The library’s popular Bards & Brews spoken word poetry and craft beer tasting event will close the festival. Poets will compete in a slam for cash prizes while attendees sample beer from local breweries including Cahaba Brewing, SweetWater Brewing Company, and Band of Brothers Brewing, as well as light hors d’oeuvres from Jim ‘N Nicks, Babalu Tapas & Tacos, and the Ranch House. Voice Porter, a performance artist and experienced poetry slam emcee, will host this fantastic evening at the Central Library, which is presented with assistance from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. 

This year’s Eat Drink Read Write (EDRW) festival is dedicated to the idea that taking a risk and seeking out adventurous foods can result in great culinary experiences. Whether it is trying a Thai restaurant located in a gas station, buying ribs that have been cooked in a 55 gallon steel drum smoker in a parking lot, or foraging for wild blackberries along an old fence line, there are countless opportunities for culinary adventure in our daily lives. This year’s Eat Drink Read Write appeals to a variety of tastes and unites food, culinary arts, and literature in an engaging format for the entertainment and enrichment of the entire community.