Magazine nerd alerts

I already told you about the tour we’re giving with Next American City, which is a rite of magazine nerd passage in a class of its very own.

But the fun doesn’t begin and end with NAC. Far from it! Tonight at the Milwaukee Art Museum, Jed Perl, art critic at The New Republic, will speak on his new book, Antoine’s Alphabet, about painter Antoine Watteau. I’ve never heard of Antoine Watteau, but I’m sure Jed Perl will make Antoine Watteau sound compelling, mysterious and glamorous, and will prompt legions of attendees to buy the book. Writers — and their press teams — are smart.

Then, next weekend at Harry W. Schwartz, Eli Horowitz, editor of McSweeney’s, gives a reading with Deb Olin Unferth, who wrote this one great story:

She’s promoting her new book Vacation, which is the only book I’ve ever seen with a trailer.

In non-magazine nerdity, this weekend is also the Milwaukee River Challenge, which is nice because I like hanging out on bridges over rivers, especially when it’s chilly; it always feels very cosmopolitan to me. Even though this weekend is supposed to be sunny with highs in the high 70s. What? And art nerds might do well for themselves and attend Art in Flux, which features printmaking … with steamrollers.

STEAMROLLERS.

I’m looking forward to a flurry of geek-fabulous activity in October, too, what with Gallery Night, Milwaukee Film’s premiere event The Milwaukee Show, Run Up to the Runway, the Milwaukee Book Festival and David Byrne, so stay tuned for updates of this nature throughout the month.

Along with, you know, bloggin’.