A boozy book club, literary magazine parties, and more literary events to attend this month.
A Reading and Conversation with Claudia Rankine & Karen Green
The California College of Arts’ MFA Program joins forces with Small Press Traffic to host a magical night of literature. Claudia Rankine, best known for her acclaimed novel Citizen, is sharing the stage with NorCal author and artist Karen Green for an in-depth conversations and special reading in the California College of Arts Timken Hall. Tickets will be sold at the door and are free for CCA students and SPT members. There is a sliding scale of $10-$25 for the public. // Sunday, Dec. 6th, 5pm-7pm; California College of Arts (1111 8th St, San Francisco); cca.edu
Quiet Lightning’s Sixth Anniversary
To celebrate their upcoming birthday, Quiet Lightning, a submission-based reading series, is putting together a six-year anniversary mixtape. Make sure to get to the unveiling party early, because the first 100 guests will receive a printed copy of Quiet Lightening’s sPARKLE & bLINK 70, filled with their accepted submissions with cover art by Michelle Brandemuehl. Enjoy readings from over twelve different authors while cheersing to another year. This is an all ages event and tickets are $7-$10, but no one will be turned away. // Monday, Dec. 7th, 7pm; Smash Gallery (210 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco); quietlightening.org
ZYZZYVA Winter Issue Celebration
Come one, come all! ZYZZYVA is bringing the holiday cheer at their annual Winter issue celebration. Hosted at their brand new location, The Mechanics Institute, Bay Area literatis will join authors and the ZYZZYVA team to close out their 30th anniversary year. Enjoy readings from this Winter issue’s contributors, including Paul Madonna, Heather Monley, Austin Smith, Dominca Phettplace, and Lauren Alwan. This event is free for members of the Mechanics Institute and ZYZZYVA subscribers. Tickets are $15 for public admission. Make sure to secure your spot and register here. // Friday, Dec. 11th, 6:30pm; The Mechanics Institute (57 Post St 4th Floor, San Francisco); milibrary.org
This isn’t your average literary reading. Oakland’s The Shout takes place every second Monday of the month, where storytellers from all over take center stage at Perch Coffee House to deliver a ten-minute true story from their lives. The catch? Each story is delivered without any notes or scripts beforehand. In fact, six readers are chosen at random from a blind drawing from a hat. It’s an all-suspense literary event, so you might want to ease up on that espresso. // Monday, Dec. 14th, 7:30pm; Perch Coffee House (440 Grand Ave, Oakland); theshoutstorytelling.com
Have you just been dying to ramble on about the new book you’ve been reading? Alley Cat Books is holding their monthly Any Book of the Month Club, where bookworms of all kinds can meet up and discuss what piece of literature they’ve been indulging in lately. Whether it’s a tear-jerking memoir or out-of-the-box science fiction novel, guests are there to listen. It’s the perfect excuse to get some book recommendations this holiday season, on top of boozing on wine and devouring snacks. Come and be merry you geeks. // Sunday, Dec. 20th, 6pm; Alley Cat Books (3036 24th St, San Francisco); alleycatbookshop.com
