Odd Words

Hogswatchnight is almost upon us, and if you are one of those people who finished shopping in October, well, we hate you. For the rest, I think you know there this is going. Anyone on your list who would not enjoy a book probably doesn’t belong on your list unless they are a relative, in which case I recommend a festive holiday tie or pair of socks. Better yet, get them a festive holiday tale that will confirm their opinion that you are the “Odd one” in the family: Hogfather

& Sunday, Dec. 23 17 Poets! and the Maple Leaf Bar Reading Series unite for a benefit for The Kitchen, a New York City non-profit, interdisciplinary organization whose facilities were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Dave Brinks and Megan Burns at The Goldmine, 701 Dauphine St., will be opening the doors from 6 pm to 10 pm for a showing of the film POETRY IN MOTION, featuring Burroughs, Ginsberg, Bukowski, Snyder, Algarin, Snyder, Carroll, McClure, DiPrima, and many many more, followed by an open mic. No admission, but donations will be solicited to send to THE KITCHEN. At 3 p.m. Nancy Harris and the Maple Leaf Reading Series will host an open mic for donations to THE KITCHEN.

& If you’re looking for the perfect New Orleans holiday book don’t check the counters at Barnes & Noble. Get yourself out to your favorite local indie bookstore and buy a copy of The YAT Dictionary, by the insanely hilarious Chris Champagne. You can get yours personalized by Chris today at Octavia Books 3:30 to 5 PM, Maple Street by Bayou St John at 6pm, Friday, Dec. 21 at Finn McCool’s Christmas Market or Saturday, Dec. 22 at Crescent City Books on Chartres at 6 p.m.

& Another great gift book for Orleanians would be Rene Brunet’s and Jack Stewart’s chronicle of neighborhood movie theaters There’s One In Your Neighborhood. The authors will sign their book at Octavia Books Saturday, Dec. 22 at Octavia Books at 2 p.m. For more than a century the Brunet family has dedicated their lives to the movie theater industry. The co-author’s father opened his first theater in 1905 on Canal Street. When his father died in 1946, Rene Jr. at age 25, became the owner and operating manager of the Imperial Theater, which his father had built in 1921, was involved in preserving the oy Theater and Loew’s State Theater and, at the age of 75, saved the last single screen neighborhood movie theater in New Orleans, the Prytania Theater. He still owns and manages the Prytania and appears there every night, taking tickets at the door.

& Saturday at Maple Street Books it’s a holiday story time with Miss Maureen at 11:30 a.m. featuring Gaspard and Lisa’s Christmas Surprise by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben

& On Sunday evening at 7 p.m. Spoken Word New Orleans presents Speak Easy Sundays Poetry at the Club Caribbean 2441 Bayou Road. Cover. Visit their website for updates on other spoken word events and visiting artists all around town.

& Usually Every Monday at 9 p.m. on the amphitheater steps on Decatur Street across from Jackson Square it’s the outdoor open mic Writer’s Block. No rule, no mic, no rules, just right. Bringing cookies is an excellent introduction, and stay for the weekly finale, a rousing sing-a-long of Mercedes-Benz led by organizer Kate Smash.

& Susan Larson, the former book editor of the former Times-Picayune newspaper and member of the National Book Critics Circle hosts The Reading Life on WWNO (89.9 FM) on Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. She features interviews with authors of local and national interest.