Connecting Cultures with Little Saigon San Diego
2025-03-07 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Vietnam War saw hundreds of thousands of people leave their home and come to the United States as refugees. A great number of them came to California to build new lives, including nearly 40,000 who settled in San Diego. Today, the Vietnamese community in San Diego is strong and thriving.
In partnership with Little Saigon San Diego, this discussion-based program will highlight the local Vietnamese experience, offer an opportunity to learn from one another, celebrate diverse perspectives, and build new community relationships. Come listen, share, and connect in an open and welcoming space as we explore this rich cultural heritage and the stories that shape our community. All are welcome!
Find the full Coronado Community Read 2025 program here.
About Little Saigon San Diego
At Little Saigon San Diego, we believe social equity and racial equality can be achieved through the sense of belonging. To do this, we revitalize community infrastructure such as buildings, streets, and sidewalk, so that everyone could see their story, take ownership, and become a part of the community. We also host art and cultural events and festivals to share and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. When each of us realize that we are an equal part of a whole, we, naturally, will advocate for ourselves to achieve greater self-sufficiency and economic independence. When justice and fairness is achieved it will eliminate the motivations behind hatred, discrimination, and racism. Our community will be filled with lovingkindness, compassion, and empathy. Our works are also mission oriented toward the goal of spreading cultural awareness, building strong empathetic leadership in children, and encouraging lovingkindness in all.

Experience the Magic of Kamishibai: Paper Box Theater
2025-03-07 11:30 - 12:30 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Step into the enchanting world of Kamishibai, a traditional Japanese storytelling art, at the John D. Spreckels Center on March 7 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Presented by the Japanese Friendship Garden, this captivating performance brings stories to life through vivid illustrations and engaging narration. Kamishibai blends oral, visual, and print storytelling, using dramatic dialogue and expressive imagery to create an immersive experience that delights audiences both emotionally and intellectually.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the rich tradition of Japanese storytelling. Join us for a magical journey through tales that inspire, entertain, and connect us across cultures!
For more information or to register, visit www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343,or stop by the Spreckels Center front desk at 1019 Seventh Street.
Photo by Thor Alvis on Unsplash

Coronado Community READ Book Discussion: "The Women"
2025-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for one of our book discussions focusing on The Women by Kristin Hannah. Engage with fellow readers as we explore its themes, characters, and the reasons why it was chosen as the 2025 Coronado Community READ.
Find the full Coronado Community Read 2025 program here.

EVENT FULL / Day Trip to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum
2025-03-12 09:00 - 18:00 | CA
This event is full and no waiting list is available.
Yorba Linda, California, USA – April 16, 2013: The Richard Nixon Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California. Nixon was the 37th president of the United States, from 1969 to 1974. / iStock
Embark on a fascinating journey through American history with a charter bus trip to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, California. Departing from the John D. Spreckels Center on March 12 at 9 AM and returning at 6 PM, this trip offers a full day of exploration and discovery.
Your ticket includes roundtrip transportation and admission to the museum, where you’ll delve into the life and legacy of President Richard Nixon. Explore engaging exhibits, walk through his childhood home, step aboard his presidential helicopter, and admire the stunning rose garden and White House East Room replica.
Cost:

$90 for Coronado residents
$100 for non-residents

Be sure to bring a lunch and wear comfortable walking shoes to make the most of this enriching experience.
For more information or to register, visit www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call or stop by the Spreckels Center front desk 619-522-7343, 1019 Seventh Street.

Mystery Book Club: "Threads of Deception"
2025-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Mystery Book club will meet regularly on the third Monday of each month.

We will be discussing Threads of Deception with the author herself, Elle Jauffret! Check out the book in print or ebook format from the Coronado Library Catalog by clicking here.
Receive reminder emails about the meeting by registering. Registration is encouraged but not required.

