The Mill Valley Library Foundation‘s Beyond the Book Bash has long established itself as a potent way to raise money for one of our great local institutions – and to do so in a way that’s powered by standouts in literary arts, film and music, with fantastic food and drinks thrown in for good measure.

The event regularly draws upwards of 200 supporters of the Mill Valley Public Library and raises approximately $100,000 to support library programs, services and an endowment that will fund them in perpetuity.  

The 2016 edition of the Beyond the Book Bash – set for Friday, September 30 at 8pm at the Throckmorton Theatre – looks to continues the tradition of readings and performances woven together by way of a literary theme, from nationally acclaimed authors, poets and musicians, all from the Bay Area. This year’s edition also serves up some rock ‘n roll as well, and local prodigy Matt Jaffe will perform.

The Bash will be preceded by a VIP Sponsor Party at the Seager Gray Gallery at 6pm featuring specialty cocktails and wine plus food from Equator Coffee & Teas’ newly launched and much applauded catering business.

The Mill Valley Library Foundation has raised more than $1.5M for an endowment and financial support of programs such as First Fridays and After Hours events, children and teen programming, and digital entertainment, all free to the public. Event proceeds help fund the library’s literary, cultural, and educational programming for children, teens and adults. In 2015, the library offered more than 1,000 programs, all of which were free and open to everyone. 

“Programs like these make the library more relevant than ever,” said Anji Brenner, city librarian. Mill Valley Library ranks near the top in program attendance amongst libraries serving similar-sized populations.

The 411: The Mill Valley Library Foundation‘s Beyond the Book Bash is Friday, September 30 at 8pm at the Throckmorton Theatre. Tickets go on sale September 6. MORE INFO.

Chinaka Hodge, 2016 Beyond the Book Bash emcee

Award-winning poet, playwright, teacher and screenwriter. Her work has been featured in NewsweekSan Francisco MagazineBeliever Magazine, PBS, NPR, CNN and HBO’s Def Poetry Jam.

Matt Jaffe​ – A rising singer and songwriter born and raised In Mill Valley. With influences ranging from The Clash, Elvis Costello and Talking Heads, his group, The Distractions, recorded their first EP “Blast Off” in 2015 and toured the USA last year opening for Blues Traveler. The band was crowned champions of the San Francisco Hard Rock Café Battle of the Bands in 2014.
Roger Housden – Author of twenty-three books on poetry, art, and travel as pilgrimage. His work includes the best-selling, “Ten Poems to Change Your Life” series. His work has been featured frequently in The New York TimesThe Los Angeles Times, and Oprah Magazine. His latest book, “Dropping the Struggle: Seven Ways To Love the Life You Have” was published this year.
Matteson Perry – Author, screenwriter, performer and two-time winner of the Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Championship. His work has appeared in The New York Times, McSweeney’s, and on NPR’s The Moth Radio Hour. His first book, “Available, A Memoir of Heartbreak, Hookups, Love and Brunch,” was published this year.
David Talbot​ – The founder of Salon.com and a New York Times-bestselling author of “The Devil’s Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA and the Rise of America’s Secret Government,” “Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years” and the national bestseller “Season of the Witch.” His writing has appeared in Rolling StoneThe New YorkerTimeThe Guardian and many other publications.
Steven Pressman – Journalist and author of “Outrageous Betrayal” and “50 Children: One Ordinary American Couple’s Extraordinary Rescue Mission into the Heart of Nazi Germany.” He also wrote, directed and produced the HBO film “50 Children.”
Kay Ryan – United States Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner. Her collections include the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning, “The Best of It, New and Selected Poems,” and her most recent work includes “The Niagara River’” “Say Uncle,” “Elephant Rocks,“ “Flamingo Watching” and “Erratic Facts” published last year.

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