Ten Things To Do in Miami This Week

Thursday, May 21

In tales of political unrest and civil uproar, women’s place in the action is often sidestepped. Weaving a story of familial turmoil with the revolutionary history of Nicaragua, author Eleni N. Gage takes readers on a journey with three generations of Nicaraguan women, each concealing secrets, in her book The Ladies of Managua. Brought together after the death of the family’s patriarch, the women are ultimately forced to confront their pasts and their strained relationships with one another and their homeland. Resentment and misunderstanding thread the ties between Maria Vazquez and her mother, Ninexin, a famed revolutionary in the uprising that led to the death of Maria’s father. Mother, daughter, and grandmother, Isabela, examine their past choices and the begin to reconcile the love they lost amid tragedy.
 
She will present her novel Thursday at 8 p.m. at Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables). Admission is free. Call 305-442-4408 or visit booksandbooks.com.

It’s the story of a little orphan girl who makes being orphaned seem not-so-terrible because her life is filled with singing, dancing, and (spoiler alert) getting adopted by a filthy-rich man. Annie may not be the most realistic tale, but it’s cheery and intended to lift even the bluest spirits. Originating as a Broadway musical, then released as a feature film, followed by a made-for-TV movie, and once again reworked for the silver screen, Annie has seen every medium. If you didn’t get the chance to see the 2014 remake starring Jamie Foxx, Quvenzhané Wallis, and Cameron Diaz in theaters or when the full version leaked online last year, now you can see it for free this Thursday as part of the SoundScape Cinema Series at New World Center (1700 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach).

The screening starts promptly at 8 p.m. and goes on rain or shine. Visit mbculture.com or text MBFILM to 91011 for weekly reminders and updates. 


Psychic Mirrors received Best Funk Band honors in New Times’ Best of Miami 2012. Still kicking and boogying three years later (which is like an eternity in Miami time), this six-person group will play this month’s edition of Pérez Art Museum Miami’s Third Thursdays: Poplife Social. The collaboration with Poplife — Miami’s revered alt-nightlife curators and party-throwers — began in March and runs through September. Psychic Mirrors, however, formed in 2011 and perform what is affectionately referred to as “Miami gangster boogie for the criminally insane.” And now the group is finishing its debut LP, Natures of Evil, due out on Cosmic Chronic records sometime this year. So while Psychic Mirrors kick out the jams from their forthcoming record, the museum will provide happy-hour food and drink specials, offer art-making activities, and lead a gallery scavenger hunt for prizes.

Third Thursdays: Poplife Social, featuring Psychic Mirrors, will take place this Thursday at 6 p.m. at Pérez Art Museum Miami (1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). The event is free with museum admission, which costs $16 for adults. Call 305-375-3000 or visit pamm.org. 
Friday, May 22

During her 30-plus-year career, Rosario Flores has been a singer/songwriter, composer, pop star, and actress. The Spanish celeb comes from a lineage of singers, including her mother Lola Flores, father Antonio González Batista, brother Antonio Flores, and sister Lolita Flores. With an 11-album discography, Rosario has earned two Latin Grammys for her diverse music spanning rumba, flamenco, bossa nova, gipsy soul, and even straightforward rock. For her last album, 2013’s Rosario, she recorded in Miami with Colombian producer Andrés Saavedra.

Flores performs at the Fillmore Miami Beach (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Tickets cost $60 to $150. Call 305-673-7300 or visit fillmoremb.com. 

Saturday, May 23 

The sweeping movements and vibrant costumes used in flamenco command attention, but it’s the powerful stories expressed through this sensual dance that make performances so special. The simultaneous control and raw passion in flamenco also make it an unforgettable way to close out the 2015 Miami Dance Festival, which has spotlighted events around the city throughout April and May.
This weekend, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa will debut the world premiere of the original flamenco ballet, El Padre, inspired by Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s The Father. With music and lyrics by Antonio Gabarri and Nieves Diaz, El Padre explores the fraught relationships between a father, mother, and daughter. The drama among the family members surges when the mother enlists help with sending her husband to an insane asylum. Among the cast of dancers and musicians is La Rosa’s artistic director, Ilisa Rosal, who will be joined onstage by Eloy Aguilar, performing the role of the father, and Carmela Greco, in the role of his wife, Laura.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Miami-Dade County Auditorium (2901 W. Flagler St., Miami). Tickets cost $33 for VIPs, $28 for adults, and $23 for students and seniors with ID. Call 305-899-7729 or visit panmiami.org. 


