Thursday, September 17
Romance, sadly, is a dying concept. With modern advances in dating that don't require people to have in-person interactions until much later in the relationship, it's no wonder women often mutter, "Chivalry is dead."
But it doesn't have to be! There are options, ladies and (those few) gentlemen, that allow dating to be as airy and romantic as it once was. Let Movies Under the Stars be your perfect date night. The Miami International Film Festival will screen Relatos Salvajes (Wild Tales) in the open lot at Canvas (90 NE 17th St., Miami) for a moviegoing experience like no other. If a free film isn't alluring enough, complimentary wine will be served (during the first hour), and lovers can enjoy food from Gaucho Ranch and Mad Chiller, plus some unique cocktails concocted by Airstream Apothecary. Can't find a date? Take some friends. And don't forget your lawn chair!
It's a date this Thursday at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but an RSVP is required via aedistrictmiami.eventbrite.com, and guests must be 21 or older.
This is Miami Beach's year. To mark its 100th birthday, businesses and organizations around the city have been celebrating its unique past, present, and future with all kinds of colorful events. The Wolfsonian-FIU got in on the festivities in true museum fashion with three consecutive exhibitions, each featuring works from its rare books and special collections library.
Exploring the city's incredible transformation in the first half of the 20th Century, the exhibits trace the story of Miami Beach's early development. The first and second showings displayed the impact of World War II on Miami Beach and the 1930s art deco development that led to the evolution of Miami Beach's nightlife and emergence as a tourist destination affordable to the middle class. The third and final show, "Miami Beach: From Mangrove to Tourist Mecca," documents the city's fledgling years. Sculpted by pioneering developers such as Carl Fisher, Miami Beach blossomed during the 1920s into a winter tourist hot spot catering to the wealthy elite. Photographic albums of "lost" hotels — the Nautilus, Flamingo, King Cole, and others — show how these self-contained luxury resorts lured the rich and famous south with regattas, elephant rides, and amenities such as tennis courts, golf courses, polo fields, private bungalows, and yacht docks.
The exhibition opens this Thursday and runs through January 17, 2016, at the Wolfsonian-FIU (1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Admission costs $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, and children ages 6 through 12; Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, and children under 6 get in free. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Call 305-531-1001 or visit wolfsonian.org.
As the third-annual Miami Fashion Film Festival gets underway this week, fashion lovers and film fiends are undoubtedly giddy about this year's programming. Featuring more than 15 works, including documentaries, narratives, and experimental shorts by brands and international filmmakers, the 2015 lineup also highlights special events corresponding to the highly visual screenings. One such event brings things back to our stomping grounds."Fashion Reporting: As History Tells It" takes a look back at Miami fashion as local TV news covered it.
Unique historic film and video images from the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives complete the picture. This Thursday, panelists Constance Jones of WPLG Local 10 and Ashley Brozic of Racked Miami will lead the conversation on the evolution of fashion journalism on- and offscreen, with prior screenings of festival official selections of fashion film shorts kicking off the evening at 7 at Miami Beach Cinematheque (1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Tickets cost $10. Call 786-440-6091 or visit miafff.com.
Friday, September 18
The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay) is calling all indie film aficionados for an evening of indie movies as part of its Short Film Series. The night is one of the select Fridays that will screen a documentary, independent film, or other story.
Enjoy a featured flick and sit back and relax with a cold beer this Friday for one of the series' featured films in a lounge-like and comfortable setting that's not your traditional movie theater. In addition to enjoying some quirky short films, attendees also get a chance to meet the filmmaker, who will be present to talk about his film. This round features filmmaker Ian Samuel, who will talk about his 2015 short Myrna the Monster, a charming flick about an alien learning how to live and grow in Los Angeles. In addition to showing Myrna the Monster, SMDCAC will also screen three of Samuel's other shorts: Caterwaul, The Eyes in the Ice, and Nancy and the Dapper Toad.
The Short Film Fest begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $7. Visit smdcac.org.
You might have heard of Salman Rushdie. Besides being a good Bridget Jones joke, he's arguably one of the most famous writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since the 1988 publication of The Satanic Verses — a controversial book that made Rushdie a target and an idol — Rushdie has been one of the preeminent voices in fiction, influencing an entire generation of British thinkers and writers. He's written 12 novels, won the Booker, and has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Rushdie will take a break from his knightly duties this Friday, when he stops in Miami as part of the leadup to Miami Book Fair International. He'll read from his latest book, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights, a novel inspired by the "wonder tales" of Eastern literature.
The reading begins at 7 p.m. at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus Auditorium (300 NE Second Ave., Miami). Vouchers for the event can be obtained when you purchase Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights at any Books & Books location or on its website for $28. The vouchers are good for two tickets to the reading. You must bring the voucher to the reading to guarantee entry. Visit booksandbooks.com.
Saturday, September 19
Celia Cruz is the indisputable voice of Cuban music. Without her influence, salsa would not have inspired countless hips across Miami and Latin America to shake. In fact, the Cuban-American singer and actress is often referred to as the Queen of Salsa and one of the most important figures in Cuban music. This fall, Telemundo will premiere the first of an 80-episode series titled Celia, which traces the history of the singer's career and life. But for those who can't wait that long, the show's star, Aymée Nuviola, will perform Cruz's most beloved hits at the Adrienne Arsht Center (1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami) this Saturday during Celebrating Celia! As part of its Cuba Beat concert series, the Arsht will host the Havana-born Nuviola, who has been nominated for Grammys and Latin Grammys.
