Also this issue: Upland Breakdown -Patrick Rapa Cuba Libre Events -A.D. Amorosi UNESCO and the Upcoming U.N. Literacy Decade -Juliet Fletcher

January 9-15, 2003

mixpicks

Black Tie Tailgate

Tailgating -- with its connotations of sweaty football jerseys, outdoor grilling and spilt lager -- has never enjoyed a reputation for glamour. And the vehicles? Covered in mud and stickers, they're hardly worth noticing. But this year, the Philadelphia International Auto Show wants to change that. As a preview to this year's show, the Black Tie Tailgate will give visitors full license to eat, drink and party in the midst of this season's cars. None of them would look particularly at home parked beside the Vet: The Cadillac XLR and Lexus GX470, both pre-production, will be on display, as well as high-tech concept vehicles such as the Jeep Willys2, Lexus' concept model which chased through Spielberg's futuristic cityscape in Minority Report, and the 2003 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (pictured).

This year's Auto Show, once again benefiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, will help replicate the stadium car-park feel, with appearances by Eagles Koy Detmer and A.J. Feeley, on Jan. 14, and Flyers Donald Brashear and Simon Gagne, on Jan. 15. But transformed into a classy occasion -- including a vintage display featuring a 1969 Mercedes Benz Pullman limousine once owned by Elvis -- can tailgating survive the substituting of team shirts with tuxedos, beer for champagne? Leave your sneakers at home, and find out.

Black Tie Tailgate, Fri., Jan. 10, 7 p.m., $125, 1-800-759-9533; Philadelphia International Auto Show, Jan. 11-19, call for times, $6-10, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 11th and Arch sts., 215-418-2003, www.phillyautoshow.com.

—Juliet Fletcher