Update Due to overwhelming demand, we will livestream the Hadfield event into the atrium of the Toronto Reference Library. Seating is first come, first served , and no tickets are required. Customers wishing to have a book signed will be able to go upstairs to the Salon after the event... Continue reading

Well, the book has launched, and we’ll be announcing our full roster of Keep Toronto Reading programs next Thursday. “The book” of course, is this year’s One Book title, "Fahrenheit 451", which is the centerpiece of this year’s festival. We launched it last week with a fun photo op at... Continue reading

All library branches are now open, and all library programs are up and running, including our (almost) full roster of Keep Toronto events. Please note the following: Keep Toronto Reading Launch Toronto Public Library kicks off its annual Keep Toronto Reading festival this Monday, April 2 with an event featuring... Continue reading

During the current labour disruption, all library programs are cancelled. In addition, please note the following: Bram & Bluma Appel Salon Events: Shakespeare Lecture, March 27: Cancelled Harlan Coben in conversation with Peter Robinson, March 29: Moved to different venue. Penguin Books is now hosting this event at Indigo Books,... Continue reading

The Appel Salon wrapped up its 2011 season last night with a great discussion about the future of the Liberal party. Peter C. Newman jousted with Liberal insider John Duffy in a conversation moderated by TVO’s Steve Paikin. If you missed it, the video will be up in a few... Continue reading

It was a joy to watch actor Brian Dennehy last night at the Appel Salon, as he captivated a full house during his onstage conversation with Richard Ouzounian. At 73, he says he has no regrets –he admits to past excesses, but says life is a like a mango –to... Continue reading

You could feel the love last night at the Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library, as 250 people came together to celebrate the 40th season of Tarragon Theatre. Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzonian moderated a panel of playwrights with a shared Tarragon history -- Diane Flacks, Michael Healey, Hannah Moscovitch and Judith Thompson --and the conversation was smart, furious, and very funny. (There were a few friendly digs at the art of theatre reviewing as well, with Ouzonian managing to hold his own.) There were great stories told about former Tarragon heads Bill Glassco and Urjo Kareda, and current head Richard Rose who was there last night. The evening ended with a shout out to David French, who couldn't attend due to ill health. Ouzonian said we should all go home and reread the opening monologue of French's play, Of the Fields Lately. I did (well, I watched it on YouTube) and it made me cry. Continue reading

Writers Carl Hiaasen and Linwood Barclay hit it out of the park last night at the Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library. Hiaasen, a columnist for the Miami Herald and author of classics like Skinny Dip, Sick Puppy and Lucky You, was there to talk about his new book,... Continue reading

Margaret Atwood had them rolling in the aisles at the Toronto Reference Library's Bram & Bluma Appel Salon last night. The occasion was an interview with Globe and Mail writer Ian Brown --part of the Writer's Room series, where authors talk about their body of work. The tone of the... Continue reading