West Hartford – Kickoff of Mandell JCC Jewish Book Festival with Joan Nathan, author of King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World, 7 p.m., Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Ave., Tickets: (860) 231-6316; tickets@mandelljcc.org; or Mandell JCC box office; $40