Thursday
The 22nd-annual Miami Jewish Film Festival is well underway. After attracting more than 30,000 movie lovers last year, the fest this year boasts more than more 80 films from 25 countries at 15 venues throughout the area, including Faena Bazaar, SoundScape Park, and Coral Gables Art Cinema. Another awesome number: An unprecedented 25 of the films at this year's fest were directed by women. Thursday through January 24 at various venues in Miami-Dade; miamijewishfilmfestival.org. Ticket prices vary by event.
Prepare to be moved: The opening night of ScreenDance Miami is Thursday. Now in its sixth year, the multifaceted festival centers on the arts of movement and dance on film. And to kick things off, there'll be a showing of 2015's MA at the Light Box. The flick, directed by Celia Rowlson-Hall, is a modern-day portrayal of Mother Mary's pilgrimage, set in the desert Southwest. There is no dialogue — the story is told through movement. Sweet Jesus (literally). 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse, 404 NW 26th St., Miami. Tickets cost $10 via eventbrite.com.
Looking to kick your 2019 fitness goals into high gear? Well, maybe a session of boot camp and a side of beer can help. This Thursday, Bootcamp and Brews will begin with a vigorous full-body beach boot camp behind the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside, followed by a postworkout treat of local beers and a DJ inside the hotel. Class will be led by four instructors, and participating breweries will be announced the day of the event. 6 p.m. Thursday at Grand Beach Hotel Surfside, 9449 Collins Ave., Surfside; 305-534-8666; grandbeachhotel.com. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.
Who doesn't love a good thriller? Based on the 2003 novel bearing the same name, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time owns the Arsht stage starting Thursday evening with select showings through early February. The story focuses on a 15 year-old genius gone detective, Christopher, who is trying to solve the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog. Along his crime-solving journey, he is accused of killing the dog himself and makes some interesting discoveries about those he holds dear. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and select dates/times through February 3 at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $50.
"How High." "Whateva Man." "Put It Down." Redman recorded them all. The time-tested rapper will visit the 305 this Thursday and bring his 25-plus years of hits with him. Enjoy the classics from his collaborations with Method Man, and maybe you'll even hear some new stuff. The sequel to his 1996 smash album, Muddy Waters — aptly titled Muddy Waters, Too — is slated to hit shelves in this year. 8 p.m. Thursday at Blackbird Ordinary, 729 SW First Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $40 via eventbrite.com.
Friday
What is the longest-running free community cultural festival in Miami? That would be the Miami Design Preservation League's Art Deco Weekend. For its 42nd-annual shindig, there will be more than 85 events in a three-day span, including fashion shows, live tunes, historical tours, and art displays. Amid a number of can't-miss happenings, there's the Bark Deco Dog Show Sunday at 1 p.m., with pups (some up for adoption) clad in historically inspired garb. Noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday on Ocean Drive between Sixth and 13th Streets, Miami Beach; artdecoweekend.com. Admission is free.
Can you pinpoint Sistrunk on the South Florida map? If not, it's an artsy and vibrant community in northwest Fort Lauderdale that's ready to woo you. For Sistrunk-A-Fair, a plethora of films, performances, and exhibits will review the history of black communities throughout Broward. The opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the African American Research Library. From there, plenty of diversions will keep your artsy soul occupied, including the Paint & Sip Night and a spoken-word spectacle. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and events through January 26 at various locations in Fort Lauderdale; sistrunkafair.com. Admission prices vary.
A Permanent Vacation sounds lovely, doesn't it? Thanks to the kind folks in Coconut Grove, Main Highway will morph into a beachy block party, spotlighting the neighborhood's culinary mainstays as well as a couple of stellar music acts. On the tunes front, Grammy-nominated reggae band Locos por Juana and Cape Coral's Soulixer will rock the street. As for grub, Grove hot spots Jaguar Latin-American Kitchen and the Spillover will serve tasty morsels. 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday on Main Highway from Commodore Plaza to Fuller Street (near 3439 Main Hwy.), Coconut Grove; eventbrite.com. Admission is free.
You've seen him as Jack Hammer in Deadpool and Clay in Office Christmas Party, and he was the voice of Fred in Big Hero 6. Now you can see T.J. Miller and his reddish locks in person. The Denver-born comedian and actor is ready to comment hilariously on our increasingly depressing world. Named a "Top 10 Comic to Watch" by Variety, Miller will perform five shows in three days. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 8 p.m. Sunday at Miami Improv, 3450 NW 83rd Ave., Doral; miamiimprov.com. Tickets cost $27 to $55.
Big is beautiful. And Big Wonder, an evening of contemporary dance hand-crafted by choreographer Brigid Baker, is shaping up to be quite beautiful too. Baker is the director of Little Havana's 6th Street Studio, and for this show, her company, WholeProject, will perform two unique numbers. The first — Wonderlawn — captures the early AIDS crisis, and the second, Big Beautiful, celebrates the beauty of life. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Miami-Dade County Auditorium On.Stage Black Box, 2901 W. Flagler St., Miami. Tickets cost $20 via ticketmaster.com.
