The John Jermain Library’s annual autumn dinners are something like literary blind dates. Guests sign up for one of the 26 meals based on their interest in a particular book, but their hosts’ and fellow diners’ identities are kept a secret.
“It’s like having your college roommate fix you up with someone they went to high school with. You know something about them because of your friend,” said organizer Gail Slevin during a telephone interview last week. “You select a dinner based on the book title, so that should tell you something about your host. At each dinner, the ice breaker is that everybody has read or is interested in the same book. But if you’re at all familiar with Sag Harbor people, you know there’s always a lot to talk about.”
The fifth annual “One for the Books! Library Dinners” will be held on Saturday, October 15, and Saturday, October 22, at surprise locations in the Sag Harbor School District, which also covers North Haven and parts of Noyac. Dinners range from eight to 20 guests each, Ms. Slevin said, and the host selects the menu.
Tickets are $100, and proceeds benefit the library’s capital campaign. Out of 300 tickets, there are about 60 seats left, Ms. Slevin said. This year, five authors will attend their dinners—the largest number the event has seen thus far.
“Can you imagine what that must be like?” Ms. Slevin said. “You’ve read the book and you’re interested in going to dinner to talk about the book. You walk in, and you wouldn’t necessarily recognize the author, and then someone says, ‘By the way, that’s so-and-so.’ That must be such a surprise!”
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 725-0049 or visit johnjermain.org.
Michelle Trauring on Oct 9, 2011