pick of the week: The annual Arab Film Festival is back for year No. 12, featuring an array of intriguing movies as in the past, but with a new sense of purpose because of recent immigration issues. More than 30 movies are booked for the festival, which begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday, representing several countries as well as the work of local Arab filmmakers. Jointly sponsored by the Twin Cities arts organization Mizna and the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, the festival's opening night film is "Tramontane," a Lebanese drama about a blind man who discovers that his all-important identification card is a forgery. Opening showtime is 7 p.m. at Walker Art Center. The rest of the screenings will be at St. Anthony Main. Tickets are $12 ($10 for Film Society members, students and seniors) with packages available. For a complete schedule, go to mspfilm.org/mizna-twin-cities-arab-film-festival-2017.

History test: On Sept. 25, 1789, the 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution that became the Bill of Rights were officially proposed. Wait a minute, you say: Aren't there only 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights? Yes, now there are, because two of them were rejected. One dealt with apportioning seats in the House of Representatives, while the other would have limited the ability of members of Congress to raise their own pay.

Day by day: Thursday is National Drink Beer Day. Seriously? There was someone who thought beer lovers needed a special reason to tip back a few? Talk about overkill.

recommended reading: Meet a Minneapolis mom who hauls her three kids and a full load of groceries on her bicycle. It's not just any bike, of course. It's a cargo bike, and it's replacing the minivan. Learn more in Thursday's Variety.

JEFF STRICKLER • jeff.strickler@startribune.com