By Megan O’Brien, deputy inside editor
Event of the Week: Saturday, Oct. 24
The 20th Anniversary Boston Veg Food Fest will pop up at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center this weekend. Presented by the Boston Vegetarian Society, the event brings together 120 food providers, speakers, chefs and educational exhibitors in the name of plant-based nutrition. The festival offers a chance to talk directly to food producers, learn about new vegetarian and vegan items, shop at special event discounts and become more informed about what types of vegetarian foods are available. Bringing reusable shopping bags is encouraged, as none will be provided. 1350 Tremont St.; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; free.
Thursday, Oct. 22
The Boston Asian American Film Festival will have its opening night this Thursday at Brattle Theatre. The festival demonstrates examples of the Asian-American experience and serves as a resource for filmmakers and the community. The four-day festival kicks off with the New England premiere of “Seoul Searching.” The romantic comedy follows a group of teenagers from around the world forced to attend a cultural propaganda summer camp in Seoul. A question-and-answer session with director Benson Lee and actresses Uatchet Jin Juch and Nekhebet Kum Juch will follow. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge; 7 p.m.; $18.
Friday, Oct. 23
He has impersonated the likes of President Barack Obama, Jay Z, Denzel Washington and Kanye West in his five seasons as a “Saturday Night Live” cast member, but Jay Pharoah will take the Wilbur Theatre stage Friday evening as no one other than himself. Pharoah’s credits range from rapper to actor, but his entertainment education is rooted in comedy. He trained in local clubs from a young age and has toured doing stand-up throughout the US and U.K. Having recently completed four films, he will engage the Boston community in a night of comedy for one night only. 246 Tremont St.; 7:30 p.m.; $22.50.
Sunday, Oct. 25
Boston Public Market will host an Urban Pumpkin Patch on Sunday at the Rose Kennedy Greenway plaza. Locally-sourced pumpkins and gourds supplied by Red Apple Farm of Athol will be available for purchase in addition to cider and doughnuts. Local businesses will also be selling an assortment of fall-flavored treats, ranging from pumpkin spice marshmallows to mulled spice vinegar beverages. To round out the fun, there will be pumpkin crafts and decorating. A percentage of all proceeds will help fund local farmers, fisherman and food producers. 100 Hanover St.; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; free.
Monday, Oct. 26
As part of its Big Screen Classics program, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline will screen “Bride of Frankenstein” on Monday night. An appropriate precursor to Halloween, the 1935 horror film’s popularity has stood the test of time. The story follows a deranged scientist who forces Henry Frankenstein to help him create a friend for Frankenstein’s monster. The movie’s special effects and makeup have made actress Elsa Lanchester’s Bride of Frankenstein one of the most recognizable film characters of all time. Come see the classic flick in a theater – the way it was meant to be seen. 290 Harvard St., Brookline; 7 p.m.; $11.25
Tuesday, Oct. 27
On the last Tuesday of every month, Laugh Boston presents Game Over, a fun night filled with various video, arcade, board and card games dominating their 7,000-square-foot space. There will be dozens of retro gaming consoles, over 40 different board games and an open bar. The program has partnered with Microsoft to supply eight Xbox Ones loaded with Halo 5, set to release the same day. Attendants also have the option to participate in a Super Smash Bros. tournament for an $8 fee, a cosplay contest and the testing of Black Hat Cooperative, a newly developed two-player virtual reality game. 425 Sumner St.; 6 p.m.; free; 18+.
Wednesday, Oct. 28
As October draws to a close, burlesque, aerial, acrobatic, and other acts come together for a gruesome and gory night of circus performance. Presented by The Boston Circus Guild, Cirque of the Dead 2015 will open at American Repertory Theatre’s OBERON stage on Wednesday for its third year. The performance includes heavy use of stage blood, and the show is equal parts humor and havoc. Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band will provide live music. Costumes are strongly encouraged for this event, and a social media contest complete with prizes will be going on during the show. 2 Arrow St., Cambridge; 8 p.m.; $25 – $45.
Photo courtesy Moyen Brenn, Creative Commons
