Literature
thurs. 15 Northside Writers Group - 7 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month, Ascension Lutheran Church, 4640 Main St., Amherst. 626-4204

Nathaniel Mackey - Poet, critic and literary theorist, presented by Poetics Plus/Exhibit X Fiction Reading programs at UB, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center's Cinema, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo; $. 854-1694, www.hallwalls.org

Giving Thanks - Themed open reading as part of the Rooftop Poetry series hosted by Lisa Forrest, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Buffalo State College's E.H. Butler Library, Room 210, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; free. www. buffalostate. edu

The Prelude - Literary Arts Journal student reading and open mic session with Medaille's Music and Drama Club, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Medaille College, 33 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo.

New/reNEW Series - Featuring Tom Piccillo and Liz Mariani, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Impact Artists' Gallery, Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St., Suite 545, Buffalo; free. \

fri. 16 Small Press Poetry - Just Buffalo presents poets Stephanie Gray and Daniel Machlin, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St., Buffalo; free. 832-5400, www.just buffalo.org

Philosophy School Cafe - 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, School of the Arts' bookstore, 402 Center St., Lewiston. 471-5379

sat. 17 A Brother's Perspective - Edreys Wajed will be one of the featured poets, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Theater Loft, 545 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; $20 (Gallery 51, 567-569 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 332-6821, www.g-51.com)

WNY Romance Writers Group - Featuring author Karen Troxel and Trixie Stilletto, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, St. Joseph's Hospital Community Room, 2605 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga; free. www.wnyrw.org

Trisha Romance - The book signing tour of " A Star for Christmas," 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Lamplight Gallery and Frames (formerly Frame & Save of Orchard Park), 6485 W. Quaker St., Orchard Park: free. 662-1800

sun. 18 Open Reading - Just Buffalo open reading hosted by Livio Farallo, 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, Rust Belt Books, 2020 Allen St., Buffalo; free.

Spoken Word Sundays - Spoken word and open mic hosted by poet Liz Mariani and featuring Lonnie B. Harrel and Melissa Lussier, 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, Allen Street Hardware Cafe, 245 Allen St., Buffalo; free. 882-8843

tues. 20 EM Tea Coffee Cup Open Mic Poetry Slam - 7-9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe, 80 Oakgrove Ave. and Hughes Street, Buffalo. 884-1444

Devil in the White City Book Discussion - Written by Erik Larson, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, Brighton Place, 999 Brighton Road, Tonawanda; free. 332-4375

wed. 21 Elmwood Writers Group - 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Starbucks, 933 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 882-5440

Just Buffalo Writers Critique Group - 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month, Just Buffalo Literary Center, Market Arcade, 617 Main St., Suite 202A, Buffalo. Members only. 832-5400, www.justbuffalo.org

WNY Romance Writers Group - Third Wednesday of each month, St. Joseph Hospital Community Room, 2605 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga. 891-2400

Pat Tansey and Lew Bowman - The Screening Room series will feature Tansey and Bowman with additional reading slots available, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, Northtown Plaza Business Center, 3131 Sheridan Drive, Amherst: $.

Reading Between the Lines - "Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution and Profit" by Vandana Shiva. Shiva uses her remarkable knowledge of science and society to analyze the historical erosion of communal water rights, 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 21, Buffalo Science Museum, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, Buffalo; free. 896-5200, Ext. 313, www. sciencebuff. org.

sat. 17 From Superman to Sandman: Comics Grow Up A panel discussion on graphic novels, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Central Library's Ring of Knowledge, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo; free. 858-7182, www. buffalolib. org