Literary Deelites Around Town: The Santaland Diaries & Manmoth the Eighth

Two literaryish ways stay warm and dry this week: one will make you laugh till you excrete various liquids and one will keep you hip, make you go back home, and take out that manuscript.

Santaland Diaries
Wednesday, Dec. 15
Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St

Humorist David Sedaris’ piece about one horrible winter as a Macy’s Elf was his first huge hit. Grateful readers had him beatified and renamed Sarcasticius (patron saint of employees who have to wear costumes on the job), and playwright Joe Mantello turned the essay into another successful one-man show. Great writing, great red and green tights. At the Adrienne till Sunday.

Manmoth the Eighth
Friday, Dec. 17th
Brickbat Books, 709 S. 4th St

There aren’t enough fiction readings in this city, which is crazy, because didn’t we all love classroom storytime back in the day? Local writers Sam Allingham and Sarah Szymanski are on the case. They once packed pretty young audiences into a South Philly warehouse for their Manmoth reading series, but they’re moving house to Brickbat Books, one of the loveliest bookstores in the city. Five storytellers (also known as fiction writers), 2 from Brooklyn, three from Philly. 8 minutes each, with musical interludes. Yes, you may close your eyes and put your head on your desk.