In Praise of Books 

BABFlogowithChronLogoDowntown Berkeley becomes a hub for writers and readers this weekend as the Bay Area Book Festival highlights 300 authors in panel discussions and interviews. For food and cooking enthusiasts, a panel on Why We Cook What We Cook includes urban farmer Novella Carpenter and chef Tanya Holland. For cooks with a scientific bent, James Beard award winner J. Kenji López-Alt headlines a session on Science in the Kitchen (and Why it Matters). And, a panel on Campfires! Camping, Hiking, and Eating in the Great Outdoors includes the San Francisco Chronicle columnist Tom Stienstra and outdoor food maven and cookbook author Robin Donovan. The festival also features programs for kids and teens, free books, 200 exhibitors, food trucks, and a nearby farmers’ market on Saturday. General admission is free with $5 tickets available for guaranteed entry to events. Info and tickets: here

Saturday & Sunday, June 4–5
Bay Area Book Festival
Various indoor and outdoor Downtown Berkeley locations