slam! slam! slam! slam! slam!
The National Poetry Slam will be going on all day, every day this week at venues all over the city. Events include workshops, forums, and a 24-hour open mic at the Hurricane Cafe, 2230 7th Ave, 682-5858. It all leads up to the finals at the Paramount Theatre, Sat Aug 4. Check www.nationalpoetryslam.com for ticket information and a complete schedule.
JIM TONER
In his new book Serendib, Jim Toner tells the story of his 74-year-old father's extended visit while he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Sri Lanka. Aww, what's a few more days with your old man? Although his father was quite an imposition at first, the visit unexpectedly brought the two closer together. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
david wagoner
Wagoner is the fifth author in the UW Department of History-sponsored series "A Sense of Where We Are." An author of 15 books of poetry and the editor of Poetry Northwest, Wagoner is often applauded for discussing ordinary topics in extraordinary ways. It's "poetic conceit" at its most excellent. Savery Hall, Room 239, UW Campus, 2 pm. Call the UW History Dept at 543-8656 for ticket information.
ariel gore, bee lavender
A couple of hip mamas, joined tonight by live music. See Stranger Suggests. Cafe Solstice, 4116 University Way NE, 7 pm, free. Call University Bookstore at 364-3400 for more details.
SHARON F. CARTON
For sleepy Lake Forest Park, Third Place Books is certainly showcasing some bloody books lately. Last week was Christopher J. Jarmick's cyber-thriller; tomorrow is Frederick Huebner's Bainbridge-Island murder mystery; later this week is J.A. Jance's Girl Scout murder mystery (seriously! see below!); and tonight is a reading from Carton's new book, Sometimes You Get Killed. This psychological thriller involves Jack and Ernie, two pretty regular guys living pretty regular lives. But, as the title humorously suggests, you could get killed leading such a lifestyle. Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park Town Center, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
DEBRENA JACKSON GANDY
Perhaps you missed Gandy's appearance last week at the University Bookstore. More likely, you went, but are now addicted to her formula of "joy." After last week you thought you had All the Joy You Can Stand, as the title of her book reads (the subheading is 101 Sacred Power Principles for Making Joy Real in Your Life)--but this week you have a deep, deep hollow feeling. Don't worry, she's making another appearance. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free.
frederick huebner
Huebner reads from his latest book Shades of Justice, about a nationally known painter found nearly dead in a tidal pool on Bainbridge Island. Her wrists are slashed, and her dead husband lies next to her with two bullet holes in his chest. No gun is found at the scene. She looks guilty, and the police think she is... but I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. Third Place Books, 6 pm, free.
national poetry slam FInals
By this point Seattle may be "slammed" out. (I, frankly, am already tired of "slam" jokes and puns.) But tonight will be something to truly behold: the best of what America has to offer in this high-energy performance art. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St. Check www.nationalpoetryslam.com for ticket information.
eddy brown
Brown, a creative writing professor at Evergreen State College (Tacoma campus), reads from Living to Tell: Collected Memoirs. The memoir looks at the turbulent '60s from the point of view of a Vietnam vet. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
Shannon Hiatt, Luke Warm Water, Trevino Brings Plenty
The last two trios of proper nouns in this lineup must be names for certain groups, although the information they've given me doesn't say. Forgive me, Mr. Water and Ms. Plenty, if I've assumed too much. These poets read from their latest work, all followed by an open mic. Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 7 pm, free.
EDWARD BECK
Father Edward Beck talks about his life as a priest, as chronicled in his memoir God Underneath: Spiritual Memoirs of a Catholic Priest. Beck is a member of the Passionist order out of the Bronx in New York. Elliott Bay Books, 5:30 pm, free.
Leigh Buchanan Bienen
Bienen's debut book of short stories, The Left-Handed Marriage, includes (but is not exclusive to) stories about an African Gray parrot, an execution technician, a dance troupe member, and an American wife who encourages her husband to practice polygamy. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free.
Amilia Kincaid
Kincaid is called an "animal communicator," which I guess means that she does more than "good boy" and "hey, quit it!" She wrote Straight From the Horse's Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers, and tonight shares her experiences. She'll also relate some exercises that will build more loving and fulfilling relationships with animals. Third Place Books, 7 pm, free.
debra ginsberg
After punching in over 20 years in the restaurant business, Ginsberg wrote the well-reviewed Waiting: The Confessions of a Waitress, published last year. Tonight she reads from the paperback. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free.
J.A. Jance
Jance returns to her beloved Third Place Books (she has launched two of her mystery series there) and reads from her new book, Paradise Lost. In it, a Girl Scout troop discovers a murdered woman while on a hiking trip. Then, days later, one of the girls in the troop is found murdered! To assure audiences that she has no ill will toward young women's groups, donations gathered at the reading will benefit the YWCA, and Jance will match the amount out of her own pocket. Third Place Books, 7 pm, donation suggested.
david james duncan
As a part of the UW History Department series "A Sense of Where We Are," Duncan reads from My Story as Told by Water. Duncan, of recent The Brothers K fame, is an environmental activist who also loves to fish: His preservationism does not exclude his own personal pleasure. Savery Hall, Room 239, UW campus, 2 pm. Call the UW History Dept at 543-8656 for ticket information.
skye kathleen moody
Moody reads from her environmental thriller K Falls: A Pacific Northwest Mystery, starring Venus Diamond, the energetic fish and Wildlife Service agent. Watch your backs, fish. University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.
tom crawford
Crawford, winner of the Oregon Book Award in 1994 for Lands, reads tonight from The Temple on Monday. This new work reflects on the people, culture, and landscape of Korea through an emotional lens. Third Place Books, 7 pm, free.
John fulton & Craig lesley
These two Northwest writers present their new books: Retribution from Fulton, his debut collection of stories, and Storm Riders from Lesley, now out in paperback. Elliott Bay Books, 7:30 pm, free.
Sheldon Greene
Greene reads from Burnt Umber, his most recent novel about a group of artists living through the mid-20th century and its attendant turmoil. The book begins in WWI Europe and goes through civil-rights era Berkeley, California. University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.
POETRY/SPOKEN WORD OPEN MICS
For more open mics, see www.zerocard.org/poetry, Chris Blakeley's Seattle Open Mic website.
CATHARTICISM--Wed at 9. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.
EAST INDIA TRADING COMPANY--Mon at 7. Coffee Messiah, free.
HOMELAND--Tues at 8. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 324-8815, donation.
POETRY RELEASE--Sun at 6. Contour, 807 First Ave, 447-7704, free.
POETS WEST--Sun at 7. Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 682-1268, free.
REBIRTH--Thurs at 7. Zodiac Coffee, 607 Broadway E, 720-4502, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Wed at 8 (21+). Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $3.
STAGE FRIGHT--Every second and fourth Wed at 7; writers ages 14-24 only. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, free.
