The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled by Lauren Cerand, that usually appears Mondays at 12:30pm and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please send details to lauren [at] maudnewton.com by the Thursday prior to publication, with the event’s date in the subject line.
MONDAY, 1.8: The Reader’s Room presents Grant Stoddard, reading from his Working Stiff: The Misadventures of an Accidental Sexpert, at Mo Pitkin’s. Highly recommended. 7:00pm, with a one drink minimum.
TUESDAY, 1.9: Novelist Galt Niederhoffer (who is also an accomplished filmmaker) reads from her debut, A Taxonomy of Barnacles, along with N.S. Koenings, author of The Blue Taxi, at Housing Works. 7:00pm, FREE.
WEDNESDAY, 1.10: Jami Attenberg’s Class of 2007 reading series presents a stellar line-up of handpicked future legends at the Boxcar Lounge. 8:00pm, FREE.
THURSDAY, 1.11: Barnes & Noble presents the first edition of “Upstairs at the Square†of 2007 at the Union Square B&N. The series features host Katherine Lanpher in conversation with established and emerging authors and musicians, who will read and perform their work. Thursday evening’s guests are David Lynch and Au Revoir Simone [full disclosure, as always: I am the PR consultant for this project]. 7:00pm, FREE.
FRIDAY, 1.12: “Recently married writers Thomas Hopkins (One Story issue #74) & Emily Barton will be reading together for a special “Just Married” edition of the One Story Reading & Cocktail Hour…The drink special will be the Niagara Falls (2 parts Vodka, 2 parts Orange liquor, 1 part Lemon juice, 1/2 part Sugar syrup, Ginger ale) which will be sold for $3.00.” At Piano’s. 7:00pm, FREE.
SATURDAY, 1.13: Priska C. Juschka Fine Art presents Matereality, a solo exhibition of work by Tim Doud that draws “from three different series of paintings  The Lipstick Series, Prime Outlets and None of My Clothes. In essence, they all explore the notion of attire’s function as a cultural signifier, and the way clothing is utilized by individuals for the construction of their outer persona.” Through February 10.
SUNDAY, 1.14: Debuting this week: “good words @ Good World, a new reading series featuring a different theme every month…Reading #1 is all about FOOD, with three terrific writers: Patrick Martins, director of Heritage Foods USA, and co-author of The Slow Food Guide to New York City; Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet, a contributor to Serious Eats, and author of the forthcoming book, Eat Like A Grownup; and Andrea Strong, food writer, restaurant critic, and co-author, with Katy Sparks, of Sparks In The Kitchen. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Gourmet, The Best Food Writing, 2003, and on her weekly blog, The Strong Buzz.” Highly recommended. 5:00pm, FREE. And, Said Sayrafiezadeh reads from his fiction for the literary website Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, as part of an evening at Mo Pitkin’s. 8:00pm, one drink minimum.