Orlando Beer Festival takes place this weekend at the Milk District’s Festival Park, promising hundreds of varieties of beers, seltzers and spirits from local and national breweries — including Crooked Can, Broken Strings Brewery, The Salty Llama and Central 28.
But this Orlando Weekly event isn’t all just refreshing bevs. There will be activities, games, local food trucks, plenty of vendors, DJs, sports on big ol’ screens and live music. Live entertainment offerings this year are particularly leveled up with headliner Cat Ridgeway, joined by Beemo.
It’s a fall festival for the ages, whether the leaves have changed or not. (They have not.) VIP access gets you in two hours early with access to exclusive eats and drinks — all the better to toast the 10th anniversary of this fest.
2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, Orlando Festival Park, 2911 E. Robinson St., orlandobeerfestival.com, $60-$90.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — BalletMet’s “The Nutcracker” will soon return to the Ohio Theatre with 22 performances.
What You Need To Know
The production will run from Dec. 11 to Dec. 28
The shows will feature nearly 300 costumes, 300 pounds of fake snow and 200 dancers
Tickets can be purchased online, at the CAPA ticket center or by calling (614) 229-4848
The production will run from Dec. 11 to Dec. 28, and it will have two “My First Nutcracker” sensory friendly interactions, and it will feature more than 180 Academy students and trainees.
“Since 1978, BalletMet’s The Nutcracker has been one of Columbus’s most beloved holiday traditions, and it is a joy for all of us at BalletMet to see it return,” said BalletMet’s Artistic Director Remi Wörtmeyer. “While the ballet will remain what Central Ohio knows and loves, we have a few surprises in store, making the overall Nutcracker experience even more exciting.”
The shows will feature nearly 300 costumes, 300 pounds of fake snow and 200 dancers.
“Guided by Tchaikovsky‘s iconic score and Gerard Charles’s choreography, the two will weave together fantasy, adventure, and the spirit of the holiday season as the ballet follows Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, and their unforgettable journey,” a press release states.
Here are the dates and times you can see “The Nutcracker:”
Dec. 11 – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 – noon and 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 14 – noon and 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 16 – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 18 – 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 –7:30 p.m.
Dec. 20 – noon and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 – noon and 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 23 – 11 a.m. (My First Nutcracker/sensory-friendly environment) and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 24 – noon
Dec. 26 – 11 a.m. (My First Nutcracker/sensory-friendly environment) and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 – noon and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 – noon
Additionally, the BalletMet has the Pay What You Want program, which allows people to see performances at the price they choose. The program is being offered for performances on these days and times:
Dec. 26 – 11 a.m. (My First Nutcracker/sensory-friendly environment) and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 – noon and 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 28 – noon
Tickets can be purchased online, at the CAPA ticket center or by calling (614) 229-4848.
CLEVELAND — Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman’s new film “Lost & Found in Cleveland” is an ode to the city told by weaving the story of five residents together through the objects they bring to a fictional TV show.
“I grew up watching Antique Roadshows with my dad. I just fell in love with the people on the show,” Guterman said, explaining she always wanted to make a movie centering on Antiques Roadshow.
What You Need To Know
The movie”Lost & Found in Cleveland” is in theaters nationwide November 7th
Filmakers Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak raised funding for the movie independently
The movie proudly features Cleveland, shooting in locations like Playhouse Square, the Hope Memorial Bridge and the West Side Market
“They’re coming with these objects that they’ve collected that have been passed down to them that take on special meaning, and our own identities get wrapped up in these special objects that come into our lives,” Gerchak said.
Gerchak grew up in Cleveland, Guterman in LA, but now they both live in the movie’s titular city.
“Cleveland is the protagonist of the film, and we really celebrate it,” Guterman said.
They filmed scenes at iconic Cleveland locations.
“We had 20 locations in 20 days,” Gerchak said, filming at places like Playhouse Square, University Circle and The Hope Memorial Bridge.
They shot at the historic West Side Market with actor Dennis Haysbert, who made his movie debut in another Cleveland classic picture, “Major League.”
“In the first shot we’re inside there, and getting him standing here, with the ‘Go Tribe’,” Gerchak said, motioning to the Dionne’s Meats Booth the film used as a location at the market. The booth had a ‘Go Tribe’ sticker, a reference to the Cleveland Indians baseball team that was featured in the movie ‘Major League.’
The movie features Clevelanders as extras, like Sam, an employee at the West Side Market.
“Taking this concept of what people think Cleveland is and showing you, it can feel different, it can be beautiful,” Guterman said.
Set during the holidays, the movie cast big names like June Squibb, Jon Lovitz and Martin Sheen.
“I think it is the perfect marriage of material and setting. There’s a Midwestern optimism, there’s an earnestness, an authenticity,” Gerchak said.
Directed, written and produced by Gerchak and Guterman, the film is a labor of love they worked on for over a decade, raising funds independently.
“We had a book club in Cleveland that invested in the film,” Guterman said.
Finally realizing their vision and getting to bring it to the big screen.
“People have an underestimation of the film and I think they also have an underestimation of Cleveland, and the Cleveland’s of the country, and I think that they’re gonna be in for a surprise when they come and see the film,” Gerchak said.
Bas’s Cheesesteaks is bringing Philly flavor to the Heights neighborhood with a special pop up at Tenfold Coffee from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until sold out), slinging halal ribeye cheesesteaks on seeded hoagie rolls with melty white cheese, mayo and your choice of grilled onions and peppers. Add fries or a Pudgy’s deli cookie to seal the deal. Follow along @basscheesesteaks for updates and future events.
Bites & Beyond Festival at Discovery Green
Saturday, 1 to 10 p.m.
1500 McKinney
Discovery Green hosts the Bites & Beyond Festival, featuring local chefs, food trucks, drinks, live music across four stages, art installations and cultural activations all day long. Tickets start at $30.48, with VIP and Party on Stage passes available.
Saturday, 6 p.m. to close
113 6th
San Leon favorite Pier 6 is marking five years with a blowout bash. Executive chef Joe Cervantez will serve an exclusive anniversary menu paired with caviar and Champagne tastings, plus a few surprises to toast the milestone. Reservations are recommended.
Saturday, 5 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. (or until sell out)
5600 Richmond
Houston’s newest halal Mexican concept is hitting the streets with a two-day grand opening bash, kicking of Saturday at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting and live mariachi from Elegancia de Mexico, plus free beef birria combos for the first 150 guests, 50 percent off the menu, giveaways and a taco-eating contest. Sunday brings another full day of half-off eats like birria and barbacoa tacos, Trippin’ Tamales, Drip-Drip Ramen and the over-the-top Churro-Berry Gasm.
Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m.
2000 Lyons
Saint Arnold Brewing Co., 2000 Lyons Ave, teams up with Houston Dairymaids for a Beer & Cheese Pairing, offering a curated tasting of five artisanal cheeses matched with five of Saint Arnold’s signature brews. Guests can also enjoy soft pretzels with mustard and receive a token for an extra beer at the Beer Garden & Restaurant. The event runs from 1 to 3 p.m., and tickets are $50.
NEW YORK — Solar storms may bring colorful auroras to several northern U.S. states Thursday night.
