Yes, we know that rainy days and Mondays can get you down. And doubly so today. But you can turn that mood around by stepping out tonight to one of these great events. Just watch for puddles.

TALK
Jill Leovy probably writes the Los Angeles Times best blog (excepting LAist’s own Adam Rose, natch). She chronicles almost every murder in LA to give a human element to what would be another crime blotter. Tonight Leovy’s the featured guest of Zócalo’s "Public Square" lecture series to also talk about her book L.A.’s Homicide Problem, about the mind-numbing rates of murder among Black and Latino men in LA.

7:30 pm // Los Angeles Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium // 630 W. 5th St., Los Angeles // Free (but reservations strongly recommended for this one).

WORDS
The Echo Theater is holding a free reading of Jessica Goldberg’s new work The Body Politic. A Hollywood screen writer poses as a researcher to interview Iraqi war vets for her next film.

8 pm // The Zephyr Theater // 7546 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles // Free.

CLAZZICAL
The Pasadena Symphony series that combines the jazz and classical genres continues tonight with “Clazzical Notes: Side Men II Winds.” The program features oboist David Weiss, flutist Heather Clark, clarinetist Gary Bovyer and saxophonist Double G.

7 pm // Ramo Auditorium at Caltech // 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena // Free.

THEATRE
Tonight’s the last night for the 7th Annual 50 Hour Drive-by Theatre Festival at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre. Writers, directors and actors had two days to come up with new plays. (We love to watch people function when they’re sleep deprived – sometimes you come up with the coolest sh*t.)

7:30 pm // Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre // 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood // $12.

FILM
Yes, we know that Tom Cruise is just a little bit crazy. But he was crazy good in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia as sexpert Frank T. J. Mackey.

8 pm // New Beverly Cinema // 7165 West Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles // $10.