• Count on Central Market for holiday festivities at both stores. At Westgate (4477 S. Lamar, 899-4300), the Biscuit Broth­ers will perform while costumed kids decorate pumpkins, play games, and enjoy a special kid-friendly Halloween menu in the cafe. Thurs­day, Oct. 30, 5-9pm. Then wear costumes and trick or treat throughout the store at Beggar’s Night all day Friday, Oct. 31. The Central location (4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000) offers entertainment on the deck including performances by giant Day of the Dead puppets from San Antonio theatre group Los Monas, samba percussion by Acadêmicos da Ópera, plus salsa, cumbia, and other Latin tunes spun by DJ Fabian on Saturday, Nov. 1, 6-9:30pm. The next evening, the Día de los Muertos celebration on the upstairs deck includes a traditional altar created by Tesoros Trading Co. and music from Son y No Son, along with a selection of Mexican beers and tasty antojitos. Cost is $45. Make required reservations at 206-1014. Sunday, Nov. 2, 7-9pm.

• The Driskill Hotel (Sixth & Brazos, 391-7121 x7121) hosts a reservations-only Grand Witches Brew Tea Party with appropriately named Halloween sweets and tea sandwiches served to costumed adults ($25) and children ($12.50) in the lobby. Friday, Oct. 31, 3-5pm.

• Chef Dennis Fenn of Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que (1530 Barton Springs Rd., 476-0100) will create a multicourse Brewers Dinner to complement the award-winning beers of Great American Beer Festival silver medalist Brian Peters. $100 per person, reservations required. Sunday, Nov. 2, 7pm.

• The Austin Jewish Book Fair (www.shalomaustin.org/bookfair) takes place this week at the Dell Jewish Com­mun­ity Center (7300 Hart, 735-8000). The annual Book Lover’s Luncheon offers the opportunity to enjoy a kosher meal with three of the event’s featured authors – Stephanie Klein, author of Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, and Tracey Fine and Georgie Tarn, authors of The Jewish Princess Cookbook: Having Your Cake & Eating It …. Ticket deadline for this always-popular event is Monday, Nov. 3. General admission tickets are $28; $25 for students, seniors, and JCAA members. Thursday Nov. 6, 11am.

This article appears in John McCain.

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