The sun burped out a huge burst of energy called a coronal mass ejection that’s currently on its way to Earth, prompting space weather forecasters to issue a strong geomagnetic storm watch. It’s expected to arrive between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
How bright the auroras are and how far south they are visible will depend on when the solar burst gets here and how it interacts with Earth. If the timing is right, it’s possible auroras will “quite likely spin up overnight,” Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said in an email.
Authorities are monitoring the situation, but do not anticipate major disruptions to radio or communications signals, said Dahl.
Auroras could be visible — especially in darker, rural areas — in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and northern parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
The moon is currently close to Earth and bright in the sky, which could make it harder to spot auroras. Northern lights could be visible on Friday night as well, depending on the solar activity.
How northern lights happen
The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.
Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.
Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.
The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.
Severe storms are capable of scrambling radio and GPS communications.
How solar storms affect Earth
Solar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth.
When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control radio and satellites in orbit.
In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and caught telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.
Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.
How to see auroras
Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.
Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.
Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration to find the money by Friday to fully fund SNAP benefits for November.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. on Thursday was in response to a challenge from cities and nonprofits complaining that the administration was only offering to cover 65% of the maximum benefit.
“The defendants failed to consider the practical consequences associated with this decision to only partially fund SNAP,” McConnell said. “They knew that there would be a long delay in paying partial Snap payments and failed to consider the harms individual who rely on those benefits would suffer.”
The Trump administration said last month that it would not pay benefits at all for November because of the federal shutdown. Last week, two judges ordered the government to pay at least partial benefits using an emergency fund. It initially said it would cover half, but it now says it will cover 65%.
The plaintiffs want the benefits to be fully funded.
The USDA said last month that benefits for November wouldn’t be paid because of the federal government shutdown. That set off a scramble by food banks, state governments and the nearly 42 million Americans who receive the aid to find ways to ensure access to groceries.
The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It costs more than $8 billion per month nationally.
The Trump administration has disbanded its federal cultural property investigations team and reassigned the agents to immigration enforcement, delivering a blow to one of the world’s leaders in heritage protection and calling into question the future of America’s role in repatriating looted relics, according to multiple people familiar with the changes.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security established the Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities program in 2017 to “conduct training on the preservation, protection and investigation of cultural heritage and property; to coordinate and support investigations involving the illicit trafficking of cultural property around the world; and to facilitate the repatriation of illicit cultural items seized as a result of (federal) investigations to the objects and artifacts’ lawful and rightful owners.”
Homeland Security Investigations, the department’s investigative arm, once had as many as eight agents in its New York office investigating cultural property cases. A select number of additional agents around the country also worked these cases, including a nationwide investigation into looted Thai objects.
The Denver Art Museum has previously acknowledged that two relics from Thailand in its collection are part of that federal investigation.
Since 2007, HSI says it has repatriated over 20,000 items to more than 40 countries.
But the Trump administration, as part of its unprecedented mass-deportation agenda, earlier this year dissolved the cultural property program and moved the agents to immigration enforcement, multiple people with knowledge of the change told The Denver Post.
Homeland Security officials did not respond to requests for comment.
A few months after Trump took office, a Homeland Security staffer with knowledge of the antiquities field told The Post that they received an email from their bosses. The message, according to their recollection: “The way of the world is immigration. Bring your cases to a reasonable conclusion and understand that the priority is immigration operations.”
This individual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said they were given no time frame for the new assignment. Leadership, though, was clear that there would be no new cultural property cases.
Instead of conducting these investigations, this individual said they have been driving detainees between detention facilities and the airport for their deportation.
“I just spent almost a month cuffing guys up, throwing them in a van from one jail to another,” this person said, adding that the work doesn’t take advantage of their specialized training.
It’s frustrating, the individual said, because cultural property cases don’t require a lot of agents or resources. They don’t need all types of fancy electronic equipment.
“The juice from the squeeze on these cases is a lot more than people wanna give it credit,” this person said.
Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post
The Bunker Gallery section of the Denver Art Museum’s Southeast Asian art galleries at the Martin Building is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Emma C. Bunker’s name was removed from the gallery in the wake of an investigation by The Denver Post. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Thai objects in Denver under investigation
For years, HSI has been investigating two Thai relics in the Denver Art Museum’s collection after officials in Thailand raised issues with their provenance, or ownership history.
The pieces — part of the so-called “Prakhon Chai hoard” — were looted in the 1960s from a secret vault at a temple near the Cambodian border, The Post found in a three-part investigation in 2022. Villagers told the newspaper that they recall dredging the vault for these prized objects and selling them to a British collector named Douglas Latchford.
A federal grand jury decades later indicted Latchford for conspiring to sell plundered Southeast Asian antiquities around the world. He died before he could stand trial.
But the DA’s office relies heavily on its partnership with HSI, which has federal jurisdiction and can serve warrants and issue summonses across the country. The Manhattan DA’s office only has authority over New York.
“The future for the DA’s office and the (antiquities trafficking) unit is in jeopardy,” said an individual familiar with the Manhattan unit’s dealings, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “It’s unclear who’s going to be swearing out warrants going forward.”
A spokesperson for the Manhattan DA declined to comment for this story.
Department of Homeland Security Investigations agents join Washington Metropolitan Police Department officers as they conduct traffic checks at a checkpoint along 14th Street in northwest Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
‘Doing the right thing still has power’
These changes in enforcement priorities mean countries seeking the repatriation of their cultural items have fewer partners in the U.S. who can help them deal with museums and private collectors.
“A few years ago, the United States led the world in restoring stolen history — and it mattered,” said Bradley Gordon, an American attorney who for years has represented the Cambodian government in its quest to reclaim its pillaged history from art museums, including Denver’s.
It’s a shame, he said, that federal agencies have stepped back, even as the Manhattan DA continues its work.
“This work isn’t just about art; it’s about security, diplomacy and restoring dignity,” Gordon said. “These looted objects were never meant to be hidden in mansions or displayed in museum glass cases far from their origins. When they are returned, entire communities celebrate with sincere happiness. It’s a reminder that doing the right thing still has power in the world.”
Representatives from Thailand’s government, meanwhile, said they haven’t gotten an update on the Prakhon Chai investigation since Trump returned to office this year.
Cultural heritage experts say these investigations can serve as an important diplomatic tool and use of soft power — a way for the U.S. to strengthen connections to allies or thaw fraught relations with longtime adversaries.
In 2013, for example, President Barack Obama’s administration returned a ceremonial drinking vessel from the seventh century B.C. to Iran. For years, American officials said they couldn’t return the million-dollar relic until relations between the two countries normalized. The move — which NBC News titled “archaeo-diplomacy” — represented a small but important gesture as the U.S. sought a nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern power.
“The return of the artifact reflects the strong respect the United States has for cultural heritage property — in this case, cultural heritage property that was likely looted from Iran and is important to the patrimony of the Iranian people,” the U.S. State Department said at the time. “It also reflects the strong respect the United States has for the Iranian people.”
A lack of law enforcement activity in this space could also mean that museums and private collectors will be less inclined to return stolen pieces, said Erin Thompson, an art crime professor at New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Museums, instead, will maintain the status quo.
“Without the power of subpoenas, knowing what records people have, most of these returns are impossible,” she said. “Without the official stick to back up the carrot of negotiations, it wouldn’t happen. Government presence in these negotiations is absolutely crucial.”
Others wonder what the Trump administration’s realignment would mean for the illicit antiquities market.
