Our to-do list
What to do this weekend: Some frights, some sights
Gallery Night moves
On Friday and Saturday, the fall edition of Gallery Night & Day fills more than 50 Milwaukee galleries and art venues with new shows, cool doings and, in some spots, refreshments. (For some suggestions, check out arts editor Jim Higgins’ preview at jsonline.com/arts.) Coinciding with Gallery Night, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s MAM After Dark for October, running Friday from 7 to 11 p.m., adds an interactive murder-mystery game to the usual food, drink and social hour/art-viewing thing. Admission to MAM After Dark at the museum, at 700 N. Art Museum Drive, is $12 at the door, free to museum members. Info: historicthirdward.org and mam.org/afterdark
Pow Wow at Wisconsin Center
The Hunting Moon Pow Wow, making camp this weekend at the Wisconsin Center, is a celebration of Native American life and culture, with traditional dance, music and more — and it’s one to which everyone’s invited. The doors open at the convention center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., at 3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with a Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon Sunday. Admission to the powwow, organized by the Forest County Potawatomi, is free. Info: huntingmoonpowwow.com
Dinosaurs at State Fair Park
You might hear some thunder coming from West Allis this weekend. The traveling show “Jurassic Quest” returns to the Exposition Center at State Fair Park, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., with more than 80 life-size animatronic dinosaurs to check out, study and, in the case of a few, catch a ride with. The exhibit is open 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets online are $20, $18 for seniors 65 and older, with kids’ VIP packages at $34; tickets are more expensive at the door. Parking at State Fair Park is $6. Info: jurassicquest.com
Polka fever, the next generation
If any place was going to host what they’re calling the first alternativepolka festival, it had to be Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Polka Riot, a collaboration between The Rebel Stage and Cream City Media, kicks in at 6 p.m. Saturday at Kochanski’s Concertina Hall, 1920 S. 37th St., with a lineup including the Polkaholics and the November Criminals. Admission at the door is $10. Info: milwaukeepolkariot.com and Milwaukee Polka Riot Facebook page
Halloween in the parks
Pumpkin mania and other things Halloween begin taking over Milwaukee-area parks in earnest this weekend. Among the goings-on:
Humboldt Park: “Pumpkin Pavilion” lights them up from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a big carved-pumpkin display, music, magic shows and $5 hayrides. 3000 S. Howell Ave. Info: bayviewneighbor hood.org. Hales Corners Park: Kids get free
pumpkins to carve at the Lions Club “Pumpkin Fest” from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with contests and prizes. 5765 S. New Berlin Road, Hales Corners. Info: countyparks. com.
Pulaski-Cudahy Park: There’ll be “Pumpkins in the Park” Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free treats for kids, pumpkins and other treats, including a hot dog and chili lunch, available for purchase. 5400 S. Swift Ave., Cudahy. Info: Friends of Pulaski-Cudahy Park Facebook Page.
Center Street Park: Fall Fest, with pumpkin carving, scarecrow-building, live music and more, runs from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Saturday. The main attraction, Pumpkin Chuckin’, starts at 2:30 p.m. 6420 W. Clarke St. Info: centerstreetpark.com.
Greenfield Park: “Halloween in the Park” includes a free costume parade and other activities, including $1 hayrides and 50-cent s’mores. It runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday. 2028 S. 124th St., West Allis. Info: west allisdowntown.com. New on stage
“The Merry Widow”: The Florentine Opera Company stages Franz Lehar’s bracing operetta, with soprano Alyson Cambridge in her debut performance as the title widow. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Marcus Center’s Uihlein Hall, 929 N. Water St. Info: florentineopera.org.
“Sex With Strangers”: Laura Eason’s opposites-attract romantic comedy with Marti Gobel and Nick Narcisi takes the stage courtesy of Renaissance Theaterworks at Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. The run starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Info: r-t-w.com.
Last call
This weekend’s your last chance to catch these:
Sculpture Milwaukee: Those eyecatching works by world-class sculptures that have dotted Wisconsin Ave. since June? The 22 works ranging from Michelle Grabner and Jason Yi to Santiago Calatrava (yep, the guy who designed the Milwaukee Art Museum) are coming down after Sunday. The gazing is free. Info: sculpturemilwaukee.com
“Silent Sky”: Deborah Staples portrays astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, whose discoveries first allowed us to measure the size of the universe without her getting the recognition she deserved, in a production of Lauren Gunderson’s drama concluding its run Sunday at Next Act Theatre, 255 S. Water St. Info: nextact.org.