By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Not everything these days has to do with Halloween.

In fact, there are several opportunities in Atlanta for those seeking a cultural experience. Atlanta has something for everybody, whether fine art or opera is your cup of tea.

The High Museum of Art is presenting Van Gogh's Starry Night, through early November. The work comes from the collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It is the first time the collection has traveled south of Washington, D.C.

The three pieces are a portrait of his friend, Joseph Roulin, The Starry Night and The olive Trees. The two paintings were conceived together and show the same view in daytime and at night. Phone 404-733-4197 for museum operating times, reservations and ticket information.

The High also is continuing its month-long Latin American Film Festival. Films that will be shown this weekend are "Big Thieves, Little Thieves" Friday, Oct. 27 and "Black Orpheus" Saturday, Oct. 28. Friday's film is about four middle aged gentleman that decide to rob a bank. The problem is bigger thieves than them have already made off with the loot and the four robbers get caught up in a bizarre and hilarious hostage situation.

Saturday's film deals with a cab driver who meets a country girl who has run off to the city to escape a jealous suitor. The film is a reinvention of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice. This film won the Cannes Film Festival's Grand Prize in 1959 and the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1960.

All films are screened in the Rich Auditorium of the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. General admission is $5; senior citizens, students and High members $4. Phone 404-733-4570 for show times and advanced ticket sales.

The Atlanta Opera concludes its 2000 season with a production of Puccini's "Turandot." The opera is set in ancient China, where the beautiful and cruel Princess Turandot reigns. Daring suitors attempt to answer her three riddles. If a suitor gets one wrong answer, he is beheaded, but if he answers them correctly, he wins the princess's hand. When an unknown suitor answers all three questions correctly, the tables are turned and Turnadot is challenged to discover his name.

"Turandot" will be presented at the Fox Theatre Thursday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $18-$120. Phone 404-817-8700. "Turandot" is sung in Italian with English super titles.

Another option this weekend combines a cultural event with a Halloween theme. The Center for Puppetry Arts offers XPTerror, a Halloween-themed edition of Xperimental Puppetry Theater. Five tales of fun, funk and fright will be offered in the Downstairs Theater Oct. 26-29.

Though certainly not X-rated, no one under 18 will be admitted. Before the show, patrons can also enjoy drinks in Lorna's Lounge, a spooky hideout for all the XPTerror stars.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9, but will be $2 off on Friday night if you arrive in costume. Call 404-873-3391 for information or to charge tickets to the show.

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