Mongolia has spent years fighting for the return of dinosaur fossils from around the globe. HSI has worked on numerous investigations on this front, repatriating a host of looted items that are considered some of the best relics of life on Earth from millions of years ago.
Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, the country’s former minister of culture, tourism and sports, said she always held up the United States as an example of what can be done to crack down on the black market for cultural goods. Before collaborating with the U.S., Mongolia was considered “the weakest country” for losing its own heritage to illegal sellers, she said.
“If ICE is too focused on immigration and less on cultural heritage, it would, of course, be a sad thing,” she said in an interview, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees HSI. “By discouraging the black market of dinosaur fossils, the international market was shattered. If ICE weakens, the black market might surge back. The American (antiquities) market and American collaboration is essential for stopping the black market of illegal cultural property sales.”
The earnest superhero team-up tale “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and Tracy Morgan returning to TV with a new comedy called “Crutch” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: The upstairs-downstairs drama “Downton Abbey” bids farewell in a final movie, Kim Kardashian plays a divorce attorney in Hulu’s “All’s Fair” and Willie Nelson continues to demonstrate his prolific output with the release of yet another new album this year.
New movies to stream
— Guillermo del Toro realizes his long-held dream of a sumptuous Mary Shelley adaptation in “Frankenstein” (Friday Nov. 7 on Netflix). Del Toro’s film, starring Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as his monster, uses all the trappings of handmade movie craft to give Shelley’s classic an epic sweep. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote: “Everything about ‘Frankenstein’ is larger than life, from the runtime to the emotions on display.”
— Matt Shakman’s endearingly earnest superhero team-up tale “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Wednesday on Disney+) helps alleviate a checkered-at-best history of big-screen adaptations of the classic Stan Lee-Jack Kirby comic. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn play Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing and the Human Torch, respectively. In 1964, they work to defend Earth from its imminent destruction by Galactus. In my review, I praised “First Steps” as “a spiffy ’60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism.”
— “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” (Friday, Nov. 7 on Peacock) bids goodbye to the Crawleys 15 years after Julian Fellowes first debuted his upstairs-downstairs drama. The cast of the third and final film, directed by Simon Curtis, includes Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery and Paul Giamatti. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote that the film gives “loyal Downton fans what they want: a satisfying bit of closure and the sense that the future, though a bit scary, may look kindly on Downton Abbey.” Peacock is also streaming the two previous movies and all six seasons of “Downton Abbey.”
— “The Materialists” (Friday, Nov. 7 on HBO Max), Celine Song’s follow-up to her Oscar-nominated 2023 breakthrough “Past Lives,” stars Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans in a romantic triangle. The New York-set film adds a dose of economic reality to a romantic comedy plot in what was, for A24, a modest summer hit. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck called it “a smart rom-com that tries to be honest about life and still leaves us smiling.”
— The legendary Willie Nelson continues to demonstrate his prolific output with the release of yet another new album this year. “Workin’ Man: Willie Sings Merle,” out Friday, Nov. 7, is exactly what it sounds like: Nelson offering new interpretations of 11 classic songs written by Merle Haggard. And we mean classics: Check out Nelson’s latest take on “Okie From Muskogee,” “Mama Tried,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink” and more.
— Where’s the future of the global music industry? All over, surely, but it would be more than just a little wise to look to Brazil. Not too dissimilar to how Anitta brought her country’s funk genre to an international mainstream through diverse collaborations and genre meddling, so too is Ludmilla. On Thursday, she will release a new album, “Fragmentos,” fresh off the heels of her sultry, bilingual collaboration with Grammy winner Victoria Monét, “Cam Girl.” It’s a combination of R&B, funk and then some.
— Tracy Morgan returns to TV with a new comedy called “Crutch.” Morgan plays a widowed empty-nester whose world is turned around when his adult children move home with his grandkids in tow. The Paramount+ series debuts Monday.
— Kim Kardashian says she will soon learn whether she passed the bar exam to become a lawyer, but she plays a sought-after divorce attorney in “All’s Fair,” her new TV series for Hulu. Kardashian stars alongside Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash-Betts, Naomi Watts and Teyana Taylor in the show about an all-female law firm. Ryan Murphy created the show with Kardashian in mind after she acted in “American Horror Story: Delicate.” It premieres Tuesday on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
— The old saying about truth being stranger than fiction applies to Netflix’s new four-episode limited-series “Death by Lightning.” It’s a historical dramatization (with some comedy thrown in) about how James Garfield became the 20th president of the United States. He was shot four months later by a man named Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), who was desperate for Garfield’s attention. Two months after that, Garfield died from complications of his injuries. It’s a wild story that also features Betty Gilpin, Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford and Shea Whigham. The series premieres Thursday.
— HBO offers up a new docuseries about the life of retired baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez. “Alex Vs. A-Rod” features intimate interviews with people who are related to and know Rodriguez, as well as the man himself. The three-part series premieres Thursday.
— The next installment of “Wicked,” called “Wicked: For Good,” flies into theaters Nov. 21 and NBC has created a musical special to pump up the release. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande lead “Wicked: One Wonderful Night,” a concert event that premieres Thursday on NBC and streams on Peacock Friday, Nov. 7. Additional film cast members like Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater appear as well.
— It’s going to be a while until the next Legend of Zelda game, but if you’re craving some time with the princess, check out Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. In this spinoff, a prequel to 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom, Zelda travels back in time to join forces with the Six Sages in a war against the invader Ganondorf. You can also drag another human into battle with split-screen or the GameShare feature on Nintendo’s new console. Like the previous collaborations between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo, it’s more hack-and-slash action than exploration and discovery. It arrives Thursday on Switch 2.
CINCINNATI — In honor of Veterans Day, the Cincinnati Museum Center is offering free admission to veterans, active and former military for a limited time starting next week.
From Nov. 9 to Nov. 16, military members can enter any of the center’s three museums for free, and family members can receive a $1 discount. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
CMC is also offering $3 off admission for veterans and active military to the “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away” exhibition with the code “VETS” online.
The free admission does not apply OMNIMAX tickets.
Moon Alert: Avoid shopping (except for food and gas) or important decisions from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EST today (3 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from ARIES into TAURUS.
Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025:
You are logical, perceptive and charming. You like to share your opinions to enlighten others. This is a year of service for you, probably service to family. Take care of yourself, because you are a resource for those who turn to you for guidance, comfort and encouragement.
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★★ Pay attention to everything you say and do today because this is an accident-prone day for you. Strong, rebellious feelings, especially about politics, religion and racial issues, will excite you. You will identify with your ideals and be prepared to fight for them. Tonight: Money issues.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★ Money, finances and wealth easily come to you, plus, these areas interest you. Today you might find yourself at odds with someone about issues related to shared wealth, shared property, debt and inheritances, which means you might have to defend your best interests. Tonight: You win!
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★★ Today fiery Mars is opposite your sign, while at the same time opposing unpredictable Uranus in your sign. This is an explosive combination! Tread carefully. You might act impulsively, or you might attract someone else who is acting impulsively. Be cautious and protect yourself. Tonight: Be friendly.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★ In one way, you’re in a fun-loving, playful frame of mind, which will help you enjoy movies, sports events and fun outings. However, work-related issues are explosive and full of potential conflict. Guard against work-related accidents. Don’t do anything you will later regret. Tonight: You’re noticed.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★ Parents should know that this is an accident-prone day for their kids. Be vigilant! Meanwhile, pleasure outings, social occasions and recreational activities (including sports) will be subject to sudden reversals, cancellations and unexpected changes. Be ready for anything. Tonight: Explore!
