On the agenda: Alasdair Gray’s A Life In Pictures; Damien Hirst; films for Halloween; Be Musical; Vagabond; Rubbish magazine's finger puppets
We're off to Durham for 'The Last Supper' and to the Midlands for a shocking night
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A "literary club night" to celebrate the cult Scottish novelist and artist Alasdair Gray's new "autopictography" A Life in Pictures features a suitably multi-talented line-up of Celtic stars. Irregular – a "blend of entertainment and escapism" – travels to the Oran Mor cultural centre in Glasgow, starring Gray himself, poet/dramatist Liz Lochhead, novelist Louise Welsh, Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble, Delgados founder Alun Woodward and other artistic shape-shifters. Tickets (£6) from ticketweb.co.uk or the Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow
Katy Guest
Visual arts
Eighteen years after Damien Hirst made waves with his shark in formaldehyde, the YBA bad boy is still making headlines, whether it's fending off accusations of plagiarism or selling his butterfly artwork for more than £2m earlier this month. Now, 50 of his prints are going on show at the Bowes Museum in County Durham, including The Last Supper, a set of 13 screenprints that questions our use of pharmaceutical drugs. From 6 November, thebowesmuseum.org.uk
Adam Jacques
Film
Few occasions offer horror fans such a spectacular selection of scary cinema as Halloween – and tonight has a couple of corkers. Silent classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame, at Birmingham's Town Hall, will be spooked up by a live organ accompaniment. While for those who like their fantasy a touch softer, the Lexi is putting on a screening of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands at Zippo's Circus at the Old Deer Park in Richmond – complete with macabre characters prowling around to put the wind up you. www.thsh.co.uk, thelexicinema.co.uk
AJ
Music
If you think your little ones could have a modicum of melodic talent, next weekend's Be Musical event at the Barbican in London is the perfect place to find out. As well as giving youngsters the chance to play along with professional musicians, they can try building their own instruments or join a choir and sing along to Beauty and the Beast or accompany a Laurel & Hardy silent film at the end of the day. For older kids and young adults there are also free workshops at the Guildhall School of Music on the Sunday. Just don't go smashing up the guitar at the end. 6-7 November, www.barbican.org.uk
AJ
Drink
For the uneducated among us (and that includes this "Agenda" contributor), picking up a decent bottle of plonk can be a question of pot luck. Some place stock in the label design; others simply stick to what they know. New west London booze shop Vagabond has a better idea: try before you buy. Every one of its 100-strong cellar of reds, whites and rose wines are available to sample (from 50p a measure), and they're arranged not by country, but taste, from crisp white (Gregoris Pinot Grigio) to vibrant red (Valpolicella Allegrini). vagabondwines.co.uk
AJ
Fashion
What better gift for fashionphiles than Rubbish magazine's set of industry finger puppets? Knitted characters include the formidable Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington of American Vogue, and Katie Grand of LOVE magazine. Perfect for acting out The September Issue of a dull Sunday afternoon, or for keeping in pride of place on your mantelpiece – remember this is a strictly front-row crowd, so no letting them languish at the back of your cupboard. £49.99 for a set, rubbishmag shop.com
Harriet Walker
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