Is there a better way to spend your Memorial Day weekend than enjoying the beautiful preserve of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables)? Probably not, especially if you’re looking to entertain your children during the long weekend.
Fairchild offers its bimonthly LEAF (Let’s Explore at Fairchild) this Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event provides kids with the opportunity to learn about the botanical preserve and broader ecological preservation. This edition of LEAF will concentrate on composting and decomposting and will offer hands-on activities led by Fairchild staff and volunteers. Children can rotate from stations that include everything from crafts to science-themed games and kid-size science labs.

LEAF is free for Fairchild members and included in the price of admission for nonmembers. Admission to the garden is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and older, $12 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger. Registration is not required, and LEAF is open to children of all ages, though they must be accompanied by an adult. Visit fairchildgarden.org. 
Sunday, May 24

Nothing like a ballgame to get you in the mood for hot dogs. Good thing we’re in the prime of baseball season, because besides working on their game (they might actually stand a chance in the National League), the Miami Marlins have also upped their food offerings. And while you can get the quintessential kayem dog on a bun, you can also indulge in pastrami or minuta sandwiches, root beer floats, tequeños, arepas, tamales, and all the other delights that make up Miami’s Latino culinary landscape. Try it all when the Marlins host the Baltimore Orioles this Sunday at 1:10 p.m. at Marlins Park (501 Marlins Way).

Like it kosher? Head to Kosher Korner. Gluten-free? Choose from chili dogs, beer, nachos, and other snacks. But perhaps the best cheat-day option is Taste of Miami, where Don Camaron, Latin American Grill, Papa Llega y Pon, and Panna Caffe serve their Latin specialties. Think reina pepiadas (arepas stuffed with avocado and chicken salad), chicharrones, and medianoches. If brunch is what your stomach desires, South Beach hot spot the Clevelander offers it at its stadium outpost during every Sunday home game. Expect a bounty of pastries, fruits, and traditional brunch offerings, as well as $5 mimosas and bloody marys. Brunch packages start at just $39 (including game ticket). For a sweet ending (and let’s hope a win for the Marlins), Sweet Play proffers waffle cones, hand-dipped ice cream, and souvenir ice-cream helmets.

Visit marlins.com. 



Monday, May 25 

Memorial Day tends to revolve around three time-tested American traditions: barbecues, beer, and waxing nostalgic about how much better things used to be. (They weren’t, of course, but Americans love to romanticize what they can’t remember.) This year, instead of holing up in your backyard with the two b’s, spend some time learning about the Miami that once was and indulge in a little historically accurate nostalgia of your own.

On the Coral Gables Waterway Canoe Tour, guides will whisk you back to the days of George Merrick (planner and builder of Coral Gables), the town’s formative years, and the heyday of the iconic, charming Biltmore Hotel. You’ll see all kinds of wildlife, unique natural sights, and lots of landmarks as you enjoy a breezy paddle through the area’s canals.

Bring water, closed-toe shoes, and sun protection. The tour runs from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and begins and ends at A.D. Barnes Park Nature Center (3401 SW 72nd Ave., Miami). Tickets cost $30 per person. Visit miamidade.gov/ecoadventures or call 305-365-3018. 

Tuesday, May 26

The first rule of Fight Club is that you do not talk about Fight Club, but anyone who’s read the seminal work or seen the popular movie adaptation does nothing but tell friends how awesome it is. That’s because Chuck Palahniuk is such an incredibly talented, albeit twisted, wordsmith. The old tale of Tyler Durden is often the gateway drug for would-be Palahniuk fans, but loyal readers soon find novels such as Invisible Monsters, Choke, and Survivor to be just as imaginative and captivating.

The celebrated author has penned 14 works to date, and he’s about to release his latest, Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread. It’s a collection of 21 short stories and one novella written at various points in his career, including a Durden-centric prequel that fans have never seen.

Palahniuk will speak at the book’s launch event, presented by Books & Books and Tate’s Comics, this Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Chapman Conference Center (Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, 245 NE Fourth St., Miami). The ticket price is $33 and includes a signed copy of Make Something Up. Call 305-237-3000 or visit booksandbooks.com.
Wednesday, May 27 

It’s pretty clear we’re in an environmental crisis. Animal agriculture is decimating the planet, climate change is in full swing, and Miami is slowly sinking into the sea. It’s ugly out there.'

Given our scenario, the Speaking Sustainably film and lecture series is particularly timely. Hosted at the Deering Estate at Cutler in partnership with WPBT2, the events are all about engaging audiences with the ecological emergencies plaguing Mother Earth.
The upcoming installment, Seagrasses and Mangroves, is about the decline of the two titular elements — key components in the tapestry of ocean life. An ecosystem collapse could be on the way, and that’s a scenario none of us wants to experience.

The film begins at 7 p.m. this Wednesday at the Deering Estate at Cutler (16701 SW 72nd Ave., Palmetto Bay). Admission is free. Visit deeringestate.org or call 305-235-1668.