THURS-6
BHARTI KIRCHNER–Sharmila Sen, a “thoroughly modern, 32-year-old Chicago-style
woman,” who wears a power suit and goes to aerobics, has agreed to an arranged
marriage in the tradition of her Indian culture, but when she arrives at her
husband’s house all sorts of mysteries await. Seattle writer Kirchner reads
from her multicultural page-turner, Sharmila’s Book. Borders,
1501 Fourth Ave, 622-4599, 6 pm, free.
ANN LOVEJOY–The author of Northwest gardening classics Naturalistic
Gardening and The Garden in Bloom reads from her latest, Tea Gardens:
Places to Take Tea and Make Tea. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell
Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
FRI-7
JACK STRAW READINGS–Lucky winners of the 1999 Jack Straw Reading program
present their work in a series of readings through the month of May. This first
reading features poets Diane Westergaard, Becka Mara McKay, and Elizabeth Aoki;
and fiction writers Bharti Kirchner and David Halpern. Jack Straw Productions,
4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919, 8 pm, $5.
ROBERT FERRIGNO–Heartbreaker breaks local thriller writer Ferrigno’s previous four-book series to introduce a new hero, the wisecracking Val Duran, limping in the footsteps of James Ellroy, replete with SoCal setting. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SALLIE TISDALE & STEPHANIE COONTZ—Salon magazine moms read from a collection of maternal essays compiled from the provocative Mothers Who Think. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
NAVID GHAVAMIAN, MATT GERVAIS, SKOT SUYAMA–So not every teenager is
arming himself with a gun these days–some of ’em are still arming themselves
with rock ‘n’ roll. Ghavamian, Gervais, and Suyama, all under 18, have a book
out called So, You Wanna Be a Rock Star, helping to share the tricks
of the trade. They’ll read and and perform as their band, Special Guests. Barnes
& Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.
SAT-8
RON C. JUDD—Seattle Times outdoor editor Judd provides a comprehensive
guide to roughing it in Camping Washington: The Complete Guide to Public
Campgrounds. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 4:30 pm, free.
KENT R. WEEKS–Who doesn’t love archeology? Weeks tells the thrilling story of his discovery of the largest tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, the burial site of Ramses II, in his book The Lost Tomb. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
BOBBIE HASSELBRING—The Chocolate Lover’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest just drips with reviews of restaurants, bakeries, ice creameries, and chocolate
shops that provide the dark drug for our area. Reading is followed by a chocolate
tasting. Borders, 1501 Fourth Ave, 622-4599, 2 pm, free.
MON-10
SCOTT LASSER–Baseball and male psychology round out Lasser’s debut
novel, Battle Creek, a book-length sports metaphor that divides gender
into opposing teams. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.
MAKO YOSHIKAWA–Asian-fetish follows the main character of Yoshikawa’s debut novel, One Hundred and One Ways. Kiki finds herself dating Caucasian men and having the predictable identity crisis in the wake. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
VALERIE EASTON–Favorite local garden writer dusts off her gloves for
a discussion of great garden books. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell
Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
TUES-11
*LYDIA MINATOYA, KAREN MAEDA
ALLMAN, BOB SHIMABUKURO, SHALIN HAI-JEW–Four locally established Asian
Pacific American writers read from recent work in commemoration of Asian Pacific
American Heritage Month. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.
*MARK SIMPSON—See
Calendar Box. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.
RICH COHEN–Tough Jews, Cohen’s portrait of the New York Jewish Mafia, hits with hard-nosed prose, depicting a tough, violent, little-known side of the streets in the ’30s and ’40s. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
PETER SHERIDAN–Irish life in the 1960s continues to fuel memoir-ism,
with Sheridan’s newest work, 44: Dublin Made Me, described as “sharp,
jazzy, hilarious, and often painful” (Frank McCourt). Elliott Bay, 101
S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
WED-12
BARRY YOURGRAU–Self-promoter par excellence, Yourgrau embodies
the postmodern creation of “self” in his writing and performance. His newest,
Haunted Traveller: An Imaginary Memoir, dips into sensuality. Elliott
Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.
RAY SUAREZ–Smooth-voiced NPR mediator reads from The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration, 1966-1999; all about “white- flamesight” from inner urban areas. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 1 pm, free; and Town Hall Seattle, 8th Ave & Seneca St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, $8.
BHARTI KIRCHNER—See listing for Tues May 6. University Book
Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 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-6
665–Words and music add up in this evening venue, tonight presenting
Kansas, Gabrielle Bouliane, Scott Huntington, and Mark Bruback, with musical
guests Low Utopia and Mike. Four Angels, 1400 14th Ave (at Union), 689-8661,
7:30 pm, free.
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.
MON-10
LIVINGROOM–Every Monday about this time, people read and rant and play
music. Tonight, make room for David Dahl. Habitat Espresso, 222 Broadway
E, 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.
TUES-11
HOMELAND–The homiest of open mics, tonight featuring Cleebo Rainey,
along with espresso chocolate chip cookies. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave
(at Pine), 324-8815, 7:30 pm, free.