SCCM: Let’s Jump Into Spring with The Sunshine Storyteller
2026-03-28 13:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Southern California Children’s Museum, 459 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91011, United States
Southern California Children’s Museum invites families to celebrate the season with stories, songs, and movement games in a lively springtime program. Emmy winner Ina Buckner-Barnette brings stories to life through dynamic storytelling, encouraging children and caregivers to dance, sing, and move together in this engaging 30-minute interactive experience. Two sessions are available to accommodate families.

Boston Court: Chad Cannon & Hui Wu: Music for the Ocean
2026-03-28 20:00 | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
Music for the Ocean is a set of new compositions and improvisations by violinist/composer Chad Cannon, performed alongside pianist Hui Wu, featuring brand-new animations by Timothy Rauch. This concert evokes the ocean and all its complex marine life through music, animation, and sound design.

Vroman's Bookstore: Chris Jennings, in conversation with Jim Newton, discusses & signs End of Days: Ruby Ridge, the Apocalypse, and the Unmaking of America
2026-03-30 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The gripping story of the Ruby Ridge siege, showing how the historic standoff between federal agents and a white-separatist family set the stage for the conspiracy-laced politics of the Trump era.
“Vivid, frightening, and fascinating…This book blew me away and opened my eyes.”–Walter Isaacson, author of The Code Breaker and Elon Musk
On August 21, 1992, shots rang out while federal agents were surveilling a cabin in Boundary County, Idaho as part of an operation to arrest Randy Weaver–a reclusive, mountain-dwelling survivalist–for failure to appear in court on a gun charge. When Weaver finally surrendered to the authorities eleven days later, his wife, son, and dog lay dead, as did a US Marshal. Ever since, America has been trying to make sense of what happened on Ruby Ridge. Today, the question could not be more urgent, as the shock waves from Ruby Ridge have amplified and compounded, cracking the very foundations of our democracy.
In End of Days, Chris Jennings explains the significance of this historic siege by setting the story of the Weaver family within the long history of apocalyptic Christianity in the United States, illuminating the ways in which that faith has gradually transformed the nation. The strain of doomsday Christianity that gripped the Weavers, he shows, was grounded in a particular reading of biblical prophecy that can be traced back to the 1870s and up through the twentieth-century rise of Christian fundamentalism to the right-wing conspiracism that now defines American society and politics. The events at Ruby Ridge acted as an accelerant for this spreading worldview, and are essential to understanding the crisis that our nation confronts today.

Vroman's Bookstore: Easter Storytime with Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie
2026-04-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
Vroman’s Bookstore invites little readers to a very special Easter Storytime with Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie on Wednesday, April 1 at 11am. Filled with books and songs celebrating bunnies, Easter eggs, and baby chicks, it’s sure to be an egg-citing morning that every-bunny will not want to miss.

Vroman's Bookstore: Ava Morgyn discusses & signs Only Spell Deep
2026-04-01 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Rebecca meets The Craft in this dark, atmospheric novel of one witch rediscovering her power while on the run from another willing to kill her for it.
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Bane Witch!
Judeth Cole has always had certain uncanny abilities. But when she arrived at Solidago, her grandfather’s estate by the sea, she was forced to keep them secret. There she lived a harsh life under his rule and the haunting legacy of her late grandmother, Aurelia. Until the fateful day she ignited a fire with her magic. It was the last time she saw her family alive.
Seventeen years later, she’s living in Seattle as Jude Clark, and failing at life, when she makes a last detour through her favorite bookstore, selecting a book to read as she waits to die. But when she pulls it from the shelf, an invitation to her for a clandestine midnight meeting slips out.
Jude is quickly swept up into a world of secrets and magic, discovering a circle of powerful new companions led by the mysterious, enigmatic Arla. The source of their magic, Arla tells her, is an entity, trapped and bound, that they call The Fathom. But Jude swiftly realizes Arla wants this power all to herself, and that she’s willing to kill for it.
Terrified, Jude turns to Levi, the handsome bookseller who’s seen her at her worst. With his help, she begins a research journey that leads her all the way back to Solidago, the house she swore to never return to. Now, the Fathom threatening to break free and Arla on the hunt, Jude must finally face her past to save her future.
Ava Morgyn’s Only Spell Deep is a novel that takes readers on a journey into a dark, glittering world of magic, a place where power should never be caged and misplaced trust can have deadly consequences.
“Only Spell Deep is beautifully written and richly immersive, weaving a gothic atmosphere with supernatural tension in a story about reclaiming one’s power in more ways than one and unraveling generational trauma. Morgyn builds a world that feels both mythic and real, where gods walk among us and the most terrifying magic is the kind passed down through blood. This novel cast a lasting spell on me. I was all in.” – Katy Foraker, author of Memories, Lies, and Other Binds
“Only Spell Deep is a dark parable of feminine rage and power, blending horror, fantasy, and mythology seamlessly into the streets and hidden places of modern-day Seattle. With gorgeous prose, Ava Morgyn weaves a spell of her own and gives us a courageous heroine to root for.” – Alyssa Palombo, author of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel

