Keep the Beats Alive

Light a candle. Prepare a feast. Pray for your late loved ones, that they might be free of sins not yet absolved. Or on this All Souls' Day, gather at the Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood) to join some literary locals at the Day of the Dead Beats, a reading that commemorates some favorite authors of the Beat generation. This tradition began in 1997, the year of Allen Ginsberg's and William S. Burroughs' deaths, and continues tonight at 8 p.m. Plenty of personalities are scheduled to pay homage and perhaps portray an alter-ego: Brian Jackson (a friend of many Beats) tells "shocking stories" and reads Ginsberg, Ann Haubrich channels Jack Kerouac, and Stefene Russell imparts the words of Philip Lamantia. Others share the works of Gregory Corso, Burroughs, Kenneth Rexroth and more; Brett Underwood finishes the festival with a reading of Charles Bukowski. The only sacrifice may be your sobriety and whatever donation you choose to offer up. For more information about the free event, call 314-771-0986 or visit www.observable.org/readings.
Thu., Nov. 2