The Sorrento seems to be vying for the position of Seattle's Algonquin. Last night, they had the Midnight Symposium with Lesley Hazleton (mentioned in yesterday's PubliCalendar). Tonight, they're hosting Text/Context , a reading/launch party for 12 books, their mini-bookstore. Guests can order up books from room service. They'll pick 12 new books every three months, all with ties to the Northwest.

Text/Context will be the first author event for the bookstore, featuring Matthew Stadler, Matt Briggs, John Roderick of the Long Winters, and Bruce Benderson.

Tonight's books are all from the first list, and a few are out of the Publication Studio , Stadler's publishing venture out of Portland, with lo-fi editions of new and out-of-print books in manila folders.

See the inaugural 12 here .

Sorrento Hotel, 7:00 pm, free.

(Sorrento illustration via Joey Veltkamp's blog)