Playhouse Village Association

Vroman's Bookstore: Valentine's Day Storytime with Mr. Steve and Miss Marie!
2026-02-11 11:00 - 11:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Join Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie on February 11th at 11 am for a special Valentine’ s-themed storytime. We will be doing Valentine’s crafts and celebrating all types of love with some fun reads and lovely songs!

A Night Out in Playhouse Village
2026-02-11 17:00 - 20:30 | CA
Playhouse Village Foundation looks forward to welcoming you to A Night Out in Playhouse Village at the legendary Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena – an evening for the community to come together and enjoy comedy, food, silent and live auctions. This event is made possible through the generosity of our host, Johnny Buss and the Ice House, and our Lead Sponsor Lagerlof Cares.
A Night Out in Playhouse Village seeks to raise funds to support Playhouse Village Foundation’s efforts to build community in the heart of Pasadena. The event will raise funds specifically to support free events this summer at Playhouse Village Park, streetscape projects, community art, and more.
As the cultural heart of Pasadena, Playhouse Village envisions walkable streets, an exciting mix of retail and entertainment destinations, bustling restaurants, thriving employers and institutions, historic and contemporary housing, and a wide array of free events – all combining to create a dynamic urban village in the heart of Pasadena.

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - SenLinYu discusses Alchemised
2026-02-11 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this riveting dark fantasy debut, a woman with missing memories fights to survive a war-torn world of necromancy and alchemy—and the man tasked with unearthing the deepest secrets of her past.
A SHE READS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
“What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours? The war is over. Holdfast is dead. The Eternal Flame extinguished. There’s no one left for you to save.”
Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed.
In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive.
According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit?
To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight—to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self—is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.

Pasadena Playhouse: Amadeus
2026-02-11 20:00 - 22:45 | Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The stage is set at Pasadena Playhouse for a riveting, white-hot rivalry between two composers: Antonio Salieri, the court’s celebrated musician, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the vulgar prodigy whose brilliance threatens everything Salieri holds dear. Lavishly laced with biting wit, this Tony and Oscar-winning masterpiece dives deep into ambition, envy, and the intoxicating cost of genius. Amadeus unfolds in a world where music ignites obsession and drama crescendos into legend.

Pasadena Heritage: Women's Work: The Art and Craft of Weaving in Rural Morocco
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Morocco is a country known for the intricacy and breadth of its craftsmanship. While men produce many of the country’s artisanal goods, rug weaving has, for centuries, been the domain of women. Across Morocco’s tribal regions, distinct weaving styles reflect local histories, outside influences, and the aesthetics of the Amaizgh, indigenous weavers. As stewards of cultural knowledge, these artisans hold a respected place within their communities.
This lecture examines the history of weaving in rural Morocco, tracing the transformation of the woven rug from a domestic practice to a global commodity. It concludes by considering the most significant changes that have shaped the Moroccan rug weaving industry over the past two decades.

Vroman's Bookstore: Jacob Soboroff discusses & signs Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America's New Age of Disaster
2026-02-12 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
A “gripping, unshakeable firsthand account” (San Francisco Chronicle) of the firestorm that consumed Los Angeles, from the MS NOW reporter and New York Times bestselling author of Separated, who covered the fires on the ground as an LA native.
“Read[s] like a sci-fi thriller.” –Los Angeles Times
On the morning of January 7, 2025, a message pinged the phone of Jacob Soboroff, a national reporter for MS NOW. “Big Palisades fire. We are evacuating,” his brother texted within minutes of the blaze engulfing the hillside behind the home where he and his pregnant wife were living. “Really bad.” An attached photo showed a huge black plume rising from behind the house, an umbrella of smoke towering over everything they owned. Jacob rushed to the office of the bureau chief.
“I should go. I grew up in the Palisades.”
Soon he was on the front line of the blaze–his first live report of what would turn out to be weeks covering unimaginable destruction, from both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, in Altadena. In the days to come, Soboroff appeared across the networks of NBC News as Los Angeles was ablaze, met with displaced residents and workers, and pressed Governor Gavin Newsom in an interview on Meet the Press. But no story Soboroff has covered at home or abroad–the trauma of family separation at the border, the displacement of the war in Ukraine, the collapse of order in Haiti–could have prepared him for reporting live as the hallmarks of his childhood were engulfed in flames around him while his hometown burned to the ground.
But for Soboroff, questions remained after the fires were controlled: what had he just witnessed? How could it have happened? Is it inevitable that something will happen again? This set Soboroff off on months of reporting–with firefighters, fire victims, political leaders, academics, earth scientists, wildlife biologists, meteorologists, and more–that made him keenly aware of how the misfortune of seeing his past carbonize was also a form of time travel into the dystopian world his children will inhabit. This is because the 2025 LA fires were not an isolated tragedy, but rather they are a harbinger–“the fire of the future,” in the words of one senior emergency management official.
Firestorm is the story of the costliest wildfire in American history, the people it affected, and the deeply personal connection to one journalist covering it. It is a love letter to Los Angeles, a yearning to understand the fires, and why America’s new age of disaster we are living through portends that–without a reckoning of how Los Angeles burned–there is more yet, and worse, to come.

