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If you crave poet status
Get to know the Poetica series at Rancho Relaxo (300 College). It runs Monday nights through November and starts with open-mike readings of 3 minutes each. Come before the 8 pm start time to sign up. Twenty minutes of open mike precedes each featured poet, who reads for another 20-minute set. Cost: just $2. Contact OmahaRisinG at omaha@axxent.ca
If you’re Queer
Don’t miss Clit Lit, devoted to queer writing, with a lesbian emphasis. At the Red Spot (459 Church) 7 to 9:30 pm the first Monday of every month, Clit Lit unfolds with a series of themes — Mothers And Daughters October 1, Public Players And Hussies For Humanity November 5. This is not an open-mike event. Contact Elizabeth Ruth at eruth100@hotmail.com
If you’re into ZinesIf you’re into Zines
Check out Canzine 2001 Sunday, September 23, at the Big Bop (651 Queen West). For sale: more than 150 underground periodicals from across the country, plus seminars on Web publishing and underground journalism, an evening of intense spoken word and a radical reading series featuring Tamara Faith-Berger, Clive Holden and Valerie Joy Kalynchuk. 1 pm to 1 am. The price is so right — free. 416-703-4644 or canzine@brokenpencil.com
If you like the outdoors
Word On The Street is for you. It’s Canada’s largest open-air book fair, a literary heaven of kiosks sponsored by just about every bookseller, publisher and magazine operating out of T.O. And just about everybody in town with a book deal reads, including those nominated for the Toronto Book Award — the winner is announced at the festival. Queen West between University and Spadina. Free, but bring some coin. I don’t know anybody who’s gone to Word On The Street who hasn’t bought something — even if it’s just a button. 416-504-7241.
If you love your money
Show your student I.D. and get 10 per cent off at Pages (256 Queen West, 416-598-1447), the city’s best store for critical theory and edgy fiction. Or try Book City (501 Bloor West, 416-961-4496 348 Danforth, 416-469-9997), which offers 10 per cent off all hardcovers. And wish them happy birthday — Book City’s been around for 25 years, amazing for an indie shop, given the mega-store threat from Chapters and Indigo.
>If you want to hit on a literary Legend>If you want to hit on a literary Legend
Hang back in the bathrooms outside the Brigantine Room (Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen’s Quay West), home of the International Festival of Authors, any time from October 17 to 28. Nobel Prize winners have to go to the can, too, you know. 416-973-4000.
Write books at susanc@nowtoronto.com
