february 13
Anti-Film Festival: For those who've had their fill of premiere parties and Top 40 soundtracks, Alliance Film/ Video Co-op offers a little art from emerging and experimental filmmakers and video artists. The fourth annual low-budget-film celebration at the Alliance Cinema (927 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) and the Colony Theater (1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) runs today through Sunday, with a schedule full of deconstructionist musings, broken narratives, video verite, and that film-student staple, films about film. The fest kicks off tonight at 10:00 p.m. at the Alliance with four shorts by Miami-based filmmakers, including seventeen-year-old Joe Anson, whose gender-bending See Saw stars a young cross-dressed couple. Tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. take your valentine to the Colony to see P.S.A., a 16mm film by Los Angeles's David Hunter that probes the college trend of eating excessive amounts of ramen noodles. Also featured are Jennifer Reeder's Law of Desire, the continuing story of a fetus tossed into a sewer, and films by Sharif Nakhleh of Tucson and David Libon of Memphis. On Saturday at 8:00 p.m. put on a black turtleneck and head to the Alliance for a taste of the avant-garde: among other works, the video Time Part I by New York City's Max Jones investigates insanity, and the zany Super-8 flick Wig Rodeo by Marcel de Jure from Los Angeles unspools. The fest culminates on Sunday, when experimental film kingpin Keith Sanborn from New York City leads a discussion with audience members at the Colony at 10:00 p.m. Seven of his short films will be shown, including the acclaimed Public Appearance and a Statement, with footage of JFK's corpse. Admission to all screenings is eight dollars. For more information and a full schedule, call the Co-op at 538-8242 or the Alliance at 531-8504. (JC)
Miami International Boat Show: Florida is the boating capital of the nation, maybe the friggin' universe, so hundreds of manufacturers and sellers of boats and nautical equipment converge yearly to wreak havoc upon the good citizens of Miami Beach. The 1997 Miami International Boat Show runs today through Wednesday at three locations: the Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Way, Miami Beach); Biscayne Bay Marriott Marina (1633 Bayshore Dr.), and Watson Island (off MacArthur Causeway). Besides displaying every possible boat and boat-related thing imaginable, the 58th annual show features information for the first-time boat buyer; nautical fashion shows; a variety of safety, waterskiing, and fishing seminars; boat rides; and kids' activities. The show opens today with a trade-only preview, then opens to the public tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and continues Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sunday and Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 9:00 p.m., and Wednesday from noon to 7:00 p.m. (the marina and Watson Island are open 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily). Admission is $20 tomorrow; $10 for adults all other days ($3 for kids six to twelve); and $16 for a two-day pass. Call 531-8410. (GC)
friday
february 14
Ladies of Note: Thanks to a little help from the Fugees (their hip-hop remake of the 1973 hit "Killing Me Softly" topped the charts last year), Roberta Flack is back in the spotlight. Flack and fellow chanteuse Judy Collins have embarked on a five-city concert tour to benefit breast cancer research. The singers take the stage tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Tickets cost $30, $40, and $45. All proceeds benefit Georgetown University's Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research and the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition. Call 673-7300. (GC)
Valentine's Day Jazz Concerts: Celebrate romance tonight with two concerts under the stars. Get in the mood for amor as Latin music sensations Carlos Oliva y Los Sobrinos del Juez perform at 6:00 p.m. on the Village Green in Key Biscayne (on Crandon Boulevard). Admission is free. Call 361-5292. Or get down as C.B. Smith Park (900 Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines) hosts the Love and Jazz concert at 5:30 p.m., featuring jazz legend Joe Sample and saxman Michael Paulo. Tickets cost ten dollars. Call 954-357-8115. (GC)
Everglades Bluegrass Convention: Dance to some down-home music as the South Florida Bluegrass Association hosts its nineteenth annual festival, running today through Sunday at the Ives Estates Optimist Club (1511 NE 207th St., Aventura). The event celebrates the rich tradition of Appalachian music and features Nashville natives the Osborne Brothers, West Virginia's Redwing, Tennessee native sons the Larry Stephenson Band and Blue Highway, and, from Virginia, the Clark Family, plus local bluegrass bands. Tickets cost $8 today, $15 tomorrow, and $7 Sunday, or $27 for a weekend pass (kids twelve to sixteen pay half-price). Gates open at 9:00 a.m. daily. Call 954-983-8164. (GC)
Irish Fest '97: The luck of the Irish rubs off on everyone this weekend at Bubier Park (Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale) as the Irish Cultural Institute hosts its annual music festival, featuring performances by Irish and Irish-American bands Black 47, the Wolfe Tones, John McDermott, Irish Times, Noel Kingston, Leahy, Great Big Sea, the Clancy Brothers, Sean Fleming, and many others. Artists and craftspeople will display authentic Irish and Celtic arts, too. Tickets cost ten dollars (kids thirteen and under get in free). The festival runs today from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. and tomorrow and Sunday from noon to 11:00 p.m. Call 800-882-ERIN. (GC)
Anti-Film Festival: See Thursday.
