Eat Drink Read Write Festival

Mark your calendars... this looks like a really fun event for Alabama foodies! The Birmingham Public Library is planning to "feed the mind, body and soul" during its Eat Drink Read Write Festival planned for September 8-15, 2012. They've got a bunch of partners in the project, including our good friends over at the J. Clyde. Here are some of the highlights:

Saturday, September 8
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Pepper Place Saturday Market
Storyteller Katie Elkins will perform stories related to food. Desert Island Supply Co. (OMG! Check out their new headquarters. Office Envy!) will lead informal produce-themed writing workshops for children and adults, and BPL will offer food-related crafts.

Tuesday, September 11
Time 6:00 p.m.
Birmingham Public Library, Central
Birmingham Foodie Book Club presents The World in a Skillet by Paul and Angela Knipple. The Knipples will lead a discussion of their book The World in a Skillet: A Food Lover's Tour of the New American South which focuses on restaurants run by first generation immigrants in the South. Birmingham’s own Mr. Chen’s restaurant is featured in the book. (which, by the way, is one of our favorite restaurants in town.  Check out their reviews. Well worth the drive down to Hoover, imho.)

Wednesday, September 12
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Woodrow Hall, DISCO Office, 5504 1st Ave North, Woodlawn
Food Stories
DISCO (Desert Island Supply Company) will host a live storytelling modeled after NPR’s popular program, The Moth(if you haven't heard the show - it's great!). Food Stories will bring together local storytellers, each of whom will have five minutes to tell a true story in the first person — no props, no notes. The story subject must somehow involve food. Cash bar.

Thursday, September 13
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Birmingham Public Library, Central
Eating Alabama
We’ll screen the documentary film Eating Alabama, in which a young couple sets out to eat the way their grandparents did – locally and seasonally. But they soon realize that nearly everything about the food system has changed from the past. The film-maker, Andrew Beck Grace, will be in attendance to discuss the film.

Friday, September 14
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Birmingham Public Library, Central
Bards & Brews Poetry Performance/Beer and Cheese Tasting
Featuring Beer and Cheese Pairings by Chef and Bread Guru Corey Hinkel, Bards & Brews is the popular monthly poetry performance/beer tasting hosted by BPL. This special program will begin with a discussion of beer and cheese pairings with Chef Corey Hinkel of Mix Bakery featuring Yellow Moon Cheese from Wright’s Dairy in Alexandria, Alabama. A slam and open mic for poems related to food and drink will be held. First place winner of the slam receives $100; second place $75; and third place $50. Back Forty Beer Company and Bell’s Brewery will furnish beer. Bread and dishes prepared by Chef Dupont of MIX Bakery using ingredients supplied by Whole Foods Market. Beer service coordinated by J.Clyde. Music performed by the Reflections, a band made up of BPL staff.

Saturday, September 15
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Birmingham Public Library, Central
A Taste of Honey with Brenda Palms Barber
Brenda Palms Barber is CEO of Sweet Beginnings, LLC, which produces honey in urban settings in the Chicago area and manufactures and markets honey-based personal care products under the beeline® label. The company also provides transitional job opportunities for those who struggle with barriers to employment. Whole Foods Market will sponsor a honey tasting. The Jefferson County Beekeepers Association will provide information on urban beekeeping. J.Clyde will offer a sampling of mead.

Saturday, September 15
Time: TBD
Birmingham Public Library, Central
Tamar Adler