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The Library's Autumn Concert Series takes place on Fridays from September 5 to October 31. Each concert will begin at 1 p.m. in the Winn Room. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the performance. On October 24, we will have Sophie Webber on the cello. "outstanding... every note has meaning rather as a look or a touch does; the resulting conversations she has with the music are endlessly absorbing... Her subjective narrative suggests the freedom with which Pablo Casals brought the music back to life a century ago." ~Laurence Vittes | Gramophone Cellist Dr. Sophie Webber, whose "every note has meaning rather as a look or a touch does" (Gramophone) is an internationally acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, arts activist, and educator. Praised as "an exceptional and creative musician" (Interlude) and "sublime to hear" (Time Out Chicago), she has released three critically acclaimed albums, "Escape: Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello" (2018), "B2C: Bach to Choir" (2020, featuring Bach's Cello Suites Nos.1 and 3, alongside Sophie's original choral accompaniment with vocables by former Kings Singer baritone and arranger, Phil Lawson, performed by the Chicago Choir of the Church of Ascension) and most recently, "Roots: Transcriptions of Romantic Works for Cello and Piano" with pianist Ines Irawati (2022). Her former teachers include Janos Starker, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Helga Winold at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Richard Markson at Trinity College of Music, London, from where she graduated with a First Class Honors degree, as well as the Sir John Barbirolli memorial prize for cello. A dedicated educator, Sophie has served as cello faculty at Southeast Missouri State University, Jacobs School of Music Summer Clinic, Oxford Cello School, Trinity College of Music Junior Department, Lake Forest College and the Music Institute of Chicago. She is a keen music theorist and pianist, and held a position as Music Theory Instructor at Indiana University for four years. She has taught a variety of university level courses, and is frequently invited to give guest masterclasses at universities across the States. Following the pandemic's push to move more music teaching online, Dr. Sophie has also given regular online cello lessons and classes for the past five years. In 2024, Sophie began teaching an online cello course, “Dr. Sophie Cello Lab,” including group and individual instruction, international guest cellist clinicians, and with a strong community component. Sophie's students have served as section and principal cellists in the Chicago and San Diego Youth Symphony Orchestras, have won or been placed in regional and national competitions (such as State Youth Concerto Competitions, the Society of American Musicians Competition, MidWest Young Artists Discover National Chamber Music Competition, Confucius Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition, and the Walgreen National Concerto Competition) and have gone on to study cello performance at some of the nation's top music schools. In 2009, she founded Fused Muse Ensemble, an IL non-profit with a mission to amplify voices too often left unheard through music and mixed media. Sophie's music has been featured on BBC Radio 3, Southern California's Classical KUSC 91.5FM, Chicago's WFMT 98.7FM, Seattle's King FM 98.1, Iowa Public Radio, Tampa Bay (Florida)'s WUSF Public Media, Rochester (New York)'s WXXI Classical 91.5, North Carolina's WCPE The Classical Station 89.7FM, Portland's All Classical 89.9 KQAC FM, amongst others. Visit: https://coronado.librarycalendar.com/event/autumn-concert-series-hold-34517 Dr Sophie Webber on Instagram and Facebook

Ken Blanchard is recognized as one of the most influential and compassionate leadership experts in the world. On Thursday, October 23, Martha C. Lawrence will share her newly released book "Catch People Doing Things Right: How Ken Blanchard Changed the Way the World Leads" in conversation with local bestselling author and personal wellness expert, Ken Druck. Lawrence worked with Blanchard for many years and shares how his philosophies have impacted thought leadership and management in companies worldwide. Limited reserved seating is available with the pre-purchase of a book through Bay Books Coronado. To reserve your copy, call 619-435-0070. Copies of the book will be available for sale by Bay Books Coronado. A signing will follow the event. Visit: https://coronado.librarycalendar.com/event/catch-people-doing-things-right-how-ken-blanchard-changed-way-world-leads-38922

Join us for this family friendly event where children get to collect candy and non-candy treats from the trunks of cars. Free for children 12 and under and their parents. Special thanks to the West Automotive Group and the Miata Club. Sorry-Trick or Treat bags are not provided. San Diego Automotive Museum on Facebook / Instagram

