Boston Court Pasadena: Pianist/Violinist Ray Ushikubo
2025-05-17 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Boston Court Pasadena, 70 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91206, United States
Ray combines the virtuosic playing of both the piano and the violin in a spectacular program.

SCCM: Natasha Khankazi
2025-05-18 13:00 | Southern California Children’s Museum, 459 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91011, United States
This May, Southern California Children’s Museum is celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month by spotlighting the vibrant stories, cultures & creativity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities!⁣
On Sunday, May 18, at 1PM, Southern California Children’s Museum welcomes author and illustrator Natasha Khan Kazi for a special story and craft event. Natasha will read her new book, Lulu in the Spotlight, share insights into her creative process, and lead children through a henna-inspired art activity—celebrating the richness of South Asian traditions. No RSVP required; families are encouraged to bring their curiosity and creativity.

Vroman's Bookstore: Amy Larocc discusses How to Be Well: Navigating Our Self-Care Epidemic, One Dubious Cure at a Time
2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A deeply researched, lively, and personal exploration of the multibillion-dollar wellness industry — about why women are feeling so un-well and how this trend has shaped our thinking about health and self-care
Peloton. Pilates. Biohacking. Colonics. Ashwagandha. Today, the wellness industry is a $3.7 trillion behemoth that touches us all. In this timely and clear-eyed book, journalist Amy Larocca peels back the layers behind the wellness movement and reckons with its promises and profits. How did we get here and how did the idea of wellness become integrated with women’s lives? And how did we end up spending so much money on products that may not work at all?
Amy Larocca takes readers into the communities that swear by their activated charcoal toothpaste and green juice enemas, explaining what each of these practices really is–and what the science says. Larocca holds a magnifying glass to alternative medicine and nouveau lifestyle prescriptions — and tries a lot herself along the way — ultimately delivering an assessment of how the wellness industry embodies our (gendered, class-based, racialized) perceptions of care and self-improvement, and how it preys on our unshakable fear of the unknown. She traces the history of how the beauty and fashion industries have peddled snake oil to women for decades–and why we keep coming back for more.
A clear-eyed and honest portrait of the weird world of wellness, How to Be Well lays bare the ways in which the simple notion of caring for oneself has become a seriously big business.https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-19/amy-larocca-conversation-annie-weisman-discusses-how-be-well-navigating-our-self

Retro Replay: Mamma Mia! (2008)
2025-05-20 19:00 | Landmark Theatre, 673 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Enjoy a night at the movies for just $5! Landmark Theatres Pasadena presents Retro-Replay, a four-film series celebrating the incredible range of Meryl Streep. Every Tuesday in May at 7PM!

Vroman's Bookstore: Lian Dolan discusses Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding
2025-05-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Everyone loves–and hates–a big fancy wedding! From the author of Lost and Found in Paris and The Marriage Sabbatical comes a champagne-sparkling summer read about two very different women planning their children’s wedding in glamorous Montecito, California.
You’re invited…to a delightful modern comedy of manners about two moms, the best-laid plans, and one very memorable wedding.
Penelope and Chase make a lovely couple. She’s a bubbly Southern California girl with killer work ethic. Chase is smart and charming and has political aspirations. They’re planning a spectacular California wedding, wrapped in peonies and thousands of little white lights, soaked in custom cocktails and romantic hashtags. Everyone’s excited about Penny and Chase’s wedding——–except their mothers.
The Mother of the Bride, suave Greek-born Alexa Diamandis, doesn’t understand why any woman would get married. Ever! Raised in Athens and now perfectly situated in sun-splashed Montecito, California, she raised Penny as single mother by choice, supported by Lord Simon Fox, her old college friend who just happens to be an English aristocrat, and a wealthy circle of lady friends who call themselves the Merry Widows.
The Mother of the Groom, Abigail Blakeman, is a garden club stalwart firmly planted in coastal Connecticut. She thinks the whole enterprise would be so much easier if the wedding was at their golf club. Especially because the Blakeman’s fortunes have taken a turn for the worse–not that you would ever know it by looking at Abigail. Keeping up appearances is exhausting, but it is everything.
But when a sudden twist of fate calls them into action, these two very different women are forced to take over the wedding planning. Despite their differences, Alexa and Abigail charge in to save the day. How far will two moms go to make their children’s dream wedding a reality?

Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Christopher Moore discusses Anima Rising
2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
From New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore comes a hilariously deranged tale of a mad scientist, a famous painter, and an undead woman’s electrifying journey of self-discovery.
Vienna, 1911. Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter in the Austrian Empire, the darling of Viennese society, spots a woman’s nude body in the Danube canal. He knows he should summon a policeman, but he can’t resist stopping to make a sketch first. And as he draws, the woman coughs. She’s alive!
Back at his studio, Klimt and his model-turned-muse Wally tend to the formerly-drowned girl. She’s nearly feral and doesn’t remember who she is, or how she came to be floating in the canal. Klimt names her Judith, after one of his most famous paintings, and resolves to help her find her memory.
With a little help from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, Judith recalls being stranded in the arctic one hundred years ago, locked in a crate by a man named Victor Frankenstein, and visiting the Underworld.
So how did she get here? And why are so many people chasing her, including Geoff, the giant croissant-eating devil dog of the North?
Poor Things meets Bride of Frankenstein in Anima Rising, Christopher Moore’s most ingenious (and probably most hilarious) novel yet.
This is a ticketed in-store event. Tickets include one entry and one signed copy of Anima Rising. For any guest who wants their signed copy to be personalized, Chris will also stay for a signing line following the event.

Pasadena Heritage: Anna May Wong Book Reading and Lecture
2025-05-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Pasadena Heritage, The Blinn House 160 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
Yunte Huang is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A Guggenheim Fellow, he is the author of Charlie Chan (Norton, 2010), which won the Edgar Award and was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. His Inseparable (Liveright, 2018), also a finalist for the NBCC award, was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times, NPR, and Newsweek. He has published articles in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, PMLA, and others, and has been featured on NPR, CBS, BBC, C-SPAN, and others.
His most recent book, the third and final installment of his “Rendezvous with America” trilogy, Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History, explores the tortured legacy of Hollywood’s first Chinese star against the backdrop of twentieth-century America. It was published by Liveright in 2023 and named one of the Best Books of the Year by the New York Times and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Wolhaus: Crochet Bucket Hat by Sirdar Workshop Session 2
2025-05-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Wollhaus Artisan Yarn & Tools, 696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 2, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Learn to crochet a stylish cotton bucket hat! Pattern is 10560 Crochet Bucket Hat by Sirdar.
Prior Experience Required: Single crochet stitch. (If you are rusty on this basic skill, please book a class with Janna prior to the first session. It will not be taught as a part of the workshop.)
You’ll learn: How to crochet a bucket hat.
We’ll provide: Hands-on instruction over 2 sessions, in a small class setting of 4 students.
Materials List:

10560 Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern. This is a free pattern but you must download your own copy on Ravelry.com.

One to two skeins of Cascade Noble Cotton.

US G/4mm hook (or hook size that meets preferred gauge depending on if you crochet loose or tight).

Small tapestry needle, scissors, and opening stitch markers.

Two-Session Class Time and Date: 9:00-11:00AM Saturday 05/03 and 05/24. (Please do not register if you cannot attend both classes.)
Teacher: Janna
Covid: For the safety of our teachers and customers, we may require vaccination and masks to attend classes at Wollhaus.
Policy: Cancellations or changes must be made at least 3 days prior to class. Children 12 and under must have an adult nearby for the duration of the class. Please purchase all anticipated yarn and supplies prior to class start time.

Vroman's Bookstore: Edward Underhill discusses In Case You Read This
2025-05-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore
From acclaimed author Edward Underhill comes a trans rom-com about serendipity, chance encounter, and the ultimate missed connection. This joyful celebration of queer love and found family is perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Emery Lee, and Julian Winters.
Arden isn’t excited about moving. Los Angeles was an easy place to fit in and find a supportive queer community. But Winifred, Michigan? That sounds like a much more difficult place to exist.
Pasadena, California, is the perfect city for Gabe’s reinvention. Everyone knew everything about him in small-town Shelby, Illinois. Gabe, who wants to be out and proud, can’t wait to relocate.
When Arden and Gabe randomly meet in the lobby of a motel in Nebraska, it feels like fate. Both are trans, but more importantly, both are huge fans of the band Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. Clearly, the universe is trying to tell them something. Right?
But after an incredible evening of hanging out, the pair part ways only knowing the other’s first name. And as both boys struggle to adjust to their new homes, their thoughts keep being drawn back to their time together. Is one perfect night enough to bring Arden and Gabe back to each other, or will the boys need some help to find each other again?https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-24/edward-underhill-conversation-racquel-marie-discusses-case-you-read

