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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251102T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251102T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T215204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T215204Z
UID:10014408-1762081200-1762081200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Tepito Coffee + Vroman’s Bookstore Present: Rings of Dissent: Boxing and Performances of Rebellion
DESCRIPTION:Tepito Coffee + Vroman’s Bookstore Present: Rings of Dissent: Boxing and Performances of Rebellion\, a special conversation moderated by Mike de la Rocha\, featuring Rudy Mondragón\, Gaye Theresa Johnson & Priscilla Leiva\n\nImage\n \n\nProfessional boxers practice their trade within an ostensibly apolitical arena. In reality\, however\, the fighters work inside a capitalistic and neoliberal sports culture that they both challenge and uphold. This collection delves into professional boxing’s capacity for brilliance\, contradiction\, resistance\, and complicity. Scholars\, activists\, and artists explore the boxing ring as a site for understanding original and diverse ideas about the performance of race\, citizenship\, gender\, power\, and dissent. Essays and interviews draw attention to the cultural politics and performances of marginalized boxers while revealing the structures of power and practices of agency at work around Black\, Brown\, and queer bodies. As the contributors establish boxing’s central place in communities of color\, they open exciting new avenues for studying race\, immigration\, gender\, and capital. Multifaceted and innovative\, Rings of Dissent uncovers fascinating corners of the boxing world as it illuminates what the sport tells us about America.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/tepito-coffee-vromans-bookstore-present-rings-of-dissent-boxing-and-performances-of-rebellion/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tepito.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251101T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251101T180000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T214824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T214824Z
UID:10014407-1762012800-1762020000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's On Screen - Howard Berger discusses & signs Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood's Most Iconic Creatures
DESCRIPTION:Explore behind the scenes of the greatest monster movies ever made! \nWhat makes a great movie monster? Academy Award-winning make-up effects artist Howard Berger and acclaimed journalist Marshall Julius have spoken to dozens of film industry legends to find out. \nA celebration of monsters\, monster movies and monster movie makers\, Making Monsters delivers an illuminating\, entertaining and accessible oral history of the genre\, gathering an enviable array of A-list talent from make-up and digital effects legends (Tom Savini\, Phil Tippett) to directors (John Carpenter\, Ti West)\, actors (Simon Pegg\, Barbara Crampton)\, composers (Michael Giacchino) and writers (Russell T Davies). \nPacked with hundreds of images\, from film stills to personal\, behind-the-scenes pictures from dozens of interview subjects – many never before published – Making Monsters is a treasure trove of monstrous creations\, and the stories behind them\, that is sure to make fans jump\, scream and howl with delight. \n\n \n\nVroman’s On Screen is an ongoing event series highlighting books & authors that explore the elements of Film and Television from actors & directors to artists behind the camera to media studies & criticism.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-on-screen-howard-berger-discusses-signs-making-monsters-inside-stories-from-the-creators-of-hollywoods-most-iconic-creatures/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/howard-berger.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251101T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251101T123000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T213748Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T213748Z
UID:10014406-1761996600-1762000200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child
DESCRIPTION:The Pasadena Conservatory of Music will be putting on a special musical storytime with featured book: Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child. 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-over-the-river-and-through-the-wood-by-lydia-maria-child/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event,Free,In-Person,Music,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/storytime-600-x-600-7.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251031T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251031T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T213526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T213526Z
UID:10014405-1761926400-1761926400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Young Readers' Halloween at Vroman's Boo-kstore!
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Friday\, October 31st for Halloween at Vroman’s Boo-kstore! \nWe will have a special Halloween themed storytime with Mr. Steve and Halloween activities starting at 4pm. \nAfter storytime\, make your way through Vroman’s for trick-or-treating! We will have designated spots all around the Boo-kstore where young ghouls and goblins can happily haunt for goodies! \nCostumes are highly encouraged!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/young-readers-halloween-at-vromans-boo-kstore/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/halloween-music-4.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251029T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251029T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T213340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T214345Z
UID:10014404-1761764400-1761768000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Ticketed - Andrew Morton discusses & signs Winston and the Windsors: How Churchill Shaped a Royal Dynasty
DESCRIPTION:From an early age\, Winston Churchill was convinced that he was a man of destiny. Today\, it seems his premonition was correct; few figures in British history have been so deeply and consequently involved with the British family as Churchill. While many people in positions of power have advised kings and queens during their reign\, Churchill is unique in his role: helping to shape not only a reign\, but an entire royal dynasty. \nIn Winston and the Windsors\, one of the world’s best-known biographers and a leading authority on celebrity Andrew Morton presents a meticulously researched joint biography of Winston Churchill and the House of Windsor. Throughout the course of his career and life\, Churchill’s relationship with the Windsor’s fluctuated wildly. At times\, he was the royal family’s trusted confidante. At others\, he was their leading antagonist. In exploring the complex relationship between the two\, Morton argues that – whether the attitudes of the royal family were warm or icy towards Churchill – their relationship is central to the twentieth-century history of the British monarchy. \nFrom the Churchill family’s complex relationship with the crown; to Winston’s initially begrudging but ultimately fruitful partnership with George VI; to his enduring fondness for Queen Elizabeth II\, this fascinating narrative biography sheds a new light on the ways the crown not only shaped Winston Churchill’s career – but the ways in which Churchill shepherded the monarchy into the modern era. \nThis is an in-store ticketed event with two ticket options.- General Admission + 1 copy of Winston and the Windsors– 2 General Admissions + 1 copy of Winston and the Windsors
