Act 1 - The Set Up

• Sara Gruen’s “Water for Elephants”
• Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus”
• Hugh Howey’s “Wool”

Act 2 - Confrontation

• The Thirteenth Hour Haunted Attraction | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 7:30-10 p.m. | The Thirteenth Hour Haunted Attraction, 915 S. Shortridge Rd., Indianapolis | $25 | Don’t miss the second-to-last night of one of Indiana’s favorite haunted attractions.

• 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Thursday, Nov. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, 610 W. 46th St., Indianapolis | $20 | Check out this irreverent musical for teens and adults that follows wacky kids competing in a spelling bee.

• McNamara Florist’s 69th Annual Holiday Open House | Friday, Nov. 3-Sunday, Nov. 5 | Times vary | Locations vary | Cost of purchase | Enjoy special discounts on all-new holiday collections, decor, and memorable gifts that will bring you all the wonder and excitement of the holiday season.
• Hendricks Humane Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting | Friday, Nov. 3 | 7-10 p.m. | CRG Event Center, 2499 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield | $50 | Sip your way through the night while raising funds to end cat and dog overpopulation and provide financial assistance for medical expenses of owned pets.

• Fall Market at the Rose | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 12-6 p.m. | The Marilyn Rose Center, 205 E. Palmer St., Indianapolis | Cost of purchase | Knock out some of your holiday shopping with art and handmade items for sale by local artists.
• OnyxFest Theater Festival | Saturday, Nov. 4 | Times vary | Locations vary | $15-$20 | Check out five never-produced one-act plays written by Black playwrights during this year’s festival.

• Spirit & Place: More Than Words | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis | Museum admission | Discover the ways language nourishes deep connections to self and community through this interactive presentation on revitalizing indigenous culture and languages.

• Indiana University announced a sweeping plan to invest more than $250 million in its bioscience departments. The funds will help to create two science and health research institutes in Indianapolis, hire and support life sciences faculty members in Bloomington, and expand laboratory space at both campuses. (IBJ)

• ‘Tis the season for concert announcements — but perhaps none are as exciting as Indiana’s own John Mellencamp returning for a show at Ball State on March 22, 2024. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 3. (WRTV)

• Voting is open for the third annual “Coolest Thing Made in Indiana” tournament. Learn about the products gunning for gold, which include Hard Truth Distillery’s Maple Bourbon Cream and a full-sized Batmobile replica, and cast your vote — round one concludes today.

• Holiday shopping has already begun — and the Indy Winter Farmers Market season starts in less than two weeks. Check out this year’s vendors to start your list.

• World Vegan Day. In honor of all our veggie-loving friends, here’s our guide to the best places in town to grab a (animal product-free) bite to eat.

• No monkeying around. The Indianapolis Zoo announced that its long-tailed macaque Glenda gave birth earlier this month to a new baby boy. He doesn’t have a name yet, but is reportedly healthy and playful.

• Today through Sunday, Nov. 19, get fa la la la lit with special market-themed cocktails at six restaurants around Carter Green. Each drink will feature an edible cocktail topper — but there are only 100 available at each business, so run run Rudolph.
• Families will have fun at a new playhouse, which will serve as a dedicated space for visits with Santa. The Kids’ Corner will also host free arts and crafts, and the Workshop will feature German artisans demonstrating woodworking and glassblowing.
• New barrel dining rooms with faux fireplaces will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for a warm and cozy escape from the busy market.
• New food items this year include German-style kebab, Prague Ham cooked over an open wood fire, specialty chocolate truffles, and stroopwafels.