MATTHEW HART
The London journalist signs The Irish Game: A True Story of Crime and Art. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 6 pm, free.
* JAMES FREY
See Stranger Suggests, page 23. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
MARCUS STEVENS
Useful Girl is a novel whose catalyst is some girl's exhumed remains. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
* JACK STRAW READING SERIES
John Olson, Roberta Olson, Ezra Mark, and Stephen Thomas read their contributions to Jack Straw's writers anthology. I'm not familiar with the others, but John Olson's crazy, agile prose poems are terrific. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919, 7 pm, free.
ARIEL GORE
Gore signs Whatever, Mom: Hip Mama's Guide to Raising a Teenager. Ravenna Third Place, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7:30 pm, free.
ALBERT J. RABOTEAU
The author of Canaan Land: A Religious History of African Americans gives a lecture called "Go Down Moses: African American Slaves and the Promised Land." Kane Hall, Room 210, University of Washington, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
JONATHAN RAYMOND
The Half-Life, a debut novel, is set in the Northwest. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.
FRIDAY 5/28
ROBERT JENSEN
The scholar and activist talks about Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity. Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW, 624-6600, 7 pm, $5.
ALICE RANDALL
Pushkin and the Queen of Spades is a novel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
DOUG NUFER
Nufer reads from and talks about three--yes, three--of his forthcoming novels: Negativeland, Never Again, and On the Roast. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7:30 pm, free.
* SHANNON BORG, KEVIN CRAFT, REBECCA HOOGS
Three talented local poets do their thing. Richard Hugo House, 1634 20th Ave NE, 322-7030, 8 pm, free, donation requested.
SATURDAY 5/29
OLYMPIA COMICS FESTIVAL
Stranger critic Paul Constant has insisted I list this Olympia event, even though we don't usually list Olympia events in this here calendar, because Joe Sacco will be there, and apparently he's a big deal. He's the author of Palestine and Safe Area Gorazde and The Fixer and other stuff. The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, 360-570-8027, 11 am-6 pm, $4.
WESLEY WEHR
The bookstore pays tribute to the recently departed Wesley Wehr, the painter and writer and academic. University Book Store, 634-3400, 1 pm, free.
RAJAA A. GHARBI
...From Songs of a Grasshopper is a book of poetry. There will be a slideshow of something or other (art, no doubt) at this reading, too. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 4 pm, free. SUNDAY 5/30
FRANCES H. KAKUGAWA
Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry is a collection created by Alzheimer's caregivers. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
ALIX OLSON
The folk poet and progressive queer artist-activist does some folk-poetry-and-progressive-queer-artist-activist type activities. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave, 789-4250, 8 pm, $10, 21+.
TUESDAY 6/1
DANIEL DORMAN, MD
Dante's Cure: A Journey out of Madness is about schizophrenia. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
* JOSEPH D. WILSON
See Stranger Suggests, page 23. Town Hall Seattle, 1119 Eighth Ave, 325-3554, 7:30 pm, $25.
* BOOKMARKS BOOK SERIES
A party for and a reading by contributors to the Seattle Research Institute's new project: a series of 16 original essays (by Rebecca Brown, David Shields, Ann Powers, John Olson, Greg Hischak, and others) printed in skinny little books, to be used as bookmarks. A clever project, and the essays are great. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free.
JOHN DOUGLAS MARSHALL
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's book critic signs Place of Learning, Place of Dreams: A History of the Seattle Public Library. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, free. (Also 6/2 at University Book Store, 545-9230, noon, free.)
WEDNESDAY 6/2
NOAH HAWLEY
Other People's Weddings is a novel about a wedding photographer. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
DALE MAHARIDGE
The journalist discusses his new book about America, Homeland. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* SUBTEXT READING SERIES
See Stranger Suggests, page 23. Richard Hugo House, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free, donation suggested.
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 John Burgess, J. Glenn Evans, Christopher J. Jarmick, Don Kentop, Nan Harty. Sun May 30 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. Globe Cafe, 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.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Open mic and slam with Karen Finneyfrock. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 568-0728, $5.
TAKE A POEM INTO YOUR HEART--Poetry reading. Featured readers: Christopher J. Jarmick, Gerry McFarland, M. Anne Sweet, and Kitty Todorovich. Fri May 28, 6:45 pm. Lottie Motts Coffee Shop, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, free.
WOMEN'S POETRY NIGHT--Spoken word from the fairer sex. Thursdays at 8 pm. Bar, 1525 E Olive Way, 322-1788, free.