SCCM: You've Got This: Navigating Starting School
2026-04-02 17:30 - 19:00 | Southern California Children’s Museum, 459 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91011, United States
Southern California Children’s Museum invites families this April to You’ve Got This: Navigating Starting School, a three-part parent learning series presented in partnership with Pasadena Education Network and author and parent coach Gia Gambaro Blount. Held on Thursday evenings, the series offers practical guidance and a supportive space for families to ask questions, connect, and prepare for this important milestone.
Together, participants will explore the differences between TK and PreK, how to choose a school that reflects their family’s values, and how to navigate the Pasadena Unified enrollment process.
Families are encouraged to bring their questions—and even dinner. Doors open at 5:30 PM, and children are welcome to enjoy playtime in the museum during the workshop.
Attend one session or all three and connect with a community of families navigating this next chapter together.

Vroman's Bookstore: Scott Broker & Sheldon Costa discuss & sign The Disappointment and The Great Work
2026-04-03 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Set during a doom-fated vacation to the Oregon coast, The Disappointment follows a couple trying to hold close to one another while a bent reality–warped by personal losses and an ever-increasing drift toward the surreal–threatens to unravel them
It’s the night before a much-needed vacation, and Jack–a former playwright mourning his failed career–catches his husband, Randy, packing his mother’s urn. They had agreed: no mother on this trip. Parents, living or otherwise, aren’t the ideal guests for romantic getaways. But Randy has been carrying his mother’s remains everywhere since her death, and he isn’t ready to let go now.
Despite its natural beauty and kitschy charm, the Oregon coast does not provide the respite the couple seeks. Instead, their surroundings and encounters with locals grow increasingly surreal as the days pass. An overly dedicated Method actor, tantra-obsessed neighbors, and a child environmentalist who may be able to communicate with the dead are but a few of the characters whose presence exposes long-simmering tensions that threaten to undo Jack and Randy’s marriage–to say nothing of their hold on reality.
Told with sly, irreverent humor and shot through with dark currents of envy and longing for something other than what one has, The Disappointment explores the mutual exhilaration and terror of being placed center stage in one’s own life.
The Great Work
“A moody, atmospheric, and singular novel which navigates corners of American history through the complicated territory of horror, the monstrous, and the heroic.”–Kelly Link, best-selling author of The Book of Love
An alchemist and his teenage nephew hunt down a legend in this profound and unsettling speculative Western, for fans of Karen Russell and Victor LaValle.
Alone in a frontier town in the nineteenth-century Pacific Northwest, Gentle Montgomery is grieving his best friend. Liam was an alchemist, killed when he tried to capture a creature that shouldn’t exist: a giant salamander that drives men mad. When Gentle’s nephew, Kitt, arrives at his doorstep, the two set out together to track the monster down so they can use its blood in an alchemical formula that will bring Liam back to life.
It’s a hard and haunted journey. The salamander produces surreal nightmares and waking dreams of a blighted, burning future. And Gentle and Kitt soon find themselves pursued by a bloodthirsty hunter, a sadistic judge, and a doomsday cult, all of whom have their own plans for the river monster. Armed with nothing but Liam’s alchemical notebooks, they must not only find the salamander but learn to understand it–and the terrifying visions it causes–before it’s too late. And as Gentle struggles to comprehend this harrowing experience, it becomes clear that the Great Work of the alchemists may pale in comparison to the small work of human connection.
Sheldon Costa’s dark, vivid, and strangely hopeful debut novel is a supernatural adventure through the wilderness of friendship and the rotten heart of the early American empire.

