’s invention\, Hugo’s Amazing Tape–and got a deal! \nHarri James is a filmmaker\, storyteller\, and 2e education advocate.  She recently had a story published in the anthology\, “Rings of Kindness.”  Combining filmmaking with her passion for gifted and twice exceptional (2e) education\, she directed her first documentary\, “O’Kelley Legends:  2e Behind the Scenes.”  When she’s not writing\, Harri speaks at educational conferences and college campuses on parent advocacy.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-local-author-day-featuring-rings-of-kindness/
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/2023/08/Local-author-day-Website-Event-Banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230917T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230917T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T171553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T171553Z
UID:10003574-1694948400-1694948400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Young Reader's Edition Featuring Sherly Lam and Brigette Allen
DESCRIPTION:Sherly Lam presents Echo is Kind \nEcho is a fun-loving\, energetic pup who loves his family\, friends and adventures Feel inspired as you join him on his journey to the beach\, discovering opportunities to demonstrate kindness through generosity\, sharing and caring for others along the way Can you spot his favorite toy on every page? \nALL net proceeds will be donated to a local animal shelter \nBrigette Allen presents C Train \nC Train is about a New York City subway train that finds a new home thanks to an old friend. The city sidewalks are alive\, with people hurrying to their homes\, work\, and school. Underground\, C Train is busy taking people to these destinations. \nHer favorite passenger\, Maya\, a Latinx girl with a star barrette\, shares magical stories about marine life. The subway train loves Maya’s marker masterpieces of the ocean and marvels at the sea creatures and where they live. As Maya grows up and pursues her dream career in ocean engineering\, C Train grows older and winds up stuck in the railyard. When Maya visits her old friend\, the two embark on a new journey to find C Train a new home\, far from the subway rails!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-young-readers-edition-featuring-sherly-lam-and-brigette-allen/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Local-author-day-kids-Website-Event-banner-UPDATED-8.12.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230916T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230916T160000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T162212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T162947Z
UID:10003573-1694880000-1694880000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Annual Teacher's Night Out
DESCRIPTION:You are cordially invited to join us for our annual Teacher’s Night Out! \nJoin us for an evening that celebrates you – the incredible teachers and librarians of our community! We will have snacks and beverages\, plus a bunch of goodies (including books!) to give away. Our knowledgeable staff will be on hand to recommend great new books for your classroom discussions and libraries and share some services we offer to teachers. We will have a publisher sponsored table full of reading and classroom recommendations.  \nBrowse the table of recommends\, speak with our booksellers\, mingle with fellow educators and enjoy some treats. PLUS our Kids’ book rep from Hachette Books will be here to show off the latest from their press. You’ll also receive a 20% off coupon to use for any personal shopping that night. \nAs a special added bonus this evening\, we will be honoring 2022-2023’s Teacher of the Year and their school! More information to come. \nFree tickets are available through Eventbrite! \nWe are looking forward to seeing you! \nQuestions? Please email us at email@vromansbookstore.com
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-annual-teachers-night-out/
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/2023/08/Teachers-Night-Out-Banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230914T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230914T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T161352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T161352Z
UID:10003571-1694718000-1694718000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: James Ellroy Discusses The Enchanters
DESCRIPTION:Los Angeles\, August 4\, 1962. The city broils through a midsummer heat wave. Marilyn Monroe ODs. A B-movie starlet is kidnapped. The overhyped LAPD overreacts. Chief Bill Parker’s looking for some getback. The Monroe deal looks like a moneymaker. He calls in Freddy Otash. \nThe freewheeling Freddy O: tainted ex-cop\, defrocked private eye\, dope fiend\, and freelance extortionist. A man who lives by the maxim “Opportunity is love.” Freddy gets to work. He dimly perceives Marilyn Monroe’s death and the kidnapped starlet to be a poisonous riddle that only he has the guts and the brains to untangle. We are with him as he tears through all those who block his path to the truth. We are with him as he penetrates the faux-sunshine of Jack and Bobby Kennedy and the shuck of Camelot. We are with him as he falters\, and grasps for love beyond opportunity. We are with him as he tracks Marilyn Monroe’s horrific last charade through a nightmare L.A. that he served to create — and as he confronts his complicity and his own raging madness. \nIt’s the Summer of ’62\, baby. Freddy O’s got a hot date with history. The savage Sixties are ready to pop. It’s just a shot away. \nThe Enchanters is a transcendent work of American popular fiction. It is James Ellroy at his most crazed\, brilliant\, provocative\, profanely hilarious\, and stop-your-heart tender. It is a luminous psychological drama and an unparalleled thrill ride. It is\, resoundingly\, the great American crime novel.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-james-ellroy-discusses-the-enchanters/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230913T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230913T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T161059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T161059Z
