Good Tuesday! Hope everyone had a delightful weekend. A good friend of mine unexpectedly came into town, which led to one of those vacationing-in-your-own-city deals. Besides going out for some fun meals (if you’re ever hankering for a vegan Philly cheesesteak, Champs has ‘em), we also partook in some culture, wandering around the Met (it’s pay-what-you-wish, which I need to be reminded of on a regular basis) and watching the ‘Bowl at a bar packed with Giants fans (magic).

Getting back into the week, there are some fun literary events coming up, including a new reading series at Public Assembly, multiple breakup-related events (gotta love the anti V-Day spirit) and a reading by….moi!

TUESDAY: Host of the new Animal Farm reading series Patrick W. Gallagher will converse with Matthew Gallaway (The Metropolis Case) and Christopher Boucher (How to Keep your Volkswagon Alive). They might also play Apples to Apples. [PUBLIC ASSEMBLY]

WEDNESDAY: Break Up Night will feature (hopefully satisfyingly depressing) poetry from Jerry Williams (Casino of the Sun), Beth Gylys (Spot in the Dark), Donna Masini (Turning to Fiction) and Ravi Shankar (poet and founding editor of Drunken Boat). [KGB]

THURSDAY: Vol. 1 Brooklyn asked me to read at their event Stories from the Lower East Side (along with Zachary Lipez, Bryant Musgrove and J.E. Reich). I’ll be sharing a semi-embarrassing tale (fully embarrassing tale?) about my earliest crush in New York. It did not last. So chalk another one up for break-up stories. [RAC]

FRIDAY: Just Working on my Breakup: Jean Grae will host a night of “flipping off Valentine’s Day.” I like it. [WORD]

NOTE: I already have in my hands (well, inbox) the next installment of BookStalked. It’s gonna be a good one, so remember to check back Friday!