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★ You are clever and alert today. Be aware that your home routine might suddenly change. Small appliances might break down; a minor breakage could occur, or someone unexpected could appear at your door. Meanwhile, you feel you want to escape or get a change of scenery. Tonight: Check finances.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Pay attention to everything you say and do today because this is an accident-prone day for you. Think twice before you act or speak. You might trigger an unexpected event. A desire to break free from restrictions is strong. Nevertheless, be cool to protect your own best interests. Tonight: Cooperate.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★ Keep an eye on your possessions, money and assets today. Something unexpected could impact them. Guard what you own against loss, theft or damage. This could be minor – or major. Fortunately, with the Sun in your sign you are empowered. Act wisely. Tonight: Get organized.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★★★ Today fiery Mars moves into your sign, which will boost your energy for the next six weeks. This will make you assertive and more of a fighter for your own rights, as well as the rights of others. Today, however, Mars opposes unpredictable Uranus, creating impulsive, impatient encounters with others. Stay chill. Tonight: Socialize.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★ This is a restless day. Although this is a popular time, today some kind of energy that is taking place behind the scenes will make you nervous, impulsive and unsure about what to do. Seek out some pleasant alternatives. Socialize with someone, especially a romantic interest. Talk to a friend. Tonight: Cocoon.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★★ This is a tricky day! You might come on too aggressively with a friend or a group. Don’t do anything that you might later regret. Having said this, you will identify with collaborative efforts to fight for what you believe and resist oppression. “To the gates!” Tonight: Discussions.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★ Your ambition is aroused today. For some reason, this might create a situation where you will defy authority – which could be the authority of your parents, a boss, or the government. Be careful to act with wisdom and responsibility. Tonight: Maintain your possessions.
BORN TODAY
Actor Matthew McConaughey (1969), actress Olivia Taylor Dudley (1985), actor Ralph Maccio (1961)
SEATTLE – The Neighbourhood is coming to Seattle as part of their upcoming WOURLD TOUR in 2026. While the first shows kick off in March of next year, presales begin in November 2025.
The band, known for hits like “Sweater Weather,” “Daddy Issues” and “Reflections,” will perform at the WAMU theater in Seattle in October 2026.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – MARCH 25: Zach Abels, Mikey Margott, Jesse Rutherford, Brandon Alexander Fried and Jeremy Freedman members of the band The Neighbourhood performs live on stage during the third day of Lollapalooza Brazil Festival at Interlagos Rac
When will The Neighbourhood perform in Seattle?
The band will take the stage at WAMU on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The artist presale kicks off at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5 and lasts until 10 p.m. on Nov. 6.
The general online ticket sale will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 21: Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood performs on Bacardi Sound of Rum Stage during the 2018 Life Is Beautiful Festival on September 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic for Life Is Beautiful)
The band’s WOURLD tour starts at the Moody Center in Austin on Saturday, Mar. 28, 2026.
What they’re saying:
“After five years away, The Neighbourhood return with (((((ultraSOUND))))) – a record that feels less like a comeback than a renewal. The California band that defined black-and-white pop melancholy in the 2010s has found color again, or at least shades of it,” read a press release from the band at the time of announcement.
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Kolache Shoppe, 10321 Katy Freeway, is now open in Memorial, and it’s celebrating with a full week of pastry-packed festivities. Each day brings something new — free kolaches, coffee, gift cards and bonus loyalty points. Highlights include a Houston Food Bank benefit day on Wednesday, buy-one-get-one pastries on Thursday and complimentary coffee drinks on Friday (with a chance to win free weekly coffee for a year).
Wild Game Specials at Ouisie’s Table
Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe, is serving up a weekly series of imaginative game dinners now through November 26. This week features seared five spice duck breast with orange glaze, roasted spaghetti squash and almandine green beans.
As families and workers feel the impact of the ongoing government shutdown and rising economic challenges, Comfort Foodies, 8128 North Sam Houston Parkway West, is offering $10 daily meal specials featuring hearty southern soul and Latin-Caribbean dishes — think smothered pork chops, Dominican brown stew chicken, fried wings, and fried catfish baskets, all served with a choice of sides. Kids eat free all day with the purchase of an adult meal (child must be present). The restaurant is also offering a pay-it-forward option for meals at half price to support those in need. Specials are available for dine-in customers Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday, November 6
Oysters, Blues & Brews at Goode Co. Armadillo Palace
Goode Co. Armadillo Palace, 5015 Kirby Dr, hosts its annual Oysters, Blues & Brews, celebrating Gulf Coast flavors and live Texas blues while benefiting the Coastal Conservation Association’s Building Conservation Trust. Guests can dig into mesquite-fired coastal dishes like smoked boudin links, Gulf redfish, and Christmas Bay gumbo, plus Gulf shrimp taquitos, Yellowfin tuna tostadas, and a seafood bar stacked with Campechana, boiled shrimp, and freshly shucked mariculture oysters. The Mighty Orq keeps the night rocking from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets start at $100, ages 21 and up.
Saturday–Sunday
Texas Renaissance Festival
Texas’ largest Renaissance-themed festival continues with the Pirate’s Adventure weekend. Step into a world of fantasy, food and revelry, with turkey legs, mead and themed entertainment ranging from costume contests to live performances. Tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 5–12; children 4 and under get in free.
Saturday, November 8
Piano Brunch at Brennan’s
Brennan’s, 3300 Smith, kicks off its brunch series featuring live piano tunes and half-priced rosé from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Bites & Beyond Festival at Discovery Green
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney, hosts the Bites & Beyond Festival from 1 to 10 p.m., with local chefs, food trucks, drinks, live music across four stages, art installations, and cultural activations. Tickets start at $30.48, with VIP and Party on Stage passes available.
Five-Year Anniversary Bash at Pier 6
San Leon favorite Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 6th, is marking five years with a blowout bash. Executive chef Joe Cervantez will serve an exclusive anniversary menu paired with caviar and Champagne tastings, plus a few surprises to toast the milestone.
Brighter Futures BBQ Fundraiser at The Pit Room Memorial City
Communities In Schools of Houston teams up with The Pit Room for the Brighter Futures BBQ Fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Pit Room Memorial City, 10301 Katy Freeway. Guests can enjoy top-notch barbecue, drinks, live music, and a silent auction supporting CIS programs for local students. The Montrose location will also donate all food and drink sales that day to CIS. Tickets start at $300 per person, with table options available.
Sunday, November 9
Beer & Cheese Pairing at Saint Arnold
Saint Arnold Brewing Co., 2000 Lyons Ave, teams up with Houston Dairymaids for a Beer & Cheese Pairing, offering a curated tasting of five artisanal cheeses matched with five of Saint Arnold’s signature brews. Guests can also enjoy soft pretzels with mustard and receive a token for an extra beer at the Beer Garden & Restaurant. The event runs from 1 to 3 p.m., and tickets are $50.
New and ongoing specials
Fall + Winter Menu at North Italia
North Italia’s new Fall + Winter Menu just dropped, featuring highlights from Sunday Night Lasagna with Italian sausage and braised short rib, Prime New York Steak Tagliata, Salted Caramel Budino and a Morning Market Board (CityCentre and The Woodlands only) for brunch, with caramelized onion frittata, shaved asparagus salad, burrata, heirloom tomato and hearth bread.
