THURSDAY 4/1

* Ian McEwan
See preview this issue. Portland Arts & Lectures at Arlene Schnitzer Hall, SW Broadway & Main, 227-2583, 7:30 pm, $24

Barbara Drake

& Robert Davies
Hark! To this National Poetry Month kickoff haste do make/ And hear scribes Robert Davies and Barbara Drake/ Their poems may even rhyme, my little fool/ Though probably not, because it isn't cool. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


FRIDAY 4/2

* IPRC Open House

& Bake Sale
Drop on by the IPRC for a free tour of its impressive zine library and a visit with the staff. You'll be self-publishing in no time! Independent Publishing Resource Center, 917 SW Oak Street, #218, 827-0249, 7-9 pm, free

Speak to Me Words
More National Poetry Month, oh yes, it's true/ With essays on Native American verse, just for you/ See Speak to Me Words editors Janice Gould and Dean Rader/ The latter of whose name rhymes with James Spader. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


SATURDAY 4/3

Neruda Nights
Happy 100th birthday, Pablo Neruda! We know it's not until July 12th, but you're such a great poet we've got to start celebrating now, with a series of "Neruda Nights" leading up to the big day. Tonight's the first, and will feature appearances by poet Walt Curtis, Lorca translator Greg Simon, good actor Rafael Untalan, Spanish filmmaker Sabrina Guitart, and more! The Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark Street, 242-1047, 8 pm, free


MONDAY 4/5

* Not Even Wrong
Paul Collins' memoir of his son's autism, interwoven with a study of forgotten geniuses from throughout history. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free


TUESDAY 4/6

Daniel Pauly
The environmental group Illahee presents Pauly, one of the world's foremost fisheries experts, and a staunch and famously outspoken critic of modern fishing practices. Illahee, at First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park, 222-2719, 7:30 pm, $7-14

Michael Curtis Ford
Oregon writer Ford shares his newest historical epic, The Last King, told from the perspective of Mithridates Eupator VI, last king of Pontus, one of Rome's most dangerous enemies, and if you ask us, a kick-ass thrash metal band name. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm


WEDNESDAY 4/7

Jennifer Lauck
Lauck presents Show Me the Way, a collection of short stories about bein' a mom. Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, 246-0053, 7:30 pm, free

* Michael W. Dean
The author of the excellent $30 Film School, presents his follow-up $30 Music School, a guide to recording and promoting your album on a shoestring budget. Borders-Downtown, 708 SW 3rd Ave, 221-9814, 7 pm, free

Christopher Kimball
Been achin' to get bakin'? Then check out Kimball and his new book Baking Illustrated, a tome of 375 recipes, 150 photos, and every possible piece of advice you'll ever need to know for sticking stuff in an oven. Powell's Books for Cooks and Gardeners, 3747 SE Hawthorne, 235-3802, 7 pm