Could there be any doubt that a city that gave rise to the Black Panthers, MC Hammer, and the Hells Angels would also provide wildly fertile ground for literary minds? Long overdue, the inaugural Oakland Book Festival was conceived by guiding lights at Lapham's Quarterly, and shares a similar appreciation for history and intellectual engagement. Ninety writers, including the ever-astonishing Edwidge Danticat, are taking over City Hall for a seven-hour celebration of the power and beauty of words as film archivist Rick Prelinger offers a visual exploration of the Lost Landscapes of Oakland. Diving into the city's rich past and lively future, authors are also providing insight on trailblazers like Ina Coolbrith, the first American poet laureate and Oakland's longtime librarian, who mentored, among others, Jack London and Isadora Duncan. Live music by Hip Hop for Change and the Oakland Youth Chorus will fill the plaza, and children of all ages will be welcome at storytime by the Oakland Public Library, along with fantastic visitors from Children's Fairyland.
The Oakland Book Festival begins at 11 a.m. at Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Free; 510-480-0294 or oaklandbookfestival.org.
510-238-3738
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