Brooklyn Book Festival

Almost as soon as I finished the alphabet and thought I was out of the Brooklyn woods, I discovered that this Sunday is the second annual Brooklyn Book Festival. There’s no way I could let it pass without a post! I really enjoyed the event last year–just when I was feeling nostalgic for new books and the start of school, the festival came along and made my September a wordier one. An array of writers speak on panels (Colson Whitehead! Paul Auster! Mary Gaitskill! Dave Eggers!), the Borough Hall courtyard becomes a massive book fair of (mostly) independent publishers, poets’ voices echo off of outdoor staircases, and general literary merriment reigns. And all of the readings and discussions are free!

The “mainstage” readings were very crowded last year, so I’d recommend getting there early (the festival starts at 10am) and planning a military-style course of action on a program. You might have to skip “Developing Stories” to get into “Africa Now,” so make sure to prioritize! Of course, I’ve found that the best readings are often ones with the less popular, still almost undiscovered writers.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is this Sunday, September 16th from 10am-6pm. It will be held in various venues around Brooklyn’s Borough Hall. See you there!

Z: Zaytoons

Whenever I want some babaghanouj or a juicy, spicy tuna kabob, I make haste for Zaytoons. My favorite middle eastern restaurant has convenient locations in both Clinton Hill and Carroll Gardens. Both have cozy, dimly lit dining rooms and affordable menus brimming with everything from the classic falafel sandwich ($4) to pitzas and spinach pie ($5). Often the special is a whole roasted chicken–if you are lucky enough to be there when this is the case, I highly recommend it. Zaytoon’s spices, sauces, and homemade pita bread are all excellent and elevate the restaurant above its competitors.

Zaytoons is BYOB, which will cut down on your dinner cost. If you’re in Clinton Hill, grab a bottle of wine from the liquor store just a few blocks down on Myrtle. And if you live in the neighborhood, Zaytoons is a great delivery option–check out their menu from home. You can also just stop by and pick up a sandwich to go if you’re en route to the park or a friend’s Top Chef marathon.

Zaytoons Clinton Hill is located at 472 Myrtle Avenue

Zaytoons Carroll Gardens is located at 283 Smith Street.