THURS-5

TIM MCCARVER -- Baseball great Tim McCarver wants to persuade you Why 1998 Was Baseball's Greatest Year, the subtitle to his anecdotal book, The Perfect Season. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, noon, free.

ROBERT WHITING -- Whiting scrapes off the whitewash covering Japan's economic "miracle" to expose the seedy underbelly in his study, Tokyo Underworld: The Fast Times and Hard Life of an American Gangster in Japan. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

*LORNA DEE CERVANTES -- See Calendar Box. El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Ave S, 329-9442, 7:30 pm, free.


FRI-6

JACK PARSONS, CARMELLA PADILLA, RUBEN ORTIZ TORRES -- New Mexico and East L.A. lowrider culture are on display in the photographs of Jack Parsons, showing at Project 416. At Zeitgeist, Ruben Ortiz Torres is showing his pop art pinstriped leaf blowers. The artists, and art writer Carmella Padilla, will read and show slides of their work. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.


SAT-7

*CATHERINE BRADY -- Drawing from Irish American working-class inspiration, Brady's collection of short fiction, The End of the Class War, tumbles families across green lawns, pulls children from plump parents, and generally celebrates in slipstream language the ties of family. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


MON-9

TAMA JANOWITZ -- Trying hard to be the Edith Wharton of this century, Janowitz slams social satire into The Hamptons, in her new novel, A Certain Age. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

MICHAEL DIBDIN -- Seattle's answer to Ian Fleming, British-born Dibdin writes excellent literary detective novels, most notably the Aurelio Zen mysteries. He reads tonight for the U.S. release of an early work, A Rich Full Death. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


TUES-10

*HOMAGE TO ROBERT SUND -- Skagit Valley poet Robert Sund, known as "Poet Laureate of Ish River," is the object of fond tribute from Northwest poets and translators at this fundraising event (by donation, for health care costs). Tim McNulty, Tom Jay, Bill Porter, and Mike O'Connor are expected to read. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

CONNIE EDEN & TRACY CHENEY -- Thumbs up for Eden & Cheney's guide, The Pitiful Gardener's Handbook. They'll discuss all sorts of green tips. Barnes & Noble, Pacific Place, Main Floor, 7 pm, free.


WED-11

MICKEY PEARLMAN -- "Book club guru" Pearlman shares her advice on creating and maintaining such an institution in What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members and Other Book Lovers. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

PATRICIA HERSCH -- A journey not many of us would be willing to make: A Journey into the Heart of American Adolescence. Editor and journalist Hersch follows eight contemporary teenagers in her study, A Tribe Apart. Kane Hall, Walker Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).

M. ELAINE MAR -- Mar's book Paper Daughter is an autobiographical account of immigrating to the U.S. from Hong Kong, her coming of age in Denver, and subsequent education at Harvard. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


OPEN MIC

Note to regularly programmed open mics: The Stranger will list events only if we receive an announcement -- regular listings will be dropped unless we are notified that the events are in fact ongoing.


THURS-5

THE PEARL -- Turn irritation into beauty: bring fiction, poetry, film or drama. Every first Thursday celebrates Dead Poets. The Pearl, 4215 University Way NE, 547-3326, 8 pm, free.

665 -- A Salon production, open mic spoken word and music. This week features Nik Chatfield. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave, 329-4066, 8 pm, free.


WED-11

COFFEE MESSIAH -- Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.