8 pm: Readings

As NPR aficionados know, David Sedaris went from New York City maid to Paris-dwelling essayist in the matter of a decade. He has published three volumes--”Barrel Fever,” “Naked” and “Me Talk Pretty One Day.” Sarah Vowell went from precocious Montana teen to cultural critic on Salon.com and “This American Life” contributor. Her books include “Radio On” and “Take the Cannoli.” What do the two have in common, besides the fact they they both found fame reading their work on NPR? Dry wit. Insightful points of view. And writing that makes you laugh till it hurts.

* David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell, Royce Hall, UCLA campus, Westwood. 8 p.m. $20-$30. (310) 825-2101.

10 pm: Salsa

The Conga Room recently has hosted some new bands that revive the New York salsa style of the ‘70s golden age. Now they have one of the originators: Orquesta Tipica Novel, which has been keeping the tropical beat for decades, and has a new album called “La Nueva Generacion.”

* Orquesta Tipica Novel, the Conga Room, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., 10 p.m. $17 and $35. (323) 938-1696.

7 pm: Movies

Artist Christopher Williams explores the relationship between architecture and community in two film series in conjunction with the MAK Center exhibition “In Between: Art and Architecture.” Williams mines cinema history from the 1930s through the 1980s, using short films by Luis Bun~uel, Carl T. Dreyer, Otto Muhl and others, to find connections in art and culture.

* “In Between: Art and Architecture” film series, Silver Screen Theater, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. Also April 12, 7 p.m., different films. $4 to $8. (323) 651-1510.

7 pm: Movies

The El Capitan Theatre kicks off a monthlong Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival with “Notorious.” The 1946 spy thriller, which Francois Truffaut tapped as Hitch’s best film, stars Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains. Ben Hecht wrote the script, about a psychological love triangle set in Rio de Janeiro. Other films in the series are “Spellbound” (April 12), “Rebecca” (April 19) and “The Paradine Case” (April 26). Each film will be preceded by a panel discussion.

* Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival--”Notorious,” El Capitan Theatre, 6838 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. $5.75 to $9. (323) 467-7674.

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Freebie: “Ralph Humphrey: Later Paintings 1975-1982,” featuring the layered box-like paintings of the New York-based artist, opens at Daniel Weinberg Gallery, 6148 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ends May 26. (323) 954-8425.