The Lizard & El Sol
2026-04-04 09:30 | Playhouse Village Park, 701 Union St, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Adapted from Alma Flor Ada’s cherished folktale set in Mexico, this vibrant, bilingual story follows a small but fearless lizard on a quest to bring back the missing sun. With live music, bold visuals, and a heartwarming message about perseverance and community, The Lizard & El Sol is a joyful first theater experience for young audiences and a celebration of the light we bring to the world.
Adaptada del cuento popular de Alma Flor Ada situado en México, esta vibrante historia bilingüe sigue a una lagartija pequeña y valiente en su búsqueda para recuperar el sol perdido. Con música en vivo, imágenes audaces y un mensaje conmovedor sobre la perseverancia y la comunidad, The Lizard & El Sol es una experiencia teatral alegre para el público joven y una celebración de la luz que traemos todos al mundo.
The play is presented primarily in Spanish, but is designed to be enjoyed and understood by both Spanish and non-Spanish speakers.
La obra se presenta principalmente en español, pero está diseñada para que la disfruten y la entiendan tanto hispanohablantes como no hispanohablantes.

Vroman's Bookstore: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: Together by Mona Damluji
2026-04-04 11:30 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The Pasadena Conservatory of Music will be putting on a special musical storytime with the featured book: Together by Mona Damluji. Caregivers and children aged 3-9 will enjoy story, craft activities, creative movement, and a mini-concert!

Vroman's Bookstore: Woody Brown presents Upward Bound: A Novel
2026-04-04 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Upward Bound is not a place anyone dreams of spending their days. The dreary adult daycare center for Los Angeles’s disabled community is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister, Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the center’s pool who feels out of her depth. Then there’s Dave, Upward Bound’s director, who came to L.A. to pursue an acting career but now channels his passion into staging an overly ambitious holiday show starring the center’s irrepressible clients. Framing these intertwined narratives–and connecting them in surprising, shattering ways–is the riveting and sometimes ironic testimony of Walter, a recent community college graduate who, after a family tragedy, must return to the company of his disabled peers.
In Upward Bound, Woody Brown has created an indelible, authentic, and profoundly moving group portrait of autism and other disabilities, all illuminated by his empathy, sly sense of humor, and enormous gifts as a novelist. With remarkable sophistication, insight, and creativity, Brown depicts a community too-often invisible in literature and society. Filled with characters you won’t soon forget, Upward Bound will inspire and touch you, teaching you as much about yourself as the tender, miraculous world behind the center’s doors.

Vroman's Bookstore: Captain Underpants Release Day in the Children's Department!
2026-04-07 10:00 - 21:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Celebrate the release of the new Captain Underpants manga with Vroman’s Children’s Department! Stop by the Children’s Info Desk on April 7th for some Dav Pilkey-inspired activities! We will have coloring pages, a scavenger hunt, and more.

Vroman's Bookstore: Mr. Steve's Comic Book Workshop
2026-04-07 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
You might know Mr. Steve as your favorite storytime host… But did you know he also works with comic books? Join Mr. Steve and the Kids Department for a comic book workshop on Tuesday, April 7th at 11am. Previous artistic skill is not required—just bring your craziest ideas and Mr. Steve will help you bring them to life!

