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1 OCTOBER 2013 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• A commemoration of the life and work of one of the most important poets of Ireland and the twentieth century, Seamus Heaney, with comments from members of the Irish Consul, UC Berkeley English faculty, and community members, including Eric Falci, Catherine Flynn, C.S. Giscombe, Robert Hass, Geoffrey G. O'Brien, Morton Paley, Peter Dale Scott, Robert Tracy, attendees are invited to bring a poem or some words to share, reception follows, Maude Fife Room, Wheeler Hall, Room 315, University of California, Berkeley campus, free, 6:30
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2 OCTOBER 2013 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• A reading from The Collected Poems of Philip Lamantia, readers from the late poet's work include editor Nancy Joyce Peters, Garrett Caples, Andrew Joron, Michael McClure, and others, Moe's Berkeley, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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• Lunch Poems presents a reading by Burmese poet and translator Zeyar Lynn, Morrison Library, 101 Doe Library, University of California campus, Berkeley, free, 12:10 (lunchpoems.berkeley.edu)
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• Young adult novelist Maggie Stiefvater reads from the second installment of the Raven Boys series, The Dream Thieves, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
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• USF MFA in Writing Program, Lone Mountain Readings presents novelist Melanie Rae Thon, The Voice of the River, University of San Francisco, Xavier Hall, Fromm Hall, corner of Golden Gate Avenue and Parker Avenue, main campus, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, free, 7:45 (www.usfca.edu/mfaw)
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• First Wednesday Formal Poetry Series presents a reading by Jenny Factor, Unraveling the Name, and Peter Kline, Deviants, Lee Slonimsky, Logician of the Wind, will also read as a "mini-feature," plus open reading encouraging formal work, hosted by David Rosenthal, St. Alban's Church, 1501 Washington Avenue, Albany, 7:00 (firstwednesdayformal.wordpress.com)
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3 OCTOBER 2013 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• SFSU Poetry Center presents a reading by Rachel Levitsky, The Story of My Accident is Ours, a novel, and writer, vocalist, and sound artist Latasha N. Nevada Diggs, TwERK, The Poetry Center, HUM 512, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
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• Lunch Poems presents a reading by Burmese poet and translator Zeyar Lynn, Morrison Library, 101 Doe Library, University of California campus, Berkeley, free, 12:10 (lunchpoems.berkeley.edu)
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• Fiction writers Peter Orner and Yiyun Li discuss Orner’s second story collection Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
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• Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts co-sponsors a reading by novelist Catherynne Valente, The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two, Claremont Branch Berkeley Public Library, 2940 Benvenue Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00-8:30 (510/704-8222, www.mrsdalloways.com)
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• City Arts & Lectures presents Margaret Atwood, the acclaimed author of more than fifty volumes of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, most recently Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth, in conversation with Frances Phillips, benefits the 826 Valencia Scholarship Program, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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• Poetry Flash presents a book launch reading for The Berkeley Poets Cooperative: A History of the Times, edited by Charles Entrekin, with readings by contributors Lucille Lang Day, Stewart Florsheim, Belden Johnson, Bruce Hawkins, Rod Tulloss and Marcia Falk, wheelchair accessible, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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NORTH:
• The Three Amigos reading, a reading by three Sonoma State University professors and noted authors on Mexico, with novelist Sterling Bennett, Playing for Pancho Villa, a love story set in 1916 revolutionary Mexico; Gerald Haslam reads short fiction and an essay on why he became a writer: Jonah Raskin reads from his biography The Search for B. Traven, about the presumably German phantom writer who lived much of his life in Mexico City shrouded in mystery, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, $10, 7:00-9:00 (707/829-4797; tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/producer/12556)
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SOUTH:
• Brown Bag Poetry Workshop to read and share your poetry, bring ten copies of your poem, drop-in, hosted by Los Gatos Poet Laureate Erica Goss, Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Avenue, Los Gatos, noon-1:00 (www.losgatosca.gov)
