West Hartford – Kick-off of Mandell JCC’s 26th Annual Jewish Book Festival, “Sunday Afternoon with Smitten Kitchen,” with New York Times bestselling author Deb Perelman, in conversation with Lindsay Perkins of Lindsay Culinary, 2 p.m., 335 Bloomfield Ave., tickets@mandeljcc.org; www.mandelljcc.org; $36 (includes event, choice of one of Perelman’s books and booksigning).