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

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



Gary Kamiya
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Wednesday, September 18, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

celebrating the release of

Cool Gray City of Love

from Bloomsbury Books


 
Amana Fontanella-Khan in conversation with Geetika Pathania Jain
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Thursday, September 19, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

discussing her new book

Pink Sari Revolution
A Tale of Women and Power in India

from W.W. Norton



SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * Quiet Lightning
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Sunday, September 22nd, 2013, 2-4 P.M.

Evan Karp & Friends


 
PLATFORM (from London) at City Lights
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Tuesday, September 24, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

celebrating the release of

The Oil Road - A Journey from the Caspian Sea to the City of London

from Verso Press



Guillermo Gómez­-Peña in performance
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Thursday, September 26, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

delivering a special solo performance:

Imaginary Activism: The role of the artist beyond the art world


  SUNDAYS IN KEROUAC ALLEY * ZYZZYVA Fall 2013 Release Party
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Sunday, September 29nd, 2013, 2-4 P.M.

Laura Cogan & Oscar Villalon and friends



Katie Yamasaki
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, October 1st, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

reading from her new book for young people

Fish For Jimmy

published by Holiday House


 
CITY LIGHTS AT 60: The Ecology of Consciousness- An afternoon with Ralph Metzner
Emerald Tablet, 80 Fresno St San Francisco, CA 94133 - Event Free - Sign up at front counter of City Lights
Saturday, October 5th, 2013, 1-4 P.M.

A special presentation exploring the navigation of states of consciousness



Robert Antoni in discussion with Lucy Corin
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, October 8, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

reading from their new works and discussing literature

Co-sponsored by Akashic Books and McSweeney's


  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.



Juliana Spahr and David Buuck
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Thursday, October 10, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

celebrating the release of

An Army Of Lovers

from City Lights Books


  Katherine Silver in discussion with Scott Esposito
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

exploring the work of the acclaimed Spanish writer

Marcos Giralt Torrente



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


  John Freeman in discussion with Robin Sloan
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Monday, October 28, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

on the occasion of the release of John Freeman's

How to Read a Novelist

from Farrar, Strauss, Giroux



Alli Warren's Book Launch at City Lights!
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

celebrating the release of

Here Come the Warm Jets

the latest release in the City Lights Spotlight Series


 
Robert Jensen
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Thursday, October 31, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

discussing

Arguing for Our Lives:
A User's Guide to Constructive Dialog

from City Lights Books



CITY LIGHTS AT 60: SUBTLE CHANNELS - An OuLiPo Laboratory: Present, Past, and Future
City Lights Bookstore, Mechanics' Institute Library, San Francisco Art Institute
November 6,7,9, 2012

A multi-day celebration that brings together members of the OuLiPo with Bay Area creators.


  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.



An evening with Trinh T. Minh-ha
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Thursday, November 14, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

exploring the release of

D-Passage: The Digital Way

from Duke University Press


 
Daisy Cockburn & Jeffrey St. Clair
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
Sunday, November 17, 2013, 5:00 P.M.

celebrating the release of

A Colossal Wreck: A Road Trip Through Political Scandal, Corruption, and American Culture

by Alexander Cockburn

---Notice Change Of Event Date---



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.


 
Wednesday, November 20th, 7:00 pm
San Francisco, CA: City Lights Bookstore


An evening with Barry Gifford
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, CA
Thirsday, November 21, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

reading from

The Roy Stories

from Seven Stories Press


  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



CITY LIGHTS AT 60: Conspiracy of Venus
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco, California
Thursday, December 12, 2013, 7:00 P.M.

An all women's a cappella vocal ensemble