Happening today: ‘Manifest Equality,’ Christopher Hitchens and more

BOOKS

Elif Batuman As part of the Central Library’s Aloud literary series, the author of “The Possessed: Adventures With Russian Books and the People Who Read Them” will discuss her favorite writers and share stories with David L. Ulin, book editor of the Los Angeles Times. Richard J. Riordan Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. Reservations required. (213) 228-7025. www.lfla .org.

Christopher Hitchens The rabble-rousing Vanity Fair columnist and commentator on contemporary thought, politics and culture will present the 2010 Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture. “Varieties of Anti-Semitism” will explore how ancient prejudice and outright hostility have reemerged since the Nuremberg trials. UCLA Anderson School of Management, Korn Convocation Hall, “C” Building, Westwood. 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sold out; stand-by line only.

EVENTS

Fred Hall’s Long Beach Show This annual fishing and tackle show offers seminars, boats, raffles, archery demonstrations and even free trout fishing for kids. Hundreds of exhibitors will show off fishing and sportsman products. Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. Adults, $15; children, free. 2 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. (805) 389-3339. www .fredhall.com.

ART

Manifest Equality For this five-day pop-up art show in support of gay rights, organizers turned a dilapidated former retail space into a gallery and invited more than 175 artists to create work based on the theme of equality. An online art contest yielded 1,200 more additional submissions from across the country; five of which were those have been selected by a distinguished panel of judges to hang in the show. Manifest Equality Gallery, 1341 Vine St., Hollywood. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Today Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. www.manifestequality.com