See the lights, see the party, the…showgirl gowns?

Taylor Swift’s newest album “The Life of a Showgirl” drops Friday, meaning it’s showtime for Swift and party time for Swifties.

Fans can be among the first to get their hands on a physical copy of the album with select Target stores and other music suppliers staying open late for the release. Or they can sit in solitude with their streaming service of choice. Or they can follow the sound of music to the nearest release party.

All are invited. And no need to wait until midnight to get the party started.

Swift-themed celebrations already are underway across the country, as businesses get creative with their release-week promotions.

Here are a few ways Swifties can ring in the new era…

Where is Taylor Swift’s release party?

• Spotify is offering an immersive three-day activation in New York City called “The Life of a Showgirl: A Spotify Experience.” It will run from Sep. 30 through Oct 2. and include hidden Easter eggs and exclusive photo opportunities.  

• Celebrate the album release with real showgirls at The Newport Theater in Chicago during “The Life of a Burlesque Girl: A Taylor Swift Cabaret.”

• It’s a SwifTEA party! Hotel du Pont in Philadelphia is throwing a tea party called a “SwifTea Showgirl Soiree” with Swift-themed bites, a photo booth and a bedazzling station.

• Artfull in Iowa is creating album-inspired art projects at “Life of an Art Girl – Taylor Swift Art Night.”

• A listening party at Time Out Market Boston will include a Swift look-a-like contest.

• A Swift-themed bingo night will be held at Pinnacle Brewing Company in Arizona.

• The Upscale Oven in Kansas City is hosting a “Life of a Showgirl Taylor Swift Cookie Decorating Class” with Swift-themed sugar cookies.

• Grab the mic at Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar in Miami for a “Life of a ‘Sweet’ Girl” Swift karaoke party with a Taylor-inspired cocktail menu.

• Showgirl Cupcakes are available for album-release-day delivery courtesy of Baked by Melissa in New York City. A 12-pack includes six orange vanilla cupcakes and six teal vanilla cupcakes packaged in a container saying, “In my showgirl era.”

• Feel the lavender haze creepin’ up on you. Cannabis lounge Cirrus Social Club in Denver is hosting “The Life of a Showgirl Album Listening Sesh” and serving “Lavender Haze” strain and specialty beverage.

• Butterfly Pea Cafe in Los Angeles is holding “Sequins & Secrets: A Swiftie Brunch” with track-themed food and drink specials and a friendship bracelet making station.

• Capture the moment at “Paint & Sip: The Life of a Showgirl Celebration” hosted by Campus in San Francisco, a Swift-themed paint-and-sip party held the same night her fiancé Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers.  

• Celebrate Swift’s new vinyl by painting her portrait on an old vinyl at “Taylor Swift Paint Your Own Record” night at Craft on Third near San Diego.

• Would you like cream cheese on your Taylor Swift themed bagel? Dan’s Bagels in Texas is offering just that with a limited-edition Swiftie Sparkle Bagel. The sourdough bagel is topped with orange and pink sugar to recreate the orange glitter on the album cover.

• In Philadelphia, bring your own glass and sip on your favorite drink at a cozy listening party at Cupid’s Bookstore, or bring your Swiftie energy to the dance party at Live! Casino & Hotel.

• A burlesque brunch at Lost Coyote in New Orleans includes “sultry, sparkling burlesque performances set to your favorite Taylor eras, theatrical costumes, and a brunch party that’s part concert, part cabaret, and all sparkle.”

• Bring a “mini Swiftie” to Pink Moon in Maryland for a tribute concert by The Taylor Experience, a sparkly microphone craft and a VIP meet-and-greet with a Swift lookalike.

What is Taylor Swift’s ‘Official Release Party of a Showgirl’?

The showgirl herself has also sent out a mass invite to an album-release party.

Swift announced that a theatrical event titled “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” will feature the premiere of the music video for her new single “The Fate of Ophelia.” It will be played in AMC movie theaters across the globe from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5.

“I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl: Oct 3 — Oct 5 only in cinemas!” Swift wrote on social media. “You’ll get to see the exclusive world premiere of the music video for my new single “The Fate of Ophelia”, along with never before seen behind-the-scenes footage of how we made it, cut by cut explanations of what inspired this music, and the brand new lyric videos from my new album The Life of a Showgirl.”

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See the lights, see the party, the…showgirl gowns?

Taylor Swift’s newest album “The Life of a Showgirl” drops Friday, meaning it’s showtime for Swift and party time for Swifties.

Fans can be among the first to get their hands on a physical copy of the album with select Target stores and other music suppliers staying open late for the release. Or they can sit in solitude with their streaming service of choice. Or they can follow the sound of music to the nearest release party.

All are invited. And no need to wait until midnight to get the party started.

Swift-themed celebrations already are underway across the country, as businesses get creative with their release-week promotions.

Here are a few ways Swifties can ring in the new era…

Where is Taylor Swift’s release party?

• Spotify is offering an immersive three-day activation in New York City called “The Life of a Showgirl: A Spotify Experience.” It will run from Sep. 30 through Oct 2. and include hidden Easter eggs and exclusive photo opportunities.  

• Celebrate the album release with real showgirls at The Newport Theater in Chicago during “The Life of a Burlesque Girl: A Taylor Swift Cabaret.”

• It’s a SwifTEA party! Hotel du Pont in Philadelphia is throwing a tea party called a “SwifTea Showgirl Soiree” with Swift-themed bites, a photo booth and a bedazzling station.

• Artfull in Iowa is creating album-inspired art projects at “Life of an Art Girl – Taylor Swift Art Night.”

• A listening party at Time Out Market Boston will include a Swift look-a-like contest.

• A Swift-themed bingo night will be held at Pinnacle Brewing Company in Arizona.

• The Upscale Oven in Kansas City is hosting a “Life of a Showgirl Taylor Swift Cookie Decorating Class” with Swift-themed sugar cookies.

• Grab the mic at Sweet Caroline Karaoke Bar in Miami for a “Life of a ‘Sweet’ Girl” Swift karaoke party with a Taylor-inspired cocktail menu.

• Showgirl Cupcakes are available for album-release-day delivery courtesy of Baked by Melissa in New York City. A 12-pack includes six orange vanilla cupcakes and six teal vanilla cupcakes packaged in a container saying, “In my showgirl era.”

• Feel the lavender haze creepin’ up on you. Cannabis lounge Cirrus Social Club in Denver is hosting “The Life of a Showgirl Album Listening Sesh” and serving “Lavender Haze” strain and specialty beverage.

• Butterfly Pea Cafe in Los Angeles is holding “Sequins & Secrets: A Swiftie Brunch” with track-themed food and drink specials and a friendship bracelet making station.

• Capture the moment at “Paint & Sip: The Life of a Showgirl Celebration” hosted by Campus in San Francisco, a Swift-themed paint-and-sip party held the same night her fiancé Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers.  

• Celebrate Swift’s new vinyl by painting her portrait on an old vinyl at “Taylor Swift Paint Your Own Record” night at Craft on Third near San Diego.

• Would you like cream cheese on your Taylor Swift themed bagel? Dan’s Bagels in Texas is offering just that with a limited-edition Swiftie Sparkle Bagel. The sourdough bagel is topped with orange and pink sugar to recreate the orange glitter on the album cover.

• In Philadelphia, bring your own glass and sip on your favorite drink at a cozy listening party at Cupid’s Bookstore, or bring your Swiftie energy to the dance party at Live! Casino & Hotel.

• A burlesque brunch at Lost Coyote in New Orleans includes “sultry, sparkling burlesque performances set to your favorite Taylor eras, theatrical costumes, and a brunch party that’s part concert, part cabaret, and all sparkle.”

• Bring a “mini Swiftie” to Pink Moon in Maryland for a tribute concert by The Taylor Experience, a sparkly microphone craft and a VIP meet-and-greet with a Swift lookalike.

What is Taylor Swift’s ‘Official Release Party of a Showgirl’?

The showgirl herself has also sent out a mass invite to an album-release party.

Swift announced that a theatrical event titled “The Official Release Party of a Showgirl” will feature the premiere of the music video for her new single “The Fate of Ophelia.” It will be played in AMC movie theaters across the globe from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5.

“I hereby invite you to a *dazzling* soirée, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl: Oct 3 — Oct 5 only in cinemas!” Swift wrote on social media. “You’ll get to see the exclusive world premiere of the music video for my new single “The Fate of Ophelia”, along with never before seen behind-the-scenes footage of how we made it, cut by cut explanations of what inspired this music, and the brand new lyric videos from my new album The Life of a Showgirl.”

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are set to square off in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday at Wrigley Field.

The game will be the fourth winner-take-all playoff game played at the Friendly Confines in its history, and the Cubs will be looking to bounce back after losing Game 2 by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon.

Here is what we know about the game so far.

What time will the game start?

The start time for Game 3 has not yet been decided. With the New York Yankees extending their series against the Boston Red Sox, there are two different times at which the game could start:

2:08 p.m.: This will be the start time if the Cincinnati Reds extend their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

4:08 p.m.: This will be the start time if the Dodgers finish their series against the Reds.

Who are the starting pitchers?

Former Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish is set to get the ball for the Padres, while Jameson Taillon will start Game 3 for the North Siders.

Darvish posted a 5-5 record and a 5.38 ERA in 15 starts this season, striking out 68 batters in 72 innings of work.

Darvish has pitched against the Cubs in the playoffs before, throwing 6.1 innings of one-run ball in Game 3 of the 2017 National League Championship Series.

In five starts for the Padres against the Cubs since a 2021 trade sent him to San Diego, Darvish has a record of 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA, with 33 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Taillon has had a strong finish to the season after dealing with injury, posting an overall record of 11-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts with the Cubs. Thursday will mark his third playoff appearance, having given up three earned runs in 4.1 innings with the Yankees.

How have the Cubs fared in winner-take-all games at Wrigley Field?

This will mark the fourth time in Cubs history that they’ve played a game at Wrigley Field in which both teams were at risk of elimination.

The Cubs are 0-3 in those games, losing Game 7 of the 1945 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, Game 7 of the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, and the 2018 National League Wild Card Game against the Colorado Rockies.

Who’s Hot, Who’s Not

For the Cubs, Seiya Suzuki has a pair of extra-base hits in the series, including a double in Wednesday’s loss. Nico Hoerner also has three hits so far.

Pete Crow-Armstrong is decidedly not hot, having gone 0-for-6 with five strikeouts so far in the series. Ian Happ hasn’t been much better, going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts during the series.

No Cubs pitcher appeared in both games, though the Cubs’ bullpen has given up one run in 9.2 innings, with Andrew Kittredge giving up a run as the opener in Wednesday’s loss.

Daniel Palencia had a pair of strikeouts in Game 1 on Tuesday, while Colin Rea had one hit allowed and one strikeout in 1.2 innings Wednesday.

Follow along for live updates.

Follow along for live updates.

Follow along for live updates.