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-andrew-morton-discusses-signs-winston-and-the-windsors-how-churchill-shaped-a-royal-dynasty/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/andrew-morton-600x600-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251028T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T213104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T213104Z
UID:10014403-1761678000-1761681600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore:  Eli Frankel discusses & signs Sisters in Death: The Black Dahlia\, the Prairie Heiress\, and Their Hunter
DESCRIPTION:Who killed the Black Dahlia? In this eye-opening shocker\, an award-winning producer\, true-crime researcher\, and Hollywood insider finally solves the greatest – and most gruesome – murder mystery of the twentieth century just before its 80th anniversary. \nIn January 1947\, the bisected body of Elizabeth Short\, completely drained of blood\, was discovered in an undeveloped lot in Los Angeles. Its gruesome mutilations led to a firestorm of publicity\, city-wide panic\, and an unprecedented number of investigative paths led by the LAPD–all dead ends. The Black Dahlia murder remained an unsolved mystery for over seventy years. \nSix years earlier and sixteen hundred miles away\, another woman’s life had ended in a similarly horrific manner. Leila Welsh was an ambitious\, educated\, popular\, and socially connected beauty. Though raised modestly on a prairie farm\, she was heiress to her Kansas City family’s status and wealth. On a winter morning in 1941\, Leila’s butchered body was found in her bedroom bearing the marks of unspeakable trauma. \nOne victim faded into obscurity. The other became notorious. Both had in common a killer whose sadistic mind was a labyrinth of dark secrets. \nEli Frankel reveals for the first time a key fact about the Black Dahlia crime scene\, never before shared with the public\, that leads inexorably to the stunning identification of a criminal who was at the same time amateurish and fiendish\, skilled and lucky\, sophisticated and brutish. Drawing on newly discovered documents\, law enforcement files\, interviews with the last surviving participants\, the victims’ own letters\, trial transcripts\, military records\, and more\, this epic true-crime saga puts together the missing pieces of a legendary puzzle. \nIn Sisters in Death\, the Black Dahlia cold case is finally closed.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-eli-frankel-discusses-signs-sisters-in-death-the-black-dahlia-the-prairie-heiress-and-their-hunter/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/eli-frankel-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251027T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251027T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T212833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T212833Z
UID:10014402-1761591600-1761595200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Thomas Schlesser discusses & signs Mona’s Eyes
DESCRIPTION:THE SENSATIONAL #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER THAT HAS TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM \nTen-year-old Mona and her beloved grandfather have only fifty-two Wednesdays to visit fifty-two works of art and commit to memory “all that is beautiful in the world” before Mona loses her sight forever. \nWhile the doctors can find no explanation for Mona’s brief episode of blindness\, they agree that the threat of permanent vision loss cannot be ruled out. The girl’s grandfather\, Henry\, may not be able to stop his granddaughter from losing her sight\, but he can fill the encroaching darkness with beauty. \nEvery Wednesday for a year\, the pair abscond together and visit a single masterpiece in one of Paris’s renowned museums. From Botticelli to Basquiat\, Mona learns how each artist’s work shaped the world around them. In turn\, the young girl’s world is changed forever by the power of their art. Under the kind and careful tutelage of her grandfather\, Mona learns the true meaning of generosity\, melancholy\, love\, loss\, and revolution. Her perspective will never be the same — nor will the reader’s. \nMona’s Eyes is a heartfelt\, enlightening journey across five centuries of Western art history. With the emotional impact of The Elegance of the Hedgehog and the readability of The Little Paris Bookshop\, Thomas Schlesser’s sensational debut novel is at once a moving book about the beauty of life and a deeply touching story about the special bond between a girl and her grandfather. \nDiscover all 52 masterpieces inside the fold-out dustjacket.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-thomas-schlesser-discusses-signs-monas-eyes/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/thomas-schlesser.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251025T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251025T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251022T212629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T212629Z
UID:10014401-1761397200-1761400800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman’s & Lil’ Libros Present: Maritere R. Bellas\, reading & signing Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky No Habla Inglés: A Bilingual English-Spanish Picture Book
DESCRIPTION:Knock\, knock! Tío Ricky is in town and he needs his nephew Enrique’s help! He doesn’t speak any English\, so his nephew has to translate for him at the store\, the post office\, and the bank. But speaking Spanish feels like such a chore…until Enrique finds himself in a situation where his bilingual skills become life-saving. Enrique soon discovers that speaking two languages isn’t just helpful–it’s powerful\, and it can strengthen family ties in ways he never imagined. It’s a heartwarming story in English and Spanish that shows you don’t need a superhero cape to be a hero!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-lil-libros-present-maritere-r-bellas-reading-signing-tio-ricky-doesnt-speak-english-tio-ricky-no-habla-ingles-a-bilingual-english-spanish-picture-book/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/maritere-r-bellas-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251024T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251024T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251007T001514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T001514Z
UID:10014399-1761332400-1761336000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Liz Parker\, discusses & signs Witches of Honeysuckle House
DESCRIPTION:Haunted by a curse that kills someone close to their family every thirteen years\, two sisters must come together to break the spell and save that which they hold most dear. \nThis enchanting novel explores the fraught lines between family and the secrets they keep\, perfect for fans of Ava Morgyn and Heather Webber. \nFlorence and Evie Caldwell have long disagreed on how to break their family’s curse\, and tension has been high since their mother’s death thirteen years ago. Honeysuckle House\, the family estate where every Caldwell has lived\, now only houses one of the sisters. Evie has crafted it into an enchanted bed and breakfast while Florence runs a magical bookstore in town\, refusing to even set foot inside Honeysuckle House. \nBut when the house starts behaving dangerously and catches fire\, Florence and Evie must set aside their differences and dig into past generations of their family and the town’s history before the curse claims someone they love. \nWitches of Honeysuckle House is an exploration of sisterhood\, family\, and the places we call home\, perfect for readers who love the darker aspects of Weyward and the sister dynamics of The Crescent Moon Tearoom.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-liz-parker-discusses-signs-witches-of-honeysuckle-house/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/liz-parker-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251021T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251021T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T235906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T235906Z
