Something Funny
Two comics to perform at State
Two comedians will grace the stage of the State Theatre this month.
Eddie Griffin, who has performed standup since 1990 and is known for his role as The Pastor in the 2018 film A Star is Born and his 2018 Showtime special Eddie Griffin: Undeniable, will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 5. Tickets cost $50–$85.
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies, best known for his television shows Legit (FX) and The Jim Jefferies Show (Comedy Central) will perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 11. Tickets cost $60–$180.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit kazoostate.com.
Something Informative
Lectures focus on Honorable Harvest
The Indigenous practice of the Honorable Harvest is the focus of a free lecture series that continues this month.
The lectures, presented by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, explore the principle that humans should give back to the land that sustains them. The lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. in Room 223 of KVCC’s Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, at 418 E. Walnut St.
The topics and dates of this month’s lectures are:
- Subsistence Farming: A Story from the Past with Teachings for the
Future, Oct. 1. - Becoming the ‘Fourth Sister’: A Conversation with the Kalamazoo Seed
Collaborative, Oct. 8. - Aerial Predators at Risk: Modern Agriculture’s Impact on Insectivores, Oct. 15.
- Manoomin: The Food that Grows on Water, Oct. 22.
- Building Food Sovereignty: Neighborhood Scale, Community Impact, Oct. 29.
For more information, including a full schedule, visit valleyhub.kvcc.edu.
Something Nerdy
Geek Fest Returns
Fans of all things geeky will be on hand Oct. 12 for the annual Geek Fest at the Kalamazoo County Expo Center.
The festival is a convention for fans of comics, cosplay, gaming, LEGOs and more. It is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Public, Paw Paw District and Portage District libraries and the Black Arts & Cultural Center of Kalamazoo.
Among the guests who will appear at Geek Fest are DM Scotty of The DMs Craft! video series, comic artist Paul Sizer and Sew Excited Cosplay, an award-winning creator of costumes. There will also be a cosplay competition.
The event runs from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and admission is free.
Something Musical
Andy Grammer to perform
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter and record producer Andy Grammer will perform at the State Theatre 8 p.m. Oct. 25.
The pop-rock artist is known for the hit singles “Keep Your Head Up,” “Fine by Me” and “Honey, I’m Good” and is touring to promote his new album, Monster.
Tickets cost $39–$69. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit kazoostate.com.
Something Historic
Exhibit highlights Black historical artifacts
A mini-exhibit from the huge collection of historical artifacts put together by the late Murphy Darden is on display at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum through March 2, telling stories of Black history and experiences.
Darden was a local civil rights historian and artist who was featured in Encore in 2019 (encorekalamazoo.com/wrangling-black-history). He died in November 2023, and the museum acquired more than 200 items from his collection.
In addition to this in-person exhibit, titled Collecting Black History: Murphy Darden’s Legacy, the museum also has an ongoing online exhibit featuring Darden’s art.
Museum hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturdays, and admission is free.