Play Day in the Park
2025-05-25 12:00 - 16:00 | Playhouse Village Park, 701 Union St, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
GAME ON!
Free Giant Games & Board Games
Get ready for an epic day of fun and games at PLAY DAY in the PARK presented by Playhouse Village Foundation! On Sunday, May 25th, from 12 pm to 4 pm, head over to Playhouse Village Park and challenge your friends and family to GIANT versions of your favorite games.
Get ready to play oversized:

Sorry
Connect 4
Monopoly
Scrabble
Candyland

Checkers
Chess
Uno
and more!

But the big fun doesn’t stop there – we’ll also have a selection of regular-sized board and card games, music, prizes, and kids craft activities. Don’t miss out on this exciting event packed with friendly competition and endless entertainment!

Wollhaus: Knitting Foundations
2025-05-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Wollhaus Artisan Yarn & Tools, 696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 2, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Always wanted to learn to knit? Need a refresher? In this class, you will learn the skills required to get you started or continue on your knitting journey. No previous experience is required!

Retro Replay: Julie & Julia
2025-05-27 19:00 | Landmark Theatre, 673 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States

Vroman's Fiction Reading Group: Orbital by Samantha Harvey
2025-05-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The Vroman’s Fiction Reading Group meets the 4th Wednesday of every month at 7pm.
This event is free and open to the public.
May’s pick is Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Fiction Reading Group meetings are held inside Vroman’s Bookstore on the second floor in the event space.

Vroman's Bookstore: William Loving discusses Blue Earth River
2025-05-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In a small Midwestern town, divisions are sharp and passions high. Global capitalism has gutted the local economy; drugs, alcohol and racial resentment have filled the void. A diverse, multi-generational, yet anxious cast of characters hangs together by a few threads, one of which is the local newspaper and its beloved advice column, “Dear Molly.” As Molly declines into dementia, her husband Augustus steps in to continue the column, which evolves into a bracing screed against vanity and hypocrisy as he exorcises his own demons, creating a cause cé lè bre. When an anonymous letter writer begins responding in ominous tones, it seems the town may be forced to confront mass violence.

Vroman's Bookstore: Children's Book Signing & Reading: Alway
2025-05-31 15:00 - 16:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.
After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.
And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-31/megan-e-freeman-discusses-signs-away

Jazz in the Park: Little Brazil (Bossa Nova)
2025-06-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Playhouse Village Park, 701 Union St, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Playhouse Village sizzles this summer with the return of the beloved Jazz in the Park concert series presented by Playhouse Village Association in partnership with Playhouse Village Foundation. The free concerts will take place every Sunday in June and July from 6PM to 8PM on the Van Halen Stage at Playhouse Village Park. This project is partially funded by a grant from Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts and the generous donors of Playhouse Village Foundation as a result of A Night Out In Playhouse Village. Bring a blanket or low chair and a picnic from your favorite local restaurant.

Vroman's Bookstore: Cristina Jiménez, in conversation with Francia Raisa and Annie Gonzalez, discusses & signs Dreaming of Home
2025-06-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
A MacArthur “Genius” shares her inspiring story, from undocumented newcomer to leader in a powerful immigrant youth movement.
Dreaming of Home is a coming-of-age story both for a young woman finding her true self and for a social movement of immigrant youth trailblazers who inspired the world and changed the lives of millions.
Cristina Jiménez’s family fights to stay afloat as Ecuador faces a political and economic crisis. When she was thirteen, her parents courageously decided to seek a better life in the U.S., landing in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens, New York. There are many challenges, but eventually, Cristina discovers she is not alone; she finds her calling within a community of social justice organizers. With deep candor and humor, Cristina opens the door to what it’s like to grow up undocumented and the reality that being a “good” immigrant doesn’t shield you from systematic racism, danger, or even the confusion of falling in love.
Through personal stories and historical truth telling, Cristina invites us to acknowledge the America that never was and to imagine the America that could be when everyday people build power and fight for change. And she reminds us that home is more than a physical place on the map, offering each of us a roadmap for finding the home within even when the world around us seems to be crumbling.
**This is a non-ticketed event, but an RSVP is recommended to guarantee seating. promo@vromansbookstore.com

