Playhouse Village Association

Vroman's: Summer Music Series Clarice Cast and Friends
2023-07-18 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Brazilian multi percussionist Clarice Cast is an active performer, recording artist, and composer in Los Angeles. She will be joined by singer/songwriter Caro Pierotto and guitarist, singer/songwriter and producer Grecco Buratto to perform Brazilian bossa-nova, samba, and more.
The Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) is a nonprofit community music school that provides opportunities to learn, perform, and enjoy music to students of all ages and backgrounds. PCM is pleased to partner with Vroman’s Bookstore in offering this Summer Music Series, featuring faculty from PCM’s Jazz and World Music departments.

Vroman’s: Chang Sheng presents Oldman Part 3
2023-07-18 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Chang Sheng, in conversation with Wan-Chun Alex Ma, presents Oldman Part 3
A beautiful queen rules her country with an iron fist. Unmarried and without an heir, she adopts orphans as a way to prove that even commoners can reign as kings. Yet, as the years progress, she shows no sign of aging. Only one man knows the dark secret to her eternal youth: Oldman, a bearded magician the queen has locked in her darkest dungeon. One night, Oldman steps through the bars of his prison and disappears before the queen’s very eyes. Enraged, she sends her army after him in a desperate campaign to keep her secret hidden.
Staging his escape, Oldman appears to step through the bars of his cell and vanish as if by magic, cleverly misleading the guards. He rescues a neighboring prisoner, an outlaw sword maiden who has had her arms and legs amputated. Upon taking her to a brilliant doctor who fits her with mechanical limbs, Oldman and the sword maiden vow to take revenge on the queen that wronged them, all the while evading the queen’s army as she launches a desperate campaign to keep her secret hidden.
The story continues as Oldman and his companions have escaped the palace after a failed peace negotiation, but they’re being pursued by the full force of the queen’s army. The queen no longer treats Oldman’s resistance lightly; her orders for her soldiers are to capture his companions dead or alive… and send Oldman straight to her to face the queen’s wrath. (Eigomanga)
Having read comics from a young age, Chang Sheng has always preferred science fiction stories best. He admits to having been deeply influenced by the work of Yukinobu Hoshino, and his training in drawing and oil painting while studying at the Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School is likewise reflected in his exquisitely detailed and extremely realistic video game-like style. Chang Sheng has represented Taiwan at the Angoulême International Comics Festival three times and has won several prizes overseas. Oldman was a finalist in the 2013 International Manga Award in Japan.
Moderator Wan-Chun Alex Ma is Academy Sci-Tech Award Recipient in 2019. His work on facial performance capture contributed to many recent motion pictures, including the Hobbit trilogy, Iron Man 3, the reboot Planet of the Apes series.

Purchase your book at Vroman’s Bookstore or online at vromansbookstore.com.

Vroman's: Brando Skyhorse, in conversation with Jaime Paglia, discusses 'My Name Is Iris'
2023-07-18 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Iris Prince is starting over. After years of drifting apart, she and her husband are going through a surprisingly drama-free divorce. She’s moved to a new house in a new neighborhood and has plans for gardening, coffee clubs, and spending more time with her nine-year-old daughter Melanie. It feels like her life is finally exactly what she wants it to be.
Then, one beautiful morning, she looks outside her kitchen window–and sees that a wall has appeared in her front yard overnight. Where did it come from? What does it mean? And why does it seem to keep growing?
Meanwhile, a Silicon Valley startup has launched a high-tech wrist wearable called “the Band.” Pitched as a convenient, eco-friendly tool to help track local utilities and replace driver’s licenses and IDs, the Band is available only to those who can prove parental citizenship. Suddenly, Iris, a proud second-generation Mexican American, is now of “unverifiable origin,” unable to prove who she is, or where she, and her undocumented loved ones, belong. Amid a climate of fear and hate-fueled violence, Iris must confront how far she’ll go to protect what matters to her most.
My Name Is Iris is an all-too-possible story about family, intolerance, and hope, offering a brilliant and timely look at one woman’s journey to discover who she can’t–and can–be. (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster)

