pharrell-williams_web.jpg*Friday, October 17 (tonight)
Hip Hop Concert: The group N*E*R*D (No-one- Ever- Really- Dies) is made up of music producers the Neptunes, composed of  Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and drummer Shae Haley.  Their music is funk, Hip-Hop and alternate rock mix. You may know them as the opening act of singer Kanye West’s tour last June. The Invincible Sounds Of Summer Tour also features the rapper Common.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m., concert at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 17 (tonight).

The Fillmore/Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach.

Tickets available at ticketmaster.com; from $36.50.
*Saturday, October 18
Swing Dance Special Event: Take a class, dance a little. The Swing Dance Club meets each month. But this event is special, as Susan Ratcliff of Show Off Straps is donating a belt made of Swarovski crystals. The belt is specially created for breast cancer awareness. Valued at $100, the belt will be raffled off and all proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Society. Have fun learning the swing at the beginning of the evening, then dance the night away.

Class: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Dance at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $12. German American Club, 6401 Washington Str., Hollywood. More info: 954-815-0505 or sfsds.com.
 
*Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19
VIVA BROWARD: Hispanic Heritage Festival and Expo. With music, dancing, art and crafts, vendors and fun. Highlighted by the concert of Grammy winner Nestor Torres (4 p.m. Oct. 19). Other musicians on stage will be salsa bands, Havana Soul, Corazon Colombiano and Voces de America.
Many things to do and see in two days: Latin foods, Brazilian capoeira dancers, salsa dance lessons, folkloric shows, health screenings, educational displays, voter registration and lots of kids’ fun activities. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 18-19. Free admission. Pompano Citi Centre, corner of Copans Road and Federal Highway, Pompano Beach. More info at vivabroward.com.

*Sunday, October 19
Lecture: Dexter Filkins, New York Times foreign correspondent reads and discusses his book The Forever War, his personal view of the remarkable chain of events that began with the rise of the Taliban in the ‘90s, continued with the attacks of 9/11, and moved on to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
6 p.m. Oct. 19, Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables;
305 442 4408.

*Monday, October 20 on…
FOOD GALORE: Inspired by similar event in Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach announces its first annual Restaurant Week, Monday to Sunday Oct. 20-26. A nice way to sample new restaurants or revisit old favorites at prices tempered by cooling fall breezes. Prix fixe lunches are $20.08 for three-courses at about a dozen participating restaurants. For a list of the restaurants: palmbeachfl.com/visitors/events/palm-beach-restaurant-week.aspx.

*Friday, October 24
Gloria!
  One show only. Five-time Grammy Award-winner Gloria Estefan performs her greatest hits and music from her CD 90 Millas. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Education Funds of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Indian River County Public Schools. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, One Seminole Way,  near Hollywood.
 Showtime is at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $99-$254.  Box office: 954-523-3309 in Broward, 305-358-5885 in Dade; 561-966-3309 in Palm Beach, or hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com.

Salsa!  Salsa dance Party, also at the Hard Rock casino, but this time at the Pangaea Club and Lounge, the sister spin-off of the Pangaea lounge in New York. A mix of Asian, African and European elements, with West African adobe structures, animal skulls,  spears, cartographic art and tribal artifacts.

Oct. 24, all-night long: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Pangaea, 5711 Seminole Way, Hollywood; 954-581-5454  or pangaea lounge.com.

SidonieSawyer@Gmail.com