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4 OCTOBER 2013 — friday

CENTRAL:
• MFA Program Writers Series presents a reading by writer, vocalist, and sound artist Latasha Diggs, TwERK, and Hazel White, Peril as Architectural Enrichment, California College of the Arts, Writers' Studio, 195 De Haro, at 15th Street, San Francisco, free, 4:30 (415/551-9237, dmorini@cca.edu)
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• SFSU Poetry Center presents a reading for Edward Dorn’s Collected Poems, with Jennifer Dunbar Dorn, featuring historic recordings of Edward Dorn from the Poetry Center Archives, Subterranean Arthouse, 2179 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, $10/$5 low-income admission, free to SFSU students and Poetry Center members, 7:30 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
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• Poetry at Florey's presents The Haiku Choir: Tony Bellever, Kate Godsey, and Marian Yap, open mic follows, Florey's Book Company, 2129 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, 7:30-9:30 (650/355-8811, floreysbooks.blogspot.com)
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5 OCTOBER 2013 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry at Florey's presents The Haiku Choir: Tony Bellever, Kate Godsey, and Marian Yap, open mic follows, Florey's Book Company, 2129 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, 7:30-9:30 (650/355-8811, floreysbooks.blogspot.com)
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• City Lights at 60 presents a workshop with psychologist, writer, and researcher Ralph Metzner exploring the navigation of states of consciousness, reservations required, see website for details to be announced, Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno Street, San Francisco, 1:00-4:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
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6 OCTOBER 2013 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Small Press Traffic presents Rachel Levitsky, The Story of My Accident is Ours, a novel, and Tijuana novelist, poet, and critic Heriberto Yepez, Artists' Television Access, 922 Valencia Street, at 21st, San Francisco, $6-$10, no one turned away for lack of funds, doors open 5:00, reading 5:30 (smallpresstraffic.org)
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• Poetry Unbound East Bay Reading Series features Doug Friedman, Jeanne Lupton, and Larry Beresford, followed by brief open mic, hosted by Clive Matson, Karla Brundage, and Richard Loranger, Art House Gallery, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, close to Ashby BART, $5, no one turned away, 5:00-8:00
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• Poetry Flash presents a Truman State University Press poetry reading by Dean Rader, Works & Days, winner of the T.S. Eliot Poetry Prize, and Alan Soldofsky, In the Buddha Factory, wheelchair accessible, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland, 3:00 (510/653-9965, dieselbookstore.com)
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7 OCTOBER 2013 — monday

CENTRAL:
• City Arts & Lectures presents evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene and An Appetite for Wonder, a memoir, in conversation with Adam Savage, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27/$17, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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• Poetry Express presents featured poet Larry DiCostanzo and open mic, note new venue with mic and parking, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00 ( www.facebook.com/poetryexpressberkeley)
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NORTH:
• Rivertown Poets: A Muse-ing Mondays with featured readers to be announced, hosted by Sandra Anfang, open mic follows, the series presents amateur and seasoned poets together, Aqus Café, 189 H Street, Petaluma, free, open sign up 6:30, reading 6:45 (650/888-7875, Wrdpntr51@gmail.com)
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EAST:
• My Own Stranger, a new play adapted from confessional poet Anne Sexton's writings, by Marilyn Campell and Linda Laundra, presented by Kolt Run Creations and hosted by Wendy Williams, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, $20, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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8 OCTOBER 2013 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry at the Albany Library features a reading for the Bay Area Women's Poetry Salon anthology, Turning a Train of Thought Upside Down, with editor Andrena Zawinsky, publisher Lucille Lang Day, and contributor Judy Wells, open mic follows, hosted by Catherine Taylor, Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/526-3720, albanylibrary.wordpress.com)
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SOUTH:
• Poetry Center San José's Well-RED Reading Series presents featured poets John Espinoza and Kirk Glazer, Works/San José, 365 South Market Street, near the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, doors open 6:30, reading 7:00, $2, no one turned away for lack of funds, 7:00 (www.pcsj.org)
