Wednesday July 23top

Dagmar Herzog

Americans are getting paranoid about boning. That’s the crux of the argument in Dagmar Herzog’s (no relation to Werner) new book, Sex in Crisis. Herzog explains that while the religious right’s influence has been receding on many political issues, sex is not one of them, and secular folks are feeling the pressure of their holy preaching. Herzog writes, "Fully 50 percent of American high schools teach a ‘sex education’ curriculum that includes deceptive information about the prevalence of STDs and the failure rates of condoms." The misleading info acts as a sex deflector, scaring people into abstinence. We're guessing this issue will yield some spirited debate, so come out and toss in your two cents—unless you’re too paranoid about sex to bother. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

WordFish

WordFish is a mashup of fine arts—spoken word, live painting, music, dance and film all come together in the multimedia hybrid performances. This particular show will feature spoken-word artist (and WordFish founder) Johnathon Allen, graphic artist Gabe Shaughnessy, music by Andy Combs (of Andy Combs and the Moth) and Victor Paul Nash (of the band Point Juncture, WA), and a slew of other media-enhanced performances. Since founding WordFish in Boulder, Colo., more than 10 years ago, Allen has spent his time hopscotching around the country performing installations. Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Ave., 248-1030. 9 pm. $5. Map

Thursday July 24top

Meet the Design Press

Kelly Coller, co-owner of Office PDX (Northeast Alberta’s super-trendy office-supply store), will moderate this panel of journalists, writers and editors from design and culture publications. Panelists will include: Shannon Lyon (HOW Magazine), Randy Gragg (former urban-design critic from The Oregonian), Marjorie Skinner (Portland Mercury), Lisa Radon (UltraPDX.com) and Mike Merrill (UrbanHonking.com). According to Office PDX, the audience will be composed mostly of design professionals, so this should be a great event for social and business networking. Office PDX, 2204 NE Alberta St., 282-7200. 6 pm. Free. Map

Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls

Portland’s Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls is on top of its game. Celebrities endorse the hell out of it. A feature-length movie was made about it last year, and now it has published a book, Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls, by Chronicle Books. The volume looks like a sleek, well-designed startup manual for young, aspiring rock wunderkinds. It covers topics such as how to pick up and play a guitar, use samplers, keys and beat machines, how to put out a record and start a band, and how to book a show. Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney wrote the book’s foreword, and contributors include Sarah Dougher, Cynthia Nelson, Kaia Wilson (of Team Dresch), Beth Ditto (of the Gossip), Marisa Anderson, Mireaya Medina, Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn, Chelsey Johnson and others. In Other Words, 8 NE Killingsworth St., 232-6003. 6 pm. Free. Map

Friday July 25top

Writer’s Edge Faculty Reading

A lot of writing follows a formula. At the Writer’s Edge Conference, this is a major no-no. Writer’s Edge is a three-day experimental literary conference, run by Fiction Collective Two, held at Portland State University each year. This reading spotlights Writer’s Edge instructors: authors Lance Olsen, Noy Holland, Steve Tomasula, Kate Bernheimer, and Lidia Yuknavitch. Each will read from their own innovative, offbeat writings. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Saturday July 26top

Live Wire!

Everyone knows Michael Ian Black. If you don’t know him by name, you’ll know him when you see him, since he starred in and co-created the television show Stella on Comedy Central and has been in every VH1 "I Love the [enter decade here]" series you can think of. Black is a bona fide gut-buster, and he’s performing at this month’s Live Wire! He'll be reading from his new book, My Custom Van, which is a collection of his humor essays. Filling out the Live Wire! roster are documentary filmmaker Curt Ellis (King Corn, The Greening of Southie), Paul Anthony (CEO of Rumblefish) and music by indie-popsters Derby and PDX's alt-country kings Richmond Fontaine. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. 8 pm. Tickets $15 general, $25 reserved. Map

Title Wave Book Sale

Title Wave Bookstore—the Multnomah County Library’s volunteer-run book outlet—is clearing some inventory and you can reap the benefits! At 55 percent off, used books, videos and music scores can be snatched up with reckless abandon. Title Wave is home to over 20,000 used library titles. Hardback novels and nonfiction start at $2 and some items cost as little as 25 cents. Apply the 55 percent discount to that and we’re talking pennies, people! So bring a grip full of cash and stock your library for the long winter that lies ahead. Title Wave, 216 NE Knott St., 988-5021. 9 am-5 pm. Free. Map

Monday July 28top

Calyx Press’s 32nd Anniversary

Calyx, Portland’s nonprofit women’s publisher, is turning 32 years old and partying like publishers do—holding a reading. This one will host women writers featured in the July issue of Calyx Journal, including National Book Award winner Ursula K. Le Guin, Willa Schneberg, and poets Frances Payne Adler, Paulann Petersen and Pam Crow. Calyx was founded in 1976 and has focused on women’s diversity, literature and art since its inception. By 2005, more than 3,800 different women writers had been published in Calyx Journal—Calyx’s biannual publication. Calyx was the first publisher in the United States to print colored art reproductions by Frida Kahlo. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

M. Thomas Cooper

Portland State University’s Ooligan Press is at it again. Its 16th publication is M. Thomas Cooper’s new book, 42, which tells the depressing tale of George Olson. Set in Portland, the story follows Olson’s life after his being accused of murder. Olson spirals into a haze of edgy paranoia, and his condition worsens when he tirelessly tries to explain a string of disappearances, strange disasters and the recurrence of the number 42. Cooper, a Portlander himself, is well-known for his playwriting. His plays have been performed at the Ashland 10-Minute Play Festival, Theater in the Grove and Portland State University. 42 is Cooper’s first novel. Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free. Map

Tuesday July 29top

Garth Stein

Dogs inhale their food like vacuums, hump anything that moves, and would do anything for a good tummy scratch. But what if dogs also have the same level of insight and intelligence as their owners? This is the case in Garth Stein’s new novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain. The book spotlights a dog named Enzo who has always been frustrated by his inability to communicate with his owner, Denny Swift. Now, Enzo is on his deathbed and in the mood for reflecting. Enzo looks back on his life spent watching auto racing with his owner and ponders theories of reincarnation and the afterlife. The Art of Racing in the Rain is Stein’s third novel. Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Highway., 246-0053. 7:30 pm. Free. Map