Beloved Stories with Ms. Bernadette
2026-02-22 11:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come to storytime with Ms. Bernadette. Hear a story and browse and vote for your Beloved Books. Suitable For Children ages 4 – 8 Years
Book Selections

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

About Ms. Bernadette
Ms. Bernadette lives above the Top of the Hill, plays reading games with kids in local schools, and retired from selling books to grown ups to help them do their jobs better. Let’s find your “Beloved Books.”

Author Talk with Ellie Lopez, author of Chillona
2026-02-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come join us for an evening celebrating the debut poetry collection, Chillona, by local author Ellie Lopez! In Chillona, Ellie Lopez discusses their personal experience as the eldest daughter in a Mexican American family and navigating life in the Bay Area. Their book covers many themes such as identity, healing, and family. Lopez will be joined by other performers listed down below.
List of performers opening for Ellie Lopez:

Tara Rico
Mia Catherine
Dina Klarisse
Stephanie Hernandez Jarvis

Ellie Lopez (she/her) is a storyteller from Tracy, CA. Her poetry has been featured in numerous publications most recently Mobile Data Mag and KALW BAY POETS. Ellie has released a BuiLit Zine “While in Mourning” via Sampaguita Press. “Chillona” is her first full length poetry collection and was released October 2025.

Author Meet & Greet: Derek Muk
2026-03-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join us for a meet & greet with Derek Muk. First 5 attendees will receive a free copy of his book.
About the Book:
In Being Followed, author Derek Muk tells the story of Claire Goldman, a strong, independent writer whose life takes a terrifying turn after she begins receiving threatening letters tied to her latest book. As the danger escalates, Albert, her ex-husband and former college sweetheart, re-enters her life, determined to protect her, and possibly rekindle a love they once shared.
Blending horror, mystery, suspense, thriller, and romance, Being Followed is inspired by real-world events that have shaped the nation, exploring how personal lives collide with a growing darkness.
About the Author:
Derek Muk is a writer and social worker from California. His short stories have appeared in various small press/indie magazines, such as New Realm, Cheapjack Pulp, and Ink Stains Anthology. In addition to writing, he enjoys reading, going to bookstores, traveling, museums, art, dining out, and meeting new people. He has a bachelors and masters degree in social work.
Visit his author website at: http://theoccultfilesofalberttaylor.wordpress.com/

March Crochet Workshop
2026-03-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come and create charming, personalized gifts and decorations for yourself or for your loved ones, whether you’re a beginner or looking to perfect your stitches. Please bring your own crochet hook and yarns (if you have them) or we will provide them at the workshop. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by adults.

Author Talk with Nitza Agam
2026-03-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Too Much Love, Stories of Mothering, is an anthology of essays and poems by women, edited by Nitza Agam, reveals and questions the complex and complicated relationships of becoming a mother and being a daughter. The anthology includes eighteen women writers of all ages and backgrounds. On March 14th, seven of the eighteen Bay Area writers will read excerpts from their poems and essays at the bookstore.
List of contributors for the event:

Nitza Agam
Abby Caplin
Kathleen Meadows
Cynthia Chin- Lee
Susan Light
Bonnie Lindauer
Carole DeNola

About the Author:
Nitza Agam has published two memoirs, several articles and essays in literary magazines and in The SF Chronicle, as well as poems and opinions. Prior to “Too Much Love: Stories of Mothering,” Nitza has also edited The Lemon Tree: Artists’ and Writers’ Personal Journeys of Creativity,” published by BossLady Press, 2022. Agam has a BA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem as well as two master’s degrees in literature from San Francisco State. She also holds a teaching credential in secondary English and has taught at various independent schools and workshops. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, Ofer; together they have two adult sons, David and Or.

Coffee and Books
2026-03-20 16:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
On the third Friday of every month, join us for coffee and books. We will have a Keurig set up with a variety of flavors for you to enjoy and hot water if you are a tea drinker. Sit, relax and spend time at Peninsula Books. See you there.

Sponsored by Sobrato Foundation in 2026

Beloved Stories with Ms. Bernadette
2026-03-22 11:00 - 11:30 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come join us for a storytime with Ms. Bernadette. Hear a story and browse and vote for your Beloved Books.
This month, we are reading
Winnie the Pooh
Amelia Bedelia
Curious George
About storytime presenter:
Ms. Bernadette lives above the Top of the Hill, plays reading games with kids in local schools, and retired from selling books to grown ups to help them do their jobs better. Let’s find your “Beloved Books.”

