Events

All of our events and programs are supported and hosted by the City Lights Foundation, dedicated to sustaining a vibrant community of readers, writers, and independent thinkers. Click on the listings below to learn more about each event, and sign up here to receive our weekly calendar!

Calendar of Events

Belén Gopegui with Mark Schafer (moderated by Katherine Silver)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 12:00 pm PST

Belén Gopegui with Mark Schafer (moderated by Katherine Silver)

City Lights celebrates the publication of Stay This Day and Night with Me by Belén Gopegui (Translator: Mark Schafer) Published by City Lights Books

Belén Gopegui with Mark Schafer (moderated by Katherine Silver)

Virtual
Event
Yxta Maya Murray in conversation with Jocelyn Saidenberg

Thursday, March 30, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Yxta Maya Murray in conversation with Jocelyn Saidenberg

City Lights celebrates the publication of "God Went Like That: a novel" by Yxta Maya Murray - published by Northwestern University Press/Curbstone Books

Virtual
Event
Mircea Cărtărescu

Monday, April 3, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Mircea Cărtărescu

City Lights in conjunction with Deep Vellum and the Romanian Cultural Institute present

Mircea Cărtărescu in conversation with Mauro Javier Cardenas

celebrating the publication of Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu (translated by Sean Cotter) Published by Deep Vellum

This event will be both broadcast online and take place inside City Lights Bookstore located at 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco. Those of you who have registered for a virtual event will still be able to experience it on zoom. Although facial covering is not mandatory for this event, we highly recommend it. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. No registration required for the in-store event, Registration is however required to view the virtual portion of this program.

Instore
Event
Tim Z. Hernandez in conversation with Sesshu Foster

Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Tim Z. Hernandez in conversation with Sesshu Foster

Tim Z. Hernandez reads from his new collection "Some of the Light: New and Selected Poems" Published by Beacon Press/Raised Voices Series

Virtual
Event
Joan Baez in conversation with Paul Liberatore

Thursday, April 6, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Joan Baez in conversation with Paul Liberatore

City Lights and Godine celebrate the publication of Am I Pretty When I Fly?: An Album of Upside Down Drawings - by Joan Baez - Published by Godine

Offsite
Event
adrienne maree brown in conversation with dream hampton

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 12:00 pm PST

adrienne maree brown in conversation with dream hampton

adrienne maree brown reading from her new novel Maroons: A Grievers Novel - Published by AK Press

Virtual
Event
Meredith Broussard

Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Meredith Broussard

Meredith Broussard discusses her new book "More than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech" published by The MIT Press

Virtual
Event
Robert Greenfield discussing the life and work of Sam Shepard

Monday, April 17, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Robert Greenfield discussing the life and work of Sam Shepard

City Lights and Crown Books celebrate the publication of True West: Sam Shepard's Life, Work, and Times - By Robert Greenfield - Published by Crown Books  

Instore
Event
David Mas Masumoto in conversation with Patricia Miye Wakida

Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

David Mas Masumoto in conversation with Patricia Miye Wakida

City Lights, Red Hen Press, and wasabi press celebrate the publication of SECRET HARVESTS: A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm - by David Mas Masumoto (Artwork by Patricia Wakida) - Published by Red Hen Press

Virtual
Event
Matthew Zapruder

Thursday, April 20, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Matthew Zapruder

City Lights and Unnamed Press celebrate the publication of Story of a Poem: a memoir - By Matthew Zapruder - Published by Unnamed Press - This event will be held in Kerouac Alley, between Columbus and Grant Avenues, and City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe. Admission is free to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve  basis. This event will not be broadcast live, but an audio recording will be made to be posted on our podcast site.

Offsite
Event
Evan Kennedy and Sophia Dahlin

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Evan Kennedy and Sophia Dahlin

City Lights celebrates the publication of Metamorphoses: City Lights Spotlight No. 22 - by Evan Kennedy - Published by City Lights Books

 

Instore
Event
Katie Farris with Ilya Kaminsky

Thursday, April 27, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Katie Farris with Ilya Kaminsky

City Lights and Alice James Books celebrate the publication of Standing in the Forest of Being Alive - by Katie Farris - Published by Alice James Books

Virtual
Event
Quenton Baker with Damien M. Sojoyner

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Quenton Baker with Damien M. Sojoyner

Quenton Baker and Damien M. Sojoyner celebrate the publication of new books. Poetry meets prose in an evening of discussion meditating on critical questions about race, abolitionist practice, racial capitalism’s methodologies of oppression, and strategies for liberation.

Virtual
Event
Barry Gifford and Friends

Thursday, May 4, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Barry Gifford and Friends

Barry Gifford in an evening of readings and discussion celebrating the publication of the paperback release of Writers published by Seven Stories Press Barry will be joined by Julie Lindow, Peter Maravelis, Michael Ray, and Anne Ray. Special musical guest Sheldon Brown. This event will take place at Canessa Gallery, 708 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111 - It is free to the public, but seating is on a first-come, first serve basis. Although this event will not be broadcast live, an audio  recording will be made and later posted on the City Lights Podcast Site.

Offsite
Event
Gillian Conoley

Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Gillian Conoley

City Lights celebrates the publication of Notes from the Passenger - By Gillian Conoly - Published by Nightboat Books

 

Instore
Event
Ada Zhang in conversation with Belinda Huijuan Tang

Thursday, May 11, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Ada Zhang in conversation with Belinda Huijuan Tang

City Lights in conjunction with A Public Space celebrate the publication of The Sorrows of Others - by Ada Zhang - published by A Public Space

Virtual
Event
Gina Apostol in conversation with Zack R. Zamora Linmark

Saturday, May 13, 2023, 11:00 am PST

Gina Apostol in conversation with Zack R. Zamora Linmark

Gina Apostol in conversation with Zack R. Zamora Linmark

City Lights celebrates the publication of La Tercera, by Gina Apostol, published by Soho Books

Virtual
Event
Fred Moten in conversation with Garrett Caples

Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Fred Moten in conversation with Garrett Caples

City Lights together with Wave Books celebrate the publication of perennial fashion presence falling - By Fred Moten - published by Wave Books

Virtual
Event
Héctor Tobar in conversation with John McMurtrie

Wednesday, May 17, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Héctor Tobar in conversation with John McMurtrie

Pulitzer Prize–winning author Héctor Tobar discusses his new book

Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino”  published by MCD - This event will be both broadcast online and take place inside City Lights Bookstore located at 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco. Those of you who have registered for a virtual event will be able to experience it on zoom. Although facial covering is not mandatory for this event, we highly recommend it. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. No registration required for the in-store event, registration is however required to view the virtual portion of this program.

Instore
Event
Ruth Wilson Gilmore in conversation with Clarence Lusane

Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Ruth Wilson Gilmore in conversation with Clarence Lusane

City Lights and Verso Books celebrate the paperback publication of Abolition Geography: Essays Towards Liberation - by Ruth Wilson Gilmore - published by Verso Books

Virtual
Event
Max Porter

Thursday, May 25, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Max Porter

City Lights in conjunction with Graywolf Press present Max Porter reading from his new novel Shy - Published by Graywolf Press - This event will be held in Kerouac Alley, between Columbus and Grant Avenues, and City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe. Admission is free to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event will not be broadcast live, but an audio recording will be made to be posted on our podcast site.

Offsite
Event
Book Signing / Reception for Eddie Muller’s Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir

Tuesday, May 30, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Book Signing / Reception for Eddie Muller’s Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir

City Lights, Tosca Cafe, Running Press, and TCM celebrate the publication of Eddie Muller's Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir - by Eddie Muller - Published by Running Press - Eddie Muller will appear in-person to sign books. This signing will take place at Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94133

Offsite
Event
Jane Smiley

Thursday, July 6, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Jane Smiley

City Lights in conjunction with Heyday Books present Jane Smiley in conversation with Steve Wasserman celebrating the publication of The Questions that Matter Most: Reading, Writing, and the Exercise of Freedom - by Jane Smiley - Published by Heyday Books - This event will be held in Kerouac Alley, between Columbus and Grant Avenues, and City Lights and Vesuvio Cafe. Admission is free to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event will not be broadcast live, but an audio recording will be made to be posted on our podcast site.

Offsite
Event
Brandon Shimoda with Emily Luan

Thursday, July 13, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Brandon Shimoda with Emily Luan

Brandon Shimoda reads from Hydra Medusa published by Nightboat Books and Emily Luan reads from In 回 / Return - Published by Nightboat Books

 

Virtual
Event
Wes “Scoop” Nisker

Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Wes “Scoop” Nisker

Wes "Scoop" Nisker discusses The Big Bang, the Buddha, and the Baby Boom: The Spiritual Experiments of My Generation - published by Monkfish Books

Virtual
Event
Kristen R. Ghodsee

Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 6:00 pm PST

Kristen R. Ghodsee

Kristen R. Ghodsee discusses her new book Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life - Published by Simon and Schuster

Virtual
Event

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