Vroman's Bookstore: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Vroman’s: Omid Scobie & Robin Benway, discuss & sign Royal Spin
2026-02-14 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
She can handle the press…but can she handle the Palace?
With the British monarchy reeling from a wave of scandals, young American politico Lauren Morgan is plucked from the White House press office to breathe new life into the Buckingham Palace communications team and improve the royal family’s streak of bad headlines. But the Palace is an institution steeped in tradition and strict protocol, and Lauren quickly discovers that change is far from easy, or welcome, especially when you’re dealing with culture clashes, displeased royal aides, and a risky new love interest—or two.
Just as Lauren finds her footing at work—and with a charming royal reporter who may be more than just a press contact—an unexpected encounter from her past threatens the career she’s worked so hard to build. And when scandal looms over the dashing duke who Lauren has developed a special bond with, she finds herself torn between duty, loyalty, success, and happiness.
From London’s high society clubs to the sacred corridors and rarely seen spaces of Buckingham Palace, Royal Spin is a fun, humorous, and heartfelt novel that reminds us of the importance of chasing your dreams, and that the most rewarding journeys are often the messiest.

Vroman’s & the Altadena Historical Society Present: Michele Zack, in conversation with Michelle Huneven, discussing & signing Altadena: Between Wilderness & City
2026-02-16 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
90th Anniversary Special Commemorative Edition
The Altadena Historical Society commissioned noted journalist, historian, and Altadena resident Michele Zack to write the history of Altadena over 20 years ago. This hardcover edition features historical photographs and illustrations, many of which were reproduced for the first time in the original printing. The Altadena Historical Society is reissuing the book in celebration of its 90th anniversary with a hardcover that includes enhanced photographs and a mention of the Eaton Fire. The book received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History in 2010. It earned high praise from scholars.

Vroman's Bookstore: Peter Alan Lesser, in conversation with Tom Zehnder, discusses & signs Live at McCabe's Guitar Shop
2026-02-17 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Hosting icons and legends of folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz, spoken word, and world music since 1969.
A decade after Gerald McCabe opened up a guitar repair shop in Santa Monica, California, legendary folk musicians Elizabeth Cotten and Mike Seeger came looking for a way to earn money to get back home. Their inaugural performance kick-started a concert series that has featured some of the world’s finest musicians–including Doc Watson, Jackson Browne, Bill Monroe, and Linda Ronstadt–in one of the most intimate performance spaces on the West Coast.
Against a backdrop of guitars in a room often packed to the rafters, music rang out to fill every corner. But audiences weren’t the only ones who left with cherished memories. Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories from artists like Rosanne Cash, Taj Mahal, Lucinda Williams, Arlo Guthrie, and many more as they look back on their experiences at McCabe’s. From picking up a new hobby to serendipitous meetings of future bandmates, there was never a dull moment in the shop.
This is your backstage pass to the untold stories of one of California’s most celebrated music venues and those who performed live at McCabe’s Guitar Shop.