The Coronado Public Library and the San Diego Writers Festival will host a series of writing workshops this Fall. Each focused on a different topic, writers both new and experienced will find new strategies to hone their craft. Writers who attend a workshop will have the opportunity to have the entry fee waived if they choose to participate in Acorn Publishing Debut Author contest (details available here.) In this month's course, Holly Kammier will take you deep into the timeless structure of the hero’s journey. You’ll learn: The six essential characteristics every hero needs to forge a powerful emotional connection with readers. How to identify and develop a winning theme. The interlocking plot beats every protagonist must take to keep your story driving forward and your audience glued to the page (or screen). Whether you write fiction, memoir, or screenplays, these strategies will help you elevate your work from good to unforgettable. This event will take place via zoom. Register here to receive the Zoom link for this event. Holly Kammier is the co-founder and acquisitions editor of Acorn Publishing, the largest publishing imprint in San Diego and one of California’s leading hybrid publishers. Named 2025 Publisher of the Year by the San Diego Writers Festival and 2024 Chrysalis BREW Project Publisher of the Year, Acorn boasts a diverse catalogue of award-winning and bestselling titles across genres. Holly is also the author of "Kingston Court," "Choosing Hope," and "Lost Girl: A Shelby Day Novel." Her essay" All-American Girl" was honored by the International Memoir Writers Association and performed at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre. A UCLA honors graduate with a background in journalism, Holly has worked at KCAL Los Angeles and CNN Washington, D.C. She serves as Publishing Director for the San Diego Writers Festival and is a faculty member at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. Holly lives in her hometown of San Diego, where she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream (BTAD) and Accessity are joining forces to host Crafted for Success, a one-day conference that supports food and beverage entrepreneurs as they start, grow, and scale their businesses. The free event will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in San Diego’s Mission Bay. It will bring together small business owners, industry leaders, and partner organizations for a day of education, networking, and inspiration. The conference is designed to address the challenges faced by food and beverage entrepreneurs, from navigating marketing trends and distribution to building brand awareness and securing financing. Attendees will hear from Maya Madsen, owner of Maya’s Cookies, who is celebrating 10 years in business, during an inspiring fireside chat. The day will also feature breakout sessions on marketing, sales, and growth strategies and practical insights from industry experts and local small business owners. Beyond educational programming, participants can network with partner organizations, mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs throughout the day, including during meals, breaks, and a closing happy hour with bites and hosted beverages from Samuel Adams. “With Brewing the American Dream, we’ve seen firsthand how access to the right resources, mentorship, and community can transform a small business,” said Jennifer Glanville Love, brewer and director of partnerships at Boston Beer. “Crafted for Success is about bringing entrepreneurs together in one room to garner invaluable insight from experts, connect with peers, and leave inspired with the tools and confidence to take their businesses to the next level.” Registration for Crafted for Success is free, though space is limited. Entrepreneurs and community members interested in attending can sign up through the official event page here. You must be 21+ to attend. “Small food and beverage businesses are the heart of our communities, yet their journey is often filled with barriers,” said Accessity CEO Mar Diteos. “Through Crafted for Success, we aim to give entrepreneurs the tools and knowledge they need and the confidence and connections to take the next step forward.” Since 2013, Accessity and Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream have partnered to provide resources, education, and funding opportunities to food and beverage entrepreneurs across Southern California. The organizations have hosted numerous events over the past decade, including the popular Speed Coaching event that has connected hundreds of small business owners with industry experts for one-on-one guidance. The Crafted for Success conference builds on this history of collaboration, expanding the reach and depth of support available to entrepreneurs in the region. About Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Since 2008, Samuel Adams has supported its nonprofit lending partners in providing over 4,500 loans totaling over $115 million to food and beverage entrepreneurs across the country. Just as important, the program has provided business coaching and advising to more than 16,000 people. The businesses supported by this program have created or retained over 12,000 jobs in their local communities. About Accessity Accessity is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that provides economic opportunity to entrepreneurs through small business loans from $300 to $150,000 and a community of support and resources in Southern California. Accessity’s mission is to open doors of financial opportunity to those with historically less access to capital and business support: entrepreneurs of color, women, immigrants, and low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs. Since 1994, the organization has provided $100 million in loans to small business owners, helping them start, expand, and build self-sufficiency while supporting local employment and economies. For more information, visit accessity.org. Accessity on Facebook / Instagram

Join the Coronado Public Library, in partnership with Warwick’s, is proud to host bestselling author Clare Leslie Hall. She'll discuss her new novel "Broken Country"—her U.S. debut and a Reese’s Book Club pick—in conversation with Jason Blitman. A celebrated journalist and novelist, her latest work is a sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller full of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love. 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 "Broken Country" through Warwick's bookstore. Please visit https://www.warwicks.com/clare-leslie-hall-2025-reserved-seat or call the store at 858-454-0347 for more information. About "Broken Country" Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn't realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel's life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become. About Clare Leslie Hall Clare Leslie Hall is a novelist and journalist. She published two domestic noir novels "Him" and "Mine" under the name Clare Empson and has turned to book group fiction with her third novel "Broken Country." "Broken Country" is set to be published in over 30 territories and, since UK and US publication, is a Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller. It was also Reese’s Book Club Pick and Fearne Cotton’s The Happy Place Book Club pick for March 2025. It has been optioned by 3000 pictures with Hello Sunshine producing. About Jason Bittman Jason Blitman is an arts professional who currently hosts and produces the podcast Gays Reading. Recent guests include Ann Patchett, Dylan Mulvaney, Jonathan Adler, Kaveh Akbar, Rumaan Alam, Dolly Alderton, Margaret Cho, Roxane Gay, TJ Klune, Nnedi Okorafor, Torrey Peters, Elif Shafak, and many more. As an arts and culture producer, Jason produced two seasons of the Books That Changed My Life Festival for JCC Manhattan and the Palm Springs Readers’ Festival in Palm Springs. Jason is also a theatre director and producer currently working on projects around Southern California. Clare Leslie Hall on Instagram