UID:10003570-1694631600-1694631600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Tori Elderidge\, In Conversation wtih Naomi Hirahara\, discusses the Ninja's Oath
DESCRIPTION:International action adventure ensues when Lily Wong–a Chinese-Norwegian modern-day ninja–travels from Shanghai to Japan to help family friend and former triad enforcer\, Lee Chang\, locate and rescue his kidnapped twelve-year-old niece while\, back home in Los Angeles\, her father’s health wanes. \nTheir mission is aided and complicated by an enigmatic assassin with a discomforting fascination for Lily. When the hunt for the niece leads to another missing relative\, the trio of dangerous heroes–ninja\, triad\, and assassin–are pitted against an even greater foe. Meanwhile\, Chang’s family must be moved from the shikumen house in Old Shanghai before the government tears it down. This would be simpler if not for the feud between brothers and the old resentments and intrigues entwined with the stunning history of the city itself. \nLily is pushed to her limits as she faces potentially insurmountable odds and worries about her father’s undiagnosed disease. At the same time\, she is shocked by the true identity of her ninja teacher–known only Sensei–and the truth behind why he left Japan. The Ninja’s Oath is the thrilling new novel in Tori Eldridge’s acclaimed\, multi-award nominated Lily Wong series\, sure to leave readers breathing and riveted until the last page is turned!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-tori-elderidge-in-conversation-wtih-naomi-hirahara-discusses-the-ninjas-oath/
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/2023/08/Tori-Eldridge-banner-UPDATED-7.31.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230910T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230910T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T160003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T160003Z
UID:10003566-1694343600-1694343600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Special Storytime featuring Nikkolas Smith Reading from the Artivist
DESCRIPTION:“They say I’m an artist. They say I’m an activist.” \nWhen a young boy realizes the scope of inequities in the wider world\, he’s seized with the urge to do more. He decides to bring together the different parts of himself–the artist and the activist–to become. . . an Artivist. After his mural goes viral\, he sets out to change the world one painting at a time. \nWith inspiring text and stunning illustrations by Nikkolas Smith\, The Artivist is a call to action for young readers to point out injustice in their lives and try to heal the broken bones of the world through their art.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-special-storytime-featuring-nikkolas-smith-reading-from-the-artivist/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Nikkolas-Smith-Storytime-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230907T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230907T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T154247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T154247Z
UID:10003564-1694113200-1694113200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Laura Picklesimer discusses Kill For Love
DESCRIPTION:Kill for Love is a searing satirical thriller about Tiffany\, a privileged Los Angeles sorority sister who is struggling to keep her sadistic impulses–and haunting nightmares of fire and destruction–at bay. After a frat party hookup devolves into a bloody\, fatal affair\, Tiffany realizes something within her has awoken: the insatiable desire to kill attractive young men. \nAs Tiffany’s bloodlust deepens and the bodies pile up\, she must contend with mounting legal scrutiny\, social media-fueled competing murders\, and her growing relationship with Weston\, who she thinks could be the perfect boyfriend. A female-driven\, modern-day American Psycho\, Kill for Love exposes modern toxic plasticity with dark comedy and propulsive plot.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-laura-picklesimer-discusses-kill-for-love/
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/2023/08/Laura-Picklesimer-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230902T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230902T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T153501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T153501Z
UID:10003562-1693652400-1693652400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Special Storytime Featuring Susi Schafer presents The Glow Show
DESCRIPTION:In this delightful undersea story\, kids will boost their social emotional learning and explore the importance of cooperation and friendship–and discover incredible true facts about sea creatures. Perfect for fans of The Rainbow Fish! \nGlow is a bioluminescent squid who loves to dance and twirl. And the faster he twirls\, the brighter he GLOWS! He loves to show off his skills…and becomes quite a show-off with a bad attitude. He doesn’t like sharing the spotlight. And when he ditches his friends in search of fans\, he loses his glow! Can Glow find his way home–and if he does\, will his friends take him back? As readers follow Glow’s journey\, they’ll learn all about bioluminescence and fascinating ocean creatures along the way.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-special-storytime-featuring-susi-schafer-presents-the-glow-show/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Susi-Schaefer-Special-Storytime-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230830T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230830T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T230903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T230903Z
UID:10003383-1693422000-1693422000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Exploring Southern California Vantage Points with Made In L.A. Writers
