Two of Portland's more enjoyable, regular reading events are tonight, both in the inner Southeast. On Belmont and 34th, at The Blue Monk, local writers Matty Byloos and Carrie Seitzinger are at it again with this month's Smalldoggies reading. Tonight features B. Frayn Masters of Entertainment for People and Matthew Dickman, author of All American Poem and one of the more risible and manic poets in our local scene. Lizzy Acker from San Francisco will be reading as well, with musical guest Jem Marie.The event starts at 9:00 p.m., door at 8.
MEANWHILE, about ten blocks away at the Backstage Bar, Fleur de Lethal is hosting this month's meeting of First Rule of Book Club, featuring Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. First Rule of Book Club's schtick is discussing the book for an hour or so, then screening the movie version, in this case John Huston's 1941 masterpiece starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, and the memorable Peter Lorre. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. and the Backstage Bar is located behind the Bagdad Theater on 37th Ave, just south of Hawthorne.