room 220

Michael A. Ross to present his book on a notorious New Orleans kidnapping case July 22

Historian and author Michael A. Ross will present a lecture on his excellent book The Great New Orleans Kidnapping Case: Race, Law, and Justice in the Reconstruction Era, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, at the Historic New Orleans Collection (533 Royal St.). Ross, who enthralled the audience at last spring’s Tennessee … Michael A. Ross to present his book on a notorious New Orleans kidnapping case July 22

Kent Wascom presents SECESSIA on July 7 at Octavia Books

Local novelist Kent Wascom will present and sign his new book, SECESSIA, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at Octavia Books (513 Octavia St.). A portion of the proceeds from sales of the book will benefit Room 220. SECESSIA is a work of historical fiction driven by Wascom’s extraordinary voice. Alternating between the perspectives of five characters, SECESSIA weaves a tapestry of … Kent Wascom presents SECESSIA on July 7 at Octavia Books

New Orleans celebrates Joyce’s Ulysses with Bloomsday June 16 at the Irish House

New Orleans will celebrate James Joyce’s Ulysses with a Bloomsday get-together featuring some of the city’s most exciting writers. Yuri Herrera, Mwende “FreeQuency” Katwiwa, Benjamin Morris, Brian Boyles, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, and Katy Simpson Smith will be among those who conduct a marathon reading of the towering Irish novel from 6 – 8 p.m. on … New Orleans celebrates Joyce’s Ulysses with Bloomsday June 16 at the Irish House

The Historic New Orleans Collection presents a new book on Louisiana architect Henry Howard

Irish-American architect and New Orleanian Henry Howard dramatically influenced trends in Louisiana architecture in the mid-1800s, though he is largely under-appreciated today. To emphasize Howard’s importance to the architectural history of New Orleans and Louisiana, The Historic New Orleans Collection will publish a new book, Henry Howard: Louisiana’s Architect by Robert S. Brantley. A reception to celebrate … The Historic New Orleans Collection presents a new book on Louisiana architect Henry Howard

Brand New Ancients: Kate Tempest brings her contemporary epic to New Orleans

For an ancient art, the epic poem has experienced a long and slow near-demise. In preliterate times, the bardic storyteller traditionally served a variety of purposes: historian, entertainer, propagandist, even prophet—functions that bound a community together and offered a common narrative and identity. Today, however, epic poems are usually taught only as a segment in … Brand New Ancients: Kate Tempest brings her contemporary epic to New Orleans

In this time of great oppression, we are returning to old and ancient spiritual traditions: An interview with Janet “Sula Spirit” Evans

Sula Janet Evans is a singer-songwriter with the world beat/reggae band Zion Trinity and the lead singer of Mojuba, a band that focuses on sacred orisha music. She is also founding director of the Na’Zyia Doula Collective, a member and medicine queen of the Mardi Gras Indian Queens of the Nation, and an Akan/ancestor priest … In this time of great oppression, we are returning to old and ancient spiritual traditions: An interview with Janet “Sula Spirit” Evans

ROOM 220 Presents: A Happy Hour Salon with Sula Spirit and the Neighborhood Story Project

Room 220 is pleased to present a Happy Hour Salon celebrating two excellent New Orleans music books: Spirit of the Orisha by Janet “Sula Spirit” Evans and Talk that Music Talk edited by Rachel Breunlin and Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes. The event, featuring readings, discussion, translation, and live music, will take place from 6 – 9 … ROOM 220 Presents: A Happy Hour Salon with Sula Spirit and the Neighborhood Story Project

The Waves Reading Series presents Michael Jeffrey Lee, Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers, Sara Slaughter, Julia Carey, and David Schneider May 14

Press Street is pleased to host The Waves, New Orleans’ premiere LGBT reading series, as it presents a star-studded showcase of local queer literary talent at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Press Street HQ (3718 St. Claude Ave.). The Waves has become in its short lifetime one of the most popular queer … The Waves Reading Series presents Michael Jeffrey Lee, Elizabeth Lindsey Rogers, Sara Slaughter, Julia Carey, and David Schneider May 14

Celebrate April Toole’s Day at the Irish House with a mass public reading of Confederacy of Dunces

As Americans read fewer and fewer books and feel generally more isolated in the technological age, there has emerged a response among lovers of literature that seems to address both issues—mass public book readings that engage attendees both literarily and socially. One such event, April Toole’s Day: A Celebration of John Kennedy Toole’s Confederacy of … Celebrate April Toole’s Day at the Irish House with a mass public reading of Confederacy of Dunces