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
saturday
february 15
Miami Latin Jazz Festival: Judging from this year's lineup, the second annual Miami Latin Jazz Festival, taking place tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts (174 E. Flagler St.), could be one of the city's finest annual events. A benefit for the Friends of Gusman Center, the fest offers an excellent overview of Cuban music's past and future. The roster includes former Irakere trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, ace pianist Danilo Perez, reedman Justo Almario, and bata drum legend Francisco Aguabella (the subject of the must-see documentary Sworn to the Drum). The Miami High Jazz Band, recently returned from a performance at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, is also on the bill. Tickets range in price from $22.50 to $37.50 (see "Reverb," page 93). Call 372-0925. (JF)
Sex and the Animals: Now that the mushy romantic stuff is out of the way, things get hot and heavy at Metrozoo (12400 SW 152nd St.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. as zoo communications director Ron Magill presents his acclaimed program "Sex and the Animals." Through a variety of -- ahem -- graphic slides, Magill shares the fascinating facts about the courtship and breeding behaviors of animals from frogs to elephants. And he draws parallels to human sexuality, illustrating the differences and similarities between people and animals when they do the wild thing. Admission to this adults-only event is $15. All proceeds benefit the Harpy Eagle Conservation Project of Panama. Call 251-0403. (GC)
The Coronation of Poppea: Opera gets sexy tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Dade County Auditorium (2901 W. Flagler St.) as the Florida Grand Opera presents the South Florida premiere of Claudio Monteverdi's raw and provocative The Coronation of Poppea. Countertenor David Daniels makes his FGO debut as the insane Roman emperor Nero. Soprano Mary Mills stars as his mistress Poppea, who uses the full force of her sexual powers to scheme her way from bed to the Roman throne (performed in Italian with projected English translations). The 1643 work is suprisingly modern, comparable to the dramas of Edward Albee and Eugene O'Neill. Performances continue February 18 and 21 at 8:00 and February 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $100. Call 854-7890. (GC)
Coconut Grove Arts Festival: More than 325 artists from across the nation display their works at this 34th annual juried art show, running today through Monday along McFarlane Road and South Bayshore Drive. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival was recently ranked first in the nation by Sunshine Artist, the leading arts festival publication. Besides the artwork, the more-than-one-million festgoers can enjoy live musical performances on two stages, including a concert by five-time Grammy Award-winning jazz artist David Sanborn on Monday at 3:00 p.m. The festival also features a walking tour of the Grove with historian Paul George on Monday at 10:00 a.m. (ten dollars), plus kids' activities and a wide variety of international foods. Admission is free. Fest hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Call 447-0401. And ride Metrorail! (GC)
Anti-Film Festival: See Thursday.
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
Everglades Bluegrass Convention: See Friday.
Irish Fest '97: See Friday.
sunday
february 16
Groovin' in the Grove: The Coconut Grove Playhouse (3500 Main Hwy.) becomes a steamy jazz joint as the African American Cultural Preservation Society hosts a series of concerts by national jazz artists, beginning tonight and running for eight weeks. The series opens with two shows by legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, featuring bassist James Cammack and drummer Idris Muhammad, at 8:30 and 11:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 (see "Reverb," page 93). The series continues with the Vincent Herring Quartet, performing February 20 through 22 at 10:30 p.m. and February 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Call 442-4000. (GC)
Anti-Film Festival: See Thursday.
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
Everglades Bluegrass Convention: See Friday.
Irish Fest '97: See Friday.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival: See Saturday.
monday
february 17
Mystical Arts of Tibet: Venture into the mystical world of Tibetan Buddhism at the exhibition "Mystical Arts of Tibet," running through March 7 at Miami-Dade Community College's Gallery North (11380 NW 27th Ave., Collins Campus Center, rm 4207-1). The show features personal and sacred objects of the Dalai Lamas, including art and religious artifacts from the collection of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, Tibet's largest monastery and the home of the early Dalai Lamas. On February 28 at 7:30 p.m., monks from Drepung Loseling will construct a six-foot sand mandala in the gallery. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Call 237-1532. (GC)
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival: See Saturday.
tuesday
february 18
Tom Jones: Welsh singer and performer Tom Jones is still considered a hunk, even as he approaches age 60. He's also still a pop star, recording and successfully releasing not only his own material, but also covers of Top 40 hits. And most recently Jones helped save the world from little green aliens in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks. Now that's star power. Tonight at 8:00 p.m. Jones struts on-stage at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). Tickets range from $30 to $48. Call 673-7300. (GC)
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
The Coronation of Poppea: See Saturday.
Mystical Arts of Tibet: See Monday.
wednesday
february 19
Rising Stars Festival: The New World School of the Arts celebrates its tenth year with a showcase of high school and college talents. The fest opens tonight at 7:30 with an evening of ballet (repeats February 22 at 7:30 p.m.) and continues tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. with the musical Purlie (repeats February 22 at 2:00 p.m.). On February 21 at 7:30 p.m., the fest hits a high note with Threepenny Opera (repeats February 23 at 2:00 p.m.). On February 24 at 7:30, the fest ends with a concert by the wind ensemble and choir. All performances run at the Colony Theater (1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach), with a reception at 6:00 at the South Florida Art Center's Ground Level Gallery (1035 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach), where works by NWSA artists will be on view through February 28 from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets to each performance cost $15; gallery admission is free. Call 674-1026. (GC)
Miami International Boat Show: See Thursday.
Mystical Arts of Tibet: See Monday.