THE HOT 5 An opinionated to-do list By Christopher Schobert November means the catatonic state caused by a little too much turkey and way too much wine, early holiday shopping, the shocking appearance of snowflakes, and an overall mixture of giddiness and dread—it is, after all, election month. Here are five safe votes for your hard-earned dollar. 1. Jon Stewart at UB The University at Buffalo’s Distinguished Speakers Series is increasingly, wildly eclectic. A partial list of lecturers UB has brought to town in recent years includes Tina Brown, Al Gore, Donald Trump, Ann Coulter, Salman Rushdie, and the Dalai Lama. (Now, that roster would make for one hell of a debate!) Last year’s list was topped by Stephen Colbert—let’s affectionately dub him the thinking man’s vice president. Who is president? Well, that would be the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, Jon Stewart, and he visits UB just after Election Day on November 15. Stewart’s program has become about as close to must-see TV as we have anymore, and as network news continues to plummet in the ratings and cable news more and more resembles the verbal equivalent of outtakes from Videodrome, Stewart’s role as comic tastemaker seems more important than ever. And for those of us who have been fans since his first, failed, late-night talk show, his success is both deserved and refreshing—there is a place for intelligence in TV news, after all. Saturday, November 15, at UB’s Alumni Arena, Amherst; 645-6147 or www.specialevents.buffalo.edu. 2. Shakespeare in the Park’s Fall Fundraiser As each summer passes, it becomes increasingly clear what a local treasure Shakespeare in Delaware Park really is. It’s free, it’s in a gorgeous locale, it features some of the area’s brightest talents, and it’s a perfect cheap-date night. But as a free event, it needs our support. Its third annual fall fundraiser is November 16,and will feature a performance by Christina Rausa as Emily Dickinson. To attend or not to attend, etc. Sunday, November 16, at 7 p.m. at the Buffalo Seminary; 856-4533 or www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org. 3. Ani DiFranco at Asbury Hall It may seem as if the Buffalo media spends too much time talking about, thinking of, and praising Ani DiFranco. But I often think the opposite is true—I’m not sure we give her enough credit. Think about it in purely commercial terms for a second. She has her own successful record label (this ain’t no vanity project), she’s worked with both Prince (!) and Jackie Chan (!!), performed everywhere from The Tonight Show to Town Hall in NYC to Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin, and remains a grounded, trendsetting artist. Yes, I did plug her latest album, Red Letter Year, in October’s Spree listings, but a local Ani show is not to be missed, especially in the gorgeous confines of Asbury Hall. Saturday, November 29, at Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo; www.righteousbabe.com. 4. Christmasville The Lancaster Opera House may have a holiday tradition on their busy hands here, one that pays tribute to WNY’s past in an innovative way. The more-than-monthlong festivities turn the village of Lancaster into the ubiquitous winter wonderland. The theater itself features Noel-themed concerts, musicals, and special events galore, but the coolest aspect is the animatronic window displays lining Central Avenue and West Main Street. The Opera House has restored more than thirty original AM&A’s windows, and has joined these with an interactive exhibit containing vintage photos. Put it all together and voila! Christmasville. Saturday, November 29, through Sunday, January 4, at the Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster; 683-1776 or www.lancopera.org. 5. Aurora at the Albright The Toronto Film Festival ended in September, but a very special TIFF tribute began in October at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and continues through December: Aurora at the Albright. This film series is produced by Paul Brown and Barbara Tranter, owners of the Aurora Theatre. The evenings begin with a brief discussion, an introduction by a special guest involved with the film, a screening, and then a Q&A session. This month’s is the series high point—Atom Egoyan’s modern classic, The Sweet Hereafter. Featuring career-best performances from Ian Holm and Sarah Polley—and that’s saying something—it’s a moving tale of the aftermath of small-town tragedy. Our friends at the Knox tell us the night’s special guest will be either Egoyan himself or editor Susan Shipton, making this an illuminating glimpse into the power of cinema. All of us—Dem, GOP, and everything in between—can agree on that. Friday, November 14, at 6 p.m. at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; 882-8700 or www.albrightknox.org. Christopher Schobert refuses to disclose who he’s voting for, but it’s Barack Obama. Oops! SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top