We have an open mic, three nautical-themed readings at the Pacific Marine Expo, and many more events tonight.

Amy Foster reads at Third Place Books today. When Autumn Leaves "is the story of coming to terms with the magical things we take for granted every day," like peat moss and bodily functions.

If you want to attend a nautical reading but you don't want to shell out the big bucks for the Pacific Marine Expo, you can go to the Museum of History and Industry. Lorraine McConaghy reads from Warship under Sail, a book about war and the sea.

Elliott Bay Book Company hosts Marilyn Chin tonight. Two Chinese-American sisters deal with their "iron-willed" grandmother in Chin's novel Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen.

And we conclude with two poetry readings. First, Brenda Hillman writes poetry with lines like "a sorceress looking for my sources". Practical Water is her new poetry collection, and she reads at Open Books tonight.

And Daemond Arrindell and Kary Wayson will respond to SAM's new Michelangelo exhibit tonight as part of SAM Word. I'm going to call this one the reading of the night; it's not often you get to see brand-new work from two very good local poets in a reaction to something like a work of art. Even if the Michelangelo exhibit is a little weak, there's still the opportunity for something exciting to come out of this.

The full readings calendar, including the next week or so, is here. And if you're planning on staying in and you're looking for personalized book recommendations, feel free to tell me the books you like and ask me what to read next over at Questionland.