City of West Hollywood
Home MenuWeHo Reads 2016
The City of West Hollywood through WeHo Arts celebrates the literary community year-round with the author series WeHo Reads, featuring new and noteworthy authors at the West Hollywood Library. Programming is made possible through partnership with County Library staff and the Friends of the West Hollywood Library.
To see an archive of 2015 events click here.
Lesbian Speaker Series:
A Thin Bright Line: Looking Back & Reaching Forward in the Literature of Lesbians & Queer Women
Saturday, October 22, 2016, 6:00 PM
Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
The City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian Speakers Series, WeHo Reads, the Mazer Lesbian Archives, Lambda Literary, The West Hollywood Library, and Book Soup present a celebration of A Thin Bright Line, the new novel by Lucy Jane Bledsoe through a conversation with Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Christina Quintana, Brandi M. Spaethe, & Griselda Suarez. There will be book sales and signing after the program.
There is no charge for this event. Send RSVPs to croskin@weho.org or call (323) 848-6403.
Parking will be validated for the Five-Story Public Parking Structure, 625 North San Vicente Boulevard, 90069.
2016 Past Events
David Ulin in Conversation with Samantha Dunn Followed by a Book Signing
Friday, January 15, 2016, 7:00 PM
Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
In conjunction with the Friends of the West Hollywood Library, join us as we examine the illustrious career of Los Angeles literary icon David L. Ulin in conversation with renowned author, journalist and writing teacher Samantha Dunn. This will be followed by a reception and book signing, with books available for sale by Book Soup.
Free validated parking will be provided. To RSVP email westhollywood.friendsoflibrary@gmail.com or call (323) 929-2359.
Lesbian Speaker Series: Meet Author, Entrepreneur, and Two-Time Olympian Ginny GIider
Wednesday, January 20, 2016, 7:00 PM
West Hollywood City Council Chambers
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Ginny Gilder is an Olympic silver medalist in rowing, the founder and CEO of an investment business, and co-owner of the Seattle Storm.
"Gilder...describes the art of rowing in wonderful detail...she divulges the scars of her relationship with her parents, feelings of self-doubt...and the inner turmoil she experienced in accepting her own sexuality. This is a compelling account of one woman's sacrifices to be an elite athlete...at a time when "coming out of the closet" was done at considerable peril. A good choice for women's studies and sports-history collections." -- Craig Clark, Booklist
Natalie Goldberg in Conversation with West Hollywood City Poet City Reigns
Thursday, June 30, 2016, 7:00pm
West Hollywood City Council Chambers
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Join us for this special conversation on the 30th anniversary of Natalie Goldberg’s classic Writing Down the Bones - Freeing the Writer Within and the release of her new book The Great Spring - Writing, Zen and This Zigzag Life. 7pm, West Hollywood City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. Free admission. Free parking.
Eileen Myles in Conversation with Rebecca Walker
Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 7:00 PM
Council Chambers at West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
This is a joint event of the City’s Weho Reads program, the West Hollywood Library, Lambda Literary and Mazer Lesbian Archives.
Eileen Myles is a poet, novelist, performer and art journalist who has authored nineteen books. Among many honors, Myles received the 2016 Lambda Literary Pioneer Award, afour Lambda Literary awards, and a poetry award from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Rebecca Walker is an author, teacher and speaker with two decades of experience, insight. Time Magazine names her as one of the most influential leaders of her generation and her highly acclaimed books include the novel Adé and the memoirs Black, White and Jewish and Baby Love: Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence.
LGBT Writers Retreat LA Reading Series:
Fellows Reading WeHo
Wednesday, July 27, 7:30 PM
Council Chambers at West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices was established in 2007 and is the first of its kind ever offered to LGBTQ writers: a one-week intensive immersion in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, genre fiction and playwriting. The Retreat is an exceptional opportunity to be mentored by the very best writers in our community, to develop one’s craft, make connections with publishing industry professionals and build a strong community of peers.
Join us for a night of reading featuring 2016 Lambda Fellows in Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult Fiction, playwriting and Nonfiction.
There will be a series of readings and discussions that are open to the public throughout the week. All public readings and discussions are free.
Lesbian Speaker Series:
"Baby You're My Religion"
Sunday, September 18, 2016, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
The City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian Speakers Series, WeHo Reads, and the Mazer Lesbian Archives present a panel based on the book Baby, You Are My Religion – Women, Gay Bars, and Theology Before Stonewall, by Dr. Marie Cartier. The event will be an examination of the American butch-femme bar culture of the mid-20th century as sacred space for its community, and will feature Dr. Cartier in conversation with Marna Deitch, Tanya Gilbert, and Nancy Valverde. Film clips will be shown from the documentary film The Homofiles, based on the book. There will be book sales and signing after the program.
There is no charge for this event. Send RSVPs to croskin@weho.org
Parking will be validated for the Five-Story Public Parking Structure, 625 North San Vicente Boulevard, 90069.
A Zócalo/WeHo Reads Event:
Do Libraries Have a Future?
Friday, September 30, 2016, 7:00 PM
Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Libraries have long stood as society’s democratic temples of knowledge. Throughout time they have helped enlighten generations with their impassioned custodians, their meticulously compiled card catalogues, and their lovingly curated shelves and stacks of books begging to be devoured. Yet we now live in a time when all the world’s information is seemingly a click away—often on a small device in our pocket. This ubiquity of information raises the existential question—what purpose are libraries to serve in this new age? Former director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Susan Hildreth, Director of the Center for the Future of Libraries at the American Library Association, Miguel Figueroa, and UCLA Deputy Librarian Susan Parker, visit Zócalo to explore how libraries can recast their mission and purpose in a hyper-connected world. Moderated by Gregory Rodriguez, Publisher, Zócalo Public Square.
This program is supported by the City of West Hollywood through WeHo Arts on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the opening of the West Hollywood Library. WeHo Arts — the City’s Arts Division and Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission — supports an expansive array of programming including Art on the Outside, Summer Sounds, Winter Sounds, WeHo Reads, and the One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, as well as theatre, exhibitions, poetry, and more. WeHo Reads is an literary and author series held at the West Hollywood Library in partnership with the West Hollywood Library and Friends of the West Hollywood Library.
Reservations recommended at http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/event/do-libraries-have-a-future/.
Free validated parking will be provided for the event in the adjacent 5 Story Public/Park Parking Lot.
The West Hollywood Library's
5th Birthday Bash
Saturday, October 1, 2016, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Community Meeting Room at the West Hollywood Library
625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
Face painting, caricatures, a fortune teller, balloon twister, and delicious cakes are just some of the delights that will be featured at the West Hollywood Library’s fifth Birthday Party. Thrown by the Friends of the West Hollywood Library, the event will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room and adjacent park at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. West Hollywood. All events will be free.
To learn more about the Birthday Bash, which is a collaboration of the Friends of the West Hollywood Library, WeHo Arts and the West Hollywood Library, call (323) 929-2359 or visit www.wehofol.org or https://www.facebook.com/WeHOFOL
For more information about other events that are part of the weekend celebration, visit www.weho.org/wehoreads. Free validated parking will be available in the five-story Public parking structure accessible on Tovar.