Literary Calendar

7 P.M. Slate editor Jacob Weisberg discusses and signs his new book, The Bush Tragedy, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7 P.M. Leigh A. Neithardt, Edna Small and Ninie G. Syarikin, all members of the Federal Poets (the oldest continuously active poetry group on the Washington D.C. area), read from their work as part of the monthly poetry series at the Kensington Row Bookshop, 3786 Howard Ave., Kensington, Md., 301-949-9416. An open reading follows.

7:30 P.M. Paleontologist Phillip Manning discusses Grave Secrets of Dinosaurs: Soft Tissues and Hard Science, his new book analyzing "Dakota," the mummified remains of a 67-million-year-old hadrosaur discovered by Tyler Lawson (the subject of a National Geographic Channel special in December), as part of the "National Geographic Live!" series held at the National Geographic Society, Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Admission is $18 for nonmembers; call 202-857-7700 or visit http://www.nglive.org to RSVP.

31 THURSDAY

7 P.M. Ed Hamilton discusses and signs Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with the Artists and Outlaws of New York's Rebel Mecca at Olsson's Books-Dupont, 1307 19th St. NW, 202-785-1133.

7:30 P.M. Rita Mae Brown reads from and signs her new Mrs. Murphy mystery, The Purrfect Murder, at Borders Books-Baileys Crossroads, Route 7 at Columbia Pike, Baileys Crossroads, Va., 703-998-0404.

1 FRIDAY

1:30 P.M. Children's author Sharon M. Draper, author of the YA novels Copper Sun, Forged By Fire and Tears of a Tiger, chats about her life and work with Mocha Ochoa, host of the television program "In the Caf¿ With Mocha," at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. Co-sponsored by the Oracle Group, this program is the official launch of "The Dream Project," the D.C. Public Library's African-American History Month Celebrations. For details, call 202-727-1111; to RSVP, e-mail rsvp@theoraclegroup.net.

7 P.M. Terrie M. Williams discusses and signs Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting, her new book on depression in the African-American community (told from experience), at Borders Books-Largo, 913-A Capital Centre Blvd., Largo, Md., 301-499-2173.

7 P.M. Franklin Foer, the editor of the New Republic magazine and the author of the bestselling How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, discusses the new campaign primer Election 2008: A Voter's Guide, at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

7:30 P.M. HearArts, a brand-new literary and musical arts series that debuted in January, opens its second evening performance with a reading by local writer Sean Enright, author of Goof and Other Stories and the collection of verse My People (a finalist for the Washington Prize), along with jazz by Gary Gibian playing the vibraphone, at VisArts, Rockville Town Center, 155 Gibbs St., Rockville, Md. The program closes with an open mic segment. The series is held every first Friday of the month; for details, visit http://www.visartscenter.org.

2 SATURDAY

6 P.M. Nancy D. Polikoff, a professor of law at American University Washington College of Law, discusses and signs Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage: Valuing All Families under the Law at Politics and Prose Bookstore, 202-364-1919.

3 SUNDAY

4 P.M. Christopher Alan Bracey, a professor of law and African American studies at Washington University, discusses and signs Saviors or Sellouts: The Promise and Peril of Black Conservatism, from Booker T. Washington to Condoleezza Rice at Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW, 202-387-7638.

SPECIAL NOTICES

Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 7400 Temple Hill Rd., Camp Springs, Md., is holding a used book sale on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 301-449-4308 or visit http://www.dmuuc.org for details.

The Howard County Poetry and Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo) will hold its 30th annual Evening of Irish Music and Poetry benefit on Friday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m., featuring a reading by Irish poet Eavan Boland, author, most recently, of the collection Domestic Violence, preceding a medley of Irish music, song and stepdancing at the Spear Center, General Growth Properties Building, 10275 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia, Md. Tickets, $30 each, are on-sale now; call 410-772-4568 or visit http://www.hocopolitso.org.