Now that the pro football season is officially over in Pittsburgh, we're happy to propose these activities to fill the void.

This locally produced anthology of poetry and photographs by regional artists will be launched Jan. 19 at a reception at the Silver Eye Center for Photography, 1015 E. Carson St., South Side, from 2-5 p.m.

Pittsburgh writers Judith Robinson and Michael Wurster, of the Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange, are the editors.

The book collects the work of 88 photographers and poets to mark the city's 250th anniversary. The cover paintings are by city artist Philip Pearlstine.

More information: 412-481-7636.

Novelist Roddy Doyle hits town Jan. 28 in an appearance in the Drue Heinz Lectures.

Doyle, best-known for his first novel, "The Commitments," that was turned into the film of the same name, will publish his first book of short stories, "The Deportees and Other Stories," this week.

His other novels include "Paula Spencer" and "Paddy Clarke: Ha Ha Ha," winner of the Booker Prize.

He speaks at 7:30 p.m. at the Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. For tickets, 412-622-8866.

The International Poetry Forum welcomes poet Terrance Hayes for its Jan. 30 reading.

Hayes is author of three collections -- "Muscular Music," "Wind in a Box" and "Hip Logic" -- and teaches writing at Carnegie Mellon.

The program is at 8 p.m. in the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Oakland. Tickets: 412-621-9893.

Poet and essayist Ellen Bass kicks off the spring season of the Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series Feb. 6.

Her fourth collection, "The Human Line," appeared last year. Bass also has written about child sexual abuse and youthful homosexuals.

The free program is 8:30 p.m. in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium on Pitt's Oakland campus.