1. National Book Festival
#1 Literary & Publishing Event
The 18th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival on September 1 drew tens of thousands of book lovers to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and the Washington Post judged this to be the largest event in the festival's history, with a crowd estimate of at least 200,000 readers. A talk with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor proved to be so popular that 3,000 people were turned away from the festival’s 2,500-seat Main Stage. Brokeback Mountain author Annie Proulx received the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. This year, 13 authors launched new books at the festival, the most debuts in the festival’s history. Viewers across the world could tune into PBS Books' live coverage online at PBSBooks.org and on Facebook Live.
The 18th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival on September 1 drew tens of thousands of book lovers to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and the Washington Post judged this to be the largest event in the festival's history, with a crowd estimate of at least 200,000 readers. A talk with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor proved to be so popular that 3,000 people were turned away from the festival’s 2,500-seat Main Stage. Brokeback Mountain author Annie Proulx received the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. This year, 13 authors launched new books at the festival, the most debuts in the festival’s history. Viewers across the world could tune into PBS Books' live coverage online at PBSBooks.org and on Facebook Live.
Photo: Library of Congress
2. Best of Washington
#2 Literary & Publishing Event
Washingtonian's annual AT&T Best of Washington returned to the National Building Museum in June, and the food-focused event once again sold out. More than 60 restaurants participated, and proceeds went toward the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Syzygy Events added tropical decor for the party's "Evening in Havana" theme. Guests sampled bites by restaurants like Compass Rose and Tiger Fork, posed in a Geico photo booth next to the company's root beer float station, and received personal poems written by the Haiku Guys & Gals. Title sponsor AT&T's virtual reality booth demonstrated the dangers of texting and driving. PenFed lounge passed out Cuban cigars, United Airlines Polaris Lounge gave guests personally engraved Stella Artois chalices, and the American Beverage Association sponsored the evening’s invite-only Publisher’s Reception. Next: Summer 2019
Washingtonian's annual AT&T Best of Washington returned to the National Building Museum in June, and the food-focused event once again sold out. More than 60 restaurants participated, and proceeds went toward the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Syzygy Events added tropical decor for the party's "Evening in Havana" theme. Guests sampled bites by restaurants like Compass Rose and Tiger Fork, posed in a Geico photo booth next to the company's root beer float station, and received personal poems written by the Haiku Guys & Gals. Title sponsor AT&T's virtual reality booth demonstrated the dangers of texting and driving. PenFed lounge passed out Cuban cigars, United Airlines Polaris Lounge gave guests personally engraved Stella Artois chalices, and the American Beverage Association sponsored the evening’s invite-only Publisher’s Reception. Next: Summer 2019
Photo: Rodney Bailey
3. Scripps National Spelling Bee
#3 Literary & Publishing Event (up from #5)
A record number of spellers entered the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year. The competition began Tuesday with 515 spellers, way up from last year's 291 spellers. That's because this year saw the introduction of RSVBee, a new invitational program created to level the playing field for national finals qualification and provide opportunities for more students to experience Bee Week. More than 2,600 people attended the three-day competition at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The finals were broadcast live on ESPN as Karthik Nemmani claimed the trophy. The event racked up four million impressions on Twitter and more than 2.4 million impressions on Facebook. Also new: The bee partnered with Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises to stage the Dr. Seuss’s Word Challenge, which went along with additional Dr. Seuss-theme events during Bee Week. Next: May 26-31, 2019
A record number of spellers entered the Scripps National Spelling Bee this year. The competition began Tuesday with 515 spellers, way up from last year's 291 spellers. That's because this year saw the introduction of RSVBee, a new invitational program created to level the playing field for national finals qualification and provide opportunities for more students to experience Bee Week. More than 2,600 people attended the three-day competition at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The finals were broadcast live on ESPN as Karthik Nemmani claimed the trophy. The event racked up four million impressions on Twitter and more than 2.4 million impressions on Facebook. Also new: The bee partnered with Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises to stage the Dr. Seuss’s Word Challenge, which went along with additional Dr. Seuss-theme events during Bee Week. Next: May 26-31, 2019
Photo: Scripps National Spelling Bee
4. PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony & Dinner
#4 Literary & Publishing Event
The country’s largest peer-juried prize for fiction returned to the Folger Theatre for an event with readings from winner Joan Silber, the author of Improvement, and finalists Hernán DÃaz, Samantha Hunt, Achy Obejas, and Jesmyn Ward, along with remarks by the judges. The editor of the Washington Post's book section Ron Charles served as master of ceremonies, and following the ceremony, guests and authors headed to a formal reception with cocktails, a buffet, and beer provided by Bluejacket Brewery. Next: May 2019
The country’s largest peer-juried prize for fiction returned to the Folger Theatre for an event with readings from winner Joan Silber, the author of Improvement, and finalists Hernán DÃaz, Samantha Hunt, Achy Obejas, and Jesmyn Ward, along with remarks by the judges. The editor of the Washington Post's book section Ron Charles served as master of ceremonies, and following the ceremony, guests and authors headed to a formal reception with cocktails, a buffet, and beer provided by Bluejacket Brewery. Next: May 2019
Photo: Courtesy of PEN/Faulkner
5. National Press Club’s Book Fair and Authors’ Night
#5 Literary & Publishing Event
Two D.C. literary institutions joined forces for this popular book fair, which drew more than 70 participating authors. The National Press Club Journalism Institute partnered with independent bookstore Politics and Prose for the event at the National Press Club, headlined by journalists Bob Schieffer, Helene Cooper, and Marvin Kalb. Readers met with authors who write about everything from music to politics, and proceeds from the fair benefited the National Press Club Journalism Institute's mission, including scholarship and training programs. Next: Fall 2019
Two D.C. literary institutions joined forces for this popular book fair, which drew more than 70 participating authors. The National Press Club Journalism Institute partnered with independent bookstore Politics and Prose for the event at the National Press Club, headlined by journalists Bob Schieffer, Helene Cooper, and Marvin Kalb. Readers met with authors who write about everything from music to politics, and proceeds from the fair benefited the National Press Club Journalism Institute's mission, including scholarship and training programs. Next: Fall 2019
Photo:Â Noel St. John
