England: The advantage of going to a movie festival in England is that so much of it is in English. This year’s BFI Film Festival in London, which runs through Oct. 29, will be showing new international film releases (including German director’s Werner Herzog’s remake of "Bad Lieutenant" with Nicholas Cage), as well as presenting panels with leaders in contemporary cinema, discussions with directors and writers on their work and methods and talks on topics such as fashion design. For information on the festival and theater reservations, go to the Web site at www.bfi.org.uk/lff.
• Through the weekend in London’s Olympia, you can catch the latest in snow sports at Metrosnow, a large consumer winter sports show. Talk to snow sports experts, find new vacation resorts, watch professional competitions, see the newest fashions and equipment and enjoy drinks at the Les 3 Vallées Resort Bar. The show, which began Wednesday, is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Weekday tickets cost 12 pounds (about $20) for adults and 5 pounds for children. Weekend tickets cost 16 pounds for adults and 7 pounds for children. Children younger than 11 years are free. More details at www.metrosnow.co.uk.
France: "Taste sparingly, taste better" is the theme of Strasbourg’s first Mondial de la Bière, a beer festival that runs through the weekend in the Strasbourg Exhibition Centre. "France’s capital of beer" will highlight Alsace’s microbreweries with tastings, competitions and exhibitions. Admission is 6 euros and includes a glass that can be used for tasting. A tasting coupon costs 70 cents with the majority of beers costing two to five coupons. The festival is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Its Web site is http://festivalmondialbiere.qc.ca/en/festivals/mondial_de_la_biere_strasbourg_2009/.
Germany: Through the weekend, the annual Frankfurt book fair, the world’s largest publishing trade show, features China as this year’s guest of honor. A colorful cultural program both at the fairgrounds and in the city includes dance performances, film and art presentations, public readings and interviews with authors. More than 7,300 exhibitors from 100 countries be displaying the latest titles in the book world. Some items will be sold at the end of the show, others may be given away. The fair is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. One-day tickets cost 14 euros for adults, 7 euros for children. A weekend ticket costs 20 euros. For additional details, see www.book-fair.com/en.
