by Traci Vogel

KURT E. ARMBRUSTER

Armbruster relates the gripping story of how the transcontinental railroad chose Seattle over Tacoma (and the rivalry has never died down since), in Orphan Road: The Railroad Comes to Seattle, 1853-1911. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

*DAVID SHIELDS

See Bio Box. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 6:30 pm, free.

READING CIRCLES

Hugo House Writer-In-Residence Joan Fiset hosts this discussion session, themed "Passages." The group discusses texts chosen about the topic, read at the meeting itself. Drop-ins welcome. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 3-5 pm, free.

PATRICIA HAMPL

Hampl returns to read for the paperback release of her book about memoir, I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory, which explores the interrelation of memory and imagination. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

PATRICIA L. DAWSON

Dawson, a Seattle surgeon, gives voice to the long hours of surgical residency and the isolation of being a black woman in a field dominated by white males, in her book Forged by the Knife: The Experience of Surgical Residency from the Perspective of a Woman of Color. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

MARY LOU SANELLI

Port Townsend poet Mary Lou Sanelli reads from her well-received new collection, Close At Hand. Sanelli's work is getting national attention, and has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 4:30 pm, free.

SHARON CARTER, BART BAXTER

Every month, the Amy Burnett Gallery provides space for this literary salon curated by Pamela Moore Dionne. This month features two of Seattle's most prolific poets, Carter and Baxter, reading from new work. The Amy Burnett Gallery, 402 Pacific Ave, Bremerton, 360-692-5403, 2 pm, donation.

ALEXANDRA HARMON, VI HILBERT, JAY MILLER

This discussion of Native American culture between three experts -- Harmon, the award-winning author of Indians in the Making; Hilbert, Skagit storyteller and author of Native American Stories of Puget Sound; and Miller, anthropologist and author of Lushootseed Culture and the Shamanic Odyssey -- promises to animate a little corner of the UW bookstore. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

JOAN SWIFT

With praise from Madeline DeFrees and Carolyn Kizer to her credit, poet Joan Swift presents her newest collection, The Tiger Iris. Her work is described as changing "the base metal of experience into gold," and as "better and better." Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

DAVID HORSEY

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer political cartoonist signs his first published collection, One Man Show. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

*ANN RULE

See Stranger Suggests, page 53. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

MICHAEL SPENCE, DAVID D. HOROWITZ

Seattle poet Michael Spence, who compiled his first collection while driving a bus and was discovered by Rose Alley Press publisher David Horowitz, reads from his collection Adam Chooses. 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.

665

Countdown no more -- 665 is back, reconfigured by Salon Productions. This open mic is hosted by Sarah Sharp, with featured readers adding to the equation. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave at Union, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, 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.

SPOKEN WORD

Each and every Thursday, this venerable Pioneer Square venue spotlights music, poetry, and comedy. Pioneer Square Saloon, 73 Yesler Way, 624-6444, 8:30 pm, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER

Seattle's longest-running reading series turns 19 this season. Celebrate with featured reader Ezra Mark. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th off Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, donation.

HOMELAND

Hosted by Circus and friends, "Seattle's own Little Bohemia" emerges from a hiatus transformed. The Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave at Pike, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM

With a new venue and a new night, Seattle's biggest poetry slam is alive and kickin'. Tonight, "poemidian" James Inman is accompanied by musical guest K9, the banjo guy. Rupert's, 309 First Ave S, 628-7703, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 8 pm, $3.

CATHARTICISM

Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.