PETER FROMM

Hell yes! Slide show! Fromm--a naturalist and photographer residing in lovely Friday Harbor--treats everyone to an exciting and educational discussion (complete with visual aides) about his adventures in the wonderful world of whales. He'll also be signing copies of his book, Whale Tales II. See Bio Box. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (Willy).

FALL PLAY READING SERIES

Elliott Bay's very own bookseller David Hsieh directs the opening night production of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, the first in Repertory Actors Theatre's four-part series of staged readings presenting "prominent, controversial and newly published plays by national and local playwrights." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 364-3283, 7:30 pm, $5 suggested donation at the door (proceeds to benefit Rain City Projects).

JAMES GRIPPANDO

Grippando (formerly of Janet "Dragon Lady" Reno's law firm) signs his new thriller Under Cover of Darkness, a missing-person mystery set in Seattle. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, noon, free.

PETER FROMM

See Thursday listing. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3320, 6:30 pm, free.

JAMES GRIPPANDO

See Thursday listing. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

JIM CARROLL, JANINE POMMY-VEGA, & ROGER BONAIR-AGARD

Elliott Bay hosts a "Bumbershoot After-Hours Literary Soiree," an informal gathering in which like-minded poetical types are invited to sit around reading and discussing the relative value of contemporary verse, and featuring performances by such Bumbershoot-weekend noteworthies as Carroll (Fear of Dreaming, Void of Course), Pommy-Vega (Mad Dogs of Trieste), and Bonair-Agard (Burning Down the House). Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 364-3283, 8:30 pm, free (first come, first served).

Bumbershoot is the only thing happening today. Please consult The Stranger's Bumbershoot Guide 2000 for event times and locations.

GRANT COGSWELL

Just back from covering the DNC in Los Angeles, Stranger writer Grant Cogswell takes stage at the Jewel Box for part two of his serial poem, The Dream of the Cold War. See Stranger Suggests. The Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823, 10 pm, $3.

ALAN WATT

Watt, a standup comic, reads from his debut novel, Diamond Dogs, a story of crime and its consequences, which Publishers Weekly praised for its "incisive scenes that capture the petty cruelties and poignant betrayals of adolescents." University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

JAMES WELCH

Welch's latest novel tells the story of an Oglala Sioux who joins up with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, travels with the troupe to Europe, and then gets left behind, stranded in Marseille. Annie Dillard called The Heartsong of Charging Elk a "major American novel," and local hot-shot writer Sherman Alexie praised it as one of "those very special books you keep returning to, reading them once or twice a year for the rest of your life." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 364-3283, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.

WILLIE SMITH, PAUL NELSON, & STEPHANIE SKURA

Subtext Reading Series features performances by a novelist (Smith's novel Oedipus Cadet was called "quirkily original" by Kirkus review), a poet (Nelson's "sense of the mythic," according to Jean Houston, "is down and dirty as well as sublime"), and a dancer (Skura is the recipient of a "Bessie" New York Dance and Performance Award). Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, $5.

ALAN WATT

See Tuesday listing. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 364-3283, 7:30 pm, advance free tickets available at store.