Chaz Bono is no doubt a venerable advocate and champion of the LGBT community so it isn’t any wonder he was selected as this year’s Grand Marshall of the San Francisco Pride Week. Part of his city-by-the-bay agenda includes a book signing event of his latest release Transition (Dutton Adult, $25.95, 256 pages, 978-0525952145)

Mario Lopez arrived alone, with no posse, publicist or security. In fact, I was waiting with Book Passage staff at the normal front entrance at Book Passage in the Ferry Building and he arrived from the back. He simply walked in, and charmingly said hello to those who had lined up outside for his book signing. I was pretty much used to celebrities arriving with a little bit more buzz and fanfare and was pleasantly pleased at his calm demeanor. He greeted the crowd and before he took a seat, he posed for photographs.

Ashley began to speak of her childhood. She explained it in the most eloquent way. No nonsense, no sugar-coating – it felt real. Initially, there were a few laughs here and there as she shared awkward childhood moments about family and herself but as the minutes progressed it was clear that Ashley drew strong senses of emotion from all of us.

The charmed life of Maria Menounos is the epitome of the American Dream. Her personal story growing up in a country with working-class immigrant parents trying to make ends meet is definitely one to embrace. Her ideals and visions are nothing short of admirable. Maria’s commendable determination in life is an ongoing process and her book The EveryGirl’s Guide To Life imparts this priceless character trait and vision to her readers.

It was a match made in literary heaven and when you hold, see and read the finished product in your hand, you would never have imagined that the author and her illustrator were meeting for the first time. That was just one of many interesting facts I gathered from a Thursday afternoon luncheon with new author Maya Soetoro-Ng and her illustrator Yuyi Morales.

As fellow French Laundry colleagues and friends gathered at Book Passage at the Ferry Building to welcome Chef Grant Achatz together with co-author Nick Kokonas for their book signing event, I imagined San Francisco must be a bit of a homecoming venue for him. Hearing him recalling his first try-out day at the French Laundry, meeting Thomas Keller who became an esteemed mentor throughout the years

The rainstorm and gloomy weather did not stop fans and admirers of internet sensation Bakerella a.k.a. Angie Dudley from attending her San Francisco book signing event at Chronicle Books last Saturday. Her cheery and warm demeanor was as comforting as a steaming cup of hot cocoa. With her golden blonde hair, adorable smile, voice and bright red blazer, it looked like the sun followed her wherever she went.

Lady bloggers unite! February 8 was the day that rocked the city by the bay as Ree Drummond, famously known as The Pioneer Woman, pulled into town to promote her newly released novel Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – A Love Story (William Morrow, $25.99, 352 pages, 9780061997167). With all her lovely girls (daughters, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece) in tow, Ree charmingly graced the cozy and intimate Books Inc. at the Opera Plaza; strutted down the aisles with her black heels to hundreds of admiring fans.

I have a confession to make… I love wine. And I am smitten with the Napa Valley region not just for its variety and abundance of wines but because of the wonderful folks that abound the area. Everywhere you go the fervor for their chosen expertise thrives in countless ways. From Downtown Napa to Calistoga and then to the Silverado Trail, oenophiles will navigate the expanse with greater ease with our next recommended holiday read

Tweet Out & About on Assignment:  Kaye Cloutman The whole summer with my toddler has been such an amazing journey. He just turned three a couple days ago and each day that followed proved that he really is no longer a baby. Somewhere inside me is a person who is still stuck with the lullabies
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