Pencil This In

The VMA's are in town, but there's more to do beyond screaming outside of Radio City or attempting to hit up one of the red carpet parties...

EVENT: If you're in to PDA then head uptown tonight, there's going to be a "makeout party". We prefer the sound of silence over the sound of hundreds of people smooching, so we'll probably skip this. Of note: they mention that "this is a kissing-only event, so all you exhibitionists contain yourselves, please!" Yes, please.

The All State Café (at 250 w72nd St, just west of Broadway) will supply a cheap drink pre and post makeout party.

7pm // Sheeps Meadow at Central Park West and 66th // Free

READINGS: If the VMAs haven't glued you to your TV, head over to Coliseum Books to hear readings from The Subway Chronicles, a book built around Jaqueline Cangro's popular blog of the same name. The book features essays from all kinds of New Yorkers, like Calvin Trillin and Jonathan Lethem, and tonight's reading will feature writers Leigh Stolle, Tim McLoughlin, and Garrett Chaffin-Quiray. - Krissa Corbett Cavouras

6:30pm // Coliseum Books [11 W 42nd St, across from Bryant Park] // Free

THEATER: Bill Bowers, an actor and mime in the good old tradition, breaks his customary silence to tell his own story in the solo show It Goes Without Saying. One can only imagine the supply of great stories a mime in this day and age; they would likely be fascinating even to read or hear someone else tell about, but to have Bowers himself, who has worked with Marcel Marceau and in many Broadway shows, tell them in his own inimitable fashion -- well, it goes without saying that it will be that much more engrossing and unforgettable. - Mallory Jensen

Through Oct. 8, Mon. & Thurs.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 3pm // Rattlestick Playwrights Theater [224 Waverly Place] // Tickets via Smarttix

MUSIC: There will be plenty of non-TRL music to satisfy your soul tonight. One good example: over at Mercury Lounge catch Final Fantasy with Bob Wiseman and Arbor Day.

9:30pm // Mercury Lounge [Houston at Essex] // $10

PARTY: If you want your MTV, head over to Stolen Transmission where you just might run into a member of The Killers, thankfully not performing their new songs.

1am // The Annex [ Orchard St] // Free