READING: Lily Koppel reads from her Red Leather Diary tonight; the book is a result of the author finding an old diary of a teenage girl living in New York City in the 1930s. Florence Wolfson, the diary's author, will also be on hand this evening to talk about her past and how it's come back to life through Koppel's book.

6:30 p.m. // Tenement Museum Shop [108 Orchard St] // Free

EVENT: Nerds unite, the Comic Book Club has returned from their hiatus -- just in time for the summer blockbuster season (which features a slew of comic-based movies). Expect talk show atmosphere and a panel packed with fans, insiders and comedians; the night is hosted by Justin Tyler, Pete LePage, and Alex Zalben -- no word yet on their guests tonight.

8 p.m. // People's Improv Theater [154 W 29th St] // $5

THEATER: The Strangerer takes its title by mangling the Camus novel President Bush claimed to be reading during his 2006 summer vacation. Playwright Mickle Maher “hopes that the French philosopher might shed some light on the current political climate,” and his absurdist satire takes place at the first 2004 presidential debate between Dubya and John Kerry. Things quickly turn surreal as Bush brandishes a scimitar. The show did well in Chicago, and Curtain Up has a favorable review, calling it “not only an absurdist look at politics. It is also an examination of the theater, particularly politics as a theatrical enterprise, and of politicians as directors, whose job it is to cause a particular reaction by a presentation of a certain event.” – John Del Signore

7:30 p.m. // Barrow Street Theatre [27 Barrow Street] // $25

MUSIC: If you don't want to shell out 35 bucks for Spoon tonight, go the discount DIY route and head to Death by Audio in Williamsburg. A Brooklyn band called Necking opens the eve, with High Castle headlining. The latter sort of sound like a post apocalyptic beach blanket bingo band.

8 p.m. // Death by Audio [49 South 2nd St] // Price TBA

FUNDRAISER: Come see the brand new Galapagos tonight! "DJ duo Andrew Andrew and the infamous Gowanus Wildcat drill team will be performing at The Municipal Art Society's Urbanists fundraiser." The shiny, new LEED certified Galapagos Art Space is in DUMBO, and the event supports the MAS preservation efforts to save NYC's historical buildings -- they note that "Galapagos is New York's newest and most exciting example of how preservation can go green." Open bar and hors d'oeuvres are included in the ticket price.

8 to 11 p.m. // Galapagos [16 Main St, DUMBO] // $50-100