The Readings Rainbow

Where to be when the 215 goes live.

by Tami Fertig

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Published: Oct 4, 2006

Doubling as the 215's kickoff after-party, this month's cabaret boasts two lit-minded guests: Brooklyn girl rockers The Walking Hellos (featuring novelist Myla Goldberg on accordion and banjo) and Philly's own Absinthe Drinkers, who craft strange little songs out of ancient and modern poetry.

A.J. Purdy and Jason Hsu pooled their drawings of body parts and put out a bound book called Face Gut. Honeymilk celebrates its publication with an adjoining display of zines.

New York-based kiddie-book writer and illustrator David Ezra Stein shares his new heart-tugging picture book, Cowboy Ned and Andy, about a man and his thoughtful horse. Children and adults alike, dress in jammies and sockies but don't brush your teeth — milk and cookies provided for all.

Plan B is all about exposing underpublished writers, and today they spotlight area poets Jim Mancinelli, Sandy Crimmins, Ryan Eckes and Steven Allen May. West Philly duo Rain of Belle Isle backs them up with experimental synths and horn.

Contributors to Hobart: Another Literary Journal's latest issue join Michelle Orange, winner of Hobart's "Short Flight/Long Drive Books" minibook contest, for a reading and party. Orange's soon-to-be-released The Sicily Papers collects letters she wrote while traveling alone in Italy. A neat bit: "Dear B, ... The shower wars continue. Now when I turn the water on, the men all congregate in the atrium outside my bathroom, but instead of hollering they begin singing. When I hear a three-part harmony there may be some kind of reward in order."

Dan Nadel, Timothy Hodler and Frank Santoro guide you through the new Comics Comics magazine, followed by a conversation between comic book writers David Heatley (Deadpan) and Laura Weinstein (Inside Vineland). This is in conjunction with the Rocket Cat's comic art exhibit featuring locals Alina Josan and Aaron MoDavis.

Artblog extraordinaires Roberta Fallon and Libby Rosof chat with other artists about, um, art and blogs. Also on the bill: Photog Zoe Strauss and painter Mark Shetabi talk about what it's like to be praised or bashed by the critics. Just for the record, guys, CP has had only nice things to say about you.

Nietzsche once said that when you look into an abyss, the abyss looks into you, so yeah, peek with caution when local personalities (including CP's A.D. Amorosi) read literature about sinister things. They're covering everyone from De Sade to Snodgrass, from Nietzsche to Crowley.

South Philly's Kate Clifford and NYC writers Owen Kendall, John Wray, Phil Kreniske and Adrian Van Young get all chameleonlike and impersonate their influences. The foursome is into crime and horror fiction, but really, they dig anything exploring the dark side of human nature. Expect appearances by Stephen King and Jane Austen. This could get kinda scary after a couple PBRs.

Stock up on independently published books (Soft Skull Press, Active Bladder and more), bags, buttons, bookmarks and other literary-themed tchotchkes. Soft Skull brings political comic book writer Jen Benka, Ginsberg-esque poet C.A. Conrad and novelist Mark Swartz for a 4 p.m. reading.

The self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics" Robert Christgau and Village Voice jazz scribe Francis Davis read from their respective music writings, and Fishtown's Jack Rose plays his psychedelic folky blues. Followed, perhaps, by a critique of his performance?

Ambler's April DeGideo, who was featured in the edge-of-your-seat documentary Spellbound, hosts this brainy grand finale. Word geeks might be smart and all, but dude, after they've been boozing and dancing? You can totally win this B-E-E.

(tami.fertig@citypaper.net)

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