BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION: With Carolyn Holbrook, Ebony J. Davis, Shannon Gibney and David Mura. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
KIDS READING: Perpich Center for Arts Education presents its annual Lit Kids’ Poetry and Short Works reading. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
MARISSA MEYER: Bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles series launches “With A Little Luck!” in conversation with author Abby Jimenez. Fans are encouraged to dress in their favorite cosplay or festive attire for a free evening of trivia, book talk and Pal/Valentine’s Day activities. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, Roseville County Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave., presented by Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul.
RICHARD THIEME: Presents “Mobius: Out of Time” in conversation with Jennifer Granick. 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. Virtual event presented by Magers & Quinn. Go to magersandquinn.com.
What else is going on
An American Library Association Youth Media award that we missed is “Rez Ball,” by Ojibwe author Byron Graves, winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award and the American Indian Youth Literature Award.
The book was published by Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Graves lives in Denver but grew up on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota. His book tells the relatable, high-stakes story of a young athlete determined to play like the hero his Ojibwe community needs him to be.
Graves, who played high school basketball, is a devoted Minnesota Timberwolves fan even though he lives hundreds of miles from his home state.
Klecko Nation: listen up. Word is that poet/baker Danny Klecko is headed to New York City to finally meet the New York Times editor who’s published Klecko’s poems in the Times’ Metropolitan Diary feature.
“For Klecko, it’s all about New York now. They’re going to know me,” says St. Paul’s wandering poet, who’s lately spent Saturday mornings reading poetry at Robert Bly’s grave in Minneapolis’ Lakewood Cemetery.
“I shout poetry into the wind and get inspired by Bly’s superhero spirit,” Klecko says.
He’s also working on revival of Sons of 651, for which he partners with St. Paul jazz/blues pianist Chuck Solberg. Their debut last April at the Grand Hand Gallery on Grand Avenue drew a good crowd who wanted to hear these two guys salute St. Paul by naming their gig for the local telephone area code. It will probably be sometime in March at the Grand Hand.
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