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• Write to the End Workshop for all writers and writing genres, drop-in coffee shop workshop, Snake & Butterfly, 191 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, 7:00-9:00 (www.writetotheend.com)
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EAST:
• Poetry reading by Zara Raab, Fracas & Asylum, and Linda Prather, Unforced Rhythms, hosted by Gillian Wegener, Barkin' Dog Grill, 940 11th Street, Modesto, 6:00 (www.barkindoggrill.org)
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9 OCTOBER 2013 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Afternoon Craft Conversation with Laura Cogan, editor of ZYZZYVA, De La Salle Hall, Hagerty Lounge, Saint Mary's College, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, 2:35 (Sara Mumolo, 925/631-8556, www.stmarys-ca.edu)
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• Graduate Student Reading, MFA Program, and launch of MARY: A Journal of New Writing, De La Salle Hall, Hagerty Lounge, Saint Mary's College, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, 7:30 (Sara Mumolo, 925/631-8556, www.stmarys-ca.edu)
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• City Lights at 60 presents "How We Got Here, Where We're Going," a roundtable discussion and visual presentation exploring the history of City Lights as both a bookstore and a publishing house, with Elaine Katzenberger, Executive Director and Publisher of City Lights, Paul Yamazaki, Senior Book Buyer, and Peter Maravelis, Events Director, moderated by Evan Karp, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
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NORTH:
• Sunset Poetry by the Bay presents a poetry reading by poet Dana Teen Lomax, editor of Kindergarde: Avant-garde Poems, Plays, Stories, and Songs for Children, Canadian poet Sheri-D Wilson, Goddess Gone Fishing for a Map of the Universe, visual artist, song stylist, and spoken word poet Cara Vida, and poet and librarian Erin Wilson, Alphabet Garden and The Beautiful Ominous Bay, Studio 333 Art Gallery, 333 Caledonia Street, Sausalito, 7:00 (415/331-8272, poetnews@sonic.net, http://isledesk.com/islepress/SunsetPoetry.html)
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SOUTH:
• Creative Writers Series presents a poetry reading, reception, and book signing by Dean Rader, Works & Days, and Bruce Snider, Paradise, Indiana, Wiegand Gallery, Notre Dame de Namur University campus, 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, 7:30 (NDNU English Department: kdolan@ndnu.edu, http://ndnu.edu)
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10 OCTOBER 2013 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash presents Ed Pavlic, Visiting Hours at the Color Line, and David Lau, Virgil and the Mountain Cat, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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EAST:
• Literary Lecture by poet Indigo Moor, "Writing to History and Culture: Poetry and Fiction," Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, $10, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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11 OCTOBER 2013 — friday

CENTRAL:
• City Arts & Lectures presents Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction writer Jhumpa Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies, in conversation with Peter Stein, benefits 826 Valencia Scholarship Program, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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• Litquake begins! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
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12 OCTOBER 2013 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
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• The Ina Coolbrith Circle presents the 94th annual Poetry Contest Awards Banquet with readings by the winning poets and a keynote address by poet Matthew Zapruder, Come On All You Ghosts, Zio Fraedo's Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, $30 includes buffet lunch, noon to 4:00 (reservations: contact Gayle Eleanor: g.eleanor@astound.net, 925/689-0260)
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EAST:
• Spoken Word open mic featuring Miss Spoken, hosted by Brother Hypnotic, bring your own poetry or music, second Saturdays monthly, Brickhouse Art Gallery, 2837 36th Street, Sacramento, $5, sign ups begin 6:00, show 8:00 (916/475-1240, www.thebrickhousegallery.net)
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13 OCTOBER 2013 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Valona Deli presents poets Lee Herrick and Stella Beraltis, open mic follows, with host Connie Post, Terry Henry Jazz Trio performs after poetry, Valona Deli, 1323 Pomona, Crockett, reading 4:00, open mic 5:00 (510/787-2022)
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• Writing Teachers Write, Bay Area Writing Project Reading series presents writer-teachers, open mic follows, light refreshments, Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, free, 3:00-4:30 (510/644-4930, www.expressionsgallery.org)
