Thursday, August 13
People say laughter is the best medicine, and those people are onto something. Though comedy clubs in Miami aren't as popular as those in other big cities (cough, New York, cough), we still enjoy a good night filled with funnies, no matter the backdrop. For one night only, the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU hosts 4 Shorts!: A Staged Reading With City Theatre. These are the same people who brought you Summer Shorts, Short Cuts, and three installments of Shorts Gone Wild, so it's bound to be a creative night.
Head to JMOF-FIU (301 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) Thursday to cure any ailments with a bit of laughter provided by the funny folks from City Theatre. Refreshments will be available, and the fun begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 (museum members, City Theatre donors, and FIU students get in free). Visit jmof.fiu.edu or call 786-972-3175.
There's nothing freakier and more fascinating than learning about the science of human experimentation. Highlighting the heights of this weirdness, Nerd Nite Miami presents its latest installment, where nerds can mingle over their shared love of knowledge, scholarly lectures, and tasty beer.
Dean Lyon will kick things off with "A Look at the Uncanny Valley," a talk about the term coined in 1970 by the Japanese scientist involved in creating humanoid robots to describe the eerie sensation one gets when experiencing a "not-quite-right" representation of a human being. More simply put, it's why most of us think cartoon robots are cute while realistic robots are creepy as hell. From there, Amanda Butler will take the reins with "The Future of IVF: Flirting With the Limits," a look at the strides made in the practice of in vitro fertilization technology and its future. The night will conclude on a nostalgic note with John Gulla's "How Playing Board Games Can Save Your Life," which will explore the recent significant increase in board game popularity worldwide and modern additions to the playful industry.
Nerd Nite Miami begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Gramps (176 NW 24th St., Miami). Admission is free. Call 305-699-2669 or visit miami.nerdnite.com.
Friday, August 14
The Bakehouse Art Complex's Collabo is back. In its fifth iteration, the exhibition has been hosted by BAC for almost a decade. Now nearly 30 years old, BAC is practically the granddaddy of Miami art galleries, yet despite its age (old only by Miami standards), the artistic incubator continues to be a source of support and creative inspiration for the Magic City's arts community. There's probably no better example of BAC's innovative work than Collabo.
This year's Collabo is being touted as "the closest thing Miami has to a biennial." And Collabo's list of participating artists promises a good-time get-together of some of Miami's most recognizable artists: MasterMind Award winner Kevin Arrow, Miami mainstay Coral Morphologic, Alan Gutierrez, and Eddie Arroyo are some of the many artists participating in the series of one-day shows meant to highlight collaborative engagements among artists.
Collabo will be held in Bakehouse's Aubrey Love Gallery (561 NW 32nd St., Miami). The show opens Friday at 7 p.m. and runs through September 5. If you can't make the opening, visit during BAC's regular hours, noon to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free. Visit bacfl.org.
Saturday, August 15
Wynwood Brewing Company has come a long way in two years. The family-owned business dedicated to melding visual art and the art of beer-making built its mural-covered microbrewery with the spirit of Wynwood in mind. To celebrate two years of tasty craft beer with an artistic twist, WBC will once again take over the streets with a second-anniversary block party, just in time to promote the August 24 release of bottles of two of its most popular beers, La Rubia and Pop's Porter.
Similar to last year's first-anniversary bash, WBC's shindig this Saturday will be chock full of food, music, art, and, of course, beer. Featuring timed beer releases, Wynwood special treatments, and special guest taps, the party will also welcome Panama City-based graffiti artist Insano for a ten-piece solo show. In addition to the multiple local food trucks and a pop-up photo booth, Florida favorites Patrick & the Swayzees, Dissever, Afrobeta, and Broken Tenure will provide live musical entertainment, plus DJ Ackdaddy and DJ Jayjohero will perform live vinyl sets.
The block party kicks off at noon and goes till 11 p.m. at Wynwood Brewing Company (565 NW 24th St., Miami). Admission is free. Call 305-982-8732 or visit wynwoodbrewing.com.
FEAST Miami, a vegan pop-up-dinner group of sorts, will hold its latest get-together this Saturday at Locust Projects (3852 N. Miami Ave., Miami). FEAST dinners aren't simply about food — during the meal, five panelists present preselected proposals for artistic projects that, like the meal itself, are sustainable and have a positive impact on the community. Each of the presenters is vying for funding, so enjoy a meal, listen to ideas, and decide whose concepts deserve much-needed funding.
Saturday's feast will feature a family-style Indian meal using locally sourced food prepared by chef Loren Pulitzer. The presenters hungry for funding include a photographer, filmmakers, local writers, and a multimedia artist. All of their projects look equally interesting, so buy a ticket, grab some grub, and vote for your favorite.
Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Admission to FEAST Miami costs $60 per person and includes food and drink. Tickets are limited and should be purchased in advance. Visit feastmiami.org.
Sunday, August 16
Flea markets are filled with buried treasure. We're often so focused on our cheaply acquired goods, though, that we overlook the people who provide them. In an effort to connect local artists, vendors, innovators, and the community, the Art + Entertainment District is combining Miami creativity and the shopping spirit for the Miami Flea.
At the market, visitors can shop, learn, and socialize at the customized stalls, each featuring unique activities to encourage building a creative community via workshops, mind and body classes, and seminars. The market will also provide an ideal networking atmosphere to connect local artisans with beverage shops, restaurants, food trucks, and other providers. Bookleggers library will be onsite to sell its literary wares, while Yelp Miami will curate Grub Garden, showcasing the city's favorite eateries and dishes, plus cocktails from Airstream Apothecary and beer by Beck's.
The Miami Flea will be held Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Canvas Miami (90 NE 17th St., Miami). Admission is free. Call 305-625-0949 or visit aedistrictmiami.com.
The word "tower" evokes images of creepy gargoyles, medieval wenches, and torture. A beautiful and pure maiden is locked at the top of the tallest tower, where her one true love must brave the dragon to rescue her (as you can see, the imagination tends to run wild). But because Miami history doesn't date back to the time of damsels in distress, the only tower here is one that represents freedom. As part of the Miami Dade College Museum of Art + Design's monthly events, guests can visit the Freedom Tower (600 Biscayne Blvd., Miami) during this Sunday's Tour of the Tower.
Expert guides will lead you through the Freedom Tower as you learn the history of the building. The best part: It's free; simply RSVP by emailing [email protected]. But hurry — space is limited to an intimate 20 people. The tour begins at 1 p.m. and lasts about an hour. Call 305-237-7700.
The last time L.A. punk Colleen Green played Miami, she celebrated her birthday in the middle of BUFU Fest. Seven months later, the guitarist and songwriter returns with her new album, I Want to Grow Up, and a headlining spot at Gramps. I Want to Grow Up, Green's second LP for Hardly Art (the label that's also home to scuzzy Miami rockers Jacuzzi Boys), comprises songs about her turning the dirty 30. Throughout the record, she delivers thoughtful lyrics in her melodic-meets-riot-grrrl soprano, but musically, the songs on I Want to Grow Up switch between crunchy guitars and swishy synths. When Green rolls up to Gramps (176 NW 24th St., Miami), she'll bring Nashville rockers and tour mates JEFF the Brotherhood guitarist Jake Orrall and ex-Diarrhea Planet drummer Casey Weissbuch to help bolster her sound, as well as a ton of merch that she drew and designed herself. Miami's Bearings will open the show, followed by West Palm Beach's Hypoluxo.
The gig takes place this Sunday at 9 p.m., and Green is scheduled to perform at 11:30. Cover costs $5 for the 18-and-older show. Visit hardlyart.com/colleengreen.com.
Stepping outside in August is a dangerous game, but not if you're dressed for the pool. Hey, you're sweating anyway. Even if your beach bod isn't where you want it to be, everyone looks good dancing to poolside beats, and so it shall be for you and all your floatie-flopping friends during the next Sunday Social Rooftop Pool Party at the beautiful Congress Hotel (1052 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach) this Sunday.
Lounge about or do laps — whatever strikes your fancy. Make sure you pack your comfortable sandals and reapply sunscreen. You'll groove to the house tunes of Jeremy Ismael, Donnie Lowe, Dan Carraway, Xpans, John Viera, and Brock Lambert until the sun goes down. There hasn't been a pool party this wild since last month, and it'll definitely be better than that time you were 7 and Becky pushed you into the deep end just when you had started on that Popsicle.
The party is free; you just have to be 21 or older to enjoy. Things heat up at noon and sizzle till 9 p.m. Call 305-534-6820 or visit sundaysocial.us.
Wednesday, August 19
When was the last time you stopped and really listened to the old Killers track "All These Things That I've Done"? It's incredible, right? Did you realize it was completely written, music and lyrics and all, by singer Brandon Flowers? Yeah, he's kind of a musical genius, and that song was on the Killers' debut album. Since those days, the Las Vegas boy has helped pen three successful followup records and embarked on a critically acclaimed solo career. He's now touring the United States in support of his latest LP, The Desired Effect, and as luck would have it, he'll hit the Fillmore Miami Beach (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) this Wednesday.
Look, you can't time-travel, at least not yet, and this is the highest-quality '80s-inspired synth pop in the industry. Timeless song-craft combines with heartfelt lyrical stories and beats both touching and utterly danceable. You're pretty much guaranteed a good time — if you're into that sort of thing.
Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $30 to $45.50. All ages are welcome. Call 305-673-7300 or visit fillmoremb.com.
