Writers On The Row Book Fest Comes To Bethesda; Day 1 'Best' And 'Blood(y)'

BETHESDA -- Bethesda Row’s playfully “uncommon mix of life + style” was complemented by some of the country’s best and bloodiest writing on Thursday evening, as the upscale neighborhood celebrated the opening night of its inaugural Writers on the Row book festival and speaker series.

A four-day affair that enlisted more than a dozen of Bethesda Row’s posh boutiques and restaurants, the festival kicked off last night with events headlined by ESPN Pardon The Interruption co-host Michael Wilbon and DC Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karen Sommer Shalett.

Mussel Bar’s cookbook-inspired cocktails had bite!
Wilbon fielded questions about all things sports and his book, The Best American Sports Writing 2012 , inside the luxe playground that is Equinox’s Bethesda location.

Simultaneously, Sommer Shalett assembled a crowd at the heart of Bethesda Lane to discuss her contributions to True Blood: Eats, Drinks, and Bites from Bon Temps, which highlights various recipes inspired by the hit HBO show True Blood.

Joining her inside a pop-up pavilion erected on the lane for the occasion was the culinary team behind Bethesda Row’s hit Vapiano restaurant. And together, they walked attendees through some of the book’s recipes via a fun and anecdote-laden cooking demonstration.

It’s important to note that the Writers on the Row festival isn’t limited just to literary fare, with many of Bethesda Row’s merchants and restaurants participating. On Thursday evening, for example, bluemercury setup a special ‘Blood Red Lipstick Bar’ outside its store in the ‘True Blood’ spirit of the event.

Karen Sommer Shalett’s proud parents stopped by the festival.
A complete schedule of the festival’s events and activities can be found on the Bethesda Row website, including appearances by Law & Order: SVU star Richard Belzer on Saturday and Georgetown Cupcake sisters Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne on Sunday.

Bloody brilliant.