Literary Events

Ira Nowinski: The photographer presents Ira Nowinski's San Francisco: Poets, Politics, and Divas. Wed., Oct. 25, 7 p.m., free. City Lights, 261 Columbus (at Broadway), 362-8193, www.citylights.com.

One City, One Book Discussion Group: Meet and talk about The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea. Wed., Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., free. Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia (at 20th St.), 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.

Open-Mike Fridays: Authors are invited to read from their work at this regular open-mike event. Fridays, 8 p.m., free. Cafe International, 508 Haight (at Fillmore), 552-7390.

Poetry and Pizza: Your donation gives you license to attack an all-you-can-eat buffet of thin-crust New York-style pizza as you dig the work of local bards. Last Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m., $5, www.poetryandpizza.homestead.com. Escape From New York Pizza, 333 Bush Street (at Kearny), 421-0700.

Elisabeth Prueïtt and Chad Robertson: The co-owners of Tartine Bakery and the Bar Tartine in San Francisco talk about Tartine. Sun., Oct. 29, 4 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Queer Open Mic: Queer spoken-word artists and writers read from their work twice monthly at the center's Three Dollar Bill Café. Second and Fourth Friday of every month, 8 p.m., $1-$3. SF LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market (at Octavia), 865-5555.

Retool and Grind: Monthly open mike for musicians, poets, dancers, and others with a yen to command the stage for five minutes at a time. FTMs and those who love them are the staple performers. Last Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m., free. Eros, 2051 Market (at Church), 864-3767, www.erossf.com.

Mary Roach: The author reads from Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife. Tue., Oct. 31, 7 p.m., free. Booksmith, 1644 Haight (at Cole), 863-8688, www.booksmith.com.

San Francisco Literary Walking Tour: A two-hour meander through North Beach and Chinatown to look at the apartment buildings, cafes, bookstores, and bars frequented by famous writers of the past. Meet at City Lights, 261 Columbus (at Broadway). Saturdays, noon, $25, 441-0140.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Group Meeting: A meeting for genre writers. Second and Fourth Thursday of every month, 6 p.m., free. Borderlands Books, 866 Valencia (at 20th St.), 824-8203, www.borderlands-books.com.

Hiroko Shimbo: The chef presents The Sushi Experience. Fri., Oct. 27, 7 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Fourth Street, 1730 Fourth St. (at Virginia), Berkeley, 510-559-9500.

Peter Stone: The author reads from Heist: Super Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his Republican Allies, and the Buying of Washington. Tue., Oct. 31, 1 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Tuesday at Pat's Cafe Reading Series: Each weekly formal reading is followed by an open-mike session for fledgling writers. Tuesdays, 7 p.m., free. Pat's Cafe, 2330 Taylor (at Columbus), 905-8837.

Ed Viesturs: The author reads from No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks. Thu., Oct. 26, 7 p.m., free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista (at Chickasaw), Corte Madera, 927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.

Louise Welsh: The author reads from The Bullet Trick. Sun., Oct. 29, 7 p.m., free. Booksmith, 1644 Haight (at Cole), 863-8688, www.booksmith.com.

Simon Winchester: The author reads from A Crack in the Edge of the World. Wed., Oct. 25, 7 p.m., free. Booksmith, 1644 Haight (at Cole), 863-8688, www.booksmith.com.

Simon Winchester: The author reads from A Crack in The Edge of the World. Thu., Oct. 26, 12:30 p.m., free. Cody's Books/Stockton, 2 Stockton (at Ellis), 773-0444, www.codysbooks.com.

Word Beat Reading Series: Readings are followed by an open mike hosted by David Gollub, Debra Grace Khattab, and Jeremy Morris Siegel. Occurs on the first and third Thursday of every month. Daily, 7 p.m., free. Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. (at Dwight), Berkeley, 510-549-1128.