· Every literary hoo-ha you can think of (Paul Auster, Dave Eggers, Michael Cunningham, Jonathan Franzen, Susan Sontag, the list goes on and on) will be reading tonight to support Downtown for Democracy. The organization funnels hipster cash to communist candidates or something, we don't really know what they do. But go on and hoist a pint with Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson — does it get any more downtown than that? Well... maybe.
· If you don't feel like shelling out the 75 bucks, but are still yearning for some intellectual stimulation, hit Barnes & Noble to hear Hannah Tinti read from her new collection of short stories, Animal Crackers.
· Or, if you just want to get loaded, view the crowning of Miss Rheingold 2004. Tell Miss Rheingold, bartender-cum-aspiring actress Dani Marco that you're an agent for a "big Hollywood firm," that she reminds you of "a young Demi Moore," and if she comes back to your place, maybe the two of you "can work something out." (13 Little Devils Bar, 120 Orchard St., 7 p.m.)
· Whether you call them "boom boom boom," "bang bang bang," or "chk chk chk," catch !!! tonight at the NYU Kimmel Center.