Vroman’s: Sonali Kolhatkar discusses Rising Up
2023-07-19 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Sonali Kolhatkar discusses Rising Up: The Power of Narrative in Pursuing Racial Justice
Rising Up offers a timely exploration of how truthful narratives by and about people of color can be used to advance social justice in the United States.
While people of color are fast becoming the majority population in the United States, the perspectives of white America still dominate the vast majority of the media created and consumed every day. Media makers of color, long shut out of the decision-making process, are rising up to advance a set of different narratives, offering stories and perspectives to counter the racism and disinformation that have long dominated America’s political and cultural landscape.
In Rising Up, award-winning journalist Sonali Kolhatkar delivers a guide to racial justice narrative-setting. With a focus on shifting perspectives in news media, entertainment, and individual discourse, she highlights the writers, creators, educators, and influencers who are successfully building a culture of affirmation and inclusion.
“Sonali Kolhatkar reminds us we are the stories we tell. Our stories can cast a spell of hate, division, and fear, or they can break the powerful grip of racial injustices that have held us since our country’s beginning. With personal and collective wisdom, Kolhatkar guides us in the storytelling that liberates.”–Luis J. Rodríguez, author of Always Running: La Vida Loco/Gang Days in L.A.
Purchase your book at Vroman’s Bookstore or online at vromansbookstore.com.

SCCM: Play For All Abilities Days
2023-07-20 12:30 - 15:30 | Southern California Children’s Museum, 459 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91011, United States
Play is for All! In honor of Disability Pride Month, SCCM is opening after-hours for Play for All Abilities sessions on July 20 and July 27 & the last Thursday of every month beyond from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Play for All Abilities is meant to welcome and create space for children and families with developmental differences. These play sessions will feature limited stimuli and intentional programming. Build community in a welcoming atmosphere for all abilities!

Wollhaus: Drop-in Class
2023-07-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Wollhaus Artisan Yarn & Tools, 696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 2, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Not sure how to start a new project? Made a mistake? Need assistance with a new skill? Join Wollhaus Pasadena for a Drop-in Class where an experienced knitter will be available to help you. Reserve your spot online at wollhaus.com – They keep the classes small.

Vroman’s: Bruce Borgos discusses The Bitter Past
2023-07-20 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Bruce Borgos discusses The Bitter Past: A Mystery
In the tradition of Craig Johnson and C. J. Box, Bruce Borgos’s The Bitter Past begins a compelling series set in the high desert of Nevada featuring Sheriff Porter Beck.
Porter Beck is the sheriff in the high desert of Nevada, north of Las Vegas. Born and raised there, he left to join the Army, where he worked in Intelligence, deep in the shadows in far off places. Now he’s back home, doing the same lawman’s job his father once did, before his father started to develop dementia. All is relatively quiet in this corner of the world, until an old, retired FBI agent is found killed. He was brutally tortured before he was killed and clues at the scene point to a mystery dating back to the early days of the nuclear age. If that wasn’t strange enough, a current FBI agent shows up to help Beck’s investigation.
In a case that unfolds in the past (the 1950s) and the present, it seems that a Russian spy infiltrated the nuclear testing site and now someone is looking for that long-ago, all-but forgotten person, who holds the key to what happened then and to the deadly goings on now. (Minotaur Books)
Purchase your book at Vroman’s Bookstore or online at vromansbookstore.com.

Ice House Comedy: The Shindig Show w/Jimmy Shin
2023-07-20 20:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Jimmy Shin and the top comedians in the country! The ShinDig Show is one of the top comedy shows in Los Angeles bringing you the biggest headliners as seen on Comedy Central, Netflix, HBO, The Late Show, Def Jam, and Showtime. Don’t miss this Ultimate Comedy Party… Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ only with a 2 item minimum per seat.

Ice House Comedy: No Laughing
2023-07-20 20:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents “No Laughing at The Ice House!” At No Laughing, contestants are pulled from the audience, and if YOU can last three 1 minute rounds of comedy without laughing, you win CASH & PRIZES! Featuring Frank Castillo, Alex Hooper, Mike Glazer, Nicole Becannon, Nikki Bon, and Martin Morrow!
Hosted by Eddie Furth, co-creator of Historical Roasts on Netflix. Put your name in the hat for your chance to win! Live in the California Room! Seating in the Showroom begins 45 minutes prior to showtime.

The Mixx: Live Tribute Rock En Español
2023-07-21 08:00 - 17:00 | CA
The Mixx Pasadena presents TORMENTA THURSDAYS. Enjoy live music celebrating the biggest bands in Latin Rock!