UID:10014398-1761073200-1761076800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Olivie Blake\, in conversation with Chuck Tingle\, discusses & signs Girl Dinner
DESCRIPTION:From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six\, Girl Dinner is a darkly fun novel about power\, lust\, and eating your fill\, as wealthy moms and sorority girls practice a sinister new wellness trend . . . \nGood girls deserve a treat. \nEvery member of The House\, the most exclusive sorority on campus\, and all its alumni\, are beautiful\, high-achieving\, and universally respected. \nAfter a freshman year she would rather forget\, sophomore Nina Kaur knows being one of the chosen few accepted into The House is the first step in her path to the brightest possible future. Once she’s taken into their fold\, the House will surely ease her fears of failure and protect her from those who see a young woman on her own as easy prey. \nMeanwhile\, adjunct professor Dr. Sloane Hartley is struggling to return to work after accepting a demotion to support her partner’s new position at the cutthroat University. After 18 months at home with her newborn daughter\, Sloane’s clothes don’t fit right\, her girl-dad husband isn’t as present as he thinks he is\, and even the few hours a day she’s apart from her child fill her psyche with paralyzing ennui. When invited to be The House’s academic liaison\, Sloane enviously drinks in the way the alumnae seem to have it all\, achieving a level of collective perfection that Sloane so desperately craves. \nAs Nina and Sloane each get drawn deeper into the arcane rituals of the sisterhood\, they learn that living well comes with bloody costs. And when they are finally invited to the table\, they will have to decide just how much they can stomach in the name of solidarity \nBIOS: \nOLIVIE BLAKE is the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six\, Alone with You in the Ether\, One for My Enemy\, Masters of Death\, Januaries\, and Gifted & Talented. As Alexene Farol Follmuth\, she is also the author of the young adult rom-coms Twelfth Knight and My Mechanical Romance. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son. \nCHUCK TINGLE is the USA Today bestselling author of Camp Damascus and Straight. He is a mysterious force of energy behind sunglasses and a pink mask. He is also an anonymous author of romance\, horror\, and fantasy. Chuck was born in Home of Truth\, Utah\, and lives in Los Angeles\, California. Chuck writes to prove love is real\, because love is the most important tool we have when resisting the endless cosmic void. Not everything people say about Chuck is true\, but the important parts are.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-olivie-blake-in-conversation-with-chuck-tingle-discusses-signs-girl-dinner/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/olivie-blake-600x600-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251020T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251020T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T231155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T231155Z
UID:10014397-1760986800-1760990400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Yaron Weitzman discusses & signs A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the Lebron Lakers
DESCRIPTION:NBA journalist Yaron Weitzman lays out the high stakes drama happening inside the Lakers’ organization at a crucial juncture in their history\, as they try to juggle the warring priorities between Lebron James and the Buss family. \nWhen LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018\, the match looked like one made in heaven. Here was a living legend\, the preeminent athlete of his generation\, joining forces with one of the most iconic teams in all of sports. The Lakers\, in the midst of their worst stretch in franchise history and reeling from the death of their legendary owner Dr. Jerry Buss\, needed a savior. LeBron\, fresh off ending Cleveland’s 50-year title drought\, needed a new challenge to help further burnish his legacy. The script wrote itself. \nA little over two years later\, LeBron and Dr. Buss’ daughter\, Jeanie\, were standing shoulder to shoulder\, hoisting the NBA finals trophy into the air. Having won their record-tying 17th NBA title\, the Lakers had reclaimed their accustomed perch on top of the basketball world and seemed destined to dominate the NBA for years to come. \nTraditionally\, the Lakers’ didn’t celebrate championships\, they celebrated dynasties. But this was a different Lakers’ organization\, one beset by infighting. A single title wouldn’t be enough to cement Lebron James status as a Lakers’ legend or help him surpass the ghost of Michael Jordan. Both parties needed sustained success\, but for that to happen they needed to be on the same page. Sadly\, the 2020 title would represent the pinnacle of their pairing\, and the beginning of a precipitous decline. \nDrawing from over 250 interviews\, Yaron Weitzman takes readers on a riveting\, behind the scenes journey of this fraught partnership. From the Succession-like power struggle between the Buss children\, to the rise of LeBron’s landscape-altering talent agency and its attempts to assert its own power within the Lakers’ walls\, to the evolution of LeBron’s priorities and political voice\, “A Hollywood Ending” is the definitive story of an American icon’s final years on stage\, one portraying him\, a fabled NBA franchise\, and the world of modern professional sports in a light never seen before.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-yaron-weitzman-discusses-signs-a-hollywood-ending-the-dreams-and-drama-of-the-lebron-lakers/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/yaron-weitzman-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T230941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T230941Z
UID:10014396-1760871600-1760875200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Antoinette Portis reads from & signs To Activate Space Portal\, Lift Here
DESCRIPTION:This book is an interstellar portal\, and the aliens inside want to get to know you! \nBefore you lift the cover\, be sure you’re ready to meet Zrk and Blrg. They’re not so different from you–but to them\, you’re the alien! \nAfter their initial shock at seeing you through the portal\, they’re eager to see what kind of teeth you have\, compare home planets\, and maybe team up for a prank. You met as aliens\, but by the time the portal closes\, maybe you’ll be friends. \nTo Activate Space Portal\, Lift Here is an interactive treat sure to delight young galactic explorers. Antoinette Portis’s bright lines and bold colors pair perfectly with humor that also offers a subtle message of acceptance. Whether for bedtime or circle time\, this is a portal you’ll want to open!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-antoinette-portis-reads-from-signs-to-activate-space-portal-lift-here/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/antoinette-portis-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251019T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T230718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T230718Z
UID:10014395-1760871600-1760875200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Luisa Navarro presents & signs Mexico's Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life Through Stories and Photos