TAMPA, Fla. — You no longer need a boarding pass to be able to walk to the gates and visit the airsides at Tampa International Airport, you just need to sign up ahead of time.
Starting Monday, Tampa International Airport is relaunching their TPA All Access program. The program first launched in 2019 and was discontinued during the pandemic.
The purpose of the program is to allow visitors to patronize all the of post-security dining options and shops. The TPA All Access passes are available for pick up every day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and advanced online registration is required.
What You Need To Know
Passes are available for pick up every day between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m
6 people per airside admitted every 2 hours
Advanced registration is required for airside access
During the initial launch, only 6 guests are allowed per two-hour block in each airside.
Shannon Boos, Senior Manager of Guest Experience for the airport, says the limit is to help reduce traffic in the trams and airsides. Once the program settles in, the airport may increase the number of guests allotted for each time period.
While only 6 guests can enter during each 2-hour block, they are welcome to stay as long as they want.
“So we’re just giving you that little sneak behind,” she said. “Now you can come out and have dinner at Ulele or you can have dinner at Cigar City and go through some of the shops and you don’t have to fly. So it gives you an opportunity that you didn’t have before.”
You must sign up online for the 2-hour slot. When arriving at the terminal, guests need to pick up their pass at the information desk on the third floor. A drivers license or valid ID is required, and all guests will have to go through TSA security just as if they were flying.
SEATTLE – Sea-Meow swept into Seattle this weekend, bringing cat lovers together for a unique convention devoted exclusively to cats.
“Sea-Meow Con is a cat convention for cat people by cat people,” said Braden Duncan,” Sea-Meow Meow-Chant Coordinator and local artist. “We have cat art, actual kitties.”
Hundreds streamed through the doors Saturday to get their feline fix. Cat owners were also welcome to bring their felines to the event.
Press Kit-ty and cat correspondent, Athena, the black cat, traveled to the conference to give us a feline perspective on why the conference is the cat’s meow.
Strutting through the convention in a backpack or book bag is Athena’s favorite way to check out the sights and sounds of Sea-Meow 2025.
“She’s probably the ideal kitty correspondent,” said Roseanne Kahn, from Seattle.
As a cat correspondent with a keen eye for a story and a sweet purr-sonality, Athena got the celebrity treatment wherever she went.
“I’m very impressed with Athena,” said Kahn. “She has a lot of poise. She’s showing real cat grace. She’s very fancy, and she really knows how to rock that little bag.”
In fact, cats like Athena were everywhere at the conference, in strollers, riding in bags and on their human’s shoulders.
One of the perks for cats like Athena is getting lots of pets from new friends like Ellie Beck.
What they’re saying:
“Cats are unique, and they have really different perspectives from humans,” said Ellie Beck of Seattle. “They are always like they are from a different planet or something.”
Cats and their owners were also able to shop at more than 90 vendors who sell cat toys, art and crafts at the conference.
“Athena is fabulous. We are making fast friends,” said Braden Duncan.
Duncan owns Clockwork Art, and creates traditional watercolor paintings that feature cats.
“My cats do help in the process,” said Duncan. “I have a little black cat at home too, who’s been modeling for me for 16 years. You will see a lot of her represented here.”
Duncan’s canvas cat bags are a perfect fit for felines on the go, like Athena.
“There we go, kitten tested, kitten approved,” said Duncan, letting Athena try out one of her bags.
There was also plenty of music and entertainment, including local cat activists and social media stars.
Here is a link to a full list of artists at the convention in 2025.
A human-sized cat tree, built in the shape of a pirate ship and located inside the convention space, also gave people the chance to feel like a feline.
“If you feel so inclined, you can pretend to be a cat and climb around the pirate ship,” said Duncan.
Cat rescues: Giving back to the community
Duncan says 10-15% of door proceeds will go to the rescue community from this year’s Sea-Meow event. Crowds happily also lined up to meet a number of adoptable cats.
“We have five different booths full of kitten cuddle puddles. So, you can come pet a kitten. It doesn’t have to come home with you, but we do encourage cat adoptions here as well,” said Duncan. “We partnered with over a dozen different local rescues.”
What’s next:
Now in its fourth year, organizers hope to put on another cat-tastic Sea-Meow Convention in 2026.
“We keep expanding, so as many cats and as many humans as we can fit in here, the better,” said Duncan. “They love us here, and they keep inviting us back. It’s a really fun event.”
You may even see cat correspondent Athena there again as well.
The convention runs through Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in PISCES.
Happy Birthday for Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025:
You are a doer who is easily bored. You are energetic, dynamic and inspirational. This is a fun-loving year for you. Your creativity, zest and desire for life are at a pinnacle. Enjoy socializing. Be involved in relationships. Old friends might reappear to rekindle relationships. Have fun!
ARIES
(March 21-April 19) ★★★ Today you might be tempted to withdraw from the busyness around you and keep your feelings to yourself. That’s fine. We all need some “me time” now and then. Some of you might choose to explore mystical or spiritual disciplines today looking for secret answers. Tonight: Peaceful times.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20) ★★★★ Your emotional contact with a friend is important today. In fact, you might feel more protective and supportive than usual to someone. Because of this, you might even feel a bit jealous if a friend pays more attention to someone else. (We’ve all been there.) Tonight: Warm friendships.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20) ★★★ It’s curious, but for some reason, some people today will know personal details about your private life. (Obviously, you are best off if you have nothing to hide, but who doesn’t?) Do some damage control if necessary. Meanwhile, you might help someone through your job. Tonight: You are admired.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22) ★★★★ Today you have a strong urge to get away from it all and do something different. Obviously, travel would be the perfect choice. However, if you can’t travel, you can be a tourist in your own city. Do something different! Go someplace you’ve never been before – a different restaurant, a new neighborhood, anything. Tonight: Explore!
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★ Today your emotions are more intense than usual, and what makes things even more unusual is you might attract intense or powerful people to you. (Like, what’s with that?) Meanwhile, if you can be surrounded by old and familiar things with old memories from the past, this will please you. Tonight: Check your finances.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★★ Today the Moon is opposite your sign, which turns your attention to your most personal relationships. Tread carefully, because a conflict with someone will be more emotional. Guard against knee-jerk reactions. Make an effort to go along to get along to keep the peace. Tonight: Cooperate.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Today you might have to put your own emotional or practical considerations second because you have to perform a service for someone else. This doesn’t mean you’re being a martyr. Au contraire. It’s simply what’s happening. No biggie. Tonight: Set things in order.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★★★ This is a playful, fun-loving day, and you want to enjoy yourself! You will project yourself more emotionally than usual to others, which means romantic encounters will have greater emotional depth. You also might feel protective or nurturing toward someone. Tonight: Have fun!
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21) ★★★ Home and family are your focus today. Ideally, you want to “hide” at home or in a private place so that you can contemplate your navel. Naturally, you want a pleasant, relaxing time, which is why you might grab some guilty pleasures for snacks and drinks. Tonight: Cocoon at home.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★★ Today you have a strong need to express your ideas to someone, which is why you’ll seek out someone who understands your concerns. You don’t want to waste time in idle chitchat with someone who is disinterested. (Good luck at finding a sympathetic listener.) Tonight: Discussions.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★★ Today it’s easy to emotionally identify with your possessions or whatever you value, which, in turn, can lead to a strong attachment to something. “My precious!” You’ll feel good if you can be surrounded by familiar objects that have meaning for you from your past. Tonight: Maintain your belongings.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★★ Today the Moon is in your sign – something that happens for two and a half days every month – and when it does, your luck is a tiny bit better. This means the universe owes you a favor. Why not test this and go after what you want? Make a small request to see what happens. Trust your good fortune. Tonight: You’re strong.