DESCRIPTION:In Los Angeles\, the only constant is change. Our lives go through cycles and rotations. We incorporate new ideas\, people\, workplaces\, and patterns as we create the futures we have dreamed of since childhood. The stories we tell are malleable and shifting. We seek out places to survey the world around us\, to understand where we’ve come from\, where we are\, and where we’re going. In a sprawling\, intricately patterned landscape shaped by the lives of millions\, we find commonalities and differences\, joy and sorrow\, and moments of convergence. \nIn this fifth volume of the Made in L.A. fiction anthology series\, stories are told through lenses focused on the aptitude of Angelenos to reinvent and reimagine\, to take action for ourselves and for others. As storytellers\, Angelenos understand that to seek truth in a world of continual shifts and evolution requires constant readjustment of the prism through which we perceive modern society. To solve the failures and dilemmas of the past\, present\, and future\, we must observe from every conceivable angle\, and from every vantage point.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-exploring-southern-california-vantage-points-with-made-in-l-a-writers/
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/2023/07/Made-in-LA-website-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230829T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230829T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T230315Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T230315Z
UID:10003382-1693335600-1693335600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Tyler Parker discusses A Little Blood and Dancing
DESCRIPTION:It’s a tale as old as time: doomed romance\, bloody revenge\, fast food\, and the voice of God. Welcome to Tyler Parker’s Oklahoma\, and one of the most anticipated debut novels of the year from one of our best\, funniest new writers. \nCheck out Sylvia Table: he drives a seafoam-green 1968 Ranchero\, owns a badass sword\, and is one dead uncle away from an inheritance that should set him and the love of his life\, Lady Sixkiller\, on the road to easy living and the family she’s always wanted. Sure\, he may not be cut out for any kind of conventional job\, but as long as Lady can hold things down as a waitress until rich old Methuselah shuffles off this mortal coil\, what’s the big deal? Yes\, things are looking good for Sylvia Table\, aka Big Noise\, aka Grandest Poobah\, aka Big Quiche. \nBut uncles don’t always die on schedule\, maternal clocks keep ticking with increasing urgency\, doing crimes beats working for a living\, and the past refuses to stay buried. In this case\, the past takes the form of Priscilla Blackwood\, a woman locked in an eternal one-sided conversation with Jesus Christ Himself\, and dead set on enacting vengeance for the murder of her father\, which she witnessed as a little girl. Whether Table knows it or not\, he’s on a collision course with an avenging angel who believes she’s got the Lord on her side. \nCombining the linguistic punch of Elmore Leonard\, the living landscapes of Cormac McCarthy\, and the comic soul of Charles Portis\, A Little Blood and Dancing announces Tyler Parker as one of our most extraordinary new voices. (Strange Light)
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-tyler-parker-discusses-a-little-blood-and-dancing/
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/2023/07/Tyler-Parker-event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230827T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230827T160000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T225843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T225843Z
UID:10003381-1693152000-1693152000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Local Author Day featuring Charlie Retts\, Sharon Heath\, and Christopher M. Allport
DESCRIPTION:Charlie Retts presents It’s All About You! \nMiddle management is the glue that holds organizations together\, yet many middle managers encounter a lack of support from upper management and massive employee disengagement. This book is a practical solution. Based on Charlie Retts’ decades of experience in middle management\, along with his doctorate in adult education\, this book will help you in assessing your own current leadership style\, and then guide you to become a more effective and engaged manager. Using stories\, Retts helps the reader explore real-life situations to assess all the options that could have been available\, as well as assessing what you might have done. Each chapter ends with reflection questions and “key points.” Along the way\, brief “stop for a moment” reflections help to focus on the reasons and benefits of different approaches. \n  \nSharon Heath presents The Mysterious Composition of Tears \nAfter a series of climate calamities\, physicist Fleur Robins takes off for deep space in a desperate attempt to save the species from extinction. During her mysteriously prolonged absence\, the internet has crashed\, fire and flood have devastated whole countries\, and End of Times cults have proliferated. There have been some intriguingly hopeful changes\, too-nanoparticle holograms have replaced electronic devices\, young people are witnessing exquisitely colorful “Shimmers\,” and the most gifted of them converse regularly with animals and trees. \nWhile Fleur’s distraught husband Adam leads their Caltech physics team in frantic efforts to pinpoint her whereabouts\, and Fleur herself plots her return home\, their teenaged children Callay and Wolf fall in love with surprising partners. But when the charming son of an End of Times pastor crosses Wolf’s path during a particularly vibrant Shimmer\, events are set in motion that will upend everyone’s life and transform planet Earth itself. \nThis latest installment of Sharon Heath’s saga of the quirky Nobelist Fleur is simultaneously a vision of what awaits us in a post-Covid world\, a wild romp through quantum reality\, and a deep sea dive into the dark and light vagaries of the human heart. \n  \nChristopher M. Allport presents Senja Chronicles \nDuring a terrifying home invasion\, a Scandinavian hunter’s teenage daughter is kidnapped\, and his wife is brutally killed. After a botched police investigation\, Sigurd Martinsen finds himself connected to Echo Team\, an exclusive NATO special-ops unit.\nOld Norse legends are awakened when Echo’s shocking discoveries turn out to be far worse than the suspected Russian-backed militants\, hiding in an obsolete\, Nazi-created\, World War II era tunnel system.\nWhat happens deep within the bowels of Northern Norway’s fabled Segla Mountain when Sigurd and Echo Team — like modern-day Vikings — find themselves up against menacing cave-dwelling trolls\, who have been awakened and are ready to kill intruders?
