BY THE BOOK

MJCCA Book Festival is back for 23rd year

By Collin Kelley

Mark your calendars for Nov. 1 - 19 when more than 40 authors will descend on Atlanta for two weeks during the 23rd annual Book Festival of the MJCCA (Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta).

Organizers are expecting more than 10,000 book lovers to attend the festival, which will feature speaker programs, author meet-and-greets, book signings, panel discussions, community reads and more.

Some of the headlining authors include comedian and actor Bob Saget, ABC anchor Dan Harris, Dr. Eben Alexander, foodie Mark Bittman, What What Happens Live host and Bravo network exec Andy Cohen, Ezekiel Emanuel, Daniel Gordis, Simon Schama, Ron Suskind, Rabbi Joseph

Telushkin, Anna Quindlen, Bernie Schein and Pat Conroy.

Most events will be held at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are on sale by calling (678) 812-4005 or online at atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

North Georgia Mountains

Out on Film, Atlanta Pride celebrate LGBT community

Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBT lm festival, has announced its line-up for the 27th annual event, which will take place Oct. 2-9 at Landmark Midtown Cinema.

ere will be more than 80 feature lms, documentaries, shorts and more.

e opening night lm is Patrik IanPolk’s Blackbird, which star Academy Award-winning actress Mo’Nique and Julian Walker, who plays a choir boy coming to terms with his sexuality in a conservative Mississippi town. Mo’Nique plays the boy’s mother, who is also dealing with the disappearance of her daughter.

Director David Au will attend the closing night event for a screening of his lm, Eat With Me. e lm follows a mother who comes to live with her gay son in Los Angeles, and must come to terms with her feelings about his sexuality.

For a complete schedule, visit outon lm.org.

e 44th annual Atlanta Pride festival takes over Piedmont Park Oct. 11-12 with a weekend of music, events and the annual Pride Parade down Peachtree Street.

ere will be vendors, artists and live music from headliner Colbie Caillat and comedy and music from Lea DeLaria, who is also this year’s honorary grand marshal for the parade. Other performers will include Wesley Cook, Guru sh, Amber, Meghan Trainor, Yacht Rock Review and the city’s favorite drag queens in the Starlight Cabaret.

e parade will begin at 1 p.m. sharp and step o the Civic Center MARTA station, heads north on Peachtree before turning onto 10th Street and continuing to the park. For a full schedule of events, visit atlantapride.org.