11th Annual "People of the Book" Festival

Authors from around the nation visit the New Orleans JCC to read from their work and talk about their ideas. The annual “People of the Book” Festival is the centerpiece of this effort featuring Jewish authors and authors of books with Jewish content.

Comic Relief

Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn present “You Say Tomato, I say Shut Up!”

In the true tradition of great Jewish comedy, actors, comedians, writers and real life married couples, Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn have written a memoir about marriage - “You Say Tomato, I say Shut Up!” Married for 13 years, Annabelle Gurwitch, former host of “Dinner and A Movie” on TBS, and husband, Jeff Kahn, former writer and Emmy winner for the Fox comedy, “The Ben Stiller Show,“ believe that in marriage, all you need is love—and a healthy dose of complaining, codependence, and Pinot Noir. For anyone married, been married or contemplating marriage, don’t miss this great event.
Date/Day: Tuesday, November 16
Time: 7:30 PM
Fee: $5 donation suggested, Booksignings to follow presentation

Nursery School Nosh

A Book browsing event for preschoolers and their parents – featuring storytelling with the  PJ Library featured books, and a Nosh. Kids will have the opportunity to browse with their parents, have a Nosh and listen to storytelling
and music.
Date/Day: Wednesday, November 17
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Fee: Free

Booklover's Luncheon

Jeffrey Zaslow presents "The Girls from Ames"

This year’s popular Booklover’s Luncheon, features best selling writer and author, Jeffrey Zaslow, the “Moving On” columnist for The Wall Street Journal. In“The Girls from Ames”, he chronicles the lives and friendship of eleven special girls—now women from the small town of Ames, Iowa. He describes how the other “girls” help their Jewish friend with her Bat Mitzvah, how they have been there for each other through good and bad, and continue to this day. Like his other NY Times best-selling book, “The Last Lecture”, written with Randy Pausch, Jeffrey has a gift for bringing stories to life and getting to the heart and soul of someone’s story. A heartwarming insight into the powerful bonds of enduring female friendships.
Date/Day: Thursday, November 18
Time: 12:00 Noon
Fee: $30 with reservation by Thursday, Novemer 11 | $35 after November 11 | $20 book Presentation only
booksignings to follow presentation - Register Now!

Books 'n Brunch

Joan Nathan presents "Quiches, Kugels and Couscous"

The 2010 Book Festival ends on a high note with the world-famous, bestselling cookbook author, Joan Nathan, author of ten cookbooks including the award winning, “Jewish Cooking in America”. In her latest cookbook, “Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous”, Joan writes about her summer in France learning all about Jewish French cooking and telilng stories about the people she meets. She discovers what is traditional Jewish cooking, and that the revered dishes are still respected, but tweaked with French finesse. See how the integration of Sephardic cuisine by North African Jewish communities after World War II has permanently changed Jewish French cuisine forever. Not just a cookbook author, Joan is a storyteller. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet one of the great Jewish cooking gems.

Brunch will consist of recipes from “Quiche, Kugels, and Couscous” prepared by a local chef, Brack May.
Date/Day: Sunday, November 21
Time: 10:00 AM
Fee: $15 with reservation before November 14 | $20 after November 14 | $10 Book Presentation only
booksignings to follow presentation - Register Now!

While attending the events, please patronize the JCC Bookstore, featuring an extensive selection of the latest and best in Jewish literature for children, young adults, and adults.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon and 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (5:00 PM on Fridays), and before and after all events.
Date: Sunday, November 14 - Sunday, November 21
Location: Grant Board Room

Octavia Books will be donating a significant portion of all sales to the JCC for the continuation of this great program.