Healing through Books - Book Club
2026-04-08 19:30 - 20:30 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Healing through books. Join us and we’ll provide coffee, light snacks, and a conversation in which we heal ourselves through literature.
Second Wednesday of Each Month | 7:30pm – 8:30pm
April 8 – The Alchemist

April Crochet Workshop
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States

Banned Book Club
2026-04-16 18:00 - 19:00
Third Thursday of each month at 6 pm. Bring yourself and we will provide coffee, snacks and conversation! We will discuss the listed book that night so plan ahead and read the book (or at least start it) before you arrive.
First Five registrations will receive a free copy of the next months book!
April 16: The sun and her flowers by Rupi Kaur
May 21: Front Desk by Kelly Yang
June 18: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
July 16: The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Aug. 20: New Kid by Jerry Craft
Sept. 17: Bless Me, Ultima -Rudolfo Anaya
Oct. 15: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Nov. 19: One person, No Vote by Carol Anderson
Dec. 17: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Nora Zeale Hurston

Community Poetry Reading
2026-04-18 17:30 - 18:30 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come join us for an evening dedicated to poetry!
Author of the multi-award winning book, earthshine, local author Chuck Brickley will read excerpts from his latest collection, downhill home. Chuck will also be discussing what ‘free-verse haiku’ is, and why it’s a perfect medium of expression for our times.

Chuck will be joined by other local poets, who will read their work.
About Chuck:
Chuck Brickley is a Westmoor High School alum and Westlake resident who has been writing free-verse haiku for over 60 years. His haiku, senryu, haibun and hay(na)ku have been published, awarded and translated in journals and anthologies worldwide.

Visit his author website at: www.chuckbrickley.com

Pride Center Gayme Night @PBC
2026-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
San Mateo County Pride Center Gayme Night at Peninsula Books – a free community event!
Wednesday, April 22 from 6:00-8:00PM at 441 Westlake Center, Daly City 94015
Game on! We hope you can join us for another game night at Peninsula Books in Daly City.
As a special treat this month, we’ll be teaching Mahjong! Come learn this fun game of strategy, skill and luck. Whether you’re a newbie or seasoned player, come through!
If you’re not interested in playing mahjong, there will be other games available. You are also welcome to bring your own game/s! Bring your Nintendo Switch, favorite word game, card games to this free, community event.
Did we mention that you can win a prize and there will be snacks?! Yup!
Peninsula Books is located at 441 Westlake Center Daly City, CA 94105
Please note – we’ll be teaching Hong Kong style mahjong.
If you would like a copy of the rules beforehand, please email
info@sanmateopride.org
Registration is encouraged, but not required. Those who register in advance will be entered to win a draw prize- https://tinyurl.com/SMCPCAprilGaymeNight (linked in bio)
Questions? Email info@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133

This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks will be provided.
Register at:https://tinyurl.com/SMCPCAprilGaymeNight
Peninsula Books is located at 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, CA 94015. For accessibility and parking information, please use this link: https://peninsulabooks.org/shopourstore/
Questions? Please contact info@sanmateopride.org or call 650-591-0133

Independent Bookstore Day 2026
2026-04-25 10:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Independent Bookstore highlights Indies across the country that are uplifting the community. Join us in the celebration and also for our birthday party at 6 pm.

10am-12 pm: First 25 people with total purchase over $25 gets a free PBC tote bag or ARC

10-am-6 pm:

20% off all community picks
Buy 1 used book under $10, get one free (same or lesser value)
Prize wheel giveaways, Banned Book Bingo, Libro.fm Golden ticket
Independent Bookstore Day exclusive items for sale
Raffle prizes and refreshments

6 – 8 pm: Sip & Shop Anniversary party! 21+ only, $5 entrance at the door. 20% off everything. Drinks and light snacks.

