Calendar Northern California

Updated April 22, 2008

April 1-30, 2008 S M T W Th F S 0 0 01 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 0 0 0

1 APRIL---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• National Poetry Month poetry party celebrates twentieth-century world poets, curated by Saul Galin and Patrick Cahill, with readings by Michael Disend, Renee Gibbons, Robert Aryes, Bruce Bierman, Lissa Renaud, Jilverto Melendez, Ana Elsner and others reading from the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda, Anna Akhmatova, William Butler Yeats, Federico Garcia Lorca, Sylvia Plath, Yehuda Amichai, Seamus Heaney, Adrienne Rich, Langston Hughes, Allen Ginsberg, and other great poets in translation and in the original, bring one of your favorites to read, bring an English translation if reading in the original language, libations and refreshments available in the café, Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street, SF, $10/members free, 6:00 (tickets: 415/393-0100, rsvp@milibrary.org, www.milibrary.org/events.html)
• Kick off National Poetry Month with San Francisco poet laureate Jack Hirschman in a reading and discussion of his newest collection of poetry, All That's Left, book sales and signing follows, San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street, at Grove, SF, free, 6:30-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Rose Murphy reads from her biography, Ella Young: Irish Mystic and Rebel, San Francisco Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, SF, free, 6:30-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Word Painters reading series presents a poetry reading by Richard Beban, Jeanne Powell, Stephen Kopel, Clara Hsu, and Rebecca Foust reading from their recent books, North Beach Public Library, 2000 Mason, at Columbus, SF, 7:00 (415/355-5626, www. sfpl.org)
• Philip T. Nails presents the Red Light Open Mic, featured poetry and performance, Amnesia Bar, 853 Valencia, SF, 7:00 (415/970-0012, www.amnesiathebar.com)
• Radar Salon, hosted by Michelle Tea, features chelsea starr, from Sister Spit poetry performance group, and Shar Rednour, editor of the Virgin Territory anthologies, and the zine and subsequent Firecracker award-nominated anthology Starphker, author of The Femme's Guide to the Universe; this program is talk show format, audience participation encouraged, guests read or perform their work at the end of the program, presented by the San Francisco Library at Three Dollar Bill Café, 1800 Market at Octavia (inside LGBT Center), SF, free, 7:00-8:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• City Arts & Lectures presents fiction writer Tobias Wolff, This Boy's Life and Old School, in conversation, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, SF, $19, 8:00 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
• Journalist David Sheff reads from and discusses Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction, and his son, Nic Sheff, discusses his book, Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamine, Jewish Community Center San Francisco, 3200 California Street, SF, $18/$15 members/$10 students, 8:00 (415/292-1200, www.jccsf.org)
• Works in Progress, informal reading by MFA students and faculty, Mills College, Bender Room, Carnegie Hall, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 5:30 (www.mills.edu)