DESCRIPTION:A lush exploration of the vibrant and important traditions of Día de Muertos\, Mexico’s holiday for celebrating passed loved ones. \nWhether you are new to the holiday and celebrating for the first time\, looking to process a recent loss\, or just interested in this authentic Mexican cultural tradition\, Mexico’s Day of the Dead paints a vibrant picture of one of the country’s most storied and sacred holidays. \nWith photographer Christine Chitnis by her side\, author Luisa Navarro documents the most breathtaking displays\, as well as the artisans and people who keep the traditions alive. She delves into the origins of the holiday\, its rich iconography\, and modern-day customs. Thoughtful essays on the evolution of Día de Muertos are coupled with practical guides for celebrating it yourself\, as Luisa shares her tips for cultivating your own Day of the Dead traditions. Turn to Mexico’s Day of the Dead for approachable DIY projects. Build your own altar. Make your own sugar skulls. Create papel picado and bake your own delicious pan de muerto at home. \nThis landmark book brings Day of the Dead to life with transportive photography\, high-end finishes\, and eye-catching stained edges.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-luisa-navarro-presents-signs-mexicos-day-of-the-dead-a-celebration-of-life-through-stories-and-photos/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/luisa-navarro.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T180000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T230429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T230455Z
UID:10014394-1760803200-1760810400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Teachers' Night Out! 2025
DESCRIPTION:Vroman’s Bookstore invites educators to its annual Teacher’s Night Out\, an evening dedicated to celebrating the incredible teachers and librarians who shape the community. Guests can enjoy snacks\, beverages\, and a variety of giveaways\, including books and classroom goodies. \nThroughout the evening\, Vroman’s knowledgeable staff will be available to recommend new titles for classroom discussions and libraries\, as well as share exclusive services available to educators. A publisher-sponsored table will feature curated reading lists and classroom recommendations. \nAttendees are encouraged to browse the featured selections\, connect with fellow educators\, and enjoy light refreshments. Each guest will also receive a 20% off coupon for personal shopping that evening. \nAs a special highlight\, Vroman’s Bookstore will honor 2024–2025 Teacher of the Year\, Star Gomez\, and Pasadena High School with an award presentation at 4:00 p.m. on the Vroman’s outdoor stage.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/377692/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/vromans-annual.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251018T110000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T225749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T225749Z
UID:10014393-1760785200-1760785200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Judith Orloff reads from & signs The Highly Sensitive Rabbit
DESCRIPTION:High in the Sonoran Desert\, where crickets chirp and cactus grow\, lives a tiny cottontail rabbit named Aurora. Aurora is very sensitive to the beauties of nature and to the feelings of everyone around her. She likes to spend time alone\, and she worries a lot. Aurora’s brothers and sister tell her she is “too sensitive” and often leave her out of their rough-and-tumble play. \nWhen a flash flood destroys her family’s burrow\, Aurora must learn to face her sensitive nature head-on. She meets a spiny lizard\, spotted skunk\, cactus wren\, and javelina\, all of whom have lessons to teach her about kindness and self-care. Will Aurora learn to embrace her nature and thrive as a highly sensitive rabbit? \nBased on Dr. Judith Orloff’s teachings about living an empowered life as an empath\, this beautifully illustrated story teaches us to live with beauty\, sensitivity\, and joy.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-judith-orloff-reads-from-signs-the-highly-sensitive-rabbit/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/judith-orloff-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251015T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T225530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T225530Z
UID:10014392-1760554800-1760558400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Nalini Jones discusses & signs The Unbroken Coast
DESCRIPTION:A stunning debut novel set in and around a Mumbai fishing village that follows the friendship between a young girl struggling to find her place in the world\, and an aging historian reckoning with his past. \n​On the night his granddaughter is born in America\, Professor Francis Almeida rides a bicycle through his quiet Catholic neighborhood in a suburb of Mumbai. It is 1978. He has recently retired\, his grown children are scattered across the globe\, and for the first time in decades\, he is not sure what he should do next. A few streets from his home\, in the heart of a Koli fishing village\, he encounters a young mother praying for her baby daughter\, ill with dengue fever\, at the shrine of Our Lady of Navigators. He hopes the child will live. \nNearly a decade later\, Francis meets the child again. She is Celia\, daughter of a fisherman who is running from a debt collector. When an accident brings their families together\, both Celia and Francis find themselves with unexpected new allies. \nSpanning the turbulent years when Bombay became Mumbai\, at time when environmental and economic pressures are just beginning to change the fortunes of indigenous fisherfolk\, The Unbroken Coast is a lyrical novel that explores memory\, faith\, storytelling\, and the nature of home.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-nalini-jones-discusses-signs-the-unbroken-coast/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/nalini-jones.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T150000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T224739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T224739Z
UID:10014391-1760277600-1760281200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Barbara Roberts discusses & signs The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter
DESCRIPTION:Bunny Baxter thinks nothing could be worse than starting seventh grade at a school where she knows no one. But after her first day\, she realizes things can actually get much worse. \nIf Bunny Baxter were an insect\, she’d have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed. But she’s tall instead of tiny\, has flaming red Medusa hair instead of camouflage\, and she suffers from social anxiety\, which makes it hard to be part of a swarm. Worst of all\, she’s been redistricted to a new middle school away from her best friend who she could always hide behind when her anxiety got the best of her. \nThe first day at E.D. Britt Middle School does not go well. Bunny trips on the steps\, falls into the cutest boy in the school\, and causes a kid domino pile-up. At lunch\, she unintentionally causes an uproar in the cafeteria\, which lands her and another girl in the principal’s office.  Bunny decides there is only one option: to get expelled so she can transfer to the school her best friend attends. \nShe soon discovers that it isn’t that hard to get in trouble—don’t turn in your homework\, walk around the track instead of run in P.E.\, pretend you deliberately hit someone with a badminton birdie. What isn’t so easy for Bunny is realizing she now has a reputation as a troublemaker. And even more confusing\, when it looks like her plan to get expelled might work\, she’s no longer sure what to do. \nThe Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter is a heartfelt coming of age story about an insect-loving girl who is learning to grow into herself—quirks and all.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-barbara-roberts-discusses-signs-the-metamorphosis-of-bunny-baxter/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/barbara-roberts-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251011T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251011T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T224402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T224402Z
