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 fucking date in the fucking subject line.
MONDAY, 3.12: Says The Reader’s Room: “Come on over as we welcome the deliciously wry yet unabashedly heartfelt John Sellers, author of Perfect From Now On (Simon & Schuster) and celebrated blogger (aka “angry John Sellers”)…Contrary to popular opinion, JOHN SELLERS doesn’t think he’s better than you. He listens to Guided By Voices more often and has more Warhol-ed images of John Ritter adorning his living-room wall, but he knows that doesn’t make him better than you. In reality, he just wants to be your friend. Unless you’re lame. Since fleeing the TV Editor post at Time Out New York in 1999, Sellers has contributed to GQ, Spin, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, and some other places he can’t remember.” At Mo Pitkin’s. 7PM, one-drink minimum. Also, the Amy Winehouse show at Bowery Ballroom has been sold out for a month but opening act the Pipettes are fortunate enough to have “the U.K. Sensation” known as “The Booze” open for them tonight at Luna Lounge and tickets for that show are available. Is it a “secret” show? Ms. Winehouse and her management might say “no, no, no,” but it’s at least deliciously suspicious, right?
TUESDAY, 3.13: What’s it like to be a pregnant, teenaged girl in Latvia these days? Probably not so grand, but riveting. A sure antidote to the overly tanned, designer handbag toting teens of Orange County, photographer Hellen van Meene’s new work documenting adolescents around the world is worth a look (that won’t soon be forgotten). At Yancey Richardson through Saturday.
WEDNESDAY, 3.14: New reading series alert, and it sounds brilliant. Presented by “Melissa Febos (writer of fiction and nonfiction) …[and]… Rebecca Keith (a poet). The facts are these: The reading is called MIXER, and is to be held …at Cakeshop (152 Ludlow St., between Stanton & Rivington). It is going to be a monthly gig, featuring a bunch of writers and a musical act. To kick the whole thing off will be: Nelly Reifler, Robert Lopez, Craig Teicher, Leslie Shipman, and the musical sounds of Cat Martino.” Highly recommended. 7PM, FREE.
THURSDAY, 3.15: In Brooklyn on Thursday, the “P.E.E.L. Series (Poems, Essays, Excerpts and Letters)” promises “Quick & Painless Readings.” At Stain Bar. 7PM, FREE.
FRIDAY, 3.16: “Small Press Month, a nationwide promotion highlighting the valuable work produced by independent publishers, is launching its first annual National Small Press Month Reading Marathon… The reading will feature such literary figures as Lynne Tillman, Mathew Sharpe and Nahid Rachlin.The Reading Marathon is one of Small Press Month’s many events taking place across the country, and demonstrates the vision, success and creativity of independent presses. The Marathon will feature 31 authors, representing the 31 days in March, bringing together a diverse array of voices published by independent presses, in a lively, not-to-be missed five hour program. Some of the participating authors and presses so far, include: Lynne Tillman (Soft Skull Press); T. Cooper (Akashic Books); Nahid Rachlin (City Lights); Rachel Sherman (Open City Books); Matthew Sharpe (Soft Skull Press); Sam Brumbaugh (Open City Books); Stacy Szymaszek (Litmus Press); Jennifer Hayashida (Litmus Press); Brenda Iijima (Litmus Press); Tracy Grinnell (O Books); Rachel Levitsky (Belladonna Books); Erica Kaufman (Belladonna Books); Jen Benka (Soft Skull Press); Dan Machlin (Ugly Duckling Presse); Prageeta Sharma (Fence Books); Kevin Bartelme (Cool Grove); and Deepa Fernandez (Seven Stories Press).” Highly recommended. At Mo Pitkin’s. 6 – 11PM, $5.
SATURDAY, 3.17: At “Acoustic Theater at Makor, Late-night play readings are paired with tunes from emerging singer/songwriters. Writers slated to participate include Laura Shaine Cunningham, Clay McLeod Chapman, Mary Gallagher and Tony-winner Warren Leight.” Highly recommended. 9PM, $5.
SUNDAY, 3.18: Sunday Salon, already one of the hottest reading series in town, has just added a Nairobi chapter to the mix (joining Sunday Salon Brooklyn and Chicago)! It runs concurrently to the regular installment of the New York series and adds a nice dimension to a literary conversation that has always highlighted great new voices. Check it out.