FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE BOOK FAIR RETURNS TO BALDWIN HLLS CRENSHAW, CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY More than 5,000 people will attend the beloved community event featuring best-selling authors, celebrities, family-friendly events and more
LOS ANGELES (August XX, 2016) – For the third year in a row, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw will host the highly anticipated Leimert Park Village Book Fair, headlined by New York Times best-selling author and publisher Zane, and featuring many special exhibitions, panels, book readings and signings.
Hailed as one of “LA’s Five Best Annual Book Festivals,” the 10th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair serves to honor African-American literary talents with over 200 notable authors and a packed schedule of activities. The free event, open to the public, will be held Saturday, August 20th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the outdoor promenade and inside on the Macy’s Bridge of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. The event is part of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw’s ongoing commitment to bring high-quality activities to the area.
“This event is very special to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Community, and that is why we are thrilled to be part of it for the third year in a row,” said Rachel Freeman, General Manager of Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. “It’s truly a privilege to host these talented artists and we join the community in celebrating the Leimert Park Village Book Fair’s 10th Anniversary!”
Each year, the fair showcases an array of acclaimed authors and artists, and this year is no different. New York Times bestselling author Zane will sign her newest novel, Vengeance, a dark and emotional follow-up to her previous best-selling books Addicted and Nervous. Celebrity couple Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin will share stories of their relationship from their best-selling novel, The Wait, and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Bobby Brown will give insight into his new biography, Every Little Step.
Taking a break from political duties, White House correspondent and political commentator April Ryan (The Presidency in Black and White) along with economist and political analyst Dr. Julianne Malveaux (Are We Better Off) will discuss their novels and the current political climate.
This year’s fair offers a culinary twist, featuring celebrity chefs who will be signing copies of their cookbooks and serving up tasty dishes for attendees. Featured chefs include reality star Miss Robbie of OWN’s “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” and Chef Rome Brown, author of “Eat Like a Celebrity: Southern Cuisine With a Gourmet Twist.” Chef Rome Brown competed on the Food Network’s reality show “Extreme Chef” and has cooked for former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal and NFL star Cam Newton. Additionally, chefs Jaime Martin Del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu of Mexicano Restaurant at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw will be offering a taste of their authentic Mexican cuisine. The talented duo gained notoriety in 2008 with a nomination for Best Chef from the James Beard Foundation.
Motivational speaker and Empower Dreamers to Become Achievers author, Ramsey Jay Jr., will close out the day with a keynote speech. An Ebony top “30 Young Leaders Under 30,” Ramsey Jay Jr. is an Ivy- League educated and Wall-Street trained finance professional with more than a decade of global investment management experience. His inspirational messages have been heard on the most esteemed of stages, including the White House at an event hosted by President Obama and the First Lady honoring Ray Charles.
The day-long Leimert Park Village Book Fair will feature interviews, booksignings, workshops, panel discussions, poetry readings, stage performances, musical entertainment and a variety of activities for the whole family.
For more information about the Leimert Park Village Book Fair, visit www.LeimertParkBookFair.com. For more information about events at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, visit www.baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com/events.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
For Leimert Park Village Book Fair: Lisa Chance, Publicist Kyle Avery Public Relations 626-434-0610 [email protected]
For Baldwin Hills Crenshaw: Molly Hogin Sugerman Communications Group (310) 974-6680 [email protected]
ABOUT THE LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE BOOK FAIR (LPVBF) Produced by Exum-Casey and Associates with sponsorship provided by corporate partners Baldwin Hills Crenshaw, The Southern California Gas Company, Time Warner Cable, KABC-Channel 7 and Nielsen. Festival partners include: The Petersen Automotive Museum, Amoeba Music, Post and Beam Restaurant, Strategic Counsel PLC, Writers Guild of America West | Committee of Black Writers and The Kinsey Collection. Promotional Partners include: Los Angeles Sentinel, the Los Angeles Times, KJLH Radio 102.3FM and Metro. The mission of LPVBF is to promote, encourage and advocate literacy, education and the love of reading throughout the Greater Los Angeles areas, as well as produce year- round educational programming, in collaboration with our partners.
ABOUT BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW (BHC)
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (BHC) is an 870,000-square-foot retail destination located at the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles, California. Anchored by Macy’s and Sears, with over 100 specialty stores, state-of-the-art cinemas and dining options, BHC has long been recognized as the hub of the surrounding communities. From a signature concert series, monthly Kid’s
Club and a weekly Farmers’ Market to the many public services offered at the plaza, it is clear that BHC is more than just a place to shop, it’s a central gathering place for the local community. BHC is entrenched in the local lifestyle, and is committed to making this neighborhood an even better place to live, work, shop and just BE! BHC partners with several leading community partners to support a variety of events throughout the year, and continue to support programming that reflects the history and interests of its local residents. # # #