He’s not the most popular humorist in America for nothing… Tickets went on sale today for David Sedaris‘ newly added second performance at The Apollo Theater on November 2, 2010.

More David Sedaris tour dates over here.

While the quantity of events happening at our local big box book stores this month may not be overwhelming, there’s definitely been a steep increase in quality (especially over last month’s dismal lineup). Here’s a list of March B&N and Borders events that I found interesting for one reason or another:

B&N March 2010 Events
03/02 Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze in Conversation with John Hodgman (USQ)
03/08 Peter Hedges (82nd & Bwy)
03/09 Chelsea Handler (USQ)
03/09 Chang-rae Lee (Lincoln Tri)
03/10 Rabbi Niles Elliot Goldstein (Greenwich Village)
03/11 Care Bears on Fire, Blake Nelson (USQ)
03/11 David Shenk (82nd & Bwy)
03/12 William Gibson (Lincoln Tri)
03/18 Malcolm Gladwell and David Grann in Conversation with Bill Goldstein (USQ)
03/22 Poet Howard Altmann and Actress Patricia Clarkson (82nd & Bwy)
03/22 Tim O’Brien (USQ)
03/23 Walter Mosley (USQ)
03/24 Jennifer Love Hewitt (Lincoln Tri)
03/29 Tim Gunn (Tribeca)
03/31 Raquel Welch (USQ)

Borders March 2010 Events
03/10 Jesse Ventura (Wall St)
03/12 Jesse Ventura (CC)
03/15 Daisy Martinez (CC)
03/16 Todd Bridges (CC)
03/19 Duane “Dog” Chapman (Wall St)
03/19 “New Moon” DVD release parties (All Stores)

Eager to dissect the final episode of LOST? Well, thanks to the New York Times Spring TimesTalks series, you can pepper your most esoteric mythology-laden questions at LOST showrunners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof on May 20, 2010 at the TimesCenter. Check out all the Spring TimesTalks events below:

Apr 8, 2010
Rob Thomas, Singer-Songwriter : A Conversation About Music (Buy Tickets)

Apr 28, 2010
Baseball’s Ron Darling (Buy Tickets)

May 6, 2010
Architecture of Dance featuring Peter Martins and Santiago Calatrava (Buy Tickets)

May 7, 2010
The Cooks Who Saved My Life featuring Rachael Ray, Ruth Reichl and Kim Severson (Buy Tickets)

May 20, 2010
“LOST”: The Final Episode (Buy Tickets) SOLD OUT

May 26, 2010
A Conversation with Scott Turow (Buy Tickets)

Normally, these posts would be posted each day, but I’ve been out of town for the past little while (thanks for not robbing me), so I’ve collected a few days worth of tweets here. Follow @bumpershine on Twitter to get updates as they occur.

“Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark” tickets no longer on sale. TM note reads, “Please note tickets will not be mailed until after July 1, 2010.”

Free Marriage Ref Tickets (Feb 24, 2010): Ricky Gervais, Madonna, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld http://bit.ly/cOM5oA

Four Snoop Dogg CDs in the mail! It’s like my Birthday and Chanukah all rolled into one!

RT @livenationnyc Just Announced, Julian Casablancas @ Irving Plaza March 24th. Tix are on sale the Friday, Feb 26 @ 10 AM!

LOST: “The Final Episode” – A conversation with Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof (May 20, 2010) http://bit.ly/du8Fl1

Gogol Bordello at Irving Plaza (Mar 9, 2010) goes on sale today http://bit.ly/dwP0Bj

Allman Brothers to stream NYC residency http://bit.ly/beXrsA

Tiger’s “apology”, full of righteous indignation, it’s douchetastic!

The NJ Nets are moving to Prudential Center for the next 2 seasons.

Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3 playing Lakeside Lounge tonight at 10:30PM (Fri, Feb 19) http://bit.ly/cW0qxC

Well, it is February already, so I guess I should start making plans for the fall. Ah good, the New Yorker has just announced the dates for this year’s New Yorker Festival.