Hungry but not exactly sure what you want? Enter Taste of the Yard, where a $25 ticket will get you samples from every food and drink concept on property. Chow down on a four-ounce portion of a Della bowl with Kuenko's chicken donburi. Then make your way to World Famous House of Mac for a mini mac 'n' cheese and Food Dude for loaded jerk chicken tostones. Top off your meal with Santo Dulce's dulce de leche-covered churro with salty shredded cheese, along with a ten-ounce draft of craft beer or garden-infused punch from the Bar at the Yard. 5 p.m. Friday at the Wynwood Yard, 56 NW 29th St., Miami; 305-351-0366; thewynwoodyard.com. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.
Saturday
"Do you believe in life after love?" You better, because Cher is coming to the BB&T Center. Prepare for sass. Prepare for the hits, from "If I Could Turn Back Time" to "I Got You Babe." The 72-year-old icon is still churning out new tunes too. In 2018, she released her 26th studio album, Dancing Queen, which cracked the top five on the Billboard 200. 8 p.m. Saturday at BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; thebbtcenter.com. Tickets start at $63.70.
Apparently, the Miami Festival of Laughs has left audiences, well, laughing. So it's back for a fourth year. This year's star-studded laugh-a-thon will feature Next Friday and The Hangover star Mike Epps; Soul Plane and Dirty Laundry actor Sommore; Earthquake; Mark Curry of Hangin' With Mr. Cooper; and George Wallace. If you're not left guffawing at the end of this show, perhaps you have a problem. 8 p.m. Saturday at James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami; jlkc.com. Tickets cost $52 to $125.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman used to be a pretty hot couple in real life. If you'd like to relive their '90s heyday and watch them be all sultry in fantastical ways, the 1999 classic Eyes Wide Shut will show at Gables Cinema this Saturday. Presented in partnership with the Miami Jewish Film Festival, the movie will be preceded by a collection of short films. 10:30 p.m. Saturday at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; gablescinema.com. Tickets cost $8.
Culinary power couple Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth are launching brunch service at their recently opened South Miami restaurant, Root & Bone. The menu is jam-packed with Southern-inspired items, including chicken biscuits ($12) — a thick, tender piece of fried chicken placed on a generously sized biscuit — a fried chicken-and-waffle sandwich layered with melted cheddar cheese and bourbon maple syrup ($17), sticky pork-belly bacon bites spiked with a spicy bourbon maple syrup ($7), and banana cream pie waffles topped with caramelized bananas, butter pecan ice cream, maple syrup, and whipped cream ($14). There's a large bar area, which specializes in Scotch, whiskey, and bourbon, and some brunch services will include a live band. 5958 S. Dixie Hwy., South Miami; 786-785-1001; rootnbone.com. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Honor your favorite cheesy noodle this week at the second-annual NoMi Mac & Cheese Fest. Enjoy an afternoon of food, activities, and soul music. Dig into as much mac 'n' cheese as you can muster, and if you've got what it takes to make your own, enter the festival's bake-off in partnership with Johnson & Wales University and FIU's Culinary Arts Department. As you nosh, local bands will honor Aretha Franklin, and R&B performer Kelly Price will make a special appearance. 2 p.m. Saturday at Griffing Park, 12220 Griffing Blvd., North Miami. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.
Sunday
Photojournalist Barbara Kinney knows the Clintons like few others do. She was an official White House photographer for Bill Clinton. And she was Hillary Clinton's official campaign photographer during the former secretary of state's 2008 and 2016 runs. This Sunday evening, Kinney will visit Books & Books in the Gables to chat about some of the moments she's captured as well as her riveting, story-filled book, #StillWithHer. 6 p.m. Sunday at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; booksandbooks.com. Admission is free.
Just in time for the new year, Gables Chili Fest will return to the City Beautiful, where the event will unite a bunch of civic, community, and religious organizations to make food and support U.S. veterans. Organizers invite attendees to bring their own chili con carne recipes for tasting to the sounds of live music from a variety of acts. Plus, Nightlife Brewing Company will round out the event with a fully stocked bar, and a handful of local food trucks will peddle their fare. Consider this an excellent reason to eat home-cooked comfort food for a great cause. 11 a.m. Sunday at 270 Catalonia Ave., Coral Gables; coralgableschilifest.com. Tickets cost $5 to $15.
Monday
It's always a good time to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., but the day named in his honor is an especially meaningful holiday. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, schduled to roll in Liberty City this Monday, is a great place to show your respect. Expect live tunes, a craft marketplace, food for purchase, and a children's area. Amid the marching bands and performers will be a very Miami twist: Carnival dancers lighting up the streets. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday on NW 54th Street between NW 10th and 32nd Avenues, Miami; miamiandbeaches.com. Admission is free.
Wednesday
If you haven't seen Matisyahu live, you're missing out, yo. You have two more chances this month to see the Jewish-American rapper — this Wednesday and Thursday, January 24 — at the Aventura Center. Because it's an acoustic show, you can enjoy his beatboxing and guitar magic in their purest form. The Pennsylvania native has six albums to his name, with hits such as "King Without a Crown" and "One Day." 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, January 24, at Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St., Aventura; aventuracenter.org. Tickets cost $66.50 to $75.