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• The Music of the Word/La Palabra Musical presents featured poets, hosted by Avotcja, bring your congas, Casa Latina Café, 1805 San Pablo Avenue, at Delaware, Berkeley, two blocks west of North Berkeley BART, no cover, 3:30-5:30 (LaVerdadMusical@yahoo.com, www.Avotcja.org)
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• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule, www.litquake.org)
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NORTH:
• Poetry and Prose Series presents a reading by Israeli fiction writer and bookstore owner from Jersalem, David Ehrlich, Who Will Die Last, short stories, Gallery MINE, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, 2:00 (www.gallerymine.com)
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14 OCTOBER 2013 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Express presents a featured reading by poet, visual artist, and French teacher Claude Convers, note new venue with mic and parking, Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Avenue, Berkeley, 7:00 (www.frenchonthenet.com, www.facebook.com/poetryexpressberkeley)
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• As part of Litquake, Quiet Lightning presents readings by Sean Labrador y Manzano, Kelly Egan, Ken Grobe, Naomi Goldner, Davy Carren, Charlie Getter, Jennifer Cheng, Neil Carman, Kai Carlson-Wee, Chloé Veylit, Janet Frishberg, Mira Martin-Parker, Jason Schenheit, San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco, $5-$10 sliding scale, doors open 6:45, show 7:30 (evan@quietlightning.org, quietlightning.org)
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• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule, www.litquake.org)
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• Litquake: Porchlight storytelling event on the theme, "Sometimes It's Hard to be a Writer: Stories about Doubt, Debt, Drugs, and Determination," featuring Keith and Kent Zimmerman, Jamie Ford, Carrie Galbraith, Sandra Tsing Loh, Jerry Stahl, John Vanderslice, hosted by Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick, with music by Marc Capelle, co-presented by the Center for Literary Arts, twenty-one and up, Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, $20 advance/$25 at door, 8:00 (www.litquake.org)
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EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a poetry reading by David Iribarne, You Gave Me Your Shadow, Beth Suter, and Christine Easterly, hosted by Emmanuel Sigauke, Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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15 OCTOBER 2013 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• The Word Party Poetry & Jazz Open Mic, every third Tuesday of the month, live jazz with Nova Jazz, DaNiel Heffrez on sax, Geordie Van Der Bosch percussion, and Leslie Thorne, hosted by Jennifer Barone and Ingrid Keir, Viracocha, 998 Valencia Street, at 21st Street, San Francisco, $5, open mic sign up 8:00 sharp, show 8:00 (www.thewordparty.com)
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• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule, www.litquake.org)
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SOUTH:
• Center for Literary Arts presents novelist, nonfiction writer and comedian Sandra Tsing Loh, Mother on Fire and If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home by Now, in a reading and book signing, co-sponsored by Litquake, University Theatre, San Jose State University campus, One Washington Square, San Jose, 7:00 (408/924-4600, www.litart.org)
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• Write to the End Workshop for all writers and writing genres, drop-in coffee shop workshop, Snake & Butterfly, 191 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, 7:00-9:00 (www.writetotheend.com)
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16 OCTOBER 2013 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
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• City Arts & Lectures presents comedian and author Marc Maron, Attempting Normal, in conversation with Adam Savage, benefits 826 Valencia Scholarship Program, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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• Litquake: "Poetry & Science: A Shared Exploration," four scientists Dr. Bruce Miller, Dr. Virginia Sturm, Dr. Marilu Gorno-Tempini, poet-neuroscientist Pireeni Sundaralingam discuss research into language, emotion, and how brain structure may affect the language of poems, followed by poets Forrest Gander, Jane Hirshfield, Dr. David Watts, and Kay Ryan reading work that delves into the sciences, co-hosted by UCSF Memory and Aging Center's Hellman Visiting Artist Program, in which Jane Hirshfield is the 2013 Poet in Residence, Gladstone Institute, refreshments, UCSF Mission Bay Campus, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, free, doors open for reception 5:30, program 6:00 (memory.ucsf.edu/ourcenter/artist, www.litquake.org)
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• Lyrics & Dirges, a monthly reading series, features Julia Vinograd, the unofficial poet laureate of Telegraph Avenue, Tehmina Khan, Marcus Lund, Ingrid Keir, and poet/percussionist Avotcja, curated and hosted by Mk Chavez, refreshments, Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Avenue Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:30 (510/649-1320, www.pegasusbookstore.com)