All Day: Hungry? Support us by ordering/dining at Panda Express at Westlake. Use code 3858366

Junk Poetry Workshop
2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Join us! Blackout poetry meets junk journaling!
Materials will be provided.
Presenter: Dina Klarisse

Meet & Greet with Lauren C. Johnson
2026-05-02 14:00 - 16:00
Come meet the author of West Facade, Lauren C. Johnson
First 5 attendees will receive a free copy of The West Facade
About the Book
A cathedral statue discovers what it means to be human, then faces an impossible choice…
In Paris, at the dawn of the Bubonic Plague, the statues that guard the Notre Dame Cathedral are forbidden from experiencing human pleasures. But the statue of Sainte Geneviève’s quiet existence changes irrevocably when a grieving woman places a citrus fruit in her hands as an offering—an offering Geneviève can’t resist eating.
Eating awakens Geneviève to her desires, making Geneviève want to be more than an object on a cathedral wall. But when Geneviève gets what she wants, she must choose between remaining human and accepting mortality or returning to an eternity of being a statue at the cathedral once more.
About the Author
Lauren C. Johnson holds a B.S. in Journalism from Emerson College and an MFA in Creative Writing from American University. Her work has appeared in such publications as Orion and The Rumpus. She is the co-host of Babylon Salon, one of the Bay Area’s longest running literary and performance series, and the co-founder of Club Chicxulub, a journal and reading series featuring speculative fiction authors. Raised in Tampa, Florida, she now lives in San Francisco with her husband and her two rescue doves, Schooner and Eagle. This is her first book.

Author Talk with MJ
2026-05-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
My Greatest Fear is Apathy is the debut poetry compilation of youth spoken word artist and college student, M.J. Seja. It serves as her introduction to the literary community but also an archive of the work she wrote from the time she was fourteen to sixteen years old.
Her goal with this book is to be as evocative as possible; to rebel against the political apathy that is so easy to slip into under systemic oppression by connecting the human race with art, as it seems to be our only real key for survival.
About the Author
M. J. Seja is a spoken word poet born and raised in San Francisco. They have published works through the Labyrinth magazine and in a youth anthology about COVID-19. They have been a keynote speaker at their college’s Fall 2025 Honors Showcase and have performed at events hosted by the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce and Arts Commission. Outside of writing, Seja enjoys playing and listening to music, spending time in nature, coffee drinks, and reading.

Wellness through Books
2026-05-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Are you between 17-25 years? Come by to discuss the power of books as a wellness tool! Join us for books and snacks. Attendees will receive a free book (while supplies last).
Learn more at SMCHealth.org/MHM
In collaboration with San Mateo County’s 2026 Mental Health Month.

May Crochet Club
2026-05-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States

Silent Book Club in the Parks
2026-05-30 10:00 - 11:00 | San Pedro Valley Park, 600 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica, CA, 94044, United States
Join us for two different “silent book clubs” in the next few months.
Audiobook Silent Book Club
Saturdays at 10 am
May 30
July 25
September 26
Bring your headphones and your audio book
Silent Book Club
Saturdays at 10 am

June 27
August 29
October 24
Bring or choose a book and read quietly alongside others for some dedicated reading time in our county parks!
We will have some snacks and drinks, but feel free to bring your own as well. Look for signs when you enter and park. Register for free parking courtesy of the Parks Foundation.

Author Talk with Kenneth Tan and family
2026-05-30 17:30 - 18:30 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Seated side-by-side at their kitchen table in San Jose, 94 year old Crescenciana Tan and her grandson, Kenneth Tan, got to work. Crescenciana made watercolor paintings and Kenneth drew her memories on top of them. When Crescenciana passed, she left behind her paintings, and Kenneth decided he would finish everything she started. He promised.
In Crescenciana, Kenneth weaves together their artwork, conversations, and memoirs to tell his grandmother’s life story and remind us that we can move forward without leaving our loved ones behind.
Tans Interwoven is a collection of honest, heartwarming, and humorous memoirs written by a Filipino American family, with illustrations created by Crescenciana Tan and Kenneth Tan.
Braiding their stories together, the Tans remind us that in our own families, with our lives entwining, we won’t see the patterns we’re repeating unless we take a moment to stop, step back, and look at the entire tapestry altogether.
About the Author:
Kenneth Tan is a second-generation Filipino American living in his hometown of San Jose. He has shared stories about his grandmother on NPR and StoryCorps, and he is a recipient of the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Award.