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-local-author-day-featuring-charlie-retts-sharon-heath-and-christopher-m-allport/
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/2023/07/Local-author-day-2-Event-Banner_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230827T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230827T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T225247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T225247Z
UID:10003380-1693134000-1693134000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Local Author Day young readers edition featuring Vanessa Lanang\, Dr. Joy Pillay\, and Alexandra Adlawan
DESCRIPTION:Kaliyah is sworn to slay the dragon that took her mother’s life. But\, even with the skills of generations of slayers coursing through her veins\, she’s not prepared for Ryu\, the one boy who can make her question everything she believes. When the Dragon Akademie orders an unwarranted execution of two slayers\, Kaliyah is shocked by the revelation of their corrupt rule. Seeking vengeance for her mother\, she forges an alliance with Ryu. With dangerous lies uncovered at every turn\, Kaliyah and Ryu’s worlds converge\, stoking the flames between them. But one dark secret they both share could rip them apart…if it doesn’t destroy Kaliyah first.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-local-author-day-young-readers-edition-featuring-vanessa-lanang-dr-joy-pillay-and-alexandra-adlawan/
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/2023/07/Local-author-day-YOUNG-READERS-Website-Event-banner-UPDATED-7.13.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230826T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230826T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T224703Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T224703Z
UID:10003379-1693072800-1693076400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Summer Music Series: The Ukelele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere
DESCRIPTION:The Ukelele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere is a group of roughly twelve-ish ukes of all shapes\, sizes\, and pedigrees\, played by a similarly esoteric bunch of people. The music you hear was not meant to be played on ukulele: classic rock\, new wave hits\, rap and dance-pop tunes\, recent Top 40\, torch song classics\, and all sorts of other bits and bobs of musical history. Just no ukelele music. The UOWH has a long history playing at local venues\, with a particular enthusiasm for appearances at fundraisers\, community events\, school fairs\, retirement homes\, weddings and other private events\, and sketchy traveling circuses. The band is the subject of the documentary STRUMMERS.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-summer-music-series-the-ukelele-orchestra-of-the-western-hemisphere/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Music,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Summer-Music-Series-Banner-August-26_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230826T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230826T130000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T224156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T224156Z
UID:10003378-1693054800-1693054800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Tom Phillips discusses The Curious League of Detectives & Thieves 2: SOS
DESCRIPTION:Fresh off recovering a billion-dollar ruby and losing the criminal who stole it\, John Boarhog and Inspector Toadius McGee are soaring high on a new adventure. Hoping to intercept the Mauve Moth before they execute their next great heist\, Toadius and John book passage on Her Majesty’s Royal Air Armada–a luxury cruise liner airship. But alas\, there will be no clear skies ahead. A committee from the Society of Sleuths (S.O.S) is also aboard\, ready to put John through his first trial to gain full membership\, despite Toadius’s objections. \nFurious with his mentor\, John falls in with the Hive\, a group of kids obsessed with using social media for fame. They see how valuable he is\, even if Toadius doesn’t. \nBut when both the Mauve Moth and Shim-Sham resurface\, each with their own nefarious aims\, will the detective duo be able to see past their disagreements to\, once again\, save the day? \nThe second book in the Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series\, S.O.S. is a hilarious\, high-flying\, heart-pounding mystery adventure readers won’t be able to put down.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-tom-phillips-discusses-the-curious-league-of-detectives-thieves-2-sos/
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/2023/07/Tom-Philips-event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230824T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230824T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T223553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T223609Z
UID:10003377-1692903600-1692903600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Janeane Bernstein discusses Better Humans
DESCRIPTION:When a global pandemic exacerbated a pre-existing mental health crisis\, the US was left with a mental health pandemic. This opened a Pandora’s box revealing what was long denied–we must prioritize mental health in all aspects of society\, eliminate disparities and stigma\, and become better humans. \nThe world was turned upside down in March 2020 by a virus no one expected to turn into a global pandemic. While millions experienced loss and disruption of life\, the pandemic put lives on pause\, making the nation turn inward to question the life Americans were living pre-pandemic and examine who and what really mattered in this time of financial\, emotional\, and interpersonal upheaval. Depression\, anxiety\, violence\, substance abuse\, and mental health illnesses soared in what became a mental health pandemic. Children lost parents\, millions lost jobs\, and thousands of teachers and health and wellness professionals abandoned their fields. \nThis has been a tremendous time of reflection on how to be better to ourselves\, and to humanity as a whole. What can we learn from this global disruption and how can we become better humans? To start\, we can’t look away anymore. The suffering is vast\, and the stakes are high. The voices of the pandemic have insightful lessons to teach each and every one of us. It’s time to silence our distractions\, listen\, and create transformative\, sustainable strategies that prioritize the health and well-being of humanity.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-janeane-bernsten-discusses-better-humans/
