Thursday•9
Chris Mooney Election Day may have come and gone, but the party lines aren't going anywhere. To that end, Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando welcomes Chris Mooney, the author of The Republican War on Science, for its "Speak Up!" Series that takes place oh-so-early in the morning but does include a thoughtful breakfast. While stem cells don't typically go well with bacon and hash browns, the reproductive symbolism of over-easy eggs isn't lost on us. Mooney's contention that political interests are unduly influencing federal science programs should provide an engaging context to PPGO's uphill, pro-choice battle. Although the talk's a steep $40, you can join in the free conversation Tuesday, Nov. 14, at PPGO's final mixer of the year at Room 3 Nine. (registration 7:30 a.m., talk 8 a.m. at Westin Grand Bohemian, $40; mixer 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. at Room 3 Nine, free; 407-872-6838; www.ppgo.org)
Orlando Jazz & Funk Carnival We've never taken to things that lazily commingle jazz with any other music rooted in black culture — from a "jazz and blues festival" to a "jazz/soul" section of a record store. Still, we warmed up to this inaugural Orlando Jazz & Funk Carnival after the lineup was revealed, never mind the blundering nomenclature. The jazz is on one day — Friday, with the Sam Rivers Trio (not the big band, but the blisteringly improvisatory trio) and the swinging Cook Trio (who are always a trio). The funk is on Saturday — the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. And the funky jazz is on Thursday — the Karl Denson Trio. Some guests have yet to be announced, but it looks like the organizers have pulled together a fantastic alternative to the fuzak festivals that so often pass as jazz gatherings in Central Florida. (8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at Back Booth; single-show tickets $10-$18, three-day pass $30; 407-999-2570; www.backbooth.com)
Paintball Sports Promotions World Cup More than 300 teams from all over the world continue to battle it out at the 2006 Paintball Sports Promotions World Cup at Disney's Wide World of Sports (which started Tuesday, Nov. 7). Considered the biggest paintball event of the year, the World Cup hosts X-Ball, five-man X-Ball, professional NXL League and Young Guns championships, with cash prizes worth in excess of $137,000. Vendors from more than 70 of the industry's biggest retailers will be there to show off their goods, so if you've been looking to score a paintball gun for that special someone, this might be your chance. PSP doesn't charge admission to the expo, but if you want to watch the action on the main field, $10 gets you an all-day seat in the stands for the Friday-Sunday matches. (through Sunday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex; free-$10 for one-day grandstand wristband, $25 for three-day pass; 407-363-6600; www.pspevents.com)
Friday•10
Where the Art Meets the Soul It's kind of confusing, but buried in the thick of the art activities that are spread around Downtown Disney West Side this weekend is the ninth annual House of Blues folk-art festival. This mini-festival held under the umbrella of the major Festival of the Masters has a heart of its own, gathering more than 40 artists of local and national renown, including some of the well-traveled Highwaymen and newcomers such as Crossgirl from Lakeland. The music and atmosphere that hang around HOB during the three-day fest suits the art, creating a distinct not-so-Disney feeling. The whole affair is free, so if the folkier, funkier side of this festival doesn't hold your complete attention, there are more mainstream offerings as well as stuff with kid appeal, like the 6,000 square feet of sidewalk that get filled at the Central Florida Chalk Artists Association event. (9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday; House of Blues, Downtown Disney West Side; free; 407-934-2583)
Saturday•11
Orlando Beer Festival Remember Beerfest, that Broken Lizard movie that came out in August? The Eighth Annual Orlando Beer Festival is kind of like that, minus the crazy German characters. And the extreme drinking games. OK, maybe the only thing in common is the massive amounts of beer … but that's a good thing, right? This celebration of the suds features 100 varieties from U.S. brewers, including big shots like Anheuser-Busch and independents such as Beautiful Brews Inc. (the female-fueled Boca Raton company behind Honey Amber Rose) and our favorite local, Orlando Brewing Partners. Taste and learn the differences between ales, pilsners, stouts and barley wine. There is one upside to sobriety: Designated drivers get in free and can down all the free soda they want. (2 p.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday at Universal CityWalk; $22.95-$37.95; 407-224-7569;www.orlandobeerfestival.com)
Bravo Bujones Orlando Ballet must be flying in some of the most glorious codpieces in the world to perform this tribute to their late director, Fernando Bujones, considered to be one of the greatest American male ballet dancers of the 20th century. A principal dancer at 19, followed by progressions as teacher, choreographer and artistic director, the Cuban-born master sadly lost a short battle with melanoma last year. Male dancers bring much-needed potency and muscle to the stage, and this performance is an opportunity to see Bujones' signature dances back-to-back without frilly interludes or excessive twirling. Orlando Ballet is slapping a spendy price on tickets, but the balcony doesn't look so bad considering that the man being celebrated always said, "Attitude is altitude." (7:30 p.m. at Carr Performing Arts Centre; $18-$100; 407-426-1739; orlandoballet.org) Encounter Point Rolling into Orlando for a two-day Oscar-qualifying run, Encounter Point is a direct and well-made documentary about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You may think that you've had about all the heart-tugging, hair-pulling docs on the Middle East that you can stand, but Encounter Point doesn't let itself get bogged down in broad political issues. Instead, it focuses sharply on the actual people affected by the never-ending violence in a way that humanizes their daily struggle, crystallizes their grief and demonstrates how difficult — though not impossible — dialogue between two seemingly irreconcilable sides can be. Co-director Julia Bacha will be available for Q&A sessions at both screenings. (12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Enzian Theater, Maitland; $6; 407-629-0054) Bang Music Festival With reggae, Latin pop, electronica, rock and hip-hop on tap for this event, it seems the only question is what music won't we hear at Miami's Bang Music Festival. Bluegrass, maybe? Though partying at Biscayne Bay's Bicentennial Park with thousands of people is bound to be a bang, partiers might leave exhausted and suffering from eclectic-itis after this daylong outdoor festival. Big headliners include Duran Duran, Gnarls Barkley, Modest Mouse, Common, Roger Sanchez, Daft Punk and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, but the list of performers is over 50 names long, so they're going to need those five stages. The party doesn't stop till midnight. (11 a.m. at Bicentennial Park, Miami; $75; www.bangmusicfestival.com)
Sunday•12 Viva Las Vegas Since the season for giving is right around the corner, people should come out and support a sexy charity event this weekend at Club Fusion benefiting those living with HIV/AIDS. It's essentially a club night, but all of the proceeds for this meticulously planned party go to benefit the MAC AIDS fund. This year's theme is centered on Las Vegas, and the promoters are promising a sin-filled night not to be forgotten. Expect lots of body painting, dancers and a raucous burlesque show just to get things started. Sexy Savannah of O-Rock 105.9 will host an auction, DJs will spin all night and there'll be a few blackjack tables on hand for those who like to gamble. Female impersonator Darcel Stevens will bless the venue with her presence as well, and it's all for a good cause. (8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Club Fusion; $30; 251-458-4411) Tuesday•14 Weary Boys To hell with what you hear on the radio. THIS is real country music. But despite Weary Boys' neo-traditionalist bent, the young man's vigor of this Austin band never shies from tapping other influences, usually bluegrass and rock & roll, to fire up the Fahrenheit. Typically, their shows are rafter-dusting honky-tonk affairs, but this time around should be special because the Boys have jacked their sound with shovelfuls of cayenne. Fitted with distinctly Cajun gear like rub boards and wobbly-drunk fiddles, Weary Boys' latest album Jumpin' Jolie sounds like they've been spending a lot of time on the bayou. Expect their rocking cover of Hank Sr.'s "Jambalaya" to bring down the house. Laissez les bons temps rouler, bitches! (8 p.m. at Copper Rocket Pub, Maitland; $5; 407-645-0069) Contributors: Jonathan Cunningham, Jason Ferguson, Amber Foster, Bao Le-Huu, Billy Manes, Susie Orr, Makkada B. Selah, Bart Zino
