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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260403T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260403T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T215920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T233546Z
UID:10015077-1775242800-1775242800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Scott Broker & Sheldon Costa discuss & sign The Disappointment and The Great Work
DESCRIPTION: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 \nIt’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. \nDespite 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. \nTold 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. \nThe Great Work\n“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 \nAn alchemist and his teenage nephew hunt down a legend in this profound and unsettling speculative Western\, for fans of Karen Russell and Victor LaValle. \nAlone 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. \nIt’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. \nSheldon 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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-scott-broker-sheldon-costa-discuss-sign-the-disappointment-and-the-great-work/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/scott-sheldon-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260404T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260404T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T220241Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T220241Z
UID:10015078-1775302200-1775302200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: Together by Mona Damluji
DESCRIPTION: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!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-pasadena-conservatory-of-music-presents-musical-storytime-together-by-mona-damluji/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Kids,Music,Vroman's Bookstore
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260404T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260404T160000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T220520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T220520Z
UID:10015079-1775318400-1775318400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Woody Brown presents Upward Bound: A Novel
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIn 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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-woody-brown-presents-upward-bound-a-novel/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/woody-brown.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T210000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T220749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T220749Z
UID:10015080-1775556000-1775595600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Captain Underpants Release Day in the Children's Department!
DESCRIPTION: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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-captain-underpants-release-day-in-the-childrens-department/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T221032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T221032Z
UID:10015081-1775559600-1775559600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Mr. Steve's Comic Book Workshop
DESCRIPTION: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!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-mr-steves-comic-book-workshop/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/storytime-website-image-20.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260407T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T224626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T224626Z
UID:10015082-1775588400-1775588400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman'sBookstore: TICKETED - Andrew McCarthy discusses & signs Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America
DESCRIPTION: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. \n“You don’t really have any friends\, do you\, Dad?” \nA 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. \nWho 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. \nIn 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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromansbookstore-ticketed-andrew-mccarthy-discusses-signs-who-needs-friends-an-unscientific-examination-of-male-friendship-across-america/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/andrew-mccarthy-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260408T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260408T114500
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20250106T200208Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T200208Z
UID:10007777-1775646000-1775648700@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Storytime with Mr. Steve and Miss Marie!
DESCRIPTION:Mr. Steve and the gang host story time every Wednesday at 11 AM in the upstairs children’s section of Vroman’s Bookstore.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-storytime-with-mr-steve-and-miss-marie-2/2026-04-08/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Families,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/storytime-website-image.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260408T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260408T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T224932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T224932Z
UID:10015083-1775674800-1775674800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY: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
DESCRIPTION: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. \nRunning 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. \nThis 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. \nA 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. \nBeautifully 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. \nQuite simply\, if you are a runner\, this book is catnip to your passion.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-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/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/raziq-rauf.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T110000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T230052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T230052Z
UID:10015084-1775732400-1775732400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Vroman's Children's Department Presents Trinity's Watercolor Workshop
DESCRIPTION: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. \nInstagram: @trinitypoints\nWebsite: pointstrinity.weebly.com\nEmail: trinityLpoints@gmail.com
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-vromans-childrens-department-presents-trinitys-watercolor-workshop/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Craft & DIY,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/web-images-600x600-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260409T180000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T234220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T234220Z
UID:10015085-1775757600-1775757600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Terry Crews signs Terry’s Many Hats
DESCRIPTION: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! \nEveryone’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. \nThis is a ticketed program and will take place at Vroman’s Bookstore\, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd\, Pasadena\, CA 91101. \nYour Eventbrite ticket will include a copy of Terry’s Many Hats\, to be handed out at check-in on the night of the program. \nThis is a book signing only\, with a photo opportunity. There will not be a seated conversation. \nYou will be asked to queue inside and outside of the store. If you need accommodation\, please let us know..
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-terry-crews-signs-terrys-many-hats/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/terry-crews-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260410T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260410T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T234609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T234609Z
UID:10015086-1775847600-1775847600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Jon Lindstrom discusses & signs Hollywood Payback: A Thriller
DESCRIPTION: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. \nTwenty 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. \nNow 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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-jon-lindstrom-discusses-signs-hollywood-payback-a-thriller/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/jon-web-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260411T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260411T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260317T234936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T234936Z
UID:10015087-1775919600-1775919600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Nadine Takvorian discusses & signs Armaveni: A Graphic Novel of the Armenian Genocide
DESCRIPTION:A bold\, autobiographical graphic novel chronicling one girl’s quest to uncover her family’s history during the Armenian genocide. \nNadine 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. \nUntil 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. \nTold in interwoven historical\, contemporary\, and fantastical sequences\, Armaveni is a gripping graphic novel debut and a much-needed historical document.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-nadine-takvorian-discusses-signs-armaveni-a-graphic-novel-of-the-armenian-genocide/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/nadine-takvorian-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260412T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260412T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T175413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T175413Z
UID:10015100-1776002400-1776002400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Leonard Maltin & Jessie Maltin discuss & sign Family Movie Night Menus: Recipes & Films for Unforgettable Times Together (Turner Classic Movies)
DESCRIPTION: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. \nFamily 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. \nEach 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). \nOther 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!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-leonard-maltin-jessie-maltin-discuss-sign-family-movie-night-menus-recipes-films-for-unforgettable-times-together-turner-classic-movies/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/maltin-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260414T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260414T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T175725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T175725Z
UID:10015101-1776193200-1776193200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Kelly Yang\, in conversation with Lisa Ling\, discusses & signs The Take
DESCRIPTION: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 \nWould you sell your youth for $3 million? \nMaggie 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. \nFor 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. \nWhat 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. \nAs 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. \nSharp\, 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. \n  \nThis ticketed event is FREE and will take place at Vroman’s Bookstore\, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd\, Pasadena\, CA 91101. \nThere 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. \nA public book signing will follow the conversation. \nRefunds are available until one day before the program.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-kelly-yang-in-conversation-with-lisa-ling-discusses-signs-the-take/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/kelly-yang-rsvp.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T120000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T180317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T180317Z
UID:10015102-1776250800-1776254400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Storytime with Mr. Steve\, Miss Marie and the British Swim School!
DESCRIPTION: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. \nMr. 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. \nFamilies 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.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-storytime-with-mr-steve-miss-marie-and-the-british-swim-school/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260415T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T180829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T180829Z
UID:10015103-1776279600-1776279600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore" Amy Coombe discusses & signs Stay for a Spell
DESCRIPTION: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. \nPrincess 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. \nDuring 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. \nShe even starts to believe she’s stumbled into her very own happily ever after. \nThere’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?
