THURS-18
ALICE ADAMS--Best American Short Story two-timer Adams brings her brand of midlife crises to life again in a collection entitled The Last Lovely City. Accomplished writing and predictable themes. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
*REBECCA BROWN & JULIANA SPAHR--This may be your last season to catch Subtext readings at their current venue, the Speakeasy. The series continues provocative monthly pairings with local writer and Stranger contributor Brown, author of the haunting and gorgeous The Dogs: A Modern Bestiary; and Spahr, visiting from the University of Hawaii, winner of a 1995 National Poetry Series award for her collection Response. Speakeasy, 2304 2nd Ave, 524-4859, 7:30 pm, $5.
FRI-19
JIM WICKWIRE W/DOROTHY BULLITT--The paperback release of Wickwire's co-written memoir, Addicted to Danger, recounting his hair-raising adventures mountain climbing, which has received mixed reviews, is the occasion for this reading/slide show. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SAT-20
CASSANDRA TATE--Seattle journalist Tate attempts to clear the smoke surrounding the turn-of-the-century anti-cigarette movement with her well-researched history Cigarette Wars: The Triumph of the "Little White Slaver." Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 4:30 pm, free.
KATHLEEN HALME--Bellingham professor Halm reads from her prize-winning second poetry collection, Equipoise. Edward Hirsch describes it as "deliciously balanced...sumptuous meditations shored against the ruins." Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUN-21
PETER D. WARD--Paleontologist Ward (The End of Evolution) travels back millions of years via modern "time machines" to illuminate how scientists study the distant past, in his newest book Time Machines: Scientific Explorations in Deep Time. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.
*TRISHA READY & GEORGE KINDL--Charles Mudede's Soft City Prose series continues to showcase up-and-coming local writers, this month featuring Catholic childhood refugee and Stranger writer Trisha Ready, paired with novelist George Kindl, whose unpublished novel incites the excitement of the unknown. Pistil Books, 1013 E Pike, 325-5401, 7 pm, free.
MON-22
*ELMORE LEONARD--See Calendar Lead. Kane Hall 120, UW Campus, 545-4365, 7 pm, free.
*OSCAR HIJUELOS--See Book Review Revue. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
TUES-23
*JODY ALIESEN--Lovely local poet Alieson reads from her beautifully pressed Grey Spider Press chapbook, Desperate for a Clearing. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 545-4365, 7 pm, free.
KEVIN MILLER--Past Bumbershoot Award-winner, Gig Harbor poet Kevin Miller reads from his newly published collection, Everywhere Was Far. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
WED-24
*JONATHAN RABAN, LAUREN WEEDMAN, ANNIE LA GANGA, AND MORE-- Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 346-0180, 8 pm, donation.
DAVID CHADWICK--Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki tells the story of this well renowned teacher, from the point of view of his student and Bay Area '60s survivor David Chadwick. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
*JAMES ELLROY--Collected from the glossy pages of GQ, Ellroy's hard-biting crime writing is now published as Crime Wave. The book includes true crime reporting, short fiction, a novella, and a piece about Ellroy's own hard-boiled roots, the unsolved murder of his mother. Kane Hall 220, UW Campus, 545-4365, 7 pm, free.
OPEN MIKE
Note to regularly programmed open mikes: 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-18
[NOISE]--Words and music make waves at this evening venue, tonight presenting an All-Ages Slam for $25, following open mike. Four Angels, 1400 14th Ave (at Union), 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.
DEAD POETS--Live poets read from the work of dead poets, every Thursday. Featured readers have included Paul Hunter, Belle Randall, and Robynne Rutherford. The Pearl Cafe, 4215 University Way NE, 547-3326, 8 pm, free.
SUN-21
RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Continuing its 18th season of readings, spotlighting local writers plus an open mike. Tonight featuring poet Koon Woon. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 633-5647, 7 pm, free.
MON-22
livingroom--Every Monday about this time, people read and rant and play music. Tonight featuring Ten Hail Marys and Ten How's Your Fathers. Habitat Espresso, 222 Broadway E, 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.
TUES-23
HOMELAND--The homiest of open mikes, tonight featuring Joel, along with oatmeal cookies. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 324-8815, 7:30 pm, free.
WED-24
THE BLINDMAN'S BAIL--A new monthly open mike that invites creative people of all sorts to strut their stuff. Hosted by Hope Amico. Sweet Springs Cafe, 56th & University, 8 pm, free.
CHAOS MICROPHONE--Sold your soul for the perfect word? Then you're welcome at this weekly open venue which warns that "you will undergo some metamorphosis." Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 7 pm, free.