Jorge Luis Borges once said, “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” Taking a page from Borges himself, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, with its poetry readings and thousands of books for sale, is a worldly utopia for bibliophiles. The festival will be held from April 12-13 at USC and highlights the best in the literary world for a weekend of enjoyment in epic proportions.
With such a huge array of authors and entertainers scheduled to participate, the festival has something for foodies, young adults and sports fans alike. The most notable personalities in attendance will be chef Giada de Laurentiis discussing her “Recipe for Adventure” children’s book series, actress Alicia Silverstone with her newly released book “The Kind Mama,” Pau Gasol with his book entitled “LIFE/VIDA” and comedian Margaret Cho.
For those more interested in eating than reading, there will be a handful of food trucks to choose from, including No Jodas Kitchen, the Grilled Cheese Truck and Belly Bombz. To accompany the trucks’ inventive dishes are the cooking demonstrations in the same area. Suzanne Goin, author of the “A.O.C. Cookbook,” and Scott Conant, a judge on the Food Network and author of the “Scarpetta Cookbook,” are among the many chefs who will exhibit their culinary prowess on the Cooking Stage.
Adding to the weekend’s entertainment are the local bands and singers. USC’s own Malia Civetz will take the stage Saturday afternoon to sing tunes she once performed for President Obama. The Blank Tapes, Exploding Flowers and other LA-based musicians will also play throughout the festival.
Combining the best in LA’s music, literature, art and food scenes, this weekend’s festival will be one for the books.