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-amy-coombe-discusses-signs-stay-for-a-spell/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/amy-coombe-rsvp.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260416T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260416T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T181357Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T181357Z
UID:10015104-1776366000-1776366000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Lisa Lee\, in conversation with Muriel Leung\, discusses & signs American Han
DESCRIPTION:“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 \nJane 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. \nBoth 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. \n“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
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-lisa-lee-in-conversation-with-muriel-leung-discusses-signs-american-han/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/lisa-lee-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260418T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260418T100000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T181642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T181642Z
UID:10015105-1776506400-1776506400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's at The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC Campus April 18-19\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:Vroman’s will be at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC campus this year! \nVisit us April 18-19\, 2026 at the following booths: \nVroman’s Main Booth: 117 | Vroman’s Young Readers: 990 | Book Soup: 088
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-at-the-los-angeles-times-festival-of-books-usc-campus-april-18-19-2026/2026-04-18/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260420T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260420T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T182058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T182058Z
UID:10015107-1776711600-1776711600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Paul Fischer\, in conversation with Drew McWeeny\, discusses & signs The Last Kings of Hollywood
DESCRIPTION:The untold\, intimate story of how three young visionaries–Francis Ford Coppola\, George Lucas\, and Steven Spielberg–revolutionized American cinema\, creating the most iconic films in history while risking everything\, redefining friendship\, and shaping Hollywood as we know it. \nIn the summer of 1967\, as the old Hollywood studio system was dying\, an intense\, uncompromising young film school graduate named George Lucas walked onto the Warner Bros backlot for his first day working as an assistant to another up-and-coming\, largely-unknown filmmaker\, a boisterous father of two called Francis Ford Coppola. At the exact same time\, across town on the Universal Studios lot\, a film-obsessed twenty-year-old from a peripatetic Jewish family\, Steven Spielberg\, longed to break free from his apprenticeship for the struggling studio and become a film director in his own right. \nWithin a year\, the three men would become friends. Spielberg\, prioritizing security\, got his seven-year contract directing television. Lucas and Coppola\, hungry for independence\, left Hollywood for San Francisco to found an alternative studio\, American Zoetrope\, and make films without answering to corporate capitalism. \nBased on extensive research and hundreds of original interviews with the inner circle of these Hollywood icons\, The Last Kings of Hollywood tells the thrilling\, dramatic inside story of how\, over the next fifteen years\, the three filmmakers rivalled and supported each other\, fell out and reconciled\, and struggled to reinvent popular American cinema. Along the way\, Coppola directed The Godfather\, then the highest-grossing film of all-time\, until Spielberg surpassed it with Jaws — whose record Lucas broke with Star Wars\, which Spielberg surpassed again with E.T. By the early 1980s\, they were the richest\, best-known filmmakers in the world\, each with an empire of their own. The Last Kings of Hollywood is an unprecedented chronicle of their rise\, their dreams and demons\, their triumphs and their failures — intimate\, extraordinary\, and supremely entertaining.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-paul-fischer-in-conversation-with-drew-mcweeny-discusses-signs-the-last-kings-of-hollywood/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/paul-fischer-web.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260422T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260422T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T182422Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T182422Z
UID:10015108-1776884400-1776884400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Fiction Reading Group
DESCRIPTION:The Vroman’s Fiction Reading Group explores contemporary fiction -long and short -from a diverse selection of writers.  Enjoy lively discussions at our one-hour meetings.  Our Fiction Reading Group is free and inclusive – there are no requirements or criteria to join. We announce upcoming titles 3-6 months in advance and choose titles that are available in paperback.  Drop by our next meeting! \nApril’s pick is The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-fiction-reading-group-3/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260423T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T182726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183345Z
