Eleven events this week including Irish author Colm Tóibín in the Just Buffalo Literary Center BABEL Series, and a Silver Anniversary Celebration for BlazeVOX [books]

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6 p.m.: Book talk and signing with Buffalo-based author P.A. Kane, author of the novel Larry Plumb is Still Here. Orchard Park Public Library S 4570 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, NY. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Silver Anniversary Party for Buffalo-based independent publisher BlazeVOX [books] marking their 25th year milestone with an evening of poetry, community, and celebration. Hear extraordinary poetry, and celebrate 25 years of daring literature and innovative publishing.

The evening will feature:
-A welcoming introduction by editor & publisher Geoffrey Gatza
– A lively open-mic style reading with invited poets

-Food, drinks, and community spirit at Gypsy Parlor

Gypsy Parlor, 376 Grant St, Buffalo, NY 14213

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.: Buffalo, Books & Beer Series presents Jeff Z. Klein, author of You Should Have Seen Us Howling: When Buffalo Ruled The Inland Seas, illustrated by Scott A. Wood. Author and journalist Klein will discuss his new book, an illustrated history of the primacy of Buffalo as a port city on the Great Lakes.

Once a teeming Great Lakes port famed for its ships and reviled for its dockside brothels and bars, Buffalo was the brawling crossroads of America, a maritime city where the Erie Canal ended and the open water began, with a rich legacy of gales, songs, yarns, shipwrecks and lives saved and lost on the lakes’ treacherous, storm-tossed waters. You Should Have Seen Us Howling covers all of that, from Buffalo’s founding and its years as a big, infamous harbor town through its decline after 1960 to today, as it celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.

Buffalo, Bar & Grille, 307 Louisiana Street., Buffalo 14204.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.: The Screening Room Reading Series hosted by Ida Goekel and Kevin Koch and featuring poet Kevin Doyle. Additional reading slots available. 880 Alberta Drive, Amherst. $4 admission charge.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9 p.m.: Poetry Night at Caffe Aroma, biweekly open mic reading series hosted by Ben Brindise and Justin Karcher. 957 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Just Buffalo Literary Center BABEL Series Lecture by and discussion with Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, critic, playwright and poet Colm Tóibín.

Colm Tóibín is the author of eleven novels, including Long Island (Simon & Schuster), an Oprah’s Book Club Pick; The Magician, winner of the Rathbones Folio Prize; The Master, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Brooklyn, winner of the Costa Book Award; and Nora Webster; as well as two story collections and several books of criticism. He is the Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University and was named the 2022–2024 Laureate for Irish Fiction by the Arts Council of Ireland. He was shortlisted three times for the Booker Prize. He was also awarded the Bodley Medal, the Würth Prize for European Literature, and the Prix Femina spécial for his body of work.

In his talk and conversation with Just Buffalo Artistic Director Barbara Cole, Tóibín will discuss his latest novel Long Island, is the sequel to his 2009 New York Times best-selling novel Brooklyn about a young woman named Eilis Lacey, who left her small Irish town for a new life in America. Long Island picks up more than 20 years later, following another major turn of events in her American life.

Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo. $48.
Visit www.justbuffalo.org/ for tickets to the event, which also include an online livestreaming option.

Saturday, 6 p.m.: Book Launch event for Slipstream, Issue 45: Strange Dreams.

Slipstream magazine celebrates the release of its 45th issue (”Strange Days” theme) with a poetry reading in The Loft at the Book Corner in Niagara Falls. Featured readers include: Jennifer Campbell, Ryki Zuckerman, Gunilla Kester, Ed Taylor, Michelle Kratts, Liz Mariani, Livio Farallo. Refreshments will be provided by the Marketside Restaurant. Prior to the event, enoy the music of Jeremiah Traver and Joe Rychlik (starting at 4:30). This event is free and open to the public.

The Loft at the Book Corner, 1801 Main St Niagara Falls, NY, United States, New York 14305.

Saturday, 7 p.m.: Blue Bag Press presents Limited Palette 09, a celebration of Are We Rocking With This?, the debut collection of poetry by Jenkin Benson. Benson will read alongside Buffalo-based poets Joe Hall and Thom Eichelberger-Young, the publisher of Blue Bag Press. Music will be performed by No Bingo. Fitz Books and Waffles, 1462 Main St., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Saturday, 8 p.m.: Qryptids, Qreatures, and Queers: What Lurks At Night, an evening of Burlesque, Poetry, and Drag performances inspired by a queer horror anthology organized by the Intersect: A Pride Arts Festival curating team. Duende at Silo City, 85 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY 14203. Tickets $28.50 to $55.20 at eventbright.com.

Sunday, Oct. 19, 3:30 p.m.: Pure Ink Poetry Slam, a monthly, two-round spoken word and poetry slam competition series hosted by Brandon Williamson. Pure Ink Poetry Slam is always an open slam without specific themes or requirements other than the general rules of slam. Sign up is from 3 p.m. Open mic and slam starts at 3:30. $5 for slammers, $10 for spectators. Cash prize for the winner. Visit the website www.pureinkpoetry.com for more information. Location: Em Tea Coffeecup Café, 80 Oakgrove Ave., Buffalo, NY.

Sunday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Beats, Brews and Prose, a new open mic poetry and prose series hosted by Juniper, Fawn, Rose, and Morticia on the third Sunday of each month at Eugene V. Debs Hall, 483 Peckham St. in Buffalo.

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