The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled and posted by Lauren Cerand, that usually appears Mondays at 12:30 pm, and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please send details to Ms. Cerand at lauren [at] maudnewton.com by the Thursday prior to . . .
I’m sorry it’s been so quiet here. Between allergy season and deadlines, I haven’t done much of anything this week but work and sleep. Even my Twitter feed lies fallow. Fingers crossed, things will have calmed down by Monday. I did take a couple hours out last night for the Granta party at Idlewild, which was off the hook . . .
Hector Tobar visits Los Angeles’ new tamale shop and bookstore. Mama’s Hot Tamales, which faces MacArthur Park in what some call the cradle of Los Angeles’ Central American population, is sharing its space with Librería Hispanoamérica in the hopes that the two businesses can help one another survive the economic downturn. (Thanks, Sean.) One of the bookshop’s owners is Guatemalan . . .
Orwell’s adopted son, who may or may not have poured the writer’s “ration of gin” every evening, recalls the man who died when he was six.
Bob Dylan once claimed to have read every word Larry Brown wrote. His new album cover seems to be an homage to the late Southern writer.