Out Loud
Open mic poetry against the war, which is just about over. There'll be more wars, though. Oh, yes... there will be more. Pacific Switchboard, 4637 N Albina, 236-0867, 7 pm, free
Patagonia: at the Bottom of the World
The intrepid adventurer Dick Lutz presents this account of his travels through an almost unknown region in the southern tip of South America. Barnes & Noble, 1720 N Jantzen Beach, 283-2800, 7:30, free
Windfall: A Journal of Poetry of Place
National Poetry Month hullabaloo continues with readings by poets who have been published in this periodical: Joan Maiers, Nita Countryman, and more. Looking Glass Bookstore, 318 SW Taylor, 227-4760, 7 pm, free
At the Grave of the Unknown Fisherman
John Gierarch, AKA America's favorite fly-fishing scribe, takes readers on a journey through a year in the life of a fisherman... GNZZZZZZ... huh? Oh, sorry. I mean, that sounds fascinating. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
Chuck Palahniuk & Cai Emmons
What else do you have to do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon except drive out to the Oregon coast and hear two of our finest local writers? Nye Beach Writers' Series, Studio Theatre Performing Arts Center, 777 West Olive, (541) 574-7708, 7 pm, $7
Douglas Watson
Local fantasy/sci-fi author and playwright Watson will read and sign his new book The Federal Bureau of Alternate Reality, about aliens who want to take over Earth... for its pollution! HUH!? ZOING! Borders-Gresham, 687 NW 12th, Gresham, 674-3917, 7 pm, free
Literature in Performance
Robust local actor Keith Scales uses various speeches by Shakespeare (that's "the Bard" to you experts) to explore the concept of war. Borders-Downtown, 708 SW 3rd Ave, 221-9814, 7 pm, free
Southern Exposure
Kayakers who risk dangerous waters are bona fide lunatics. Fortunately, American readers are obsessed with the crazy. Kayaker Chris Duff reads and signs his new book about kayaking through the thunderous Tasman Sea (ever heard of the Tasmanian Devil?) off the west coast of New Zealand. Barnes & Noble, 1720 N Jantzen Beach, 283-2800, 7:30 pm, free
Jewish Women Writers
Dradle-spinning women writers Bev Stein, Sara Halprin, Raphael Dagold (hey! that's no woman... that's a man, Baby!), and more will read from their original works. Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, 284-1726, 7 pm, free
Grant High School Students
These precocious little writers flex their newly learned chops under the tutelage of Karen Karbo and Karen Margolis via the Literary Arts' Writers in the Schools program. Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, 284-1726, 7 pm, free
Kushiel's Avatar
Jacqueline Carey reads from the sequel to Kushiel's Chosen, a dark fantasy novel that dripped with battles, swords... and passion. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