The True Story behind "The Women"
2025-03-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library, in partnership with the Coronado Historical Association, is proud to host Coronado author Taylor Baldwin Kiland in conversation with Diane Carlson, the real-life inspiration for the 2025 Coronado Community Read, Kristin Hannah’s The Women.
This event will take place via Zoom and be broadcast in the Winn Room at the Coronado Public Library on March 18, 2025 at 11 am. Register below to receive the Zoom link for this event.
Ms. Evans, a Vietnam War combat nurse, will share her remarkable story and discuss her book, Healing Wounds: A Vietnam War Combat Nurse’s 10-Year Fight to Win Women a Place of Honor in Washington, D.C. (Permuted Press, 2020). Hear firsthand about her experiences as a young Army nurse in Vietnam, the challenges faced by returning veterans (especially women veterans), and her tireless decade-long campaign to establish the Vietnam Women’s Memorial on the National Mall. Learn about the personal journey that led her to write her story and the obstacles she overcame to ensure that the service and sacrifice of women in the military are never forgotten.
Taylor Baldwin Kiland is a writer specializing in military non-fiction who has written, co-authored, ghost-written, or edited eighteen books, including three about our nation’s Vietnam POWs: Unwavering: The Wives Who Fought to Ensure No Man is Left Behind, Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High-Performance Teams and Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later. A former naval officer—the third generation in her family to serve in the Navy, Taylor was raised in Coronado, California, and Alexandria, Virginia. Taylor’s work has been featured in NewYorkTimes.com, WashingtonPost.com, NBC Nightly News, CNN, C-SPAN, International Herald Tribune, Associated Press, military.com, and Naval Institute’s Proceedings, just to name a few. She is also the author of the recently released, Murderer of the Jujube Candy Heiress: A Coronado Cold Case.
This event also serves as a Coronado celebration of Ms. Evans’ recent recognition with the Presidential Citizens Medal, awarded on January 2, 2025, for her exemplary service to the country.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet a true American hero and gain deeper insights into the powerful story behind The Women. Healing Wounds can be purchased here.
Find the full Coronado Community Read 2025 program here.

Candy, Coronado, and a 50-Year-Old Cold Case

Coronado Community READ Book Discussion: The Women
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States

Future Ready: A Hands-On AI Series
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for an exciting, hands-on introduction to the world of artificial intelligence! In this interactive library program, participants will explore basic AI concepts, experiment with user-friendly tools, and discover real-world applications. No prior experience is required—just bring your curiosity and a desire to learn. By the end of the program, you’ll have practical skills and insights to better understand and engage with AI in everyday life.

Eco Camp with Emerald Keepers Interns
2025-03-22 10:00 - 15:30 | Coronado High School Garden, Garden behind the high school stadium, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Kids are invited to a free Eco Camp Saturday, March 22 hosted by Emerald Keepers interns. Campers will enjoy exciting outdoor activities, arts and crafts, and interactive lessons on sustainability as they learn about native seeds and pollinators, paint flower pots, and plant their very own plant. Camps are held at the Emerald Keepers garden located behind the high school stadium visitor stands and adjacent to the Village Elementary School playground.

Middle school camp (grades 6 through 8) is 10am to 12pm.
Elementary school camp (grades 1 through 5) is 1:30 to 3:30pm.

Online registration required through Emerald Keepers. Please confirm you register for the correct age group.

A Night at the Library with the Friends
2025-03-22 18:30 - 21:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Friendships and Stories Come Together
Step into a world of enchantment as the library transforms into a Moroccan-inspired oasis for an unforgettable evening—a vibrant celebration of culture, literature, and stories. Because your friends are our friends, join us for a night of connection and community.
What you can expect at this special ticketed event:

KITTY MORSE, AUTHOR

RICHARD LEDERER, SPEAKER

MOROCCAN BUFFET

COMMUNITY RAFFLE

​MARILYN MCPHIE, STORYTELLER

​​SINGLE: $75 / 1 PERSON
DOUBLE: $125 / 2 PERSON
​LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE – NO TICKETS SOLD DAY OFF EVENT​​
TICKETS
​​The Friends of the Coronado Public Library is a non-profit dedicated to supporting and enhancing the programs and services of the Coronado Public Library since 1970.

