A Festival Grows In Brooklyn

ALEXIE. ATWOOD. OATES. RUSHDIE. Just some of the big names that will descend upon downtown Brooklyn during its book festival next week. It starts Monday and culminates on September 18, a Super Sunday when more than 300 authors from the US and across the globe fill fourteen stages in downtown Brooklyn and nearby venues for panels, readings, book signings, and other creative performances, rain or shine. Of course, the vendors will be there. Begun ten years ago by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz to showcase the "Brooklyn voice" in literature, the festival has grown exponentially in the last several years to become the major international literary event that it is today. Also among this year's participants are South Africa's Imraan Coovadia and Masande Ntshanga, Denmark's Dorthe Nors, Sri Lanka's Anuk Arudpragasam, NY poet laureate Yusef Komunyakaa and Pinoy Patrick Rosal. Entrance to all events is absolutely free. Check each hourly event and set your priorities. Can't make it to all, buddy. Oy vey!

Freshman Schedule

AFTER CAMP STUY, Sara finally got her schedule at Stuyvesant High School this school year, disappointed that she has to do swimming again because she thought she passed the proficiency test, but who are we newbies to question the school's policy? Freshman Composition will be in the last period. She is confident that she can manage the subway with a newfound friend from Elmhurst who's also going to Stuy. School starts on September 8. So here we go.