BORN TODAY
Singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett (1957), actress Toni Collette (1972), actor Penn Badgley (1986)
On Thursday, Variety reported that the Emmy Award winner and Oprah Winfrey bestie is expected to leave her position next year. King, who joined the morning show in 2011, “may shift to a different role at the news division,” potentially with “a deal to produce her own programming for the network,” reporters Matt Donnelly and Brian Steinberg wrote.
Paparazzi approached King outside of the CBS Broadcasting Center in Midtown, Manhattan on Friday and probed the broadcast journalist about her future at the Tiffany Network.
“All I can say is this: From what I’m being told inside this building … all I’ve been told by everybody in this building is that they want me here, they like the job I’m doing, I like the job I’m doing!” King told TMZ.
The night before, as buzz began to build about the pending high-profile exit, CBS issued a statement in response to the Variety report: “There have been no discussions with Gayle about her contract that runs through May 2026. She’s a truly valued part of CBS and we look forward to engaging with her about the future.”
King, a former news anchor in Hartford, Conn. who is the voice of her own weekly Sirius XM radio show, currently hosts “CBS Mornings” with Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson. She would be the latest high-profile person to change roles or leave the network entirely as CBS’s parent company Paramount finalizes its 8 billion dollar merger with Skydance Media.
The media conglomerate on Wednesday began slashing 2,000 employees ahead of next year’s official takeover. Variety also reported that drastic changes to CBS’ Saturday morning programming are underway.
This Halloween, Houston’s food scene is serving up the frights and bites, from haunted pop-up bars and cocktail-filled costume parties to family-friendly treats and trick-or-treat style dining. Check out our 2025 Halloween Food and Drink Guide to dig into the bites, drinks and spooky happenings this haunted holiday.
Friday–Saturday
4721 North Main
Jane and the Lion Bakehouse debuts dinner service with cozy, seasonal three-course suppers served Thursday through Saturday at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Expect locally sourced ingredients, rotating chalkboard menus and chef Jane Wild’s signature no-shortcuts style. Soft launch seatings kick off on Halloween night, with regular service in November. Reservations required.
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
9724 Hillcroft
Houston’s iconic New York Deli & Coffee Shop is throwing a party to celebrate five decades of bagels, schmears and community love. The free family-friendly bash will feature 50=cent wood-fired pizza slices, deli favorites, cookie decorating, tie-dye and face painting stations, merch giveaways and a live DJ spinning tunes all afternoon.
Fall Katy Sip & Stroll at The ARK by Norris Event Center
Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m.
21402 Merchants
As the sun sets, hit the 30th annual Katy Sip N Stroll for its Let’s Glow event, featuring a glow-up theme with vibrant colors, sparkling sips and an after-hours ambiance. Fun includes a body paint bar, live music and dancing, electric parade, and tasty bites from Katy’s hottest spots. Tickets are all-inclusive and are $5 more at the door (if available). All food and beverage tastings are included in ticket price. Must be 21+ to attend.
Folks can honor Día de los Muertos with a lively night of food, drinks and tradition at URBE. Enjoy vibrant street food from chefs Hugo and Ruben Ortega, interactive stations, four specialty cocktails featuring Maestro Dobel, 1800 and 400 Conejos spirits, plus calavera folkloric dancers, mariachis, a live DJ, face painting, festive décor, a photo booth and prizes for the best costumes. Tickets are $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
From classic movies with live music to new tunes from Vampire Weekend and a Grateful Dead Celtic band, there’s a lot to see and hear this weekend in the Bay Area.
Here’s a partial rundown.
Classical picks: Hitchcock + orchestra; New Century
This week’s events light up the classical music scene with an iconic film score, a symphony at the opera, and a tribute to the seasons.
Halloween-appropriate: Scary enough? It has to be, when the San Francisco Symphony’s “Film with Live Orchestra” series presents Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” featuring composer Bernard Herrmann’s brilliantly spooky score. With the film on the big screen, conductor Conner Gray Covington will lead the orchestra in a live performance of the spine-tingling music. Come early to see the Symphony’s latest Art Installation, “Dia de los Muertos,” for a pre-show treat.
Symphony at the Opera: Since the start of fall, San Francisco Opera has brought dazzling productions to the stage; now, with “Parsifal” up and running and “The Monkey King” still to come, the company is presenting a concert conducted by company Music Director Eun Sun Kim. This one-night-only event features mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack singing works by Manuel de Falla; Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony completes the 90-minute program.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; $29-$250; sfopera.com.
New Century, new “Seasons”: The New Century Chamber Orchestra starts the fall season with Vivaldi’s beloved “Four Seasons,” along with works by Dvorak and Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova; conducted by company music director Daniel Hope, four performances are on the schedule.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at First Church UCC, Berkeley; 7:30 Oct. 31 at Empress Theatre, Vallejo; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Herbst Theatre, San Francisco; and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at Osher Marin JCC, San Rafael; tickets $35-up; ncco.org.
— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
More movies and music
Fans of classic silent films can catch two of them — “Phantom of the Opera” and “Nosferatu” — at Grace Cathedral this weekend. But the real star of the events won’t be on the screen but seated at Grace Cathedral’s famed 7,500-pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ, which has been a key facet of the church since it was installed in 1934. The organ will be played by musician Dorothy Papadakos, who started out as a jazz pianist in her native Reno and has evolved into a world-renowned organ player, thanks in part to her long stint as organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York as well as her Grammy-winning stint with the Paul Winter Consort (their live album “Silver Solstice” remains a New Age/ambient classic).
Papadakos is, among other things, considered a talented improviser, which will come in hand in these gigs. She’ll accompany the 1925 silent version of “Phantom of the Opera” starring Lon Chaney, at 8 p.m. Oct. 30, and the 1922 version of “Nosferatu” — a film that was once ordered destroyed because it was deemed to be an unauthorized adaptation (read: ripoff) of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” — at 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The church — which is a San Francisco landmark and always worth a visit — is at Taylor and California streets in San Francisco. Tickets are $34.50-$44.50; go to www.sfjazz.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Cool shows, great album
In late October of last year, Vampire Weekend performed two memorable sold-out shows — an evening gig, followed the very next day by a matinee performance — at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City. The shows included many longtime Vampire Weekend fan favorites, of course, such as “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” “A-Punk” and “Oxford Comma.”
Yet, the NYC-born indie-pop act — led by vocalist-lyricist-guitarist Ezra Koenig — also performed a wonderful assortment of cover songs during those two shows. The list includes a number of Big Apple-appropriate tunes, such as the easily recognizable “Seinfeld Theme,” the Frank Sinatra favorite “Theme From New York, New York,” the Ramones’ blistering “Blitzkrieg Bop” and Billy Joel’s classic “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant,” the latter of which was reportedly performed with a candlelit table and waiter in a tux on the Garden stage.
