The Baltimore Book Festival, a perennial favorite among Baltimore’s fall festival offerings, returns Sept. 22-24 at the Inner Harbor. The event features hundreds of author appearances, book signings, cooking demonstrations, workshops, panels and book-related exhibitors.
Here are 10 lectures, readings or discussions Jmore recommends bookmarking for the weekend.
John Eisenberg, “The Streak: Lou Gehrig, Cal Ripken, and Baseball’s Most Historic Record”
The former Baltimore Sun sports columnist’s latest non-fiction book examines baseball’s Iron Man record. Eisenberg explores the record’s history as it relates to Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken. Eisenberg is also the author of “From 33rd Street to Camden Yards: An Oral History of the Baltimore Orioles” and “That First Season: How Vince Lombardi Took the Worst Team in the NFL and Set it on the Path to Glory.”
Friday at 5:30 p.m., Inner Harbor Stage
Coming of Age Fiction: Young and New Adult
Some bestselling and award-winning YA authors discuss the process that enables them to create engaging stories about young adults. Authors scheduled to appear include Pintip Dunn (“Forget Tomorrow”), Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental series) and Lea Nolan (Hoodoo Apprentice Series).
Saturday at 11 a.m., Maryland Romance Writers Stage
Laura A. Jacobs, “You’re in the Wrong Bathroom”: And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions about Transgender and other Gender Nonconforming People
Co-sponsored by the Baltimore Transgender Alliance, this is a critical introduction to the dangerous myths about transgender people and their fight for recognition.
Saturday at 1 p.m., Radical Bookfair Pavilion
Amy Davis, “Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters”
The Baltimore Sun photographer celebrates the release of her new book chronicling many of Baltimore’s old movie theaters that have either fallen into disrepair or are experiencing a revival.
Saturday at 1 p.m., Ivy Bookshop Stage
Read: Fall Arts Preview: Screen Saver
Lunch at the Homesick Restaurant
Laura Lippman (the Tess Monaghan series), Ann Hood (“Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine”) and Michael Ruhlman (“Grocery: The Buying and Selling Food in America”) discuss the ways food and fiction inform one another. Audience members may have the chance to win some Baltimore treats.
Saturday at 1 p.m., Food for Thought Stage
“My Favorite Thing is Monsters,” a workshop with acclaimed graphic novelist, Emil Ferris
The graphic novelist behind “My Favorite Things is Monsters,” shares her story and methods in this interactive session. Ferris incorporates a style that combines panel sequences and montage.
Saturday at 3 p.m., CityLit Stage
Virginia Hanlon Grohl, “From Cradle to Stage”
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl’s mom shares personal stories about his childhood, as well as anecdotes from other rock moms (including Michael Stipe’s, Amy Winehouse’s and Dr. Dre’s). She’ll be interviewed by Alex Cortright of WTMD.
Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Inner Harbor Stage
Tim Murphy in conversation with Marion Winik
Murphy’s “Christodora” is a novel about the AIDS crisis and its legacy. He has been reporting on HIV and AIDS for 20 years and has worked for POZ Magazine, Out, The Advocate and New York. Winik’s memoir “First Comes Love” tells the story of an impossible love that resulted in a marriage and two sons and weathered drug addiction, sexual betrayal and AIDS. Winik has served as an All Things Considered commentator and contributes to Jmore media partner Baltimore Fishbowl.
Sunday at 2 p.m., Ivy Bookshop Stage
Hey, you punks! Steampunk, solarpunk, spypunk, dieselpunk
Authors Gwendolyn Clare (“Ink, Iron, and Glass”), Lara Elena Donnelly (“Amberlough”) and Day al-Mohamed (“Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn”) discuss what punk actually means as a genre. Moderated by Jon Skovron (“Struts & Frets”)
Sunday at 3 p.m., Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Joan Nathan, “King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World”
The Jewish cookbook author and James Beard Award winner discusses her latest cookbook — a definitive compendium of Jewish recipes from around the world and throughout history. This could be a good opportunity to pick up some recipes just in time for the High Holidays.
Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Food for Thought Stage
Read: Jewish Cookbook Author Joan Nathan Partners with Whole Foods
Bonus lit to hit: Rafael Alvarez
A Jmore contributor and former writer for “The Wire,” Alvarez discusses his fourth fiction collection “Basilio Boullosa Stars in the Fountain of Highlandtown” and joins a discussion presented by CityLit with photographer Devin Allen, journalist Deborah Rudacille and moderator Aaron Henkin of WYPR.
A Touch of Literati, Friday at 6 p.m., CityLit Stage and Rafael Alvarez, Saturday at 5 p.m., Ivy Bookshop Stage
Also see: Ralphie’s Summer Vacation
Top photo: Baltimore Book Festival 2016 at the Inner Harbor (Photo by Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts)
Also see: Fall Arts Preview: Cultural Happenings of the Season Around Town
See complete event listings at jmoreliving.com/events.
Steve Hofstetter, who will perform at Soundstage next week, recently made headlines for his social media post ridiculing some fans' warnings about Charm City's safety.
Israeli-Americans Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin talked about the pain of losing their 23-year-old son, who was kidnapped and later murdered in the Oct. 7th tragedy.
Rabbi David Wolpe looks at the recent interest in Hollywood productions about King David and why the story is resonating now.
Directed by Johanna Gruenhut, the production is based on of the 1998 novel and 2003 film of the same name.