Landmark Theatre Pasadena: Retro Replay: To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
2025-06-03 19:00 | Landmark Theatre, 673 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Retro Replay, our weekly series of modern and vintage film favorites, features films so satisfying we’re reviving them on the big screen to enjoy again—or to see for the first time! Each month’s thematic program offers a new film on Tuesdays! Retro Replay continues with June’s Pride Series!
Titles screen on Tuesdays in June from 6/03 through 6/24 at 7:00pm, and all seats are only $5 for Paid Loyalty Members! Become a loyalty member and avoid the additional online service fees. Click Here To Join Landmark Paid Loyalty Today and Avoid Ticketing Fees!

Vroman's Bookstore: Rucker Moses, in conversation with Zeno Robinson, discuss & sign Encounter at Owl Rock
2025-06-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In this exhilarating alien sci-fi adventure perfect for fans of Jordan Peele’s Nope, Lamar Giles and Kwame Mbalia, twin brothers must stop aliens from taking over their Atlanta suburb.
There’s something weird going on in South Bank…and the Young brothers are at the center of it.
Cypress and Oakley Young are polar opposites and if it weren’t for being identical twins, no one would ever guess they were related. Cy is a budding film director and this summer, he’s filming his latest movie at the abandoned theme park with Oak and their best friend Jaz as his actors. He loves directing, because being the director means calling the shots, being in absolute control of how the story turns out. Except Oak’s wild imagination can’t be contained. Tired of hearing about his brother’s dreams and alien conspiracy theories, Cy snaps at him. But before he can patch things up, Oak vanishes into Owl Rock, this huge otherworldly granite formation at the center of the park, leaving only his skateboard behind.
When Orion Industries, the company that’s been excavating beneath Owl Rock and snapping up property all around town, start searching for Oak with a little too much interest, it’s up to Cy and Jaz to find Oak first and uncover the true secrets of Owl Rock. This heartening whirlwind adventure is ready to thrill as two brothers discover we’re not alone in the universe.

Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: Little Cloud by Eric Carle
2025-06-04 18:00 - 19:00 | 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: Little Cloud by Eric Carle. Caregivers and children aged 3-9 will enjoy story, craft activities, creative movement, and a mini-concert!

Vroman's Ed - Bonsai Workshop with Daniel Deephouse
2025-06-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Daniel brings more than 40 years of experience in Bonsai care and cultivation. He has created and cared for Bonsai in Australia, the UK and the US.
You’ll repot, trim, and wire your own Japanese garden! Part of our ongoing Bonsai series, Daniel will take you through the process of creating and caring for your very own Bonsai. We provide all the supplies you need, you bring your enthusiasm and willingness to learn. We can’t wait to meet you.
This month’s plant selection is ficus trees. Daniel chose this because they are ok being potted in hot weather, and they are one of the few trees that can be kept indoors as well as out.
Daniel fell in love with the art when his Oma (grandmother,) Elizabeth Deephouse introduced him to it when he was eight. He loves to share his passion with anyone interested in learning. Daniel currently volunteers to help maintain the Bonsai collection at the Huntington Gardens and the Lake Balboa Japanese Garden. He also tends to private collections in the Los Angeles area and styles private trees. You can see some of his work at www.deephouseland.com

AC Hotel: Live Music: Joanna Gerolaga (R&B Pop Island Vibe Beach Vibe)
2025-06-06 17:00 | AC Hotel Pasadena, 19 S Madison Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States
It’s now possible to book a stay in Playhouse Village—AC Hotel by Marriott Pasadena is officially open for business. Guests and locals alike can unwind with a drink at one of their stylish lounges and drop in for live music every Friday and Saturday night.

