Josh Fernandez and Kim Jong Il

Kim Jong Il and Other Mythical Beasts is the name of Josh Fernandez’s poetry-book launch party this week. Yes: the Josh Fernandez who writes for these pages and used to be an editor over here. Now he’s gone, but has a new book, which he’ll read from this Thursday at Luna’s Café & Juice Bar. Ross Hammond and Ruben Reveles will be there, too, making tunes. So instead of plinking around at home Googling “Kim Jong Il,” going deep into the Dear Leader’s cult of personality—his preposterous hole-in-one claims, the kidnapped filmmakers, his fear of flying—get up off your ass and listen to Fernandez instead. Thursday, August 20, 8 p.m.; free. 1414 16th Street.