Calendar

thursday
november 13
New Vision Florida/Brazil Festival: Bringing together artists from Brazil and Florida, the festival ends this weekend with two dance concerts at Miami Beach's Colony Theater and outdoor street performances on Lincoln Road. A highlight occurs tonight at 9:00 when Brazilian guitar virtuoso Baden Powell performs solo, in a rare U.S. appearance, at Coral Gables Congregational Church (3010 DeSoto Blvd.). The innovative Powell is known for his Afro-sambas and his work with one of the key figures in the bossa nova movement, Vinicius de Morais. Tickets cost $20 and $35. See "Calendar Listings" for more or call 324-4337. (NK)

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival: Just a few more days and the curtain comes down on the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Over the weekend, catch The Winter Guest, starring Emma Thompson and her real-life mother Phyllida Law, or The Wings of the Dove, another Henry James novel-turned-movie, starring Helena Bonham Carter. Call 954-564-7373 or see "Calendar Listings" for a complete schedule. (NK)

Festival of Chefs: Chow down for charity at the Easter Seal Society of Dade County's Festival of Chefs tonight at 6:00 at NationsBank (100 SE Second Ave.). Talented chefs from restaurants around town, such as Crystal Cafe and the Mayfair Grill, will be serving up their house specialties and hoping their creations garner the award for best presentation or best-tasting from a panel of hungry local-celebrity judges. Once you've had your fill of food, you can benefit the programs and services provided by Easter Seals to children and adults with disabilities by bidding on travel packages at the not-so-silent auction. Tickets cost $50 in advance and $65 at the door. Call 325-0470 for more information. (NK)

friday
november 14
U2: U2's latest album PopMart hasn't exactly taken off like a chain of Kmarts; reviewers have been underwhelmed. But as far as stadium shows go, not too many bands pull it off like this one. Trying to outshine 1993's Zooropa tour, U2 packs a mega stage-and-sound show with a catalogue of tunes from more than ten albums. So even if their current album is a bit lame, it's just one part of many. The question is, do you want to pay $52.50 to see all the parts? (The cheaper seats have sold out.) If so, be at Pro Player Stadium (2269 NW 199th St.) at 8:00 p.m. Opening act is Smash Mouth. Call 623-6100. (LB)

New Vision Florida/Brazil Festival: See Thursday.
Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival: See Thursday.

saturday
november 15
Tobacco Road's 85th Anniversary Party: In this city of constant change, leave it to barflies and music fanatics to keep something afloat for 85 years. After all, a good watering hole that's also a quality live-music venue is about as rare as an honest city official. Since 1912 there have been only a handful of each. To celebrate another year as Miami's oldest bar, the folks at Tobacco Road (626 S. Miami Ave.) are bringing in a classic party band, Little Feat, and zydeco player Terrance Simien, perhaps the hottest thing from Louisiana since Tabasco. They also have a strong showing of local players, with Iko-Iko, Raw B. Jae and the Liquid Funk, Al's Not Well, Amanda Green, Diane Ward, and Manchild. Showtime is 7:00 p.m. Tickets cost $13.50 in advance or $17.00 at the door. Call 374-1198. (LB)

Celia Cruz: The Queen of Salsa might have to take on a new title after this performance: the Queen of Shopping. Yes, Celia Cruz, the ebullient vocalist who has recorded more than 70 albums, is opening a shopping mall. Well, she's not really opening her own mall; she's performing at one that's been open for years and is getting a new identity. The mall formerly known as the Miracle Center (3301 Coral Way) has been transformed into Paseos, an interactive Spanish colonial-theme marketplace containing more than 100 international boutiques and 20 artists' studios. Fear not -- the Gap, the Limited, Victoria's Secret, and all those other national retailers remain, as well as the movie theater, gym, and T.G.I.Friday's. Cruz starts crooning at 8:00 p.m. on the mall's first level. Admission is free, and a big crowd is expected. If you don't make it inside, watch the action on two huge video screens outside. Call 444-8890. (NK)

Y-100 Wing Ding: For the past ten years radio station Y-100 and its morning DJ Footy have been throwing a huge one-day party to benefit Here's Help, a charity that combats drug abuse. The menu has always consisted of chicken wings from various South Florida restaurants and plenty of music from national acts. So many people attended last year's bash that the Wing Ding has now evolved into a two-day event. Today from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hollywood's Young Circle Park (Federal Highway and Hollywood Boulevard), fill up on wings and a variety of foods, hang out with athletes and celebrities, and keep the kiddies busy with rides and activities. At 4:30 p.m. check out the musical acts, which include 3rd Party, 98 Degrees, Inner Circle, and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Tomorrow the festivities begin at 11:00 a.m. and run until 8:00 p.m. The music starts at 2:45 p.m. with Hanson, Nayib Estefan's band Funky Munky, Duncan Sheik, Diana King, and KC and the Sunshine Band. Tickets range from five to eight dollars. Call 774-9795. (NK)