Lost Treasures of San Francisco Author talk
2026-06-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Join author Maria Lenhart on a nostalgic journey through an unforgettable time and place. Lost Treasures of San Francisco is a love letter to the City-by-the-Bay, celebrating such bygone pleasures as grooving to the Grateful Dead at Winterland on New Year’s Eve, marveling at the giant Christmas tree at the City of Paris department store, and catching a Giants game on a windy afternoon at Candlestick.
Lavishly illustrated with historic photos and memorabilia, the book delves into the recent and distant past, tracing the evolution of a city that literally rose from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire. Along the way, there are encounters with Emperor Norton, Herb Caen, Robin Williams, the San Francisco Twins and others who added to the city’s bold and creative spirit.
About the Author
Maria Lenhart’s travel and feature articles have appeared in more than 100 publications, including Travel + Leisure, On the Go With AAA, Via, Meetings Today, Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor and Boston Globe. She’s the co-author of Secret Cape Cod & The Islands, winner of a 2024 Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers. As a fourth-generation San Franciscan, she is especially proud to share the colorful heritage of her favorite city.

June Crochet Club
2026-06-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Join us at the bookstore and create some charming, personalized gifts and decorations for yourself or for your loved ones, whether you’re a beginner or looking to perfect your stitches. Bring your own crochet hook and yarns or use the ones available at the workshop. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by adults.

Yoga & Soundbath
2026-06-26 20:00 - 21:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Unwind among the books with a gentle, grounding yoga flow designed for all bodies and experience levels. Move slowly, breathe deeply, and settle into accessible poses that invite ease and self-care. This 45-minute experience ends with a soothing sound bath featuring crystal singing bowls, chimes and other instruments to calm the nervous system and restore balance. Join our warm, welcoming community for this cozy practice—your end of week reset for body, mind, and spirit.
RSVP Requested
Sliding scale donation at the door.
About the hosts:
Caroline began her yoga journey in 2008 to recover from a car accident and to find space to process the grief of losing her mother to cancer that same year. She earned her 200-hour yoga certification in 2014 and her advanced 500-hour qualification in 2021.
Tiffany is a San Francisco native who started her yoga journey and holistic health interest back in 2008, where yoga was her form of moving meditation. She has a certification in holistic health, started teaching yoga in 2022 and is currently a 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher.

Silent Book Club in the Park
2026-06-27 10:00 - 12:00 | San Bruno Mountain Park, 555 Guadalupe Canyon Blvd, Brisbane, CA, 94005, United States
Silent Book Club
Saturdays at 10 am

June 27
August 29
October 24
Bring or choose a book (from our selection) and read quietly alongside others for some dedicated reading time in our county parks!
We will have some snacks and drinks, but feel free to bring your own as well. Look for signs when you enter and park. Register for free parking courtesy of the Parks Foundation.

Pop-up with Lutra Dusha
2026-07-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come out and support our local vendors.

Pop up with Enchanted by Eve
2026-07-10 17:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come out and visit our local vendor.

Meet A Beekeeper
2026-07-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come learn about the buzz on honey bees with Cara Ching. We will have a discussion about life in the hive, the biology of honey bees, how to start your journey in urban beekeeping, a live viewing of bees in an observation hive and tasting of Cara’s honey.
About the Presenter: Cara Ching is Board Member and Volunteer Coordinator for the SF Beekeepers Association and Co-manager and Director for SF Bee-Cause, a 2 year beekeeping apprenticeship in San Francisco. Cara has educated the community for the past 8 years and enjoys spending time conducting experiments in the apiary.

July Crochet Workshop
2026-07-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States

Pop-up with Lutra Dustra
2026-07-24 17:00 - 20:00 | Peninsula Books, 441 Westlake Center, Daly City, 94015, United States
Come visit and shop with our local vendors

Audiobook Silent Book Club in the Parks
2026-07-25 10:00 - 12:00 | San Pedro Valley Park, 600 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica, CA, 94044, United States
Audiobook Silent Book Club
Saturdays at 10 am
May 30
July 25
September 26
Bring your headphones and your audio book. ( We will have a few audiobook credits available for LibroFM users and/or help for Libby)
We will have some snacks and drinks, but feel free to bring your own as well. Look for signs when you enter and park. Register for free parking courtesy of the Parks Foundation.
