arts, books and music

Local chef discusses her new book on historic Uptown restaurant

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Poppy Tooker—chef, radio show host, author and cooking instructor—published her most recent book on one of New Orleans’ most historic restaurants: “Pascal’s Manale Cookbook.” Having published a book in 2015 on one of New Orleans’ historic restaurants, Tujague’s, her newest subject was a fitting next step. “People said, ‘What do you want to do next?’ This [Manale’s book] seemed to be the only thing I could think of,” Tooker said. “This is the second-oldest continuously operating family-owned restaurant [in New Orleans]. So both Tujague’s and Manale’s are second to Antoine’s.

arts, books and music

Octavia Books to host ‘Pascal’s Manale Cookbook’ signing and others

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Octavia Books, at 513 Octavia Street, will host three book reading and signing events featuring four authors this week, including Poppy Tooker’s Pascal’s Manale Cookbook. The week begins today (Dec. 4) with “Fish Town” by J.T. Blatty. Tues, Dec. 4
“Fish Town”
Octavia Books and the Gulf Restoration Network will host a presentation and signing with photographer, writer and artist J. T. Blatty featuring her new book, “Fish Town: Louisiana’s Vanishing Fishing Communities.”

arts, books and music

Two literary events celebrate New Orleans tricentennial

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Two events tomorrow delve into the rich and complicated culture of New Orleans and celebrate the city’s tricentennial. But, they force literary-minded New Orleanians to make a rich, complicated decision: both are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14. At Octavia Books at 530 Octavia St., near Laurel Street, New Orleans writer Jason Berry will present and sign his “City of a Million Dreams: A History of New Orleans at Year 300.” “Jason Berry has a profound understanding of the main ingredients of New Orleans history: race, religion and music,” writes author Walter Isaacson.

arts, books and music

Octavia Books to host Stephen King for presentation of new novel

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In the rear of the store at Octavia Books is a little corner where literary figures make near-daily appearances, but a bit more space is going to be needed for the latest author they’ll be hosting: Stephen King. King, whose dozens of novels have sold millions of copies around the world, will be presenting his latest novel, “11/22/63,” on Nov. 12 in the fine arts center at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The book is a cross between historical fiction about the Kennedy assassination and a time-traveling fantasy, a story about an English teacher who travels back to 1958 on a mission to prevent President Kennedy from being killed. Tickets are $35 and include a copy of the novel, and Octavia suggests you don’t wait around.