Events for the Week

Special Note:
Not exactly a writer event, but still rating very high on the cool list is Movie Dearest: Baltimore Pride Film Festival. Billed as "a celebration of the rich history of queer cinema – old, new, narrative, documentary, campy, cutting edge – stories from the boundaries. Baltimore Pride, famous for their weekend Pride parade and festival in Druid Hill park partners with Creative Alliance, presenters of Charm City Kitty Club and local films of all sorts, for a new annual celebration of queer cinema. Running June 1-3.

30 Monday

7 P.M. Young adult author Tamora Pierce , author of Trickster's Queen and the quartets "The Protector of the Small" and "The Immortals," reads from and signs her work at Final Draft Books, 192 North 21st St., Purcellville, Va., 540-338-8238.

7 P.M. Spoken Heard Mondays Open mic poetry surrounded by acid jazz, neo-soul, and hip hop. Local and national artists featured weekly. Club 347 347 N. Calvert St. 347 Baltimore. EVENT PHONE: 410-547-1045

8 P.M. Slamicide Poetry Slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It was established in the mid-80s by Marc Kelly Smith, a then construction worker, as a means to heighten public interest in poetry readings. Since then, slam has evolved into an international art form emphasizing audience involvement and poetic excellence. Slamicide begins at 8:00pm SHARP!! Get there early (like 7:30pm even)! The show WILL go on without you! Price: $5.00 Event phone: 410.889.7076

31 Tuesday

12 Noon The citywide festival commemorating the 150th anniversary of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass , "D.C. Celebrates Whitman , " winds up Tuesday, May 31 (Whitman's 186th birthday), with a noon reading of verse from the landmark collection by Robert Aubry Davis at the Library of Congress, James Madison Bldg., Pickford Theater, 202-707-1308.

1 Wednesday

1 P.M. Robert Littell reads from and signs his new espionage thriller, Legends , at Chapters Literary Bookstore, 202-737-5553. He will also read that evening at 7 p.m. at Olsson's-Penn Quarter, 202-638-7610.

6:30 P.M. Beverly Jenkins signs her new historical romance, Something Like Love , at Karibu Books, the Mall at Prince Georges, 3500 East-West Hwy., 301-559-1140.

7 P.M. Kim Schraf, Dan Vera and Craig Wallace read from their work as part of the Brookland Poetry Series #18, "Dog Days II," at the Brookland Visitors Center, 3420 Ninth St. NE. For details, call 202-526-1632

7:30 P.M. Alex Klaits and Gulchin Gulmamadova-Klaits. International aid workers/authors Alex Klaits and Gulchin Gulmamadova-Klaits read from their book Love and War in Afghanistan. Red Emma's 800 St. Paul St. Baltimore EVENT PHONE: 410-230-0450

2 Thursday

7 P.M. Gigi Anders discusses and signs her new memoir, Jubana!: The Awkwardly True and Dazzling Adventures of a Jewish Cubana Princess , at Borders-White Flint, 11301 Rockville Pike, 301-816-1067. She will also read on Friday, June 3, at 7 p.m. at Olsson's-Penn Quarter, 202-638-7610.

7 P.M. Scott Simon , correspondent and host of "Weekend Edition Saturday" for NPR, reads from and signs his new novel, Pretty Birds , at Olsson's-Courthouse, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-525-4227. He will also read on Saturday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at Politics and Prose, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Denise Hamilton reads from and signs her new Eve Diamond mystery, Savage Garden , at Borders-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, 703-998-0404.

7:30 P.M. Journalist Jim Lehrer , host of "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on PBS, reads from and signs his new novel, The Franklin Affair , at Politics and Prose, 202-364-1919.

3 Friday

7 P.M. Matt Bondurant reads from and signs his new novel, The Third Translation , at Barnes & Noble-Fairfax, 12193 Fair Lakes Promenade Dr., 703-278-0300.

7:30 P.M. Northern Virginia Writers hosts a discussion, "Using Language to Create an Emotional Landscape," with Joyce Hackett , author of the novel Disturbance of the Inner Ear , on Friday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg, Va. For details, call 301-654-8664 or e-mail nvw@writer.org .

4 Saturday

12 Noon. Open House at the Writer's Center.
Meet workshop leaders, staff and Board members at our June Open House. We'll have door prizes, including a free workksop, free membership and a subscription to Poet Lore, the Writer's Center's literary journal. We will also have demonstrations to show new features on our recently-revamped website. Light refreshments. Free admission.