THURSDAY 11/3

Haiku Inferno
The punk-rockin'est haiku trio in the world, Portland's own Haiku Inferno, throws out mad rhymes, 17 syllables at a time, while mixing things up with occasional forays into karate demonstrations, audience participation, and guided meditations. Heathman Hotel, 1001 SW Broadway, 241-4100, 7 pm, free

Library Book Sale
Come comb through all the bargain surplus books at PSU's quarterly book sale. Paperbacks are $1, hardcovers are $2, and all other media including records, magazines, CDs, and videos are $1 or less. All proceeds will benefit the PSU Library. Millar Library at PSU, 1875 SW Park, 725-4579, Thurs 12-9 pm; Fri 7:30 am-9 pm; Sat 8 am-3 pm, free

Margaret Cho
See Interview, pg. 11 Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

Craig Lesley
Local author Craig Lesley will be reading from his newest book Burning Fence, a memoir of dysfunction in the Northwest, taking place in communities around the Northwest including Madras, Baker City, Pendleton, and yes, our very own Portland. PSU's Smith Memorial Student Union. Rm. 238, 1620 SW Park, 7:30 pm, free

MONDAY 11/7

Russell Banks
Acclaimed and powerful novelist Russell Banks comes to town, but our disappointment, won't be reading any new stories. Instead, he'll be delivering a talk entitled Shifting the Compass: Toward a Creole-American Literature. Oh joy. Agnes Flanagan Chapel at Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Hill, 768-6160, 7:30, free

Rock and Roll Archaeologist
Pacific Northwest native and obsessive music memorabilia collector Peter Belcha presents his book about how he came to have such a huge stash of rock 'n' roll mementos and how his involvement helped shape the Experience Music Project in Seattle. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne, 238-1668, 7:30, free