Color image of Eddie Van Halen in shirt and jacket, with long hair. Image dates from 1993 by Alan Light, used under CC by 2.0 license from wikimedia.

Eddie Van Halen was born in Amsterdam in 1955; his family left the Netherlands in 1962 and settled in Pasadena. Eddie grew up here, attended Pasadena High School and Pasadena […]

Image of ceiling with pink, yelllow and purple papel picado hung in rays from central bright light-"Danza de Papel Picado by Eneas De Troya used under cc by 2.0 license without edit or adaptation

  The US celebrates the culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans annually from September 15-October 15.  Special events and exhibitions commemorate and honor Hispanic and Latinx Americans. Visit […]

Cold Treats for Hot Days

Hot days call for cold treats. After school-at-home, post-dinner dessert, or a weekend cool down to accompany a run through the sprinklers? Try a recipe from one of the following […]

Wooden sign with "Hope" painted on it over a bouquet of yellow daisies. Hope by Gedalya AKA David Gott, used under CC 2.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

Inspired in part by our One City One Story Summer Selection, Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts, and its story around The Wizard of Oz  and in part by the struggles we share […]

Illustration of books stacked by Jane Mount from Ideal Bookshelf visit her site at https://idealbookshelf.com for more information (used with permission from Jane Mount)

    Big topics, on all of our minds. There are some excellent resources available, as a place to start, or a way to continue listening and learning. The following […]

Local and family history research - six online resources you can use from home

Do you like local history or learning about your family’s history? Research of this kind often requires a visit to the library to browse through city directories, photos, genealogical records, […]

Detail of eagle head totem on carved and painted Native American flute by Chief Arthur Two Crows, 1987

  Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson The latest from Hobson (Deep Ellum) is a smart, dark novel of adolescence, death, and rural secrets set in late-1980s Oklahoma. […]

Cardigans and Kindness: Fred Rogers

November 13 is World Kindness Day, and this year, we are encouraged by WQED Pittsburgh, a public broadcasting station where the children’s show aired, to wear a cardigan in honor […]

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon, July 1969 (used via Wikimedia Commons; source: NASA/Public Domain)

  Saturday, July 20th is the 50th anniversary of the first time humans landed on the moon. An amazing moment in history shared by everyone on this planet. Commemorate the […]

John Trumbull's 1819 painting, "Declaration of Independence" (which appears on the US $2 bill

In honor of tomorrow’s Independence Day holiday, we’d like to share some historical fiction set in America during the Revolutionary War. We wish you a safe, happy and health July […]