Intermediate iPhone Class – Enhance Your Skills
2025-03-27 14:00 - 15:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Take your iPhone skills to the next level with our Intermediate iPhone class at the John D. Spreckels Center. This engaging course runs on Thursdays from March 6 to March 27, 2-3 PM, and is designed for those looking to go beyond the basics.
Led by our experienced Tech Tutor, you’ll explore advanced iPhone features, discover helpful tips and tricks, and gain confidence in navigating your device. Whether you want to streamline daily tasks, improve security, or personalize your settings, this class will help you make the most of your iPhone.
Bring your iPhone and join us for a fun and informative experience! Sign up today and take control of your tech journey!
The fee is $20 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. For more information or to register, visit www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the Spreckels Center front desk at 1019 Seventh Street.
(The Coronado Times)

Spice It Up, Coronado!
2025-03-28 14:30 - 15:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Discover a new favorite spice or herb with Coronado Public Library! Each month, the library invites community members to explore different spices used in dishes around the world. Registrants will pick up the monthly spice/herb selection at the library, cook with it, and join other food enthusiasts to discuss what they made and their thoughts about the spice.
For the month of March, we will be sampling turmeric.

The meeting will be held, on Zoom, on Friday, March 28 at 2:30 p.m. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before we meet. Once registered, participants will receive an email about when they can pick up their sample of spice and a couple of recipes. This program is a great way to try new ingredients in your dishes and become a more confident cook in the kitchen!
See photographs and recipes from past Spice It Up, Coronado! HERE, then click on Open Access.

Disclaimer(s)
Food Allergies
We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.

Unyielding Courage: A Conversation with a Vietnam Navy Nurse
2025-03-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Casey Meehan, a retired Navy nurse who served in the Vietnam War, shares her experience and lessons from her service.

CIFF Student Classic Film: "Lifeboat" (1944)
2025-03-30 13:00 - 15:45 | Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Island Film Festival’s 2025 Student Classic Film Series presents Alfred Hitchcock’s “LIFEBOAT” on Sunday, March 30. The event begins at 1 pm and concludes at 3:45 pm and will be held in the Winn Room of the Coronado Public Library.

The 2025 “War That Shaped Our World” CIFF Student Classic Film Series will honor the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII by screening legendary director Alfred Hitchcock’s 1944 classic, “Lifeboat.”
Featuring an outstanding ensemble cast, including Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, William Bendix and Hume Cronin, “Lifeboat” is particularly noteworthy in Hitchcock’s filmography as the first example of the director challenging himself to tell a compelling story cinematically in a purposefully limited setting. The story is told entirely on and around a 36-foot lifeboat adrift at sea. In it, seven American and British survivors of a ship torpedoed and sunk, and a lone German survivor from the U-boat that was sunk while shelling their ship, struggle against the sea, the elements and one another, to stay alive in hope of rescue.
Hitchcock, Hollywood’s “Master of Suspense,” known for his gripping “edge of your seat” thrillers, was the creative force behind more than 50 feature films. “Lifeboat” not only limited its setting but is distinctive in being one of a very few Hitchcock and Hollywood films lacking any musical score. Loosely based on a short story by celebrated author John Steinbeck, “Lifeboat’s” dramatic narrative examines themes of authority, leadership, political culture, honesty, morality, and justice. Playing to audience emotion by cleverly manipulating cinematic limits, Hitchcock creates a tense, complex saga that is today recognized as both a magnificent dramatic and technical achievement. Lifeboat’s story demands both the characters and the audience confront difficult questions for which there are no easy answers. What may be required to fight and win a war? Must we become that which we condemn to do so?”
While most movie lovers are familiar with at least a few of Hitchcock’s more well-known movies, “Lifeboat” is a far too often overlooked classic. Any movie lover interested in the art of cinematic storytelling, the craft of filmmaking, and significant milestones in movie history won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to screen this groundbreaking Alfred Hitchcock classic!
The complete 2025 Student Classic schedule and reservations are available on the CIFF website under the “Year-Round” dropdown tab. All Student Classic Film screenings are free.

