Written on the Dock of the Bay is your weekly guide to literary and bookish happenings in the pleasantly literary and bookish Bay Area.
Bay Area Book World Breaking News!
Goodbye Black Oaks
Well, the final chapter is here. Black Oaks Books, a Berkeley bookstore, is calling it quits, for real. There's about one week left of the final sale, where all books will be discounted 75%. The store is at 2618 San Pablo Ave. at Carleton Street. Go, go, go, go.
Books, where are you?
Good news, and bad news. Berkeley police have arrested the man linked to the theft of $350,000 worth of rare books. But, the books, and the van that kept them safe, are still missing. Plus, the book thief's accomplice is still on the loose.
“Library incidents” is a pretty vague phrase, but at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch, it basically means a problem occurring in a library. So, that can mean a disgruntled sleeping person being woken up by a library staff member, a verbal fight, or a stabbing in the bathroom.According to a Thursday Library Commission meeting, “incidents” decreased by roughly 50% from the 2014 to 2015 fiscal year.
MONDAY, 3/7 - SUNDAY 3/13
Monday, 3/7
The poet laureate of Telegraph Avenue
Now presenting...the woman some have called the poet laureate of Telegraph Avenue, Julia Vinograd! She'll be reading from The Jerusalem Poems at Himalayan Flavors this Monday.
DETAILS: Himalayan Flavors // 1585 University Ave., Berkeley // 7pm
Tuesday, 3/8
Well-red
A lot is happening at Works, San Jose's Art and Performance Center. For one, there's babies. As in, a piece of artwork, called Babies, where there appear to be sculptured humans made out of bubbles as part of the Sci-fi Folk Exhibition. On Tuesday evening, there will also be literature: the Well-red reading series, featuring Elwin Cotman and Doren Robbins.
DETAILS: Works // 365 South Market St., San Jose // 6:30pm
Wednesday, 3/9
I’m with the band
First off, there's a place in San Francisco called the Institute of Possibility, so that's pretty cool. Also, there's the storytelling series, Fireside, is happening there this Wednesday. So, that's Cool Thing #2. The theme is I'M WITH THE BAND. That means six storytellers have been assembled to tell their best stories about "being in (and around) the band." Guitarists, groupies, roadies and rockers will share their crazy tales.
The Institute of Possibility // 3359 Cesar Chavez, SF // 7:30pm
Thursday, 3/10
Calling Richard Pryor fans!
If you want to meet someone who knows an awful lot about comedian Richard Pryor (or, maybe you just like Richard Pryor, and that’s good, too) then head to Berkeley's Story Hour in the Library series. Historian Scott Saul, who created a digital archive of materials from Pryor's formative years, will be there to share his impressive Richard Pryor knowledge.
DETAILS: Morrisson Library, 101 Doe Library // 1190 Folsom St., SF // 5pm
Friday, 3/11
Remembering the days that breathed pink
Remembering the Days that Breathed Pink is a diverse collection of women's voices that takes readers through the innocence, desires, fears, motherhood, curiosities, and observations of women. These pink-breathing pages will make a debut appearance with a reading at Green Apple Booksthis Friday.
DETAILS: Green Apple Books on the Park // 1231 9th Ave., SF // 7:30pm
Saturday, 3/12
The rainbow-colored going away reading
Writer Alana Siegel is going away for three years! So she's throwing her first reading series, The Rainbow Body, followed by two more. Each one will stand for the year she's away. She asks that you wear your brightest colored clothing and accessories. Just passing on the message.
DETAILS: // 1628 Woolsey St., Apt. C, Berkeley //8pm
Sunday, 3/13
Litquake shakes up Palo Alto
Litquake is coming to Palo Alto! Joyce Carol Oates will be there, just FYI. There will be neat literary salons with intriguing topics, like Cross-Cultural Literature, Women in Politics, Men-moirs: Personal Tales by Guys, Cookbook Authors, and Jewbus/Bujews (Jewish Buddhism). There will be lots of other cool guests too, like Joyce Maynard, Daniel Handler, and Nancy L. Cohen. That's just the teaser.
DETAILS: // Multiple locations in Palo Alto, see here for details // 3-8pm
Got a literary event or some news you think we should share with the world? Email us at thelitographyproject@gmail.com!