downtown los angeles Archives

March 14, 2017October 5, 2023

Angels Flight • literary west Salon: Cocktails, cafeteria food, and literary conversation

Get your favorite cafeteria food and drink your fancy cocktails too — while enjoying literary conversations. Come to the next Angels Flight • literary west Salon — where I’ll be chatting with fellow author Lilliam Rivera!

But first about the salon: Put together by local literary journal Angels Flight • literary west, these monthly events happen at Clifton’s Republic in the second-floor Ballroom — a lovely historic space with idiosyncratic decor, including a lion that looks over the proceedings! Each event brings together a pair of featured writers who read a bit and discuss their work in conversation. Below are Matthew Specktor and Tyler Malone who talked at the February event.

Afterwards, a handful of writers recently published in the journal give lively readings. Then, attendees mingle, eat, and drink — since after all, Clifton’s has a cafeteria and a handful of bars with fancy cocktails.

In case you’re not familiar with Angels Flight • literary west, this online zine seeks specifically to “explore uncharted stories of Los Angeles and beyond,” with a new issue coming out every six months.

Want to read at a future salon? Submit your work to the journal for consideration! Want to attend future salons? Follow AFLW’s Facebook page to find out about the events.

And please do come to the next event: Angels Flight • literary west Salon With Lilliam Rivera & Siel Ju. Themed “The Good, the Bad & the In-Between: Choices & Redemption,” the event will feature me and Lilliam in conversation, reading and discussing our new books — my Cake Time and her YA novel The Education of Margot Sanchez.

There’ll also be readings by Patrick O’Neil, CLS Ferguson, Chris Daley Tod Goldberg, and Stephanie Zhong.

I’ll have early copies of Cake Time for sale and hope to see you there —
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Earlier: 12 Literary journals for Los Angeles writers

Top photo by Grant Palmer

March 7, 2017October 6, 2023

Downtown Bookfest: Emily Dickinson meets Cut Chemist meets Siel

If live music by Cut Chemist and remixes of Emily Dickinson poems sound like the makings of a perfect Saturday in the park for you, head to Grand Park for Downtown Bookfest this weekend.

There, you’ll be treated to performances, workshops, and readings — including one by me, along with other Red Hen Press authors!

But first, about Emily: This year, the event will be a special treat for Emily Dickinson fans — with a book-making workshop inspired by Dickinson’s collection of 400 plant specimens and refashionings of Dickinson’s poems via vintage typewriters, thanks to Writ Large Press. That’s all part of the City of Los Angeles’ Big Read honoring Emily Dickinson’s work.

Other fun stuff includes a Write Your Own L.A. Poem Workshop, paper artmaking, and popup bookshops for your literary shopping.

Stay around until 4:05 for the readings by Red Hen Press Poets! I’ll take the stage with Brendan Constantine, Kim Dower, Blas Falconer, and Ron Koerte. Hope to see you there —

Downtown Bookfest. Grand Park’s Olive Court, 200 N Grand Ave., Los Angeles. March 11, 2017, noon – 5 pm. Free.

Earlier: 7 big annual literary events in Los Angeles to put on your calendar now

August 29, 2016October 6, 2023

The Last Bookstore: A Literary labyrinth in downtown LA

Dana Johnson at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles

It’s not quite as bit as Powell’s Books in Portland, but California’s largest used and new book and record store, The Last Bookstore, happens to be in the middle of downtown Los Angeles.

Shop here for new and used books — as well as vinyl records and graphic novels — on two gigantic floors. I recommend planning your visit around a reading or event, since there’s one going on almost every night! A couple weeks ago, I went to Dana Johnson’s launch reading for her new short story collection, In the Not Quite Dark. There she is in the photo above, signing books —

There’s a great collection of art books too. Here’s me in that section, pretending to be Frida.

The second floor of the bookstore has more books, as well as little structures made of books — like this book tunnel. This floor also houses the Spring Arts Collective gallery shops, where you can buy paintings or just see artists at work.

It’s really a place you can get lost in for hours. The Last Bookstore buys back books too, if your apartment’s becoming a fire hazard!

The Last Bookstore. 453 S Spring St, Ground Floor, Los Angeles. 213.488.0599.

August 4, 2016October 6, 2023

The Edison Book Club: Bittersweet cocktails over Sweetbitter

An intimate chat about a fantastic book over specialty drinks in a speakeasy-style bar — with a chance to talk to the author herself about her book. If that description appeals to you, come to a meeting of The Edison Book Club.

Last night was the very first book club meeting, featuring Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. About fifteen readers (mostly women), pink books in tow, gathered in the basement of The Edison and discussed literature over pretty cocktails. The bar concocted two specifically for the occasion: Bittersweet (fernet branca, kumquat, lemon, salted caramel syrup) and Shift Drink (peroni with a shot of fernet branca).

Then about an hour in, Stephanie dropped in, gave a short reading, then answered a bunch of questions — ranging from which character she most relates to (Simone more than Tess) to what restaurants she recommends in L.A. (Mapo Galbi is one).

Stephanie said the book really came to her when she got the first sentence: “You will develop a palate.” Because that’s exactly what the 22-year-old narrator does in the novel — develop a palate for “intimacy, relationships, drugs, lust, burgundy, oysters,” Stephanie explained.

The book club is a brand new initiative of literary nonprofit PEN Center USA. Agatha French, a member of PEN, led the discussion.

Join the club simply by RSVPing to the events — and you can get a 15% discount on the current book club title at Skylight Books. The next book club meeting will probably happen in October, according to Libby Flores at Pen Center USA — though the next book hasn’t been picked out yet. Stay in the loop by checking The Edison Book Club website or emailing Libby at libby@penusa.org to get on the invite list.

* Last updated 2/27/17

First and third photos by Libby Flores