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Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: new music from Drug Church, learning to knit and Judy Greer.

This weekend in the arts: Coachella or "couch-ella," Desert X; piñatas, Wayne Thiebaud, contemporary dance and contemporary classical music

From the KPBS weekend arts preview: The music in Bizet's opera "Carmen" is provocative, moody and gloriously showboating. It's also distinct, familiar (and used in a ton of commercials): from the "Prélude" to Carmen's "Habanera" to "Sortie d'Escamillo." NPR called it Bizet's "hit parade" on par with "West Side Story." (Warning: that link is pure earworm.) The opera is set in Spain, about a gypsy, Carmen, and a soldier, Don José, embroiled in tragic seduction and jealousy. Pacific Lyric Association is bringing the production to the California Center for the Arts in Escondido this weekend, in three performances. "Carmen" is an "opera comique," which generally means the plot is progressed with both song and dialogue between songs, and PLA also uses narration of their own, in English, before major scenes to help explain what's going on. If opera intimidates you, this one might be your gateway. Additional performances will take place next weekend, Oct. 21-23, at the Joan B. Kroc Theater. —Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS From the organizers: Pacific Lyric Association (PLA) presents Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen from October 14-23, 2022. The performance will feature an exceptionally talented team of cast and artistic staff who will perform the opera comique that tells of the downfall of Don Jose, a naïve soldier seduced by the fiery gypsy, Carmen. PLA is donating 20% of the production’s proceeds to Ukrainian refugee families with children living in Poland. PLA is an independent Southern California opera company that present fully staged operas with orchestra, accessibly priced to the general public. The signature format of PLA’s opera productions includes spoken narrative in English before each large scene. These narrative vignettes, performed by a professional actor, are designed to keep the audience engaged without being distracted by super titles. Friday, October 14 – Sunday, October 16, 2022 | California Center for the Arts Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025 Friday, October 21 – October 23, 2022 | Joan B. Kroc Theater 6611 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92115 Related links: Ticket information here. Pacific Lyric Association on Instagram

Kwame Brathwaite spent some six decades chronicling Black life, culture and activism. He's credited with helping found the "Black is Beautiful" movement.

This year’s Pride takes place in a contentious political climate.

Leaders in both parties predict they can flip seats in the liberal state in next year's election. Last year, the state played a pivotal role in securing the gavel for Republicans and installing Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield as speaker.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to reject the most extreme version of the "independent state legislature theory" is expected to bring some stability to the 2024 elections — and invite more lawsuits.

Under a new Army program, West Point students are working with the Defense Department to address climate challenges that could affect national security.

Join award winning author, Kathi Diamant as she discusses her new book, "Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes," the extraordinary story of how Chuck Bieler saved the San Diego Zoo and helped to create an international conservation organization where all wildlife thrives. In the 1970s, a new era for zoos dawned as the world became aware of the challenges facing wildlife. To help save shrinking habitats and endangered wildlife populations, zoos had to evolve from their role as living museums to centers of conservation. Working as executive director and then development director, Bieler helped usher in a brighter future for wildlife around the globe, launching international conservation efforts, navigating economic challenges, and creating a new blueprint for habitats. About Kathi Diamant Actress, author, TV producer/anchor and San Diego State University adjunct professor Kathi Diamant has been involved with the San Diego Zoo since arriving in San Diego in 1983. As the co-host of KFMB Channel 8’s Sun Up San Diego, she welcomed Zoo animals every week to the set, and in the following decades contributed more than a dozen articles to ZOONOOZ and Koala Club News. Her first biography, "Kafka’s Last Love," has appeared in translation in nine languages and won the Geisel Award and the “Best of the Best” in the San Diego Book Awards. About the Friends of Central Library The Friends of the San Diego Central Library is a member-supported non-profit organization that advocates, fundraisers, and provides critical support for the Central Library and related literary and educational programs. We provide the community with opportunities to invest in the success of the San Diego Public Library as well as literary and education communities by donating funds or by donating time through volunteering. Please contact the Friends at sdfocl@gmail.com or (619) 238-6655. Visiting the Central Library Parking is underneath the Central Library, FREE with 2-hour validation. The library is one block from the Park & Market stop on the Trolley Blue and Orange lines. Bus routes 12, 901, and 929 stop right in front of the library at the 11th Avenue and K Street stop. Please register on our Event Calendar.

For more than three decades, GRAMMY Award-winning conguero Poncho Sanchez has stirred up a fiery stew of straight-ahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources. Throughout his career Sanchez has held aloft the torch lit by such innovators as Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader, embraced by each of those icons and entrusted to carry forward the traditions of Latin Jazz. Come see him perform at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center on Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for more information about this event!