Vroman’s Book a Trip: Halloween in July
2023-07-21 13:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Pop In for “Halloween in July”: Pop-Up Cards with Papercraft Master Joel Stern!
Papercraft Master Joel Stern, author of MY FIRST ORIGAMI KIT, and ORIGAMI GAMES (as well as many other books and kits) has had his awesome origami featured in movies, commercials, and on TV! BOOK A TRIP (Vroman’s 2023 Summer Reading Program) is proud to give young artisans a chance to be guided by an expert!
Master Joel will help you navigate through the multi-dimensional Land of Pop-Up Cards! And we won’t make you wait until October to make Ghosts, Witches, and Creepy Crawlies pop out at you! Postcards will seem passé! You’ll probably want to take some photos of your projects for the folks back home!
Cut-outs, cards, and materials will be provided.
This event is free. Please make a reservation: rsvp@vromansbookstore.com
See Master Joel’s art at www.joeldstern.com

Iman's Music Studio: Women in Music
2023-07-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Iman’s Music Studio, 678 E. Walnut St. Unit 110, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Iman’s Studio in Pasadena presents Women in Music. Ladiesssss! Celebrate the launch of Iman’s Studio’s new production space and meet fellow female creatives! They are an AAPI-female-owned music studio located in Pasadena, CA, devoted to creating a safe and supportive environment for women and people of color in the music industry. This event will offer food, drinks, merch, and good vibes.

Vroman’s: Dr. Aomawa Shields discusses Life on Other Planets
2023-07-21 19:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Dr. Aomawa Shields discusses Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe
A stunning and inspiring memoir charting a life as an astronomer, classically-trained actor, mother, and Black woman in STEM, searching for life in the universe while building a meaningful life here on Earth
As a kid, Aomawa Shields was always bumping into things, her neck craned up at the sky, dreaming of becoming an astronaut. A year into an astrophysics PhD program, plagued by self-doubt and discouraged by a white male professor who suggested that she–a young Black woman who also loved fashion, makeup, and the arts–didn’t belong, she left astronomy and pursued acting professionally for a decade, before a day job working for NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope drew her back to the stars. She was the oldest and the only Black student in her PhD cohort. This time, no professor, and no voice in her own head, would stop her. Now an astronomer and astrobiologist at the top of her field, Dr. Shields studies the universe outside our Solar System, researching and uncovering the planets circling distant stars with just the right conditions that could support life–while also using her theater education to communicate the wonder and magic of the universe with those of us here on Earth. But it’s been a journey as winding and complex as the physics she has mastered.
Life on Other Planets is a journey of discovery on this world and on others, a story of creating a life that makes space for joy, love, and wonder while being driven by one of our biggest questions: Is anybody else out there? It is about the possibility of living between multiple worlds and not choosing–but instead charting a new path entirely. (Viking)
Purchase your book at Vroman’s Bookstore or online at vromansbookstore.com.

Ice House Comedy: Jodi Miller - Decades In The Making
2023-07-21 19:30 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Jodi Miller. Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ only with a 2-item minimum per seat.
Bio
Jodi Miller is one of the funniest female comedians working today. She continues to delight audiences worldwide and this special Ice House Show has truly been “Decades In The Making.” She’s the head writer and on-camera talent for the hit comedy game show “FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK”. She also can be seen as the host of “THE WORLD’S FUNNIEST WEATHER”.

The Mixx: Sing Your Life Morrissey Karaoke
2023-07-22 05:00 - 20:00 | The Mixx, 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
The Mixx Pasadena presents the summer of “Moz.” Sing your life with a free Morrissey Karaoke Show hosted by MC Handsome Devil and Friends. Enjoy specialty Morrissey Margaritas and food specials. Free Parking on Colorado Blvd and Los Robles

Wollhaus: Learn to Crochet
2023-07-22 09:00 - 11:00, 2023-07-22 11:00 | Wollhaus Artisan Yarn & Tools, 696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 2, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Always wanted to learn to crochet? Need a Refresher? In this class presented by Wollhause Pasadena, students learn the basic crochet stitches and begin a pair of fingerless mitts. No previous experience needed!

Vroman’s: Storytime with Mr. Steve
2023-07-22 11:00 | Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Join Mr. Steve and the gang at Vroman’s at 11 am for story time!

