For Immediate Release: January 25, 2006

"Mistress of Spices" Author Headlines February
One City, One Book Events in Oakland

(Oakland, CA) -- The Oakland Public Library's first-ever One City, One Book Campaign swings into high gear in February when the "Mistress of Spices" herself, Chitra Banjerjee Divakaruni, makes an appearance at a free public lecture and booksigning on Friday, February 10, 7:30 pm at the Oakland Museum of California's James Moore Theatre, 10th & Oak Streets. In a special evening co-sponsored by the Oakland Museum of California, the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and The Oakland Tribune, Ms. Divakaruni, the author of the featured title for Oakland 's One City, One Book initiative, will discuss her award-winning work and sign copies afterwards. Divakaruni's titles will be available for purchase on-site from the OMCA Bookstore.

For those who wish to meet Ms. Divakaruni on more intimate terms, the public event will be preceded by a benefit reception and silent auction from 5:30-7:00 pm in the Oakland Museum Café. Joining Divakaruni will be Shailja Patel, a Kenyan Indian poet, and Word and Violin performers Pireeni Sundaralingam and Colm O'Riain, whose beautiful duets weave together music and words. Indian refreshments will be served. Tickets for the reception are $50 per person and can be purchased at the door or ordered in advance by sending a check made payable to the Friends of the Oakland Public Library to Leslie Rodd, Program Coordinator, Oakland Public Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612. The order form is also available on the library's Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org (select One City spotlight on home page). Proceeds from this benefit will go towards the Oakland Public Library's Program & Building Funds.

In addition to appearances by Divakaruni, music lovers will have a treat when George Brooks and his Indian Jazz Ensemble with Aashish Khan, Kai Eckhardt, Chris Robinson and Salar Nader deliver a benefit concert for the Oakland Public Library on Monday, February 13, 2006. Two performances (at 8:00 and 10:00 pm) showcase the prolific talents of composer and saxophone player George Brooks, who maintains an international reputation as an Indian/jazz fusion performer. Joining him will be Aashish Khan, considered one of India's greatest living sarod players; virtuoso bassist Kai Eckhardt, who has performed with the John McLaughlin Trio, Zakir Hussain and others; Australian guitarist Chris Robinson, who has performed in the United States, Europe and Australia; and tabla wizard Salar Nader, who has performed with many of India's leading classical artists, as well as DJ Cheb-i-Saba and Pandit Chitresh Das. The group will be presenting new compositions inspired by The Mistress of Spices. Tickets cost $16 at the door, or you can reserve by calling (510) 238-9200. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Library's Program & Building Funds.

Library staff will also be passing out vouchers at both the February 10th and February 13th events for Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Jack London Square. Anyone who purchases items from this store between February 13 - February 28 and turns in a voucher, will have a percentage of their net sale donated to the Friends of the Oakland Public Library to support the Library's Program & Building Funds. The public can also pick up a voucher at the Oakland Main Library's Information Desk ( 125 14th Street ) starting February 10th.

It's not too late to join others in reading The Mistress of Spices and discussing it at free book discussion sessions held at various locations throughout the city. (See www.oaklandlibrary.org for details.) If you can't make it to one of these discussions, you can still post your comments online at www.insidebayarea.com/mistressofspices.

A variety of other "spicy" happenings are coming your way, including a Dramatic Reading by Wajahat Ali, author of Domestic Crusaders; an introduction to the Art of the Sari; bhangra performances by Dholrythms Dance Troupe; classical Indian Dance by Natya; an East Indian cooking demonstration; Word & Violin performances; readings from Migritude by Shailja Patel; and a discussion of the ancient healing practice of Ayurvedic Medicine. Join us for these other free events! For a complete list of One City programs, see www.oaklandlibrary.org .

The One City, One Book Initiative is being co-sponsored by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library and The Oakland Tribune/ANG Newspapers. Participating bookstores and cultural organizations include MOCHA (the Museum of Children's Art), A Great Good Place for Books, Barnes & Noble Booksellers-Jack London Square, Diesel Bookstore, Bookmark Bookstore, Black Swan Books, Laurel Book Store, Marcus Book Stores, OMCA Bookstore, Spectator Books, Walden Pond Bookstore, Waldenbooks-Oakland Square, Oakland Museum of California, Pendragon New and Used Books, and Yoshi's World Class Jazz House.

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