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/2023/07/Janeane-Bernstein-event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230823T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230823T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T222944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T223029Z
UID:10003376-1692817200-1692817200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Yunte Huang in conversation with Paula Yoo\, discusses Daughter of the Dragon
DESCRIPTION:Born into the steam and starch of a Chinese laundry\, Anna May Wong (1905-1961) emerged from turn-of-the-century Los Angeles to become Old Hollywood’s most famous Chinese American actress\, a screen siren who captivated global audiences and signed her publicity photos–with a touch of defiance–“Orientally yours.” Now\, more than a century after her birth\, Yunte Huang narrates Wong’s tragic life story\, retracing her journey from Chinatown to silent-era Hollywood\, and from Weimar Berlin to decadent\, prewar Shanghai\, and capturing American television in its infancy. As Huang shows\, Wong’s rendezvous with history features a remarkable parade of characters\, including a smitten Walter Benjamin and (an equally smitten) Marlene Dietrich. Challenging the parodically racist perceptions of Wong as a “Dragon Lady\,” “Madame Butterfly\,” or “China Doll\,” Huang’s biography becomes a truly resonant work of history that reflects the raging anti-Chinese xenophobia\, unabashed sexism\, and ageism toward women that defined both Hollywood and America in Wong’s all-too-brief fifty-six years on earth.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-yunte-huang-in-conversation-with-paula-yoo-discuss-daughter-of-the-dragon/
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/2023/07/Yunte-Huang-Event-Banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230822T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230822T180000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T222152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T222152Z
UID:10003375-1692727200-1692727200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Group Event Celebrating the release of the Caltech Anthology: Inner Space and Outer Thought
DESCRIPTION:Participants include: Ann Bernath\, S.B. Divya\, Richard Doyle\, Ashish Mahabal\, Christine Corbett Moran\, and Rachael Kuintzle \nFact ignites fiction in this first-of-its-kind anthology of speculative tales by Caltech and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) scientists\, engineers\, technologists\, and students. Experts at the frontiers of their fields\, along with renowned Caltech alumni such as David Brin\, S. B. Divya\, and Larry Niven\, present stories about alien astrobiologists\, AI parenthood\, a quest to preserve our histories beyond the heat death of the universe\, a heist to steal engineering secrets from an ancient monk-scientist\, the recovery of a long-lost phase of the human life cycle\, the demise of Earth’s first intelligent species—billions of years before the rise of humanity\, and much more!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-group-event-celebrating-the-release-of-the-caltech-anthology-inner-space-and-outer-thought/
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/2023/07/CalTech-Anthology-Event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230819T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230819T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T220505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T220535Z
UID:10003374-1692442800-1692442800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vromans: Final Destination Party with artist Brady Smith
DESCRIPTION:When you BOOK A TRIP\, it’s a good idea to check out the local art scene. \nAs we approach our final destination\, Brady Smith — artist and writer of RANDOM ACTS OF DRAWNESS and the LOUIE AND BEAR graphic novels\, to name a few — will be on hand to help us celebrate the completion of Vroman’s Bookstore’s 2023 Summer Reading Program\, and WOW us with his artistic skills! \nBrady will read his book\, BUG SANDWICH! Then he’ll take art prompts from the crowd\, which Brady will draw in 30 seconds or less! \nBe a part of the party! Chat about books and trade tales of thrills and adventure with your fellow travelers! \nCOLLECT YOUR REWARDS AND PRIZES! \nAnd always remember\, “No matter where you go\, there you are!” \nView Brady Smith’s art at www.bradysmith.com and witness his family’s shenanigans on Instagram: @bradysmithhere \nPlease make a reservation: rsvp@vromansbookstore.com
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-final-destination-party-with-artist-brady-smith/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Final-Destination-Party-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230816T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230816T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T215240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T215240Z
UID:10003372-1692212400-1692212400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Alex Brown\, in conversation with Justine Pucella Winans\, discusses 'Damned If You Do'
