This weekend’s LA Times Festival of Books was jam-packed with all things literary. USC’s campus swelled with book-loving Angelenos. Children enjoyed readings by R.L. Stine and Jamie Lee Curtis, USC students waxed poetic from the USC stage, and laughs ebbed from comedian Patton Oswalt's audience. Publishers met new readers, bookstores found new customers, and literacy nonprofits got due public attention. And this weekend’s panels were pretty entertaining. In case you missed any of the festivities, here are some highlights from the 2011 LA Times Festival of Books:
The LA Times Festival of Books, Abridged
Bookworms Rejoice! LA Times Festival of Books is Almost Here
Let hyperboles of excitement fly: the greatest annual book festival in the country is only a week away. Our beloved Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is set to take over USC’s campus next Saturday, where some of the greatest names in the book world will congregate for LA’s most literary weekend of the year.
Make 'Time' For The Bagavagabonds' Art Explosion Tonight
The Bagavagabonds are at it again and tonight's "Time"-themed Art Explosion at the Dietch Arts Continuum will showcase some of the best creative energies in LA. Original art by established artists as well as newcomers will be on display and available for purchase, including a piece by author Dave Eggers.
Seven Questions: Jeffrey Ross, Comedian/Author of I Only Roast the Ones I Love
Comedian Jeffrey Ross is best known for stealing the show at several celebrity roasts including the last six Comedy Central Roasts. The native of New Jersey who currently splits his time between New York and Los Angeles has roasted celebrities like Hugh Heffner, Joan Rivers, Bob Saget, Flavor Flav, Emmitt Smith, William Shatner and Pamela Anderson.
Pencil This In: Comedy at Hollywood Forever, Patio Party with Charles Phoenix
“Comedy is Dead 7” with Mary Lynn Rajskub, Aziz Ansari, Brent Weinbach, Matt Braunger, Natasha Leggero and Duncan Trussell takes place tonight at the Masonic Lodge at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. There’s also a screening of shorts by: Eric Wareheim, DJ Douggpound and Derek Waters. Cocktails are at 8 pm and the show starts at 9. Tickets are $10. Reservations recommended.
Family Is One & You're Invited
Family, the great little bookstore on Fairfax is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a huge art show that opens tonight at 8pm and you're invited.
826LA at Largo
It’s easy to forget that there’s a thriving literary scene here in LA. It’s also easy to lose sight of the fact that there are people who are committed to doing good, making change and making the city a better place for the next generation. 826LA manages to combine all of these things at once. The brainchild of hipster deity Dave Eggers, the family of non-profits now known as 826 National was originated in...
This Week in the World of -Ist
Protest over national vs. regional chains, the never-ending debate over the place of cars and bicycles in our metropolises, professional sports scandals, remembering a solemn day, and being issued a search warrant - it all happened across our sites this week!
Get Your Lit On - The Week in Bookish LA
Monday Calvin Trillin discusses About Alice 7pm @ Vroman’s Norah Vincent presents Self Made Man 7pm @ Borders Century City Tuesday David Ulin, LA Times book editor, talks with Calvin Trillin 7pm @ Central Library Rachel Ballon signs The Writer’s Portable Therapist 7pm @ Dutton’s Brentwood Deborah Eisenberg presents Twilight of the Superheroes 7pm @ Hammer Museum Wednesday Chris Abani presents The Virgin of Flames 7pm @ EsoWon Books Felicity Huffman & Patricia Wolf...
Read These Books Before Awards Season Gets Totally Out of Hand
Look. We know how it’s going to go down. By this time tomorrow, Oscar nominees will be announced and madness will ensue. There will be the campaigning amongst friends. The mad dash to see the films you haven’t seen. The endless questioning about who should win, who shouldn’t win and who should never be allowed to direct again. In certain circles, the mad “What will they wear? Who will they wear?”debating will also begin. You know how it goes, you do it every year. We do it too.
Westwood is Not Downtown
Aside from the Vice Presidential debates, there are some events going on around town. If you decide to go out rather than remain home, glued to the TV as Cheney and Edwards duke it out, you can always catch the highlights on the radio while on your way to one of these fine events.
From the Dark Side
As the Domino's commercial on TV last night pointed out, Tuesday is the least popular night of the week. It isn't the dreaded Monday, nor that Happy Hump Day Wednesday, nor even the nearly-Friday Thursday. It is just a day where we all sit around contemplating the better part of the week left ahead and all the commuting, laundry, car washing, marketing and other inanities that need to be taken care of during the week. LAist suggests getting out of the house to conquer such thoughts, and tonight's events are just the thing!

