THEATER
“Cabaret”
Boston University students perform this legendary musical about the slinky world of Weimar Germany. Struggling to find happiness in demoralized, economically depressed Berlin, our heroes live lives of not-so-quiet desperation as the shoots of fascism begin to spout around them. But, with life as grim as it is, there’s all the more reason to take in a good show.
Nov. 2-4, Tsai Performance Center, 685 Common. Ave., Boston, $8-$12, bostonuniversityonbroadway.com
MOVIES
“The Love Witch”
If you need a little more Halloween, we suggest this crazy, campy horror-comedy from last year, about a witch whose spells can snare any man she wants—but all she really wants is to be truly wanted. It all takes place in a ridiculous, low-budget ’60s-’70s film universe. Quentin Tarantino must’ve kicked himself for not coming up with this one.
Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston, free, web.emerson.edu/brightlights
“Okja”
This fable debuted on Netflix this past summer. Okja is a giant, genetically altered pig who seems more like a cross between a dog and an elephant. He’s been raised by his best friend, Mija, but when his creators, headed up by the devious Lucy Mirando, kidnap him, Mija knows what she needs to do.
Nov. 3-8, Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, $9-$11, brattlefilm.org
SHOPPING
Boston Christmas Festival
The Christmas season used to start after Thanksgiving, but now it’s after Halloween. Too early? Maybe, but is it ever too early to get that shopping done? You could start at the annual Boston Christmas Festival, a wonderland of artisanal Holiday gifts and decorations. Kids get in free, and you can also see a gingerbread house competition between some of Boston’s top chefs.
Nov. 3-5, Seaport World Trade Center, 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, $15, bostonchristmasfestival.com
ART
The Gig Economy: Depictions of Life and Responses to Work in the Digital Bazaar
Art shows can be pretty abstract, rooted in esoteric theory and jargon only discussed by grad students, but this one explores, through the eyes of many artists, something a lot of us have to contend with: the dreaded “gig economy” with its anxiety-inducing instability and demand for a constant hustle. The opening reception is Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m.
Nov. 4-Jan. 7, Mills Gallery, 551 Tremont St., Boston, free, bcaonline.com
FOOD AND DRINK
Boston Beer and Sweets Fest
This fest brings together more than 70 different regionally-made beers and ciders with unlimited tasty treats from eight different local purveyors, including doughnuts, chocolate truffles, macarons, ice cream, candies, cookies, etc., and many of those offerings already have beer as an ingredient. Forget your last work meeting, this is true synergy. How will your stomach feel later? Not important!
Nov. 3-4, Liberty Hall, 200 Stuart St., Boston, $55, facebook.com/drinkcraftbeer
Massachusetts Cheese Festival
This is the event for cheese lovers, but of course there isn’t just cheese, because cheese usually goes best on or with other things. Wine, beer, cider, pickles, jam, honey, bread and more await your palate here, plus demos on pairings and cheese-making from some of New England’s top producers. There will be two sessions, each last two and a half hours.
Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., The Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, $40, macheesefest.org
COMEDY
Laura Hall and Friends
Wayne Brady’s ability to spontaneously belt out very real-sounding, and yet totally ridiculous songs on “Who’s Line is It Anyway” always seemed particularly superhuman. But he had expert assistance in pianist Laura Hall, calmly laying down whatever was needed, playing cool straight woman to the show’s very silly men. She’s appear in Boston Friday night for—what else?—an evening of musical improv.
Nov. 3, 10 p.m., ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Boston, $18, improvboston.com
MUSIC
Rich Chigga
Rich Chigga, real name Brian Imanuel, is a Chinese-Indonesian MC who went viral in 2016 with his hilarious, suburban-kid-posing-like-a-gangster video for “Dat $tick.” He’s almost like the Yung Lean of Indonesia, except he can really rap. Many have found his naïve/smirking appropriation of hip-hop culture offensive, but he’s aware, and is working on cleaning up his act, so that only his ample talents shine.
Nov. 3, 10:30 p.m., Bijou, 51 Stuart St., Boston, $20, 21+, tickets.bijouboston.com
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile
The ’90s gave us Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, the troubledly married king and queen of chaotic, angst-soaked alt rock, but the 10’s have produced are Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett, platonic pals who make really nice, mellow music together. Less edgy than their forebears for sure, but not duller for it. As breezy indie pop/rock goes, this is the good stuff.
Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston, $53+, ticketmaster.com
Janet Jackson
Janet, the youngest of the legendary Jacksons, became the family’s second-biggest star, breaking in 1986 with the album “Control” and enjoying over decade of provocative relevance with the subsequent albums “Rhythm Nation,” “Janet” and “the Velvet Rope,” all praised for their fusions of contemporary styles and socially conxscious lyrics. She also, apparently, puts on a hell of a show.
Nov. 5, 8 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $26+, ticketmaster.com
FUN AND GAMES
Hipster Olympics
Play a bunch of fun/silly games for a good cause at this event, including sumo suit wrestling, cornhole, bucket pong, Polish horseshoes, ladderball, giant Jenga and spike ball. Not sure how “hipster” that stuff is (what about vinyl crate digging, or pickling, or dodging calls from student loan debt collectors?) but that’s no matter. Proceeds benefit the McKay School in East Boston.
Nov. 4, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., KO Catering and Pies, 256 Marginal St. No. 16, East Boston, $20, eventbrite.com