UID:10014390-1760194800-1760198400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Stoker Award-winning author Pedro Iniguez in conversation with screenwriter Peter Atkins (Hellraiser) on horror in children’s literature (reading and signing)
DESCRIPTION:Join screenwriting legend Peter Atkins (Hellraiser) in an in-depth conversation with Stoker Award-winning writer Pedro Iniguez\, chronicling his journey writing science-fiction and horror\, to children’s literature\, including his first children’s picture book\, The Fib. This event is open to all ages with a reading and signing of The Fib. \nAbout The Fib: The line between imagination and lie blur in The Fib by Bram Stoker Award-winner Pedro Iniguez. \nWhen Pepe struggles to find something exciting for show and tell\, he spins a little lie about a magical creature with horns like a ram\, claws like a bear\, wings like a bat\, eyes like an owl\, and a tail like a lion. But\, Pepe and his class soon discover that this harmless fib takes on a life of its own– literally– growing into a giant\, uncontrollable monster that threatens to eat the entire school.\nAs chaos ensues\, Pepe learns a valuable lesson: even the smallest fib can spiral out of control\, but the truth holds the power to set things right. The Fib is a timeless story that weaves magic and morality into a powerful message about honesty\, responsibility and the power of creativity. \n  \nPedro Iniguez is a Mexican-American Bram Stoker Award-winning speculative fiction writer from Los Angeles. The Fib is his first picture book and he is the author of Mexicans on the Moon: Speculative Poetry from a Possible Future and the comic book Catrina’s Caravan\, among several others. Apart from conducting writing workshops and speaking at several colleges\, he has also been a sensitivity reader and has ghostwritten for award-winning apps and online clients. When he’s not reading\, writing\, daydreaming\, or cooking\, he likes to paint beside his Chihuahua\, Cookie\, and his turtle\, Squirt.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-stoker-award-winning-author-pedro-iniguez-in-conversation-with-screenwriter-peter-atkins-hellraiser-on-horror-in-childrens-literature-reading-and-signing/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/pedro-iniguez-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251011T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251011T123000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T223330Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T224120Z
UID:10014389-1760182200-1760185800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Pasadena Conservatory of Music presents Musical Storytime: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
DESCRIPTION:The Pasadena Conservatory of Music will be putting on a special musical storytime with featured book: The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. Caregivers and children aged 3-9 will enjoy story\, craft activities\, creative movement and a mini-concert!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/377676/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/storytime-600-x-600.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251010T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251010T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T223125Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T223125Z
UID:10014388-1760122800-1760126400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman Bookstore: Tom Lutz\, in conversation with John Powers\, discusses & signs 1925: A Literary Encyclopedia
DESCRIPTION:The year 1925 was arguably the peak of literature’s centrality. There were more magazines\, more journals\, more reviews\, more book news\, and more book gossip than ever before or since. Literature’s rivals for cultural attention were on the rise—film was becoming a more significant part of people’s media diet\, radio was just taking off\, television technologies were advancing—but literature was still king. Even mediocre books got dozens of reviews\, and the reviews were (most often) thoughtful and intellectually engaged. The belief that literary writing was an essential and consequential business was nearly universal. Modernist ferment continued to excite discussion while the pulp revolution in genre fiction—detective stories\, science fiction\, Westerns\, romance—was booming. These popular books\, even if sometimes condescended to\, were also given thoughtful review attention. \nThis encyclopedia was written as we approached the 100th anniversary of the annus mirabilis. In what follows\, we can see the seeds of virtually every aspect of our cultural life\, from art\, literature\, theater\, and music to physics\, philosophy\, social science\, and political discourse. The fear of environmental degradation\, the corruption in our politics\, the competing claims of utopianism and dystopia\, the bitterly divided views on science\, mass media\, art\, nature\, justice\, generations\, community\, freedom\, sexuality\, race\, immigration—all can be seen in their budding or full-blown gore and glory in 1925. We have come far and not very far at all.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vroman-bookstore-tom-lutz-in-conversation-with-john-powers-discusses-signs-1925-a-literary-encyclopedia/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tom-lutz-600x600-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251008T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251008T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20251006T222924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T222924Z
UID:10014387-1759950000-1759953600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: How to Write a Book: A Conversation with Jade Chang & Ann Friedman
DESCRIPTION:To celebrate the launch of Jade Chang’s new novel\, What a Time to Be Alive\, Jade and frequent collaborator Ann Friedman discuss one of their favorite topics… How to Write a Book! Together\, Jade Chang and Ann Friedman (Big Friendship) are The Midwives of Invention (www.midwivesofinvention.com). They lead popular idea development workshops and retreats\, and on 10/8 they will talk about the unexpected overlaps between writing fiction and non-fiction\, their own writing processes\, and their current projects. \nA little more about What a Time to Be Alive: \n“What a Time to Be Alive is a sly\, sexy work of art. Jade Chang has captured the true essence of Los Angeles\, in all of its motley\, messy beauty\, with humor and heart. This is a novel that you will devour\, and share with your friends\, and soon want to devour again.” — Angela Flournoy\, author of The Wilderness and The Turner House \nA deeply moving and often hilarious novel following a woman who becomes an internet folk hero in the most unexpected way\, catapulting her into fame and influence just as she’s finally beginning to reckon with her complicated past \nLola Treasure Gold can’t figure out her life. She’s broke\, unemployed\, and back in her childhood home\, a crumbling cottage in the Hollywood Hills. Worse—unspeakably worse—one of her closest friends has just died. So nobody is more surprised than Lola when a jackpot falls in her lap: she stars in a Very Viral Video\, opening a surprising path for her to become a self-help guru. \nWith the encouragement of her other best friend\, Celi—still alive\, thank god—Lola embraces the public interest in her perceived message. But is she a scammer or a sage? Just as Lola is telling others to be their own guiding lights\, she can’t seem to find hers: she’s grieving; she’s accused of using the notoriety of her friend’s death to fuel her rise; and she’s full of questions about the fate of her mother\, who came to America pregnant\, fleeing China’s one-child policy\, got deported when Lola was eight\, and now has totally disappeared. \nDriven by an exuberant\, searching spirit\, Jade Chang’s kaleidoscopic new novel is a deep examination of the ways we commodify belief\, the power and precarity of fame\, and the delicious terror of being truly seen. What a Time to Be Alive asks if we can look honestly at the world and still love it; the answer is a brilliant\, resounding yes.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-how-to-write-a-book-a-conversation-with-jade-chang-ann-friedman/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/jade-chang-600x600-updated.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250929T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250929T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T231105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T231105Z
