Yikes. The AWP has descended on Chicago and even just thinking about it is a little exhausting. It doesn't look likely that I'll actually go to any of the official conference events; I should probably take a hint from the fact that most of the panelists I'm interested in seeing (Peter Gizzi, Elizabeth Willis, Samuel Delany, Bob Perelman) are grouped together in a single session called "Inside Oustiders (How do you like it?)"

I'm more likely to attend one of the readings orbiting the conference, which are themselves overwhelming and which Ray Bianchi has done a heroic job of cataloging. The Discrete Series readings Friday and Saturday night look like a winner (Chris Stroffolino, Paul Hoover, Maxine Chernoff, Chuck Stebelton, Cole Swensen, Pierre Joris, and others); plus tonight Jesse Seldess and Kerri Sonnenberg will be reading with the deliciously named Dissociated Writers Project at Bar Louie in Wicker Park, 1704 N. Damen.

One fashion tip: whatever others may have told you, please, for the love of God, do not wear long underwear. It was in the 60s today and will likely reach the 70s by the weekend. Anyone caught wearing long johns will be mercilessly humiliated. By me.