ZYZZYVA Winter Issue Celebration

Thursday, December 8, 7:30 pm, at The Booksmith (1644 Haight St.)

This month marks the 93rd issue of the beloved local literary journal, and editor Laura Cogan and managing editor Oscar Villalon will join four contributors to the new issue for readings of their pieces: Karen Joy Fowler (The Jane Austen Book Club), Adam Johnson (Parasites Like Us), short-story writer Katie Chase, and poet Joseph Di Prisco. Wine and holiday cheer are both promised.

Kira Stackhouse (Project DOG)

Saturday, December 10, 4-8 pm, at WAG Hotel (25 14th St.)

Local photographer Stackhouse set an ambitious goal for her book of dog portraits: two snaps of pups from every AKC-recognized breed, one a purebred and the other a rescue. Her launch party will feature a "runway show" with 50 of the dogs featured in the book, along with wine and cheese for the humans and kibble for their furry friends. Admission is $25, and bring along a pooch (well-behaved and leashed, of course) for an extra $5.

Lou Beach (420 Characters)

Friday, December 9, 6 pm, at Book Passage SF (1 Ferry Building)

Beach (above) is best known as an artist and illustrator, but his new collection of short stories is entirely wordsmithed, with a twist-- each began life as an update on his Facebook page. Instead of notes on kids, pets, and work, Beach's Facebook contributions are funny, mischevious, and unusual, evoking deep emotions in just a few sentences. Jonathan Lethem, Terry Gilliam, and New York magazine are all fans.

The Best American Nonrequired Reading

Tuesday, December 13, 7 pm, at Books Inc. Opera Plaza (601 Van Ness Ave.)

Dave Eggers is the head honcho of the youngest, hippest entry in the annual Best American series, and he works with contingents of high schoolers in SF and Ann Arbor to choose the winning pieces for each year's edition. This reading, which will benefit 826 Valencia, features journalist Joshuah Bearman (The Art of the Steal), novelist Daniel Alarcon (Lost City Radio), and Tom Barbash (The Last Good Chance), all of whom appear in the book.