UID:10014348-1759172400-1759176000@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Joss Richard\, in conversation with Elissa Sussman\, discusses & signs It’s Different This Time
DESCRIPTION:In this sweeping\, second-chance romance\, a twist of fate forces two former roommates back into their beloved New York City brownstone where they must confront the events that led to their estrangement–and the unresolved feelings lingering between them. \nReeling from the cancellation of her hit TV show\, June Wood has nothing left to lose when a mysterious email lures her back to the New York City brownstone she once called home before she moved to Los Angeles. Thanks to a clause in the former owner’s will\, she and her old roommate\, Adam Harper\, now own the multimillion-dollar property–or at least they will in a month\, once all the paperwork is signed. \nFour weeks\, then June can return to her life in LA and forget about New York City and everything she left behind. Sure\, the fact that June and Adam are estranged and haven’t even spoken in five years\, and that their friendship didn’t exactly end on good terms might complicate matters\, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime. \nAs the autumn leaves fall around them\, through shared meals and late-night conversations\, old wounds and long-buried sparks resurface\, and it becomes strikingly clear: June and Adam have unfinished business. Confronted with the consequences of their choices years before\, they must now navigate the minefield of their past the best way they know how: together. Second chances are always a risk\, but maybe\, if they get it right and are finally honest with each other and with themselves\, it could be different this time.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-joss-richard-in-conversation-with-elissa-sussman-discusses-signs-its-different-this-time/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/joss-richard-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250927T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250927T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T230904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T230904Z
UID:10014347-1758985200-1758988800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman’s on Screen - Stephen Rebello\, in conversation with Alonso Duralde\, discusses & signs Criss-Cross: The Making of Hitchcock's Dazzling\, Subversive Masterpiece Strangers on a Train
DESCRIPTION:For the very first time the tense and drama-filled story of the making Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train is revealed as author Stephen Rebello takes readers deep into the shadows and light of one of the most subversive\, corrosively funny\, and beloved suspense thriller masterworks. \nAs entertaining as it is to watch Strangers on a Train\, so too is the previously untold backstory that packs all the suspense\, drama\, and twists of a thriller. After all\, what are the hallmarks of a great Hitchcock movie? A larger-than-life\, complex cast of characters\, each with something to prove\, lose\, or hide. Check. Tremendous risk\, outsized conflict\, and emotion as those men and women confront challenges off the set. Check. Feuds\, deceptions\, unlikely alliances\, and double-crosses. Check. Coming off a 5-year-string of flops\, Alfred Hitchcock gambled big on adapting Patricia Highsmith’s debut novel\, which critics called “preposterous” and “unconvincing\,” in addition to “unsavory\,” and “sick” (1950s code words for “gay” and “perverted”). Each step of the production was fraught with battles\, but Hitchcock masterfully stayed two steps ahead of his opponents as he fought to bring his vision to life. Strangers on a Train became not only a creative high-water mark and box-office smash for Hitchcock\, but also kicked off his unmatched decade of classics including Dial M for Murder\, Rear Window\, Vertigo\, North by Northwest\, and Psycho. \nRichly documented\, meticulously researched\, and stylishly written\, Criss-Cross is more than an authoritative film book. It is a portrait of an especially politically paranoid\, misogynistic\, and homophobic era in America\, a time of dramatic transition in the entertainment industry\, and a day of reckoning for Alfred Hitchcock and a few other talents with whom he made a dark\, resonant\, and prescient work of art.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-on-screen-stephen-rebello-in-conversation-with-alonso-duralde-discusses-signs-criss-cross-the-making-of-hitchcocks-dazzling-subversive-masterpiece-strangers-on-a-train/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/stephen-rebello-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250926T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250926T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T230457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T230457Z
UID:10014345-1758913200-1758916800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Robert Oventile and Contributors read from\, discuss & sign The Canyon
DESCRIPTION:Through poems and photos\, The Canyon meditates on Eaton Canyon\, a unique ecosystem nestled adjacent Pasadena and Altadena\, California. \nIn January 2025\, the Eaton Fire devastated the canyon\, along with parts of Altadena and Pasadena. The Canyon reflects on the resilience of this environment\, recalling how its wildlife\, plants\, and terrain rebounded after the 1993 Kinneloa Fire. Shaped by fire and now increasingly by human-driven climate change\, Eaton Canyon is part of a larger story-one that climate scientists place within the evolving Earth System. \nA celebration of Eaton Canyon’s beauty and endurance\, The Canyon invites readers on a journey through an ever-changing landscape. \nAbout the Author and the Photographers\nSusan Hopkins has been an Eaton Canyon Docent Naturalist since 2018 and a UC California Naturalist since 2019. Susan’s passion is taking long in duration\, very short on distance hikes in Eaton Canyon. The slower you go\, the more you see. She is also a nature gossip. \nEdgar McGregor is a meteorologist and environmentalist living in Southern California. He takes daily walks at Eaton Canyon to pick up litter\, speak about environmental issues\, and monitor changes to the park. He specializes in forecasting Santa Ana windstorms and aided in warning the Altadena community in the days before the 2025 Eaton Fire. \nTom Mills is an amateur nature and wildlife photographer who is one of many volunteer docents at the Eaton Canyon Natural Area. Born and raised on the North Shore of Long Island\, N.Y.\, Tom relocated to California in 1988 and has lived in Pasadena\, California with his wife\, Simone\, for over thirty years. Tom is also a member of the Pasadena Audubon Society\, with whom he also volunteers his time and photographs for use in the Society’s publications. \nRobert Savino Oventile hikes Eaton Canyon regularly. He is coauthor with Sandy Florian of Sophia Lethe Talks Doxodox Down (Atmosphere\, 2021).