UID:10015109-1776970800-1776970800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Rhae Lynn Barnes & David M. Henkin discuss & sign\, Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment & Out of the Ballpark: How to Think about Baseball
DESCRIPTION:Never before has the disturbing story of blackface and its piercing reflection of American society been so comprehensively told. With Darkology\, Princeton historian Rhae Lynn Barnes meticulously unravels the complex\, subterranean\, and all-too-often expunged history of “Darkology”–the insidious study\, commodification\, and dehumanization of Black life\, through which performers caricatured the enslaved and formerly enslaved for their supposed subservience and happy demeanor. \n  \nGiven the extraordinary research reflected in Darkology\, it’s not surprising that Barnes spent twenty years tracking down “fading photographs\, old movies\, bureaucratic detritus\, moldy scripts\, and living witnesses\, assembling an impressive archive that allowed her to demonstrate the astonishingly broad reach of blackface minstrelsy” (Laurel Thatcher Ulrich). Painstakingly piecing together these scattered shards of evidence\, Barnes reveals the shocking extent to which blackface took center stage in every era of American history. \n  \nThis was not a fringe activity. By 1830\, as political resistance to slavery grew\, blackface exploded from a niche performance into a venomous national export. Within a decade\, hardly a theater in the country didn’t put on minstrel shows. Following the Civil War\, this grotesque entertainment soared\, seeping from professional theaters into everyday amateur shows\, print\, and advertisements. It was everywhere: Elks Clubs\, religious institutions\, battlefields\, universities\, and schools. It wasn’t just in the Jim Crow era; it defined it. The very name “Jim Crow” derives from minstrelsy’s founding character. \n  \nDarkology dismantles the myth that blackface was a fleeting\, post-Civil War phenomenon. Even in eras known for liberal progressivism\, it flourished. Barnes unearths the startling fact that four-term president Franklin D. Roosevelt was a devotee who died hours before a blackface show he had commissioned at Warm Springs. It permeated U.S. military bases and was even used in World War II Japanese American concentration camps and German POW camps as a bizarre tool of “Americanization.” \n  \nAfter WWII\, the tide began to turn as Black veterans and mothers in places like suburban California protested the practice in schools. Still\, blackface performances proved resilient\, surfacing as late as 1969 at the University of Vermont. Even as the Civil Rights movement fought for equality\, blackface remained present in American politics and white supremacist organizing through the Nixon and Ford administrations\, its legacy still percolating in variable forms today.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-23-rhae-lynn-barnes-david-m-henkin-discuss-sign-darkology-blackface-and-the-american-way-of-entertainment-out-of-the-ballpark-how-to-think-about-baseball/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260425T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260425T150000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T183926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T183926Z
UID:10015111-1777129200-1777129200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Luke Goebel\, in conversation with Caroline Kepnes\, discusses & signs Kill Dick
DESCRIPTION:ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF FOURTEEN STORIES\, NONE OF THEM ARE YOURS\, CO-WRITER OF the films CAUSEWAY and EILEEN \nRECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS RONALD SUKENICK INNOVATIVE FICTION PRIZE AND JOAN SCOTT MEMORIAL FICTION AWARD \n“Kill Dick” is a love letter to LA’s darkness and light.”–USA Today \nA fever dream\, Kill Dick is a literary thriller that plunges into the chaos of Los Angeles\, where addiction\, privilege\, and corruption combust. \nAt nineteen\, Susie Vogelman should be coasting: she’s an NYU dropout with no responsibilities\, endless prescription pills\, and a Brentwood estate to waste away in. But Los Angeles has other plans. A string of brutal murders targeting addicts spreads through the city\, and Susie’s ivory tower begins to crumble. The headlines point too close to home: her father’s ties to an opioid empire\, a sinister secret society\, and her own complicity in the systems holding it all together. \nThen there’s Peter Holiday\, a disgraced professor running a rehab scam so audacious it’s almost admirable. When their lives collide\, Susie and Peter are dragged into a web of privilege\, corruption\, and violence\, where every escape leads deeper into the rot. \nDark\, satirical\, and razor-sharp\, Kill Dick is a modern literary thriller that unflinchingly dissects wealth\, exploitation\, and the perilous line between survival and self-destruction.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-luke-goebel-in-conversation-with-caroline-kepnes-discusses-signs-kill-dick/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/luke-goebel-updated.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260426T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260426T140000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T184243Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T184243Z
