It’s two days from now, September 26. Do you know where John Irving is? The answer, naturally, is the National Book Festival, the literary-themed event that spreads across the National Mall each fall. Though Laura Bush founded the event back in 2001, the festival continues, with appearances scheduled this year with everyone from John Grisham to Jodi Picoult. The author selection tends to be a mix of well-known writers, nostalgia-inducing teen and childrens’ authors,…

Attendees at this year’s National Book Festival certainly heard the protests as the crowd marched by a mere two blocks away and helicopters circled overhead. They certainly saw the protestors, a number of who broke away from the anti-war events to hear from many of the country’s notable authors. But the festival still seemed worlds apart from the other big event less than a mile away. Despite a full slate of weekend events and off-and-on…

What a weekend to be in Washington. No doubt we’ll be seeing a whole lot of you around the Mall for one event or another this weekend. DCist would like to take this opportunity to recommend sunscreen with a high SPF. We just can’t have all our readers looking like lobsters come Monday morning. Not a sexy look. FRIDAY: >> The D.C. music scene says farewell to Q and Not U tonight at Black Cat….

Goth-dressed fantasy fans? Be prepared for a long line. Political thriller junkies? Dust off your old paperback Clancy copies. Parents of Princess Diaries-obsessed young ones? Ready your little girls. The lineup has been announced for the National Book Festival, to be held on September 24 from 10-5 p.m. on the mall and sponsored by the Library of Congress. This year’s lineup is a mix of favorites from years past and new appearances from esteemed authors….

From DCist contributor Kristin Kovner Since when did literary events become D.C.’s hot tickets? Since last night, when John Irving decided to grace the National Press Club with his (commanding) presence and promote his new bestselling novel, “Until I Find You.” On Monday evening, over 400 fans packed into the NPC’s Ballroom to listen to the author of “The Cider House Rules,” “The World According to Garp,” and “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” read aloud…