Vroman'sBookstore: TICKETED - Andrew McCarthy discusses & signs Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America
2026-04-07 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A moving and provocative exploration of male friendship and loneliness, from New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and actor Andrew McCarthy as he crisscrosses the country to reconnect with his friends.
“You don’t really have any friends, do you, Dad?”
A seemingly innocuous, if direct, question from Andrew McCarthy’s son left him reeling. McCarthy did have friends, but like so many other men, the necessities of modern adult life had forced his friendships to the background. At one point his friends had been instrumental in broadening his horizons, bolstering his courage, providing safe harbor. Now, McCarthy found himself questioning what had happened to those friendships, whether he needed them, what he valued, and what he had to offer. A simple question had become a moment that demanded a reckoning.
Who Needs Friends charts McCarthy’s journey over nearly ten thousand miles behind the wheel, following him on often-unexpected travels through Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Rocky Mountains with one driving purpose: to reconnect. Along the way he talks to countless men about their male friendships, from cowboys and blues musicians to preachers and rootless teens. What began as a simple desire to catch up with a few friends turned into a deep exploration of the challenges and rewards that men experience in forming bonds with each other.
In McCarthy’s own words, “It turns out that guys have a difficult time with friendship.” But that’s not the way it needs to be.

Vroman's Bookstore: Raziq Rauf, discusses & signs This Is Running: A Celebration of the World of Running, Exploring the Culture, History, Brands, Races and People Behind It
2026-04-08 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
This is Running is a celebration of the world of running, exploring everything you’d need to know about the sport and the rich culture that surrounds it.
Running is huge with an estimated 621 million runners worldwide, but behind that statistic is a world that is as diverse as the people who engage in it. From the elite endurance of the Rarámuri tribe from Mexico who frequently run ultramarathons in nothing but simple sandals made from discarded car tires to some of the most famous races which are household names for runners and non-runners alike, coach and journalist Raziq Rauf gives a fascinating snapshot of this world.
This is Running covers why, where, and how we run, incorporating insights from psychologists, sociologists, and other experts from our first dash around a childhood playground to joining a run club or hitting high-altitude mountain trails whether that be for the health benefits, to make friends, test your own limits, or to explore the world around you.
A host of compelling essays explore topics such as running’s technological revolution, brands and streetwear, women’s experiences of running, the boom of trail running, and the future of the sport. Also included is a selection of the world’s most notable runs including The London Marathon, the UTMB, and the Barkley Marathons, and Q&As with individuals who are pioneering global running culture including influencer and comedian Laura Green, Nils Arend from The Speed Project, professional trail running athlete Dylan Bowman, and Jessica Zapotechne from Girls Run NYC.
Beautifully illustrated throughout with striking photography, This is Running is the perfect gift for the obsessive runner in your life, or for anyone who wants to know more about the sport and the culture that surrounds it.
Quite simply, if you are a runner, this book is catnip to your passion.

Vroman's Bookstore: Vroman's Children's Department Presents Trinity's Watercolor Workshop
2026-04-09 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Vroman’s Children’s Department invites young artists to a watercolor workshop on Thursday, April 9 at 11am, led by Vroman’s resident artist, Trinity. Materials will be provided. Trinity has worked as an educator, bookseller, and book illustrator, and now works as a freelance art instructor. Her contact information and more of her work can be found here.
Instagram: @trinitypoints
Website: pointstrinity.weebly.com
Email: trinityLpoints@gmail.com

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Terry Crews signs Terry’s Many Hats
2026-04-09 18:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Terry is a talented kid with big dreams and a whole lot of hats. On the football field, he’s a star, and when he takes off his helmet, he puts on his other hats: in his beret he becomes an artist, in his chef’s hat he cooks, and in his sparkly top hat, he’s a magician!
Everyone’s always telling him he can only be one thing and do one thing. But Terry’s just the kid to prove that his dreams—and his hats—are limitless.
This is a ticketed program and will take place at Vroman’s Bookstore, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101.
Your Eventbrite ticket will include a copy of Terry’s Many Hats, to be handed out at check-in on the night of the program.
This is a book signing only, with a photo opportunity. There will not be a seated conversation.
You will be asked to queue inside and outside of the store. If you need accommodation, please let us know..