We’re pleased to announce that the eleventh annual New Yorker Festival will take place on October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, in New York City.

Check back here in the coming months to find out more about the 2010 Festival, or sign up for Festival Wire to receive e-mail updates.
For more information, and to watch events from previous years, visit www.newyorker.com/festival. [NewYorker.com]

PS Do you ever feel like the year is over before it’s even started?

I gotta say, this month is looking like a bit of a wasteland over at our local big box book stores. Here’s a list of February B&N events that I found interesting for one reason or another:

Barnes & Noble Feb 2010 Events
Feb 02, 2010 Kelly Cutrone (Lincoln Tri)
Feb 03, 2010 Lauren Conrad (Tribeca)
Feb 09, 2010 Julie Klausner (Lincoln Tri) 7:30 PM
Feb 09, 2010 Allison Moorer (Lincoln Tri) 6:00 PM
Feb 16, 2010 The Year of Living Dangerously (82nd & Bway)
Feb 17, 2010 Kathy Griffin (5th Ave 12:30 PM)
Feb 17, 2010 Michael Musto (Tribeca)
Feb 22, 2010 Tommy James (Lincoln Tri)
Feb 22, 2010 Henry Louis Gates Jr (86th & Lex)
Feb 23, 2010 Jeff Garlin (Tribeca)
Feb 25, 2010 Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley (USQ)

David Byrne will be the big name on the bill at the next Stories In High Fidelity event at the Bowery Ballroom on February 3, 2010. Tickets for the evening of storytelling and music go on sale Sat, Jan 16 at noon.

STORIES IN HIGH FIDELITY

An evening of storytelling with David Byrne

Featuring Alan Light, Dan Kennedy & Jason Gordon. Plus a special music performance by Nicole Atkins and ECHOecho.

VENUE: The Bowery Ballroom
DATE: Wed, Feb 3
NOTES: 21+
DOORS: 8:00 PM
$20 adv / $23 dos
Buy Tickets (Jan 16 at Noon)

David will present a video/audio lecture called “Creation in Reverse,” speaking to the ways that venue and context shape artistic creation.

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim will release a new 2CD/DVD song cycle in entitled Here Lies Love on February 23, 2010.

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim have paired up for a 22-track song cycle about the life of former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos and her childhood servant, Estrella Cumpas. Due February 23 on Todomundo/Nonesuch Records, the album includes a 100- page book detailing the project and a DVD.

In addition to Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love features performances by Santigold, Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine), Sia, Steve Earle, St. Vincent, Natalie Merchant, Tori Amos, Sharon Jones, Nicole Atkins and many others.

Not exactly a tour date, David will be appearing at a FREE lecture and Q&A at The Bell House on January 11, 2010.

DAVID BYRNE: CREATION IN REVERSE
Monday, January 11 / 8pm / FREE : first come first served
there are no tickets to this event

David will present a short video/audio lecture called “Creation in Reverse,” speaking to the ways that venue and context shape artistic creation, followed by a Q&A.

Here Lies Love track listing after the jump.

Here Lies Love Track Listing

CD 1:
1. HERE LIES LOVE
Vocal by Florence Welch (Florence + The
Machine)
2. EVERY DROP OF RAIN
Vocals by Candie Payne & St. Vincent
3. YOU’LL BE TAKEN CARE OF
Vocal by Tori Amos
4. THE ROSE OF TACLOBAN
Vocal by Martha Wainwright
5. HOW ARE YOU?
Vocal by Nellie McKay
6. A PERFECT HAND
Vocal by Steve Earle
7. ELEVEN DAYS
Vocal by Cyndi Lauper
8. WHEN SHE PASSED BY
Vocal by Allison Moorer
9. WALK LIKE A WOMAN
Vocal by Charmaine Clamor
10. DON’T YOU AGREE?
Vocal by Róisín Murphy
11. PRETTY FACE
Vocal by Camille
12. LADIES IN BLUE
Vocal by Theresa Andersson