Other cuts to make the Vampire Weekend setlist were The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House,” The Surfaris’ “Wipe Out,” Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” and Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town.”
Now all VW fans can experience the shows thanks to “Weekend at the Garden,” a limited edition double-LP recorded during that epic NYC stand. The offering, which includes portions of the two performances rather than the complete shows, is part of the band’s Frog on the Bass Drum vinyl series.
The Shaker Theater is showing the original 1968 “Night of the Living Dead” in a warehouse with a haunted maze in October 2025 in Oakland. (Shaker Theater)
Pop-up theater brings scares to Bay Area
This Halloween, you can see a scary movie in your local AMC theater. Or you can watch one as perhaps it was meant to be watched: In a dark warehouse full of horrific decor, where it feels like zombies could break down the door any minute.
The Shaker Theater is a new underground pop-up cinema in a residential part of northern Oakland. For its inaugural run, it’s been playing George Romero’s 1968 “Night of the Living Dead” during October, with final runs up until Halloween evening. It’s the uncensored, 96-minute original preserved on real celluloid. There will be popcorn and soda and, for more fun, before the movie the theater is playing clips from its “deep archives of rare and bizarre material.” Think Halloween safety films, forgotten trailers and classic monster-movie moments.
To get into the screening, visitors must first navigate a “Corridor of Horror” designed by local artist Rob Vertigo. Picture a classic haunted house, but turned into spooky-maze form. Did your group just lose a member? It’s probably nothing to worry about, they’re no doubt right behind you …. Wait, that’s not Chad! (Screams.)
Details: Preshow begins at 6:30 p.m. and movie starts at 8 p.m.; 950 54th St., Oakland; $18 online or $20 at the door; instagram.com/shakertheater.
— John Metcalfe, Staff
Freebie of the week
We tend to think of great film experiences as those that expose us to brilliant camerawork, incisive dialogue, or a poignant or hilarious reflection on the world at large. But let’s not forget the joys that await us at the other end of the spectrum. There is nothing quite like experiencing a truly terrible film with a room full of gleefully derisive bad-movie fans. There’s a reason why “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” spawned three sequels and too many spoofs and homages to count, and it wasn’t John K. Culley’s nuanced cinematography. Halloween, it seems, is a favorite time to indulge in bad-movie bliss, probably because violent mutant vegetables and irritable aliens fit most comfortably in the horror genre.
And so it is that this week delivers the opportunity to view one of the most glorious and beloved bad movies of all time, “Robot Monster.” The film, in case the clever title doesn’t make it obvious, is about an alien robot sent to destroy Earth but who defies its orders when it saves an imperiled woman from certain death. The 1953 film took four days and $20,000 to make, $4,000 of which was spent on incorporating 3D technology. One of the stars was cast because he already owned a gorilla suit and therefore didn’t need to be costumed. So, yeah, this was not an extravagant production. Yet, it grossed $1 million in its first year and has gone on to be a favorite among those who revel in the wonders of wretched filmmaking. If such a buffet of bad moviemaking – in 3D!! – is your thing, “Robot Monster” will screen at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Internet Archive, 300 Funston Ave., San Francisco. The screening is free but if you feel like making a donation to the Internet Archive or co-presenter the Golden Gate Stereoscopic Society — both of which are dedicated to preserving humankind’s digital history — certainly no one would hold it against you.
When you think about it, Wake the Dead would be a tremendous name for a screeching-loud punk band or maybe a Goth band. But the real Wake the Dead is neither of those things. It is a collection of very talented Bay Area musicians merging two of their musical passions – Grateful Dead classics and Irish/Celtic music. The name is certainly appropriate, as it references the Dead as well as Irish wakes, which are known to be deeply heartfelt and celebratory affairs. The moniker also mirrors the title of the Dead’s 1973 album “Wake of the Flood,” the first recording the band released acting as its own label. Adding to the plays on words, the band’s annual gig at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley celebrates the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), the holiday widely observed in Mexico, in which family members and friends gather to honor loved ones who have passed away.
If all this is simply too much to ponder, just know that Wake the Dead will, per tradition, return to the Freight & Salvage on Nov. 1 to perform a Day of the Dead-themed show at which you are likely to hear high-energy Celtic takes on such Dead classics as “China Cat Sunflower” and “Eyes of the World.”
Details: The show begins at 8 p.m.; tickets are $26.50-$44; or you can livestream the show for $25; more information is at thefreight.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
Celebrating Día de los Muertos
The skeletons are dangling from the windows and looming merrily overhead the staircase in the festive lobby of Davies Hall, as the San Francisco Symphony gears up at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 to mount its 18th annual celebration of the Day of the Dead, the joyous Mexican tradition held to pay love and respect to ancestors who have passed on. The centerpiece of the festivities is a symphony concert, but multiple preconcert family-friendly activities are planned in the lobby and upper floors, including marigold flower making, offering-altar installations, a mariachi instrument petting zoo, sugar skull decorating and costumed dancers from Casa Círculo Cultural. The Symphony, conducted by Lina González-Granados, will perform traditional and contemporary Latin American music associated with the holiday, including Gabriela Ortiz’s “Kauyumari,” selections from Arturo Márquez’s “Espejos en la Arena,” the Intermezzo from Ricardo Castro’s “Atzimba” opera, Paul Desenne’s “Hipnosis Mariposa,” Jimmy Lopez’s “Loud,” Márquez’s popular Danzón No. 2 and Gabriela Lena Frank’s “The Mestizo Waltz.”
Details: Tickets, which are 50 percent off for those under 18, range from $27.50-$175; go to www.sfsymphony.org.
— Bay City News Foundation
An orchestral showcase
The San Francisco Opera takes a breather from its usual regimen of presenting full-fledged and lavish operatic productions to let Music Director Eun Sun Kim shine a solo spotlight on her instrumentalists in a single night concert of music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Manuel de Falla at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 in War Memorial Opera House. The program opens with “Siete Canciones Populares Españolas,” a set of songs inspired by de Falla’s home country of Spain, sung by mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, and continues with the second orchestral suite from the same composer’s ballet “El Sombrero de Tres Picos” (“The Three-Cornered Hat”). Following the intermission, the concert will conclude with Beethoven’s mighty Fifth Symphony. Tickets, $29-$250, can be purchased through www.sfopera.com.
November in Chicago is a magical time, as the leaves start to fall, festive decorations begin to appear, and holiday events fill up our social calendars.
From dazzling light shows to magical holiday markets, there’s plenty to explore throughout the city.
Ireland vs. New Zealand All Blacks (Nov. 1, 2025): International Rugby is back in Chicago, bringing an exciting rematch between Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks to Soldier Field.
Black Harvest Film Festival (Nov. 7 – 16): The 31st annual Black Harvest Film Festival highlights the Black experience throughout cinema with screenings at Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center.
Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden (starts Nov. 14): Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden with a magical twist for the holidays during Lightscape, the blockbuster holiday lights experience.
Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum (starts Nov. 15): This massively popular annual event is a spectacle of light, sound, and color against a backdrop of nature at the Morton Arboretum.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo (starts Nov. 21): Head to historic Lincoln Park Zoo for a beloved holiday tradition and admire the millions of lights that bring Christmas magic to the zoo’s grounds.
ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Christkindlmarket
Winterland at Gallagher Way (starts Nov. 23): Winterland returns to Wrigleyville this season with ice skating, Santa’s workshop, and a miniature Christkindlmarket.