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17 OCTOBER 2013 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• Pacifica Writers' Forum is open to all readers and writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, share your work or listen, third Thursday of each month, Florey's Book Company, 2129 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, 7:30 (650/355-8811, floreysbooks.blogspot.com)
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• Berkeley Poets Cooperative Workshop meets on the third Thursday of each month, drop-in okay, give feedback and share your poetry, 609 Curtis Street, near Thousand Oaks, Albany, 7:30 (510/367-4248)
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• Poet and editor Brian Komei Dempster reads from Topaz, poems of the Japanese American World War II prison camps, with several former camp prisoners and second-generation Nisei writers, Florence Ohmura Dobashi and Michi Tashiro, presenting their stories from From Our Side of the Fence: Growing Up in America's Concentration Camps and Making Home from War: Stories of Japanese American Exile and Resettlement, edited by Brian Komei Dempster, Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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• Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, Chameleon Couch, reads from his work with Evan Klavon, a poet and graduate student in English, Maude Fife Room, Third Floor, Wheeler Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 6:30
  event page
• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
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NORTH:
• Poetry reading by Kim Dower, Slice of Moon, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, 7:00 (415/927-0960, www.bookpassage.com, kimdowerpoetry.com)
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• The Third Thursday Poetry Reading Series featured poet, with live jazz and open mic with jazz improv, 215 Main, 215 Main Street, Point Arena, 7:30 (blake more: 707/884-9189, blake@snakelyone.com)
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• Writers Forum presents a seminar with freelance editor, writing teacher, and publisher Susan Bono, Tiny Lights: A Journal of Personal Narrative, $15 at the door, Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 7:00-9:00 (www.thewritespot.us)
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• Marin Poetry Center presents performance poetry by James Zealous and friends, Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Street, San Rafael, 7:30 (events@marinpoetrycenter.org, www.marinpoetrycenter.org)
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SOUTH:
• Poetry Center San José presents reading by poet and historian Peter Neil Carroll, A Child Turns Back to Wave: Poetry of Lost Places and Riverborne: A Mississippi Requiem, open mic follows, Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose, 7:00 (408/808-3045, or 408/266-1361, www.pcsj.org, willowglenpoetry.com)
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EAST:
• Third Thursdays in the Central Library, open reading of your favorite poems, preferably by someone else, hosted by Lawrence Dinkins and Mary Zeppa, Sacramento Poetry Center, Central Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, free, noon-1:00 (www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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18 OCTOBER 2013 — friday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry reading featuring poet and artist Sara Nika Mithra and Casey FitzSimons, poet and host of the Not Yet Dead Poets Society in Redwood City, open mic follows, light refreshments, across the street from Ashby BART, Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00-9:00 (510/644-4930, www.expressionsgallery.org)
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• MFA Program Writers Series and Litquake present a reading by novelist Mary Gaitskill, Two Girls, Fat and Thin, California College of the Arts, Timken Lecture Hall, 1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco, free, 7:00-9:00 (415/551-9237, dmorini@cca.edu)
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• SFSU Poetry Center and The Green Arcade present a reading by Pulitzer Prize and Kingley Tufts Award-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa, The Chameleon Couch, featuring Hafez Modirzadeh, saxophone, McCroskey Mattress Company, 1687 Market Street, at Gough, advance tickets: $10, $5 low income admission at door, free to SFSU students and Poetry Center members, 7:30 (tickets: www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
  event page
• Litquake! San Francisco's Literary Festival, 850 authors and 160 events, runs October 11 to 19, all over San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
  event page

19 OCTOBER 2013 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Litquake's Lit Crawl presents a reading for the Bangout Reading Series, celebrating storytelling and lyric through a musical lens, chosen pieces will be played, sung, or read by featured readers Chris Stroffolino, Matt Leibel, Tiffany Higgins, Shandy Walton, Aaron Cohen, Aldea Home, 890 Valencia Street, between 19th and 20th Streets, San Francisco, free, part of Lit Crawl phase II, 7:15-8:15 (www.litquake.org)
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• Litquake, San Francisco's Literary Festival, presents Lit Crawl, this last day and finale of the nine-day festival features three waves of events in the Mission District, more than three hours of all-genre readings, unrolling in three phases, moving place to place from bars, galleries, restaurants, stores, cafés, outdoor readings in Clarion Alley, to even a bowling alley, all in the Mission District, San Francisco, 6:00-9:30 (see website for schedule: www.litquake.org)
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NORTH:
• "Flash Fiction: Narrative in Miniature," a writing class with Ashley Hallsted, develop characters and narratives in stories of two-pages or less, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, 616 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, $45/$36 members, 3:00-6:00 (rsvp by October 18: 415/388-4331, www.ohanloncenter.org)
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EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a "Sacramento Voices" poetry reading by Bill Gainer and Frank Andrick, hosted by Phillip Larrea, Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 4:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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20 OCTOBER 2013 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Small Press Traffic presents Christopher Russell and Matthew Gordon, Artists' Television Access, 922 Valencia Street, at 21st, San Francisco, $6-$10, no one turned away for lack of funds, doors open 5:00, reading 5:30 (smallpresstraffic.org)
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• A memorial for poet H.D. Moe, a potluck held at the place that he loved and often frequented, A Medal for H.D. Moe, a book with CD of Moe's recorded words about his poetry will be available at cost, beverages and Moe's "High on Poetry" buttons will be on hand, The Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, between Telegraph and Broadway, Oakland, noon to sunset (jandafoley@sbcglobal.net)
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SOUTH:
• Poetry reading by Christine Rodgers, open mic follows, Know Knew Books, 366 State Street, Los Altos, 8:00-10:00 (650/326-9355, knowknewbooks.com)
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21 OCTOBER 2013 — monday

EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a reading and performance by poet/percussionist Avotcja, With Every Step I Take, hosted by Tim Kahl, Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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22 OCTOBER 2013 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry Flash and Moe's Books co-present a poetry reading by Annie Finch, Spells: New and Selected Poems, and Brenda Hillman, Seasonal Works with Letter on Fire, request ASL interpreters one week in advance from editor@poetryflash.org, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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• Dr. Avi Tuschman reads from and discusses Our Political Nature: The Evolutionary Origins of What Divides Us, Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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NORTH:
• "Writing Workshop: The Short Story," a class with Ashley Hallsted, for writers of all levels and genres who wish to explore short fiction, single session, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, 616 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, $30/$24 members, 10:00 a.m.-noon (rsvp by October 21: 415/388-4331, www.ohanloncenter.org)
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SOUTH:
• Write to the End Workshop for all writers and writing genres, drop-in coffee shop workshop, Snake & Butterfly, 191 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, 7:00-9:00 (www.writetotheend.com)
  event page

23 OCTOBER 2013 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Creative Writing Reading Series presents Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Rae Armantrout, Just Saying, Soda Center, Claeys Lounge, Saint Mary's College, 1928 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga, 7:30 (Sara Mumolo, 925/631-8556, www.stmarys-ca.edu)
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• A poetry reading by Joanne Kyger, As Ever: Selected Poems, and John Brandi, The World, The World, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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• City Lights at 60 presents an appreciation on the life and work of the surrealist and visionary poet, Philip Lamantia, on the publication of The Collected Poems of Philip Lamantia, with Nancy J. Peters, Garrett Caples, and Andrew Joron, hosted by Peter Maravelis, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
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SOUTH:
• Launch party for The Path at West Holding and Other Poems by composer and poet Lou Harrison (1917-2003), published by Soquel-based press Café Margo, McHenry Library, Room, 4211, University of California, Santa Cruz, 4:30-6:00 (information and rsvp: 831/459-2547, louharrisonbook@gmail.com)
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24 OCTOBER 2013 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• A poetry reading by Pulitzer Prize-winner Rae Armantrout, Just Saying, and Alli Warren, Here Come the Warm Jets, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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• SFSU Poetry Center presents “Open Workshop” with George Stanley, The Poetry Center, HUM 512, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, free, 4:30 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
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• Will Viharo reads from Love Stories Are Too Violent for Me, reissue of his cult classic detective story, Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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• Cervena Barva Press event, part of a nationwide sieres of readings by Cervena Barva authors in October 2013, this poetry reading features Lucille Lang Day, The Curvature of Blue, Joan Gelfand, Here and Abroad, Daniel Y. Harris, Hyperlinks of Anxiety, and Richard Michael Levine, BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 (415/564-8080, www.bookshopwestportal.com)
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EAST:
• Literary Lecture by poet Phillip Larrea, "Frost as Modernist: Debunking the Myth of the Pastoral Poet," Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, $10, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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25 OCTOBER 2013 — friday

CENTRAL:
• Berkeley Video and Film Festival presents an evening of documentaries and literary film, featuring Abstract Alchemist Of Flesh, a 55-minute documentary of the poetry, life, and adventures of poet Michael McClure, with cameos by Allen Ginsberg, Dennis Hopper, Peter Coyote, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and others, directed and filmed by Colin Still, BBC filmmaker; One Night At The Aristo, based on a story by William S. Burroughs, by prize-winning British director and filmmaker Nic Saunders; The Party In Taylor Mead's Kitchen, a ten-minute film by Jeffrey Wengrofsy; and at 9:20, the evening will close with the four-minute art film Moment Of The Making featuring the painted sculpture of Amy Evans McClure, a film by San Francisco's Jesse Block, purchase tickets online, seating is limited, party 6:15, screening 7:15, reading 7:30 (rsvp for party: amy@amyevansmcclure.com; tickets: 510/843-3699, www.berkeleyvideofilmfest.org)
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26 OCTOBER 2013 — saturday

CENTRAL:
• Poetry at Florey's presents a reading by Jane Green and Kan Saffran, open mic follows, Florey's Book Company, 2129 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, 7:30-9:30 (650/355-8811, floreysbooks.blogspot.com)
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• A rare reading by San Francisco Renaissance poet George Stanley, After Desire, hosted by David Reid and Larry Felson, refreshments, Mythos Gallery, 2725 Hilgard Avenue, at La Vereda Road, Berkeley, $5-$10 sliding scale at door, 2:00-4:00 (510/277-2269)
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• SFSU Poetry Center presents a reading by George Stanley and Lewis Ellingham, Meridian Gallery, 535 Powell Street, San Francisco, advance tickets: $10, $5 low income admission at door, free to SFSU students and Poetry Center members, 7:30 (www.sfsu.edu/~poetry)
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• Poetry reading by Ben Mirov, Hider Roser, Lynn Xu, Debts & Lessons, Danniel Schoonebeek, American Barricade, Amanda Nadelberg, Phenomena, Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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NORTH:
• Contributing poets Gail Entrekin, Rebecca Foust, Susan Kelly DeWitt, and Dawn McGuire read their poems from Women Write Resistance: Poets Resist Gender Violence, an anthology, Rebound Bookstore, 1611 4th Street, San Rafael, 4:00-6:00 (415/482-0550, reboundbookstore.com)
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• WordTemple presents "Transforming Terror: Remembering the Soul of the World," a conversation with poet-essayist Susan Griffin, co-editor of Transforming Terror: Remembering the Soul of the World, author of A Chorus of Stones: The Private Life of War, and poet-memoirist-social theorist Judy Grahn, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High Street, Sebastopol, free/donation, 7:00 (415/482-0550, www.wordtemple.com)
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27 OCTOBER 2013 — sunday

CENTRAL:
• Sunday Streets soapbox-style open mic in front of the bookstore, open to authors, poets, and musicians, up to ten minutes performance time, all ages, sign up ahead of time at the store, Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 1:00-3:30 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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• The Music of the Word/La Palabra Musical presents featured poets, hosted by Avotcja, bring your congas, Casa Latina Café, 1805 San Pablo Avenue, at Delaware, Berkeley, two blocks west of North Berkeley BART, no cover, 3:30-5:30 (LaVerdadMusical@yahoo.com, www.Avotcja.org)
