Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation

The Monterey Peninsula, Naturally
2025-03-29 10:00 - 2025-06-28 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Nancy & Steve Hauk Gallery – Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, 93950, United States
Padre Trails Camera ClubPresents

The Monterey Peninsula, NaturallyA Photographic Print Exhibition

March 29 – June 28, 2025

The Nancy & Steve Hauk GalleryPacific Grove Public Library550 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA

For more information, visit the library, phone (831) 648-5762 or email referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

Opening Reception - The Monterey Peninsula, Naturally
2025-04-04 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Nancy & Steve Hauk Gallery – Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, 93950, United States
Artists’ Reception for Padre Trails Camera Club’s “The Monterey Peninsula, Naturally”, a print exhibition. Professional nature photographer and author David Gubernick will share how his love for the natural beauty of the Peninsula has inspired his photographic work, and how he hopes that work may inspire others.

For more information, visit the library, phone (831) 648-5762 or email referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

First Saturday Book Sale
2025-04-05 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. Mary’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
If your bookshelves are looking empty, or your “must read” list growing short – never fear! Visit St. Mary’s Church from 10 am until 4 pm to find wonderful buys in books, puzzles, CDs and more, all in excellent condition.

All proceeds benefit the Library’s community of readers and learners. If you’re a member of the Friends, you get a nice discount. And yes, we’re happy to have you become a member at the Sale!

The Friends’ Book Store is also open at St. Mary’s Church Monday through Friday from 10 am -12 noon.

We are now accepting one bag or box of donated books per person. Donations need to be resalable (very dirty, discolored, mildewed, damaged or detached covers, old text books, old computer books, etc. are not suitable for resale). Please don’t donate books that you wouldn’t consider buying yourself. Puzzles are especially welcome! Thank you

Clown Cantos - Is not everything an event that must be sung?
2025-04-11 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
You are invited to join the inimitable Barbara Mossberg for a dramatic (and humorous) reading of the newly published Clown Cantos, Everything is Alive in its Own Way, Singing (yes, there will be cake). Mossberg’s new book is illustrated by local fine-art painter and illustrator Christine Crozier.

In this sequel to Here for the Present: A Grammar of Happiness in the Present Imperfect, Mossberg makes fanfare of worms and turkeys and the so-called departed, all of whom must be sung, in comic cantos of holy ephemera alive in their own way. With a literary improv pluck, Mossberg’s Yes upends despair: it is a feisty sit-down stand up of the spirit, epic episodes and odes of a phenomenal life.

Barbara Mossberg is a former California Laureate/PG Poet-in-Residence. Her global career spans four decades as a prize winning poet, author, and teacher, and educational ministry.

For more information, visit the library, phone (831) 648-5762 or email referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Flyer

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

Transformational Memoir Writing Workshop with Barbara Mossberg
2025-04-12 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Little House at Jewell Park, Jewell Park, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Transformational Memoir Writing Workshop with Barbara Mossberg at the Little House in Jewell Park next to the PG Library.

Barbara Mossberg is a former California Laureate/PG Poet-in-Residence. Her global career spans four decades as a prize winning poet, author, and teacher, and educational ministry.

Registration is required. Sign up by phoning 831-648-5762 or emailing referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Presents
2025-04-12 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
The Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium Presents An Evening of Poetry Featuring Victoria Bañales (poet laureate of Watsonville), & Rachel Huerta + Eva Martinez (youth poet laureates of Watsonville).

The Monterey Bay Poetry Consortium seeks to showcase the finest talents of the diverse Central Coast literary community, from Big Sur to Santa Cruz to the Salinas Valley and beyond. Free readings are held monthly on the second Saturday.

All are welcome. Light refreshment provided. The library closes at 5pm and no library services are available.

For more information, please contact Kent Leatham.