This Diwali, join us for a hands-on craft workshop where we will paint and decorate beautiful Jharokha-style candle holders using sustainable materials, led by Dipali Dewan of OTB Handmadecrafts. A Jharokha is a distinctive architectural feature of Indian palaces and havelis—an ornate overhanging window or balcony that allowed royalty to view festivities while remaining unseen. Beyond their practical use, Jharokhas became a symbol of beauty, artistry, and craftsmanship in Indian culture. Their intricate designs often featured arches, carvings, and vibrant colors, reflecting the grandeur of India’s architectural heritage. In this workshop, we will bring that same sense of tradition and artistry into our craft. Each participant will create their own candle holder inspired by the Jharokha design—perfect for celebrating the Festival of Lights. Whether you are new to Indian culture or simply enjoy exploring creative crafts, this workshop is a wonderful way to experience the spirit of Diwali while making something beautiful to take home. All materials will be provided. No prior art experience required—just bring your creativity! This program is for adults over the age of 18. Space is limited, registration is recommended. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits. Coronado Public Library on Facebook / Instagram

Brian Levy, tenor saxophone Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet Andre Hayward, trombone Victor Gould, piano Mike Gurrola, bass Joe Farnsworth, drums Preshow performance from Young Lions Jazz Conservatory at 6:30 p.m. Experience the bluesy side of John Coltrane in his first — and only — studio session as leader for Blue Note records: "Blue Train." Teaming up with trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones, Coltrane wrote all but one of the compositions on the album — rare at the album's time of release — and described the album as one of his favorite recordings. Please note: The San Diego Symphony Orchestra does not appear on this program. San Diego Symphony on Facebook / Instagram

Now in its fourth year, the hugely popular Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series welcomes new audiences to The Conrad with free programming, shining a spotlight on local artists. No tickets are required; free reservations are requested in order to keep a head count, at www.theconrad.org. Fall 2025 Courtyard Concert Series: Peter Sprague Trio Friday, October 17, 2025 • 4:30 PM Multi-award-winning musicians Peter Sprague and Danny Green return to The Conrad with one of their frequent collaborators, Mackenzie Leighton. Described by San Diego Troubadour as “world-class,” Sprague and his ensemble of jazz greats will perform a lively program of head-bopping grooves, improvisations, ballads, and more. David Spitzfaden Band Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • 4:30 PM Three-time San Diego Music Awards nominee David Spitzfaden is bringing his high-energy band to The Conrad. Praised by San Diego Troubadour for his artistry, this noted musician and his dynamic ensemble will perform a genre-spanning set—from blues rock and R&B to funk and jazz fusion. Steph Johnson Quartet Friday, November 21, 2025 • 4:30 PM Steph Johnson is an award-winning artist whose music blends jazz, soul, funk and blues, a regular performer throughout Southern California and the Western United States. When she’s not working on music, she directs her creative energy towards Voices of Our City Choir—a group she co-founded and the focus of the 2018 award-winning documentary “The Homeless Chorus Speaks,” which aired on PBS. The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series will return with more exciting performances in the spring. La Jolla Music Society on Facebook / Instagram

