Best Literary Event

It’s been going on long enough that we’ll dispense with the old jokes regarding what do engineers know about poetry (and poets about engineering). POETRY AT TECH used to carry an invisible question mark on its tail end, but Georgia Tech poetry professor Thomas Lux and Ginger Murchison have assembled the best poetry series going. The after-parties at Lux’s place — an opportunity to mingle with the poets — are also way cooler than what we imagine your average Techie parties are like ... not that you ever invite us.
404-385-2760. poetry.gatech.edu.

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Since the fall of 2001 “THE SPOKEN WORD” has put on some of the city’s most consistently engaging literary programming, often focusing on local authors and unheralded luminaries outside the narrow scope of New York literati. Highlights of the past year included a celebration of “Poetry” magazine, a remembrance of the life of James Kilgo and a truly mesmerizing appearance by poet Nikki Giovanni. No wonder the series, broadcast locally on WABE, is gearing up for syndication and will air throughout the Southeast in the fall. Programming is sporadic, so check the website for upcoming broadcasts. “WABE-FM, 90.1. Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. beginning in October. www.radiosouth.net.” less...

With the Woodruff Arts Center’s PAGE TO STAGE literary series, you never can tell who might be coming to town next, from “That Girl” Marlo Thomas to NPR funnyman David Sedaris. Partnered with Outwrite Books for a diverse lineup, the series feeds Atlanta’s hunger for celebrity and shows us that book events don’t have to be boring.

“404-733-5000. www.woodruff-arts.org.”

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14th Street Playhouse 404-733-5000 www.woodruff-arts.org. Humor essayist David Sedaris’ reading at the Alliance Theatre earlier this year had to be one of the year’s finest literary events. A standing-room-only audience laughed themselves stupid, listening to the author’s outrageous accounts of growing up in the South and living the ex-pat lifestyle in France. Thanks to the Woodruff Arts Center Literary Series, expect more to come. The year-round series debuted this year with an impressive line up of authors that included Martin Amis, Ha Jin, P.D. James, Douglas Coupland, E. Lynn Harris and Rita Mae Brown. Coming in October is Edward Ball, winner of the 2001 National Book Award for “Slaves in the Family”, and in February, Christopher Rice, who follows up his popular debut “Density of Souls” with “The Snow Garden”. less...