THURSDAY 5/25
'SWING VOTE'
A political debate between The Stranger's city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett and policy analyst Jim Melton. Tammy Williams, a trial lawyer, referees. It will be filmed and broadcast by Seattle Channel. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873, doors at 7 pm, first debate at 8 pm, second debate at 9 pm, $5, 21+.
JENNIFER CULKIN, JOHN BURGESS, ALLISON GREEN, SUSAN CASEY
The four writers read to celebrate the 10th volume of the Jack Straw Writers Anthology. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919, 7 pm, free.
LINDA BARNES
Heart of the World is a detective story set in Boston. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
SUSAN RICHARDS SHREVE
A Student of Living Things is a novel set in Washington, D.C. Elliott Bay Book Company,101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 5/26
TOM DOUGLAS
The famous chef talks about (and hopefully makes samples of recipes from) I Love Crab Cakes! 50 Recipes for an American Classic. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
DELIA FALCONER
The Lost Thoughts of Soldiers is a novel set in 1898 in Georgia. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
BRUCE TAYLOR
He reads his contributions to a book called The Bizarro Starter Kit, an anthology intended to introduce you to "the bizarro genre." Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 323-5483 for info, 6:30 pm, free.
SATURDAY 5/27
PAULS TOUTONGHI
The Seattle native reads from his debut novel, Red Weather, about immigrants in Milwaukee. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free.
KATHERINE NORGARD
Hard to Place: A Crime of Alcohol is a nonfiction account of "the quicksand that occurs when medical disorders and legal consequences meet." Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
THE SCARLET F CABARET
Spoken word, burlesque, striptease, fashion, music, and more, to benefit a documentary called The F Word: Femmes, Femininity, and a New Feminism. Performers include Tara Hardy, Queen Bees, Amy Mahoney, and Katinka Kraft. Re-bar, 233-9873, 8 pm, $12, 21+.
TUESDAY 5/30
LISA UNGER
Beautiful Lies is a debut novel set in New York City and involving a toddler. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
CRAIG FERGUSON
The host of The Late Late Show signs his novel Between the Bridge and the River, starring a couple boys from Scotland. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7:30 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 5/31
'AN EVENING OF BECKETT'
This year Samuel Beckett turned 100. Tonight he crawls out of his grave and does a reading with a bunch of theater types. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 6 pm, free.
JOSEPH FINDER
Killer Instinct is a thriller. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
YAZIR HENRI
The South African peace activist gives a lecture titled "Veterans of Inter-communal Violence: Guerilla Peacemakers." UW Campus, Kane Hall, Room 210, 685-4716 for info, 7 pm, free.