The Athenaeum’s jazz program returns with a four-concert series this fall including performances in the library’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room (at 1008 Wall Street in La Jolla) and at the Scripps Research Auditorium (10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive). The series features internationally acclaimed artists and Athenaeum favorites. Seating is limited—so, order soon! Wednesday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.—Kris Davis Trio *AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY* The series opens on Wednesday, October 29, with an Athenaeum debut by the Kris Davis Trio, featuring Davis on piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Johnathan Blake on drums. Recognized in the DownBeat Critics Poll as Pianist of the Year in 2025, 2022, and 2020, Davis has become one of the most celebrated jazz pianists of her generation. A Grammy Award–winner, she has been described in The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz on a given night.” She was named a Doris Duke Artist in 2021, alongside Wayne Shorter and Danilo Perez, and Pianist and Composer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association, also in 2021. Her 2019 album, "Diatom Rhythms," was voted jazz album of the year by both The New York Times and NPR Music’s Jazz Critics Poll. On her latest album, "Run the Gauntlet," Davis is accompanied by the extraordinarily talented bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Johnathan Blake. “Hurst, who powered bands led by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis in the ’80s, and Blake, one of the contemporary scene’s most reliably propulsive percussionists, are both expert drivers of the beat” (The New York Times). Seamlessly melding composition with improvisation, "Run the Gauntlet" stands as a testament to Davis’s singular voice within the jazz landscape. Of the album, The New York Times commented, “The trio digs heartily into Davis’s obliquely funky vamps, uniting and diverging in turn to dazzling effect.” Sunday, November 9, 7:30 p.m.—Anthony Wilson Nonet *AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH AUDITORIUM* The series continues Sunday, November 9, with the Anthony Wilson Nonet. A longtime Athenaeum favorite, guitarist-composer Anthony Wilson brings his new nine-piece ensemble to the Scripps Research Auditorium to perform music from his latest album, "House of the Singing Blossoms." Wilson has cultivated a diverse body of work shaped by long-standing collaborations with jazz greats like Diana Krall (whose quartet he has been a core member since 2001), Charles Lloyd (with whom he last appeared on the Athenaeum series in 2023), and John Clayton, as well as by the deep musical influence of his father, legendary bandleader Gerald Wilson. Wilson launched his musical career in 1995 when he was awarded the Thelonious Monk Institute International Composers’ Award. His first album, "Anthony Wilson" (1997), featured a nine-piece “little big band” and received a Grammy nomination for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Recording. It was followed by "Goat Hill Junket "(1998) and "Adult Themes" (2000). His fourth recording with the nonet, "Power of Nine" (2006), was recognized as one of the top ten jazz albums of the year by The New Yorker. With "House of the Singing Blossoms," he returns to the nine-piece format for the first time in nearly two decades. For this album Wilson crafted lush, harmonically sophisticated arrangements with a reverence for the jazz and blues tradition that balance intricate ensemble interplay while spotlighting his nuanced compositional voice and the expressive artistry of the elite improvisers that comprise his ensemble. Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 p.m.—Django Festival Allstars with Veronica Swift *AT SCRIPPS RESEARCH AUDITORIUM* Next up, on Wednesday, November 19, is a return visit by the Django Festival Allstars, who will be joined by the remarkable jazz vocalist Veronica Swift. This masterful French gypsy jazz quintet returns for its first local performance since debuting on the Athenaeum series in 2016. Step into a night that feels lifted from a Parisian café and reimagined for the 21st century. The Django Festival Allstars deliver a musical experience bursting with spirit, swing, and soul in what The Wall Street Journal calls “the best jazz show in town.” Led by guitarist Samson Schmitt, son of gypsy jazz legend Dorado Schmitt, this all-acoustic ensemble of international virtuosos radiates joy and passion through blazing guitar riffs, soaring violin, dazzling accordion, and deep, grooving bass. They celebrate the music of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt who teamed with famed jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli in the 1930s and 40s to create the quintet of the Hot Club de France, which went on to become one of the most important jazz partnerships in history. Vocalist Veronica Swift made her local debut on the Athenaeum series in 2019 with pianist Benny Green. She is among the upper echelon of 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting, and keen arrangements. The Wall Street Journal wrote, “She has a miraculous voice, musical ability and technique, as well as an innate gift for entertaining a crowd.” Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.—Matt Wilson 'Christmas Tree-O' *AT THE ATHENAEUM MUSIC & ARTS LIBRARY* The fall series concludes on Friday, December 5, with Matt Wilson’s "Christmas Tree-O." Described as “An ambassador of good feeling” (New York Times), drummer Matt Wilson is one of the most in-demand musicians in jazz. He presents this joyous trio project celebrating the holiday season with his own characteristically humorous and at times eccentric sendups of holiday classics. The band, now in its 25th year, features sax virtuoso Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie. Wilson’s greatest gift is his knack for invention and the unbridled sense of fun he brings to the bandstand—a perfect combination for the holiday season. As The New York Times remarked, “Wonder and innocence, gaudiness and cheer: can it be any surprise that the jazz drummer Matt Wilson thrives around the holidays?” Wilson’s last Athenaeum appearance was in 2020 with his Honey & Salt quintet celebrating the work of American poet Carl Sandburg, a project for which he received the Jazz Journalists Association’s designation as Jazz Artist of the Year. JazzTimes wrote, “There are a few more emphatically dazzling drummers working today, but almost nobody in Wilson’s peer group with a broader grasp of jazz or a more natural sense of time, or a stronger signature as a bandleader, or more goodwill among his fellow players.” Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Facebook / Instagram