Pencil This In: Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror Release Party, End of the Infinite Summer

Bye bye summer. | Photo by nicadlr via LAIst’s flickr pool.

LEARN
Even during a recession, some news outlets are still looking for freelancers. Tonight the Society of Professional Journalists presents “Editors Spill the Beans: What do they want from freelancers?” tonight at 7 pm. On the panel are Sara Wilson, associate editor, Los Angeles Magazine; John Haas, editor, Marketplace; Stephen Pizzello, editor, American Cinematographer. Cost: $18 for SPJ members and students; $23 for nonmembers. The price includes cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. dinner at Golden Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown. Reservations are required. Please call the SPJ/LA hotline at (323) 259-3350 or send an e-mail to SPJLosAngeles@gmail.com.

BOOKS
Just in time for Halloween, there's a launch of Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #15, edited by Sammy Harkham, tonight at Family Bookstore on Fairfax. Artists signing the issue at Family include Sammy Harkham, Matt Groening, Jeffrey Brown, Jordan Crane, and Tim Hensley. The comic is available at Family before it hits newsstands, and original art from the issue will be on display, too.

LEARN MORE
826LA presents the Adult Writing Seminar Series workshop "Writing Comics" at 826LA Echo Park tonight at 7:30 pm. The panel discussion features some of the most groundbreaking and innovative cartoonists working today, including Lalo Alcaraz, Jaime Hernandez, Keith Knight, Marv Wolfman and moderator Salvador Plascencia. "Our guests will discuss ink and pixels, pigments and politics, and how the love of comics mixes with the sticky waters of the business. Panelists will also answer your thought and question bubbles." Tickets are $25.

PARTY
Skylight Books hosts an Infinite Summer's End David Foster Wallace Celebration tonight at 8 pm. It’s a party for Infinite Jest celebrated by people all over Los Angeles, the country and the world in conjunction with Infinite Summer 2009.

TWITTER CONFERENCE
The two-day 140tc is happening right now at the Skirball Center. We're having trouble Tweeting about the event from here because of spotty wireless, but follow it on Twitter #140TC or catch the panels on UStream.

*Pencil pick of the day