In true post-modernist spirit, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Joan Lehman Bldg., 770 NE 125th St., North Miami) wants to bring the flavor of the Far East right to your doorstep. Enter the East/West Fusion Festival. The event features a blend of Eastern-influenced art and poetry workshops, along with Pan-Asian music, dance, martial arts, and cooking demonstrations. Some of the prime picks for the workshops include Japanese calligraphy and brush painting, anime, haiku poetry with a contemporary beat, Kabuki art, and Samurai-inspired art. More of a watcher than a doer? Eleanor Hoh demonstrates "easy style" Asian cooking with her "squeeze, squirt, and dash" approach, and Mrinalini Sukumaran performs a traditional Indian dance to spice things up. For audiophiles, DJ Butterpants from WVUM-FM (90.5) and DJ Lolo from Revolver at Soho Lounge provide attendees with a fine assortment of Eastern-inspired pop and electronica to get things moving. And while you are at the MoCA, don't forget to take a guided tour of their current exhibitions, which include a Helen Frankenthaler retrospective and a site-specific installation by Trenton Doyle Hancock. Kimonos are optional. The event is free and starts at 1 p.m. Call 305-893-6211, ext. 25. -- Alexis Berkowitz
SAT 4/26
Let's LAN
You sank my battleship! And my goblin transport!
A lot of folks enjoy the guilty pleasure of a solid evening of computer gaming now and again. There's something satisfying about a night in front of the monitor, conquering computer-controlled countries. Some folks start playing against other people over the Internet -- certainly a more challenging proposition. For a small, dedicated few, though, even this is not enough. If you really want to nerd out, you need high-speed computers, all connected in a network, so you can play against opponents in the same room in real time. For 13 hours at a clip. Welcome to AdrenaLAN. From 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, participants meet at 2095 N. Andrews Ave., Pompano Beach, to prove who is the better virtual commander, whether it be with Age of Empires II, Unreal Tournament 2003, Half-life: Counterstrike, or Starcraft: Broodwars. Admission is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Visit www.adrenalan.biz to register. -- Dan Sweeney
SAT 4/26
On Planet Animal
Markham Park goes wild
Sure, Animal Planet is known for tear-jerking reality shows like Emergency Vets and overly dramatic filler like Pet Psychic, but the cute and cuddly channel is rolling into South Florida for a more upbeat purpose. The Animal Planet Expo features a question-and-answer session with Dr. Knor from Emergency Vets, a Frontline pet clinic, a Frisbee dog show, Ranger Rick's KidZone, and the American Humane Tent, where you can learn about the heroic efforts of animal rescuers. Visitors can also check out Animal Planet Rescue, an 80-foot disaster relief vehicle, veterinary hospital, and animal shelter on wheels. The fur starts flying at 10 a.m. at Markham Park, 16001 W. State Rd. 84, Sunrise. Call 954-389-2000. -- Sudra Schroeder
WED 4/30
It's Getting Hot in Here...
Memory loss, brain skips, mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats. No, it's not a bad acid flashback. It's Menopause the Musical, a humorous musical celebration of life, sex, women, and "The Change." Men are invited to put away their fears and join the festivities too. Feel the heat at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs. Tickets cost $32. Call 954-344-7765. -- Audra Schroeder
