Events for the Week

With the fall publishing season now in full swing, there's suddenly a lot to do as far as lit events in the area. Get off your duff and enjoy. Special Note: in the interest of brevity, I have not listed anything related to the Virginia Fall for the Book festival. I may or may not post separately about it, but I have added links to the right for area festivals if you're interested. Fall for the Book offers lots of panel discussions, readings, and lectures by both nationally recognized authors and local treaures. Read the events carefully on their web pages. Some events are on the campus of GMU, others at the Fairfax County Government Center. If going for any of the "big name" writers, go early.

If there are any other fests or events I should know about, email me. Happy to post them.


12 Monday

7 P.M. Blues legend B.B. King signs The B.B. King Treasures: Photos, Mementos & Music From B.B. King's Collection (compiled with Dick Waterman), being published on the occasion of his 80th birthday, at Borders-Downtown, 18th & L Sts. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-466-4999.

7 P.M. Acclaimed Web designer Hillman Curtis presents a lecture, "Making the Invisible Visible," and signs his new book Hillman Curtis on Creating Short Films for the Web at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW. Admission is $20 for nonmembers; call 202-639-1703 for details and to RSVP.

7 P.M. Jewell Parker Rhodes reads from and signs her new Marie Laveau mystery, Voodoo Season, at Borders-Silver Spring, 8518 Fenton St., Silver Spring, Md. 301-585-0550.

13 Tuesday

6 P.M. Israeli writer Etgar Keret reads from the collection of short stories The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God. Ben and Esther Rosenbloom JCC, 3506 Gywnnbrook Ave, Owings Mills, Md. $12/person.

6:30 P.M. Tamara T. Gregory signs her new novel Passport Diaries at Karibu Books, the Mall at Prince Georges, Md. 3500 East-West Hwy., 301-559-1140.

6:30 P.M. Writers Live at the Library Series. Ayana Byrd and Akiba Solomon read from and discuss their compliation of essays by and about women. Enoch Pratt Free Library, central library
400 Cathedral St., Baltimore, Md. 410-396-5430.

7 P.M. Terry Pratchett reads from and signs his newest Discworld novel, Thud!, at Olsson's-Courthouse, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-525-4227.

7 P.M. Kim Addonizio reads from and signs her new novel Little Beauties at Chapters Literary Bookstore, 445 11th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-737-5553.

7 P.M. Salman Rushdie reads from his new novel, Shalimar the Clown. This is a ticketed event at Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. Two tickets are free with book purchase; otherwise, they are $10 each. Also note that Mr. Rushdie will sign only Shalimar the Clown. Sponsored by Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC. 1-800-722-0790

7:30 P.M. The "New Voices" series, designed to introduce emerging poets to the community and honor mentoring poets, begins its fall season with readings by poet Rod Jellema and some of his students at Grace Church (Georgetown), 1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 703-425-5583 for more details.

14 Wednesday

7 P.M. Robert Hicks reads from and signs his new novel The Widow of the South at Olsson's-Courthouse, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va., 703-525-4227.

7 P.M. Bret Easton Ellis reads from and signs his new novel Lunar Park at Olsson's-Penn Quarter, 418 Seventh St. NW, 202-638-7610.

15 Thursday

6:30 P.M. Writer/cartoonist Frank Cho talks about comic books, creativity and censorship in the arts industry. Harford County Public Library, Abingdon Branch. 2510 Tollgate Rd, Beltsville, Md. 410-273-5601 x 222.

7:30 P.M. Poets Lia Purpura and Jonathan Vaile read from their work as part of the Café Muse series at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md. An open reading (sign-up at 7 p.m.) concludes the program. Call 301-656-2797 or visit Word Works DC for details.

8 P.M. A Poetic Sit led by and featuring Ben Hogan. Notre' Maison, 18 W. 25th Street, Baltimore, Md. 410-235-4773.

16 Friday

7 P.M. Mick Foley "Scooter" Book Signing. Author and former professional wrestler Mick Foley will read and sign his new novel, Scooter. Borders Books and Music, 170 W. Ridgely Road, Lutherville, Md. 410-453-0727.

17 Saturday

5 P.M. Conceptual artist damali ayo discusses and signs her new book How to Rent a Negro at Karibu Books, the Mall at Prince Georges, 301-559-1140.

18 Sunday

1 P.M. The Riverdale House Museum hosts a reading by Regency Romance authors Kathryn Caskie, Kate Dolan, Janet Mullany, Diane Perkins, Mary Jo Putney and Lucia St. Clair Robson . Admission is $5, which includes a guided tour of the house and refreshments. The museum is located at 4811 Riverdale Rd. in Riverdale Park, Md. For details and to RSVP call 301-864-0420 .

1 P.M. Elizabeth Poliner reads from her new novel Mutual LIfe & Casualty as part of the DC Arts on Foot Program. Chapters Literary Bookstore, 445 11th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-737-5553.

2 P.M. Richard McCann reads from Mother of Sorrows, his collection of short stories published by Pantheon. He is joined by poet Thomas Sayers Ellis, who will read from The Maverick Room. (Graywolf Press). $4.00 (Member), $6.00 (Non-Member) Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, Md. 301 654-8664.

2 PM Garrison Keillor: Good Poems for Hard Times, Lecture and Book Signing. Garrison Keillor brings his humor and eloquence to some of his favorite poems by poets from Raymond Carver to Emily Dickinson to Charles Simic. Sponsored by the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program. Location: Lisner Aud., GW University, 730 21st St. N.W, Washington, D.C..$24, general; $18, members; call 202-357-3030 for more info.

4 P.M. 3rd Sunday Poetry Series. Poetry by Clarina Harriss and Yvette Neiser. An open mic follows. Minás Gallery, 815 W. 36th St., Baltimore, Md. 410-732-4258

4 P.M. D.C. Poets Against the War presents a reading by Carolyne Wright , author of Seasons of Mangoes and Brainfire, at Busboys & Poets, 1390 V St. NW. Call 202-387-POET or visit Bus Boys and Poets.