The first in a series of Brown-bag* discussions at the Museum of Art offered only to those Members at the Museum Enthusiast level ($150) and above will take place today at noon and prepare yourself for a wonderful Moroccan-themed lunch with internationally-known designer Maryam Montague. Don't let the term 'brown bag*' turn you off.  The Museum's talented Paris-born caterer, Remy Gautier, is preparing a delicious French-inspired Moroccan lunch of boneless chicken breast marinated with lemon, onion, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, green olives, lemon and cilantro served along with a flavorful couscous, roasted vegetables and chickpeas.  A sumptuous orange cake is the dessert.  Lunch will be served during an informative and intimate discussion about decorating with a Moroccan flair by world-renowned designer and writer Montague whose intriguing and beautiful new book is, Marrakesh by Design (Artisan, $29.95).  She will be here to answer your questions about design and will sign copies of her book following lunch. Born in Egypt to an American father and an Iranian mother, Maryam Montague considers herself of citizen of the world.  She attended schools in Washington, D.C., Paris and Bologna and is fluent in French, English, Farsi, Moroccan and Italian.  Along with her husband, architect Chris Redecke, she designed, built and decorated the sublime Peacock Pavilions, a boutique hotel on the outskirts of Marrakesh.  Maryam is a frequent contributor to shows on both HGTV as well as the Travel Channel. Lunch is $25 per person and includes a beverage (coffee, tea, soda, water).  Wine is available at an additional charge.  You can make your reservation now by calling Shelley Edwards at (954) 262-0221 or emailing at shelley.edwards@moafl.org.  Please hurry; seating is limited! Hardcover copies of Marrakesh by Design are available for $29.95 at our own Books & Books in the Museum lobby. Reserve your copy now by calling Sally Glenn at (954) 262-0234. 12pm

At the start of this intimate and moving memoir, Dr. David Servan- Schreiber is returning by bicycle to his Paris home from an unsettling appointment. Following several months of fatigue and fainting spells, he had scheduled an emergency MRI. The results confirm his worst fears: the return of the cancer that he was first diagnosed with nineteen years earlier.Fully aware of what the prognosis means, he redoubles his commitment to an Anticancer diet, and complements his chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and vaccine protocols with acupuncture and yoga. At the same time, he undertakes a close assessment of his own life, realizing that he has neglected a key piece of Anticancer advice-to create a stress-free life; instead he had embarked on an international tour to take his message to the public. Nevertheless, he concludes that he would not have done it any differently.In Not the Last Goodbye (Viking, $22), Servan-Schreiber raises many of the most complex and personal questions about how we live and how we prepare for death. Powerful, honest, and inspiring, he continually surprises with his thoughts on what's important in life and the meaning of death.Dr. Servan-Schreiber died peacefully last July, surrounded by friends and family, while listening to his favorite music as he had wished and planned. His brother, Franklin, will be presenting Dr. Servan-Schreiber's book and will share the lessons he learned from being a caretaker to his brother.  Presented in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise South Florida.