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

PGPL Book Club • April 14
2025-04-14 13:30 - 15:30 UTC | CA
This Month’s Book: Playground by Richard Powers

The Friends of the Pacific Grove Library book club:

Meets most second Mondays via Zoom only at 1:30 pm for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours (we reschedule on Federal holidays). Email for meeting information.

Tends to read fiction, but mixes it up depending on the interests of the members

Tends to read books that aren’t brand new, so members can find books at local libraries

Rotates book leaders, who make a suggestion for the club, then lead the discussion

2025 Meeting dates and book titles

For more information, contact pgplbookclub@yahoo.com

Rhythms & Reads: Charged Particles
2025-04-19 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Live music for all ages. Join us for “Rhythms & Reads” featuring Charged Particles. The trio’s funky Latin jazz repertoire, blending in elements of classical music, mixes complex orchestration with freewheeling improvisation. “Rhythms & Reads” is a new monthly concert series at the PG Library.

For more information, visit the library, phone (831) 648-5762 or email referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Flyer

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

Praying for Rain, A Centennial Celebration of James Baldwin
2025-04-26 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Grove Public Library, 550 Central Ave., Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Join Daniel B. Summerhill for “Praying for Rain, A Centennial Celebration of James Baldwin”. The inaugural Poet Laureate of Monterey County, Summerhill is a writer, scholar and Professor of Poetry at Santa Clara University. He is the author of two collections of poems, Divine, Divine, Divine and Mausoleum of Flowers.

“Praying for Rain” is a phrase that comes from Nikky Finney’s introduction to Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems. Finney got the quote from listening to Baldwin’s 1961 interview with Studs Terkel who asks Jimmy, “who are you now.” Baldwin responds, “who indeed? I may be able to tell you who I am, but I am also discovering who I am not. I want to be an honest man. And I want to be a good writer. I don’t know if one ever gets to be what one wants to be. You just have to play it by ear, and pray for rain.” In writing about the peril of artists, James Baldwin said in order to face oneself, one should “vomit up the anguish.” Through original work, Daniel B. Summerhill will converse with the late James Baldwin, his mind, his legacy and his poetic works, in an attempt to “Vomit Up the Anguish.”

Daniel B. Summerhill is a writer, scholar and Professor of Poetry at Santa Clara University. Summerhill has earned fellowships from Baldwin for the Arts, Esperimento sul Respiro, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and The Watering Hole. His poems and essays have been published widely, including in venues such as The Academy of American Poets, Columbia Journal, Callaloo, Ploughshares, Obsidian, The Wall Street Journal and elsewhere. A two-time Pushcart and Best of the Net Nominee, he was invited by the U.S. embassy to guest lecture and perform in Durban, South Africa in 2018 as a part of the International Poetry Africa Festival. Daniel believes in the liberation of oppressed peoples everywhere, especially through the dissolution of empire.

For more information, visit the library, phone (831) 648-5762 or email referencedesk@cityofpacificgrove.org.

Free.

Sponsored by Pacific Grove Public Library Friends and Foundation, the Whitney Latham-Lechich Poetry Trust and Monterey County Gives! 2024 donors.

Photo credit: Marcus Jackson

Dine Out with Friends at Pacific Thai Cuisine April 30
2025-04-30 11:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Pacific Thai Cuisine, 663 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, United States
Pacific Thai Cuisine offers authentic and flavorful Thai recipes cooked with love and served in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Your hosts, Lex and Gina, were born and raised in Thailand. They came to Pacific Grove and opened the doors to Pacific Thai in 2008. They quickly became a part of the community through their participation in local events and non-profit organizations. Pacific Thai’s recipes are inspired by their mother’s cooking and ancient family traditions. While guests come for the food, we believe they come back for the warm, gracious hospitality. At Pacific Thai, you are family!

Pacific Thai is open 11:00am – 2:30pm for lunch and 4:30pm – 8:00pm for dinner. Reservations are recommended. A portion of your check will be donated to support the Pacific Grove Library. This is a delicious way to support the library.
