An Evening with Ryan Baesemann and Alex Perez

A new essay collection looks at American identity through humor, everyday objects and cultural oddities in a conversation at Books & Books. The event takes place Friday, July 17 at the Coral Gables bookstore, featuring Ryan Baesemann and Alex Perez in discussion of 250 Great American Things. The evening includes a reading, conversation and audience Q&A.

Published by Hard Cider Press, the book gathers 250 short essays from writers and editors connected to County Highway in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Rather than ranking national achievements, the collection turns to objects, inventions and cultural markers such as lawn mowers, gas grills, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, cowboy boots and catcher’s mitts.

Baesemann is a writer, editor, farmer and managing editor of County Highway. Perez is a Cuban American writer from Miami and associate editor of County Highway. The event is free and open to the public with RSVP, though seating is not guaranteed, and books will be available for purchase.