Joan Didion, Rockrgrl Music Conference, and Back to Its Roots

Wed - Books

Not a woman known for self-indulgence, Joan Didion is about as unsparing and honest as you'd expect in her memoir of grief, The Year of Magical Thinking (Knopf, $23.95). Her husband dies and her daughter falls mortally ill, yet she's still capable of lucid, unsentimental prose. 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 9. Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 206-386-3646, www.spl.org. BRIAN MILLER

Thurs–Sat - Music

Because Seattle hasn't had nearly enough exhaustive music festivals this year, there's the Rockrgrl Music Conference, featuring keynote speakers Johnette Napolitano and Patti Smith and artists like the great singer-songwriter Amy Rigby. See Talk Talk, p. 44; picks, p. 44, and Seven Nights, p. 59. Thurs., Nov. 10–Sat., Nov. 12. Various times and locations, www.rockrgrl.com/conference. MICHAELANGELO MATOS

Fri–Sun - Festival

The Back to Its Roots festival promises "the latest urban arts," including breakers Massive Monkees, poet Christa Bell, and hip-hop artist Vitamin D. Open mikes and workshops ($5) take place during the day, performances ($7–$12) at night. Fri., Nov. 11–Sun., Nov. 13. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave. S., 206-684-4757. LYNN JACOBSON