Your weekly guide to concerts, exhibitions and festivals in the Latvian capital! Published every Friday morning - follow on Facebook for regular updates.

Visitors can once again glimpse a fascinating piece of Riga's heritage, with the return of the National History Museum to its quarters inside Riga Castle last week.

The museum was forced to relocate after a fire ravaged the castle in 2013, and one wing spanning the basement and five floors is now open to the public. While it is still devoid of exhibits, the ascetic space offers a unique opportunity to discover the story of the castle itself.

Rediscovered and restored foundations, columns, vaults, tiles and wallpaper offer glimpses of the building's storied past. Originally the site of an alms house run by the Convent of the Holy Spirit, in 1340 the Livonian Order began constructing a fortress on this strategic point for controlling shipping on the Daugava. Destroyed in 1484 and rebuilt in 1515, it then served as the Riga seat for Polish, Swedish and Russian rulers, and today hosts the offices of the President of Latvia (whose quarters were refurbished a few years ago.)

The museum is open Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00.

Clarinet virtuoso Jērgs Vidmanis and the Sinfonietta Riga chamber orchestra play two Mozart symphonies in the Great Hall of the University of Latvia (Raiņa bulvāris 19). Friday November 1, 19:00, tickets from 15-30 euros.

Bop like its 1955 with the Billy B Band at Blues House (J.Alunāna 2). Friday November 1, 21:00., tickets at the door 20 euros

Get some spice at a new permanent exhibition of art works from India at the Riga Bourse Museum of Foreign Art (Doma laukums 6). The show features treasures from the museum's collection as well as videos with members of today's India-Latvian community for added context. 

Also at the Riga Bourse Museum, “Visions of Spain from Fortuny to Picasso” brings together works from 15 Spanish museums and private collections to explore the southern land's search for a modern identity. Until December 15.

Get blown away by unique works by Juris Bergins, a Latvian artist who blends porcelain traditions with stirring originality at Riga Porcelain Museum (Kalēju iela 9/11). In the street-level store windows, viewable free of charge, until December 8.

Get scribbling at the exhibition Inkwells and Quills at the Riga Art Nouveau Centre (Alberta iela 12). The show displays writing implements from the early 20th century, including ink pots, paper knives, postcards and autographs of Latvian cultural figures. Until December 1.

Explore Old Riga, be amazed by Art Nouveau architecture, or get the lowdown on the city's highlights!

Discover a remarkable, 66-year-long photographic career in the exhibition "Binde 100-10" at the National Art Museum of Latvia  (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1). It honours the 90th birthday of Gunārs Binde, mingling iconic pictures with surreal experiments. Until January 19.

Relive the mood of the turbulent transition to independence at the exhibition The First Five Years, featuring photographs taken by Jānis Deinats from 1989 to 1994 at the Latvian National Museum of Art  (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1). Until November 24.

Delve into Latvia's dramatic past on my Soviet Riga tour!

Immerse yourself in the world of American multidisciplinary artist Donna Huanca at the show Utopic Cells at Zuzeum Contemporary Art Centre (Lācplēša iea 101), an intoxicating blend of painting, sculpture, video, sound and... aromas. Until November 24.  

Explore Old Riga, be amazed by Art Nouveau architecture, or get the lowdown on the city's highlights!

Conventional wisdom is challenged in the exhibition "Beauty in the ugly and the ugly in the seemingly beautiful" by the late Swedish photographer Lars Tunbjörk at Dubulti Art Station (inside Dubulti railway station). Until January 26, free entry.

Delight in the vivid hues of Kurzeme landscape master Ansis Artums (1908-1997) at the Jūrmala City Museum (Tirgoņu iela 29). Until December 30.

The founder of modern Latvian painting Vilhelms Purvītis and the poet Aspazija had neighbouring summer cottages in Jurmala. The pair are reunited with an exhibition "Poet of Colours" featuring the landscape master's works made in Jurmala, held at the museum in Aspazija's former residence (Zigfrīda Meirovica prospekts 20). Until November 9.

Get into one of my delightful Jurmala walking tours, savour a daytrip to the resort or a journey to Kurzeme. 

Get your scary gear on for the Dark Carnival at M/Darbnīca music venue (A.Briāna iela 9). The masked ball will be serenaded by jazz musicians, DJs and light artists. Friday November 1, from 21:00, tickets are 10 euros.

It's a great weekend for meat dodgers. On World Vegan Day, ten vegan cooks will be dishing up treats in the Burzma food court (4th floor of Gallery Centrs Mall, Audēju iela 16). Friday November 1, 10:00-21:00.

Also, bring your big veggies to Pumpkin Day at Āgenskalns Market (Nometņu iela 64) to swap seeds, taste chefs' specialties or buy other nutritious beauties. Sunday November 3, 9:00-17:00, free entry.