CD 2:
CD 2:
1. DANCING TOGETHER
Vocal by Sharon Jones
2. MEN WILL DO ANYTHING
Vocal by Alice Russell
3. THE WHOLE MAN
Vocal by Kate Pierson
4. NEVER SO BIG
Vocal by Sia
5. PLEASE DON’T
Vocal by Santigold
6. AMERICAN TROGLODYTE
Vocal by David Byrne
7. SOLANO AVENUE
Vocal by Nicole Atkins
8. ORDER 1081
Vocal by Natalie Merchant
9. SEVEN YEARS
Vocals by David Byrne & Shara Worden
(My Brightest Diamond)
10. WHY DON’T YOU LOVE ME?
Vocals by Cyndi Lauper & Tori Amos

David Sedaris just released a new audio book of live readings last week, and, in addition to the CD and digital download, his publisher has just announced that the title will be available in a more “unexpected” format come the new year.

…Hachette Audio recently announced that the latest audiobook by David Sedaris, “Live for Your Listening Pleasure,” which features readings before audiences, would be available on the least portable of formats: vinyl.

Reminiscent of Blue Note albums from the 1950s and 1960s, the cover features a photograph of a woman sprawled on a white shag rug with a come-hither look, albums strewn about.
…
The 31-minute album, which will be released on Jan. 5 and cost $24.98, will include only two of the five essays on the CD version of the audiobook, but will feature a code enabling purchasers to digitally download the entire program. [NYTimes.com]

To win a copy of Live for Your Listening Pleasure on vinyl (includes a free digital download code), fill out the entry form after the jump. Contest ends on December 18, 2009, 1 entry per household, US entrants only.

More NYC-less David Sedaris US tour dates after the jump.

David Sedaris 2010 US Tour Dates
Apr 06 2010 Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House
Apr 07 2010 Ithaca, NY State Theatre
Apr 08 2010 Torrington, CT Warner Theatre
Apr 09 2010 Kingston, NY Ulster Performing Arts Center
Apr 10 2010 Baltimore, MD Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Apr 11 2010 Boston, MA Symphony Hall
Apr 12 2010 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
Apr 13 2010 Madison, WI Overture Center for the Arts
Apr 14 2010 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan Theater
Apr 16 2010 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Apr 17 2010 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Apr 18 2010 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos Performance Hall
Apr 19 2010 South Bend, IN Morris Performing Arts Center
Apr 20 2010 Saginaw, MI Theatre at Dow Event Center
Apr 21 2010 Akron, OH E.J. Thomas Hall
Apr 22 2010 Germantown, TN Germantown Performing Arts Centre
Apr 23 2010 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Apr 24 2010 Lawrence, KS Lied Center of Kansas
Apr 25 2010 Tucson, AZ Tucson Music Hall
Apr 26 2010 Dallas, TX McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
Apr 27 2010 Austin, TX The Long Center for the Performing Arts
Apr 28 2010 Houston, TX Society for the Performing Arts
Apr 29 2010 New Orleans, LA Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts
Apr 30 2010 Las Vegas, NV Clark County Library
May 01 2010 Scottsdale, AZ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
May 02 2010 Santa Cruz, CA Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
May 03 2010 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre
May 04 2010 Long Beach, CA Terrace Theater
May 05 2010 Los Angeles, CA Royce Hall Auditorium
May 06 2010 Riverside, CA Fox Performing Arts Center
May 07 2010 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
May 08 2010 Spokane, WA Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
May 09 2010 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall

It’s kind of a light month at our local big box bookstores, but there are still a few interesting authors, musicians and celebs amidst the holiday fluff. Here’s a list of December B&N and Borders events that I thought were interesting for one reason or another:

