Preview of Night 6

Yesterday was the "tent-pole," which means that today we are on the waning half of this festival. Tonight is the busiest night, with 13 events to choose from!! The tough part is that you can't really lose. Click here for a full schedule, or read on for a few thoughts:

If you're interested in writing non-fiction, you do not want to miss this panel @ 6pm tonight. Tamim Ansary, Pulitzer-Prize winners T.J. Stiles and Richard Rhodes, and the fabulous do-everything Frances Dinkelspiel will discuss the artistry of real life on the page.

If you're in the South Bay, you should check out Lan Samantha Chang at the CLA.

If you're in the East Bay, or used to live there and feel like getting nostalgic, come with me to Lit on the Lake: readings by East Bay writers. That's at 6pm too, at Lake Chalet.

But you can't miss with Radar Productions. Tao Lin in the house. The lovely Beth Pickens. Chinaka Hodge! Did anyone else fall in love with her when she read Ferlinghetti's fireflies? Time? 6pm. Free @ the library.

In one of the more unique events of the festival, 14 Hills editor Hollie Hardy organizes Flight of Poets, which pairs a wine to each scribe. With Robin Ekiss in the house, this promises to be fun and potent. 7pm @ Hotel Rex . $15 includes your flight.

Another program sure to be fascinating is Civilization on Six Legs: The Complex Societies of Ants and Honeybees at the California Academy of the Sciences in the planetarium! 7pm.

Also at 7pm is the 100th episode of Literary Death Match. Founder Todd Zuniga is in town to join Alia Volz and M.G. Martin in this unconventional death duel. All-star cast. Metaphorical (and sometimes real) blood.

Bawdy Storytelling is your raunchy option for the evening. I caught this show once and, while it isn't normally my thing, if you like Porchlight but want more sex in your show (a lot more sex), why don't you go by The Blue Macaw tonight at 8? Stephen Elliott will probably not be reading from the Daily Rumpus (although he probably could). I'll be there, if that's any more incentive!

Oh wait! What about sex? Try The Funny Side at the Cobbs Comedy Club , also at 8pm. Daily Show correspondent Kristen Schaal celebrates the release of her first book: The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex and will be joined for some good - and funny - friends.



Stay tuned for some recap later this afternoon. Hope to see you all tonight!

— Evan