UID:10015112-1777212000-1777212000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Jane Smiley discusses & signs Lidie: The Further Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton: A Novel
DESCRIPTION:From the bestselling\, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist\, a rousing novel that follows two young women fleeing a divided America: one running toward a dazzling future and the other running from a troubled past \nChristmas\, 1857. America’s future is precarious; civil war looms on the horizon. After her abolitionist husband is murdered in the lawless Kansas Territory\, Lidie Newton returns\, in mourning\, to her hometown of Quincy\, Illinois. But her sisters have little comfort to offer\, and Lidie is haunted by the memories of her failures–until she takes an interest in her niece\, Annie. Beautiful\, self-assured\, and mischievous\, Annie sticks out in Quincy. She becomes an actress at the local theater\, and when she is offered the opportunity to perform abroad\, she decides to run away. But travel is dangerous for a young unmarried woman\, so Lidie\, armed with her pistol and her wit\, goes with her. \nThe two women embark on a perilous journey across the Atlantic\, rushing toward an unknown future in England. Once they arrive in Liverpool\, they vanish into new roles in the household of Annie’s benefactor\, Mr. Mallory Cunningham. Annie takes a stage name and finds her way to a career\, while Lidie becomes her lady’s maid. But will either of them be content with her new lot in life? \nExuberant and riveting\, a sly commentary on truth and beauty and fulfillment that resonates with our times\, Lidie delivers a panoramic portrait of a volatile era and the headstrong women trying to live an honest life in it.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-jane-smiley-discusses-signs-lidie-the-further-travels-and-adventures-of-lidie-newton-a-novel/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/jane-smiley.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260427T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260427T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T184657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T184705Z
UID:10015113-1777316400-1777316400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Maria Semple\, in conversation with Jennette McCurdy\, discusses & signs Go Gentle
DESCRIPTION:“Maria Semple is a treasure.” –Los Angeles Times \nThe New York Times bestselling author of Where’d You Go\, Bernadette returns to form in her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet with the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in. \nAdora Hazzard has it all figured out. A Stoic philosopher and divorcée\, she lives a contented life on New York City’s Upper West Side. Having discovered that the secret to happiness is to desire only what you have\, she’s applied this insight to blissful effect: relishing her teenage daughter\, the freedom of being solo\, and her job as a moral tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family. She’s even assembled a “coven”–like-minded women who live on the same floor in the legendary Ansonia–and is making active efforts to grow its membership. Adora’s carefully curated life is humming along brilliantly until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger. \nSoon\, her ordered world is upended by black-market art deals\, secret rendezvous\, and international intrigue . . . and her past–which she has worked so hard to bury–lands like a bomb in her present. Inflamed by unquenchable desire\, Adora finds herself a woman wanting more: and she’ll risk everything to get it. \nAdora Hazzard’s journey of self-discovery will grip you from the start. Romantic\, hilarious\, intelligent\, and bursting with the stuff of life\, Go Gentle is a thrilling story of one woman’s mid-life transformation\, cementing Maria Semple in the pantheon of our most exciting and important contemporary writers.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-maria-semple-in-conversation-with-jennette-mccurdy-discusses-signs-go-gentle/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/maria-semple-web.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260428T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260428T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T185941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T185941Z
UID:10015114-1777402800-1777402800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Scott Kurashige\, in conversation with Dr. Margo Okazawa-Rey\, discusses & signs American Peril
DESCRIPTION:This probing account shines a new light on the problem of anti-Asian violence and inspires us to build lasting solidarity. \nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic\, racist demagoguery fomented a campaign of terror against Asian Americans. But these attacks were part of a much longer pattern that made anti-Asian racism integral to the outbreak of white supremacist\, misogynist\, and colonial violence across 175 years of U.S. history. Written in the radical spirit of Howard Zinn\, American Peril represents the culmination of thirty-five years of study and activism by award-winning scholar Scott Kurashige. \nFrom the lynching of Asian immigrants during the exclusion era to the U.S. military’s slaughter of Asian civilians\, the book connects domestic and global events that have been erased from the official record. Going beyond victimhood\, it traces the rise of Asian American community protest and activism in response to the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin and other overlooked tragedies. While many have worked to legislate and prosecute hate crimes\, Kurashige argues that hope lies in grassroots activism for multiracial solidarity.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-scott-kurashige-in-conversation-with-dr-margo-okazawa-rey-discusses-signs-american-peril/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/scott-kurashige-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260430T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260430T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T190318Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T190318Z
