Flexible Planet Blog

2009 Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show

Sorry for the short notice, but if any of you happen to be in the LA area this weekend, check out the 2009 Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show. As always, there will be exhibitors aplenty, prizes to be won, and discounted travel-related items.

But the reason I go is to attend the panels and fawn over travel writers old and new (not a remark on age but merely a comment on people I have or haven’t met). In attendance this year will be:

• Jen Leo and Rolf Potts, the first two travel writers I met when I decided to enter the field (haven’t seen them at the same time since we met)

• Pauline Frommer, who I’ve met several times before, and her father Arthur (one of those guys who started it all), who I haven’t yet but am excited to

• Rick Steves, a guy and a travel empire who I hope to corner at some point

• Samantha Brown, a Travel Channel veteran with numerous shows under her belt who might offer tips on getting one’s own show

• Catherine Hamm, travel editor for the LA Times (took a class with her—very nice woman)

and several others as well. There will be several panels to attend, and I’m looking forward to picking some brains, getting free stuff, and blowing money on travel books I don’t need. Old habits die hard. If you go, look for the loud obnoxious guy asking all the questions. That will most likely be me.

LA Times Festival of Books This Weekend (4/26 & 4/27)

Once again, the LA Times Festival of Books invades UCLA campus. This annual event offers books, panels, book signings, staged performances and readings, and thousands of books. Hundreds of publishers will be selling books on every subject, including travel and languages. The panels range from fiction to poetry to science and then some.

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be a travel panel this year. The only recognizable travel writer on the list is Pico Iyer, and he’ll be on the panel entitled “Nonfiction: Blurring Boundaries.” Whether or not this will have much to do with travel is unknown, but I’m sure Pico will have something informative and engaging to say. That’s what he does. That's how he rolls. (Did I sound hip right there? No?)

Pico Iyer 2-fer at UCSB

Veteran travel writer and part-time Santa Barbarian Pico Iyer makes his rounds in May for UCSB’s Arts & Lectures series with two events:

#1 Salman Rushdie in conversation with Pico Iyer

May 4th 4 p.m. at Campbell Hall

$25 / $15 for UCSB students

Not so much a travel writing event, but Iyer fans will enjoy the discussion between the two authors. Surely they’ll be discussing Salman (The Satanic Verses) Rushdie’s recent release, Shalimar the Clown as well as his forthcoming novel The Enchantress of Florence, and perhaps some of Pico’s works as well. If you’re looking for intelligent, well-thought-out conversation, make sure to be there.