Spring Storytelling with Aunt Li-Anne
2025-03-31 14:30 - 15:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Spring is in the air, so come enjoy some spring storytelling! Aunt Li-Anne is back with stories to tell, this time all about spring holidays around the world. Drop by to hear some familiar stories, and learn some new ones as well.

Coronado Community READ Book Discussion: "The Women"
2025-03-31 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for one of our book discussions focusing on The Women by Kristin Hannah. Engage with fellow readers as we explore its themes, characters, and the reasons why it was chosen as the 2025 Coronado Community READ.

Future Ready: A Hands-On AI Series
2025-04-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Dive into the fascinating world of AI with our exclusive hands-on program featuring Claude, the cutting-edge AI assistant! This interactive workshop is designed for curious minds of all backgrounds who want to demystify artificial intelligence.

Author Event: "All Eternity Lies Before Me" - A Military Family's Story of Enduring Love and Resilience
2025-04-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Join us for a moving and heartfelt author event with Loreen Gibbons, as she shares her deeply personal book, All Eternity Lies Before Me. Written in the wake of her husband’s death while serving in the U.S. military, Gibbons’ work is both a tribute and a testament—a poetic reflection on grief, love, healing, and the enduring strength of the military spouse community.
Come hear Loreen read from her work, discuss the journey behind the book, and share in a conversation about hope, remembrance, and finding meaning after loss. A Q&A and book signing will follow the talk.

About Loreen Gibbons
Loreen Gibbons is a former Navy wife, remarried Navy widow, and retired elementary school teacher. Her debut memoir began as letters to her grandson Spencer, intended to introduce him to the grandfather he never met. It is a powerful narrative of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of love.
About All Eternity Lies Before Me
Alfa Foxtrot 586, a P-3 Orion turboprop, was conducting a sensitive Cold War mission off the Kamchatka Peninsula on October 26, 1978, when a propeller malfunction turned into four engine fires and the pilot—Loreen Grigsby’s husband Jerry—was forced to ditch into remote, mountainous seas churned by a frigid North Pacific gale. The aircraft sank within ninety seconds, taking one of the three rafts with it—which left thirteen men to huddle together in the remaining two rafts, the smaller of which soon began to leak.
Told from Loreen’s perspective as a Navy wife at home as well as through the eyes of the men who survived the disaster, All Eternity Lies Before Me weaves a gripping tale of struggle, uncertainty, grief, and heroism. It shares Loreen’s terror as she receives notifications about her husband’s crew’s desperate battle against wind, seas, and biting cold. It details the ad hoc search and rescue mission, a valiant effort to rescue the men before time runs out. And, tragically, it tells how a young Navy wife becomes a widow and single mom.
But Jerry’s death is not the end of Loreen’s story—and in the years following his loss, she discovers resilience, strength, and a new future. As she begins her journey toward a brighter future, she’s inspired by the camaraderie and brotherhood forged between the survivors and their rescuers—and ultimately, the long-term lessons learned by all involved become part of the lasting legacy of this event.

Spring Blossom Floral Class: Unleash Your Creativity with The Coronado Flower Lady
2025-04-15 16:30 - 19:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of spring with the Spring Blossom Floral Class, a hands-on, creative experience led by Shanel Albert, The Coronado Flower Lady. Whether you’re an experienced floral designer or a complete beginner, this class offers a unique opportunity to unleash your creativity and craft your very own spring flower arrangement.
During this engaging workshop, Shanel will guide you step by step through the process of selecting and arranging seasonal blooms, teaching you tips and techniques that will help you create a stunning arrangement that reflects the vibrancy and freshness of spring. All supplies are provided, so you can focus entirely on enjoying the process and letting your creativity flourish.
This class is the perfect way to unwind, learn something new, and take home a beautiful floral creation that will brighten your home or make a thoughtful gift for someone special. Whether you’re looking to explore your artistic side or simply want to enjoy an afternoon surrounded by flowers, this class offers a relaxing and inspiring experience.
The class will take place on April 15 from 4:30 to 7 pm at the John D. Spreckels Center and the cost is $75 for Coronado residents and $80 for non-residents.
All supplies are included in the price, making this a hassle-free experience for participants. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to embrace the colors and scents of spring while learning from a local talented florist.
Spaces are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today. For more information or to register, visit www.coronado.ca.us/civicrec, call 619-522-7343, or stop by the Spreckels Center front desk at 1019 Seventh Street.
Join us for a fun, floral-filled evening, and leave with a beautiful arrangement you’ve created yourself.
Floral arrangement (The Coronado Times)

