Enjoy the spring weather with a glass of rosé and a good book outdoors.
Bay Area bookworms know peace and quiet can be a difficult thing to find in the hustle and bustle of city life. Lucky for us all, boutique digs Hotel Rex is opening its doors and allowing the public to sit back, sip on a cocktail, and enjoy a favorite novel in complete silence. Sponsored by bestselling author and SF native Daniel Handler, better known by his pseudonym Lemony Snickett, along with Radio Silence magazine, The Silent Reading Party is the perfect place for anti-social bookworms to be social. Bring your favorite book, kick up your feet, and drown out the outside world for a few hours. This event is completely free to the public and each drink purchased will benefit the San Francisco Public School Library. // Tuesday, May 3rd, 6pm-7:30pm. Hotel Rex, 562 Sutter St (Union Square), facebook.com/events
Don DeLillo in Conversation with Rachel Kushner
Known for his extensive list of modern and postmodern fiction, essays, and plays, two time Pulitzer Prize finalist Don DeLillo (White Noise) will be appearing at The Nourse Theatre as part of The City Arts and Lectures series. He will be joined by National Book Award finalist and Guggenheim fellow Rachel Kushner (The Flamethrowers). The pair will discuss their past work and the state of literature in modern America today. Seats are sure to go fast, so make sure to purchase your tickets here. // $29, Monday, May 9th, 7:30pm. Nourse Theatre, 275 Hayes Street (Civic Center), cityarts.net
Northern California Book Awards
The 35th Annual Northern California Book Awards is celebrating writers, readers, publishers, and all around lovers of literature this month. Authors in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Children's literature will be honored followed by a reception with book signings from the authors. Winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony and will celebrate their victories by readings from their works. Essayist, poet, and novelistSusan Griffin will be awarded with the Freddy Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement & Service and a special Northern California literary organization will be honored with the NCBR Recognition Award. This event is free and open to the public; come and help celebrate the amazing literature that emerged from 2015. // Sunday, May 15th, 1pm. San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin Street (Civic Center), poetryflash.org
Oakland's favorite non-profit literary extravaganza will return to take over the streets of Downtown Oakland for a day of complete bookworm bliss. Founded by Oakland residentsKira Brunner Don and Timothy Don, the two have worked tirelessly with authors, museums, literary and artistic organizations to bring this festival to life. Over 100 novelists, poets, essayists, activists, historians, and more are scheduled to appear at this year's festival. Guests will include the likes of Dave Eggers, Greil Marcus, Ellen Pao, and Victor LaValle leading paneldiscussions about drug trafficking, labor movements, censorship, and love. Click here to keep an eye out for lineup announcements. This event is free and open to the public, but donations are always encouraged. // Sunday, May 22nd, 11am-6pm. Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza (Oakland), oaklandbookfestival.org
There are few better things in life than sipping a glass of red while enjoying rhythmical words of poetry. Sonoma's Gundlach Bundschu Winerywill be hosting Flight of Poets, a night where four local poets will be accompanied with a flight of four delicious wine pairings. Internationally renowned sommelier Christopher Sawyer will be carefully choosing each wine to perfectly illuminate each poet's work. The featured poets includeHollie Hardy (How to Take a Bullet, and Other Survival Poems), Ada Limón (Bright Dead Things), Dean Rader (Works & Days), and Tess Taylor (The Forage House). Prepare for Monday with libations and soothing poetry by snagging your tickets here. // $20, Sunday, May 22nd, 2pm-4:30pm. Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 2000 Denmark Street (Sonoma), eventbrite.com
