Local Area Events

Monday, January 5th

MONDAY POETS READING SERIES.  Join us for an evening of thought-provoking verse, with award-winning poet Nathalie Anderson and the recently published Dorothea Lasky. Free Library of Philadelphia (Central Library), 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-567-4341.  6:30 PM, FREE

Tuesday, January 6th

WRITING GROUP.  Join fellow local writers each week to share and discuss your work, talk books, and more. The Writing Group meets every Tuesday in the Café on the second floor. (Look for the table with the teal sign.) Barnes & Noble (Center City), 1805 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-665-0716.  7:00 PM, FREE

Wednesday, January 7th

RAPHAEL KADUSHIN & DOUGLAS MARTIN.  The authors/editors read from their latest, Big Trips: More Good Gay Travel Writing, a border-hopping anthology of travel memoir and fiction, wherein an advance guard of adventurous writers — both seasoned names and fresh voices — scatter across the globe, face the pure euphoria and sheer anxiety of travel, and survive a lot of very fast living. Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-923-2960.  5:30 PM, FREE

ULYSSES.  Finally, your chance to actually comprehend and enjoy James Joyce’s oveure. This course — a 9-session class that includes chapter-by-chapter discussions of the text and Joyce’s artistic methods — led by Joyce scholar and Penn lecturer Laura Heffernan, will give you the support you need. RSVP required. Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-732-1600.  6:00 PM, $275 - $320

TAO LIN, MICKEY HESS, & CHAD WILLENBORG.  Lin will read from his latest book, the poetry collection Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Hess will read from his new book, Big Wheel at the Cracker Factory (recently profiled in City Paper’s Holiday Guide). Willenborg will read various work, which has been published in McSweeney’s, The Believer, and City Paper. Brickbat Books, 709 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-592-1207.  7:00 PM, FREE

Thursday, January 8th

DAVID ALLEN.  The author’s smash bestseller, Getting Things Done, revolutionized the way people, from CEOs to soccer moms, organize their lives. He joins us to discuss his latest book, Making It All Work — which provides an instantly usable, success-building tool kit for dealing with daily commitments, unexpected events, and modern information overload. Free Library of Philadelphia (Central Library), 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-567-4341.  7:30 PM, FREE

Saturday, January 10th

AN AFTERNOON WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE.  Actor David Keltz gave his first performance as Edgar Allan Poe on Halloween night in 1991 at the author’s grave. He joins us to put on his one-man-show, reciting favorites such as The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart, and conjuring the spirit of Poe through dramatic readings and interpretations of his poems and stories. Free Library of Philadelphia (Central Library), 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-567-4341.  1:00 PM, FREE

Sunday, January 11th

CHARLES TODD (Crime Fiction Club Brunch).  The author will read from and sign copies of his new novel, A Matter of Justice — the eleventh Inspector Ian Rutledge novel, which continues to delve deeper in examining the human psyche and investigates the difference between vengeance and justice. Robin's Bookstore, 108 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA.  Phone: 215-735-9600.  1:00 PM, FREE