Pasadena Heritage: Botanical Blueprints: The Pioneering Heritage of Anna Atkins
2026-02-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Pasadena Heritage invites the public to step back into the Victorian era for a hands-on exploration of the “blueprints of nature.” This immersive heritage workshop celebrates the groundbreaking work of Anna Atkins (1799–1871), the English botanist and photographer who transformed scientific documentation through art and innovation. Atkins produced the first book illustrated entirely with photographs, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions (1843), using a revolutionary cameraless printing process that continues to captivate audiences today.
What Participants Will Experience
The HistoryGuests will discover how Atkins used the cyanotype process—developed in 1842 by her family friend Sir John Herschel—to carefully document delicate botanical specimens such as ferns and algae. Her work beautifully bridged science, art, and early photography.
The ScienceThe workshop explores the chemistry behind the iconic “sun print.” Paper treated with iron salts reacts to ultraviolet light, producing the rich Prussian blue tones that define cyanotypes. This elegant process reveals the powerful intersection of natural light and scientific discovery.
The CraftParticipants will create their own botanical cyanotype using locally gathered plant materials. By arranging specimens on light-sensitive paper and harnessing the power of sunlight, each guest will produce an archival-quality print to take home—experiencing the timeless practice of preserving nature through handmade heritage, just as Atkins did nearly two centuries ago.
Ideal for artists, nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about early photography, this workshop offers a thoughtful opportunity to slow down, observe closely, and create something beautiful rooted in the past.

Vroman's Bookstore: Simona Supekar, discusses & signs Stock Photo (Object Lessons)
2026-02-20 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.
Part memoir, part cultural criticism, Stock Photo mines the significance of the stock photo in our everyday lives, from the ads and websites we browse, to the menus and memes that we consume. Through interviews with stock photography experts, photographers, models, consumers, and other stakeholders, Simona Supekar explores the evolution of the industry by tracing the creation of a stock photo from concept to usage while highlighting significant historical moments.
Supekar weaves in her own experiences as a keyworder for a stock photography company while reckoning with her Asian American/South Asian identity in a post-9/11 world. Stock Photo also addresses how these images have the power to shape our perceptions about race, class/caste, gender, ability, and more, thus underscoring the importance of representation even in something as innocuous as a stock photo.

Vroman's Bookstore: Lars Kenseth reads from & signs Call Me Moby
2026-02-21 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A lovable white whale tries to befriend a shipful of sailors with hilarious results, in this clever debut from a celebrated New Yorker cartoonist and television writer. Perfect for fans of Jon Klassen and Jory John.
Meet Physeter Macrocephalus – but you can call him Moby.
He’s got the BIGGEST toothy smile. He’s always up for a game of tag. And his backflips can’t be beat! Who wouldn’t want to be his pal?
So when he meets a ship full of sailors out on the ocean, he just knows they will get along swimmingly. Moby is as fin-tastic and friendly as he can be, but the guys still seem a little…salty. What could he be doing wrong?
This clever riff on the Melville classic is at its heart a story about how to make friends – and find ones who appreciate the real you.

USC PAM: Exhibition Tours@PAM: Mythical Creatures: The Stories We Carry
2026-02-21 11:00 | USC Pacific Asia Museum, 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
USC Pacific Asia Museum invites visitors to take part in a guided tour of Mythical Creatures: The Stories We Carry, the museum’s newest exhibition by Korean American artist and muralist Dave Young Kim. This immersive experience explores the immigrant journey through the visual language of myth, offering deeper insight into the stories and symbolism behind the work.
Tickets include museum admission and free parking. PAM Members and USC students receive free admission and are encouraged to RSVP in advance at pamrsvp@usc.edu.

Pasadena Heritage: 200 Years of Black Pioneers in Pasadena and Los Angeles
2026-02-21 15:00 - 17:00 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Pasadena Heritage happily presents 200 Years of Black Pioneers in Pasadena and Los Angeles,
Many don’t realize just how deep the roots of the African American community run in Southern California. This talk brings those stories to the forefront, exploring the lives and legacies of pioneering Black individuals and communities whose impact shaped Los Angeles and Pasadena from the very beginning.
We’ll look at:

The Pobladores, the original 1781 settlers of the Pueblo of Los Angeles — more than half of whom had African ancestry.
Pío Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, of African and mestizo heritage.
Biddy Mason, a midwife who went from newly freed slave to one of the largest commercial landowners in Los Angeles within just two decades.
Paul R. Williams, the first licensed African American architect west of the Mississippi, who designed more than a thousand buildings across Southern California.
Jackie Robinson, who excelled in four sports at John Muir High School, Pasadena City College, and UCLA before breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Tom Bradley, Los Angeles’s first African American mayor, who led the city for two decades, from 1973 to 1993.
This hybrid program will be presented by Dave Nufer, Pasadena Heritage docent and Board member, and Steven McCall, docent and recent Board Chair of the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Vroman's Bookstore: Susan Walter discusses & signs Murder at 30,000 Feet
2026-02-21 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Under the cover of turbulence, a killer strikes. With nowhere to land and nowhere to hide, who will save the passengers from this nightmare at 30,000 feet?
It’s a ticket to paradise. Flight 868 with nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over a dozen tipsy passengers are off to a destination wedding. A team of high school baseball players is headed to a tournament. The plane is packed with people eager to escape their lives, and others who can’t wait to return to their beloved home.
But sweet anticipation turns to terror when a lightning strike short-circuits the avionics and plunges the plane into darkness. When the lights come back on, a passenger is found brutally murdered, with only a bewildered air marshal to solve the crime. He soon realizes that several passengers are harboring dark secrets, but the identity of the murderer eludes him. There’s only one certainty: the killer is on the plane.
Thousands of feet above the earth with thunderstorms closing in, the danger outside is as grave as the mounting threat within. Can the captain outrun the storm? Or will the murderer among them bring the plane down first?
Passion, betrayal, and murder collide in this high-stakes, locked-room mystery. A must-read for fans of T.J. Newman and Jeneva Rose.

Third@First: The Belrose Duo Plays Romantic Favorites
2026-02-21 16:00 - 17:00 | CA
David Garrett (cello) and Junko Ueno Garrett (piano) offer the beloved Rachmaninov Sonata and favorite encore pieces.

Vroman's Bookstore: Local Author Day (Young Readers Edition) Introducing Susana Porras
2026-02-22 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Susana Porras presents DANNY’S TRAILS – Mossley, England. Danny’s Trails: Mossley, England, is loosely based on a true story and is filled with youthful creativity, lessons in inner awakening, and mindfulness. This children’s book is appropriate for children ages 6-9. Consequently, the story’s imaginative use of real landmarks, a walkable trail, and a map makes it engaging for readers of all ages.

Vroman's Bookstore: Michelle Maryk, discusses & signs The Found Object Society
2026-02-23 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Description
An atmospheric speculative suspense novel following a mysterious society offering its members the chance to relive the death of another person—and the self-destructive woman determined to uncover its secrets
This ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel ﬁction including Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Gareth Brown’s The Book of Doors
For twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a voyage to relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can’t quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.
A fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, The Found Object Society examines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma—all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk’s wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.

About the Author
Michelle Maryk graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English and attended the Yale Writer’s Workshop. For the better part of twenty-five years, she’s been a successful voiceover, on-camera commercial, and comedic actor, and she is a dual Swedish and US citizen. The Found Object Society is her debut novel.

Pasadena Heritage: Annual Meeting
2026-02-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Pasadena Heritage invites all current and prospective members to join us for this year’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, February 25th.
The Annual Meeting will be called to order at 6:00 PM.
The program will include:

A retrospective of 2025

Plans for the year ahead

The election of new members to the Board of Directors

A special recognition of our retired Board Members

This event is free for all Pasadena Heritage members, but reservations are required.
Please RSVP by Monday, February 23rd..
THANK YOU for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!

Boston Court: Octopus's Garden
2026-02-26 19:30 | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
A world premiere co-production at Boston Court Pasadena, Octopus by Weston Gaylord, directed by Jessica Kubzansky, follows two marine biologists and a struggling composer whose lives unravel after they discover that an octopus has composed the most transcendent piece of music ever heard as ambition and obsession take hold, their encounter with the divine blurs the line between science, art, and belief.

The Mixx: Live Double Feature Tribute to No Doubt & Garbage
2026-02-27 08:00 - 12:59 | The Mixx, 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Pasadena is invited to turn up the volume at The Mixx Pasadena for an unforgettable live tribute indie night featuring two powerhouse bands.
The evening kicks off with BASURA, delivering a high-energy live tribute to Garbage, followed by NOT No Doubt performing all the iconic hits from No Doubt.
Guests can keep the party going with a live music video mix show on the largest LED wall in town, hosted by DJ Jack Tames. Enjoy drink and dinner specials all night long and get ready to sing, dance, and relive your favorite ‘90s alt-rock anthems.