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-robert-oventile-and-contributors-read-from-discuss-sign-the-canyon/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/robert-oventile-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250925T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T230247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T230247Z
UID:10014344-1758826800-1758830400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Vroman’s on Screen - Tim Greiving\, in conversation with Matt Gourley\, discusses & signs John Williams: A Composer’s Life
DESCRIPTION:John Williams is one of the most important film composers of all time\, having almost singlehandedly revived the Hollywood symphonic scoring tradition and helped restore the livelihood of American orchestras through the popularity of film music programming. His film music\, in the words of director Oliver Stone\, “came to stand for the American culture.” \nIn John Williams: A Composer’s Life\, the first biography of the composer\, author Tim Greiving offers an engaging account of a man whose body of work is well-known but whose personal life has consistently remained very private. Williams wrote the memorable scores and hummable themes for a staggering number of popular touchstones across multiple generations–among them Star Wars\, Indiana Jones\, Jaws\, E.T.\, Jurassic Park\, Schindler’s List\, and the Harry Potter series–and earned more Oscar nominations than any individual artist in the history of the motion picture Academy. He also composed dozens of concerti\, fanfares\, and other concert works and was a national presence as music director of the Boston Pops for more than a decade. He inspired countless children to pursue a career in the orchestra and won the respect of the classical community worldwide. Seeking to understand what drove Williams’s musical productivity and its effects on the lives of those close to him\, Greiving delves deeply into the composer’s decades-long career\, uncovering countless new stories and revelations. Throughout\, he analyzes and describes Williams’ film scores\, recalling them primarily in narrative and emotional terms rather than purely musicological ones\, and in doing so emphasizes one of Williams’s principle strengths: his musical storytelling. \nWith unprecedented interview access to Williams and those close to him\, Greiving presents the definitive portrait of a beloved but famously private doyen of twentieth-century pop culture. Featuring 175 exclusive interviews–including with Steven Spielberg\, Oliver Stone\, George Miller\, Mia Farrow\, Hans Zimmer\, Yo-Yo Ma\, session musicians\, family members\, and friends–John Williams: A Composer’s Life is the first and last word on the great court composer of the cinema age\, the musical conductor of our collective memory.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-vromans-on-screen-tim-greiving-in-conversation-with-matt-gourley-discusses-signs-john-williams-a-composers-life/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://playhousevillage.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tim-greiving-600x600-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250921T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250921T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T225803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T225859Z
UID:10014343-1758463200-1758463200@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: An Afternoon with author & director Andrew Davis
DESCRIPTION:The director of Holes\, Under Siege\, A Perfect Murder\, and the Academy Award nominated hit The Fugitive joins us for a discussion about his films and his debut novel Disturbing the Bones\, co-authored with Jeff Biggers\, which features subjects & themes that reverberate throughout his filmography. \nCover of Disturbing the Bones with a picture of author Andrew Davis and at the bottom it says TICKETED\nAn Afternoon with author & director Andrew Davis\nThe director of Holes\, Under Siege\, A Perfect Murder\, and the Academy Award nominated hit The Fugitive joins us for a discussion about his films and his debut novel Disturbing the Bones\, co-authored with Jeff Biggers\, which features subjects & themes that reverberate throughout his filmography. \nAbout the book\nA propulsive debut political thriller set in the aftermath of a global nuclear weapons crisis—from the acclaimed filmmaker of The Fugitive and an award-winning journalist . . . \n“A knife-edged investigation that morphs into a political thriller about a world on the brink. An ingenious page turner.” —Michael Mann \nA plot to disrupt a global peace summit in Chicago collides with a civil rights case breakthrough at a mysterious archaeological site . . . \nChicago detective Randall Jenkins has not been back home to the historic Civil Rights hotspot of Cairo\, Illinois since the disappearance of his mother\, a well-known journalist\, several decades ago. That all changes the day Dr. Molly Moore\, an ambitious young archaeologist in the national spotlight for her groundbreaking high-tech discoveries\, uncovers a set of strange bones at a huge 12\,000-year-old site at a highway construction project. With retired military general and contractor William Alexander breathing down her neck to cover up the dig\, Molly and Randall soon find themselves in the middle of a wild military conspiracy.The detective and archaeologist’s entwined family mysteries suddenly thrust them into the central position as the only people who can ensure the safety of the ongoing Chicago global peace summit. They must take on the rogue general who views any disarmament agreement as a clear and present danger to the United States. The fate of global peace and the lives of Molly and Randall hang in the balance. \nAbout the authors\nAndrew Davis\, raised on the southside of Chicago\, is the acclaimed director and screenwriter of numerous films\, including Holes\, Under Siege\, Code of Silence\, A Perfect Murder\, and The Guardian\, and whose landmark film\, The Fugitive\, chosen in 2020 by Los Angeles Times readers as the ultimate summer film\, was nominated for seven Academy awards including Best Picture. \nJeff Biggers is an American Book Award-winning historian\, journalist and playwright. Based part-time in Italy since 1989\, he is the recipient of the David Brower Award for Environmental Reporting\, the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year for Travel Writing\, a Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalism\, and other honors. Author of ten books of cultural history and investigative reporting\, his work has appeared in the New York Times\, The Atlantic Monthly\, Salon.com\, and on National Public Radio and Public Radio International.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-an-afternoon-with-author-director-andrew-davis/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250920T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250920T140000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T225528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T225528Z
