• HOT TICKETS

Music and Nightlife: Lettuce brings its funk and jazz to Port City Music Hall

LET US HAVE funk. We can, with Lettuce, the seven-piece funk/jazz collective originally formed in 1992. They bring us the funk Friday in Portland.

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $20 in advance; $25 day of show; $30 for preferred seating

INFO: Portcitymusichall.com

Art and Theater: An evening of acrobatics in Westbrook

THE FRENCH DANCE TROUPE Compagnie Kafig blends hip-hop, martial arts and contemporary dance. Choreographer Mourad Merzouki leads 11 male dancers who highlight their acrobatic skills.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Westbrook Performing Arts Center, 471 Stroudwater St.

HOW MUCH: $28 and $36; $15 for students; porttix.com; 842-0800

INFO: Portland Ovations; 773-3150 or portlandovations.com

Art and Theater: Flute takes leading PSO role

THE PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA features principal flutist Lisa Hennessy in Khachaturian’s Flute Concerto. The concert also will be highlighted by Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8 and Mozart’s Overture to “The Magic Flute.”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Merrill Auditorium

HOW MUCH: $31 to $81; porttix; 842-0800

INFO: www.portlandsymphony.org

Dining and Drink: It’ll be a hot time at the old Holiday Inn

IT’S CHILI AND CHOWDER WEATHER. Sample dozens of chilis and chowders from southern Maine chefs at this fun annual event, then vote on your favorites. The menu usually includes breads and ice creams as well.

WHEN: 12:30 to 3 p.m. (Preview tickets will get you in an hour early.)

WHERE: Altrusa’s Great Chili & Chowder Challenge, Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $20 in advance or $23 at the door. Preview tickets are $35.

INFO: 797-4494

Et Cetera: Oh, what fun it is to ride . . .

LOVELY WEATHER for a sleigh ride together? Find out at Skyline Farm’s annual Sleigh Day on Saturday. Take a ride and see the Skyline Farm Carriage Museum’s new exhibit, “Rhythm of Winter.”

WHEN: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Skyline Farm, 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth

HOW MUCH: $8; $25 per family; free for those under 6; price includes a sleigh ride

INFO: Skylinefarm.org

• CHEAP THRILLS

Music and Nightlife: Hattie Simon Trio to take center stage at The Hive

SOME OF US start earlier than others, when it comes to reaching our full potential. For a good example of this, go see teenage jazz singer and pianist Hattie Simon. The Hattie Simon Trio plays Friday in Kennebunk.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: The Hive, 84 Main St., Kennebunk

HOW MUCH: $5

INFO: Thehivekennebunk.com

Dining and Drink: Sample the sweets at Dean’s on Friday

CHOCOLATE LOVERS, get ready for Valentine’s Day by tasting up to 28 truffles, caramels, buttercreams and other chocolate treats during an open house that will also feature the work of local photographer Melissa Mullen.

WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Dean’s Sweets, 82 Middle St., Portland

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: 899-3664

Et Cetera: Searching for John Ford? Check this out

LEARN A LITTLE MORE about Portland-raised film director John Ford by attending a talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Glenn Frankel on Friday. Frankel will speak on his book “The Searchers,” about Ford’s classic Western film of the same name.

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

WHERE: Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland

HOW MUCH: Donations of any amount encouraged

INFO: Mainehistory.org