• Nightspots

    Marquis Hill.: Blue LLama

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    Blue LLama 314 S. Main, Ann Arbor

    Ensemble led by Hill, a renowned Chicago composer-trumpeter whose music incorporates elements of everything from contemporary and classic jazz to hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, and neo-soul. 7 p.m. $50 (dinner & show, $95).

  • Nightspots

    Poetry Open Mic.: North Star Lounge

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    North Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

    All invited to bring a poem or monologue that they’ve written. Hosted by cat h. bradley & Forrest Hejkal. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m. 7–10 p.m.

  • Nightspots

    “Queer Open Mic.”: North Star Lounge

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    North Star Lounge 301 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor

    All invited to bring a song, story, poetry, comedy, expression, magic, monologue, or other performance. Hosted by Coley Roberts and Thea Zuby. Sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.

  • Observer Editor

    Ann Arbor Bridge Club

    Ann Arbor Bridge Club
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    Nov. 4 & 18. All invited to play friendly, competitive ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge. Arrive 20 minutes early if coming without a partner. Call before coming to check that the game is being held. 7–10:30 p.m., Walden Hills clubhouse, 2114 Pauline (park in marked spaces in the lot on the north side of Pauline). $6 per person. (734) 945–6021. 

  • Observer Editor

    “Comedy Jamm”: Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase

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    Nov. 4, 11, & 18. Performances by up to 12 aspiring and established area stand-up comics. On Nov. 4, attendees can mingle with the comics before they hit the stage during “Comedy Nerdz Happy Hour” (5:30–6:30 p.m.). 7:15 p.m. (doors, 5:30 p.m.), 212 S. Fourth Ave. $5 in advance at aacomedy.com; $6 at the door. (734) 996–9080.

  • Observer Editor

    U-M Men’s Soccer vs. Ohio State

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    8 p.m., U-M Soccer Stadium, 2250 S. State. $9–$13 (groups of 10 or more, $3 each; kids 5 & under, free). (734) 764–0247, mgoblue.com.

  • Nightspots

    “Gear Lords: A Night in Electronic Music.”: Ziggy’s

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    Ziggy’s 206 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti

    Monthly performance by live electronic production musicians, using beat machines, samplers, modular systems, synths and similar instruments.

  • Nightspots

    Quinlan Mauer.: Blind Pig

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    Blind Pig 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor

    Detroit-area jam band. Openers: the Detroit-area indie rock quartet Covier, local psychedelic rock singer-songwriter Ben Orion, and Eastwood Drive, a Detroit indie rock trio that incorporates R&B, psychedelic, and alt-rock flavors. $14.

  • Observer Editor

    “What’s Happening in the Arctic—and Why We Should Care”: U-M Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Thursday Morning Lecture Series

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    Every Thurs., Oct. 22–Nov. 19. Series of 5 weekly talks.

    Oct. 22: Norwegian Arctic security expert Gabriella Gricius on “The Arctic Region in the Context of European Geopolitics and Security.”

    Oct. 29: Viking Cruises Arctic guide John McCannon on “Four Ages of the North: The Broad Contours of Arctic History.”

    Nov. 5: Harvard Arctic Initiative director Jennifer Spence on “The North American Arctic: Myths and Realities.”

    Nov. 12: U-M ecology professor George Kling on “Environmental Changes in the Arctic: Local and Global Impacts.”

    Nov. 19: Washington D.C.-based Arctic security expert Pavel Devyatkin on “Russian Arctic Policy, Security Strategy and International Cooperation.”

    10–11:30 a.m., WCC Morris Lawrence Bldg., Towsley Auditorium, 4800 E. Huron River Dr. Free. Preregistration required at olli-umich.org. $120 (members, $70) for the 5-lecture series. $25 per lecture (members, $15). Membership, $50 a year. (734) 998–9351.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    U-M Center for Japanese Studies Noon Lecture Series

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    Nov. 5 & 12 (different locations). Talks by visiting scholars.

    Nov. 5: University of Arizona Japanese Studies professor Joshua Schlachet on “Nourishing Life: Cultures of Food and Health in Early Modern Japan.”

    Nov. 12: Cardiff University criminology professor Yutaka Yoshida on “When Self-Empowerment Goes South (or East, More Precisely): Gender, Neoliberalism, and Romance Fraud in Japan.”

    Noon–1:30 p.m., 1010 Weiser Hall, 500 Church. (Nov. 5) & 4448 East Hall, 530 Church. (Nov. 12). Free. (734) 764–6307.

  • Observer Editor

    Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor Senior Center

    Duplicate Bridge: Ann Arbor Senior Center
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    Every Mon. & Thurs., except Nov. 26. Play open to all skill levels age 18 & up, both non-ACBL-sanctioned (Mon.) and ACBL-sanctioned (Thurs.). 12:30–3:30 p.m. (Mon., $5) & noon–3:30 p.m. (Thurs., $9); $1–$2 less for AASC members. 1320 Baldwin. (734) 794–6250, a2gov.org/senior, annarborbridge.com.

  • Free
    Observer Editor

    “The Geopolitics of Academic Freedom: The View from the Frontline”: 36th Annual U-M Davis, Markert, Nickerson Lecture on Academic and Intellectual Freedom

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    Talk by Michael Ignatieff, who served as the president and rector of Central European University between 2016 and 2021, the turbulent years that saw CEU’s expulsion from Budapest and its reestablishment in Vienna during the rule of Hungary’s far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán. Refreshments at 3:30 p.m. 4–5:30 p.m., Alexander Ruthven Bldg., rm. 2000, 1109 Geddes. Preregistration required and livestream available at facultysenate.umich.edu/2026-current-lecture. Free. (734) 764–0303.  

  • Community Listing

    “Drop-in Collage: Junk Journaling”: SCRAP Creative Reuse

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    4567 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA, Ann Arbor

    Join us at SCRAP for Drop-in Collage on First Thursdays!

    Drop-in collage is held in the Education Studio. Get crafty with magazines, calendars, stamps, other people’s photos, and more! Explore unique reuse materials to make your masterpiece.

    ✧ Great craft for people who enjoy scrapbooking, junk journaling, binding and interest of that sort ✧

    Ages 10+: Youth must be accompanied by an adult.

    https://annarbor.scrapcreativereuse.org/Events

    $5
  • Free
    Observer Editor

    Michigan Marching Band Practice

    Michigan Marching Band Practice
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    Every Mon.–Thurs., except Nov. 24–26. U-M’s highly disciplined 200+ member marching band or sections thereof can be seen and heard practicing on the new Elbel Field (across the street from the old Elbel Field). All welcome to find a spot in the bleachers and get a sneak preview of upcoming halftime shows. Rehearsals usually last 1–2 hours. 4:45 p.m., Hill at Fifth Ave. Free. (734) 764–0582.

  • Community Listing

    Annual Spaghetti Dinner: St. Nicholas Ladies Philoptochos

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    3109 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor

    The St. Nicholas Ladies Philoptochos-sponsored Annual Spaghetti Dinner will take place on Thursday, November 5, from 5:00-7:30 pm. The menu includes Spaghetti with Marinara or Meat Sauce, Salad, Bread, Dessert, and Beverage. The cost is $20 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under. Carryout is available. Proceeds go to those in need.

    St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
    3109 Scio Church Road
    734-332-8200

    www.stnickaa.org