Especially if Upper Manhattan is local as far as you're concerned. Word Up Books is a year old and celebrating. As youse all know, independent bookstores are more than stores that sell books. They're community centers, bulletin boards, places to get your mind stretched, joints to hang out in. To keep Word Up going strong in these missions they're having a birthday fund drive. It'll go on all week. My gig is Wednesday. For a mere $10 you can hear me and three other readers, plus the lunatic who runs the joint. That will help keep Word Up strong, and we'll have fun, too. I'd say you don't even have to buy a book, and strictly in point of fact you don't have to, but you'd better. Luckily, you won't have to look far to find a bunch of good ones.