Audio By Carbonatix
Saturday August 9
Another ordinary Saturday night on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road, or so you thought. You start with dinner at one of the dozens of outdoor cafés. Then dodge the crowds as you walk off the calories with a leisurely stroll along the mall. You check out the latest fashions being pushed by the plethora of chain stores. And maybe buy a trendy T-shirt or two. Before you know it, though, you’re standing in front of the window of ArtCenter/South Florida, scratching your head as you ponder the paintings of what appear to be stuffed-animal roadkill. You like it, maybe, you think. Certainly different, and funny. But funny ha-ha? Or funny peculiar? Or both? You scratch your head again and read the name on the placard, Pepe Mar. Suddenly you’re seized with the impulse to accost Mr. Mar and ask him, “What does it all mean?” You’re in luck. Because not only is it Saturday night, but it’s also Open Studio night at the art center. Ergo, doors are flung wide and artists are working or lounging in their studios, available for questioning. But before you get to where you thought you wanted to go, you pass by studio #107 and Annie Wharton. Yada, yada, yada. Soon you walk out several hundred bucks lighter, but under your arm is one of Wharton’s strangely poetic works that hit you somewhere between the solar plexus and the gut.
Happening in conjunction with the launch of “Mania,” an exhibition featuring pieces by New World School of the Arts students, Open Studio night is an ideal time to learn more about the sometimes confounding art displayed in the windows at 800, 810, and 924 Lincoln Road, and hear it from the creators themselves. Take just one quick pass through the ArtCenter’s corridors, and you’ll be struck by the wide variety of works being created by the more than 40 resident artists. — By John Anderson
ArtCenter/South Florida’s Open Studio night runs from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Miami Beach’s Lincoln Road. Admission is free; artwork is not. Call 305-674-8278.
Saturday August 9
Beauty
Age Rage
Once upon a time, wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots were as inevitable as death itself. But natural effects of aging have proved no match for Botox Cosmetic, the strategically injected wonder drug capable of keeping faces from looking like dried prunes. Now people need only worry about death — though rumor has it a remedy is on the way for that dire predicament too. Not! In the meantime Be the True You 2003, a 24-city nationwide tour sponsored by Allergan, the maker of Botox Cosmetic, comes to Dadeland Mall (7535 N. Kendall Dr.) today from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 6:00 p.m. Average Joes and Josephines can morph into their “true” selves via the extraordinary treatment that leaves patients with an engaging, wide-eyed expression. Sure, there are apprehensions regarding the drug’s safety and efficacy, but dispelling those myths is why the tour is here. No, a dangerous bacteria is not being pumped into your face. It’s just a purified protein derived from bacteria. Got it? Okay, no jerky head movements for a couple of hours after your injections. Admission is free. — By Humberto Guida
Wednesday August 13
Doggie Style
Pet lovers booze and schmooze
Obedience training dictates that good behavior merits treats. Whether you’re a dawg or a real-life dog the rule applies. Do-gooders from across the county will be treating themselves this evening at Café Tu Tu Tango (3015 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove) as Pawsitively Humane, the animal-lovers network of the Humane Society of Greater Miami, hosts its first monthly Waggin’ Wednesdays Martini Madness party. Remember, good dogs get the goods, while bad dogs get spanked. Depending on your proclivities you will be rewarded. Partygoers can scratch and sniff around for some good socialization training while sampling discount martinis and munching on complimentary scooby snacks. There will also be a raffle for several fabulous prizes. You’ll be howling for more. Just follow your nose and look out for yellow stains on the floorboards. The mixer begins at 6:00 p.m. Admission is $20. Call 786-924-5216. — By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Saturday August 9
Lights, Camera, Date!
In today’s real world, scruples have gone the way of the dinosaur. Makes one wonder if the cultural impact of reality television is a cause or effect of 21st-century shamelessness. Well, that’s like trying to solve the chicken/egg question, and for today’s young, stardom-seeking hipster, that’s way too much thinking. Thank goodness for MTV. The masters of fly-on-the-wall voyeurism are looking for vibrant personalities too cool for complicated analogies and short on self-respect to star on one of their reality gigs. Auditions for the network’s insatiable dating show, Dismissed, will be held at the Shelborne Beach Resort (1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) at 1:00, 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 p.m. today and Sunday, August 10. The show’s basis is simple: One person takes two others on a date, then dumps whoever doesn’t do it for them. Along the way, many shenanigans ensue. Interested? To qualify as an applicant you need to be between 18 and 24 years old, and it helps to be a bit sassy. Call 305-790-1993. — By Humberto Guida