Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture
Thursday, 11/17
Habib Koité (Kleinhans Music Hall, 71 Symphony Circle)
This Malian guitarist is influenced by blues and flamenco, but uses a pentatonic tuning that gives him a unique sound. He’s backed by Bamada, a supergroup of West African musicians.
Evening with an Icon: Fred Smerlas (Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, $25, 6pm)
While his qualifications as a historical figure are questionable, Smerlas was the cornerstone of the Bills’ defense leading up to their 90s Super Bowl runs, and a fan favorite for his quick wit. Some reminiscence and a Q&A with Buffalo News sportswriter Vic Carucci.
The Sex Lives of College Girls (HBO Max)
The Mindy Kaling-produced college comedy returns for sophomore year.
Subject Board of Directors Meeting (5:45pm, Google Meet)
Subject is student-run and managed by a non-profit. Our board meetings are open to the public, in case you want to make suggestions or see how the sausage gets made. You can also join our Discord channel to learn more about the site and pitch an article, radio show, or podcast, or otherwise get involved.
Friday, 11/18
Yo-Yo Ma (Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, 7:30pm)
The world’s most famous cellist performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic.
A Drag Queen Christmas (Shea’s Buffalo, 646 Main St., 8pm)
Drag may be illegal in Florida now, but it’s thriving in Buffalo, as this holiday extravaganza is in its 8th year.
Great Expectations (Andrews Theatre, 625 Main St., 7:30pm Th/F/Sa, 3pm Sat, 2pm Sun)
Charles Dickens’ classic coming-of-age tale is adapted for the stage. Through 12/11.
The Great British Baking Show (HBO Max)
The charming bake-off returns with a Holiday edition, for those of you who can forgive their Mexican Week debacle.
New Movies This Week:
She Said (Amherst Theater, Maple Ridge 8, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
Actress-turned-director Maria Schraeder (Unorthodox, I’m Your Man), dramatizes the New York Times investigation that brought down movie producer and serial sexual predator Harvey Weinstein. Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as real-life journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor.
The Menu (in wide release)
Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult travel to a remote island to eat at celebrity chef Ralph Fiennes’ ultra-exclusive restaurant, whose high concept turns gruesome.
The People We Hate At the Wedding (Amazon)
Two siblings (Kristen Bell, Ben Platt) and their mother (Allison Janney) realize they’re the black sheep of the family when their wealthy half-sister (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) invites them to her upscale wedding in the English countryside. Written by the Molyneux sisters (Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, Deadpool 3)
Saturday, 11/19
Ghastly (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., 10pm)
EDM DJ spins house and dubstep into the wee hours.
Chris Distefano (Buff State Performing Arts Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Rockwell Hall, 7pm)
This stand-up comic made his name on MTV’s Guy Code and IFC sitcom Benders.
Lynne Hanson (Village Meeting House, 5658 Main St., Williamsville, doors 6:30pm)
This Canadian folksinger, who describes her music as “red dirt porch music”, comes to Buffalo for the first time.
Tuesday 11/21
Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu)
Two years ago, Subject’s then-Entertainment Editor Jay Bharathan went on our podcast Why Is This Not a Movie?, to pitch a movie idea about Somen Bannerjee, who founded a massively popular male stripper troupe… and then tried to murder the competition. Hollywood listened, and The Wrestler director Robert Siegel is bringing the story to this Hulu limited series, with Kumail Nanjiani as Banerjee.