Calendar
Art now-Oct. 27

National Drawing Show - Impact Artists' Gallery, 545 Tri-Main Center, 2495 Main St., Buffalo. 835-6817, www. buffalo. com/ impact now-Oct. 27 The Buffalo Society of Artists: An Historical Tribute - Art Council, 700 Main St., Buffalo. 856-7520, www.artscouncilbuffalo.org now-Oct. 28 Bartow+Metzger: Corrupture plus Within the Contest of No Contest - Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. 854-1694, www.hallwalls.org now-Oct. 28

Clear Signals - Big Orbit Gallery, 30D Essex St., Buffalo. Site-specific media and sculpture installation by Ian Burns. 883-3209, www.bigorbitgaller y.org now-Oct. 31 New to You: Unseen Works from the Permanent Collection - Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, Lewiston. 286-8200, www.niagara.edu/c am now-Nov. 5 A Life in the Arts: Wendy Warner - Burchfield-Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 878-6011, www.burchfield-penney.org now-Dec. 17

Deviant Bodies 2.0 - CEPA Gallery, 617 Main St., Buffalo. 856-2717, www.cepagallery.com now-Jan. 7

Western New York Craft Art - Burchfield-Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 878-6011, www.burc hfield-penne y.org now-Jan. 7

Andrea Zittel: Critical Space - Albright-Knox Art Gallery 1285 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 882-8700, www.albrightknox.org now-Jan. 21 Joseph Miller: Figures, Power, and Vulnerability - Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, Lewiston. 286-8200, www.niagara.edu/cam now-Jan. 28 Selections from the Acquisition of the Charles Rand Penney Niagara Falls Historic Print Collection - Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, Lewiston. 286-8200, www.niagara.edu/c am

Announcements

 Shea's Performing Arts Center will host its annual Halloween Brews and Blues Party from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Shea's, 646 Main St., Buffalo. Tickets are $25 pre-sale and $30 day of the event, and are available by calling 829-1171, online at www.sheas.org or the box office.

Family Activities

Oct. 27-29 . Howl-O-Ween Hayrides

4-8:30 p.m. each night, Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave., Buffalo. Activities include hayrides throughout the zoo, treat stations, apple cider and donuts, crafts and games. Tickets required. Call 837-3900 or visit www.buffalozoo.org for more information. Oct. 28 . RGC Subzero AllStar Cheer Competition -

9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, Agri-Center/ Fairgrounds, Hamburg. Excitement is sure to fill the Agri-Center for this high-engery cheer and dance competition. Call 1-888-223-6000 or visit www.americas fair.com for more information. . Halloween Happenings

4-7 p.m., Aquarium of Niagara, 701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls. Dress as a sea creature for free admission; others $4. Costume prizes, treat bags and sea lion shows. Call 285-3575, Ext. 204, or visit www.aquariumofniagara.org for more information. . Halloween Parade 6 p.m., Village of Williamsville. Children's parade through the village beginning at Hampton Inn parking lot and ending at Island Park. The event features cider and doughnuts, family activities, contests and prizes. Visit www.village. williamsville.ny.us fore more information.

Festivals

Oct. 28 . Haunted Harbor

Gateway Harbor, North Tonawanda. The ghosts will return to this haunted walk bridge. The rest of the Harbor in Tonawanda and North Tonawanda is decorated, not haunted, and kid-friendly. Call 695-1800 for more information. . Beer & Wine Festival

3-8 p.m., Peek 'n Peak Resort, Findley Lake. Sample the fare of 20 local breweries and local, regional, national and international wines. Call 355-4141 or visit www.pknpk.com for more information. . Chestnut Festival

Noon-5 p.m., 5480 Route 89, Romulus. Enjoy fresh-roasted chestnuts and other chestnut delicacies while sampling unique wines. Call (315) 549-8326 or www.goosewatch.com for more information.

Nov. 2-5 . Christmas in the Country

Agri-Center, Hamburg. The area's largest craft show featuring more than 250 of the best crafters from across the country. Call 648-9733 for more information.

Nov. 4-5 . Clarence Arts & Crafts Festival

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Clarence Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main St., Clarence. Call 706-7284 for more information. . Holiday Wine Experience

10 a.m.-5 p.m., Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail. Sampling of 15 wineries product and food pairings. Call (888) 965-4800 or visit www.chautauquawinetrail. org for more information.

Literature

Nov. 2 . Communiqué

7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St., Buffalo. The Just Buffalo Literary Center's Flash Fiction series, hosted by Forrest Roth, featuring author Peter Conners. Call 832-5400 or visit www.justbuffalo.org for more information. Performance

Friday, Oct. 27 . The Second City, 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Performing a hilarious medley of classic scenes, songs and improv, Second City is edgy, satirical and always entertaining. With alums like Jim Belushi, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert, you never know what rising comic you're likely to see. Call 878-3005 or visit www.ticketguys. com/buffalostate for more information.

Speakers/ Lectures Oct. 30 .John Edwards - 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 30, Center for the Arts, UB's North Campus, Amherst. Former U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate will give the keynote address at the Western New York Poverty Symposium. (Free)

Symphonic fri. 27 .Slee/Beethoven String Quartet Cycle The Avalon String Quartet will be the featured artists in Concert 2 of the series Friday, Oct 27 starting at 8 p.m. at Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, Amherst. Selections include Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 74 ("The Harp"), Quartet in G Major, Op. 18, No. 2 and Quartet in C-sharp minor, Op. 131. Call 645-2921 or visit www.slee.buffalo.edu/beethoven.htm for more information.

sun. 29 .Amherst Symphony Orchestra "Music of Our World" featuring pianist Duo Xu, 7 p.m. Amherst Middle School, 55 Kings Highway, Snyder. Call 633-4606 or visit www.amherst.ny.us/news/symphony.asp for more information. The concerts are free and open to the public.

sun. 29 .Cheektowaga Symphony Fall Festival, 3 p.m., Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 4125 Union Road, Cheektowaga. Featuring music of Mozart and Shostakovich. Featured soloists are violinist Jacquelline Galluzzo and violist Thomas Kreuder under the baton of John Landis. Call 895-1047 or visit www.cheektowagasymphony.org for more information. CONCERTS

fri. 27 .American blues guitarist and singer

Johnny Winter will play starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Seneca Niagara Casino's Bear's Den in Niagara Falls. Call 278-4944 or visit www.senecaniagaracasino.com for more information. .Hear original breakbeat pioneer DJ SS who has made an immense contribution to today's drum and bass sound beginning at 10 p.m. at OPM Lounge in Buffalo. Call 842-6784 or visit www.opium loungebuffalo.com for more information. sat. 28 .Violinist and singer Petra Haden and the Sell Outs play a 9 p.m. show Saturday, Oct. 28 at Soundlab in Buffalo. Call 440-5907 or visit www.bigorbit gallery.com for more information. .Indie rockers The Fiery Furnaces with special guest Deerhoof take the stage at 7 p.m. at Showplace Theater in Buffalo. Call 852-5000 or visit www.esievents.com for more information.

sun. 29 .Vans Warped Tour favs

Hellogoodbye with special guests Reggie and the Full Effect, Cute is What We Aim For and David Melillo start playing at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 at Buffalo Icon in Buffalo. Call 842-0167 or visit www.thebuffaloicon.com for more information. thurs. 2 .Country stars Rascal Flatts play a 7:30 p.m. show with special guest Gary Allan and Eric Church, Thursday, Nov. 2 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Call (888) 223-6000 or visit www.hsbcarena.com for more information.