FRI 6/3
The main thoroughfares of downtown Coral Gables are liberally studded with fantastic restaurants, funky pubs, great theaters, and art galleries. Cruising down Miracle Mile in a car doesn't give you an inkling of the fun to be had in this chic neighborhood. Let the Pedestrian Guide to Coral Gables lead the way.
With a host of new exhibitions, Friday evening is ideal for a gallery walk along Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Begin at the ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Gallery or Galerie d'Art Nader. Check out Kapz Artmosphere, and then stop by Books & Books for a glass of wine and a delightful little art space hidden in the back. Explore the cluster of galleries around Ponce Circle Park. Stroll from the Piag Museum to Gallery Ziv and the AzucArt Gallery. Lead your own tour depending on your mood and interests, so leave when you want, go at your own pace, and feel free to stop at a restaurant or grab a drink at a bar. If your feet get tired, hail the free trolley and roll to your next destination. Print yourself a map and exercise your freedom. Visit www.pedestrianguides.com for a complete list of locations and addresses. --Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik
Little Dogs
Want to rule the world
FRI 6/3
They've already taken over Lincoln Road and CocoWalk. And now their power will pervade the Fair Expo Center (10901 Coral Way, Miami). Yes, we're talking about little dogs, and they're as unstoppable as they are cute. Today's AKC Toy Dog Show is free and will kick off a weekend of preening, posing, and agility competitions. The perky papillons, Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers, and Italian greyhounds will be wound up and ready to prance for the title of Best in Show beginning at 4:00. When the competition is over and you decide your life isn't complete without a diminutive dog, ask the humans lots of questions about the breed that has captured your heart. But remember, little dogs live long and will be stealing your strawberries for the next fifteen years or so.
Saturday and Sunday the South Dade Kennel Club will bring out the big dogs from 8:00 to 5:00. There will also be plenty of toys, clothes, and accessories to purchase for your little ones. Admission is five dollars. Call 305-437-7242, or visit ww.southdadekennelclub.com. --Lyssa Oberkreser
A Mystical, Magical Journey
Down through the rabbit hole
FRI 6/3
When someone asks you to go see a cult movie, he or she usually means a popular underground film, not an infomercial for an alleged cult. Last year's sleeper What the Bleep Do We Know? attempts to posit itself as a bridge between new-age spirituality and laughable "science," but it's really a spacy introduction to the teachings of Ramtha, the 35,000-year-old being who tried to channel into Shirley MacLaine's long-deceased career. For those touched by the magic, the film's producers are holding a conference at the Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay (1633 N. Bayshore Dr., Miami). Tickets cost from $125 for single workshops to $345 for full access. The group hug runs through June 5. Call 1-888-777-5981, or visit www.whatthebleep.com. --Margaret Griffis
Down Lowe Party People
THUR 6/2
Summer is almost here, but there's no time to take a vacation from soirees, shindigs, and mixers. The Lowe Art Museum (1301 Stanford Dr., Coral Gables) will continue its monthly LoweDown Happy Hour tonight from 7:00 to 9:00. Enjoy Mediterranean music, light snacks, and refreshing wine spritzers as you peruse the cool caverns of "Archaeology at the Dawn of History." Admission is free. Call 305-284-3535, or visit www.miami.edu/lowe. -- Lyssa Oberkreser
