Readings at the Bookstore

City Lights has an ongoing series of readings and events, usually at least one or two each week. Our online calendar is updated regularly, but if you want to be sure not to miss out on anything, be sure to sign up for our Events Newsletter to receive weekly updates on what's happening at the bookstore.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public and take place at City Lights Bookstore | 261 Columbus Avenue | San Francisco, CA 94133
For more information, call us at 415-362-8193 | Map & Directions

Check out our new podcast series, "Live From City Lights"-- broadcasting events, interviews, and reviews from City Lights Books & Publishers.

Jaron Lanier City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, California Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 7:00 P.M. discussing his new book Who Owns the Future? from Simon & Schuster		Luis Negron City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 7:00 P.M. reading from Mundo Cruel from Seven Stories Press in conversation with Oscar Villalon, Managing Editor of Zyzzyva

Bennett Sims in conversation with Susan Steinberg City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 7:00 P.M. reading from A Questionable Shape from 2 Dollar Radio		Alysia Abbott City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 7:00 P.M. discussing the subject of her new book Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father from W. W. Norton & Company event cosponsored by the GLBT Historical Society

CITY LIGHTS AT 60/ Birthday Party & Open House City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Sunday, June 23, 2013, 2:00 P.M. til 5:00 P.M. City Lights celebrates its 60th orbit around the sun! Join us for readings, music, and surprises.		Subterranean SF presents Femme Fatale Night Tuesday, June 25, 2013, doors 7:30 P.M., event 8:00 P.M., at an undisclosed location somewhere in San Francisco with Cara Black, Daphne Gottlieb, Monica Nolan, Kelli Stanley, and Alia Volz

Matt Bell City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Wednesday, June 26, 2013, 7:00 P.M. celebrating the release of In the House upon the Dirt between the Lake and the Woods from SoHo Press		Micheline Aharonian Marcom in conversation with Laleh Khadivi City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Thursday, June 27, 2013, 7:00 P.M. EVENT POSTPONED til Fall 2013

Finn Brunton City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Monday, July 1, 2013, 7:00 P.M. discussing Spam: A Shadow History of the Internet from MIT Press (Infrastructures Series)		Loren Glass City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 7:00 P.M. discussing Counterculture Colophon Grove Press, the Evergreen Review, and the Incorporation of the Avant-Garde from Stanford University Press

Laborfest 2013/Carol Tarlen Tribute City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 7:00 P.M. with Aggie Falk, Jack Hirschman, David Joseph, Sarah Menefee, Leslie Simon, and Julia Stein		Dawn Bohulano Mabalon City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Wednesday, July 10, 2013, 7:00 P.M. celebrating the release of Little Manila Is in the Heart from Duke University Press

CITY LIGHTS AT 60/ HOWL LEGACY: The Continuing Battle for Free Expression Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103, Admission Free Sunday, July 14, 2013, 3-5pm Panel Discussion moderated by Peter Maravelis with guest speakers:: Rebecca Farmer (Communication Director, ACLU Northern California) James Wheaton ( First Amendment Project: Founder, Senior Counsel) Mark Rumold (Attorney-EFF)		CITY LIGHTS AT 60/ MANIA-The Story Of The Outraged & Outrageous Lives That Launched A Cultural Revolution City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 7:00 P.M. with Ronald K.L. Collins, David Skover, and Al Bendich

SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * Poesia del Corazón City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Sunday, July 21st, 2013, 2-4 P.M. S.F. Poet Laureate Alejandro Murguia & Friends		SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * Sister Spit City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Sunday, July 28th, 2013, 2-4 P.M. Michelle Tea & Friends

SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * Spotlight Poetry City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Sunday, August 18th, 2013, 2-4 P.M. Poets from the City Lights Spotlight Series		SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * Quiet Lightning City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Sunday, September 22nd, 2013, 2-4 P.M. Evan Karp & Friends

CITY LIGHTS AT 60: Ralph Metzner Workshop Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno St San Francisco, CA 94133 Saturday, October 5th, 2013, 1-4 P.M. A special workshop exploring the navigation of states of consciousness.		CITY LIGHTS AT 60: How We Got Here, Where We're Going City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Wednesday, October 9, 2013, 7 P.M. A roundtable discussion and visual presentation exploring the history of City Lights.

CITY LIGHTS AT 60: The Collected Lamantia City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 7 P.M. An appreciation of the life and work of the surrealist and visionary poet, Philip Lamantia		CITY LIGHTS AT 60: Surréalisme: Theory, Practice, and in Play City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco Tuesday, November 12th, 2013, 7 P.M. Learn about City Lights' connection to Surrealism. With Garrett Caples, Peter Maravelis, and more.

CITY LIGHTS AT 60: Women of the Beat Generation City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 7 P.M. Hosted by Brenda Knight. Guest appearances by ruth weiss and others.		CITY LIGHTS AT 60: Kenneth Rexroth-An Appreciation City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA Tuesday, December 10th, 2013, 7 P.M. With Ken Knabb, David Meltzer, and Kim Stanley Robinson