2 APRIL---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Bird & Beckett Book Club, call for book title, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery Street, near Glen Park BART, SF, free, 7:00 (415/586-3733)
• Sunset Branch Monthly Book Club discusses Cloud Atlas, a novel by David Mitchell, Sunset Branch Library, 1305 18th Avenue, at Irving, SF, free, 7:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• The Forward 50 Speaker Series presents The New Yorker and New York Times contributor Jonathan Rosen, author of The Talmud and the Internet, in a conversation on birdwatching with San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll, Jewish Community Center San Francisco, 3200 California Street, SF, $10/$8 members, 8:00 (415/292-1200, www.jccsf.org)
• Wordshop with Slam veteran and audience favorite Christian Drake, free writers' group to help you craft a poem that works onstage, pizza, Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 6:30-8:00 (www.myspace.com/berkeleypoetryslam)
• Kaleo and Elise Ching demonstrate, discuss, and sign Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist, Pegasus Books, 1855 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/525-6888)
• Poetry reading by Zachary Mason and Cora Stryer, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/649-1320)
• Berzerkeley Poetry Slam presents featured poets, hosts Charles Ellick, Betsy Gomez, and friends, live music with 3 Blind Mice and DJ Agana, Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, all ages before 9:00, sign up 7:30, show 8:30-11:00 (www.berkeleypoetryslam.com)
• Creative Writing Reading Series presents a poetry reading by Jane Miller, Midnights, Saint Mary's College of California, Soda Activity Center, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, $3/students free, 7:30 (925/631-4457, www.stmarys-ca.edu/mfa)
• Alameda Island Poets National Poetry Month reading presents poets who read at the Benicia Library series, plus open reading, sponsored by Alameda Island Poets Chapter, California Federation of Chaparral Poets, hosted by Alameda Poet Laureate Mary Rudge, Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street at Lincoln Avenue, Alameda, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/523-5980, www.fameinalameda.com)
NORTH:
• Sunset Poetry by the Bay presents Los Angeles poet Richard Beban, Young Girl Eating a Bird, reading from new work, open mike follows, Northpoint Coffee House, 1250 Bridgeway, Sausalito, free, 7:00-9:00 (www.northpointcoffee.com, www.beban.org)
EAST:
• Gathering of California Poets Laureate two-day event presents an evening reception for participating poets laureate: Al Young, California poet laureate, Sandra Wade (Lake County), Mary McMillan (Lake County), Dorothy Lee Hansen (Napa County), Meredith Laskow (Placentia Library District), Geri Digiorno (Sonoma County), Mary Rudge (Alameda), Joel Fallon (Benicia), Diane Lando (Brentwood], Ruth Blakeney (Crockett), Connie Post (Livermore), Sam Pierstorff (Modesto], Rod Clark (Pacifica), Garland Thompson (Pacific Grove), Martha Meltzner (Pleasanton), Fionna Perkins (Point Arena), Julia Connor (Sacramento), Dian Sousa (San Luis Obispo), Jack Hirschman (San Francisco), Perie Longo (Santa Barbara), Ursula Gibson (Sunland-Tujunga), David Smith-Ferri (Ukiah) and others, with informal barbecue dinner and an informal Laureates reading, five minutes per reader, sponsored by the California Arts Council, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Poets & Writers, and California Poets in the Schools, at the Fragrance Garden next to the California State Library, 10th and N Streets, Sacramento, $15 includes dinner, seating is limited, 5:00-9:00, reading 7:00-9:00 (rsvp: Bob Stanley, 916/240-1897, bobstanley@sbcglobal.net)
• Poetry Night Reading Series presents playwright, poet, and performance artist Charles Curtis Blackwell, The Fiery Response To Love's Calling, with founder of the Garage Sale Art Project, poet Vincent Kobelt, hosted by Brad Henderson and Andy Jones, Bistro 33, 226 F Street, Davis, 9:00

3 APRIL---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Cave Canem reading celebrates the release of The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, University of Georgia Press, with National Book Award-winner Nathaniel Mackey, Camille Dungy, Cynthia Parker-Ohene, and Kevin Simmonds, City Lights Bookstore, 261 Columbus Avenue, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
• Vincent Carrella reads from and signs his debut novel, Serpent Box, a coming-of-age story set in post-World War II Appalachia, The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, SF, free, 7:00 (415/863-8688, www.booksmith.com)
• Lunch Poems poetry reading series presents Jessica Fisher, Frail-Craft, winner of the 2006 Yale Series of Younger Poets compeititon, selected by Louise Glück, Morrison Library in Doe Library, University of California, Berkeley, free, 12:10-12:50 (poems@library.berkeley.edu, http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu)
• Poetry at the Albany Library presents a reading by Barry Goldensohn, The Hundred Yard Dash Man; his work was selected by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser for the National Poetry Foundation's "American Life in Poetry Project," and Lorrie Goldensohn, author of American War Poetry, which records experiences from eighteenth-century colonial wars through the Gulf Wars, Dismantling Glory: Twentieth-Century Soldier Poetry, and Elizabeth Bishop:A Biography of a Poetry, open reading follows, Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720)
• Oakland S.O.U.P. presents featured readers and open mike, hosts Selene Steese and Paula Farkas, Day of the Dead Cafe, 3208 Grand Avenue, Oakland, 7:00 (510/ 868-8705)
EAST:
• Gathering of California Poets Laureate two-day event presents a one-day Conference; 9:00 a.m.: welcome and presentation by California Poets in the Schools and Poetry Out Loud, Keynote address by Al Young, California Poet Laureate follows; 10:00 a.m.-12:45: panel discussion by Community Poets Laureate; 1:00-3:00: Poets Laureate Poetry Reading, five minutes per reader; participating poets laureate: Al Young, California poet laureate, Sandra Wade (Lake County), Mary McMillan (Lake County), Dorothy Lee Hansen (Napa County), Meredith Laskow (Placentia Library District), Geri Digiorno (Sonoma County), Mary Rudge (Alameda), Joel Fallon (Benicia), Diane Lando (Brentwood], Ruth Blakeney (Crockett), Connie Post (Livermore), Sam Pierstorff (Modesto], Rod Clark (Pacifica), Garland Thompson (Pacific Grove), Martha Meltzner (Pleasanton), Fionna Perkins (Point Arena), Julia Connor (Sacramento), Dian Sousa (San Luis Obispo), Jack Hirschman (San Francisco), Perie Longo (Santa Barbara), Ursula Gibson (Sunland-Tujunga), David Smith-Ferri (Ukiah) and others, with informal barbecue dinner and an informal Laureates reading, five minutes per reader, sponsored by the California Arts Council, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, Poets & Writers, and California Poets in the Schools, at the Capitol Fountain, Capitol Mall and 10th Street, Sacramento, open to the public, seating is limited for the morning conference, call for location; event runs 9:00 a.m.-3:00, thank yous and farewells 3:00-5:00 (rsvp for morning conference: Bob Stanley, 916/240-1897, bobstanley@sbcglobal.net)