In addition, two-time Grammy-winning Spanish flamenco singer Diego el Cigala will join Nuviola alongside other musicians and special guests. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets cost $59 to $154. Call 305-949-6722 or visit arshtcenter.org.
Oh, to be a kid again — when recess was long, naps were on schedule, and snacks were packed for us. Who says we can't recapture the golden days?Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart, Brad Meltzer and Judd Winick's books should be standard issue.
Meltzer is a New York Times bestselling author and historian, and Winick is a cartoonist and screenwriter. The two will join forces at Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables) this Saturday to wow crowds with the ins and outs of their newest releases.
Meltzer's I Am Helen Keller is an inspiring tale of heroism — a story of the iconic woman herself and her remarkable teacher, Annie Sullivan. Winick (whom you might remember from The Real World San Francisco, #RIPPedro) will talk about his tome, Hilo, is a middle-grade graphic novel about a boy who crashes to earth and his ensuing adventures. Put the two together and you've got heroism, science fiction, friendship, and history, all in one evening's entertainment.
The event begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Visit booksandbooks.com or call 305- 448-9599.
The U versus the Cornhuskers? Oh, boy, this is a rivalry that began way back at the 50th Orange Bowl in 1984, when Coach Howard Schnellenberger made good on his promise to deliver a championship to UM. College football mathematicians look at the outcome of that matchup as one of numerous improbabilities resulting in the first of five championships the program earned. Now chiseled into the lore of '80s and '90s hip-hop, the University of Miami Hurricanes went into that January 2, 1984 game as underdogs led by Bernie Kosar, and thanks in part to upsets at the Cotton, Rose, and Sugar bowls, the Canes were able to emerge number one in the polls.
Much has changed since the Schnellenberger era, but the rivalry between the orange-and-green with the scarlet-and-cream remains, with this Saturday's game being their 12th meeting (a series led by the Nebraska Cornhuskers 6-5). Now helmed by Al Golden and sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya (son of Friday actress Angela Means Kaaya, of "bye, Felicia" fame), the Canes look to even out the rivalry numbers at 3:30 p.m. at the revamped Sun Life Stadium (347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens). Tickets cost $80 to $475. Call 305-943-8000 or visit sunlifestadium.com.
The end of summer is usually a sad time, but not in Miami. We couldn't escape the sun if we tried. You might as well celebrate the passing of the heat and get down to some cool Miami tunes, and wouldn't you know it? That's exactly the vibe behind Death to the Sun, an annual party five years running that's always free and coming at you live this Saturday afternoon at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach).
The end-of-summer fest is back after a two-year hiatus, this time touting performances by Bleeth, Holly Hunt, the Gun Hoes, Pocket of Lollipops, and 23 more of Miami's baddest, bossiest rock bands. Get tatted up at the Temp Tattoo Tent, and pick through the wares of the Tropishopi pop-up boutique. Organizers advise you to hit the scene in your beachwear and slather on the sunscreen. Hey, it's still pretty damn hot out there — let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Food trucks will be onsite for those with cash in hand, and parking is limited. The party starts at noon and goes till 10 p.m. Kids are welcome. Call 305-672-5202 or visit northbeachbandshell.com.
Sunday, September 20
No, her first name ain't baby. It's Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty. Or Queen Janet to her humble thongs of worshippers, who need no reminding that she reigns eternal as the Queen of Pop. In May, the music world went crazy when she delivered the news: "new music, new world tour, a new movement." This Sunday, she'll bring all of the above to Miami with her Unbreakable World Tour, named for her upcoming album. Her first studio release since 2008's Discipline, Unbreakable has been making waves since Jackson tweeted its first single, "No Sleeep," featuring J. Cole. If this first sampling is any indication, Janet fans won't be disappointed.
In case you need reminding, Janet Jackson has garnered six Grammys, two Emmys, a Golden Globe, an Oscar nomination, and dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. In addition to selling more than 160 million records worldwide, she has made a musical impact matched only by her influence on the dance world, which continues to site the iconic choreography featured in her videos.
Just ahead of the October album release, Miami audiences can catch Jackson's tour Sunday at 8 p.m. at American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Tickets cost $30 to $150. Call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Wednesday, September 23
Once upon a time, silent films were the height of cutting-edge entertainment. Our progenitors didn't need sound to make a good movie, and The Oyster Princess is proof.
The black-and-white flick is all about Ossi, the spoiled daughter of an oyster magnate (basically, she's a rich kid of Instagram circa 1919). When she hears that another socialite is getting married, she demands the same, and hilarity ensues. There's a prince, a boxing match, stolen identities, and so many servants — and the only sound will come from the live organist, playing the movie's score on a pipe organ.
This was how our great-grandparents had fun, y'all. No smartphones, no internet, no Netflix. Just moving pictures, conversation, and wine. There was always wine.
The movie begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami). Admission costs $12 for members and $18 for nonmembers. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Visit vizcaya.org or call 305-250-9133.
