SUN 7/31
Lovers of skippers, sulphurs, and swallowtails, rejoice! Today is Butterfly Day at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables). After a delicious pancake breakfast, experts will lead guided butterfly walks, pointing out plants that supply sustenance to these beautiful winged creatures. The length of a butterfly's proboscis determines the kind of flower it visits. Adult butterflies drink from a variety of blossoms, but caterpillars are picky and have specific kinds of plants they eat. Folks who want to plant their own butterfly garden can gain valuable insight from expert Marc Minno, who will be on hand to discuss his new book, Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. Besides informative tours and lectures, green thumb types can purchase nectar-rich flowering plants, while the little ones are kept entertained with a variety of mariposa-related activities. Enjoy the sunshine and learn more about these pretty, delicate insects today from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $15. Call 305-667-1651, or visit www.fairchildgarden.org --Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik
Run Away
Be like Pheidippides
SAT 7/30
Just a few more steps and you'll have done it. You've run for almost 26 miles and now you can hear your friends cheering through the crowd's applause. As you cross the finish line, joy overcomes you. This is what you have been working toward for the past six months.
Don't think you can do it? Team FootWorks knows you can. Simply join the new session of their Marathon Training Program beginning this morning at 6:00. Over the next 26 weeks you will gradually build your endurance by running a little longer each Saturday. You will also participate in free clinics about everything from nutrition to how to choose the right shoes.
Runners are grouped by ability, so you can trot (or walk) at a pace that suits you. Meet the team at South Miami Hospital's Education Center, 7401 SW 62nd Ave., South Miami. The program costs $199. Call 305-666-7223, or visit www.footworksmiami.com. --Karen R. Figueiredo
Sign and Grind
SUN 7/31
For those who measure a landscape in terms of railings, stairs, and uninterrupted concrete, Miami has earned a reputation as a skateboarder's mecca. "It's a destination," says Chris Williams, owner of M.I.A. Skate Shop (229 Ninth St., Miami Beach). Which is why Shorty's -- maker of decks, hoodies, and other accoutrements of board-based culture -- arrives today with an entourage of sponsored stars like Fabrizio Santos and Brandon Turner. The Shorty's skaters will be doling out autographs and free stuff at M.I.A. beginning at 2:00. After plastering your skateboard with signatures and collecting your giveaways, head up to the demo at Control Skatepark (380 NW 24th St., Miami), where beginning at 4:00 you can see the men in action. Call 786-621-3511, or visit www.miaskateshop.com. -- Emily Witt