4 APRIL---friday:
CENTRAL:
• "School of the Adjusted Plan," an exhibition by painter Iva Gueorguieva, presents paintings, drawings, a giant paper construction, and a book called Speed Hump Adjusters featuring her drawings and a short story by Los Angeles writer David Cull, Electric Works, 130 8th Street, SF, opening reception 6:00-8:00, show runs through May 10 (www.sfelectricworks.com)
• The de Young Poetry Series presents "Three Vietnamese-American Poets," a reading by Truong Tran, Hoa Nguyen, and Nguyen Do in celebration of the new anthology, Black Dog, Black Night: Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry, Truong Tran, Hoa Nguyen, and Nguyen Do, discussion and book signing follows, de Young Museum of Fine Art, Koret Auditorium, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, SF, $12/$8 FAMSF members, 7:00-8:30 (tickets: 866/512-6326, www.museumtix.com; information: 415/750-7634, rbaldocchi@famsf.org)
• Word. World. 2008, new work by graduates of the California College of the Arts MFA in Writing Program, this event features Todd Melick, Elizabeth Sylva, Lyle Jantzi III, Israel Haros, Ryan McFadden, Shane M.N. Michalik, and Catherine Strohecker, California College of the Arts, Timken Lecture Hall, 1111 Eighth Street, SF, free, open to the public, 7:00; reception follows at The CCA Writers' Studio, 195 De Haro, SF (415/551-9237, www.cca.edu)
• Miriam Chase and Remi Barron read from their writings, open mike, refreshments, Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00-9:00 (510/664-4930, www.expressionsgallery.org)
• Poetry reading by Chris Vitiello and Mary Burger, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/649-1320)
NORTH:
• WordTemple Poetry Series presents a reading with Nickole Brown, Sister, Judy Grahn, Another Mother Tongue, and Ronald Thomas, Copperfield's Books, 2316 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 7:00 (707/578-8938)
SOUTH:
• Wired Poets present poet Kirk Lumpkin plus open mike, Wired Wash Café, 135 Laurel Street, at Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, 7:00 (www.wiredpoets.com)

5 APRIL---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• "Manuscript Reality Check: Reading for Publication," a one-on-one meeting for writers with finished book-length manuscripts of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, get direct feedback on your proposal and manuscript sample from Manic D Press editor/publisher Jennifer Joseph; to apply, send a two-page synopsis and a twelve-page manuscript sample in advance, Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia Street, between 15th and 16th, SF, $60/$55 for Intersection Members, plus $10 material fee, noon-3:00 (415/ 626-2787, www.theintersection.org)
• Small Press Traffic presents a reading by poet Juliana Spahr, The Transformation, and This Connection of Everyone with Lungs, her chronicle of the buildup to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, with Kristin Palm reading from her first book, The Straits, Timken Lecture Hall, California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth Street, SF, $5-$10 sliding scale, SPT members, CCA faculty, staff, and students free, 7:30 (415/551-9278, www. sptraffic.org)
• Poetry Flash presents a poetry reading and Omnidawn book launch with Mark Salerno, Odalisique, and Hank Lazer, Lyric and Spirit: Selected Essays; this is the first Poetry Flash event in the new downtown location, Cody's Books, 2201 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00 (510/525-5476, www.codysbooks.com)
EAST:
• Cornered: Five Years of SN&R'S Poet's Corner, a reading event/party featuring Sacramento-area poets published in the Sacramento News & Review's weekly Poet's Corner column, celebrating its fifth anniversary (and National Poetry Month) this week; Sacramento News & Review is the only alternative weekly newspaper in America with a devoted space every week for original poetry, The Book Collector, 1008 24th Street, between J and K streets, Sacramento, 7:30 (916/442-9295)

