This year’s One City, One Story choice is Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, and it is quite a tale. It revolves around a young man who is out of work, begins to staff the midnight-to-8 am shift at this fantastical bookstore, and ends up possibly dealing with immortality. Oh, and yes, there’s a secret code to break (shades of The DaVinci Code?) and an insider’s look at technology via the folks at Google! There’s something for everyone and what a ride!
As the focus of Pasadena’s 2014 One City, One Story program, the book has sparked an intriguing blend of community book talks, exhibits, films, lectures and other activities. The community is encouraged to join in these events and participate in the conversation surrounding the book.
AUTHOR EVENT
Author Robin Sloan will join Jan Sanders, Pasadena Public Library Director, in conversation as they discuss his experiences writing Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. A question and answer session from the audience will immediately follow.
Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m.
All Saints Church, Forum, 132 N. Euclid Ave.
Event parking is available in surrounding parking facilities. All parking is fee based.
EXHIBIT
• Exhibit: Celebrating 12 years of One City, One Story March 1 – 31 • Central Library, North Entry, 285 E. Walnut St.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
• Teen Workshop: Teen Gaming Night
Hastings Branch will be open for ½ of 24 hours. 12 hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Play PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii in the Teen Zone! Video Games will be available to Teens (ages 13 – 19). Call (626) 744-7262 to sign-up. (Special Library Hours for this program only)
Wednesday, March 10, 8 – 10 p.m., Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.
• Children’s Workshop: STEAM Team Club
Join our new STEAM Team Club and explore the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) concepts through creative, innovative projects based on fun STEAM-related challenges. For 3rd – 6th graders. Call (626) 744-7262 to sign-up.
Wednesday, March 12, 4 p.m., Hastings Branch Library, 3325 E. Orange Grove Blvd.
• Tween/Teen Workshop: Game Maker
Learn to create and design simple computer and videogame programs with digital artist Ean Moore. For kids 10 to 17! Call (626) 744-7268 to sign-up.
Thursday, March 13, 3:30 p.m., La Pintoresca Branch Library, 1355 N. Raymond Ave.
• Workshop: One City, One Story Data Visualization
Join us for this special Data Visualization themed program. Clay Jannon built a model of the bookstore to help him see what no one else could and we’ll start the evenings briefly showing real world examples of computer programs that help scientists and designers solve problems. Bring your laptop and any project you want to work on. We’ll run the best talks on the subject in the background as we get down to coding ourselves.
Thursday, March 20, 7 p.m., Central Library’s Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St.
• Discussion: Author Experiences
Robin Sloan will share his experiences as an author with college students followed by a question and answer session.
Thursday, March 27, 10 a.m., Pasadena City College, Creveling Lounge (Campus Center), 1570 East Colorado Blvd.
• Discussion: “Inventing Media”
Think of the formats we love: books, two-hour movies, serial TV dramas, blogs… the list goes on and on. All of these formats had to be invented. But how does that happen? How do new formats get started? And how might a person participate in this process of “media invention?” To find out, join us.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/pasadenalibrary or https://twitter.com/pasadenalibrary/ for program updates.
Friday, March 28, 6 p.m., Idealab, 130 W. Union St.
• Teen Art Contest: “Unlocking the Secret”
Teens are invited to submit a one frame illustration depicting an idea or scene inspired by Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Entries will be judged based on creativity, technical skill, and execution. Deadline to submit is Monday, March 31. Contest forms are available online and at all Pasadena library sites. Visit http://cityofpasadena.net/library/teens/ for more information. The winning entrant will receive full tuition for a 10-week class or 5-day workshop. See www.artcenter.edu/sat for details. This contest is co-sponsored by Art Center College of Design.
Community Book Discussions
Saturday, March 15, 10:30 a.m. Allendale Branch Library
1130 S. Marengo Ave.
Thursday, March 20, 4 p.m. San Rafael Branch Library
1240 Nithsdale Rd.
Monday, March 24, 11 a.m. Lamanda Park Branch Library
140 S. Altadena Dr.
Wednesday, March 26, 3:30 p.m. Hill Avenue Branch Library
55 S. Hill Ave.
Saturday, March 29, 11 a.m. Linda Vista Branch Library
1281 Bryant St.
FILM SERIES
Films that celebrate One City, One Story
Wednesdays, 1 p.m.
Central Library, Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St.
• March 5 • Jumanji (1995) PG
When two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens the door to a magical world, they unwittingly invite into their living room a man who's been trapped inside the game for 26 years -- and whose only hope for freedom is to finish the game.
• March 12 • Night at the Museum (2006) PG
Chaos reigns at the natural history museum when night watchman Larry Daley accidentally stirs up an ancient curse, awakening Attila the Hun, an army of gladiators, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and other exhibits.
• March 19 • Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007) G
When Mr. Magorium's health starts failing, he turns over his fantastical toy store to Molly, who isn't sure she's ready for the task. Since the store reflects the energy of those who run it, Molly must lift her spirits to recapture the shop's magic.
• March 26 • Hugo (2011) PG
When his father dies, 12-year-old orphan Hugo takes up residence behind the walls of a Parisian train station. There, he meets Isabelle, the daughter of filmmaker Georges Méliès, who holds the key to Hugo's destiny.
Pasadena Public Library’s annual One City, One Story program is designed to broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading and literature in the community, engage participants in dialogue and bring Pasadenans together by promoting greater understanding of differing points of view. All One City, One Story events are free and open to the public. The novel is available for check-out at all Pasadena public libraries and for sale at local bookstores.
For more information, visit www.onecityonestory.com or call (626) 744-7076.