FILM FORUM CORONADO: "To Catch a Thief"
2025-04-16 18:00 - 20:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Coronado Public Library, in partnership with the Coronado Island Film Festival, presents FILM FORUM CORONADO, taking place the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the library’s Winn Room. Film expert Ralph DeLauro provides a brief introduction to each film and leads a discussion afterwards, often including pointers about how lighting or camera angles contribute to a scene’s mood or propel the story.
April 16: To Catch a Thief (1955, PG, 106 min)
70th Anniversary. Alfred Hitchcock packs along his obsessions in this cheeky diversion shot on the French Riviera. A chilly American socialite (Grace Kelly) tests a reformed jewel thief (Cary Grant) to see if “the cat” still prowls. Academy Award winner for Best Color Cinematography.

Eco Camp for Earth Month with Emerald Keepers Interns
2025-04-19 10:00 - 15:30 | Coronado High School Garden, Garden behind the high school stadium, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Kids are invited to a free Eco Camp for Earth Month on Saturday, April 19 hosted by Emerald Keepers interns. Campers will enjoy exciting outdoor activities, arts and crafts, and interactive lessons on sustainability as they learn about native seeds and pollinators, paint flower pots, and plant their very own plant. Camps are held at the Emerald Keepers garden located behind the high school stadium visitor stands and adjacent to the Village Elementary School playground.

Middle school camp (grades 6 through 8) is 10am to 12pm.
Elementary school camp (grades 1 through 5) is 1:30 to 3:30pm.

Online registration required through Emerald Keepers. Please confirm you register for the correct age group.

Learn to Paint Outdoors in Coronado
2025-04-21 - 2025-04-24 | CA
Courtesy photo
Doris Rice, internationally known Watercolor Instructor, is coming to Coronado to paint Plein Air for four days in April — from Monday, April 21 to Thursday, April 24, 2025, from morning until about 3 or 4 pm, with a different location and subject featured each day.
Penelope statue at Tidelands Park
Rice will also hold a free demo on Saturday, April 19 at 11 am in Tidelands Park near Penelope statue.
For more information, contact Doris Rice in NH at 603-724-7779, or Connie Spitzer, right here in Coronado: conniespitzer1@gmail.com or 619-843-0437
Doris Rice watercolor painting. Courtesy photo

Best of the Best Book Club: "Winter in Sokcho" by Elisa Shua Dusapin
2025-04-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library’s Best of the Best Book Club meets regularly on the fourth Wednesday of each month to discuss books that have won major awards. Receive reminder emails about our meeting by registering below. Registration is not required to attend.
For our April meeting, we will discuss the 2021 National Book Award winner Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin, a novel that explores rifts of identity—personal, cultural, and national—and the fleeting kinship that is possible between solitary strangers.
About Winter in Sokcho
It’s winter in Sokcho, a tourist town on the border between South and North Korea. The cold slows everything down. Bodies are red and raw, the fish turn venomous, beyond the beach guns point out from the North’s watchtowers. A young French Korean woman works as a receptionist in a tired guesthouse. One evening, an unexpected guest arrives: a French cartoonist determined to find inspiration in this desolate landscape. The two form an uneasy relationship. When she agrees to accompany him on trips to discover an “authentic” Korea, they visit snowy mountaintops and dramatic waterfalls, and cross into North Korea. But he takes no interest in the Sokcho she knows—the gaudy neon lights, the scars of war, the fish market where her mother works. As she’s pulled into his vision and taken in by his drawings, she strikes upon a way to finally be seen. An exquisitely-crafted debut, which won the Prix Robert Walser, Winter in Sokcho is a novel about shared identities and divided selves, vision and blindness, intimacy and alienation. Elisa Shua Dusapin’s voice is distinctive and unmistakable.
About Elisa Shua Dusapin
Elisa Shua Dusapin was born in France in 1992 and raised in Paris, Seoul and Switzerland. Winter in Sokcho (Hiver à Sokcho) is her first novel. Published in 2016 to wide acclaim, it was awarded the Prix Robert Walser and the Prix Régine Desforges and has been translated into six languages.

