In New Orleans, competing literary events drive citizens out of town

This Tuesday evening, my friend Sara Gran is reading from the paperback of her novel Dope at Octavia Books at 6pm. At 6:30, students from Tulane, NOCCA and Loyola are reading with Poppy Z. Brite (in her last public reading) at the Columns Hotel. And at 8:30 National Book Critics Circle finalst Dave Eggers takes the stage at NOCCA/Riverfront for a benefit reading. And shortly after that, the reunited Lemonheads take the stage at House of Blues. I once met Evan Dando, the lead singer of Lemonheads, in NYC. At a reading.

Those who aren't completely exhausted can head to Tulane on Wednesday for a reading by Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower.

Some of my friends says that this is what is driving them to leave town for good. First there is nothing to do for months at a time, then in one night there are three things and you can't make it to any of them.