UID:10015115-1777575600-1777575600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Jordan Harper\, in conversation with S.A. Cosby\, discusses & signs A Violent Masterpiece
DESCRIPTION:The next epic crime novel from Jordan Harper\, a story of Los Angeles power brokers and those at the edge\, and a single shattering incident that threatens to bring it all crashing down. \nLos Angeles\, right now. America with its back up against the wall. This Frankenstein’s monster of crimes and lurid dreams sewn together into something like a city. \nA city ready to explode: A Hollywood pedophile is arrested\, and is ready to tear down the city to get his freedom. A young woman goes missing — and men in black rubber gloves who look like cops clean out her apartment in the middle of the night. And the serial killer known as the LA Ripper is on the loose\, leaving tragic/graphic/brutal crime scenes in his wake. Three people trying to keep their heads above the dirty water will find themselves coming together to unite these strands into one enormous\, unspeakable crime … \nJake Deal is a gonzo live-streaming nightcrawler\, beaming the city’s chaos straight to his audience of blood-hungry subscribers\, giving them the view from the top of the mushroom cloud — until a job he can’t refuse drags him back into his old life of Hollywood glamour\, drugs\, sex and sleaze. Armed with cameras and hidden mics\, he’ll infiltrate private clubs\, gather high-class dirt — and stumble onto a conspiracy woven into the center of LA’s most powerful men\, who call themselves “The Kids in the Candy Store.” \nDoug Gibson is a street lawyer\, who fights for his clients against the army of cops\, prosecutors and judges – he is the knife they bring to the gunfight. But when he’s hired by a Hollywood pedophile ready to sell out his friends for a chance for freedom\, he’ll take on a fight bigger than he could have imagined. And when his client “commits suicide” in prison\, Gibson will have to stop being a weapon – and become a warrior. \nKara Delgado works for an underground private concierge company – a make-a-wish foundation for the terminally rich. She scores drugs\, makes connections\, and plans multi-million dollar sex parties.She has learned the secret truth of this world: there are no rules\, only prices. Her best friend Phoebe has gone missing\, and Kara’s the only person who knows that Phoebe’s place was wiped clean of evidence by men in black rubber gloves. But when she begins to unravel the mystery of what happened to Phoebe\, and its connection to the killer known as the LA Ripper\, it will drag her into the dark heart of the city. \nAs Jake\, Doug and Kara all investigate these crimes\, they’ll encounter ketamine-addled sitcom stars\, bloody riots\, homeless gangsters\, a killer cop on death row\, secret vaults in Beverly Hills\, tech-bro orgies\, medical cannibals\, true crime junkies\, private security wet-work teams\, reality shows\, street takeovers\, car chases\, coyotes\, a sadistic Tarzan\, and a three day\, fifty million dollar wedding\, before everything is revealed and they must each make their choice about how to fight back in this violent world before the bloody\, blazing conclusion.\n \nThis is a ticketed program and will take place at Vroman’s Bookstore\, located at 695 E. Colorado Blvd\, Pasadena\, CA 91101. \nYour Eventbrite ticket will include a copy of A Violent Masterpiece\, to be handed out at check-in on the night of the program.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-jordan-harper-in-conversation-with-s-a-cosby-discusses-signs-a-violent-masterpiece/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260502T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260502T113000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T190620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T190620Z
UID:10015116-1777721400-1777721400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen
DESCRIPTION:The Pasadena Conservatory of Music will be putting on a special musical storytime with featured book: If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen. Caregivers and children aged 3-9 will enjoy story\, craft activities\, creative movement\, and a mini-concert!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-pasadena-conservatory-of-music-presents-musical-storytime-if-i-built-a-car-by-chris-van-dusen/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/storytime-600-x-600-15.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260506T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T191837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T191837Z
UID:10015117-1778094000-1778094000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Davin Malasarn discusses & signs The Outer Country