6 APRIL---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• The Music of the Word/La Palabra Musical, hosted by poet/percussionist Avotcja and Eric Aviles, featured readers, open mike, Sofrito, A taste of la Isla del Encanto in the East Bay, 3451 International Blvd. at 35th Avenue, Oakland, no cover, 3:00-4:30 (510/533-3840, www.Avotcja.com)
• Mendocino County poet blake more reads from godmeat, her poetry, prose, artwork, and DVD, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery, Glen Park, SF, 4:00 (415/586-3733, www.birdbeckett.com, www.godmeat.com)

7 APRIL---monday:
CENTRAL:
• Lewis Buzbee and Dave Tipton join together for a reading and booksigning for their co-authored book first to leave before the sun, a collection of two novellas set in California's Central Valley, The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, SF, free, 7:00 (415/863-8688, www.booksmith.com)
• City Arts & Lectures presents former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, Nine Horses, in conversation, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, SF, $19, 8:00 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
• "Poetry in Motion" is a poetry and dance collaboration with Alan Bern reading from his new poetry, Waterwalking in Berkeley, accompanied by professional dancer Lucinda Weaver, Piedmont Avenue Branch Library, 160 41st Street, Oakland, 6:30 (510/597-5011)

8 APRIL---tuesday:
CENTRAL:
• The Haight Ashbury Literary Journal contributors reading features poet Jennifer Barone, Page Street Library, 1833 Page Street, SF, 7:00 (Alice Rogoff: 415/584-8264)
• Open Books presents Bay Area mystery writer Cara Black in a reading from Murder in the Rue De Paradis: An Aimee Leduc Investigation, San Francisco Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, 100 Larkin Street, at Grove, SF, free, 6:30-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Best-selling author Mary Roach reads from and signs her new book, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Sex and Science, The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, SF, free, 7:00 (415/863-8688, www.booksmith.com)
• Kelly Corrigan reads from The Middle Place, a memoir on growing up and breast cancer, Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library, 451 Jersey Street, near Castro, SF, free, 7:00-8:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• Philip T. Nails presents the Red Light Open Mic, featured poetry and performance, Amnesia Bar, 853 Valencia, SF, 7:00 (415/970-0012, www.amnesiathebar.com)
• "The Marriage of Music and Poetry," a reading by poets Adelle and Jack Foley, with Joe Shakarchi, North Beach Branch Library, 2000 Mason Street, at Columbus, SF, 7:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• City Arts & Lectures presents Amy Richards and Dan Savage, Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself, Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, SF, $19, 8:00 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
• Cody's Books presents poet, playwright, and acclaimed nonfiction author Susan Griffin reading from Wrestling with the Angel of Democracy: On Being an American Citizen, Pulitzer Prize-finalist, First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/845-0837)
• Contemporary Writers Series presents novelist Peter Orner, The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo, Mills College, Mills Hall Living Room, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, 5:30-7:00 (www.mills.edu)

9 APRIL---wednesday:
CENTRAL:
• Novelist Alexander Chee, Edinburgh, winner of the Michener Copernicus Prize and the Lambda Editor's Choice Prize, and poet Sarah Gambito, Matadora, read from their work, Berman Hall, in Fromm Hall, lower campus, off Golden Gate Avenue, University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Campus, 2800 Turk Blvd., SF, free, 7:30 (415/ 422-6066, www.usfca.edu)
• City Arts & Lectures presents California Academy of Sciences Conversations, with author Jeffrey Sachs, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet, Director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, Herbst Theatre, 1955 Sutter Street, SF, $17 members, $19 non-members, 8:00 (415/392-4400, www.cityboxoffice.com)
• Wordshop with Slam veteran and audience favorite Christian Drake, free writers' group to help you craft a poem that works onstage, pizza, Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, 6:30-8:00 (www.myspace.com/berkeleypoetryslam)
• Poetry reading by Nickole Brown, Sister, and Ray McDaniel, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)
• Berzerkeley Poetry Slam presents featured poets, hosts Charles Ellick, Betsy Gomez, and friends, live music with 3 Blind Mice and DJ Agana, Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, all ages before 9:00, sign up 7:30, show 8:30-11:00 (www.berkeleypoetryslam.com)
• Drop-in Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak, poet and teacher, all ages welcome, cookies served, Edith Stone Room, Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720x17)
SOUTH:
• Center for Literary Arts presents Nick Taylor, The Disagreement, San Jose State University, details to be announced, San Jose, free (www.litart.org)
• University of California Santa Cruz Poetry Series presents Al Robles, Tony Robles, and Jaime Jacinto reading from their work, University of California Santa Cruz, Humanities Lecture Hall, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, 7:30 (831/459-0111, www.ucsc.edu )

10 APRIL---thursday:
CENTRAL:
• Radar Reading presents authors Fran Varian, Adam Mansbach, Roger Pinnell, and John Marr, hosted by Michelle Tea, San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Room, 100 Larkin Street, at Grove, SF, 6:00-7:30 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• A reading by poet/novelist Magdalena Zurawski from her new novel, The Bruise, with poet Alex Lemon, Mosquito, and novelist Katharine Noel, Halfway House, Maraschi Room, Fromm Hall, on lower campus, off Golden Gate Avenue, University of San Francisco, Lone Mountain Campus, 2800 Turk Blvd., SF, free, 7:30 (415/422-6066, www.usfca.edu)
• Poet, writer, painter, and photographer Judy "Joy" Jones reads from and discusses her book of poems and black and white photography The Bones of the Homeless, Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valenica Street, SF, free, 7:30 (415/282-9246, www.moderntimesbookstore.com)
• Pegasus Books co-sponsors Adam Mansbach reading from The End of the Jews, a novel, Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley, 7:30 (tickets: 510/848-0237x140)

11 APRIL---friday:
CENTRAL:
• WordTemple Poetry Series presents poet Jane Hirshfield and California Poet Laureate Al Young, hosted by Katherine Hastings, Books Inc. in the Marina, 2251 Chestnut Street, SF, 7:00 (www.wordtemple.com)
• Last Word presents a reading by Paul Belz and Noam Milstein, open mike follows, co-hosted by Dale Jensen, Ralph Dranow, Diana Q., Grace Grafton, Nefeli Caffe, 1854 Euclid Avenue, near Hearst, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (510/841-6374)
• Coffee House Press poetry reading by Joseph Lease, Broken World, Martha Ronk, and Marjorie Welish, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/849-2087, www.moesbooks.com)

12 APRIL---saturday:
CENTRAL:
• The Sit-Down Readers' Theatre presents "Geoffrey Chaucer Day," celebrate the father of English literature and author of The Canterbury Tales with a selected reading of his works, read your favorite selection if you like, North Beach Branch Library, 2000 Mason Street, at Columbus, SF, 2:00 (415/557-4277, www.sfpl.org)
• "More or Less Love Poems," a solo poetry reading by Diane di Prima, presented as part of the DIVAfest, EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy, at Taylor, SF, free, 3:00 (415/673-3847, www.theexit.org)
• Sloane Crosley reads from and signs I Was Told There'd Be Cake, her debut collection of literary essays, The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street, SF, free, 7:00 (415/863-8688, www.booksmith.com)
• Small Press Distribution presents the Spring Open House and Book Sale, with readings by Joanne Kyger, Marjorie Welish, Taylor Brady, Rob Halpern, discounts on all books, trade a poem or story for a free book, Small Press Distribution, 1341 7th Street at Gilman, Berkeley, free, noon-4:00, readings at 2:00 (510/524-1668, www.spdbooks.com)
NORTH:
• A Sixteen Rivers Press book party and reading featuring poets Dan Bellm, Practice, Terry Ehret, Lucky Break, and Gillian Wegener, The Opposite of Clairvoyance, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.sixteenrivers.org)

13 APRIL---sunday:
CENTRAL:
• 27th Annual Northern California Book Awards, Northern California authors are honored in Fiction, General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Translation, and Children's Literature, Fred Cody Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to California Poet Laureate Al Young, Special Recognition Award to River of Words, poetry and art for children, nominated authors include, in Poetry: Robert Hass, Jessica Fisher, Sandra McPherson, C. Dale Young, and Dean Young; Fiction: Vikram Chandra, Joan Frank, Cristina Garcia, Daniel Mason, and Shawna Yang Ryan; General Nonfiction: Fritjof Capra, Lisa Margonelli, Thomas McNamee, Robert B. Reich, and Richard Rhodes; Creative Nonfiction: Adam David Miller, Gary Snyder, Rebecca Solnit, William T. Vollmann, and Julia Whitty; Translation: Robert Alter, Carol Cosman, Alison Anderson, John Balcom, Anne Fountain; Children's Literature: Bob Barner, Elisa Kleven, Wendy Lichtman, Henry H. Neff, and Alice Walker, for more details and book titles see Northern California Book Awards button on home page, this Web site; the awards are presented by Northern California Book Reviewers, Poetry Flash, Center for the Art of Translation, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, PEN West, Mechanics' Institute, reception with book sales follows, Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Public Library, 100 Larkin, enter at Grove, free, 1:00 (Poetry Flash: 510/525-5476, www.poetryflash.org)
• Memoir writers read from their work, hosted by Alan Kaufman, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery, Glen Park, SF, 2:00 (415/586-3733,