Wednesday February 20top

Anne Elizabeth Moore

It’s a scientific inevitability that the act of observing something changes it. So what happens when corporate America begins eyeing underground communities and DIY culture, seeking an exclusive cache for its products? What happens when graffiti is used to sell sneakers, or when indie music pops up in car commercials? Author Anne Elizabeth Moore, who defines herself against the free market, has been asking those questions for years. In her new book, Unmarketable, she explores the marketing industry’s harmful effects on the DIY underground. Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak St., 274-1449. 7 pm. Free. Map

David Wann

The best-selling co-author of Affluenza returns for a second indictment of American over-consumption. But whereas in Affluenza Wann focused on the problem, in his new book, Simple Prosperity, the author looks at solutions. These include taking preventive healthcare measures to build wellness reserves, and balancing the biological budget through “greener” currency. Borders-Beaverton, 2605 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., 644-6164. 7 pm. Free. Map

Kristy Athens, Shanna Germain, Lara Tribak 

Sage Cohen—recently named Writer-in-Residence at the Oregon Writers Colony—hosts three local women whose writing is of the shortest kind (think flash fiction/poetry). Kristy Athens is a freelance writer and editor from Husum, Wash.; from 1999 to 2006, she ran the Oregon Book Awards for Literary Arts. Shanna Germain’s work has appeared in Absinthe Literary Review, Best American Erotica and Salon. Lara Tribak is crazy about the tango; she will read from her essay “Three Minutes of Freedom.” Barnes & Noble-Lloyd Center, 1317 Lloyd Center., 249-0800. 7 pm. Free. Map

Li-Young Lee

See review. Newmark Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, 1111 SW Broadway., 248-4335. 7:30 pm. general: $18, students and seniors: $14. Map

Thursday February 21top

Alaya Dawn Johnson

In Racing the Dark, a young woman named Lana must make sacrifices to save her family and come to terms with her own magical power.  Critics have praised Johnson’s debut novel, a fantasy, for tackling emotional issues with a depth unusual in her genre; it might be the beginning of something big.  In Other Words, 8B NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. 7 pm. Free. Map

One Life, Six Words 

Writing a lengthy, self-indulgent memoir seems to be second nature these days—everybody’s doing it. But creating the same effect with only six words takes considerably more panache. For instance, the sassy “Big hair, big heart, big hurry,” or the bittersweet “I still make coffee for two.” SMITH magazine has produced a collection of these six-word autobiographies from authors both famous—the likes of Dave Eggers, Steven Colbert and Amy Sedaris—and obscure. The editors will be reading from the anthology, as well as hosting a “Six-Word Slam.” Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Story Time for Grownups

Portland actor David Loftus is back, this time performing excerpts from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Offshore Pirate. When 19-year-old Ardita Farnan's yacht is hijacked by a jazz band, she befriends her captors and eventually falls in love with their leader. Sip coffee, munch cookies and enjoy the show. , 1241 SW 10th Ave., 224-4787. 7 pm. Free. Map

Word Cafe and Open Mic

Hosted by Central Oregon Community College Scholar-in-Residence Ellen Waterston, this event will begin with a performance of Bend resident Josh Beddingfield’s short story “Yellow Cake.” The piece, directed by Brad Hills and starring Vicki Pennock and Rod Dahl, will be followed by an open-mic session designed to explore the elasticity of words. Participants are asked to limit their readings to three minutes. Central Oregon Community College Barber Library, 2600 NW College Way, Bend., 383-7560. 7 pm. Free. Map

Friday February 22top

Poetry Northwest Happy Hour

If you’re looking to meet poetic types, this is your cup of tea. Or gin, as the case may be. David Biespiel, poet-at-large and editor of Poetry Northwest, will be holding court and handing out free copies of the magazine. Blue Monk, 3341 SE Belmont St., 595-0575. 5-7 pm. Free. Map

Tony Wolk and Molly Gloss

Cowgirls and Lincoln Lovers unite. After he co-taught a PSU writing course with Ursula Le Guin, Tony Wolk knew that he had to write science fiction. His new novel, Good Friday, the second in his continuing Lincoln Out of Time trilogy, tells the story of an American woman in the 1950s who discovers that she’s pregnant with the child of—who else?—Abraham Lincoln. Molly Gloss is a fourth-generation Oregonian and the recipient of numerous writing honors, including the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, the Whiting Writers Award and the Oregon Book Award. She’s just released The Hearts of Horses, about a 19-year-old woman, Martha Lessen, who leaves home and supports herself by “gentling” horses while male farmhands are off fighting World War I. Portland State University Branford P. Millar Library, 1875 SW Park Ave., 725-5874. 7 pm. Free. Map

Saturday February 23top

Hell No, Jim Crow!