DESCRIPTION:Queer Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Filipino folklore in this horror comedy about a high school stage manager who accidentally sells her soul to a demon. \nSeven years ago\, Cordelia Scott’s abusive father left without a word\, and life has been normal ever since. The seventeen-year-old spends her days stage managing the school play (which is going great\, if anyone asks)\, pining over her best friend\, Veronica\, and failing one too many pop quizzes. \nShe’s never been sad that her father left\, but she knows something is…missing. When her school guidance counselor\, Fred\, reveals during a session that he’s actually a demon\, she learns that something is indeed missing: a piece of her actual soul. Why? She unwittingly made a deal with him to make her father disappear – then bargained to have the memory erased. To make matters worse\, Fred is here to make another bargain: Help him with a “little” demonic problem\, or she’s doomed to spend eternity in Hell with her father.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-alex-brown-in-conversation-with-justine-pucella-winans-discusses-damned-if-you-do/
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/2023/07/Alex-Brown-Event-Banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T214751Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T214751Z
UID:10003371-1692126000-1692126000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Thomas Vozzo discusses the Homeboy Way: A Radical approach to Business and Life
DESCRIPTION:Leading with heart\, authenticity and purpose\, Thomas Vozzo provides a clear path to a new bottom line–including 55 rules to break–bringing the Homeboy Way to life as the perfect anecdote to the massive tidal currents of social injustice and inequities. \nBy every traditional measurement of success\, Vozzo was a clear winner. In his world of billion-dollar revenues and million-dollar profits\, he knew exactly what shareholders wanted and how to get it for them. \nThen\, through a series of fateful events\, Vozzo landed as CEO of Homeboy Industries\, the most successful gang intervention\, rehabilitation\, and re-entry program in the country\, founded by Jesuit priest Greg Boyle. “I arrived at Homeboy at a time when I needed to learn more about myself and my life’s journey\,” Vozzo writes. “And after 8 years of working with the poor\, forgotten\, and demonized people of our society\, I’ve come to learn that I didn’t really know as much about life as I thought.” \nVozzo’s enlightening journey leads to his recognition that a radical approach is needed in business and in life: “What Homeboy has taught me is that we need to do business differently . . . . We need to bust up the system\, swim upstream\, avoid herd mentality.” \nBlending personal stories of his day-to-day with Fr. Greg and the Homies along with counterintuitive business ideas that are changing lives for the better\, Vozzo shows you how you can live\, lead\, and shake things up with toughness\, determination\, compassion\, and grit. \nThat’s the Homeboy Way.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-thomas-vozzo-discusses-the-homeboy-way-a-radical-approach-to-business-and-life/
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/2023/07/Thomas-Vozzo-Event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T180000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T161739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T161739Z
UID:10003572-1692122400-1692122400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Grace Lin\, In Conversation with John Cho\, Discusses Chinese Menu
DESCRIPTION:From fried dumplings to fortune cookies\, here are the tales behind your favorite foods. \nDo you know the stories behind delectable dishes–like the fun connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Or how dumplings cured a village’s frostbitten ears? Or how wonton soup tells about the creation of the world? \nSeparated into courses like a Chinese menu\, these tales–based in real history and folklore–are filled with squabbling dragons\, magical fruits\, and hungry monks. This book will bring you to far-off times and marvelous places\, all while making your mouth water. And\, along the way\, you might just discover a deeper understanding of the resilience and triumph behind this food\, and what makes it undeniably American. \nAward-winning and bestselling author Grace Lin provides a visual and storytelling feast as she gives insight on the history\, legends\, and myths behind your favorite American Chinese dishes. Chinese Menu makes the perfect gift book for anyone who loves good food–and an even better story. (Little\, Brown Books for Young Readers) \nNew York Times bestselling author John Cho is known as Harold from Harold & Kumar\, Hikaru Sulu from J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek\, or as the star of the highly anticipated live-action Netflix series\, Cowboy Bebop\, based on the worldwide cult anime phenomenon (news of which “broke the Internet\,” to quote Vanity Fair).  John is also a former 7th-grade English teacher who grew up as a Korean immigrant kid in Texas and East L.A. (among many other places). He is also now a proud father\, with his Japanese-American wife Kerri\, of two beautiful children — a 9-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old boy — who love to read.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-grace-lin-in-conversation-with-john-cho-discusses-chinese-menu/
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/2023/08/Grace-Lin-Banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230815T170000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T175727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T175727Z
UID:10003583-1692086400-1692118800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Live: Sophie Diener and Lang Leav
