Story courtesy of City's Best.
By Katie Bain
Los Angeles is a hive of literary achievement, with an incredible cache of top-notch writing talent hanging out in front of laptops in Starbucks throughout the city. Celebrate the bookish acumen of L.A. and learn something in the process by checking out one of these upcoming written-word-based events.
Art Collectives & the Current State of Literary Culture: This reading and panel discussion at Downtown's Central Library will include writers Ramon Garcia, Alicia Portnay and conceptual artist Gronk. The discussion on the relationship between literature and art will be moderated by Los Angeles Times book critic Susan Salter Reynolds. Tues., March 22, 7pm; free, reservations suggestedThe Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. 5th St.
Gabrielle Hamilton Dinner and Signing: Writer, mother and all-star chef Gabrielle Hamilton will be the toast of the town at this celebratory book signing and three-course dinner at WeHo restaurant Lucques. Hamilton, who owns and operates NYC's venerable Prune, recently released her memoir Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef. Anthony Bourdain called the novel "the best memoir by a chef ever."Mon., March 14; tickets $95 (includes dinner and a copy of the book)Lucques, 8474 Melrose Ave.; 323-655-6277
David Sedaris: One of the greatest humorists of our era returns to Los Angeles for his annual engagement at UCLA's Royce Hall. Sedaris will tickle the audience with his perpetually entertaining tales of embarrassing odd jobs and inconceivably ridiculous family situations.Wed., April 27, 8pm; tickets $33 - $63Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr.; 310-825-4401
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: This three-day book extravaganza is the nation's largest literary event and features author readings and signings, question-and-answer programs, workshops and book sales. Last year's Festival of Books was attended by more than 400 authors and had a crowd of 140,000. This year's event, the 16th annual, is expected to be even bigger.April 30 - May 1; freeUniversity of Southern California