December 2009 Barnes & Noble (NYC)
12/01/09 Lance Armstrong (Lincoln Triangle)
12/01/09 Howie Mandel (5th Ave 12:30 PM)
12/01/09 Mickey Leigh, Legs McNeil: I Slept with Joey Ramone (Tribeca)
12/02/09 Twyla Tharp (Lincoln Triangle)
12/03/09 They Might Be Giants Performance and Signing (Union Square 6:00 PM)
12/08/09 Rachel Ray (Union Square)
12/10/09 Malcolm Gladwell (Union Square)
12/10/09 Anika Noni Rose (86th & Lex)

December 2009 Borders (NYC)
12/02/09 Lance Armstrong (Penn Plaza)
12/02/09 Brandi Carlile (Columbus Circle 12:30 PM)
12/03/09 Perez Hilton (Columbus Circle)
12/04/09 “Cousin Brucie” Morrow (Columbus Circle)
12/07/09 Top Chef Contestants: Nikki Cascone, Ariane Duarte, Lisa Fernandes & Manuel Trevino (Columbus Circle)

It’s not my favorite program (in fact, whenever I hear it, I immediately turn the dial), but like him or not, Garrison Keillor does tend to get some decent musical guests on his long running public radio show. Here’s what the announced musical guest lineup looks like for the upcoming A Prairie Home Companion tapings at The Town Hall in NYC:

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Nov 28 – Karan Casey, Sara Watkins
Dec 4 & 5 – Punch Brothers, Heather Masse
Dec 11 & 12 – Assad Brothers, Connie Evingson
Dec 18 & 19 – Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux

SHOW TIMES
Friday Live Performances Dec 4, 11 & 18 at 8 pm
Tickets: $42 & 35 (Buy Tickets)

Saturday Live Broadcasts Nov 28, Dec 5, 12 & 19 at 5:45 pm
Tickets: $62 & 56 (Buy Tickets)

All programs subject to change.

A unique series for sophisticated writers, readers, and eaters, Eat, Drink & Be Literary brings major contemporary authors to BAMcafé for intimate dinners, entertaining readings, and engaging discussions. Each evening begins with a sumptuous buffet prepared by BAMcafé’s acclaimed executive chef, Tim Sullivan, served with select wines and accompanied by live music. Following dinner, authors read from and are interviewed about their work, take questions from the audience, and sign books to conclude an evening of candid glimpses into the creative process and the rich writings it yields. The event begins at 6:30pm; doors open at 6pm.

Friends of BAM may purchase tickets to Eat, Drink & Be Literary events starting Nov 9. This season’s author’s include: Wallace Shawn, E.L. Doctorow, Lynn Nottage, and Sam Shepard.

Check out the full author schedule after the jump.

Thu, Jan 7 at 6:30pm
Wallace Shawn

Thu, Jan 21 at 6:30pm
E.L. Doctorow

Thu, Feb 11 at 6:30pm
Lynn Nottage

Thu, Mar 11 at 6:30pm
Sam Lipsyte

Thu, Apr 8 at 6:30pm
Colm Tóibín

Thu, Apr 22 at 6:30pm
Joshua Ferris

Thu, May 6 at 6:30pm
Jayne Anne Phillips

Thu, Jun 3 at 6:30pm
Sam Shepard

As a kid, I was a huge MAD Magazine fan, so having Al Jaffee show up in my backyard is something of a dream come true for my 10 year old self. Aside from the famed creator of the “fold-in”, the KingCon Comic & Animation Convention at the Brooklyn Lyceum will play host to a number of well known artists this weekend (Nov 7-8) including: Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Ames, Denny O’Neil (Batman and Green Lantern), Brian Wood (Local and DMZ, Peter Kuper (Spy vs. Spy) and many other talented folks (I’ve never really heard of). Even if your not deep into comics, for $7 (or $10 for a weekend pass), this convention seems like it’s worth checking out just for the “headliners” (I just wish I didn’t have all my old MAD magazines in storage!).

View the weekend panel schedule here and the full list of guests over here.