UID:10014342-1758373200-1758376800@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Leslie Adame\, in conversation with Tamika Burgess\, presents & signs Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic (Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic #1)
DESCRIPTION:A new Latinx middle grade fantasy debut where a secret magical academy\, an evil sorcerer\, and a powerful\, coveted gem awaits one girl in her quest to reunite her family. Perfect for fans of Claribel A. Ortega and B. B. Alston! \nTwelve-year-old Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is that her undocumented parents will be detained by immigration. That is\, until she learns that her parents are actually part of a secret magical society…and that the suspicious looking police officers who have been hanging around their block are henchmen for an evil sorcerer determined to settle a decades-old score. \nJust when Chloe discovers that she has powers\, too\, her parents are kidnapped. In order to rescue them\, she’ll need to harness her abilities at an elite academy\, run by the very agency who exiled her parents from the magical world. \nFinding herself in the center of a magical war that might destroy everything she has ever known\, Chloe can’t shake the feeling that the Agents of Magic are hiding secrets. With her parents’ lives hanging in the balance\, she must uncover who is truly on her side and fast to save her family–and the world itself.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-leslie-adame-in-conversation-with-tamika-burgess-presents-signs-chloe-vega-and-the-agents-of-magic-chloe-vega-and-the-agents-of-magic-1/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250920T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250920T120000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T225304Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T225304Z
UID:10014341-1758366000-1758369600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Ashlee Yates reads from & signs The Stink
DESCRIPTION:Our life is perfect until one day a new smell enters our home\, PEE EWW! This playful children’s book follows an English Bulldog as he navigates life with his new very stinky baby sister. A heartwarming tale about home life changes shown through quirky illustrations and vivid language. \nPerfect for parents to read to their kids or for kids to read to their pets. The perfect addition to any child’s bookshelf!
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ashlee-yates-reads-from-signs-the-stink/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250919T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250919T190000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T224959Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T224959Z
UID:10014340-1758304800-1758308400@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: TICKETED - Chris Colfer discusses & signs Roswell Johnson Saves the Galaxy!
DESCRIPTION:Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Land of Stories in this sequel to Roswell Johnson Saves the World! Packed with humor\, heart\, and action\, the second book in this adventure series will take middle grade readers on another epic journey\, this time\, to save the galaxy! \nSomething very strange is happening in our galaxy. People\, spaceships\, and whole stars are disappearing without a trace. The Milky Way Galactic Alliance can’t explain the bizarre phenomena\, prompting Roswell and his alien friends to solve the mystery themselves. Along the way\, Roswell discovers new technology that puts our entire solar system in grave danger\, and he learns he’s closer to the problem than he ever thought possible.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-ticketed-chris-colfer-discusses-signs-roswell-johnson-saves-the-galaxy/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Kids,Vroman's Bookstore
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250918T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250918T200000
DTSTAMP:20260404T153039
CREATED:20250814T224733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T224733Z
UID:10014339-1758222000-1758225600@playhousevillage.org
SUMMARY:Vroman's Bookstore: Chip Jacobs discusses & signs Later Days
DESCRIPTION:In an evocative follow-up to his Los Angeles-Times bestselling Arroyo\, Chip Jacobs returns with a gripping tale of brotherhood\, recklessness\, and last-ditch redemption against the backdrop of a Southern California prep school in gender upheaval. \nAs the elite\, all-boys institution transitions to coed\, transforming the place from suburban Lord of the Flies to soap-operatic play\, two unlikely friends–Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond–alternate rescuing the other from self-destruction and home lives gutted by loss and distracted parents. Eager to maximize their era as God-like Seniors at Stone Canyon Prep\, the pair and their classmates act invincible. They commandeer Bob’s Big Boy and wander the secret world beneath Caltech\, meeting a charismatic Nobel Prize physicist in the process. They sweat destiny-making S.A.T.s\, grapple with fallout when two boys fall for the same girl\, and watch in horror as a playoff basketball game is upended by the chemistry lab. Just when our heroes barely graduate\, en route to prized universities\, their bond is severed by a wild gunshot that will haunt them for decades. \nTwenty years later\, Luke is a hard-charging journalist with an imploding career\, while Denny is a visionary software engineer on the verge of a breakthrough–until a terminal diagnosis rewrites any happy ending. Their reunion forces both to confront the worst of themselves\, a luminous female classmate who predicted her own death\, and exactly how they squandered the potential Stone Canyon draped around them. As Denny’s time runs short\, Luke races to make peace with his failures in a world shorn of the magic his teachers once heralded. In a final act of reckoning\, with the famous Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in the mix\, fate offers them one last chance to heal the other by confronting mortality and pleading for goodbyes slippery before. \nLater Days is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Perfect for readers drawn to fierce\, flawed friendships\, the currency of forgiveness\, and the raw beauty of life skimming its edge. With rich insight into the secret histories of the late-seventies Pasadena area\, and the psychological baggage of growing up in the shadows of “Great Men\,” father\, Jacobs second novel is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually sharp.
URL:https://playhousevillage.org/event/vromans-bookstore-chip-jacobs-discusses-signs-later-days/
LOCATION:Vroman’s Bookstore\, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91101\, United States
CATEGORIES:Books,Free,In-Person,Vroman's Bookstore
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