Feeding more than your brain: Bring your 'inner foodie' to the Festival

In addition to the authors, readings and books, the Festival of Books is a showcase of what Tucson has to offer in entertainment and good things to eat. Bring your appetite and enjoy some vittles from local establishments.

Among the food vendors include local favorites Beyond Bread, BrushFire BBQ Co., Choice Greens, Create Café and Catering, Fat Greek, Frost, Miss Hannah's, Pastiche, Sky HotDogs, Tucson Tamale Co. and Zivaz. Food purchases at the Festival are cash only.

There is something for everyone, from tamales to tacos, gelato to gyros, and everything in between. And by planning to grab lunch or a snack at the Festival, not only are you satisfying your stomach but you also are supporting local businesses. And who knows — maybe you'll be introduced to your new favorite restaurant!

The food court will open both Saturday, March 13, and Sunday, March 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make sure to get a copy of the Arizona Daily Star's pullout Festival special section available this Sunday, March 7, to map the locations of your favorite food vendors on The University of Arizona Mall.

Here is the complete list of 2010 food vendors.

Make 'planning ahead' a family activity

Make sure you grab a copy of the Arizona Daily Star's special supplement covering this year's Festival of Books. The special section is designed to be your guide to getting the most out of the Festival experience and will appear in the paper this Sunday, March 7.

It is a great tool to help you and your families plan your weekend around all of the great events you don't want to miss.

The pullout tabloid will include mini-biographies of every author presenter, a complete listing of exhibitors, a Festival map that includes parking, and a complete schedule of presentations and workshops. There also is a separate pullout featuring children's activities and presentations for families with kids.

You are invited to volunteer

Volunteering at the Tucson Festival of Books is great way to be a part of the community and experience the satisfaction of supporting literacy.

Spots are limited and the deadline is almost here, so sign up today! It takes less than five minutes to register as a volunteer and it can all be done online through the application form. More information about volunteering can be found on the Festival volunteer page.

As seen on TV:

Meet author Curtis Sittenfeld

Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of the bestselling novels "American Wife," "Prep" and "The Man of My Dreams."

"Prep" was chosen as one of the Ten Best Books of 2005 by The New York Times, nominated for the UK's Orange Prize and optioned by Paramount Pictures.

Sittenfeld got her start as a published author very young: she won the Seventeen magazine fiction contest at age 16.

Come hear Sittenfeld present on researching a novel Sunday, March 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Integrated Learning Center Room 120. She will also be interviewed on what it was like to turn real-life First Lady Laura Bush into a fictional character on Sunday, March 14, from 4-5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom South.

Meet author Phillip Margolin

Former Peace Corps member, attorney, and high school teacher Phillip Margolin's list of New York Times bestselling mystery novels includes "Heartstone," "The Last Innocent Man," "Gone, But Not Forgotten," "The Burning Man" and "Sleeping Beauty."

His most recent work of fiction is "Supreme Justice," a follow-up to "Executive Privilege."

Margolin will speak with a panel of authors on how to "Kill Your Boss" in words on Saturday, March 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom South. He also will be interviewed solo about his writing and career on Sunday, March 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Student Union Ballroom South.