Book lovers everywhere are all talking about the most lavish, luxurious and literary experience of a lifetime: The Algonquin Round Table Dinner. First Book, chosen as Neiman Marcus’ 2009 signature charity, is bringing the best and brightest minds of modern literature to your dinner table.  Inspired by the Algonquin Round Table of the 1920’s, the dinner, held at New York’s legendary Algonquin hotel, will include a magnificent array of literati.* Picture it now: sparkling conversation, fine food, you, a guest and . . .

Christopher Buckley
Roz Chast
Delia Ephron
Nora Ephron
Malcolm Gladwell
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Adam Gopnik
John Lithgow
Anna Deavere Smith
George Stephanopoulos
Ali Wentworth

Best of all? All proceeds from the dinner will go directly to First Book and help put books in the hands of the children who need them most.  And who knows? Maybe those books will inspire children in need to become the next generation of authors, journalists, editors, and literary geniuses.

So if you are stumped about what to give that special someone this holiday season . . .  think no more! And if you are thinking (even though I just said think no more), “Hey First Book!  I can’t afford a $200,000 dinner!”  No need to worry . . .   you can still support First Book by making a donation through the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book.  So just think about it, because it is almost certain that the Algonquin Round Table Experience is more magnificent than Santa’s elves, more memorable than Frosty the Snowman, and probably even more fabulous than Rudolph the Reindeer.

*Final guest list will include at least eight authors committed to donating their time for this wonderful evening, pending scheduling arrangements.  Substitutions could occur if unplanned absences become necessary.