Community Health Forum on Tijuana Sewage Crisis
2025-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The status of Coronado’s beaches as of April 13. Map: www.sdbeachinfo.com
Coronado community members need to know the public health impacts of the cross-border pollution and sewage in our beach waters and our air, and how it affects our families, Navy SEALS, first responders, and people who live here. And with great progress now finally being made, what do community members need to know about the best ways to protect ourselves, how to advocate for change, how long the construction will take, and what actions our elected officials are taking to remedy this issue? How are we planning for a long-term horizon with our bi-national area growing so rapidly?
Coronado students from Stop The Sewage Club are organizing this Community Health Forum to inform our community about this pressing issue.
Speakers Include
● Congressman Scott Peters and State Representatives Tasha Boerner and Steve Padilla
● The International Boundary & Water Commission – Emily Allen, Operations Manager
● Dr. Paula Granados, PhD, SDSU’s School of Public Health Researcher
● Transboundary Pollution Coalition of Nonprofits and NGOs working on advocacy for youth and beach access
● First Responders

April Spice It Up, Coronado! Black Cardamom Pods
2025-04-25 14:30 - 15:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Discover a new favorite spice or herb with Coronado Public Library! Each month, the library invites community members to explore different spices used in dishes around the world. Registrants will pick up the monthly spice/herb selection at the library, cook with it, and join other food enthusiasts to discuss what they made and their thoughts about the spice.

For the month of April, we will be sampling black cardamom pods.
The meeting will be held on Zoom on Friday, April 25 at 2:30 p.m. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before we meet. Once registered, participants will receive an email about when they can pick up their sample of spice and a couple of recipes. This program is a great way to try new ingredients in your dishes and become a more confident cook in the kitchen!
See photographs and recipes from past Spice It Up, Coronado! HERE, then click on Open Access.

Disclaimer(s)
Food Allergies
We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.
Free And Open

Hands-On Film Class with Tony Perri
2025-04-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
The Coronado Public Library and Coronado Art Commission invite you to step into the director’s chair for a hands-on film class with award winning producer and director, Tony Perri. In this collaborative class, aspiring filmmakers will work together to create a short film that will be submitted to the Coronado Island Film Festival.
Participants will learn scripting, direction and every aspect of pre-production, production and post-production. The course will also provide opportunities to get together outside of class to apply newfound knowledge into the practical application of on-location filming, directing scenes, how to work a camera, light a scene and record audio. The team will learn the basics of editing and all post production tasks as well as how to distribute and market the final short film and process required for submitting the movie to film festivals.
The course is eight weeks long and participants are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible as the class will be working on a collaborative project.
Classes will cover:
Film Types and Production Overview Through watching different types of short films, the class will decide what kind of movie it will produce. Story ideas will be discussed along with how to script the film, create storyboards and the production logistics needed to make the movie per their script, the storyboards created and the vision of production team.
The Production Team The roles of each of the following positions are explained and each class member will have the opportunity to work at every job and/or focus on specific roles which may interest them.
Scripting, Storyboards, Casting and Pre-Production The team will create a shooting script and storyboards. Through this, they may decide on filming locations, how to cast the movie, production planning as well as the equipment, crew and props needed for the on-location filming.
Directing, Producing and Cinematography How to direct both action and actors is reviewed along with the roles of the producer and cinematographer. Examples of great directing and cinematography are shown.
The Art of Filming, Lighting and Audio Production Scenes which can be filmed at or near the Library will be produced. Participants will learn how to operate different types of cameras, lights and microphones.
Music, Special Effects, Editing and Post Production As we watch various films, the class begins to understand the importance of music and how it fits into the post production process. They learn how to mix music, scenes and special effects in order to create the story they wish to share with the viewers.
Mastering the Film and Distribution Upon completion of post production, the class will discover the art of color-correcting the video, sweetening the sound and preparing the final film for screenings. The team will learn how to distribute the film digitally and submit it to film festivals.