Vroman’s Summer Concert Series
2023-07-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Vroman’s Stage, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 91101, Select a Country:
Summer Music Series featuring Stevie Ray Hernandez and Friends Co-sponsored by the Pasadena Conservatory of Music
Born and raised in Los Angeles, PCM faculty member Stevie Ray Hernandez is one of the most sought after young percussionists/drummers in the Southern California area. He will be joined by friends to perform songs with varied musical styles including son, rumba, salsa, latin-jazz, samba, bossa-nova, and merengue.
The Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) is a nonprofit community music school that provides opportunities to learn, perform, and enjoy music to students of all ages and backgrounds. PCM is pleased to partner with Vroman’s Bookstore in offering this Summer Music Series, featuring faculty from PCM’s Jazz and World Music departments

Ice House Comedy: Improv4Humans with Matt Besser
2023-07-22 19:30 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Improv4Humans with Matt Besser featuring Andy Daly, Lisa Gilroy, and John Gemberling. Live in the California Room! 21+ only with a 2-item minimum per seat.

Ice House Comedy: Orny Adams
2023-07-22 20:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Orny Adams. Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ only with a 2-item minimum per seat.

Ice House Comedy: Dirty Sets
2023-07-22 21:30 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Dirty Sets with Host Brandi Denise. Live in the California Room! 21+ only with a 2 item minimum per seat.

Ice House Comedy: Please Like Me
2023-07-22 22:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Please Like Me featuring Ron Funches and friends! Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ with a 2-item minimum per seat.

Jazz in the Park: Marcelo Bucater Quartet
2023-07-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Playhouse Village Park, 701 Union St, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Playhouse Village sizzles this summer with the return of Jazz in the Park concert series presented by Ice House Comedy Club. The free concerts will take place every Sunday in June and July from 5:00PM to 7:00PM on the Van Halen Stage at the new Playhouse Village Park. Pick up a picnic from your favorite local restaurant and bring a blanket to enjoy music under the stars.
July 23: Marcelo Bucater Quartet
Marcelo Bucater is a drummer/percussionist from Brazil based in Los Angeles since 2013. The quartet plays Bucater’s compositions bringing a variety of Brazilian rhythms, Jazz, and odd meters. Currently recording their first album, the different ethnicities of the members, including Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA brings a unique sound to the group.
See the full Jazz. the Park schedule of performances at playhousevillage.org/jazz

Pasadena Playhouse: Stew
2023-07-23 19:00, 2023-07-25 20:00 | Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Stew by Zora Howard and directed by Tyler Thomas
Mama’s in the kitchen early preparing her famous stew for a big event, but even as her daughters and granddaughter help, she still feels like time is running out. Soon these three generations of Black women begin to feel their past and present closing in. A finalist for the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Zora Howard’s hilarious, haunting, and taut 90-minute drama has a lot more cooking underneath the surface.
Stew “feels familiar without being cliché, delivering a captivating story that’s intimate, funny, and heartbreaking in equal measure.” – The New Yorker
Purchase your tickets at pasadenaplayhouse.org.

Ice House Comedy: IHP Gut-Busters
2023-07-25 20:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Gut-Busters. Looking for some laugh until your stomach aches comedy? Who you gonna call? GUT-BUSTERS! An all-new Ice House presents a show featuring some of the best up-and-coming comedians in the industry. Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ with a 2-item minimum per seat.

Ice House Comedy: Mota Martes
2023-07-25 22:00 | Ice House Comedy Club, 24 N Mentor Ave, Pasadena, CA, 91106
Ice House Comedy presents Mota Martes hosted by DJ Cruz. Live in the Legendary Room! 21+ with a 2-item minimum per seat.

Pasadena Presbyterian: Music at Noon: Aaron Shows, organist
2023-07-26 12:10 - 12:30 | Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena , CA, 91101, United States
Enjoy music with your lunch Wednesdays from 12:10 – 12:40PM in the Sanctuary at PPC. If you love classical virtuosos or contemporary maestros, each week promises a captivating performance that will leave you mesmerized. Best of all, admission is free and accessible to all music lovers. For the schedule of upcoming performers, visit ppc.net.

Wollhaus: Social Stitching
2023-07-26 16:00 - 19:00 | Wollhaus Artisan Yarn & Tools, 696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 2, Pasadena, CA, 91101, United States
Wollhaus presents an evening of social stitching Wednesdays evenings. This will be the last social stitching event in July. For more events please check back with Wollhaus Calendar at wollhaus.com
