I'm going to take things a bit out of chronological order this month because October 18 is a special date in Russian-U.S. history. As my Alaska readers know, Oct. 18, 1867 was the transfer of Russia's claim to Alaska to the United States. And if you are in Alaska, or going to Alaska this month, you should know that there is a full schedule of events in Sitka, where the transfer took place, for Alaska Day. They begin on Thursday, October 11 and run through the 18th, and include dancing, bike and kayak racing and an Alaska Day ball.

My thanks to a reader for directing my attention to the Moscow Cats Theatre, which has been performing at New York City's Tribeca Performing Arts Theater and venues around the U.S. for the last two years. Building on Russia's long tradition of animal acts in circuses, Moscow Cats features 35 cats (and one dog) in a variety of acrobatic feats. It's good family fun, and you will never look at your house cat the same way afterwards. Moscow Cats will also be at the Gwinnett Center in Atlanta for three performances on October 20 and 21, and will travel to Chicago on October 27. If you are planning ahead, it will be in Chicago again in November, along with Milwaukee, Boston and New Haven, Conn.

On Friday, October 5 and Saturday, October 6, the New York Philharmonic will feature Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto" and "Symphony No. 4". Both concerts are at 8 p.m. This is part of the Philharmonic's Tchaikovsky Festival and there is a related backstage preview one hour before the concert.

This next event has only a small Russian connection, but it is billed as being a comedy about adoption and I know all too well that prospective adoptive parents need laughs to get through the long months of waiting. The International City Theatre in Long Beach, Calif. is presenting the farce "Tom, Dick and Harry" on October 16 through November 18. Written by Britain's Ray Cooney and his son, Hollywood screenwriter Michael Cooney, the story apparently revolves around an impending home study visit. What's the Russian connection? According to the press release, one of the characters is a Russian mobster.

Also in southern California in late October, the Torrance Symphony Orchestra is throwing a free concert featuring works by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich on Saturday, October 20 at 8 p.m. The performance will be at the James R. Armstrong Theatre.

And finally, there's the Chicago Philharmonic's gala opening on October 28 at 8 p.m. The concert will feature Shostakovich's "Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major" and other works.

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