Vroman's Bookstore: Jon Lindstrom discusses & signs Hollywood Payback: A Thriller
2026-04-10 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A struggling Hollywood actor falls into a life of crime in this highly anticipated second novel from Hollywood Hustle author and four-time Emmy Award nominee Jon Lindstrom.
Twenty years ago, Jake Ferguson threw his life away. Once a promising Hollywood actor, he crashed and burned the usual way: with coke, booze, and pills. When that path reached its inevitable end, he made a desperate choice, and an innocent woman was killed. Before being convicted and shipped to Folsom Prison, Jake agreed to testify against his own partners-in-crime as the star witness for the prosecution.
Now Jake’s reentering society–coming home to an LA he no longer recognizes and to a life that has lost all meaning. Then he meets Carla, a waitress who understands him better than he expects, and he begins to believe deliverance may be possible after all. Until one night, a murder is committed right in front of him, and Jake knows he’s been set up.

Vroman's Bookstore: Nadine Takvorian discusses & signs Armaveni: A Graphic Novel of the Armenian Genocide
2026-04-11 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A bold, autobiographical graphic novel chronicling one girl’s quest to uncover her family’s history during the Armenian genocide.
Nadine loves stories and her mother loves to tell them–all but one. Nadine would give anything to learn about her family’s history in Armenia and Turkey–where they came from and how they came to America–but it is just too painful for her parents. All Nadine knows is that they were caught up in the Armenian genocide.
Until one day the dam bursts. And through that flood of stories and memories, and a trip back to their people’s homelands, Nadine discovers a key to unlocking her own heritage and the courage to speak up when injustice rears its head again.
Told in interwoven historical, contemporary, and fantastical sequences, Armaveni is a gripping graphic novel debut and a much-needed historical document.

Pasadena Playhouse Gala
2026-04-11 17:30 | Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The Pasadena Playhouse Gala returns for another year of fundraising, drinks, and live theatre. To reserve a spot or make a donation, please contact Katelin Urgo at kurgo@pasadenaplayhouse.org or 626.704.1030.

Boston Court: Anthony Fung
2026-04-11 20:00 | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
Drummer, composer, and Hancock Institute alum Anthony Fung brings his boundary-pushing quartet to Boston Court Pasadena for an evening of dynamic, deeply expressive jazz. A rising voice on the international scene, Fung has performed alongside legends like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Chris Potter, and has collaborated with artists such as Danilo Pérez and Cyrille Aimée. For this performance, he presents original music from his latest album FO(U)RTH — a bold and evocative exploration of identity, rhythm, and the modern jazz landscape.

Vroman's Bookstore: Leonard Maltin & Jessie Maltin discuss & sign Family Movie Night Menus: Recipes & Films for Unforgettable Times Together (Turner Classic Movies)
2026-04-12 14:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Father-daughter film critics and podcast hosts Leonard Maltin and Jessie Maltin team with Turner Classic Movies for the essential guide to 25 family-friendly classic films, paired with delicious and simple recipes to make movie-watching a next-level experience for all ages.
Family Movie Night Menus is the ultimate guide to family-friendly classic movie viewing. In this volume, bestselling author and critic Leonard Maltin teams with his daughter and Maltin on Movies podcast host Jessie Maltin to help introduce classics in the same way he did with his own family: by sharing the best of the best that’s fit for the enjoyment of a range of ages from pre-school on up. And just like in the Maltin household, enhancing the experience with easy dishes—from snacks to entrees and desserts—inspired by the films to make together only adds to the experience.
Each entry includes a film profile filled with behind-the-scenes stories about the production, stars, and filmmakers; moments to watch (or watch out) for; recommended further viewing; and a recipe inspired by the film to make together before the credits roll and enjoy while watching. The movies span one silent entry (The Kid), through classic horror (Bride of Frankenstein), to legendary stories (The Wizard of Oz), musicals (The Sound of Music), can’t-miss adventures (Star Wars), and modern must-sees (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone).
Other featured titles include: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), To Kill a Mockingbird(1963), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(1973), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Princess Bride (1987), Addams Family (1991), The Secret Garden (1993), Enchanted (2007), and more!