In September 2007, a black teen crossed over to sit on the white side of a public schoolyard in Jena, La. The next day, he was greeted by nooses swinging from a nearby tree. Join a multiracial panel to discuss racial violence and the continuing civil rights struggle surrounding the incident. A Creole buffet will be available for $8. Bread and Roses Center, 819 N Killingsworth St., 240-4462. 6:30 pm. $2. Map

Black History Month Celebration

Portland Parks & Recreations’ Teen Council presents its fourth annual celebration, which includes African-American music, poetry, dance and visual art, as well as refreshments. Singing by Ainsworth Community Christian Association’s No Kidding Choir; spoken-word poetry by (among others) Crystal Thomas, Bianca Hopkins and Jameseria Harris; art by Sharon Martini; dance performances by Darryl “Sekou” Walker and Liquid Moves Entertainment. Matt Dishman Community Center & Pool, 77 NE Knott St., 823-5300. 6-8 pm. Free. Map

Sunday February 24top

High Coffee and Nordic Drama

While attendees sip coffee and nibble Norwegian pastries, Portland theater artist and director Virginia Belt will read short excerpts from the work of Henrik Ibsen, Norway’s greatest playwright. Ibsen met his future wife at one such event in 19th-century Bergen. Come check it out, and maybe you’ll meet someone special, too. Attire is dressy; gloves and vintage hats especially encouraged. Sons of Norway Grieg Lodge, 111 NE 11th Ave., 321-5199. 3-6 pm. $15 (reservations required). Map

Life and Work of Vi Gale 

The only thing as impressive as the work done by Vi Gale to advance the arts in Oregon is the group of poets who have assembled in her memory. Born in Sweden, Gale arrived at Ellis Island when she was 6 years old and promptly, with her parents, boarded a train for Oregon. The founder of Prescott Street Press, Gale was a distinguished poet herself, receiving numerous honors from Literary Arts and the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. For this event, poets will journey from as far away as La Grande, Ashland and Berkeley. They include Kim Stafford, Vern Rutsala, George Venn, Lisa Steinman,  Carlos Reyes and Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada. First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave., 725-3307. 3-5 pm. Free. Map

PDX Time Bank

Living in communities gives us the opportunity to specialize—one person might be skilled at repairing cars, whereas another can cook a mean omelette.  That’s what PDX Time Bank is all about.  By swapping an hour of work with a neighbor, you do more of what you love, less of what you don’t.  At this introductory meeting, sponsored by People’s Co-op, participants will learn how to strengthen communities and work more efficiently through time banking.  People's Food Co-op, 3029 SE 21st Ave., 232-9051. 5-6:30 pm. Free. Map

Monday February 25top

25 Tips for Freelance Writing

At this Oregon Writers Colony presentation, Oregonian freelance journalist Cornelia Seigneur will discuss strategies for getting your piece published. Seigneur has been writing the newpaper’s “Real-Life Mom” column—which runs in its Southwest Weekly section—since 1996; she has also been published in Travel Oregon, Parents and Family Circle magazines. Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton., 228-4651. 7 pm. Free. Map

Charles Burns

Disturbing in a way that will keep you turning pages, Black Hole chronicles the advance in 1970s Seattle of a supernatural STD, whose victims gradually become so deformed they can’t show themselves in public. Merging teenage sexuality and sickness, Burns, whose illustrations have graced the cover of Time, The New Yorker and The Believer, delivers a graphic novel that’s simultaneously credible and surreal. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Tuesday February 26top

Dexter’s Spoken Mic

Portland zinester Dexter Flowers believes it’s time to give writers “rock-star status.” To that end, she’ll be passing around a mic to beginning writers as well as the more established. Bring your journal entries, your poems, and notes from your refrigerator door—expect some inspirational rants and performances. In Other Words, 8B NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

BiblioVinio Night

Wine and children’s books—sounds like an alcoholic memoir in the making, right?  At this event, geared toward parents, A Children’s Place Bookstore’s Gina Greenlaw will present five new titles, while listeners enjoy French wine, cheese and quiche.  Space is limited.  Vinideus, 4759 NE Fremont St., 284-8294. 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Map

Manil Suri

Read review, here: http://wweek.com/editorial/3415/10432/. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map