CONCERTS

Sun & Mon, Oct 5 & 6
The New Pornographers
Indie rock supergroup seems like an oxymoron, but Vancouver’s New Pornographers is so consistently stellar that no one bats a lash at it. Fronted by A. C. Newman, Dan Bejar (Destroyer), and Neko Case, the band has been called “virtually peerless in the world of power-pop and indierock” by NPR. The Canadian octet returns with Brill Bruisers, the collective’s most upbeat record to date. Superb New York indie pop outfit the Pains of Being Pure at Heart opens up the evening with new tunes from its latest record Days of Abandon. The Showbox, $27–$30.

Sat & Sun, Oct 4 & 5
SRJO's Basie Bash
Much of the swinging style associated with the big band sound can be traced directly back to iconic bandleader and pianist Count Basie. So it’s only fitting that Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra would celebrate its 20th birthday with a tribute to the man who paved the way for its very existence. Benaroya Hall & Kirkland Performance Center, $15–$47.

FILM

Oct 3–9
Pacific Aggression
Local filmmaker Shaun Scott’s latest feature is a quiet reflection on technology and humanity set against Seattle’s dreariness. Meryl is a technology addict who reconnects with Frank, an old flame and writer who’s flaming out as he attempts to resurrect his career. Scott has a knack for writing cutting lines of dialogue, and Marya Sea Kaminski’s scene as a therapist having a breakdown while listening to NPR is mesmerizing. Grand Illusion Cinema, $8.

Oct 3–5
SIFF Cinema Egyptian Grand Opening
The Egyptian Theatre is finally ready to officially reopen its doors as the newly rebranded SIFF Cinema Egyptian. SIFF celebrates with a weekend of beloved films that were hits at the Egyptian: Risky Business, Amélie, Enter the Dragon, Pan's Labyrinth, My Neighbor Totoro, and more. Admission is free when you present a receipt (dated October 1–5) from any Capitol Hill business, otherwise tickets are $5. Either way, it's a bargain and a great way to welcome back a Capitol Hill cinematic institution. SIFF Cinema Egyptian, $5 (free with recept from a Capitol Hill business).

MUSEUMS

Opens Oct 4
Do You Know Bruce?
Not only did Bruce Lee popularize martial arts in the U.S., he also offered Asian Americans a mainstream role model at a time when they were nonexistent. Wing Luke offers a comprehensive personal look at the former Seattle resident in its new Bruce Lee exhibit, which will showcase Lee’s letters, training equipment, memo- rabilia, and much more from his Seattle days. Wing Luke Museum, $15.

Oct 4–Jan 4
The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Pacific Science Center makes believing it easier. The museum’s latest major exhibit—the Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!—delivers the truth behind the famed oddity purveyor. From the fascinating (a life-size model of a prehistoric snake you can crawl through) to the inane (an Einstein portrait made of toast), there’s plenty to learn about the bizarre. Pacific Science Center, $20.

CLASSICAL & MORE

Sat, Oct 4
Marsalis: Well-Tempered
Renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis needn’t prove his jazz chops, so he’s branching out into musical realms where his instrument of choice feels less at home. Marsalis’s sax is joined by the chamber Orchestra of philadelphia for an evening of classical compositions by Bach, Handel, Albinoni, Rameau, Vincent, and Locatelli. Meany Hall, $50–$55.

FOOD & DRINK

Thur, Oct 2
Brew at the Zoo
At this off-beat tasting event you can combine your love of animals with your love of beer. You heard us: Brew at the Zoo is a tasting event that will feature various imports, microbrews, domestics, and siders from more than 30 breweries. Clank your pints to live animal encounters and live music. A standard ticket will get you six tasting tokens, but more tokens are available for purchase, as are some tasty treats. For those who want more brew and more zoo, the VIP tickets include souvenir glasses, more tasting opportunities, access to the pub-style buffet, a goodie bag, and a free zoo ticket for a return trip. Just make sure you don't drink so much that you accidentally find yourself trapped in the tiger exhibit. Woodland Park Zoo, $27–$67.

OUT OF TOWN

Oct 3–18
Leavenworth Oktoberfest
When it comes to capturing the German spirit of Oktoberfest, nowhere in Washington comes close to matching Leavenworth. Oktoberfest fever consumes the town of inescapable Bavarian architecture, which offers the perfect ambience for the oompah bands, sizzling German sausages, and overflowing steins of beer. Leavenworth, $10.

VISUAL ART

Thru Oct 25
Mad Campus
Students might notice a few changes when they arrive on University of Washington’s campus this fall. Mad Campus, a project put on by MadArt, has brought a dozen large-scale art pieces to the grounds. The works include a 29-foot-tall inflatable carnival prize cowboy titled Lone Stranger by Piper O’Neill and a tree burdened down with Paul Komada’s blobs festooned with the flags of countries with immense carbon footprints and the nations most affected by the pollution. An intimate stroll down a path just off of the university’s scenic Drumheller Fountain leads to Tory Franklin’s three-dimensional recounting of Six Swans, a Grimm’s Fairy Tale told through swooping swan cutouts encircling a tree on which a mermaid is tied to. And a stone’s throw from the physics building, one might encounter students lounging on a rumpled boardwalk imitating a sine wave, playfully-titled Wave Sine by artist W. Scott Trimble. University of Washington, free.