Lit Fest Kickoff

featured the folk vocal stylings of our own literary goddess Jessica Slater and her husband Andy Miller, AKA The Alltunators. Everyone loved them so much that they'll reprise their act on Friday, 6/22, for our Lit Fest finale. Going along with our "class it up" theme this year, we demanded that attendees wear nametags (designed by Donna Karan) and nosh on the fine and tasty vittles from Parisi. And of course, the keg, compliments of Rock Bottom Brewery, was in the back yard. (Anyone else thinking back to college right now?) We were advised by people who seem to know such things, that the amber brew (Red Rock Ale) would be much more popular among beer aficionados, whereas something lighter or wheatier would be appreciated by the social (read: ignorant) drinkers. Misidentifying our people, we went Red Rock. Next keg will be Pale Ale for sure. Above the Rim Fine Wine steered us in the right direction with a Pinot Grigio that came in a designer bottle. We all felt we should be taking a bath in the stuff, but it was fruity, crisp, and delicious.

Featured moment: When separated-at-birth writers with shaved heads (Mike Henry, Bill Henderson, Joel Albin, and Jake Adam York), spotted each other, froze, pinched themselves, and retired to the perimeter of the keg, shaking their heads. Moment to forget: When novelist Janis Hallowell, having been led by the steeltrap organizational Lighthouse machine, learned that her class on Sunday, instead of being 6 hours long, was going to be a mere 3. (Sorry, Janis!) Note to selves: Uhm, ridiculous.

We'll be looking for you all at the reading Sunday night, 910 Arts, 7-9 PM, featuring Lighthouse Lit Fest faculty Chris Ransick, Janis Hallowell, Shari Caudron, Aaron Anstett, Rebecca Berg, Jenny Vacchiano, Mike Henry, Jenny Wortman, and Brian Kiteley. I'll bring some of that Pinot Grigio. The next faculty reading, same place, Tuesday night (6/12): Robert Root, Christina Mengert, William Haywood Henderson, Tyrone Jaeger, Jake Adam York, David J. Rothman, and Kathryn Winograd from 8-9:30 PM. In both cases, we'll have wine and cheese for everyone's enjoyment.

See you all there!

--AD