Tuesday Happenings

Movies
While we really can't call Purple Rain an underrated classic like Repo Man, you can't resist Prince going crazy and making the doves cry. Brattle Theatre, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45.

Books
UMass-Boston prof and author Askold Melnyczuk will read from his latest, The House of Widows, in which a man attempts to unravel his family's buried past. Harvard Book Store, 7:00 pm, free.

Music and Magic
Anderson Presents: Magic: The Party! We don't know why it's called "Magic," but it'll be comedy, some in a talk-show format. Movers and Shakers are supposed to do 2 sets -- an acoustic and an electric -- which is cool. Slated as a special guest tonight is the half-brother of one of the presidential candidates, and it's not one of the Rodham boys... An iPod DJ will want you to dance afterwards. O'Brien’s, 3 Harvard St, Allston, 9:00 pm, $8.

Diplomacy
Most presidential candidates thinks it makes them look tough when they say they don't want to talk to "enemies." Fmr. Ambassador Charles F. Dunbar (now International Relations, BU) will shed some light on this in a way you won't hear on CNN, etc., in the talk "Diplomacy: Talking With Allies and Enemies." Boston Public Library, Mezzanine Conference Room, 700 Boylston St, Boston (Back Bay), 6:00 pm, free.

Rob Vassegh contributed to this post. Go to Cheap Thrills Boston for more events!

The listed events were chosen by the editors of Bostonist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla.