The 24th edition of the Latin Grammys will bring together some of the biggest names across Latin music and some new faces that will vie for the award for best new artist. This time the event isn’t taking place in Las Vegas, instead it will be hosted in Sevilla, Spain.

Q: When, where and what time are the Latin Grammys?

A: The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones in Sevilla. It will be televised by the Spanish-language network Univision at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Q: Who is hosting the show?

A: This year the Academy has chosen Colombian singer Sebastián Yatra, Mexican singer Danna Paola with an assist by Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega.

Q: Who are the performers?

Q: Who are the presenters?

A: The presenters for the awards ceremony include such names as Majo Aguilar, Anitta, Pedro Capó, Jorge Drexler, Luis Figueroa, Fonseca, Mon Laferte, Yandel, Natalia Lafourcade, John Leguizamo, Nicki Nicole, Carlos Ponce and Carlos Vives.

©2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Note that if you are headed into San Francisco, the massive APEC international conference running through Nov. 19 is going to pose traffic issues. More about that is here along with a map detailing the more heavily affected areas.

And, as always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

1 SEE, HEAR & LAUGH: Here comes Tiffany

Tiffany Haddish, one of the funniest humans on the planet (and there are a lot of funny humans on the planet) is headed to Oakland’s Paramount Theatre on Saturday. Here’s what she has to say about her comedy tour.

2 DINE: Mexican-Japanese deliciousness

Good Luck Gato, a new joint in Oakland, applies the fun izakaya formula to a Mexican-Japanese menu. Intriguing, huh? We checked the place out recently and here are our thoughts.

3 WATCH: Godzilla’s best performance since …

Yes, the giant lizard and underrated actor is back in the terrific new series titled “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.” It tops our list of new shows and movies you should totally watch this weekend.

4 COOK: Get a head start on Thanksgiving

No, we aren’t expecting you to start cooking your bird this weekend, but here’s how you can get a jump on the holiday. And if you’re thinking of grilling your turkey this year, here’s a sure-fire recipe for that.

5 BREW & QUAFF: Coffee cocktails, anyone?

Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen identify themselves as coffee journalists, so you know they must be brilliant. And their latest book explores how to employ coffee in some mighty tasty cocktails.

6 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

Smuin Ballet is back with the company’s beloved holiday show (feather boa and all). And that’s just one of the great shows going on this weekend.

7 PLAY: Surprising new ‘Mario Bros’ game

We recently checked out the new “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” game. One of its charms is the way it keeps defying expectations.

A Frozen land was pitched in 2021 as a possible project for a proposed theme park expansion in the DisneylandForward plan presented to the city of Anaheim.

Arendelle village will serve as the centerpiece of the World of Frozen themed land opening Monday, Nov. 20 at Hong Kong Disneyland.

The backstory for the new World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland brings to life the Kingdom of Arendelle for a “summer snow day” celebration in a themed land featuring two rides, a show, a restaurant and two shops amid Nordic-inspired architecture.

The Frozen Ever After water ride at Hong Kong Disneyland updates a similar attraction that opened in 2016 at Epcot in Florida.

Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs becomes the latest peak to join the man-made mountains made by Walt Disney Imagineering at theme parks around the world. The sleigh-themed kiddie coaster features a dark ride-style show section along a 1,000-foot-long steel track that wraps around and through the Arendelle mountain.

The “Playhouse in the Woods” interactive theater experience features video projections, audio-animatronics and Arendelle citizens celebrating “summer snow day” with Elsa and Anna.

The new World of Frozen themed land at Hong Kong Disneyland also includes the Golden Crocus Inn restaurant serving Nordic-inspired meals, the Northern Delights sweets shop offering chocolates, ice cream and baked goods and the Tick Tock Toys and Collectibles gift shop at the exit of the water ride.

The DisneylandForward proposal seeks to update a 1990s Anaheim city plan to allow for a mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland tightens pin trading rules to rein in ‘pin-sanity’

The long-term planning proposal dangled six possible projects based on “Frozen,” “Tangled,” “Peter Pan,” “Zootopia,” “Toy Story” and “Tron” as the types of lands and attractions Anaheim is missing out on under current city planning and zoning guidelines.

In addition to Hong Kong’s Arendelle village, Frozen themed lands are nearing completion at Disney theme parks in Japan and France.

The Frozen Kingdom will be part of Fantasy Springs, the newest port set to debut at Tokyo DisneySea in June 2024. The Tokyo Disneyland expansion will feature the Frozen boat ride along with an Arendelle castle restaurant and village shops.

The new lands and attractions coming to Tokyo DisneySea “could be the perfect inspiration for the future of Disneyland Park,” according to the DisneylandForward website.

The Kingdom of Arendelle — a third Frozen land — is under construction in Walt Disney Studios Park at the Disneyland Paris resort in France.

Florida’s Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World resort is already home to the world’s first Frozen Ever After water ride and a meet-and-greet location where visitors can snap photos with Elsa and Anna in the Norway pavilion of World Showcase.

That will eventually leave only two Disney theme park resorts worldwide — in Anaheim and Shanghai, China — without a Frozen-themed land or area.

Shanghai Disneyland has a Frozen sing-along show — much like the film that once played in the Sunset Showcase Theater at Disney California Adventure that now screens “Mickey’s PhilharMagic.”

The Broadway-caliber “Frozen Live” show at the Hyperion Theater in Disney California Adventure closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t return with the reopening of the park.

Disney has announced that a “Frozen 3” sequel is in development.

A Taylor Swift themed cruise is setting sail in 2024. The fan sponsored event organized by Marvelous Mouse Travels will take Swifties on a Royal Caribbean cruise sailing from the port of Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. According to a post by event organizers in the Facebook group for the Taylor Swift themed cruise, because of limited capacity they are operating on a waitlist model, showcasing the impact a Swift theme can have on businesses.

This experience is a chance for Swifties to make the friendship bracelets yet again, connect with other fans and make memories to hold onto.

Related: ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ is one of the greatest concert films of all time

Here’s what you need to know:

When is it?

The 5 day/4 night cruise departs on Oct. 21, 2024 from Miami, Florida and returns on Oct. 25.

How much is it?

Originally, prices were advertised from $1,573-$1,967 depending on your room for the 4 night stay onboard the Allure of the Seas. However, Jessica Malerman, one of the event organizers, shared in the Facebook group that this price has changed because they got additional rooms from Royal Caribbean to accommodate the demand and that the new rates are slightly higher. There are three room options available; Interior, Boardwalk Balcony and Oceanview Balcony.

What’s included?

For meals, dinner is included in the main dining room, as well as some buffet and a la carte options on board. Entertainment such as stage shows, game shows and karaoke.

For an additional fee, there are premium add-ons guests can choose from including speciality dining, beverage packages, and excursions.

What is the itinerary for Swifties?

As far as travel goes, after departing the Port of Miami on day one, the second day will be spent at Coco Cay which is Royal Caribbean’s private island. Day three is spent in Nassau, Bahamas. The fourth day is at sea before returning to the Port of Miami on day five.

Who is organizing it?

Marvelous Mouse Travels is organizing the “In My Cruise Era” event. The group began in 2014 and this year became a Disney Diamond Earmarked Agency. Additionally, it is a Preferred Universal Agency, Presidents Club at Travel Leaders Network, Mark Travel 500 Club, and a Preferred Sandals Agency. It is not endorsed or affiliated with TASRM or Taylor Swift.

The Taylor Swift Fan Cruise is being led by three travel agents, Jessica Malerman, Nicole Rivera and Shelby Reyes, who are also Taylor Swift fans.

Because of capacity restrictions, only those who book with Marvelous Mouse Travels are guaranteed to participate in the Eras-themed events the group is organizing.

Will Taylor Swift be there?

Taylor Swift is not affiliated with the cruise so it is unlikely that she will attend. However, if you want a chance to see her before the cruise sets sail, you could visit Miami a few days before. Swift is performing for three nights at the Hard Rock Stadium from Oct. 18-20.

Legoland California will open the new Dino Valley themed land in the spring and the Lego World parade in the summer, according to Legoland officials.

The new Dino Valley themed land where the past roars to life in Lego form will feature two new rides alongside the park’s 2004 Coastersauraus roller coaster that zips around Lego versions of a Brachiosaurus and Parasaurolophus.

Located near the park entrance, Dino Valley will include the Explorer River Quest and the Duplo Little Dino Trail rides, a dino-themed Lego brick build-and-play area, a reimagined Dino Dig fossil-finding sandbox and meet-and-greet opportunities with new prehistoric characters.

The boat ride will sail past Lego dinosaurs, including a T-Rex. Kids can use cameras to “capture” Lego dinos in a game of hide and seek on the Duplo safari ride.

The Lego World parade will make its North American debut at Legoland California. The world’s first Legoland parade was presented at Legoland Deutschland in Germany.

The Legoland California parade will include floats themed to Ninjago, Duplo, Lego City and Lego Friends along with dancers in colorful costumes.

The new parade weaving along the west side of the park will serve as the kiss goodnight finale to the day.

Happy Birthday: Look for opportunities, make changes that position you to reach your goal and follow your heart. Happiness is your responsibility, and doing what makes you feel good about yourself will ensure you reach your expectations. Put your energy where it counts and you’ll reap the rewards you deserve. Surround yourself with people who share your beliefs and contribute to your success. Your numbers are 9, 14, 23, 28, 36, 42, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Limit spending. Use your intelligence to devise different ways to utilize your skills, and you’ll find a lucrative and fulfilling path. Refuse to let emotional factors stand between you and what you want to pursue. Take responsibility for your happiness. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): An open mind will help you reach your destination. Don’t fear change if it can catapult you to a position that offers clout. Let your ambition take over and your experience and knowledge lead the way. Put your energy where it counts, and prosper. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone will mislead you. Go directly to the source if you want to avoid a mistake. Offering false information will compromise your reputation. Self-improvement is in your best interest and will encourage you to listen to experts before you embrace change. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Get out and talk to people in the know and you’ll discover what you want to pursue. Preparation will help you overcome any pitfall and ensure you reach your target and make a difference. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Emotions will surface along with opportunities. Weigh the pros and cons, and be sure to discuss your plans with those affected by the decisions you make. Share your vision, listen to complaints and make decisions you can live with mentally, emotionally and financially. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen to allies. It will be worthwhile to accommodate complaints with action if you want to maintain peace and finish what you start. Learn from the experience, be open to suggestions and adjust to please the majority, and you will make headway. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll mesmerize those eager to follow a winner, but expect opposition from those who play by different rules. Don’t let your integrity slip away when honesty and compassion are necessary if you want your charm to carry you to victory. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t take anything for granted. If you want something, it’s up to you to make it happen. Trust and believe in yourself and follow through with your plans. A change of heart will help you resolve issues holding you back. Live life your way. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Settle any differences you have amicably and move forward. Make the most of your time and put forth an innovative effort, and you’ll attract positive attention. Don’t dwell on what you cannot change when you should be embracing what life has to offer. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Implement a healthier lifestyle. A disciplined approach to exercise and maintaining an energetic routine will result in confidence and leadership qualities that will help you advance. Don’t let controversy get to you. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Observe the changes going on around you and learn from the mistakes others make. Be aggressive in your approach to investments, and you’ll make your money stretch. Update documents, contracts and legal matters that need an adjustment. Physical or medical issues will require thought. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t limit your chance to advance or let emotional matters ruin your judgment. Let discipline lead the way, and you’ll figure out how to use your skills, knowledge and experience to reach your goal. Listen to your inner voice, not someone trying to sell you something. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are determined, unique and ambitious. You are flexible and intuitive.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters. 

The concert — the popular annual holiday show from Bay Area radio station Alice at 97.3 — was supposed to have been headlined by local pop-rock act Train and rising country star Jelly Roll on Dec. 1 at SAP Center.

Other acts on the bill were the Band Camino and Benson Boone.

“The ALICE in Winterland show scheduled for Dec. 1, 2023 at the SAP Center has been cancelled,” according to a news release from SAP Center. “Refunds will be provided to all guests who purchased on Ticketmaster automatically. All other purchasers can receive refunds at the original place of purchase.”

No reason was given for the cancellation.

Here is a partial rundown.

Smuin Xmas show returns, with boa

One of the Bay Area’s most beloved Christmas dance traditions is returning for a five-week run at several area venues. We’re talking about Smuin Contemporary Ballet’s annual “Christmas Ballet” program, a joyous mix of works ranging from elegant to sassy and silly and touching on styles including traditional and contemporary ballet, jazz, tap, swing and more. This year’s show includes world premiere numbers by company artistic director Amy Seiwert and former Smuin choreographer Nicole Haskins. Also in the program are classical dance favorites by company founder, the late Michael Smuin, including “Bach Magnificat,” “Gloucestershire Wassail,” and “Licht bensh’n,” as well as some of his more playful works, including “Christmas Island,” “Droopy Little Christmas Tree” and, of course, “Santa Baby,” a piece that features what the company bills as the “world’s longest feather boa.”

The program lands at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts for performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18  and 2 p.m. Nov. 19. Future performances include Dec. 1-2 at the Sunset Center in Carmel, Dec. 7-10 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts and Dec. 14-24 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. A LGBTQ+ Night performance on Dec. 19 at YBCA features popular San Francisco drag queen Lady Camden (a star of Season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”). 

Details: $25-$119, find a complete schedule, tickets and more information at www.smuinballet.org.

— Bay City News Foundation

Classical picks: Climate symphony; Jupiter String Quartet

The classical music scene continues to innovate and engage – here are just a few of the Bay Area events coming our way.

“From the Edge”: This weekend’s San Francisco Symphony contributions to the statewide California Festival begins with “From the Edge,” with music director Esa-Pekka Salonen leading the Symphony’s first performances of Gabriella Smith’s climate-inspired “Breathing Forests.” Two Stravinsky works, the “Octet for Winds and Brass,” and “Les Noces,” featuring vocal soloists Lauren Snouffer, Kayleigh Decker and Paul Appleby, complete the program. Details: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18-19; Davies Symphony Hall; $25-$75; sfsymphony.org.

“Rodelinda” in concert: Under conductor Harry Bicket, the English Concert’s 2021 recording of “Rodelinda” earned rave reviews. Now Bicket and company return to UC Berkeley with a live concert performance of Handel’s opera, featuring Lucy Crowe in the title role; the cast also includes countertenors Iestyn Davies and Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, along with tenor Eric Ferring, mezzo-soprano Christine Rice, and bass-baritone Brandon Cedel. Details: 3 p.m. Nov. 19, Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley; $39-$142; calperformances.org.

New Music galore: The Other Minds Festival returns in its 27^th installment this week, with a full lineup of new and experimental music, including appearances by innovators Morton Subotnick, Sarah Cahill, Paul Dresher, and others. Details: Through Nov. 18, Taube Atrium Theater, Nov. 19, Gray Area, San Francisco; $15-$50 events, $50-$160 season passes; otherminds.org.

“Elixir” at SF Opera: Beginning with “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” and wowing audiences with this month’s “Omar,” it’s been an outstanding fall season at San Francisco Opera, and the company is capping it off with “The Elixir of Love.” Donizetti’s delectable comedy opens Sunday with tenor Pene Pati as the lovestruck Nemorino; conductor Ramón Tebar makes his company debut. Details: Nov. 19 through Dec. 9; War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco; in person $26-$414; livestream $27.50; sfopera.com.

Jupiter to Kohl: Music at Kohl Mansion, now in its 21st season, welcomes the acclaimed Jupiter String Quartet this Sunday in a program of works by Beethoven, Elizabeth Maconchy, Nathan Shields and Carlos Simon. Details: 7 p.m. Nov. 19; Kohl Mansion, Burlingame; $58 adult, $55 seniors, $25 30 and under; musicatkohl.org.

— Georgia Rowe, Correspondent

The Dickens of a holiday show

We have a hunch that living in a Dickens novel would probably be nowhere near as fun as hanging out at the annual Daly City holiday event the legendary author has inspired. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party, to use the event’s proper full name, returns to the Cow Palace this weekend, with its large and bustling re-creation of Victorian-era London. The attraction is chock full of attractions for adults and kids. The older set can enjoy port and chocolate tastings, sip their way through a high tea, tackle a Sherlock Holmes Experience mystery, knock back a pint or two at the Jekyll and Hyde Pub or somewhat naughtier Mad Sal’s Dockside Ale House, and marvel at the wide array of performances taking pace on seven stages, form Irish singers to Bedouin belly dancers to comedians and jugglers to actors portraying scores of Dickens-created characters.

For the young ‘uns, there is a self-guided Children’s Tour of London, as well as opportunities to meet Father Christmas and the popular Punch and Judy puppet shows. Most of the entertainment and interactive stuff going on, for that matter, is suitable for both kids and adults. And of course, there are all kinds of British delicacies to sample, from fish and chips and bangers and mash to meat pies and all manner of cookies, chocolate and other sweet treats, as well as a full range of liquid refreshments. And, yes, there are knickknacks and other items for sale for holiday shoppers.

Details: Opens Nov. 18 and runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (plays the Friday after Thanksgiving) through Dec. 17; Cow Palace, 2600 Geneva Ave., Daly City; daily tickets run $25-$45 ($18-$30 after 3 p.m.), with kids under 5 admitted free; full-run pass, $160; dickensfair.com

— Bay City News Foundation

Guys, dolls and one crazy bet

San Francisco Playhouse isn’t whisking audiences off to the North Pole or Bedford Falls for the holidays. Instead, the company is offering a ticket to 20th-century New York, where some hard-boiled gangsters, gamblers and entertainers of the night prove they, too, can carry a tune.

Yes, the company is presenting “Guys and Dolls,” the iconic musical by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, which has been a popular stage staple since it debuted on Broadway in 1950. Many know the story from the 1955 film version starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra.

Now S.F. Playhouse is reviving the musical, which centers a high-rolling gambler wooing an uptight missionary in hopes of winning a bet, and a burlesque performer trying to get her beau to settle down. Yes, it’s an old tale often told, but when you have songs like “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before,” setting the pace, it’s hard to go wrong. Helmed by company artistic director Bill English, “Guys and Dolls” begins in previews this week and runs through Jan. 13.

Details: Performances at 450 Post St., $15-$125; www.sfplayhouse.org.

— Randy McMullen, Staff

Does Apple TV+ have the right series for you.

Bummed that the killers have been collared on “Only Murders in the Building” and “The Afterparty?”

Does FX have the killer mystery series for you.

Bummed that there aren’t any enough edgy, adult satires outfitted with a tremendous breakout performance that deserves an Oscar nom? Does Netflix have one shocking story for you – but it’s only in theaters for now.

Here’s our roundup.

“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”: After a few Hollywood stabs at resurrecting Godzilla and other kaijū, creators Chris Black (“Severance”) and star comic-book author Matt Fraction have come up with the right way to do it. In their exciting 10-episode blockbuster Apple TV+ series (the special effects are of the caliber of a big-budget Hollywood production), the Monsterverse expands and grows ever more intricate — in a good way, mind you, not in that overextended MCU way right now.

In the opening moments, we get brief flashbacks of the Golden Gate Bridge getting trashed in a smackdown between the radioactive lizard king and the Titans. That traumatic event was witnessed through the eyes of teacher Cate Randa (Anna Sawai) whose scientist dad went missing soon after. Cate, in the first episode, travels to Tokyo where she discovers she has a half-brother Kentaro (Ren Watabe) and meets his friends, the extra-smart and tech-savvy May (Kiersey Clemons). Each of them catches the attention of Monarch — a clandestine organization intent on monster surveillance and study that sprung up after World War II.

While that narrative begins, it’s threaded with another that originated decades before — at the inception of Monarch and the essential work of three of its major players – GI Lee Shaw (played Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell later; Wyatt is Kurt’s son), scientist Keiko (Mari Yamamoto) and cryptozoologist Bill Randa (Anders Holm, later played by John Goodman).

That’s a lot of names and narratives to keep track of, but the story lines intertwine nicely, even if you might need a list of the characters to reference. No matter. If you’re a kaijū fan and prefer jigsaw-puzzle-like storytelling, not to mention great action sequences, this one — or at least the eight episodes released for review — crushes it. Details: 3 stars out of 4; two episodes drop Nov. 17 with one dropping each week after that.

“A Murder at the End of the World”: It’s a familiar setup. A rich White entrepreneur (Clive Owens) invites famous movers and shakers to a reclusive retreat. One person winds up a corpse … . You get the picture.

Fans of Agatha Christie and Rian Johnson are well-versed in this old but reliable scenario. So are creators/directors/writers Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, who previously fired up our brain cells with the trippy “The OA” on Netflix. But they’re just not setting the table with the same tarnished cutlery. The savvy duo tweak the premise to satisfying ends, contemporizing an old trope by focusing on advancements in the tech world and replacing Miss Marple and Benoit Blanc with a tattooed amateur sleuth/hacker who likes to play around with her hair coloring. That tinkering with the formula plays a part in an  ingenious mystery.

Owen makes an ideal chill-to-the-bone Andy Ronson, a self-made billionaire who adores AI. Understandably concerned about climate change and how it will affect his son’s generation, he and his wife Lee (Marling), a former hacker who went underground after being doxed, seek input from the most brilliant minds to perhaps hash out solutions at that Iceland retreat.

One guest who remains uncertain as to why she’s included on the roster at this techy hotel in nowheresville is bestselling author, hacker and amateur crime-solver Darby Hart (Emma Corrin, fully clicking in the role and channeling “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” edge and energy).

She and another guest Bill Farrah (Harris Dickinson, showing again why he is one of our best new talents) share quite a telling past that includes nabbing a serial killer. Other attendees — aka suspects — are given eyebrow-raising back histories (astronaut, filmmaker and so on) that make them suspicious. They’re played by pros that include Joan Chen, Alice Braga and Jermaine Fowler.

All these fresh elements brought to the table shine brightly next to the genre’s old-school cutlery, resulting in an absorbing, eerie brain twister that delivers a shocking denouement. (I’m sworn to secrecy). For mystery lovers, it doesn’t get much better than this. Details: 3½ stars; two episodes drop Nov. 17, followed by one new episode every Friday till Dec. 19.

“May December”: Director Todd Haynes comes up with one of his best features in years with this cynical, smart and bloody takedown of true-crime stories — both the people who tell them and the people who can’t get enough of them. Natalie Portman stars as a scruples-impaired Method actor intent on burrowing into the psyche of a tabloid sensation (Julianne Moore) who made headlines when she was married and worked at a pet shop and had an affair with a 7th-grade boy. Twenty years later, the “boy” is a 36-year-old father Joe (Charles Melton of CW’s “Riverdale”) and the couple has two kids in high school. Gracie (Moore) isn’t entirely happy to have Elizabeth (Portman) snooping around in her past and mirroring her every move and gesture — in the name of art, of course. Haynes keeps us off balance throughout, setting us up for a thriller, a black comedy and a satire — benefitting from screenwriter Sammy Burch’s magnetic and, yes, cynical script. Moore and particularly Portman (who delivers a perfect and chilling monologue near the end) are terrific, but it is Melton’s complex performance as emotionally stunted Joe that makes you wince and wonder what life could have been like for him if he had ventured down this path. It’s a physical and emotional performance that surprises you and holds so much ache. It’s well deserving of an Oscar. Details: 3½ stars; in theaters Nov. 17; streams Dec. 1 on Netflix.

“Next Goal Wins”: What foils this feel-good sports dramedy from slamming it into the net is its own creator, Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit,” “Thor: Love and Thunder”). If only he would have decided to ditch his problematic narration at the start and taken himself entirely out of the cast (his role is minor, but annoying), this sitcom-like telling of how the American Samoa soccer team redeemed itself could have been far more effective. As is, “Next Goal Wins” is a tonal mess that’s sometimes entertaining. It focuses much of its attention on how a disgraced hot-tempered coach (Michael Fassbender) contends with his demons while trying to help a Bad News Bear-like team get into some semblance of shape. While there’s a certain charm about playing it loose here, and the film does have some fine moments — most involving a player who is transgender — it’s not enough. Waititi needs to reign in the goofiness, be less erratic and just let the story work its magic. Details: 2 stars; in theaters Nov. 17.

“Journey to Bethlehem”: It’s a tricky undertaking to turn the Greatest Story Ever Told into a musical. Get too irreverent about the biblical story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus Christ, and expect to get some hate mail. Get too reverential, and you run the risk of boring or alienating some viewers. So let’s give Swedish director Adam Anders some credit for finding a middle ground with this peppy musical version with some catchy tunes, an appealing cast (starting with Fiona Palomo as Mary and Milo Manheim as Joseph) and some scene-stealing from Antonio Banderas as boo-hiss King Herod and Joel Smallbone as his hunky son Antipater and you have a snappy, satisfying seasonal-appropriate gem, complete with wisecracking Three Wise Men. Details: 3 stars; in theaters now.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.

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  The foyer. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The living room. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The former library is now another living room. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The family room off the kitchen. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The kitchen. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The primary bedroom. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  The guest house’s main living area. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

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  A view of the pool area. (Photo by Bowman Media Group)

Former “Real Housewives of Orange County” cast member Elizabeth Lyn Vargas has put her La Quinta Polo Estates home on the market after a complete renovation for $8.995 million.

The list price is nearly triple the $3 million she paid for it in February 2021, records show.

“My blood, sweat and tears have gone into this remodel, and a lot of money, and I’m now finally finished,” Vargas said in an Instagram post in October.

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A post shared by Elizabeth Vargas (@elizabethlynvargas)

Built on a 2-acre lot in 1991, the roughly 10,000-square-foot home has six bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

Updates include new flooring, fixtures, interior and exterior paint and kitchen and bathroom remodels, according to TMZ, which first reported the listing, twice.

TMZ reported Vargas initially put the home up for sale at $9.95 million in March 2022. It resurfaced Nov. 10 at its current ask.

While the listing is spare on actual details, before and after MLS photos show its transformation from a red-roofed Spanish style with terracotta to a modern luxury home.

A towering portico leads to the foyer of the main house. Beyond it lies the living area where built-in display cabinets flank the fireplace surround and raised hearth in the all-white space with decorative ceiling beams and marbled floors.

What had been the library off the great room is now another living room.

French doors open the main living areas onto the lush, resort-style grounds that boast a large pond teeming with over 300 koi, a pergola-covered barbecue center and a great room with a fireplace, a swimming pool with a fountain feature, a spa and a tennis court.

There’s also a guest house.

Back inside the main house, a door separates the dining room from the eat-in gourmet kitchen with a waterfall island and a breakfast nook. The kitchen flows into the family room.

At the opposite end of the house is the primary suite. It has two walk-in closets and a bathroom with a jetted tub and a separate shower. French doors open the primary bedroom to a large sitting room, which leads to a home gym with a bathroom.

A perk of living in the gated community is access via private entrance to the nearby polo fields, where tournaments and music festivals are the big draw.

Bravo fired Vargas in 2021 after one season on the show. She’s opted to keep the listing in the Bravo housewife family with Gina Kirschenheiter, Travis Mullen and Dave Archuletta of First Team Real Estate.

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In addition to reality television, Vargas is known as a businesswoman. Her brands include being the founder and president of Newport Beach-based Vargas Spirits, the parent company of Vargas Vodka. She also established the no-kill We Care Rescue Ranch foundation whose work includes raising money for free and low-cost spay and neutering.