Raleigh
Byron Pitts
Quail Ridge Books & MusicAs a CBS news correspondent, Byron Pitts has been on the frontlines of many of this decades biggest news events, winning an Emmy for his coverage of the Sept. 11 attacks and covering such events as the post-invasion fate of Saddam Hussein and Hurricane Katrina. Pitts' new memoir, Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges, chronicles how he overcame a debilitating stutter and functional illiteracy to become a journalist. Pitts will read from his book and sign copies at 7:30 p.m. To request a signed or personalized copy, call 828-1588 or e-mail orders@quailridgebooks.com. Visit www.quailridgebooks.com. Zack Smith
Chapel Hill
WXYC's New Tower Party
Local 506University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's radio station, WXYC 89.3 FM, hopes that the days when an event like this mostly matters to people close to campus are over: Since 1994, the station has been working to boost its signal. In 2006, the Federal Communications Commission finally approved a new tower that would boost the station's signal from 400 to 1,100 Watts. Construction was finished in early November, and WXYC began broadcasting from its new beacon the next day. A little work remains, so this partyfeaturing DJs Jason Perlmutter, Steph Russ, Nanci O and othersdoubles as a fundraiser. Make your donations at the door, and come to dance at 9:30 p.m. See www.local506.com. Grayson Currin
