Part of the larger event will be the Book and the Cook Fair at the Convention Center the weekend of March 14 to 16. The fair will feature more than 150 exhibitions, food sampling, and cooking demonstrations.
A free brochure listing the dining and other events is available from the Philadelphia Visitors Center, 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, or by calling 800-537-7676. Reservations for some of the more popular chef/restaurant pairings are going fast.
A complete listing of Book and the Cook events is available from Philadelphia Online, The Inquirer's site on the Internet: http://www.phillynews.com
Shut Up & Dance. The event started five years ago at a Beastie Boys concert at the Trocadero hosted by Pennsylvania Ballet dancers. More than $1,200 was raised.
Shut Up & Dance is now bigger than ever, sponsoring a show at the Forrest Theatre on March 8, followed by a dance party at the 12th Street Gym.
The evening will feature the work of newcomer Joaquin de Luz, as well as interludes by various Pennsylvania Ballet members and hip-hop sensation Rennie Harris.
Money raised, as always, goes to MANNA - the Metropolitan AIDS Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, which provides hot lunches and dinners to homebound people with HIV or AIDS.
Tickets are $25 for the performance at 8 and dance party at 10 p.m.; $60 includes a reception before the performance. Information: 215-496-1347.
``The Tempest.'' Even though Hollywood has discovered that William Shakespeare is still cool after 400 years, it's still inspiring to see real people up close perform his work.
People's Light & Theatre Company in Malvern is presenting William Shakespeare's The Tempest from March 12 to April 19. It's the story of a storm that shipwrecks the king's court on a magical island. And we thought the Love Boat was cool.
Tickets are $20 and $25. Information: 610-644-3500.
Circus. The Atlanta-based UniverSoul Big Top Circus - the only circus in the world to feature a black cast of circus performers, or so they say - debuts in Philadelphia at Fairmount Park on March 21 and runs through April 13.
All the popular attractions will entertain; Ringmaster Casual Cal and his sidekick Zeke will run the show. Among those scheduled to appear are a contortionist from Spain, stilt dancers from the Virgin Islands, and aerialists from South Africa.
Tickets are $10 to $30. Phone: 215-336-2000.
POPULAR MUSIC CHERRY TREE MUSIC CO-OP 215-386-1640.
* Craobh Rua $12 in advance; $14 at the door. 7:30 p.m. 3/9.
CORESTATES CENTER 215-336-3600.
* Metallica With Corrosion of Conformity. $27.50-$37.50. 7:30 p.m. 3/8.
* Phil Collins Dance Into the USA Tour. $27.50-$50. 8 p.m. 3/29.
ELECTRIC FACTORY 215-568-3222.
* Silverchair $14.75. 8:30 p.m. 2/22.
* Soul Coughing With Firewater. $12.50. 8:30 p.m. 3/7.
* Robert Hunter $18.50. 8:30 p.m. 3/8.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE 215-893-1145.
* Leon Bates $6; $3 ages 12 & under. 1 p.m. 3/8.
* Huun-Huur-Tu $15; $13 students & seniors. 7 p.m. 3/9.
KESWICK THEATRE Glenside; 215-572-7650.
* Jeanne Steele $22. 8 p.m. 3/8.
* The Clancys & Robbie O'Connell With Carmel Quinn. $25. 3 p.m. 3/9.
* The Commitments $22.50. 8 p.m. 3/12.
* Hal Roach With Tim Flaherty. $25. 8 p.m. 3/13.
THEATRE OF LIVING ARTS 215-922-1011.
* The Connells With Odds, Treble Charger. $10.75. 8 p.m. 2/26.
* Jane Siberry $17.50. 8 p.m. 2/28.
* Keb Mo' $15.25. 8 p.m. 3/7.
* Donovan $19.50. 8 p.m. 3/8.
TIN ANGEL 215-928-0978.
* Saffire With Girls From Mars. $15. 7:30 & 10:30 p.m. 2/22.
TOWER THEATER UpperDarby; 610-352-0313.
* Jewel With the Rugburns. $19.50. 8 p.m. 3/9.
WATERFRONT ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE Camden; 609-635-1445.* Bill Cosby $26-$46. 7 & 9:30 p.m. 3/29. (Tickets on sale 10 a.m. Sun.)
Peggy King Benefit concert for the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Acorn Club; 215-545-8634. $25 & $50. 7 p.m. 2/21.
Odadaa! International House; 215-893-1145. $15; $13 students & seniors. 8 p.m. 2/22.
CLASSICAL MUSIC PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY Convention Center; 215-569-8587.Unless noted, tickets are $17.50; $8.75 students.
* Juilliard String Quartet 8 p.m. 2/27.
Itzhak Perlman Violin; works by Schumann, Brahms, Schnittke and Smetana. Academy of Music; 215-893-1999. $16-$50. 8 p.m. 2/24.
Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicci Puccini operas presented by AVA Opera Theatre. Academy of Vocal Arts; 215-735-1685. $25; $22 students & seniors. 8 p.m. 2/25 & 2/28-3/1; 3 p.m. 3/2.
The Rake's Progress Stravinsky's opera sung in English, presented by the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Academy of Music; 215-928-2110 or 215-893-1999. $18-$130. 7:30 p.m. 3/3, 2:30 p.m. 3/9, 8 p.m. 3/12 & 3/14.
Philadelphia Orchestra Andre Raphel Smith conducts an all-Russian program. Grand Opera House, Wilmington; 800-374-7263.$35-$50. 7:30 p.m. 3/5.
David Helfgott Pianist, on whose life the movie Shine is based. Academy of Music; 215-893-1999.$20-$75. 8 p.m. 4/16.
THEATER The Rivals British comedy stars Millicent Martin, Grace Gonglewski. Walnut Street Theatre; 215-574-3550, Ext. 4. $8-$38. 3/1-4/13.
DANCE Lord of the Dance Celtic dance performance starring Michael Flatley, choreographer and star of Riverdance. Waterfront Entertainment Centre, Camden; 215-336-2000 or 609-338-9000. $19.50-$42.50. 8 p.m. 2/28 & 3/1.
Romeo and Juliet Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware. Grand Opera House,
Wilmington; 302-652-5577 or 800-374-7263. $21-$38. 8 p.m. 2/28 & 3/1, 3 p.m. 3/2.
SPECIAL EVENTS Stars on Ice With Ekaterina Gordeeva, Katarina Witt, Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, Torvill & Dean, Rosalynn Sumners, Jill Trenary, others; benefits Make-a-Wish Foundation. CoreStates Center; 215-336-2000. $30 & $42.50. 7:30 p.m. 2/21.
Philadelphia String Band Show of Shows CoreStates Spectrum; 215-336-3600. $9-$16. 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. 2/22.
Philadelphia Flower Show Convention Center; 215-988-8899. $14.50; $7.25 ages under 12. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mons-Sats, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Suns. 3/2-3/9.
Sesame Street Live ``Let's Play School.'' CoreStates Spectrum; 215-336-3600. $9.50-$25. 7 p.m. 3/19; 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m. 3/20-21; 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. 3/22; 2 & 5:30 p.m. 3/23. (Tickets on sale Sat.)
