Datebook

Today

Hanukkah Festival: Special foods, dancing, storytelling and family sing-alongs are among the events celebrating Hanukkah at this fifth annual festival at the Skirball Cultural Center. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 440-4500. Advance tickets, (323) 655-8587. General admission, $8; students and seniors, $6; Skirball members and children under 12, free.

Slow Tamales: The Los Angeles convivum of Slow Food is hosting a tamale party at Angeli Caffe. Mexican cookbook author Nancy Zaslavsky will teach you to make three kinds of tamales, and there will be snacks as well. Noon. Angeli Caffe, 7274 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. (323) 936-9086. $20 for Slow Food members; $25 for non-members. Children free.

Tuesday

Book Signing: Times Food Editor Russ Parsons will sign copies of “Los Angeles Times Modern California Cooking” at Long Beach’s Dana Branch Library. 6:30 p.m. 3980 Atlantic Blvd. (562) 570-1042. Free.

Food-related event information should be submitted at least two weeks before publication date. Mail to Food Section Datebook, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 or fax to (213) 237-7355. No phone calls please. Submissions are subject to editing and condensation and are printed on a space-available basis.