You're invited to join us on Sunday, September 25, as we celebrate 40 years of BOA with a Benefit Birthday Bash at Good Luck Restaurant! Open to the public, the party will feature an art discussion and poetry reading by award-winning author Janice N. Harrington, whose new book, Primitive: The Art and Life of Horace H. Pippin, will be released by BOA in October 2016.

A departure from our annual Dine & Rhyme benefit—a higher-ticket event that features a more formal program each fall—the “birthday bash” benefit will be a relaxed and lively celebration, complete with poetry and birthday cake. In an effort to include more people in the festivities—to celebrate with both familiar faces and new—we made the decision to lower our VIP/full event ticket prices from $125 to $75 per person, and are offering additional options such as General Admission tickets for $50, and discounted Student tickets for $30. Ticket purchases not only guarantee you an evening of excellent literature, conversation, and celebration, but also support BOA's mission and important work in the literary world.

For visual art and poetry aficionados, the VIP Experience ticket truly is the best value, offering an exclusive discussion on art and poetry with author Janice N. Harrington at 3:00 p.m.—before the birthday bash starts—complete with Good Luck’s famous hors d’oeuvres. Looking at paintings by the artist Horace H. Pippin—the best-known African American artist of his time—Harrington will discuss the forces that drive us to make art, and the way Pippin’s art provokes memory and intense engagement with history and with the sensual world. VIP attendees will each receive a complimentary copy of Harrington’s new book Primitive, a private book signing, and admittance to the birthday bash immediately following.

For those just wanting to celebrate BOA with a great party, General Admission tickets are another wonderful option. Starting at 4:30 p.m. with a poetry reading by Harrington, the party will be a time to mingle with BOA staff, board members, authors, and friends while enjoying exquisite Good Luck hors d'oeuvres and drinks, desserts and birthday cake, discounted books, a champagne toast, and more.

All tickets are on sale now. Space is limited—reserve yours now!