Kaleidoscope

Nothing gets me geeked like old maps. Except old maps of imaginary places. To wit: Michael J. Trinklein's Lost States (Quirk) is a historical atlas of some 74 failed statehood attempts, from the ongoing push to decapitate Maine (Acadia), to correcting the nonsensically apportioned Idaho (Lincoln), to liberating Michigan's U.P. (Superior), to a Union-sympathetic Appalachian swath of Tennessee and Alabama (Nickajack). Did you know there were also movements to admit Iceland, Cuba, Philippines, Guyana and even freaking Newfoundland (!) to the Union? Geeked. Completely geeked.

Admit it: Ever since you saw the city's UnLitter Us commercials and bus ads, you've been wanting to spit a few words. The Harvest: Spoken Soul 215 Open Mic is your chance. Stroll on down to World Café Live on Wednesday (June 2, worldcafelive.com) and grab the mic. Def Illadelph poets like Just Greg and Lyrispect will be on hand to warm it up for you.

Okayplayer isn't just a website — it's a meeting of the minds, a space for artists like Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli and ?uestlove to interact with fans on the always-buzzing message boards. This Saturday's Okayplayer 10 Year Reunion at Fluid (May 29, fluidnightclub.com) will be DJ'd by none other than 9th Wonder. Need more dopeness? How about Sonny James and Mike Nyce. Even more? The party doubles as a listening party for Ethel Cee's freshly released album, Dirty Samples. Do you want more?! The gig triples as a Tastytreats anniversary celebration.

Are you still holding a grudge against The Atlantic for banishing its lit content to the annual/non-canonical Fiction Issue sin bin? Get over it. The big-name exiles in the 2010 edition — just released and full of shorties, poetry and essays — include T. C. Boyle, Joyce Carol Oates and Paul Theroux.