1. Porter Shreve reads from his novel, "When the White House Was Ours."

7:30 p.m. October 23, free, IUPUI University Library Lilly Auditorium, 755 W. Michigan St.

You probably don't remember the shabby glory of America's Bicentennial, but Porter Shreve does. He sets his highly acclaimed new novel, "When the White House Was Ours," in 1976 Washington. Based on his own childhood experience, Shreve tells of a Midwest family that moves to DC in an ultimately disillusioning attempt to establish an egalitarian experimental school in a white house. At the same time, in the other White House, an idealistic yet inexperienced Democrat prepares to clean up after a military disaster and eight years of Republican corruption and incompetence.

If that sounds familiar, don't be surprised. This year The New York Times commissioned Shreve to write a series of insightful analyses of Indiana politics, and it should be fascinating to hear whether he thinks Obama can avoid the troubles that beset Jimmy Carter three decades ago.

2. Chinese historian Jonathan Spence discusses "Return to Dragon Mountain"

1 p.m. Oct. 25, free, Indianapolis Museum of Art, DeBoest Lecture Hall, 4000 Michigan Ave., www.imamuseum.org

Jonathan Spence's "History of Modern China" may be the most popular course ever offered at Yale. You'll see why when Prof. Spence helps kick off the Indianapolis Museum of Art's marvelous new exhibition, "Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty," with a talk about Zhang Dai, an exquisitely refined scholar who witnesses the fall of the Ming Dynasty to barbarians. Think of it as the best of a Yale education, distilled down to 90 minutes.

3. "Israel in Egypt"

8 p.m. Oct. 25, $10/students or $20-$25/adults, Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., www.indychoir.org

After three centuries, Baroque vocal music is hot in the world of classical music. Listen to the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir perform Handel's "Israel in Egypt" and you'll understand why. A choir of 160 voices joins the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra in 28 double choruses that are both dramatic and sublime.

4. The Sapphire Theatre Company performs "Lysistrata"

7:30 p.m. Oct. 24, 25, 30, and 31; 2:30 p.m.October 25 and 26, $25, Circle Center Mall, 4th floor, www.sapphiretheatre.com

When it comes to ribald comedies about war and sex, the first is still the best. Some 2,400 years ago Aristophanes wrote the tale of Lysistrata, "she who disbands armies," who organizes the women of Sparta and Athens to compel their husbands to end the brutal and interminable Peloponnesian War. As weapons in their struggle, Lysistrata has her sisters swear an oath to keep their legs crossed by drinking sacred wine from phallic-shaped flasks, and after a while the men all wear gigantic prop erections under their robes. This updated version, adapted to contemporary events by director Bonnie Mill, promises to provide phalli, so keep that in mind when you decide whether to bring your kids ... or your mom.