Vroman's Bookstore: Cory O’Brien discusses & signs Two Truths and a Lie
2025-06-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
From the beloved internet humorist, a debut novel that introduces an unforgettable investigator to the drowned streets of L.A. in a hugely imaginative and heartfelt blend of noir and cyberpunk.
In a mostly underwater near-future Los Angeles, aging combat-drone veteran Orr Vue now lives a simple and small life, trading snippets of what’s become the most valuable currency: information. So when the cops show up at his door looking for data on a murder he’s not even aware has happened, things get interesting for the first time in 25 years.
At first, Orr is happy to exchange whatever he knows about the demise of InfoDrip’s top exec to buy booze and pay rent on his memory storage, but that plan goes to hell when Orr’s old boyfriend, Auggie Wolf, shows up as the number one suspect. Forced to stretch his atrophied spy skills and take his illegal horde of drones out of retirement alongside his busted knees, Orr finds himself in the crosshairs of the militarized police, a family of megarich corporate heirs, a clan of emancipated AIs, and a cult. Barely avoiding getting killed with every clue he collects, Orr realizes he’s uncovered not just a murder, but a conspiracy that threatens Auggie’s very existence. Ahh, the things we do for love…
But in a world where memories can be bought and sold, how can you truly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of? Fast paced, funny, and shockingly romantic, Two Truths and a Lie is Raymond Chandler reinvented for the 22nd century.
Cory O’Brien is the author of Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes and George Washington Is Cash Money. He has written for numerous award-winning video games, including Monster Prom and Holovista, and designed multiple tabletop games, including Inhuman Conditions and Hand to Hand Wombat. He lives in Chicago.

Vroman's Bookstore: Delanie Fischer presents & signs Mocktales: 50+ Literary Mocktails Inspired by Classic Works, Banned Books, and More!
2025-06-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Alcohol-Free Reimaginings of Literary Classics
Enjoy co-authors Delanie Fischer and Lindsey Smith’s delicious mocktail adaptations of your favorite books and authors.
Beloved stories with a sober twist. Have you ever wondered what the ladies from your favorite Jane Austen books would drink at a ball? What Jay Gatsby would be serving at his crazy parties? Experience these answers for yourself with Lindsey Smith and Delanie Fischer’s all-new zero-proof drink cookbook. MockTales captures the intoxicating atmosphere of the bestsellers that we know and love. Featuring over fifty plant-based recipes that are easy to make and full of nutritious flavors, you’ll enjoy your next reread like never before with these delicious mocktails.
A toast to the authors who made history. Each recipe inside MockTales is inspired by the literary characters and settings, but also the minds behind these incredible stories. Explore alcohol-free concoctions based on famous authors such as Alice Walker, Ernest Hemingway, Margaret Atwood, and more. Using ingredients that pay homage to their biographies, writing styles, and famous quotes, each sip will have you and fellow book lovers falling in love with these incredible writers all over again.
Enjoy over 50 recipes inspired by banned books and literary classics from all genres, such as:

Historical fiction novels like Les Miserables, Little Women, and Huckleberry Finn
Romance books such as Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice
Fantasy adventures including Alice in Wonderland and The Chronicles of Narnia
Science fiction and horror tales such as Frankenstein
Book-to-film adaptations like A Clockwork Orange and Fight Club

So if you liked fun mocktail and cocktail books such as Tequila Mockingbird, The Art of Mixology Mocktails, or Flavor Lab Creations, then we recommend MockTales for you.

Vroman's Bookstore: Mike de la Rocha discusses & signs Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love
2025-06-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love, Mike de la Rocha explores how inherited definitions of manhood profoundly impacted his ability to connect with his father, his family, and ultimately himself, inviting readers on a transformative journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and love.
Sacred Lessons is a deeply moving and inspiring memoir for those seeking self-love and healing. Intensely personal, this memoir delves into the struggle men face in connecting with themselves and others, offering tools for personal growth and ways to build meaningful and authentic relationships in their lives.
Through his story, Mike de la Rocha reflects on his father’s legacy as a beloved professor who impacted tens of thousands of students, yet struggled to teach his own son how to be emotionally vulnerable. Reflecting on the most important relationships in his life, Mike explores the difficulty in communicating with his father and loved ones–a byproduct of a toxic culture that prohibits men from truly expressing themselves, and purposely doesn’t teach men how to give and receive love. Through these stories, we see how trauma is passed on intergenerationally and how to find ways to stop the cycle of harm. In the end, both Mike and his father teach each other the greatest lesson of all: the sacredness of the love between a father and a son.
Told with raw emotion and vulnerability, Sacred Lessons is the human story of the impact that history and culture have upon us all. This is a book for those of us seeking community in a time when too many of us feel alone, as well as a testimony to the legacy of a brilliant father, a brutal indictment of patriarchy, and an affirmation of the transformative power of love.
BIO:
Mike de la Rocha is a visionary strategist, acclaimed artist, and compelling voice for change. Celebrated as one of the most influential changemakers of our era, Mike has been behind several of the largest policy victories and cultural shifts in United States history. He’s earned accolades as one of GOOD magazine’s top 100 people reshaping our world, recipient of the AFL-CIO’s prestigious Justice, Peace and Freedom Award, and was lauded as a groundbreaking innovator by Stanford Social Innovation Review. A proud alumnus of UCLA, Mike co-founded Revolve Impact, one of the leading creative agencies in the world, and Tepito Coffee, one of the fastest growing Latinx coffee companies in America. Mike calls Los Angeles home, where he resides with his family. Learn more about his journey at mikedelarocha.com and join the conversation online at @mrmikedelarocha.

AC Hotel: Live Music: Shea Givens (Soul Pop Classic Rock R&B)
2025-06-07 18:00 | AC Hotel Pasadena, 19 S Madison Ave, Pasadena, 91101, United States

Jazz in the Park: Michael Haggins (Smooth Jazz)
2025-06-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Playhouse Village Park, 701 Union St, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States

Landmark Theatre Pasadena: Retro Replay: Milk
2025-06-10 19:00 | Landmark Theatre, 673 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States

Vroman's Bookstore: Kyra Davis Lurie discusses & signs The Great Mann
2025-06-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
In this poignant retelling of The Great Gatsby, set amongst L.A.’s Black elite, a young veteran finds his way post-war, pulled into a new world of tantalizing possibilities–and explosive tensions.
In 1945, Charlie Trammell steps off a cross-country train into the vibrant tapestry of Los Angeles. Lured by his cousin Marguerite’s invitation to the esteemed West Adams Heights, Charlie is immediately captivated by the Black opulence of L.A.’s newly rechristened “Sugar Hill.”
Settling in at a local actress’s energetic boarding house, Charlie discovers a different way of life–one brimming with opportunity–from a promising career at a Black-owned insurance firm, the absence of Jim Crow, to the potential of an unforgettable romance. But nothing dazzles quite like James “Reaper” Mann.
Reaper’s extravagant parties, attended by luminaries like Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel, draw Charlie in, bringing the milieu of wealth and excess within his reach. But as Charlie’s unusual bond with Reaper deepens, so does the tension in the neighborhood as white neighbors, frustrated by their own dwindling fortunes, ignite a landmark court case that threatens the community’s well-being with promises of retribution.
Told from the unique perspective of a young man who has just returned from a grueling, segregated war, The Great Mann weaves a compelling narrative of wealth and class, illuminating the complexities of Black identity and education in post-war America.

Vroman's Bookstore: Renée Ahdieh, in conversation with Dahlia De La Vega, discusses & signs Park Avenue
2025-06-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
has always been destined for greatness. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, she promised herself that she would have every Fifth Avenue luxury when she grew up, and it is all finally within reach. She has just made junior partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm, she can count on her two best friends to have her back, and she is about to score the ultraluxe gold-on-gold Birkin bag of her dreams. So when her boss asks her to sit in on the hush-hush family implosion of a high-level client, she accepts without hesitation—only to find out that it is one of the most famous Korean families in the world.
The Park family’s net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and their mega-successful Korean beauty brand has shaped the culture for the past two decades. But the patriarch is filing for divorce while his wife is dying, and their three children can’t stop snapping at one another. With both the family fortune and legacy under threat from the worst kind of scandal, it’s up to Jia to set things right—and she only has a month to do it.
As Jia sorts through the lies and subterfuge, chasing the truth across the globe on private jets, she finds herself falling for this broken, badly-behaving family in ways she can’t quite explain. But it is also becoming clear that the Parks are hiding dark secrets. Can she find the truth in time to protect the Parks’ fortune and secure her success at the firm? And can she hold on to what’s most important, even if it means admitting that what she’s always wanted isn’t what she actually needs?