Vroman's Bookstore: Michiko Aoyama discusses & signs Hot Chocolate on Thursday
2026-02-27 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a seasonal cherry blossom sits on the river. Nearby is the Marble Cafe, where a woman writes in a notebook and a young waiter prepares her favorite hot drink. Both wonder about each other and about the other lives of the clientele who frequent this charming little cafe behind the trees…
Without even realizing it, we may touch and change someone else’s life.
Taking a walk along the river, cooking the best tamagoyaki, ordering hot chocolate, forgetting to remove our nail polish… The small, everyday acts that we do can lead to unexpected encounters, reverberate far beyond our own circle, and ultimately make a difference in the world around us.
Hot Chocolate on Thursday is a tapestry of slice-of-life moments that each open and close with a woman ordering her regular hot chocolate at the mysterious Marble Cafe. What happens in between will touch and swell your heart, as we connect with a community of untold unfolding lives.

Archetype Yoga: Women's Empowerment Series
2026-02-28 13:00 | Archetypa Yoga, 638 e colorado ave, pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
This Women’s History Month, Archetype Yoga invites the community to step into strength, confidence, and connection with a special Empowerment Movement Series.
Designed to get participants moving in their power, this dynamic series blends strength training, self-defense, and expressive movement in a supportive, community-driven space.
Build grit and stamina in Archetype Slay, a high-energy boxing class hosted by amateur boxer Coach Moe. Learn practical skills and sharpen awareness in self-defense with Coach Monica. Then shake it out and own the room with Archetype Moves with Alexa, a movement experience rooted in rhythm, confidence, and joy.
This is more than a workout — it’s an opportunity to train the body, steady the mind, and stand fully in personal power. Celebrate Women’s History Month by showing up, taking space, and moving boldly.
Spots are limited. Reserve your place and move in your power.

Vroman's Bookstore: Elizabeth Day, discusses & signs One of Us
2026-02-28 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
“Funny, sharp, sophisticated, this is Elizabeth Day’s writing at its finest.”
–Dolly Alderton, New York Times bestselling author of Good Material
“The thinking person’s thriller. A Trojan horse of a book–part Highsmith, part Waugh–that hides within its superbly gripping plot a gimlet-eyed interrogation of class, privilege and power.”
–Lucy Foley
When Fliss, the eccentric grown daughter of the powerful Fitzmaurice clan, is found dead on beach in Bali, what seems like a tragic accident stirs more suspicion than closure for those who’ve traded favors with–and within–her family for decades.
There is Ben, Fliss’s brother, eager to minimize his sister’s passing, since it’s suddenly clear he’s next in line to be Prime Minister. And Martin–Ben’s erstwhile best friend–who is just happy that Fliss’s memorial gives him the chance to re-enter the Fitzmaurice orbit, seeking revenge and acceptance. He can’t help but notice that Ben’s wife, Serena, seems to have discovered in middle age that her privileged existence is more like a gilded cage. Or that Ben and Serena’s daughter Cosima has become an environmental activist fighting against everything her parents seem to stand for–a pivot her late aunt would’ve applauded. Where does Richard Take–Ben’s disgraced colleague, determined to make his big comeback, fit in? And circling them all is Andrew Jarvis and his money: Has he been their loyal hero, or the one who has thrown his weight around just to keep them all in check?
Delivering incisive commentary on the hypocrisies of the elite, this juicy ensemble drama about old friends and dazzling wealth perfectly captures the uneasy balance between personal ambition and collective responsibility. One of Us is a page-turner with teeth, a mash-up of The Wedding People and Succession–darkly comic and cutting, as well as unexpectedly hopeful.

Pasadena Heritage: Printing a Legacy: Arroyo Culture and the Rise of California Printmakers
2026-02-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Pasadena Heritage is proud to host this year’s Dr. Robert Winter Memorial Lecture, exploring the rise of printmaking in California at the dawn of the twentieth century.
The program will highlight how prints made art accessible to turn of the century homeowners, and how the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco sparked a turning point for artists throughout the state.
The lecture presented by author and researcher Susan Futterman will feature a discussion of Pasadena artists Benjamin Brown, Frances Gearhart, and Harold Doolittle, and their role in forming the Print Makers Society of California. Through an examination of the artists who inspired them, their work, and the organization they created, the program will highlight the profound impact this group had in spreading printmaking throughout the Western United States and shaping California’s artistic legacy.
The lecture will be followed by a reception featuring Martinis (Dr. Robert Winter’s drink of choice) and an array of California casual style Hors d’oeuvres, as well as an exhibition of original artwork of the period by Frances Gearhart, Harold Doolittle, and others to enjoy.
A special keepsake will be available for in-person attendees, graciously provided by Andre Chaves

