* JONATHAN RABAN
It's a ridiculous accident of the fates that Jonathan Raban is reading from Waxwings--easily the most important novel to emerge from the Pacific Northwest at least since Matthew Stadler's last book half a decade ago--on the same night that Stadler himself is giving a lecture at Polestar. And on such an otherwise empty week! What the fuck? What is a person to do? Clone oneself? University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* MATTHEW STADLER, CHARLES MUDEDE, MEGAN PURN
See Stranger Suggests. Polestar Music Gallery, 1412 18th Ave, 628-0888, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.
OPEN MIKE NIGHT--Musicians, poets, whoever. Thursdays at 8 pm. 15th Avenue Alehouse, 7515 15th Ave NW, free.
POETSWEST--Featuring Loraine Campbell, J. Glenn Evans. Sunday Dec 21 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Featured readers and an open mic. Sundays at 7 pm. The Globe, 1531 14th Ave, 547-4585, free.
SCRATCHING POST--Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, signup at 7:30 pm. Mr. Spot's Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424, free.
WOMEN'S POETRY NIGHT--Spoken word from the fairer sex. Thursdays at 8 pm. Bar, 1525 E Olive Way, 322-1788, free.
