Thursday

Reading by authors Amanda Schumacher and David McGlynn — 7:30 p.m., Centennial Student Union Room 284, Minnesota State University, free, 389-1354.

Reformation Choral Vespers — 4:30 p.m., Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College, free, 344-7365.

Talk on the craft of writing — Speakers are creative nonfiction writer Amanda Schumacher and fiction writer David McGlynn, 3 p.m., Centennial Student Union auditorium, MSU, free, 389-1354.

Watercolor workshop — Taught by Chinese watercolorist Lian Zhen, Passion for ART, 210 N. State St., Waseca, for more information call Trudi Remund at 507-833-2727.

Music

Boomtown — DJ

Coffee Hag — Fish Frye

The Loose Moose & Conference Center — Live Mic with Midnight Rambler

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Savoy — Organic Cowboys

Wine Cafe — Karaoke

Friday

Alumni Organ Recital featuring Timothy Buendorf — 7:30 p.m., Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, free, 933-7013.

Haunted Attractions — 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Dark Shadows Mansion, 295 St. Andrews Drive, 388-6301.

Merely Players presents “Nunsense: The Musical” — 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Community Center, $16 for adults, $8 for youth age 12 and younger, 388-5483.

Michael Wayne book signing and discussion — Author of “Harvest of Souls,” 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Bookstore, River Hills Mall, free, 345-3444.

Night-before-Halloween Party — Activities include dancing, face-painting and “Hula-ween” hooping, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mankato Family YMCA, $5 per family for YMCA members, $20 per family for non-members, 387-8255.

“Reasons for the Seasons” planetarium show — Shows at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Mankato Area Public Schools’ Planetarium, 2600 Hoffman Road, free, 387-5671.

Short plays: “Far Away,” “Seven Jewish Children” and “Seven Palestinian Children” — 8 p.m., Anderson Theatre, Gustavus, tickets available at 933-7590 or www.gustavustickets.com.

Watercolor workshop — Taught by Chinese watercolorist Lian Zhen, Passion for ART, 210 N. State St., Waseca, for more information call Trudi Remund at 507-833-2727.

Wendinger Brothers concert — 7 p.m., Hilltop Hall, Montgomery, $15, 507-364-8107.

Music

American Legion — Karaoke

American Legion, North Mankato — Cooper and Scheitel

The Loose Moose & Conference Center — DJ

Mac’s Bar — ’60s, ’70s, ’80s music

Morgan Creek Vineyards — Ben Marti

Pub 500 — The B-Squad

RedSky Lounge — Ryan Davis and Joe Williams

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Sugar Room — Chance

Wine Cafe — Bully Pulpit, The Key West Rejects

Saturday

Betsy-Tacy houses and gift shop — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 332 & 333 Center St., $2 for adults, $1 for children ages 5-16, free for children under 5, gift shop admission free, 345-9777.

Children’s Halloween Party — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Mankato Eagles Club #269, 625-9701.

Halloween celebration — Activities include storytime, a costume parade and trick-or-treating, 10:30 a.m., Blue Earth County Library, free, 304-4020.

Halloween Party featuring Brodini Magic Show — 9:30 a.m., North Mankato Taylor Library, ages 10 and younger, free, 345-5120.

Haunted Attractions — 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Dark Shadows Mansion, 295 St. Andrews Drive, 388-6301.

Merely Players presents “Nunsense: The Musical” — 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Community Center, $16 for adults, $8 for youth age 12 and younger, 388-5483.

Octubafest 2009 — 1:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus, free, 933-7013.

Short plays: “Far Away,” “Seven Jewish Children” and “Seven Palestinian Children” — 8 p.m., Anderson Theatre, Gustavus, tickets available at 933-7590 or www.gustavustickets.com.

Music

American Legion — Karaoke

The Bar, Le Sueur — Billy and the Bangers

The Circle Inn — Karaoke with Sohmer

Heidelberg Liquors, Heidelberg — IV Play

Jamie’s Pub, Pemberton — DJ/Karaoke

The Loose Moose & Conference Center — Murphy Brothers Band

Mac’s Bar — Karaoke/DJ

Midtown Tavern — 69 Cents

Pub 500 — DW3

RedSky Lounge — DJ Brady Bisel

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Spinners — Karaoke

Sugar Room — Ocho

Westwood Bar & Marina — All-Star Karaoke

Willy’s, St. Peter — Fish Frye

Wine Cafe — The Paul Durenberger Band

Wow! Zone — Powerhouse

Sunday

Gloria Caballero book signing — Author of “Scooters Place,” 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Barnes & Noble Bookstore, River Hills Mall, free, 345-3444.

Guest Piano Recital featuring Claudia Chen — Also featuring Peter McGuire on violin and Arek Tesarczyk on cello, 1:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus, free, 933-7013.

Merely Players presents “Nunsense: The Musical” — 2 p.m., Lincoln Community Center, $16 for adults, $8 for youth age 12 and younger, 388-5483.

Reindeer games — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Welsh Heritage Farm, 20758 528th Ave., Lake Crystal, free, 507-726-6562.

Short plays: “Far Away,” “Seven Jewish Children” and “Seven Palestinian Children” — 2 p.m., Anderson Theatre, Gustavus, tickets available at 933-7590 or www.gustavustickets.com.

“The Windmill: Its Varied Functions and Symbolic Associations in Dutch Art” art lecture by Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr. — 3:30 p.m., Wallenberg Auditorium, Nobel Hall of Science, Gustavus, free, 933-7171.

Music

Midtown Tavern — Karaoke

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Monday

Fall Choral Concert — Featuring Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and University Chorale, 7:30 p.m., Halling Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, MSU, $9 general admission, $6 for students K-12, children and MSU students with a valid MavCard, 389-5549.

Honor Band Festival Concert — 7 p.m., Christ Chapel, Gustavus, 933-7013.

Music

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Tuesday

Catherine Watson book signing — 7 p.m., New Ulm Public Library, 17 N. Broadway, New Ulm, free, 507-359-8334.

High School Choir Concert — 8 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Blue Earth Area High School, 507-526-3201.

Library storytime — 10:30 a.m., Blue Earth County Library, free, 304-4001.

Music

Boomtown — Country dance

Pub 500 — Open Mic

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Wednesday

Music

Midtown Tavern — Karaoke

Rumor’s Lounge, Jerry Dutler Bowl — Karaoke

Sugar Room — Open Mic Night



Direct inquiries to the Currents Department, The Free Press, P.O. Box 3287, Mankato, MN 56002, or 344-6356 or (800) 657-4662, Ext. 356. E-mail may be sent to: currents@mankatofreepress.com or FAX to (507) 388-4355. All information is due by 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday.