Thursday, February 18
While most networking events revolve around LinkedIn profiles and business card exchanges, Miami's artistic community continues to revamp the tired social practice. A longtime hub for artists, collectors, and patrons in South Florida, the Bakehouse Art Complex has taken its bonding skills a step further with the program Upper Crust, which gathers creative people who enjoy art and networking. In another unique meetup, Upper Crust invites locals to Little Havana's historic bar and lounge Ball & Chain for an evening of salsa dancing and sketching with Bakehouse resident artist Rafael Barros.
An emerging artist and designer, Colombia native Barros splits his time among painting, designing, and architecture. His recent work uses acrylic paints on wood and canvas to create images both whimsical and thought-provoking. Guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers, extended happy-hour specials, and Ball & Chain's live jazz band, all while learning to create their own salsa-inspired sketch.
The Upper Crust mixer runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ball & Chain (1513 SW Eighth St., Miami). Admission is free, but an RSVP is required. Call 305-643-7820 or visitballandchainmiami.com.
Every year, New Times offers a MasterMind Award of a $1,000 cash grant and citywide exposure to creatives from Miami-Dade. Not only do we give three creatives some cool cash, but we also celebrate their artistic achievements at our annual shindig, Artopia.
The event gives our finalists a chance to exhibit their work to a broader audience and allows attendees to rub elbows with Miami's up-and-coming talent. You can say you knew them before they were famous and maybe even down a drink or two with our winners and finalists. If past years are any indication, you won't want to miss Artopia's eighth installment.
The night of music, food, and art will return this Thursday to the Coral Gables Museum (285 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables). Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $45 for VIP, which grants admission one hour earlier, at 6 p.m. Tickets include food, wine, cocktails, and beer samplings. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Visit newtimesartopia.com.
Sun, sand, and an overabundance of bikini-clad models will take over Lummus Park for the inaugural Sports Illustrated Swim Beach. There will be a mix of model appearances, Q&As, autograph sessions, live performances, DJs, and lots of parties, all celebrating the launch of the magazine's 2016 Swimsuit issue.
"Swim Beach really provides an opportunity to experience what Sports Illustrated Swim is all about," says Brendan Ripp, publisher of Sports Illustrated Group. "It'll give people the opportunity to get up close to the incredible cast of SI Swimsuit 2016 models."
The fan festival, which is free and open to the public, launched last year in New York City as Swim City. It drew more than 65,000 fans and created a summer-like beach experience in the middle of the city. Ripp says he expects similar numbers to attend Swim Beach in Miami Beach.
"New York City and Miami are two of America's greatest cities," he says. "But with Swim City, we bring the beach and heat up the city in one of the coldest times of the year. In Miami, the beach setting is just a prime spot for all things SI Swimsuit."
This free event will be held at Lummus Park on Ocean Drive at Eight Street this Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit si.com.
Friday, February 9
Kate Hudson pretty much excels at anything she tries. An Oscar-nominated actress, Hudson has become one of the most recognizable stars in modern cinema. We have seen her sing and dance on Glee and more recently watched her line of workout clothes and active wear, Fabletics, gain wide praise and success. But Hudson wants fans to know that inner confidence is the real secret to her beauty, and she wants to help us find the beauty within ourselves.
In her new book, Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body, Hudson clarifies that the "secret" to maintaining her ideal appearance is honoring her body through exercise, making good choices about her diet, and always starting fresh on new ideas whenever the routine gets mundane. The book also details "Four Pillars of Health" that enhance the actor's well-being: (1) cultivating an intuitive relationship with your body, (2) eating well, (3) awakening your body through movement, and (4) the miracle of mindfulness. In addition to featuring her personal affirmations, the book also contains questionnaires to help you assess your body type and stress levels; advice on cleanses, diet, and balance; and drawing board exercises.
Locals will have the chance to get a signed copy of Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways to Love Your Body when Hudson stops by Books & Books Bal Harbour (9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour) at 7 p.m. this Friday. Guests will receive a voucher in exchange for the book purchase ($26.99 plus tax). The voucher serves as an entry for one person to the Kate Hudson autographing line and includes one copy of the book. Call 305-864-4241 or visit booksandbooks.com.
Def Jam cofounder Russell Simmons built a musical empire. His niece Angela has wanted for nothing, but you can be sure her uncle taught her about the struggles of others. She is in a rare position to help, and she's coming to South Beach to do just that. Of course, as a member of hip-hop royalty, she's not gonna come to SoBe without throwing one helluva party.
Angela proudly invites the 305 to take part in Angela I Am South Beach Weekend, a three-day event that's part social mixer, part all-night fiesta, and all benefit fundraiser. It kicks off Friday with a charity dinner presented by the host's fashion line, Foofi & Bella. The kickoff party follows at Studio 23 (247 23rd St., Miami Beach), where VIP guests will enjoy an hour of open bar. Simmons invites aspiring designers to participate in Saturday's "For the Love of Fashion" showcase. Attendees with VIP passes will have the chance to show off their skills to Simmons and her influential friends. The party concludes with Sunday's three-hour yacht party, which includes a two-hour open bar.
Tickets cost $175 to $349 and range from all-inclusive to à la carte. Proceeds will help Miami's Overtown Youth Center fund college scholarships for local high-school seniors. Call 754-300-8298 or visit angelaiamsobeweekend.com.
Aside from history's most renowned composers — Bach, Beethoven, Mozart — classical music doesn't often appear on many people's Spotify playlists. However, there is a special place for the modern classic: Hollywood. Film scores have thrilled viewers and tugged at emotions for the better part of a century. Although it began as a way to drown out the noise made by early projectors, movie music has become as much a part of popular culture and our daily lives as any technology. We know the greats based on their filmography rather than any discography; John Williams and Star Wars, Howard Shore and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hans Zimmer and The Lion King, and Danny Elfman and every other Tim Burton production.
One other man should be counted among the very best, and he resides in our own backyard. James Newton Howard has lent his considerable talents to more than a hundred films. He's been nominated eight times for the Best Original Score Oscar. And last year, he was named artistic director of the Henry Mancini Institute at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
This Friday, accompanied by dean Shelly Berg and director M. Night Shyamalan, Howard will lead the Institute orchestra through several of his most popular scores, including music from The Hunger Games, Pretty Woman, The Sixth Sense, and The Dark Knight. The Movie Music of James Newton Howard will take place at the Adrienne Arsht Center at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 to $100. Call 305-949-6722 or visit arshtcenter.org.
Saturday, February 20
Each year, New World Symphony fellows compete among themselves for one of the coveted solo spots in a concerto competition. As a musical form, the concerto came to prominence in the Baroque period around the 17th Century and features a singular instrument accompanied by an orchestra or large ensemble. For NWS fellows, who are competing against 80 of their peers, winning a place in the Concerto Showcase is kind of a big deal. For audiences, this year's Concerto Showcase is a great opportunity to hear the violin, clarinet, and cello spotlighted in unusual ways.
Ward Stare, music director of the Rochester Philharmonic, will visit Miami Beach to lead the concert. Additionally, this Saturday night's performance will be live-projected on the wall outside the New World Center for anyone to enjoy. The Concerto Showcase takes place at the New World Center (500 17th St., Miami Beach) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $40 to $140. The Wallcast showing of the concert is free and does not require a ticket. Call 305-673-3331 or visit nws.edu.
Hundreds of beautiful models will descend upon Miami Beach for a weekend filled with sun, sand, and stark determination to win the 2016 Model Beach Volleyball title. Don't worry if you can't be there. Watch it live on Snapchat or listen to one of three iHeartRadio stations broadcasting the hotly anticipated tournament.
"Everyone who comes takes it really seriously," says Olivia Ormos, cofounder of Model Beach Volleyball. "The models are out there right now practicing for the big day. Some agencies even have tryouts to make it onto their team. Whoever wins definitely gets bragging rights."
Now in its seventh year, LeSutra's Model Beach Volleyball Tournament has grown to 13 agencies, with more than 300 models participating, and about 15,000 spectators. Proceeds raised benefit the DJ Irie Foundation.
Besides watching the tournament, eventgoers can sample items from sponsors and take advantage of food, drinks, and live music. Joe Jonas' new band, DNCE, is set to perform Sunday. iHeartRadio will broadcast the two-day event, and the popular photo-sharing app Snapchat will feature a Global Story on its live feed.
LeSutra's Model Beach Volleyball Tournament takes place at Lummus Park at Ocean Drive and Eight Street and in South Beach this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
Arts in the Park will suffice for a unique take on a pop-up festival. Setting up in Schenley Park, down the street from the Biltmore Golf Course, the outdoor event offers a one-day, family-friendly celebration of Miami's cultural activities. The fest will include arts and crafts, musical performances, kids' activities, face painting, a bounce house, food trucks, and other fun.
Confirmed food trucks and purveyors include savory items from It's a Frita and Lizarran Pintxos and desserts from Liza Kona-Ice and Sweet Treat Designs. Other vendors include Lily Bean Couture, and animal rescue volunteers with Fairy Tails Adoptions will be on hand to find furry friends new homes. Interested vendors and performers can still apply online to participate.
Arts in the Park takes place at Schenley Park (2750 Red Rd.., Miami) this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to attend. Visit facebook.com/neighborsofschenleypark.
Tuesday, February 23
Roller rinks are a Miami party institution. Some of the best musical moments of our cultural history happened on skates. And now it's time for history to repeat itself — with a unique reimagination. The Basement at the Edition Hotel (2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) has a 2,000-square-foot ice rink, and thanks to Miami's Silent Revolution, that rink is about to get a little extra-rowdy.
Miami Bowl & Skate spins the last Tuesday of every month into a whirlwind sensory explosion. Guests can bowl or skate to the groovy sounds blasting through specially designed wireless headphones provided by Silent Revolution. Tune in to Basement's resident DJ Myke Dilla, or change the channel to see what Silent Revolution's DJs are spinning. It could be anything from '90s hip-hop to '80s pop, funk, disco, or soulful R&B.
Everyone aged 21 or older gets free access to the party, and the first 50 people to RSVP via silentrevolutionmia.com get headphones at no extra charge. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. Call 516-567-8735 or visit silentrevolutionmia.com.
