October has pretty much passed, and though we can assume a week of layover, with plenty of scary movie marathons and leftover candy munching, by the end of this week we’ll all probably realize it’s time to move on. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed November — we’re not quite at finals and we get a full week of break. Fall isn’t over, as well, which is something to feel good about.
It’s not quite a whodunnit, but if you’re in the mood for some spooky vibes as you cling to that Halloween feeling, The Marsh King’s Daughter, featuring Daisy Ridley in the main role, is a great option. Don’t be ashamed if you need a quick pick-me-up, either; take a gander at Neil Gaiman’s feel-good, long-form poem What You Need to Be Warm, with plenty of wholesome illustrations. If you’re a K-pop fan, this is a big week for you. BTS member Jung Kook is releasing his first solo album, Golden, this Friday, to help tide stans over until the boy band’s hiatus ends in 2025.
Music takes center stage on Homewood Campus this week, with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra at Miriam A. Friedberg Music Hall, Noël Wan at Evergreen Museum & Library and Yilun Xu at the Baltimore Museum of Art as part of the Shriver Hall Concert Series (SHCS). Music events are rampant on campus, so I recommend scrolling through the events yourself on Hopkins Groups! Also, make sure to check out the JHU Barnstormers’ performance of Agatha Christie’s legal mystery Witness For the Prosecution!
Enjoy your week, and enjoy our weekly picks!
To watch…
Cowabunga, by Ralph Barbosa — Oct. 31
In Ralph Barbosa’s third special (though the first one released by Netflix), the Dallas-born comedian riffs on topics ranging from street racing to moon rocks. Watch as Barbosa continues to carve out his place in the stand-up landscape.
The Marsh King’s Daughter, directed by Neil Burger — Nov. 3
Featuring Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame, this mystery thriller is about a woman who seeks revenge against the man who kidnapped her and her mother when she was still a child.
Priscilla, directed by Sofia Coppola — Nov. 3
In this unconventional A24 biopic, Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley’s wife, takes center stage. Based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley herself, this biopic gives an alternate perspective on one of the most famous rock stars of all time.
To read…
What the River Knows, by Isabel Ibañez — Oct. 31
Author of Woven in Moonlight, famed writer Isabel Ibañez is coming out with a brand new historical fantasy novel that follows Inez Olivera as she uses ancient magic in Cairo, Egypt to uncover the truth of her parents’s murder.
A Fire in the Flesh, by Jennifer L. Armentrout — Oct. 31
The third book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Flesh and Fire series starts with Sera’s mission to convince Kolis, the Primal of Life, to stop the forces of the Shadowlands from invading Dalos and prevent a War of Primals.
What You Need to Be Warm, By Neil Gaiman — Oct. 31
Famous English writer and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador Neil Gaiman brings a powerful poem featuring illustrations from thirteen separate artists, recalling past memories and experiences to show exactly what the title suggests, What You Need to Be Warm.
To listen…
Golden, by Jung Kook — Nov. 3
The much-anticipated debut solo album by BTS singer Jung Kook is finally here. Though the group’s hiatus still rages on and will continue until 2025, Jung Kook is releasing Golden, an 11-track album that will include his previous two hits, “Seven (feat. Latto)” and “3D (feat. Jack Harlow).”
Blanket by Kevin Abstract — Nov. 3
One of Brockhampton’s founding members, Kevin Abstract, is releasing his third studio album, Blanket, this Friday. The album will feature ten tracks, including his recent singles “Blanket,” “Running Out” and “What Should I Do?” which all showcase the eccentric style and flow born from his boy band background.
Live events…
The JHU Barnstormers perform Witness for the Prosecution at Arellano Theatre — Nov. 3 & 4, 8 p.m.; Nov. 5, 3 p.m.
The Barnstormers’ Fall show is Witness for the Prosecution. Written by Agatha Christie, the play is an adaptation of her own short story, “Traitor’s Hands.” It follows the court case of Leonard Vole, who is accused of murdering a rich widow, whose fate is tossed around by passionate speeches and clever legal loopholes.
Peabody Symphony Orchestra at Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall — Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m.
The Peabody Symphony Orchestra will perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Concerto for Violin No. 3, K. 216, G major, "Strassburg" and Béla Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” featuring Shlomo Mintz as conductor and soloist.
Shriver Hall Concert Series: Yilun Xu, piano at Baltimore Museum of Art — Nov. 4, 3 p.m.
Yilun Xu, winner of the 2023 Yale Gordon Competition and one of Peabody Conservatory’s most talented pianists, will be performing at the Baltimore Museum of Art on Saturday, as part of the SHCS.
Music at Evergreen: Noël Wan, Harp at Bakst Theatre, Evergreen Museum & Library — Nov. 5, 2 p.m.
Acclaimed Taiwanese-American Harpist Noël Wan has performed across North America, Europe and Asia. As an alumna of the University of Illinois and the Yale School of Music, Noël is not just a performer, but an academic and an educator, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Harp and Entrepreneurship at Florida State University. The performance will be followed by a meet-and-greet reception.
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