Wednesday, June 17
The Oxford (a.k.a. serial) comma is confusing, controversial and, if you think there should have been one after that last adjective, contentious. Two potentially militant grammarians (Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance exec Stephen Abbott and Josh Christie of Sherman’s Books) engage in an Oxford-style debate about the merits of this puzzling punctuation mark during an event billed as Comma Carnage! at SPACE Gallery (538 Congress St., Portland) at 7 p.m. Free (all ages). 828-5600. space538.org. And in a late addition to Highlights, there’s a great triple-bill tonight at Blue (650 Congress St.), where the politically progressive local indie-folk duo Snaex takes the stage at 7 p.m., followed by Portland alt-folk chanteuse Dilly Dilly at 8:30 p.m. and gifted singer-songwriter Vince Nez at 10 p.m. Donations accepted (21+). 774-4111. portcityblue.com.