WEDNESDAY MAY 23

Writers in Schools Reading

As if you didn't feel like an underachiever already, Literary Arts' Writers in Schools program trots out some of the best students' work. Authors in residence, including Erin Ergenbright and Donna Prinzmetal, rub it in. Lincoln High School students read at Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NE 23rd Ave., 224-5097. 4 pm. Free. Wilson High School reading at Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Highway, 246-0053. 7 pm. Free.

THURSDAY MAY 24

Voices from the Street: Truths About Homelessness from Sisters of the Road

Sisters of the Road Cafe's homeless customers make their voices heard in Jessica P. Morrell's new collection of interviews with people living on Portland's streets. Free drinks and dessert at the Portland Center Stage's Gerding Theater (128 NW 11th Ave., 4-7 pm) kick off the launch, followed by a reading at Powell's. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

Jack Malebranche

See Queer Window, page 52. Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

Docent School!

Put all that useless brain stuff to work. The Portland Art Museum hosts a wine reception for prospective docents—hoping to woo you into becoming one of those nice smartypants who show the rest of us what the museum has to offer. The shebang ends with a free tour, too, so you know what you're gettin' into. Portland Art Museum, Andrée Stevens Room, 1219 SW Park Ave., 226-2811. 5:30 pm. Free. Call 276-4295 to reserve your spot.

Write Around Portland

Nonprofit program Write Around Portland, which gives everyone from homeless moms to Army vets the chance to pen stories in its free workshops, unveils its latest anthology of student work, Called to Speak Stories. Psst: They're collecting blank writing journals for upcoming workshops at the reading. Ante up. First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave., 242-1419. 6:30 pm. Free.

SUNDAY MAY 27

Super Crafty Love-In

Adults get their yarn, Popsicle stick and felt ya-yas out with help from the master-crafters behind Super Crafty. Northwest Library, 2300 NW Thurman St., 988-5560. 2 pm. Free. Call 988-5234 to register.

TUESDAY MAY 29

Feminist Reading Group

We're not sure exactly what you need to be a feminist these days (ovaries? boobs?), but in any case, the chosen few meet this month to discuss Zadie Smith's delicious culture clash On Beauty. To join, email althea.lazzaro@gmail.com immediately. In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. 7 pm. Free.

Community of Writers: Meet the Authors

Jan Baross authored the magical José Builds a Woman, Courtenay Hameister hosts local radio hit Live Wire! and Jan M. Underwood has the distinction of winning the International Three-Day Novel Contest with her awesome shortie Day Shift Werewolf. Who wouldn't wanna hang with these ladies? Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., 249-3983. 7 pm. Free.

Greg Pahl

Author Pahl gets us all charged up about alt-energy strategies in The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

WEB ONLY BRIEFS:

Lee Child

Bad Luck and Trouble features crime-genre staple Child's popular "long man of action" Jack Reacher in yet another gritty adventure. Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., 228-4651. 7 pm. Free.

George Wright

Searching for a metaphor for the "pain of friendship" and the "search for absolution"? It's forest fires, according to Tillamook 1952 author Wright. Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., 228-4651. 7 pm. Free.