Events for the Week

Whew! A lot going on this week. Pay special attention to the Eco reading on Monday night (I met him once while working at a bookstore...he's very charming), the Contemporary Poetry Review event on Tuesday, and the Gargoyle Magazine event on Thursday. I hope to make at least one of them.

Special note:
The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival starts June 23, and is located on the National Mall. If you live anwhere close to Washington, D.C. you have no excuse. Go. I attend every year, and usually more than once. It's more than worth the metro ride, the heat, and the crowds. As one of my friends always says, "I go for the food, stay for the exhibits, and then come back for more food".

20 Monday

6:30 P.M. Elizabeth Benedict reads from and signs her new suspense novel, The Practice of Deceit , at the Chevy Chase Public Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave. NW, 202-282-0021.

7 P.M. David Plotz discusses and signs The Genius Factory: The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank at Olsson's-Courthouse, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-525-4227. This event is part of the Washingtonian magazine book club. Plotz will also read on Saturday, June 25, at 6 p.m. at Politics and Prose, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Author and semiotician Umberto Eco continues to break boundaries with his new illustrated novel, The Mysterious Flame of the Queen Loana. Yambo is an elderly used-book dealer who loses his memory in an accident and seeks to recover it by revisiting the memorabilia and comic books of his youth. Eco blends masterful storytelling with insights derived from cognitive theory and philosophy. This is a Ticketed Event held at Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Road, NW, Washington, D.C. Two tickets are free with book purchase; otherwise $10 each. Event hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. Michael Collier , professor at the University of Maryland and former Maryland poet laureate, reads from his work as part of the poetry series at Café Toulouse, 2431 18th St. NW, 202-726-4680

21 Tuesday

7:30 P.M. Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore and Rosanne Singer read from their poetry as part of the Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series held at Miller's Cabin, Picnic Grove #6, Beach Dr. at the Military Rd. overpass in Rock Creek Park, 301-587-4954.
Time: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 7:00 PM
Title of Event: CPR Book Club

7 P.M. Garrick Davis, distinguished editor of the online journal, Contemporary Poetry Review, launches Chapters' CPR Book Club, with a discussion of Adam Kirsch's new book, The Wounded Surgeon. Chapters Literary Bookstore, 445 11th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 202-737-5553

22 Wednesday

7 P.M. Kermit Roosevelt , assistant professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania, reads from and signs his new legal thriller, In the Shadow of the Law , at Olsson's-Penn Quarter, 418 Seventh St. NW, 202-638-7610.

7 P.M. and 9:30 P.M. 48 Hour Film Project. Screening of films created over the weekend - 26 Baltimore teams have only 48 hours to write, shoot, edit, and score original music for their film. The winner of "Best Film of Baltimore" will compete against winners from other cities. Visit the official website for more info. Charles Theatre, 1711 N. Charles St, Baltimore, Md. 410-727-3456.

23 Thursday

6 P.M. Jeff Bagato presents a slide-illustrated talk about his new travel guide, Mondo DC: An Insider's Guide to Washington, DC's Most Unusual Tourist Attractions , at the Provisions Library, 1611 Connecticut Ave. NW, 2nd fl., 202-299-0460.

7 P.M. Peter Quinn reads from and signs his new WWII thriller, Hour of the Cat , at Olsson's-Penn Quarter, 202-638-7610.

7:30 P.M. Adriana Trigiani reads from and signs her new novel, Rococo, at Borders-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, 703-998-0404.

7:30 P.M. Pamela Kessler discusses and signs Undercover Washington: Where Famous Spies Lived, Worked, and Loved at Barnes and Noble-Rockville, 12089 Rockville Pike, 301-881-0237.

7:30 P.M. Meet the Artist: Leo Vallareal. Leo Villareal, whose work is on view in the exhibition Visual Music, discusses his lucent installations that redefine architectural and outdoor spaces with fluidly changing combinations of colored light. His work offers the viewer a charged experience that embodies the central idea in Visual Music. The event is free, and first come, first serve. Location: Ring Auditorium, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW, Washington, D.C.

8 P.M. Gargoyle Magazine celebrates its 50th issue with readings by poets and fiction writers featured in its pages, at the Lubber Run Amphitheatre, North 2nd & N. Columbus Sts. in Arlington, Va. Call 703-228-1850 or visit Arlington Arts for further details.

24 Friday

11:30 A.M. Steven Raichlen , author of The Barbecue! Bible and BBQ USA: 425 Fiery Recipes from All Across America, presents a lecture, "Barbecue: A History of the World's Oldest Culinary Art," at the Library of Congress, James Madison Bldg., Mumford Room, 202-707-0911.

7 P.M. Honor Moore reads from and signs her new collection of poems, Red Shoes, at Chapters Literary Bookstore, 202-737-5553.

7 P.M. John Glassie. The author/artist discusses and signs his book, Bicycles Locked to Poles. Atomic Books, 1100 W. 36th St, Baltimore, Md. 410-662-4444.

7:30 P.M. Marc Estrin reads from and signs his new novel, The Education of Arnold Hitler, at Barnes and Noble-Georgetown, 3040 M St. NW, 202-965-9880.

8 P.M. Backseat Film Festival Kick Off Backseat Shorts "Laughs and Gags!" and Backseat feature premiere Pleasures of the Damned (1979, Giallo). Creative Alliacne at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, Md. 410-276-1651.

25 Saturday

5 P.M. Poetry Orgy with Clarinda Harris. Poets from Towson University read from their own work. Minas Gallery, 815 W. 36th St, Baltimore, Md. 410-732-4258.

26 Sunday

1 P.M. LARRY NEAL WRITERS’ COMPETITION: ADULT CATEGORY WINNERS
This annual competition, sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, honors excellence in writing. The first-place winners in the categories of poetry, fiction and dramatic writing will each give a short reading. Join us for an opportunity to support and encourage the work of up-and-coming local writers. Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 202-364-1919.