The Road to the Festival is Kansas City Literary Festival's month long celebration of all things literary leading up to the Festival itself! Join us at these terrific events featuring authors, activities and fun!
April 19
Robyn C. Friend and Judith Love Cohen, A Clean Sky; Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, The Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming; Judith Cohen, A Clean Sea
Time: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Location: Barnes & Noble on the Plaza and Barnes & Noble at Zona Rosa
Admission: Free. Junior Girl Scouts can attend either of these Girl Scout Council approved badge sessions and complete all the requirement to obtain their Eco-Action Badge. Sessions are limited. To make a reservation, e-mail CRM2184@BN.com.
Sunday, April 20
The Big Read: Mystery Trivia Contest
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Library, Antioch Branch, 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Admission: Free
Tuesday, April 22
Scott Heim, We Disappear
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, Auditorium, 4801 Main St.
Admission: Free, with reservations. Call 816-701-3407.
Wednesday, April 23
The Big Read: Discovering the Maltese Falcon world-renowned Maltese Falcon expert, Richard Layman
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St.
Admission: Free, however, registration is requested. To register call 913-495-7514 or register online at http://www.jocolibrary.org
Monday, April 28
Barbecue Bash: The Be-All, End-All Party Guide, from Barefoot to Black Tie
Chef Jasper Mirabile, Jr. along with Karen Adler and Judith Fertig, The Barbecue Queens, will prepare a four-course dinner with the accents on Italian and fun.
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Jasper’s Restaurant, 1201 W. 103rd St.
Admission: $45 per person (sales tax, gratuity and alcohol are extra.) Admission package includes one (1) autographed copy of Barbecue Bash (Softcover) and one (1) Gourmet Barbecue Dinner Specially Prepared by Chef Jasper Mirabile, Jr., Karen Adler and Judith Fertig, the Barbecue Queens. For reservations call 816-941-6600.
Tuesday, April 29
Laura Bush and Jenna Bush, Read All About It!
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Unity Temple on The Plaza, Sanctuary, 707 W 47th St.
Admission: Tickets must be purchased in advance through Rainy Day Books. Buy tickets at http://www.RainyDayBooks.com or call 913-384-3126.
Wednesday, April 30
Walter Bargen, Missouri’s First Poet Laureate interviewed live by New Letters on the Air host Angela Elam.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.
Admission: Free.
For more information, call 816-701-3407.
Thursday, May 1
Ice: A Victorian Romance, lecture by Distinguished Arctic Historian David H. Stam, Ph.D., Syracuse University Librarian Emeritus and Senior Scholar in the History Department
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology, 5109 Cherry St.
Admission: Free, but reservations are required. Call 816-926-8772 by April 25.
Saturday, May 3
Debbie Macomber, Twenty Wishes
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Rainy Day Books, 2706 W. 53rd St.
Admission: $24.95 plus tax, includes from Rainy Day Books, one (1) stamped ticket and one (1) copy of Twenty Wishes to be autographed at this author book signing.
For more information call 913-384-3126.
Tuesday, May 6
The Big Read: The Maltese Falcon Film and Book Discussion
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Library, Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St.
Admission: Registration requested at either http://www.jocolibrary.org or call 913-495-7514.
Thursday, May 8
BNIM architects Steve McDowell, FAIA, and Mark Shapiro, AIA, Symbiosis and Nurture
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch
Admission: Free
Friday, May 9
Bobby Flay, Grill It!
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Unity Temple on the Plaza, Sanctuary, 707 W. 47th St.
Admission Package: $35 plus tax, includes copy of Bobby Flay’s Grill It! (Hardcover) one (1) stamped ticket, and one (1) Guest ticket purchased at Rainy Day Books.
For more information call 913-384-3126 or go to http://www.RainyDayBooks.com.
Saturday, May 10
Dashiell Hammett’s Birthday Party with birthday cake and “San Francisco Iced Tea.” Guests receive party favors.
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: I Love A Mystery Bookstore, 6114 Johnson Drive
Admission: Free.
For more information call 913-432-2583 or go to http://www.ILoveAMystery.net
Wednesday, May 14
Valerie Hemingway, Travels with Papa
Time: 6 p.m. reception; 6:30 p.m. presentation
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.
Admission: Free
Thursday, May 15
The Kansas Cities’ Levees: Past, Present & Future with Paul Barber, Chief of Engineering (Ret.), Kansas City District and Headquarters, and David L. Combs, Chief, Planning Branch, P P.M. Division, Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology, 5109 Cherry St.
Admission: Free
Thursday, May 15
Jane Isay, Walking on Eggshells
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St.
Admission: Admission Package: $14 plus tax, includes from Rainy Day Books, One (1) Stamped Ticket, One (1) Guest Ticket (if needed) and One (1) Copy of Walking on Eggshells to be autographed after the author presentation.
For more information go to http://www.RainyDayBooks.com or call 913-384-3126.
Friday, May 16
The Big Read: Meet the author, Dana Stubenow
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Johnson County Library, Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St.
Admission: Free.
