Events

Jonathan Escoffery in conversation with Yohanca Delgado

City Lights celebrates the publication of If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery published by Farrar Straus Giroux - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. We highly recommend the wearing of facial covering.

Ericka Huggins & Friends

City Lights joins Ericka Huggins and Stephen Shames with Katherine Campbell and Judy Juanita Hart in celebrating the launch for the publication of Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party Photographs by Stephen Shames
, Text by Ericka Huggins published by ACC Art Books - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. We highly advise the wearing of facial covering for this event.

Don Bajema with Pete Sinjin

Legendary writer, actor, and performer Don Bajema returns to the Bay Area for a rare one-night-only performance. He'll be joined by Pete Sinjin - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. We highly recommend the wearing of facial covering for this event.

Gabriela Alemán in conversation with Achy Obejas

City Lights in conjunction with LITQUAKE present Gabriela Alemán discussing her recently published collection of short fiction Family Album: Stories, translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster and Mary Ellen Fieweger, and published by City Lights. This event will take place at Amado’s, 998 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (Admission is $15 in advance/$20 at the door.) Visit LITQUAKE to purchase tickets.

Dorothy Project @ City Lights: Amina Cain & Giada Scodellaro with Renee Gladman

An evening of readings and discussion celebrating two new books from Dorothy: A HORSE AT NIGHT by Amina Cain, and the debut collection, SOME OF THEM WILL CARRY ME, by Giada Scodellaro. The evening will be moderated by Renee Gladman

Jerry Mander and Friends

City Lights and Synergetic Press celebrate the publication of 70 Ads to Save the World: An Illustrated Memoir of Social Change - By Jerry Mander, Edited by Carrie Pilto - Published by Synergetic Press

Moderated by Julie Lindow with appearances by Tom Butler, Annie Leonard, Carrie Pilto, Meenakshi Raman, and a video presentation by Vandana Shiva. 

Generating Future Forms: Bay Convergences of Art and Music 1958-1972

City Lights celebrates the publication of DILEXI: A Gallery & Beyond - By Laura Whitcomb - Forwards by Peter Frank and Jim Newman - Produced by Label Curatorial

J. Estanislao Lopez in conversation with Kaveh Akbar

City Lights and Alice James Books celebrate the publication of We Borrowed Gentleness by J. Estanislao Lopez published by Alice James Books

ON NEEDLES AND PLASTIC: FLYING NUN RECORDS, 1981–1988

City Lights in conjunction with Rock and Roll Book Club of SF and Third Man Books present Matt Goody with Tony Green and Richard Langston celebrating the publication of NEEDLES AND PLASTIC: FLYING NUN RECORDS, 1981–1988 - by Matt Goody - Published by Third Man Books

Tayi Tibble in conversation with Tommy Orange (opening statement by John Freeman)

City Lights celebrates the publication of Poukahangatus: poems By Tayi Tibble published by Alfred Knopf - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. We highly recommend the wearing of facial covering.

John Freeman with Forrest Gander

City Lights in conjunction with ALTA Journal present John Freeman with Forrest Gander reading from new poetry - John Freeman celebrates his new collection of poetry Wind, Trees - published by Copper Canyon Press - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. We highly recommend the wearing of facial covering. Seating is on a first-come, first serve basis.

Ousmane K. Power-Greene

Ousmane K. Power-Greene reading from The Confessions of Matthew Strong: A Novel published by The Other Press. A wildly original, incendiary story about race, redemption, the dangerous imbalances that continue to destabilize society, and speaking out for what’s right.

Becca Andrews in conversation with Nina Liss-Schultz

A discussion exploring No Choice: The Destruction of Roe v. Wade and the Fight to Protect a Fundamental American Right - by Becca Andrews - published by Public Affairs

Joyce Chopra in conversation with Elizabeth Weitzman

Joyce Chopra in conversation with Elizabeth Weitzman

City Lights celebrates the publication of Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond - by Joyce Chopra - published by City Lights Books

On New Weathers: Poetics from the Naropa Archive

City Lights in conjunction with Naropa University and Nightboat Books celebrate the publication of New Weathers: Poetics from the Naropa Archive with Anne Waldman and Emma Gomis

Judith Butler in conversation with Gayle Salamon

City Lights celebrates the publication of What World Is This? A Pandemic Phenomenology - by Judith Butler - published by Columbia University Press

Will Alexander in conversation with Tongo Eisen-Martin

City Lights Books celebrate the publication of "Divine Blue Light (for John Coltrane): Pocket Poets Series No. 63"  by Will Alexander

Anna Badkhen in conversation with Tongo Eisen Martin

Anna Badkhen discusses her new book "Bright Unbearable Reality: Essays" published by New York Review Books

Dr. Clarence Lusane in conversation with Justin Desmangles

City Lights celebrates the publication of: Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice - By Clarence Lusane - Foreword by: Kali Holloway - published by City Lights Books

Courtney Faye Taylor in conversation with Chantz Erolin

City Lights celebrates the publication of Concentrate: poem by Courtney Faye Taylor published by Graywolf Press ATTENTION: Event date change! Due to technical and logistical issues we have had to change the date from 11/30 to 11/28. If you have already registered there is no need to re-register. Will will honor your original reservation.

Eileen Myles and Friends

Eileen Myles is joined by Maggie Nelson, Camille Roy, Laurie Weeks, Simone White, and Frank Wilderson  celebrating the publication of  Pathetic Literature - by Eileen Myles - published by Grove Atlantic

Jason McBride on Kathy Acker (in conversation with Neil Gaiman)

Jason McBride in conversation with Neil Gaiman - celebrating the publication of Eat Your Mind: The Radical Life and Work of Kathy Acker - Published by Simon and Schuster

The Media and Us: Critical Media Literacy and Engaged Politics

City Lights in conjunction with Project Censored and the Media Revolution Collective present The Media and Us: Critical Media Literacy and Engaged Politics a day-long symposium style event comprised of seven sessions aimed to explore critical media literacy. With avram anderson, Ben Boyington, Allison Butler, Nolan Higdon, Kate Horgan, Mickey Huff, Andy Lee Roth, and Reina Robinson. Admission to all sessions is free. Registration is required. Visit the event listing for registration info.

Yunte Huang in conversation with Charles Bernstein

A discussion centering on Chinese Whispers: Toward a Transpacific Poetics - by Yunte Huang - published by the University of Chicago Press

Douglas Kearney

Douglas Kearney discusses his new book Optic Subwoof published by Wave Books

Zein El-Amine with James Tracy and Aimee Suzara

City Lights celebrates the publication of Is This How You Eat a Watermelon? by Zein El-Amine published by Radix Media - This event will take place in Kerouac Alley, between City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe, between Columbus and Grant Avenues. It is free to the public. The wearing of facial covering is highly advised.

Dreaming of Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: An Appreciation

City Lights in conjunction with Asian American Writers’ Workshop and University of California Press present a tribute to the life and work of Theresa Hak Kyung Cha - Moderated by Linda Norton with appearances by Brandon Shimoda, Reese Williams, and Christina Yang celebrating the publication of two new books from University of California Press: Dictee and Exilee and Temps Morts: Selected Works

Sam Lipsyte in conversation with Sloan Crosley

New York Times Bestselling Author Sam Lipsyte reading from No One Left to Come Looking for You: A Novel, published by Simon & Schuster

Helen Shiller in conversation with Achy Obejas

City Lights and Haymarket Books celebrate the publication of Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win: Five Decades of Resistance in Chicago’s Uptown Community - by Helen Shiller - published by Haymarket Books