DESCRIPTION:Register early for an email reminder!\nCROWDCAST LINK: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/diener-leav \nPoets Sophie Diener and Lang Leav present their latest releases\, Someone Somewhere Maybe and Others Were Emeralds\, respectively. \nSomeone Somewhere Maybe – For fans of Rupi Kaur\, Cleo Wade\, and Amanda Lovelace\, Someone Somewhere Maybe speaks to the joys and sorrows of finding your way as a young woman today. Poignant and beautifully written\, TikTok fan favorite Sophie Diener’s debut poetry collection takes readers on an introspective journey through first love\, first heartbreak\, first loss\, identity\, and self-worth. Filled with honesty and warmth\, each poem reveals something new about the human condition\, and brilliantly captures what growing up feels like\, in a way that is both relatable and affirming. Someone Somewhere Maybe is the perfect companion for a rainy day\, curling up in bed with a cup of tea\, sitting on the porch with a glass of lemonade\, or laying on the beach watching the waves. It offers readers hope\, healing\, understanding\, and the certainty that they are not alone. (St. Martin’s Griffin) \nOthers Were Emeralds – The daughter of Cambodian refugees\, Ai grew up in the small Australian town of Whitlam populated by Asian immigrants who once fled war-torn countries to rebuild their shattered lives. It is now the late 90’s and despite their parent’s harrowing past\, Ai and her tightknit group of school friends: charismatic Brigitte\, sweet\, endearing Bowie\, shy\, inscrutable Tin\, and politically minded Sying\, lead seemingly ordinary lives\, far removed from the unimaginable horrors suffered by their parents. But that carefree innocence is shattered in their last year of school when Ai and her friends encounter a pair of racist men whose cruel acts of intimidation spiral into senseless violence. Grappling with the magnitude of her grief at such a young age\, Ai leaves Whitlam for college before her trauma has a chance to fully resolve. In her second year of college Ai suffers a mental health crisis\, driving her back home to Whitlam\, a place she swore never to return. There\, she reconnects with those she left behind and together they are compelled to look back on the tragedy that shaped their adolescence and examine the role they may have unwittingly played.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-live-sophie-diener-and-lang-leav/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sohpie-Diener-and-Lang-Leav-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230813T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230813T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T214346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T214346Z
UID:10003370-1691924400-1691924400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Special Storytime featuring Mirelle Ortega\, in conversation with Danielle Davis\, presenting River of Mariposas
DESCRIPTION:From the author of Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land comes a story of imagination and the determination of a child to bring back the butterflies–even if she has to make them herself \nCan you imagine a time when the land and the sky belonged to the mariposas? I can . . . \nA young girl dreams of the land’s historic mariposas amarillas and is determined to re-create their glory\, even if her butterflies are made of paper. But when nature thwarts her plans\, life\, magic\, and yes\, even the rain\, bring something more beautiful than she ever could have crafted. Based on the author’s own memories of a hurricane that diverted the migration of thousands of butterflies through her hometown near Veracruz\, Mexico\, this beautiful story captures the essence of imagination and the beauty of the unexpected. (Cameron Kids)
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-special-storytime-featuring-mirelle-ortega-in-conversation-with-danielle-davis-presenting-river-of-mariposas/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mirelle-Ortega-Event-Special-Storytime-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230812T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230812T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T213506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T213506Z
UID:10003368-1691838000-1691838000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Special Storytime featuring Charlotte Offsay presenting Challah Day
DESCRIPTION:It’s Challah Day! A family mixes\, kneads\, and braids bread in this joyful\, rhyming story about Jewish holiday food that’s baked with love. \nFrom kneading sticky dough to gathering with family around the table\, Challah Day celebrates family\, food\, heritage\, and tradition! Join this happy family as they bake delicious braided egg bread for their Friday night Shabbat dinner. \nYeast and sugar – water’s warm\,\nmix and watch those bubbles form!\nCrack the eggs – one… two… three… four\nExtra if some hit the floor. \nMessy flour and laughter abound. The scent of warm bread fills the house. Grandma and Grandpa bring the candles and hugs. Parents\, kids\, and baby too\, can read this kid-friendly\, rhyming recipe together. \nInspired by memories author Charlotte Offsay and illustrator Jason Kirschner have of baking Challah with their children\, Challah Day celebrates the sweetness of sharing homemade food as a family. \nIn the back of the book\, read about the cultural importance of Challah and Jewish traditions. This read aloud can be a joyful introduction to a new culture or a cozy way to celebrate a familiar one. Perfect for any occasion as a holiday gift or the start of a new weekly tradition. \nA Challah recipe is included. (Holiday House) \n 
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-special-storytime-featuring-charlotte-offsay-presenting-challah-day/
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/2023/07/Charlotte-Offsay-Special-Storytime-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230811T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230811T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T212718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T212718Z
UID:10003367-1691780400-1691780400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Mark Shrager discusses 'The First Kentucky Derby'
