Beyond Baroque Literary Center

It is a fine spring morning as Fred Dewey guides us in my red Honda to a Dumpster in front of the Santa Monica Courthouse from which he recently spirited 65 old seats on a journey to a new life. As a result, the small theater at the Beyond Baroque Literary Center, where Dewey is executive director, is finally doing comfortable justice to the writers who give and audiences who hear readings there each year.

The show at Beyond Baroque will go on, thanks to an L.A. City Council vote Friday extending its lease in a city-owned building. Just hours before the Venice literary arts center's lease was to expire, the council voted 11 to 0 to extend it for 25 years.

The show at Beyond Baroque will go on, thanks to an L.A. City Council vote Friday extending its lease in a city-owned building. Just hours before the Venice literary arts center's lease was to expire, the council voted 11 to 0 to extend it for 25 years.

It is a fine spring morning as Fred Dewey guides us in my red Honda to a Dumpster in front of the Santa Monica Courthouse from which he recently spirited 65 old seats on a journey to a new life. As a result, the small theater at the Beyond Baroque Literary Center, where Dewey is executive director, is finally doing comfortable justice to the writers who give and audiences who hear readings there each year.

Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center's second annual World Beyond Poetry Festival continues today and Saturday. The events are free. Today's poetry readings begin at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at the Japanese American Cultural and Community center in downtown L.A. Saturday's readings are at 4, 6 and 7:30 p.m. at Self Help Graphics & Art in East L.A. Information: (310) 822-3006.

Michael Ondaatje, author of "The English Patient," upon which the Oscar-winning movie of the same name was based, will be joined by poet Eleni Sikelianos in a public reading tonight at Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center in Venice. Admission to the 7:30 p.m. event is $7; $5 for seniors and children. Information: (310) 822-3006.

Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center in Venice will host two benefit readings Saturday at 8 and 10 p.m. featuring a group of actors including Dennis Hopper, Anjelica Huston and Tim Roth. The event at 681 Venice Blvd. will benefit Beyond Baroque's workshop, archival and outreach activities. A minimum donation of $25 is requested. Information: (213) 782-9095.

AT 6 foot 7, Charles Olson (1910-70) was literally and figuratively a behemoth of American poetry. Although he was deeply rooted in the land and sea around Gloucester, Mass., his work went on to influence writers all over the country, most obviously the Beats, the avant-garde poets of North Carolina's Black Mountain College, the aesthetes of the New York School and the Language poets of 1970s San Francisco.

The California Arts Council has approved 16 1997-98 California Challenge Program grants totaling $672,500. Among the organizations receiving the grants, which are given to groups with budgets of at least $100,000, are public radio station KCRW-FM ($70,000), Pasadena's Armory Center for the Arts ($27,500), the Museum of Jurassic Technology ($25,000) and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco ($25,000).

The Los Angeles Coalition for Freedom of Expression is holding two benefit programs this weekend as part of its Festival of Freedom. Proceeds from the events will go toward the group's efforts on behalf of unrestricted National Endowment for the Arts funding. Tickets for both events are $10. "Obscene . . .

Words & Ideas Compiled by Grace Krilanovich. SUNDAY Amra Brooks : The author of " California" will read and sign the reprint of her 2008 novella. Sarah Manguso will also read and sign her book "The Two Kinds of Decay. " Family, 436 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. (323) 782-9221. Tongue and Groove Reading Series : Conrad Romo hosts an evening of readings by authors Katie Arnoldi ("Point Dume"), Skip Press ("Rainy Day Tales"), Samantha Dunn ("Not by Accident")

The world is ending on Friday - according to a bunch of people who've misread the Maya calendar. (Take it from me, they're wrong. I should know: I'm part Maya and I'm pretty sure my ancestors didn't intend for the whole world to freak out just because we've reached the end of another Maya long count cycle ). But even if the world is ending this week, you still have just enough time to finish at least two of the many books assorted literature mavens have recommended as good "end of the world" reading.