DESCRIPTION:This tender\, elegant debut examines the struggle of holding a family together when secrets threaten to unravel it. \n“Both a book of demons and a book of uncommon grace; an instant classic in the queer canon. Davin Malasarn is an exquisite writer of the heart.”–Justin Torres\, author of Blackouts \nSisters Manda and Siripon have been divided by continents for years\, estranged since their parents decided to send just one of their daughters from Phet Buri to America–the foreign land they call “the Outer Country.” As the eldest\, Manda assumed she would be the first to go. When their parents chose Siripon\, the more obedient second daughter\, the decision sparked a lifetime of rivalry. \nThe birth of Siripon’s son brings the sisters back together. Despite the disorientation of Los Angeles and the difficulty of sharing her sister’s home\, Manda becomes a second mother to Ben\, a precocious only child who fills her with fierce joy. But as Ben grows increasingly effeminate\, her joy transforms to fear. Believing that the spirit of a dead girl has possessed her beloved nephew–and that her sister won’t do anything to fix matters–Manda and Ben’s father\, Kamron\, secretly arranges a Buddhist exorcism. The ceremony sets off a decade of anxiety-induced illness and bullying\, even as the ritual burrows beyond Ben’s memory. \nFor Ben to grow into his authentic self\, he must accept his queerness and confront the scars of his past. He attempts to navigate his family’s tense relationships and live amidst the damage. But how long can they all go on before the truths are uncovered? \nFrom the mangrove forests of Thailand to a modest stucco house in Los Angeles to the sandstone quadrangles of Stanford\, The Outer Country is at once epic and intimate in scope\, a breathtaking journey across cultures and generations.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-davin-malasarn-discusses-signs-the-outer-country/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/davin-malasarn.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260507T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260507T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T192104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T192104Z
UID:10015118-1778180400-1778180400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Nicole Maggi\, discusses & signs Lost in Yellowstone: A National Park Mystery Volume 2
DESCRIPTION:A foot in a geyser. A school in the wild. A truth no one saw coming. \nWhen a human foot is ejected from a geyser in Yellowstone National Park\, Special Agent Emme Helliwell of the National Park Service is assigned the chilling case. \nTasked with identifying the victim and uncovering what led to such a grisly end\, Emme is drawn into the park’s vast\, unforgiving wilderness–and into the orbit of a private school for at-risk teens where extreme backcountry excursions are part of the curriculum. As disturbing truths begin to surface\, Emme must also confront personal fault lines\, including the unresolved tension with an ex-boyfriend who’s suddenly back in her life and assigned to the same case. \nIn a place where danger hides behind natural beauty and good intentions can mask darker motives\, Emme must navigate both treacherous terrain and emotional landmines to solve a mystery that could cost her everything.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-nicole-maggi-discusses-signs-lost-in-yellowstone-a-national-park-mystery-volume-2/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/nicole-maggi.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260508T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260508T190000
DTSTAMP:20260403T161545
CREATED:20260318T192316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T192316Z
UID:10015119-1778266800-1778266800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Mario Garcia discusses & signs Rupert García: The Making of an American Artist\, a Testimonio
DESCRIPTION:This is the first biography of the renowned American Chicano visual artist and activist Rupert García\, drawing on fifty hours of interviews conducted over thirty years and accompanied by eighty images. This in-depth oral history gives an unparalleled look at García’s life and work\, tracing his evolution as an artist and the political upheavals that shaped his life and worldview. \nMario T. García’s testimonio places Rupert García’s art in historical perspective\, from his beginnings as a working-class Mexican American from California’s Central Valley\, his coming of age in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War\, his involvement in the antiwar movement during the San Francisco State student strike in 1968-69\, and his participation in the Chicano Movement and beyond. Influenced by history and politics\, García’s vital works of art represent a changing world through the eyes of an artist\, speaking to issues of poverty\, racism\, capitalism\, war\, and the role of the artist in society. \nHis art–from revolutionary silkscreen posters to monumental pastels to portraits of political icons like Frida Kahlo\, Che Guevara\, and Dolores Huerta–serves to critique history and reassess it. It is work that will endure for generations to come.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-mario-garcia-discusses-signs-rupert-garcia-the-making-of-an-american-artist-a-testimonio/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Community Event,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/mario-garcia.png
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