Eugene Mirman’s new comedy album, the provocatively titled, God Is a Twelve-Year-Old Boy with Asperger’s, came out this Tuesday (Oct 6) on Sub Pop records. To celebrate his new record’s release, he had a CD launch party in Somervile, MA on Tuesday where he rented a limo for his fans “so they [could] get home easily and, of course, because it’s stupid.” (Umm, no CD release party in NYC. Hey Eugene, how about showing us New Yorkers a little love for once?)

If you live in New York, and you still feel slighted by the whole Boston thing, you can catch Eugene this Sunday and on most Sundays after that at Union Hall for the weekly Tearing The Veil of Maya comedy show which he usually hosts (sometimes with Michael Showalter). This week’s show features Dave Hill, Eugene Mirman, John Mulaney and probably one or two other surprises. (Tickets are $7 at the door.)

In other Brooklyn comedy news, after their first successful show last may, comedy is returning to BAM on Saturday with the second free Comedy Night at BAMcafé.

On Saturday, October 10, Comedy Night, will feature some of New York’s most hilarious comedians including: Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents: Tom Shillue, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show), Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1, The Daily Show), our very first returning comic, Kumail Nanjiani (Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Comedy Central’s Michael & Michael, UCB), Gabe Liedman (Gabe & Jenny, UCB), and hosted by the hysterical Chris Griggs (TVLand, NY Underground Comedy Festival).

(Word to the wise, get there early, I didn’t get in last time. Apparently, comedy in Fort Greene is something of a novelty.)

Other upcoming comedy/variety shows (Oct 10-18):
Sat, 10/10 Radio Happy Hour at LPR w/ Tunde Adebimpe and Kumail Nanjiani
Sun, 10/11 The Greg Johnson Show at Pianos
Sun 10/11 Tearing The Veil of Maya at Union Hall
Mon, 10/12 Tell All Your Friends at Lolita Bar w/ The Daily Show’s David Javerbaum, Dan Allen, Liam McEneaney, Jena Friendman, Alan Lebetkin & More!
Mon, 10/12 Whiplash! at UCB w/ Leo Allen
Tue, 10/13 Punch Up Your Life w/ Jessi Klein, Pete Holmes, Matt Goldich, Matt McCarthy, Ali Waller & Special Guest (Listen to Jessi’s recent story on the Moth podcast.)
Tue, 10/13 Punchline Mag Show at Comix w/ Janeane Garofalo, Lewis Black, Ted Alexandro, Todd Barry, Christian Finnegan
Tue, 10/13 IndigNATION at Comix with Joe DeRosa
Tue, 10/13 NY Moth StorySLAM “Enemies” at The Nuyorican Poets Café ($7 Tickets)
Wed, 10/14 Big Terrific at Cameo Gallery w/ Max Silvestri, Gabe & Jenny
Wed, 10/14 Risk! at Joe’s Pub w/ Kevin Allison of The State, Zak Orth, Melanie Hamlett, Christian Finnegan & Michelle Walson (This deserves its own writeup.)
Thu, Oct 15 Comedy Below Canal at 92Y Tribeca w/ Wyatt Cenac, John Oliver, Hannibal Buress, Che Grand, DJ Car Stereo (Wars)
Thu 10/15 Comedy As A Second Language at Kabin
Fri, 10/16 Moth Mainstage “Tales Out Of School: New Yorker Writers on Life at the Magazine” at City Winery Hosted by: Andy Borowitz. Stories by: Roger Angell, Adam Gopnik, Ariel Levy, Mark Singer, Judith Thurman
Sun, 10/18 Humor Revue at The Director’s Guild w/ Jenny Allen, Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach, Yoni Brenner, Ian Frazier, Patricia Marx, David Owen, Amy Ozols, Simon Rich, Paul Rudnick, George Saunders, Paul Simms, and Calvin Trillin. Hosted by David Remnick

No doubt I’m leaving some things out, but it’s pretty late and that’s all I can come up with right now.