Vroman's Bookstore: Kelly Yang, in conversation with Lisa Ling, discusses & signs The Take
2026-04-14 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A provocative, fast-paced novel about two creative women—a young writer fighting to be heard and an older producer clinging to relevancy—and the age reversal treatment that intertwines both of their lives…from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the beloved Front Desk series
Would you sell your youth for $3 million?
Maggie Wang, a broke young Asian American writer, needs a lifeline. Ingrid Parker, a veteran white Hollywood producer with her career on the edge, offers an irresistible deal: $3 million for ten experimental medical sessions to reverse her aging, using Maggie as a transfusion partner, and mentorship.
For Ingrid, it’s a chance to reboot her fading career. For Maggie, it’s access and freedom—money to support her parents and the connections to finally get her novel published.
What starts as a professional transaction exchanging blood quickly becomes a complex psychological dance. As Maggie gains unprecedented access to Ingrid’s hard-earned wisdom, Ingrid sees in Maggie a weapon against an industry that’s been trying to sideline her.
As their relationship intensifies, the rules around aging begin to shift. So does the balance of power between the two women, leaving both questioning who holds the upper hand and what they’re willing to sacrifice to succeed.
Sharp, timely, and utterly compelling, The Take is perfect for readers of Yellowface and Such a Fun Age—a searing portrait of two women fighting to rewrite their story.

This ticketed event is FREE and will take place at Vroman’s Bookstore, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101.
There is a ticket option that includes a book. A purchase of The Take from Vroman’s is greatly appreciated and makes events like this one possible. For this ticket option, refunds are available until one day before the program.
A public book signing will follow the conversation.
Refunds are available until one day before the program.

Vroman's Bookstore: Storytime with Mr. Steve, Miss Marie and the British Swim School!
2026-04-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Vroman’s Bookstore invites families to a splashtastic storytime all about water safety. This fun-filled outdoor event, taking place on April 15 at 11 AM, is perfect for little ones and caregivers eager to learn how to stay safe in and around water.
Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie will lead the storytime with engaging reads that share important lessons about being water wise. Following the program, British Swim School will be on-site to provide water safety information and answer questions.
Families are encouraged to bring their imagination (and maybe their life vests) for a whale of a time filled with stories, learning, and safe swimming tips.

Vroman's Bookstore" Amy Coombe discusses & signs Stay for a Spell
2026-04-15 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop.
Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar is disillusioned with life as a princess. She longs for real conversation, the chance to build a life of her own making, and uninterrupted reading time.
During a routine royal visit to the town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy’s dream comes true when she finds herself cursed to remain in a run-down bookshop until she unlocks her heart’s desire. Certain that someone will figure out how to break the curse eventually, and delighted by the prospect of an entire bookstore of her own, Tandy settles into life among the stacks. She finds it easy to exchange balls and endless state dinners for teetering piles of books and an irritatingly handsome pirate who seems bent on stealing her stock.
She even starts to believe she’s stumbled into her very own happily ever after.
There’s just one, minor problem: as Tandy’s royal duties go unfulfilled, her frantic parents start sending princes to woo her, each one of them certain their kiss will break the curse. After all, what more could a princess want but a prince?

Pasadena Heritage: Pasadena Through a New Lens: A Photographic Exploration of Place and Perspective
2026-04-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Pasadena Heritage presents an evening with local photographer Jim Staub, exploring Pasadena and its surrounding communities through a fresh and considered lens. Known for his careful use of light and composition, Staub’s work reexamines both familiar landmarks and quieter, often overlooked spaces, revealing new dimensions within the everyday landscape.
The program features a selection of recent photographs, offering insight into how perspective, timing, and framing shape the way place is seen and understood. Staub shares his approach and influences, with guests invited to engage in conversation about his methodology, vision, and interpretation.
Held at the historic Blinn House, the evening offers an opportunity to experience contemporary photography within a richly layered architectural setting. Refreshments will be provided.
Whether attending with an interest in photography or a curiosity about Pasadena itself, the program invites a closer look at the city and the many ways it can be seen.

