Peek At the Week

Welcome to our new weekly events calendar, where I’ll give you a rundown of all the fabulous feminist and progressive (and sometimes cheesy pop culture) events that I would be attending if I could be in multiple places at once and had an inheritance.

The first and most important event this week is Election Day, November 2. If you haven’t already done so–go out and vote! Make sure our rights as women and men are protected.

Next up is the Global Domestic Violence Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (see, I desperately need an inheritance) which runs until November 3. It will include panels such as using media to challenge men’s violence against women, engaging communities to end domestic violence and supporting women at risk of “honor”-based violence.

For readers in Los Angeles, after you go out and vote (or volunteer at your local polling location), spend election night at the Groundlings Go Gay For A Good Cause. Enjoy sketch comedy, cocktails and the pleasure of knowing that proceeds go to the American Foundation for Equal Rights (which sponsored the federal court case against California’s anti-gay-marriage Proposition 8).

On Wednesday, November 3, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, one of our fantastic bloggers, Jewel Woods, author of The Black Male Priviledge Checklist, will give a talk on ” Heterosexism, Sex and Sexuality: A Conversation About Black Male Privilege.”

Also in New York City, on November 4, the musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown–based on the 1988 film by woman-centric director, Pedro Almodovar, opens on Broadway at the Belasco Theater. Did I mention that it stars the legendary Patti LuPone? Don’t worry if you can’t make it this week; it runs until January 23, 2011.

Want the most current research regarding the work/life relationship? Go to the National Association of Mothers’ Centers 15th Annual Work/Life Conference on Friday, November 5, in Woodbury, N.Y. The conference explores topics like creating flexibility in the work environment and employer-sponsored family care, and it’s a great opportunity for networking.

The Siren Nation Women’s Music and Arts Festival in Portland, Ore., runs from November 4-7 and has a great range of feminist events. You can listen to women musicians, see the film, Who’s Afraid of Kathy Acker (about the controversial and oft-banned writer) and attend workshops about women in the media or check out the crafts for sale.

Nationwide, For Colored Girls based on the 1975 play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, by Ntozake Shange, opens in theaters on Friday, November 5. Our Ms. Bloggers are quite intrigued with the possibilities (and potential pitfalls of this Tyler Perry film, which stars Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Whoopi Goldberg, Anika Noni Rose and Kerry Washington–here, here and here is what they have to say about it.

If you have any local events, please post them in the comments. If you have an upcoming event that you’d like us to mention, please email me at kcadenas@msmagazine.com.

Photo from Flickr user apdk under license from Creative Commons 2.0.

About

Kerensa Cadenas is a freelance writer who is obsessed with all things entertainment, pop culture, television and film. She lives in Los Angeles and is obsessed with that too.