Tree Lighting Ceremony at Millennium Park (Nov. 21): The 112th annual City of Chicago Christmas tree lighting will take place at Millennium Park, accompanied by music and fireworks.
Christkindlmarket Chicago (starts Nov. 21): The iconic German-inspired holiday market is back, and you can enjoy the beloved traditions, including warm mulled wine, across Daley Plaza.
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Nov. 22): The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is a family-favorite holiday tradition that takes over Michigan Avenue with a parade, tree lighting, and fireworks show.
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade (Nov. 27): The iconic Thanksgiving parade will march down Chicago’s downtown State Street on Thanksgiving morning with larger-than-life floats, marching bands, and more.
Winter fireworks at Navy Pier (Nov 29): Experience the free winter fireworks display over Navy Pier, held each Saturday through the end of the year.
More events in Chicago this November
Ice skating in Millennium Park; photo by Abel Arciniega
61st Street Farmers Market (starts Nov. 1): Shop local at the indoor version of this South Side farmers market filled with specialty produce, meat, cheese, eggs, and prepared foods from local and regional farms.
Andersonville Autumn Restaurant Week (Nov. 1 – 9): Explore Andersonville’s food scene with special prix fixe menus at some of the neighborhood’s most beloved dining spots.
Día de Muertos, A Celebration of Remembrance (through November): Learn about Day of the Dead traditions at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen during this annual exhibition.
Pigmented Black Fine Art Faire (through Nov. 2): The three-day celebration, held during October’s Black Fine Art Month, will amplify Black artistry, ownership, and legacy at the Zhou B. Art Center.
The Other Art Fair Chicago (through Nov. 2): Discover an art fair that goes beyond the mainstream, bringing independent artists and experiential pieces to Artifact Events in Ravenswood.
312 Comedy Festival (Nov. 4 – 9): Chicago’s premiere comedy fest brings big laughs and big names (Fortune Feimster, Pete Holmes, and more) to venues across the city.
Diwali Heritage Month (Nov. 4): The Field Museum is celebrating the Festival of Lights with cultural performances, storytelling, and kid-friendly activities.
Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade
Winterland at Gallagher Way
First Nations Film and Video Festival (Nov. 5 – 12): This twice-annual festival is the only event of its kind to solely showcase the works of Indigenous/Native American directors.
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light (starts Nov. 8): The holidays are headed to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry with this special exhibit showcasing global holiday traditions.
Festival of Barrel Aged Beers (Nov. 7 – 8): This cult favorite festival will showcase over 350 barrel-aged beers, ciders, and more from hundreds of local and national breweries.
Lit & Luz Festival (Nov. 9 – 14): This one-of-a-kind, cross-cultural, bilingual festival brings together renowned writers and visual artists at venues throughout Chicago.
Hell’s Kitchen (starts Nov. 11): This new musical from Broadway in Chicago is inspired by the life and music of Grammy award-winning Alicia Keys.
IllumiBrew at the Morton Arboretum (Nov. 14): Sip seasonal beers, ciders, and more as you walk the light-filled paths of the sprawling Morton Arboretum during their annual Tree Lights event.
Ice Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park (starts Nov. 14): Skate with a city view at the Maggie Daley Park ice rink, a unique ribbon that curves through the whimsical park.
Fourth Annual Frankie Knuckles Festival (Nov. 15): Join a daylong celebration of the Godfather of House Music, using Frankie Knuckles’ personal record collection to honor the power of the genre he pioneered.
Prop Day at Goose Island (Nov. 15): Beer lovers won’t want to miss this highly anticipated event at Goose Island’s taproom, which includes tastes of this year’s Bourbon County Brand Stout and more.
Randolph Street Market (Nov. 15 – 16): From antiques to clothes to collectibles, there’s plenty to discover at this festive vintage market with over 125 vendors.
Chicago Vinyl Connection (Nov. 16) Shop and browse thousands of records and LPs from an array of top record shops at The Promontory in Hyde Park.
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Fest
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Chicago Artisan Market (Nov. 16): The annual Artisan Market in Fulton Market offers the best Midwest food, fashion, home goods, decor, art, jewelry, and much more.
Pickwick Vintage Show (Nov. 16): The Pickwick Vintage Show, a mainstay on the West Coast, comes to Chicago for the first time for a one-day market at the Chicago Athletic Association.
Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (starts Nov. 21): This one-actor show features 19 characters and explores the untold story of Jacob Marley from the iconic Charles Dickens classic.
Millennium Park Holiday Market (Nov. 21 – 23): Kick off the holiday season with shopping, entertainment, food, drink and more at the Millennium Park Holiday Market.
Rachel Maddow at the Harris Theater (Nov. 21): The acclaimed broadcaster and author joins historian Timothy Snyder on stage at the Harris Theater for an evening of conversation, insights, and stories.
Holiday Sip and Stroll at Brookfield Zoo (starts Nov. 20): Be among the first to see this year’s Holiday Magic lights display at Brookfield Zoo during this exclusive 21+ event.
Dozin’ with the Dinos at the Field Museum (Nov. 22): Pack your sleeping bag and get ready for a night at the Field Museum filled with games, challenges, and stories, and of course, dinos.
Vintage House Market (Nov. 22 – 23): Head to Revolution Brewing and get ready to shop vintage finds (for $10 and under) during this pop-up market event.
Dagwaagin (Fall) Artist Market (Nov. 29, 2025): Celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Small Business Saturday during this free market featuring Native American artists and entrepreneurs.
Not a Soft Thing at the Chicago Cultural Center (through November): The newest exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center is a group exhibition by artists mothers and tells the story caregiving through different art forms.
Leo Lionni’s Frederick at the Chicago Children’s Theatre (through November): Based on the beloved children’s book, Frederick, this warm and charming stage musical adaptation is perfect for families looking to bring their little ones to a seasonal theater experience.
Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind Exhibit (through November): The Museum of Contemporary Art is now home to a limited-run retrospective of artist Yoko Ono, the only U.S. stop on the exhibit’s tour.
Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit (through November): Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang head to the Chicago Children’s Museum for an interactive exhibit that transports kids of all ages to the beloved comic strip.
There will be no cliff divers entertaining guests at Casa Bonita on Halloween as the restaurant’s cast of performers initiates a three-day strike.
On Wednesday, the Actors’ Equity Association announced that Casa Bonita’s divers, magicians, roving actors and other unionized performers would picket outside the pink palace, at 6715 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood, following unsuccessful efforts to bargain their first contract. The strike is scheduled to take place on Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Casa Bonita serves thousands of diners each week and actors previously told The Denver Post there have been numerous incidents involving guests that had staff concerned for their safety.
The bargaining unit of 57 people has been engaged in negotiations since April, according to the Actors’ Equity Association, and last month, it filed an unfair labor practices charge after performers’ hours were cut to accommodate a Halloween pop-up event.
Now, the union says management failed to deliver responses to key proposals that would move toward a contract. A representative of Casa Bonita could not immediately be reached for comment.
“Casa management came to the table today offering an additional 11 cents over their last unfair wage offer, and very little for future layoff protections,” said lead negotiator Andrea Hoeschen, assistant executive director and general counsel for Actors’ Equity Association, in a statement. “Despite that insult, the negotiating team responded with major compromises to try to get a deal. And then Casa Bonita walked away from the table without responding.”
