litquake

Amber Tamblyn is a poet, too! She stars in The Drums Inside Your Chest.

David Gabber, Photorazzi

Tonight's the last night of structured, regularized events before the free-for-all that is the Lit Crawl. On tap: spoken-word poetry, an all-female panel, the history of zines, and a special event for teenagers.

Tracy Kidder will read from his new Strength in What Remains, the story of a genocide survivor.

Thursday boasts one of Litquake's most fun lineups of events-- perfect for those who want to take part in the festival without being subjected to dry lectures or obscure topics. If you're interested in mystery novels, children's books, humorous takes on American history, or erotica, there's something for you to enjoy.

Psychologist Paul Ekman, the inspiration for Fox's Lie to Me, will appear tonight at Mechanics Institute Library.

Davis Freeman

It was a dark and stormy day in San Francisco, and weather that is, undeniably, frightful might keep even the most dedicated Litquake fans from their appointed rounds. If you can round up a pair of rain boots and a sturdy umbrella, though, tonight is full of great events that will keep your brain buzzing and your toes toasty.

With Litquake kicking off its 10th anniversary celebration this Friday, the bookworm in all of us here at the 7x7 office is beginning to show. But with boyfriend blazers, collared shirts and oxfords showing up everywhere from the NY runway to the suburban streets, there's no better time to let your inner geek shine through. So, ladies and gents, it's time to grab your thick-framed glasses and head to your closest bookstore or bar, Litquake is here to stay...for a week anyway:

Amy Tan is this year's winner of Litquake's Barbary Coast Award, for contributions to Bay Area literary culture.

The Litquake festival, San Francisco's weeklong salute to all things literary, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with more readings and events scheduled than ever before. With almost 100 events to choose from over the course of the week, however, Litquake's schedule can feel like a slog through War and Peace. No need to panic, dear readers: 7x7 has you covered. This short list of our top picks should help you storm the festival with all the zest of Michiko Kakutani tearing into a first-time novelist.

Litquake founders-directors Jack Boulware and Jane Ganahl

Photo by Catherine Bigelow

Entertainment choices were painful last Friday for San Francisco Goths: The Bowie Ball at the Great American Music Hall? Or a Litquake sponsored celebration of Edgar Allan Poe at the Goth Hop?

Not only that, lit lovers were torn, too, as they tarried between the Litquake event at the Verdi Club and the sorta nearby Elbo Room for the latest installment of Opium Magazine’s Literary Death Match.