…is the clever headline I came up with to promote this upcoming weekend’s two not-to-be-missed (according to me) Chicago literary events. First, this Friday, October 21st at 8:00 pm the Chicago Poetry Brothel–featuring special guest Prose Whore Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City—will take over historic Thalia Hall in Pilsen to provide poetry, music, libations, burlesque and other assorted artistic debauchery for the discriminating gentleperson for the low low price of just $5. It’s the last show of the year, people, so you won’t want to miss it:

Then, on Saturday the 22nd at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square at 7:00 pm, I’ll be reading with the inimitable Jason Skipper who is touring the nation behind his debut novel Hustle, about which  the equally inimitable Charles Baxter says: “The central truth of Hustle is that we’re all on the edge of a cliff. This is a fine story, honestly told.” The cover looks like this, but you really ought to see it for yourself on Saturday: