Literary Death Match
Since this traveling writerly smackdown first popped up a few years ago, the Twin Cities area has seen a rise in literary parties, but the original remains a classic. The event pits four writers against one another to read their most humorous, brilliant and/or dramatic works in front of a cheering, beer-drinking crowd and be judged by three local writers -- this time it's former LDM champ Peter Bognanni, writer/musician Dylan Hicks and comedian Mary Mack. Contestants are poet Heid E. Erdich, story slammer/author Lara Avery, book blogger Patrick Nathan and R. Vincent Moniz Jr. The first 125 guests get a free copy of Avery's latest tome, "Anything But Ordinary." (7:35 p.m. Thu. $10-$15. Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Av. S., Mpls., www.literarydeathmatch.com.)
TUESDAY
Salon Saloon: The Country Show
For its first show after a summer hiatus, monthly "variety show roundtable" series Salon Saloon asks, "Are you ready for the country?" Host Andy Sturdevant moderates a discussion about country living from a lineup of guests who know a thing or two about it: internationally renowned photographer Alec Soth, writer and musician Dylan Hicks, artist/musician/vegetable farmer Malena Handeen, and Viva and Jerry Beck of public-access TV show "Viva & Jerry's Country Videos." In addition to discussing the beauty of rural life, guests will play songs and offer visual aids. (7 p.m. Tue. $6-$12; pay-what-you-can. Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. 612-825-8949 or www.bryantlakebowl.com.)