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NORTH:
• Poetry and Prose Series presents a reading by poet, prose writer, and translator Stephen Kessler, Scratch Pegasus, editor of The Redwood Coast Review, and Romanian-born short story writer Alta Ifland, The Snail's Song, Gallery MINE, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, 3:00 (www.gallerymine.com)
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28 OCTOBER 2013 — monday

CENTRAL:
• Reading from the new Chicago Quarterly Review, featuring Jory Post; Moazzam Sheikh, Café Le Whore and Other Stories; Alfredo Vea, La Maravilla; and Yumi Wilson, journalist and memoirist, Green Apple Books, Granny Smith Room, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com)
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• City Arts & Lectures presents British novelist Zadie Smith, NW, White Teeth, in conversation with Steven Winn, benefits 826 Valencia Scholarship Program, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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SOUTH:
• Poetry Workshop led by Los Gatos Poet Laureate Erica Goss, bring ten copies of your poem, drop-in, meets the last Monday of the month, Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Avenue, Los Gatos, 6:00 (www.losgatosca.gov)
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EAST:
• Sacramento Poetry Center presents a poetry reading by Poetry Flash editor Joyce Jenkins and associate editor and reviewer Richard Silberg, The Horses: New and Selected Poems, hosted by Tim Kahl, Sacramento Poetry Center, 25th and R Complex, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, 7:30 (916/240-1897, www.sacramentopoetrycenter.com)
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29 OCTOBER 2013 — tuesday

CENTRAL:
• Alli Warren reads from her brash debut poetry collection, Here Come the Warm Jets, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/362-8193, www.citylights.com)
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NORTH:
• "Writing Workshop: The Short Story," a class with Ashley Hallsted, for writers of all levels and genres who wish to explore short fiction, single session, O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, 616 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, $30/$24 members, 10:00 a.m.-noon (rsvp by October 28: 415/388-4331, www.ohanloncenter.org)
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SOUTH:
• Write to the End Workshop for all writers and writing genres, drop-in coffee shop workshop, Snake & Butterfly, 191 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, 7:00-9:00 (www.writetotheend.com)
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30 OCTOBER 2013 — wednesday

CENTRAL:
• Canessa Park Reading Series presents a reading by Portland poet, teacher, and bookseller David Abel, George Albon, and Pasadena poet Dennis Phillips, Canessa Park Gallery, 708 Montgomery Street, at Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, $6, no one turned away for lack of funds, doors open 7:00, reading 7:30 (Avery Burns, aedburns@yahoo.com)
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• City Arts & Lectures presents computer scientist/social critic/composer/author Jaron Lanier, Who Owns the Future?, in conversation with Phil Bronstein, Nourse Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, $27, 7:30 (tickets: 415/392-4400, www.cityarts.net)
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• McSweeney's Poetry Night with Dan Chelotti, x, Victoria Chang, The Boss, and Allan Peterson, Fragile Acts, Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, 7:30 (510/849-2087, moesbooks.com)
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• Poetry reading by Karen Marker, Mark Taksa, and Richard Silberg, The Horses: New and Selected Poems, refreshments, Temple Sinai, Albers Chapel, entrance is on Webster Street, just north of 28th Street beside the parking lot, "2808 Summit" is written above the door, enter from the Telegraph Avenue side, Temple is two blocks east of Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, free, 7:30 (Phil Rubin, 510/547-8080; www.oaklandsinai.org)
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SOUTH:
• Center for Literary Arts presents Tom Barbash, author of The Last Good Chance, a novel, and the nonfiction book On Top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, and 9/11, in a reading and book signing, co-sponsored by Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, Rooms 225/229, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando, San Jose, 7:00 (408/924-4600, www.litart.org)
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31 OCTOBER 2013 — thursday

CENTRAL:
• Journalist and activist Robert Jensen discusses Arguing for Our Lives: Critical Thinking in Crisis Times, co-sponsored by Speak Out, City Lights Books, 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, 7:00 (415/362-1901, www.citylights.com)
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