DESCRIPTION:Today’s Kentucky Derby is a multimillion-dollar spectacle involving corporate sponsorship\, worldwide media coverage\, and an annual citywide festival in Louisville. Over its nearly century-and-a-half history\, the Kentucky Derby has grown to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year\, attracting 150\,000 spectators at the track and nearly 15 million television viewers on the first Saturday each May. But 1875\, the year of the first Derby\, was a different time. The Louisville Jockey Club track\, which would one day bear the name “Churchill Downs\,” was a small structure that might\, on its best day\, provide seating and standing room for 12\,000 spectators. The grandstand was plain and functional and included a section reserved for bookmakers\, whose trade was legal and who operated in the open. Perhaps most significantly\, the majority of jockeys in the race were Black\, in stark contrast to the present-day Derby\, where participation by African-American jockeys is rare. In The First Kentucky Derby\, racing historian Mark Shrager examines the events leading up to the first “Run for the Roses\,” the unsuccessful effort that the winning owner might have made to rig the race for his preferred horse\, and the prominent role played by African Americans in Gilded Age racing culture–a holdover from pre-emancipation days\, when slaves were trained from birth to ride for their wealthy owners and grew up surrounded by the horses that would be their life’s work. (Eclipse Press)
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-mark-shrager-discusses-the-first-kentucky-derby/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Mark-Shrager-Event-banner_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230810T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230810T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230808T235224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230808T235224Z
UID:10003561-1691686800-1691694000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's 1894 Bar: Jazz Night
DESCRIPTION:Vroman’s 1894 Bar will host Jazz Night this upcoming Thursday\, August 10th\, starting at 5 pm. Be sure to get there early as seating is limited. Enjoy a glass of wine\, a good book\, and complimentary live music.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-1894-bar-jazz-night/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Music,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jazz-Night-Vromans-1984-Agusut-10th.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230809T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230809T190000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230718T212114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230718T212114Z
UID:10003366-1691607600-1691607600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Doug McIntyre and Penny Peyser present Frank's Shadow and Sonnets from Suburbia: More Candles than Cake
DESCRIPTION:Frank’s Shadow: Newlywed Danny McKenna’s honeymoon ends abruptly when he learns his father has died\, uncannily\, on the same day as his hero\, Frank Sinatra. Returning home to his knotty Irish American family\, Danny is confronted with a painful truth–while he knows everything about the famous singer\, his own father is a mystery. Tasked with giving a eulogy for a man he hardly knows\, Danny sets out to uncover his dad’s past–an immigrant’s tale of mid-twentieth-century America and the harsh realities of WWII lived in stark contrast to Frank Sinatra’s famously extravagant life. \nAlong the way\, Danny’s own demons nearly destroy him as he struggles to accept his father’s deepest secret–a journey that takes him into the heart of darkness before he learns to live in the light. \n​Fame\, family\, and forgiveness are among the many themes in Doug McIntyre’s debut novel\, a story full of vibrant scenery\, gripping characters\, humor\, and profound moments of self-realization. Frank’s Shadow is a deeply (sometimes darkly) human story wrapped in the trappings of a delightfully gritty love letter to New York City’s less glamorous neighborhoods. (Greenleaf Book Group Press) \nSonnets From Suburbia: If Shakespeare Were a lady… A cross between humorous poetry and memoir\, Sonnets from Suburbia features Lady Penelope (aka actress Penny Peyser) serving up a funny take on modern day life in Shakespearean sonnet form. \nFrom the foibles of friendship to sexual relationships gone awry\, to aging bodies that misbehave\, to the woes of social media and confounding familial tussles\, she has the uncanny ability to make us smile out loud and chuckle with recognition. This is definitely one of those books for when you need a good laugh. \nThe clever\, compassionate sonnets inside this book make a perfect gift for birthdays\, anniversaries\, and Valentine’s Day and are sure to delight women over 40 (all female readers actually) and the men who love them. \nThink Shakespeare at the mall. \nFor fans of Judith Viorst\, Amy Sedaris and Dorothy Parker. Sonnets from Suburbia is long-time actress Penny Peyser’s first foray into poetry and sonnets\, and she couldn’t be more thrilled about this new venture. \n 
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-doug-mcintyre-and-penny-peyser-present-franks-shadow-and-sonnets-from-suburbia-more-candles-than-cake/
LOCATION:CA
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Doug-McIntyre-and-Penny-Peyser-Event-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230809T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20230809T110000
DTSTAMP:20260506T234034
CREATED:20230815T155250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230815T155336Z
UID:10003565-1691578800-1691578800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's: Special Storytime featuring Donn Swaby Reading from It'll Be Irie
DESCRIPTION:Raymond can’t wait to move to America. He is determined to be the most American American ever! But when he gets to his new school his Jamaican roots show through and he must figure out how to be the most Raymond Raymond ever.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-special-storytime-featuring-donn-swaby-reading-from-itll-be-irie/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Donn-Swaby-Storytime-banner.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR