The Berkshire Bateria's samba band Bossa Triba plays Jae’s Spice Friday night, and the dance floor will be hopping!  The Berkshire Bateria Escola De Samba features a number of talented performers that include drummers, dancers, singers and melodic instrumentalists. The group performs a wide variety of music from Brazil, including hot samba rhythms and cool bossa nova jazz.  Wild gypsy kezmer punk rockers, Bella’s Bartok (pictured left) will pack the house at Mission Bar & Tapas on Saturday night with up to sixteen muscians playing!  Experience their musical cacophony of wanderlust and bohemian rhapsody while enjoying Spanish wines and tasty tapas, served until midnight.

Friday, November 20 | Bossa Triba | 9pm | Jae’s Spice | 297 North Street | 443-1234 | $5/Free with Lunch or Dinner @ Jae’s or the Pressbox

Saturday, November 21 | Bella’s Bartok | 9pm |  Mission Bar & Tapas | 446 North St | $5

Romance, Soul & Rock N' Roll presents their 2009 show, entitled Peace, Love & Music. Returning for their 8th season with an all new show, once again they promise a full evening of entertainment with plenty of singing and dancing to benefit the Jimmy Fund of Berkshire County.  At First United Methodist Church, Giving Thanks Concert ’09 features singer-songwriter Bobby Sweet and The BSweet Band along with Mary Verdi in a benefit concert for Berkshire Community Action Council. Raffles this year will include cordwood, heating oil, gasoline gift certificates, and food gift certificates.  If you are feeling like dancing, get your Latin groove on at the Masonic Temple with salsa dancing lessons beginning at 7pm from Dancin’ David and the party continues into the evening with FREE pizza and refreshments.

Peace, Love & Music | Saturday, November 21 | 7:30pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South St | 997-4444| | $22/$14

Giving Thanks Concert | Saturday, November 21 | 7-11pm | The First United Methodist Church | 55 Fenn St | $10 advance/$12 at the door

Berkshire Ballroom Dance | Saturday, November 21 | 7-11pm | The Masonic Temple | 116 South St | 684-1510| $13/$10 members/$5 Students

Saturday night, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge hosts an early Thanksgiving feast, vegan-style, as The Dancing Vegan prepares a multicourse dinner featuring Caramelized Squash, Tempeh Wellington, Yam Biscuits, Cornbread, Hot Mulled Cider, Pumpkin and Pecan Pie, and much, much more!  On Sunday, come down to St. Stephen’s Parish and meet with members of the local LGBT community at the BSCC Thanksgiving Potluck.  Turkey will be provided; all that is asked is that you bring a side dish and some friendly conversation. Friends, families, and allies are all invited to take part in this holiday affair.

Saturday, November 21 |  Vegan Thanksgiving Feast | 7pm | Dottie’s Coffee Lounge | 444 North Street | 443-1792| $35 (reservations required)

Sunday, November 22 | Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition Thanksgiving Potluck | 1-4pm | St. Stephen’s Parish | North Street | FREE (bring a side dish)

Pittsfield author Jim Ciullo will be signing copies of his latest novel, Maracaibo at Barnes & Noble at Berkshire Crossing. Maracaibo is a contemporary political conspiracy woven from headlines we may soon be reading. Much of it takes place in the oil-rich area around Maracaibo, Venezuela and the nearby borderlands with Colombia, along the semi-lawless Guajira peninsula. There is no shortage of bad actors from an anti-US Venezuelan president, to Colombian para-military operatives, to al-Qaida agents among the Muslim population of the Guajira peninsula, to power-hungry conspirators well-placed in the US Government.  Come out and meet this very talented local writer!

Saturday, November 21 | 7-9pm | Barnes & Noble Bookstore | 555 Hubbard Ave  | 496-9051| FREE

The Colonial Theatre hosts a free concert, open to the public, on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of Ellen Marie Ruberto, Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto’s late wife. Ellen was an enthusiastic trustee and supporter of The Colonial Theatre. The concert begins with the Pittsfield High School Orchestra directed by Alla Zernitskaya. Liam Geddes, known to Berkshire audiences as the Irish Idol, will perform some favorite Irish ballads, followed by the Gospel Choir of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church led by Paul Keel. Advance tickets will be required and general admission seating will be available starting at 3PM on the day of the event on a first-come-first served basis.

Friday, November 22 | 4pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South St | 997-4444| FREE (advance tickets required)