About Tony Perri
Tony Perri began his broadcast and film career at the Walt Disney Company as a producer, director and broadcast journalist. After Disney, Mr. Perri became producer and director at the nationally syndicated TV show, PM Magazine and the long-running local version at KPIX-TV (CBS), Evening Magazine.
Tony went on to form the TV, film and digital media production company, Surf’s Up Studios. His most recent films include the documentary, “School of Thought” with David Lynch, Paul McCartney and John Hagelin. His feature film, “Serotonin Rising” starring the Dalai Lama and Deepak Chopra won the prestigious “Audience Choice Award” at the Estes Park Film Festival. “Serotonin Rising” sold out its world premiere at the Vail Film Festival where it won the audience choice award.
Mr. Perri is an executive producer and director with Surf’s Up Studios, which produces movies, music videos, webisodes, news reels and all forms of social and digital media. Tony also teaches a workshop he developed called “Backpack Journalism” at the University of California at San Diego, Digital Arts Center. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado where he teaches documentary production, TV production, on-air technique and broadcast journalism.

CIFF Student Classic Film: “The Great Escape" (1963)
2025-04-27 13:00 | Winn Room, Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
On Sunday April 27 at 1 pm, the 2025 “War That Shaped Our World” CIFF Student Classic Film Series continues with director John Sturges’ 1963 classic, The Great Escape. Featuring an all-star ensemble cast and a memorably iconic score by Elmer Bernstein, The Great Escape is notable as actor Steve McQueen’s breakout lead role as “cooler king,” Captain Virgil Hilts. It is no coincidence that McQueen later went on to become known by movie insiders as “the King of Cool.”

Director John Sturges’ war thriller is today recognized as a masterpiece of the POW and action genres. It is based on a 1950 book of the same name by Australian Paul Brickhill, who was part of the March 1944 mass escape from the Nazi POW compound, Stalag Luft III. While the film has its critics as a clichéd chronicle of the escape, it stands as a testament to the daring and ingenuity of British and Allied aviators and aircrew who labored for almost a year to devise and execute an audacious plan to flee captivity and tie up Nazi troops trying to track them down. It stands today as a memorial to the 50 POWs executed in the aftermath of the breakout. As Charles Clarke, an RAF Officer shot down and interned at Stalag Luft III succinctly put it, “Without the film, who would remember what a magnificent achievement it was?”
The opening of the film informs the audience, “This is a true story. Although the characters are composites of real men, and time and place have been compressed, every detail of the escape is the way it really happened.” Movie lovers won’t want to miss this opportunity to screen this most enduring of WWII themed action classics.
The screening is FREE and open to the public.
The complete 2025 Student Classic schedule and reservations are available on the CIFF website under the “Year-Round” dropdown tab.

