Adrian Miller had quite a festive launch party for his new book, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Denver August 17. In fact, this wasn’t just one party, this was three parties in one! Hundreds of guests turned out for the event, which was spread over three floors of the library, with each floor themed to match a different era in the history of soul food. Each floor featured different music, food, and costume for the author.
1st floor: The Rural South, with food in the style of a church supper catered by Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, gospel music by Robertta F. Johnson Moore and Michael Williams.
2nd floor: The Urban North, with food by Fanciful Foods, jazz music by Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine.
3rd floor: The hip hop scene with vegetarian fare from Two Sistah’s Eats and Treats catering, music by DJ CaveM.
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Adrian Miller has book signing events across the country this fall. Check his author page for details. You can follow him on Twitter @soulfoodscholar.
Folks heading to the party!
The gathering masses on the first floor of the library.
Wonderful volunteers taking down book orders.
Signing books
Lemon square from Jim ‘N Nick’s – Colorado.
Paul Bestafka of Jim ‘N Nick’s – Colorado serving up a church supper on the first floor.
Getting ready to take a break and enjoy some hibiscus aid!
Enjoying a plate of church supper food.
Robertta F. Johnson Moore doing her thing on the gospel music tip. Adrian Miller “Soul Food” book launch party, Denver Public Library 8/17/2013
Robertta F. Johnson Moore and Michael Williams keeping the first floor folks entertained. Adrian Miller “Soul Food” book launch party, Denver Public Library 8/17/2013
The Soul Food powerpoint…ready for action!
In costume as a sharecropper for the Rural South theme of the first floor of the event, author Adrian Miller breaks it down about greens and black-eyed peas. Denver Public Library, 8/17/2013
Speechifyin’ as a sharecropper.
The “Jazz Club” on the second floor.
Autographing books
The autograph line.
Signing a book for high school buddy Carrie Hale.
Jazz-era soul food served up by Fanciful Foods catering on the second floor.
Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine making the second floor jazz club come alive.
The jazz club crowd.
Audience listens to Adrian Miller’s presentation in the Urban North room at the book launch party for “Soul Food,” 8/17/2013 Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, Denver
Audience listens to Adrian Miller’s presentation in the Urban North room at the book launch party for “Soul Food,” 8/17/2013 Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
Giving some love to DJ CaveM and the next generation.
A vegetarian soul sampler plate from Two Sistah’s Eats and Treats catering.
Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine perform on the second floor, where the theme is the Urban North. Adrian Miller “Soul Food” book launch party, Denver Public Library 8/17/2013
Adrian Miller dressed for the hip hop floor of the “Soul Food” book launch 8/17/2013, Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, Denver