Day: August 12, 2025
The Brooklyn Book Festival (BKBF), New York City’s largest free literary event, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a nine-day celebration of book culture, turning the city into a hub for readers of all ages.
The festivities, running from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22, begin Sept. 14 with the traditional “Virtual Festival Day,” connecting readers and authors worldwide. Participants include Mozambican writer Mia Couto, horror author Cassandra Khaw, Pulitzer Prize finalist Karen Russell, illustrator Mary Catherine Starr, and award-winning Aboriginal writer Alexis Wright.
Highlights of the book lovers’ rave include the family-friendly Children’s Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, featuring beloved children’s authors and illustrators such as Nick Bruel, Rita Williams-Garcia, John Patrick Green, Abby Hanlon, Ryan T. Higgins, Meg Medina, Jarrett Pumphrey, and Ibi Zoboi. The bustling Festival Day & Literary Marketplace will follow on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Festival Day, the flagship event, showcases literary stars and fan favorites including Joyce Carol Oates, pioneering graphic memoirist Alison Bechdel, National Book Award winner Sigrid Nunez, New York Times bestselling speculative fiction author Nnedi Okorafor, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Việt Thanh Nguyễn. Eight indoor and outdoor stages at venues such as Brooklyn Borough Hall, Brooklyn Law School, and Columbus Park will host lively conversations and debates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Literary Market — the largest book market in the Northeast with more than 250 publishers — is a book lover’s dream. Visitors can discover new authors, independent publishers, and literary organizations housed in hundreds of tents across Columbus Park and Borough Hall Plaza.
Part of the festival’s nine-day literary celebration are more than 50 Bookend Events across all five boroughs, organized by dozens of cultural partners and featuring hundreds of authors reading from Sept. 14 to Sept. 22. The full schedule of these events will be announced later in August.
Brooklyn Book Festival producer Liz Koch described the festival, which takes place in neighborhoods citywide, as “New York City’s festival.”
“Brooklyn is home to the world and welcomes national and international authors, as well as reflecting the incredible writers living and being inspired in Brooklyn and throughout the city,” Koch said.
This year’s Best of Brooklyn (BoBi) Award — presented annually to authors whose work embodies the spirit of the borough — will honor award-winning historical fiction and fantasy novelist Marlon James. The Jamaican-born, Brooklyn-based author of “A Brief History of Seven Killings” and “The Book of Night Women” will be celebrated at a special ceremony this fall.
The festival’s official poster was designed by illustrator and community organizer Sarula Bao, whose work has appeared on the cover of The New Yorker and who has worked with clients including Google, Apple, Facebook, New York Magazine and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Bao, director of the small press and initiative Endless Editions and the Brooklyn Art Book Fair (BKABF), drew inspiration from her own experiences with BKBF.
“The poster was inspired by my own visits to the Brooklyn Book Festival and the vibrant excitement of being surrounded by incredible publishers and fellow readers,” Bao said. “BKBF is a vital site for book community building and connection!”
Launched in 2006 to fill the need for a major literary event embracing New York City’s diverse constituencies, the Brooklyn Book Festival celebrates two decades of literature. Its free and low-cost programs connect readers with local, national, and international authors, publishers and booksellers.
Johnny Temple, co-chair of the Brooklyn Book Festival Literary Council, reflected on the festival’s growth.
“When we launched the Brooklyn Book Festival in 2006, we didn’t know if it would be a one-time event or if it would become an annual celebration,” Temple said. “We most certainly had no idea, at all, that twenty years later the festival would be stronger than ever! Indeed, this year’s BKBF is an embarrassment of wide-ranging literary riches, with dynamic programming for every single person, young or old, who joins us to revel in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, or any other genre that tickles your fancy.”
For the full author lineup, schedules and streaming details, visit brooklynbookfestival.org.
By: Fern Sidman
Montreal police have arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with a violent assault on a 32-year-old Orthodox Jewish father at Dickie Moore Park in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-
According to the information provided in the VIN News report, the victim was at the park with his three children when the suspect approached him and sprayed liquid from a water bottle. When the father confronted the man, the altercation escalated into a brutal attack. Witnesses and video evidence show the victim being pushed to the ground, punched repeatedly in the face, and kicked as his young children stood nearby.
A short video clip, circulated widely on social media platform X and cited by VIN News, depicts the shocking nature of the incident. The footage shows the assailant delivering multiple blows to the victim, who appears unable to defend himself, while the man’s children can be seen just feet away. The suspect fled the scene on foot immediately after the assault.
Police later confirmed to VIN News that the man was located and arrested on Monday by officers from the North Regional Investigation Section. While the suspect remains in custody for questioning, no formal charges have yet been filed. Authorities have not released the suspect’s name, consistent with standard procedure before charges are laid.
In statements to VIN News, Montreal police spokesperson Jean-Pierre Brabant noted that the attack has not, at this stage, been classified as a hate crime. The force’s dedicated hate crimes unit is not currently leading the investigation, though Brabant emphasized that the matter remains under active review.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Brabant told VIN News, adding that if evidence emerges pointing to a bias motive, the classification could be reconsidered. Police underscored their commitment to pursuing all relevant leads and ensuring a thorough examination of the case.
Authorities also credited members of the public with helping to locate the suspect, thanking residents for providing key information that aided investigators in making an arrest.
The attack has drawn swift and widespread condemnation. The report at VIN News noted that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement describing the incident as “an appalling act of violence” and expressing solidarity with the victim and his family.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante also voiced outrage, stating that her thoughts were with the victim and his children and calling for justice to be served. Quebec Premier François Legault joined in denouncing the assault, emphasizing that violence of this nature is unacceptable in the province’s communities.
Local Jewish organizations have called for heightened vigilance and stronger protections for Orthodox Jewish residents, particularly in light of the emotional trauma inflicted on the victim’s children, who witnessed the assault at close range.
According to the information contained in the VIN News report, once the police investigation is complete, the file will be forwarded to the Crown prosecutor’s office for review. Prosecutors will then determine the appropriate charges, which could range from assault causing bodily harm to more serious offenses depending on the evidence gathered.
Police have not disclosed whether additional witnesses have been interviewed or whether further video evidence exists beyond the footage already circulating online.
As the case progresses, VIN News reported that both community members and local officials are urging a careful and transparent process that will both ensure accountability and address broader concerns about public safety.
The post Montreal Police Arrest Suspect in Assault on Orthodox Jewish Father at City Park appeared first on The Jewish Voice.