Vroman's Bookstore: Jenine Pastores & Josh Jackson read from & sign The Adventures of Tubby Nugget: Escape from Nuggetville
2026-03-01 14:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Embark on an unforgettable journey with social media sensation Tubby Nugget in this delightful graphic novel!
Welcome to Nuggetville, a quaint town on Planet Nüg that the adorable and ever-optimistic Tubby Nugget calls home. Life there is sweet, filled with playful friends, delicious snacks, and endless creativity.
But when the time comes for Tubby to take part in the customary Dunking ceremony to become a golden nugget–and say goodbye to the life he’s always known as a little nug–he realizes that he yearns for something different. Can his heart feel at home somewhere new? Join Tubby on a daring journey as he bravely defies tradition to stay true to himself.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Tubby Nugget or new to his adventures, this graphic novel promises to be a nugget of joy in your reading collection. Grab your favorite snack and get ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure with Tubby Nugget!

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Lauren Groff discusses & signs Brawler: Stories
2026-03-03 19:00 | Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena , CA, 91101, United States
A stunning, fierce collection from a master of the short story and one of the most important writers of our time
Read alone, each story in Lauren Groff’s electric collection is an individual triumph, bold, agile, and packed with power. Read together, they hum in exhilarating resonance. Ranging from the 1950s to the present day and moving across age, class, and region — from New England to Florida to California — these nine stories reflect and expand upon a shared theme: the ceaseless battle between humans’ dark and light angels.
“In every human there is both an animal and a god wrestling unto death,” one character tells us. Among those we see caught in this match are a young woman suddenly responsible for her disabled sibling, a hot-tempered high school swimmer in need of an adult, a mother blinded by the loss of her family, and a banking scion endowed with a different kind of inheritance. Motivated by love, impeded by the double edges of other peoples’ good intentions, they try to do the right thing for as long as they can.
Precise, surprising, and provocative, anchored by profound insight into human nature, Brawler reveals the repeated, sometimes heartbreaking turning points between love and fear, compassion and violence, reason and instinct, altruism and what it takes to survive.

Vroman's Bookstore: Dr. Seuss Storytime with Mr. Steve and Miss Marie
2026-03-04 11:00 - 11:45 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday with Mr. Steve and Ms. Marie on March 4th at 11am! Join us for a reading of everyone’s favorite Dr. Seuss classics, along with other crafts and activities!

Vroman's Bookstore: Hal Eisner discusses & signs An Accidental Career: My Fifty-Eight-Year Adventure as a Broadcast News Reporter
2026-03-04 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A remarkable journey through the world of broadcast journalism, showcasing resilience and dedication. From humble beginnings to a celebrated career in Los Angeles, this story highlights the challenges faced and triumphs achieved in the pursuit of truth and candor.
In An Accidental Career, Hal Eisner recounts his extraordinary life, beginning with his formative years in Pittsburgh and Dallas. His passion for communication and reporting ignited during his early days in radio, where he honed his skills and developed a unique voice that would resonate with audiences for decades. Transitioning to television, Hal spent 43 years as a news reporter in Los Angeles, working first with CNN and then local news stations KTTV and KCOP. His commitment to delivering accurate and compelling news earned him numerous accolades, including a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA).
Hal’s journey was not without its trials. In 2021, while covering a story in Hollywood, he was severely injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver. This life-altering event tested his resolve and determination. Despite the challenges of recovery, Eisner’s unwavering spirit propelled him back to the airwaves just months later, demonstrating his dedication to journalism and the communities he served.
Through candid reflections and engaging anecdotes, Eisner provides readers with an insider’s view of the broadcast industry, revealing the intricacies of news reporting and the ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. His story is not just about personal achievement; it is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of accuracy and getting the story right no matter the obstacles. An Accidental Career is an inspiring narrative that will resonate with anyone who appreciates the art of storytelling and the impact of news on society.

The Mixx: Guilty Pleasures Karaoke & Happy Hours
2026-03-05 17:00 - 19:00 | The Mixx, 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Pasadena is invited to grab the mic and let loose at The Mixx Pasadena for Guilty Pleasures Karaoke & Happy Hour, the songs you hate to love, but absolutely love to sing.
Hosted by Maestro and friends, this high-energy night gives guests the chance to take center stage in front of the largest karaoke wall in Los Angeles and perform their favorite throwback hits like true rockstars.