Explore Coronado’s Remarkable Trees on a Guided Walking Tour
2025-04-29 11:00 - 12:00 | John D. Spreckels Center, 1019 Seventh Street, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
On Tuesday, April 29, from 11 am to 12 pm, join us for an enriching Walking Tree Tour through Library Park and Spreckels Park. This guided walk offers a unique opportunity to discover an incredible collection of trees from around the world—some native to nearby areas like La Jolla and Cabrillo Canyon in Balboa Park, and others from far-off places such as Norfolk Island, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Central Africa.
Leading the tour is John Blocker, a seasoned horticulturist with 31 years of experience at the San Diego County Department of Agriculture. His extensive background includes chairing the Cactus and Succulent Division at the Coronado Flower Show for 18 years, serving as a founding member of the California Garden and Landscape History Society, and contributing horticultural history articles to California Garden magazine for 15 years. As the Historian for the San Diego Floral Association, Mr. Blocker brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every tour.
Space is limited to 15 participants, register now by visiting coronado.ca.us/civicrec, calling 619-522-7343, or stopping by the Spreckels Center front desk at 1019 Seventh Street. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience brought to you by the John D. Spreckels Center!
Spreckels Park, June 2021. (The Coronado Times)

An Evening with Brad Taylor: NYT Bestselling Author and Former Special Forces Officer Explores 'Into the Gray Zone'
2025-04-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
New York Times bestselling author Brad Taylor will be at the Coronado Library discussing his new book, Into the Gray Zone, with Matt Coyle. A book-signing will follow. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served, subject to availability. Limited preferred seating is available with purchase of Into the Gray Zone through Warwick’s bookstore. Please visit https://www.warwicks.com/taylor-2025-reserved-seat or call the store at 858-454-0347 for more information.

Brad Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), is a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has written eighteen New York Times bestsellers and is a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and two daughters.
About Into the Gray Zone
Pike Logan uncovers a geopolitical scheme that has spiraled out of control in India in this latest pulse-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author and former special forces officer Brad Taylor.
While on a routine security assessment in India, Taskforce operator Pike Logan foils an attempted attack on a meeting between the CIA and India’s intelligence service. Both government agencies believe it’s nothing more than a minor terrorist attack, but Pike suspects that something much more sinister is at play. After another terrorist operation at the Taj Mahal, he begins to believe that outside powers are attacking India in the gray zone between peace and war, leveraging terrorist groups for nothing more than economic gain. But the separatists conducting the operations have their own agenda.
After a massive slaughter and kidnapping of hostages during an elaborate Indian pre-wedding party, two global powers are destabilized, and only Pike Logan and his team can de-escalate the tension by rescuing the captives. What follows is a race against the clock that winds through the bustling markets of Old Delhi, the luxurious resorts of Goa, and the epic halls of the Taj Mahal. It will take everything that Logan and the taskforce have to foil an intricate plot that leaves countless lives in the balance.
Matt Coyle is the author of the bestselling Rick Cahill crime series. His books have won the Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, Authors on the Air Book of the Year, and the San Diego Book Awards, among others. He was the 2021 San Diego Writers Festival’s Mystery Writer of the Year. Odyssey’s End was a Lefty Award Finalist. Matt was recently named a 2024 Odin Award-winner from the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. He lives in San Diego and is working on something brand new.

FITT for Life: How to Make Healthy Living Work for You
2025-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Coronado Public Library, 640 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA, 92118, United States
Healthy living doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever struggled with figuring out what actually matters, staying consistent, or feeling stuck in an all-or-nothing cycle, this interactive session will give you a new approach. Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve health markers, exercise more, eat better, or simply feel better in your body, the FITT framework will help you break through common barriers and build lasting habits. You’ll walk away with clear next steps to make prioritizing your health easier and more effective—without burnout, frustration, or unrealistic expectations.

Esther Avant is an author, speaker, and health industry veteran with over 19 years of experience helping people unlock their full potential by prioritizing their health. Through her bestselling book, To Your Health, podcast by the same name, and her work as a coach, Esther teaches individuals how to use health as the foundation for achieving lasting success in all areas of life—whether it’s losing weight for good, boosting career performance, or fostering personal growth. With a focus on her signature FITT framework and the three Cs of success, she empowers her clients to build sustainable habits that lead not just to better health but greater confidence, success, and happiness.

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Coronado Health Coach Breaks it Down
