FRANZ AUBREY METCALF
With a title soon to appear on bracelets everywhere, Metcalf's What Would Buddha Do? phrases Buddhism in digestible little chunks of humorous advice. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.
DAVID BYRNE
The talented man of music stops in town to sign Your Action World: Winners Are Losers with a New Attitude, his glossy new book that graphically illustrates the power of image over the word. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 12:30 pm, free.
WILLIAM GIBSON
Gibson plugs into sci-fi fandom again with All Tomorrow's Parties, his newest exploration of cybernautic stylism. Kane Hall 120, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).
MARJORIE REYNOLDS
A favorite of reading groups nationwide, Reynolds reads from her newest charmer, The Civil Wars of Jonah Moran, set on our very own Olympic Peninsula. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
JOHN L. BURRIS
Rodney King's attorney and civil rights activist, Burris presents his case about healing from racial conflict, in Blue vs. Black: Blacks and Cops in Conflict. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
STEWART LEE ALLEN
The Devil's Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force in History makes the argument that the switch from beer -- once the most popular beverage -- to coffee, a stimulant, had a profound effect on history (well, duh). Along the way, Allen documents the worldwide phenomenon of coffee sales. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.
RAY OLDENBURG
Third Place Books' philosophical inspiration, Oldenburg reads for the one-year anniversary of the bookstore, from his just re-released social treatise, The Great Good Place. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 1 pm, free.
KIM HASTREITER, DAVID HERSHKOVITS
Don't you expect Paper magazine founders H&H to be glamorous manifestations of pop culture? Well, don't you? Find out if your dream comes true as the founders read from their newly published amalgam, From AbFab to Zen: Paper's Guide to Pop Culture. Bonus: Slide show! Borders, 1501 Fourth Ave, 622-4599, 7 pm, free.
TASTE THIS
All-girl performance group plays with fire. Blending spoken word, theater, monologue and music, the Canadian Taste This explores "literal and metaphoric" instances of "being close to or in the fire -- about being the fire." Toys In Babeland, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 8 pm, $8.
*DAVID SHIELDS
What do you do with a year's sabbatical? You attend every local basketball game and keep a diary about the NBA. Then, if your own private musings are as fascinating as those of writer Shields (Dead Languages, Remote), you publish the results. Shields' newest, Black Planet: Facing Race during an NBA Season, explores the race and sports question with fascinating results. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
ISABEL ALLENDE
A hardy heroine challenges the historical role of gender and race in Allende's newest novel, Daughter of Fortune. Allende's past novels have used the picturesque to romantic advantage, bringing the author prominence even in the boy's club of Latin magic realism. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 7:30 pm, free.
*JONATHAN RABAN
Local treasure and Brit transplant Raban reads from his newest meditation on nature and sky-high themes of life, Passage to Juneau, in which the author voyages in his ketch from Seattle to the Alaskan Panhandle, finding narrative tides and historical bait on the way. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
QUASIMODO & THE BELLRINGERS
Port Townsend poet Sandy Diamond brings her 4' 8" self to bear on the tale of Quasimodo, the hunchback. She's accompanied by live jazz from the Bellringers, in a performance that celebrates the Blue Moon Tavern's 50-year history as every poet's favorite dive. Blue Moon Tavern, 712 NE 45th St, 8 pm, free.
BRADFORD MORGAN
The suspense surrounding Y2K tightens, with Morgan's fictional thriller Y2K: The Millennium Crisis. Oh prehistory, here we come. Barnes & Noble, 600 Pine St, 264-0156, 6:30 pm, free.
STAGGERED THIRDS
The talented trio of Gregory Hischak, Anna Mockler, and Doug Nufer perform hilarious and artful literate creations in turn, a reading style perfected via appearances at the Seattle Poetry Festival and elsewhere. The Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, $5.
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.
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.
SPOKEN WORD
Each and every Thursday, this venerable Pioneer Square venue spotlights music, poetry, and comedy. Pioneer Square Saloon, 73 Yesler Way, 624-6444, 8:30 pm, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER
Seattle's longest-running reading series turns 19 this season. Celebrate with poet Stephen Thomas, tonight's featured reader. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th off Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, donation.
THIRD PLACE BOOKS OPEN MIC
A place to share poetry; all are welcome, but swear words are discouraged (it's a family bookstore, for Christ's sake). Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM
With a new venue and a new night, Seattle's biggest poetry slam is alive and kickin'. Tonight: poetry mystery guest, plus open mic and open slam. Rupert's, 309 First Ave S, 628-7703, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.
CATHARTICISM
Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Tonight features "Guilt and Suffering in Las Vegas." Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.
