This week there are lots of community events with perks. Tonight a chance to win tickets to the Red Ribbon Gala (details on this year's event coming soon) at an LGBT Trivia Night, a vegetarian cooking class, free-flow drinks in the name of “Pause For Paws” with Shanghai Animal Rescue, mindfulness for kids, and some lectures. Also something for budding female writers, an Unravel event to look forward to, and a new market…let’s get communal! But like not in a weird way.

*** Tonight at Lucca, there’ll be an LGBT Trivia Night with some pretty sweet prizes. You’ve gotta have a team of 5, which you can come with or build once there by (hey!) making new friends. The grand prize is access to ShanghaiPRIDE’s Red Ribbon Gala (value of 1,080rmb). There will also be prizes for second and third place. Trivia kicks off at 8pm, dinner of BOGO burgers starts at 6pm. Same deal as last week, a vegetarian cooking class from joyEAT at a sort of odd time for the traditional working folk. In this 2-hour class starting at 10am, you’ll learn to make Mushroom Cooked with Bokchoi, Shredded Dried Bean Curd Salad, and soup. 200rmb per person, to book email event@joy-eat.com. If you missed it, Wellington College has got one Festival of Education on for this weekend. It’s all about making education more innovative; there’ll be lectures and workshops and anyone can go. Costs 100rmb a day. Read all the dets right here. Shanghai Animal Rescue is working to move 60 dogs from a shelter before it’s demolished in December. As part of that initiative they’ve got “Pause For Paws” at Brownstone (Lujiazui) from 6-9pm with a deal of 220rmb for free-flow drinks, 50% of the proceeds going towards the project. A mindfulness session for kids at Sprout Lifestyle that'll include “child friendly” meditations, crafting, and healthy cooking all with mindfulness in mind. Kicks off at 10am, costs 250rmb per child.

Stuff to Look Forward to

The monthly storytelling event is set for next Thursday with the theme: Give. They got one more spot for a storyteller, email unravelshanghai@gmail.com if you're a giver or taker with a tale. Drinks will start at 6.30pm, stories at 7.30; part of the proceeds will go to Chi Fan for Charity--and there will be a raffle. Free entry. From City Moments and A2 Event comes another way to spend your Sunday: Jing'an Market. Expect 20 craft and food vendors, and some alcoholic options. The place will be curated for the event, with a pop-up playground. Mark your calendars, it's set for Sunday, October 29; kicking off at 12pm. Free entry.

There's also this...

China Women Writers is calling for anthology submissions. They'll take 200 word pitches for fiction and non-fiction works, poetry, screenplays, video projects, whatever it is that gets you excited. They are working to compile work from you guessed it, female writers in China. Send pitches to: chinawomenwriters@gmail.com, before November 15.