Levain Bakery Book Bash with Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald

Join us for the Levain Bakery Book Bash with bakery founders Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, a special event celebrating the release of Hear the story behind one of Boston’s most beloved bakeries as they share the inspiring story behind their world-famous six-ounce cookies and the friendship that started it all. Pam and Connie will discuss their journey from triathletes to bakers, the early days of their cozy Upper West Side shop, and the growth of Levain into a national favorite. Guests will also enjoy a sweet treat—Pam and Connie are bringing their legendary cookies to share. Don’t miss this chance to meet the women behind the brand, hear their incredible story, and pick up a copy of their new book, with a portion of proceeds supporting Hot Bread Kitchen.

Pam and Connie will be in conversation with owner and founder of Lovestruck Books and Cafe, Rachel Kanter and President of George Howell Company, Rebecca Fitzgerald.

Your ticket includes a signed copy of Levain Bakery!

EVENT DETAILS

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open
  Settle in, grab a drink from our cafe and wine bar, and get ready for a great discussion!
• 7:00 PM: Discussion Begins
  Pam, Connie, Rachel and Rebecca will dive into Levain Bakery.
• 7:45 PM: Q&A Session
  Your chance to ask the authors anything!
• 8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations
  Meet the authors, get your book signed, and snap a photo.
• 8:30 PM: Last call
  Grab your final pour from the wine bar.
• 9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up
  Thanks for joining us!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the waitlist. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer them to the next person.

ACCESSIBILITY

Check-in will take place at our front entrance on Brattle Street. If you have any accessibility needs, you're welcome to use our side entrance (located on the right side of the building), which is wheelchair accessible and has a ramp.

Guests who would benefit from priority seating or any additional assistance are encouraged to reach out in advance — just email us at [email protected]. We're more than happy to make arrangements to ensure you feel comfortable and supported.

We’re always learning and looking for ways to make our events more accessible. If you have suggestions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!

BOOK PICKUP POLICY

If you purchased a book with your event ticket but can’t make it to the event—and don’t request a refund—we’ll happily hold your book for pickup for up to 30 days after the event date.

We’ll be in touch via the email you provided at checkout to help coordinate pickup. After 30 days, if we haven’t heard from you or made other arrangements, we’ll consider the book abandoned property and may donate it or return it to inventory so it can find a new home.

Thanks so much for your understanding and for supporting our events—we love doing this with you!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald created Levain Bakery in 1995, out of their passions for food, friendship and hard work.

Competitive swimmers and triathletes, Pam and Connie passed their grueling workouts by engaging in passionate conversations about starting their own company and baking, which ultimately inspired them to leave their respective careers in fashion and finance. They opened a small bread shop in 1995, which they named Levain Bakery.

From the beginning, Levain Bakery has been a comfortable and inviting presence in its Upper West Side neighborhood. Pam and Connie would split their days between baking and running the bakery and also training for races. While riding hundreds of miles and starved for extra calories, they developed a recipe for a decadent chocolate chip cookie, reminiscent of the cookies Pam’s mom made when she was a child (incidentally, they also fit perfectly in the back of their bike shirts).

When the two decided to quietly start selling the cookies, they flew off the shelves. An icon was born. The cozy shop on West 74th Street quickly became a neighborhood favorite and a destination for epicurious travelers from around the world, hungry for the world-famous six-ounce cookies.

30 years later, Levain is often lauded as the home of the world’s best cookie. A modern heritage brand, Levain has 18 bakery locations and a bustling ecommerce gifting business.

ABOUT LEVAIN BAKERY: A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, COMMUNITY, AND COOKIES

It’s amazing what a cookie can do. A really good cookie, that is. It can spark a romance, comfort in time of need, relay gratitude and smooth over a gaffe. It can even bring a community together. In short, a great cookie can be the start of an even greater story. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, this book brings together the stories of Levain Bakery in a beautifully designed, carefully curated book—filled with photographs, illustrations, and a selection of recipes.

Founders and bakers Connie McDonald and Pam Weekes personally recount how Levain became the success it is today—from building a client list in Anthony Bourdain’s kitchen and later beating Bobby Flay in a chocolate chip cookie-off to becoming a bicoastal enterprise while retaining a small business’s dedication to community. The book will also share some classic Levain recipes: blueberry muffins, oatmeal raisin scones, and more. An homage to the bakery and the city where it originated, this book is the perfect gift for cookie fans, as well as a collectible souvenir from this iconic New York institution.

10% of the proceeds of this book will be donated to Hot Bread Kitchen, an organization committed to creating economic opportunity through culinary job skills training.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Rachel Kanter is the owner and founder of Lovestruck Books and Cafe– the realization of her personal happily ever after. A lifelong lover of romance novels, she has curated a space that reflects her passion and celebrates the power of love and literature to bring people together.

Rachel lives in Cambridge with her husband and young family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading romance novels, baking and eating snacks, singing showtunes, and stealing the occasional nap. Her favorite romance trope is Enemies to Lovers.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Rebecca Fitzgerald is the President of George Howell Company.

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Start your day with expertly crafted espresso drinks, artisanal pastries, and more. In the evening, the bar comes alive with wine, cocktails, sweet treats, charcuterie plates, and more. Enjoy seating indoors or on our covered patio.

To stay in the loop, visit the George Howell Coffee Eventbrite page and look for events listed under “George Howell Coffee & Wine Bar” at our Lovestruck Books & Cafe location!

Cafe Hours | 8:00am – 4:00pm

Bar Hours | Sunday – Wednesday: 4:00pm– 8:00pm, Thursday – Friday: 4:00pm – 10:00pm

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

Your presence at the Lovestruck Books and Cafe event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.

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