CHRISTOPHER "HAVE A DRINK ON ME" HITCHENS
Reads from The Trial of Henry Kissinger at Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave.), 212-253-0810; 7:30, free.
A MONTH OF MUNDANE SEX
Reading series about the way most Americans get their exercise. Today it's Rick Moody of The Ice Storm & poetry w/Pamela Sneed; Locus Media, 594 B'way (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-693-0405; 7, $5.
ON THE WALL FICTION
MFA types read; Cornelia St. Cafe, 29 Cornelia St. (6th Ave.), 212-989-9319; 6, free.
ERNESTO QUINONEZ
Reads from his first novel, Bodega Dreams, which the New York Times Book Review called "a stark evocation of life in the projects"; Housing Works Used Book Café, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Lafayette Sts.), 212-334-3324; 6:30, call for price.
KEVIN YOUNG
Author of poetry collection Most Way Home reads, sponsored by National Book Foundation's Family Literacy Project; James Monroe Campus, 1300 Boynton Ave. (E. 172nd St.), 718-893-6600; 6, free.
Friday 5/11
BEING CONSCIOUS: THE LITERARY GARAGE READING SERIES
Big Mike, Michele Capello, Scott Kravet plus open mic; Collective Unconscious, 145 Ludlow (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-254-5277; 10, $5.
THE MYSTERY OF MOM
Celebrate Mother's Day a little early w/the poetry Clara Sala, Suhier Hammad & others; The New York Open Center, 83 Spring St. (betw. B'way & Lafayette St.), 212-219-2527; 8, $8.
PINK PONY WEST
Open mic w/Maggie Balistreri & Jackie Sheeler plus Elizabeth Harrington; Cornelia St. Café, 29 Cornelia St. (6th Ave.), 212-989-9319; 6, $6.
TERRA NOVA
Celebrates release of three new books on nature?The Book of Music & Nature, The World & the Wind & Writing on Water; CUNY Grad Center, 365 5th Ave. (34th St.), RSVP 212-817-8215; call for time, $12, $6 st.
Saturday 5/12
UNNAMABLE POETRY READING
Open mic hosted by Steve Bennett & David Speer; Baggot Inn, 82 W. 3rd St. (betw. Thompson & Sullivan Sts.), 212-477-0622; 3, $5, incl. 1 drink.
THE BIG SLAM OFF
Poets from NY, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania & Georgia compete; Nuyorican Poets Cafe, 236 E. 3rd St. (betw. Aves. B & C), 718-444-7464; 9:30, $10.
Monday 5/14
LOUDER JAMS
Spoken word, open mic & DJ Frank Rempe; 13 Bar/Lounge, 35 E. 13th St. (betw. B'way & University Pl.), 212-979-6677; 7, $5, $4 st.
RUTH REICHL
Signs her new memoir Comfort Me With Apples; Upper West Side Barnes & Noble, 2289 B'way (82nd St.), 212-362-8835; 7:30, free.
Tuesday 5/15
HARRY ELLISON'S POETRY CIRCLE
Ellison lectures, discussion of participants' poetry follows; Corrado Bakery Cafe, 120 E. 15th St. (Irving Pl.), 718-651-1664; 6:30, $7.