Can't Miss It: Monday

LIPS LIKE SUGAR: It's been a long time since we saw it at Sundance last year, but Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's follow-up to Half Nelson is finally in theaters. Sugar follows a young Dominican baseball player as he tries to make it through the farm teams and into the major leagues. Sez us: "This ain't no rag-to-riches sports story, nor is Sugar in the vein of Behind the Music, chronicling a meteoric rise and fall; instead, it's a much more complex and realistic portrayal of the professional athletic system. Once again, Boden and Fleck prove their high level of screenwriting skill and directorial talent. They know how to write a nuanced script and they know where to put the camera." Sugar continues its run at the Harvard Exit through Thursday.

1:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. // Harvard Exit // 807 E Roy St // $9.50

THE SPORTING LIFE: Art Thiel, Mike Gastineau, and Steve Rudman celebrate their new book (and new website) down by Qwest Field tonight. Elliott Bay Book Company sponsors the reading at F.X. McRory's, featuring former P-Iers Thiel and Rudman and radio man Gastineau regaling the crowd with factoids galore from The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists.

4:30p.m.-9:30 p.m. // F.X. McRory's // 419 Occidental Ave S // free

BATTLE OF THE BANDS: Pagliacci locations will be closing a little early tonight so that their employees can participate in the pizzeria's 4th annual battle of the bands at Neumo's. Eight bands, all featuring at least one Pagliacci employee, will wield their axe, mic, turntable, and/or drumsticks to be the last one standing with the title, trophy, and grand prize--two days of recording time at Woodinville's Bear Creek Studio. Proceeds from the show benefit The Vera Project.

9 p.m. // Neumo's // 925 E Pine St // $5, all ages