Conversation & Community
Dynamic in-person dialogues on art, culture, business, history, politics, and more
Gold Coast Forum is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing Long Island’s literary community together. At its core, it is about creating a welcoming space where readers and writers can come together for thoughtful conversations and meaningful literary experiences.
When Congressman Steve Israel opened Theodore’s Books in 2021, it quickly became a community hub. Wanting to take that spirit beyond the walls of a single bookstore, he founded Gold Coast Forum. This organization is designed to unite thinkers across Long Island, by bringing authors and public voices directly to their community.
One of the Forum’s signature efforts is the annual Gold Coast Book Fair, a three-day event that launched in 2024. Hosted in downtown Oyster Bay, the fair brings together hundreds of authors and speakers alongside panels and workshops. The result is a lively, accessible gathering where readers of all ages can celebrate the power of books.
Gold Coast Forum has three goals:
1. Support and grow our annual Gold Coast Book Fair — the premier literary event in our region (which in 2025 brought together more than 5,000 attendees over three days).
2. Host high-profile authors and literary figures from Long Island and across the country for dynamic conversations on art, culture, business, history, politics, and more. From national political leaders to celebrity chefs and children’s authors, we want to attract a diverse array of voices to spur local dialogue.
3. Strengthen our community’s literary roots through partnerships with local schools, book donations, increasing access to banned books, and more.
Contribute to the Conversation
Make an impact on Long Island’s culture by supporting the work of Gold Coast Forum. Your contributions keep the Gold Coast Book Fair free and open to the public, and bring authors to Long Island year-round for free community events.