Vroman's Bookstore: Lisa Lee, in conversation with Muriel Leung, discusses & signs American Han
2026-04-16 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
“A pulsating signal from the liminal zone where the American dream meets the American nightmare.” –Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer
Jane and her brother Kevin Kim embody the model minority myth until both depart from the path: Jane drops out of law school without telling her parents, and her brother Kevin gives up his promising tennis career and cuts himself off from the family. Their parents feel equally lost in a country that claims to support them and yet in which they can find no place. When Kevin goes missing, no one recognizes his absence as the warning sign it is, until it erupts in a moment that indicts them all.
Both deeply serious and absurdly funny, AMERICAN HAN is a story about striving and assimilation, difficult love, and family fidelity. A searing and probing portrait that challenges assumptions about the immigrant experience, Lisa Lee’s debut introduces a powerful new voice on the literary landscape.
“A fantastic sleight-of-hand. Lee makes us look one way while all sorts of stuff comes into focus around us. This is a novel about a singular and eccentric family but yields understanding about so much more. A beautiful, important novel that will leave a mark.” — Percival Everett, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of James

Boston Court: NT Live: All My Sons
2026-04-16 19:00 | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, from visionary director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge).
One family, the heart of the American dream. When wartime delivers profits for Joe, it comes at a price when his partner is charged with criminal manufacturing deals, and his eldest son goes missing in action. Will peacetime bring peace of mind, or will he be confronted by the consequence of his actions?
Filmed live from the West End, Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Tom Glynn-Carney (House of the Dragon), and Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake) also feature in this disturbingly prescient play.

Boston Court: Colburn Concerts: Trio Aeris
2026-04-16 20:00 | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
Up-and-coming Colburn School artists Martha Chan, Andrea Caputo, and Chi-Jo Lee come together for a stunning evening of flute, clarinet, and piano. Featuring Debussy’s Première rhapsodie, Weber’s Grand duo in Concertant, Shostakovich’s Four Waltzes, and more!

PROGRAM
EMMANUEL Sonata for Flute, Clarinet and Piano (1907)
CHAMINADE Flute Concertino, Op. 107 (1902)
DEBUSSY Première rhapsodie (1909)
GIANOPOULOS Water Music for Flute, Clarinet and Piano (2023-26)
-intermission-
HERBERT L’Encore for Flute, Clarinet and Piano (1910)
MOZART Rondo in D Major, K.382 (1782)
WEBER Grand duo Concertant, Op.48 (1815-16)
SHOSTAKOVICH Four Waltzes (1955)

Vroman's at The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC Campus April 18-19, 2026
2026-04-18 10:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Vroman’s will be at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC campus this year!
Visit us April 18-19, 2026 at the following booths:
Vroman’s Main Booth: 117 | Vroman’s Young Readers: 990 | Book Soup: 088

Pasadena Heritage: The Museum of Me: Learning to Talk About Ourselves for Posterity
2026-04-18 15:00 - 18:00 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Joshua Goode is a Professor of History who has also managed a museum studies program and has worked internationally with museums to contemplate how they tell their stories and to whom. He will lead an exercise in all of us becoming the Curator and Director of the Museum of Me, putting on a show about us.
Museums generally rely on objects to convey stories, ideas, knowledge, a sense of culture and belonging, and meaning. Museums can tell collective stories of a people, a nation, a small group, a family, a time, and a place. Museums are also meant to hold collections and tell their stories in perpetuity, to stand the test of time. But they also have to think about the audience. What do they know? How might they react? Who is walking in the front door? Who isn’t visiting? So, in this hands-on activity driven evening, we are going to wear a lot of museum hats to talk about ourselves. We are going to be curators, thinking about how we present ourselves through objects. We are going to be museum directors who want to make sure their audiences are served by the exhibition. And, we will be collections managers who want to know what objects are going to be used and make sure they don’t break!
