july 8
New Orleans's swingingest ensemble, Los Hombres Calientes, brings its jazzy Afro-Cuban stylings to the summer concert series at Coral Gables Congregational Church (3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables) tonight at 8:00. The band, whose name translates as "the hot men," counts among its members percussionist Bill Summers, a veteran of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters and his own band Summers' Heat; 21-year-old trumpeter Irvin Mayfield; drummer Jason Marsalis (yes, he's related to those Marsalises); pianist Victor Atkins III; bassist David Pulphus, and singer-percussionist Yvette Bostic-Summers (a mujer -- that would be a woman, for you gringos). Tickets are $25. Call 305-448-7421. (NK)
Since the early 1980s, arena rockers Os Paralamas do Sucesso, a.k.a. Paralamas, have maintained their position as Brazil's answer to the Rolling Stones. Pioneers of the roots-reggae sound that now permeates pan-Latin rock, the group has been influenced by Zeppelin and Hendrix, the Brazilian tropicalia movement, and ska. Paralamas new album, Hey Na Na, offers the usual mix, spiced up with salsa. The boys from Brazil perform their new and old fusions tonight at the Cameo Theater (1445 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). The show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $18.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. Call 305-864-7578. (JC)
friday
july 9
Ahhh, the infinite number of ways you used to be able to mangle John Mellencamp's name! (Our favorite was John Melon Cougarcamp.) Once known as Johnny Cougar and then John Cougar and then John Cougar Mellencamp, the singer had so many monikers he was destined to become the subject of a classic party game, guaranteed to provide hours of entertainment for both young and old. But it was not to be. He's all grown up now. The major heart attack he suffered a few years ago might have had something to do with that. Or maybe it's just being in the unsavory music business long enough to sell more than 25 million albums, garner a slew of Grammy Award nominations, and rack up 36 gold, platinum, and multiplatinum awards. Mellencamp has just embarked on "The Rural Electrification Tour" to plug his recently released fifteenth album, the eponymous John Mellencamp. Joined by altcountry band Son Volt as his opening act, he performs at 8:00 p.m. at Coral Sky Amphitheatre (601 Sansbury's Way, West Palm Beach). Expect to hear his new songs "Your Life Is Now" and "I'm Not Running Anymore," plus all the old hits such as "Jack and Diane," "Hurts So Good," "Paper in Fire," and "Pink Houses." Tickets range from $17 to $40. Call 561-793-0445. (NK)
saturday
july 10
The Cat in the Hat and the Grinch and Green Eggs and Ham and Horton Hears A Who. Who can forget Dr. Seuss's lovable characters or his goofy stories for kids? But there might be one forgotten piece of the Seuss oeuvre. Back in 1953 Seuss, whose given name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, made a non-animated feature film called The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T. The creepy tale of a little boy who tries to escape piano lessons and the consequences that befall him owing to his rebelliousness, Dr. T stars the cool Hans Conried and screens as the first flick in the Alliance Cinema's (927 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) new midnight movie series. Tickets cost four dollars. Call 305-531-8504. (NK)
sunday
july 11
Who needs Fourth of July when you can have Lizard Day? Once you tote Junior over to the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium (3280 S. Miami Ave.), those hourlong booming fireworks displays he endured last week will be a positively anticlimactic memory. In conjunction with the exhibition "REPTILES! Real and Robotic," the museum is holding a series of reptile-appreciation days. Today from noon to 3:15 p.m. they honor the lovely lizard with demonstrations, presentations, contests, and advice from experts. Lizard owners are invited to bring their little friends along (in a container please, not in your pocket or a Ziploc!) to socialize with other enthusiasts and enter their pals in a show. Admission is free for lizard owners and one guest. Call 305-854-4247. (NK)
monday
july 12
Oprah Winfrey claims that reading Gary Zuckav's book Seat of the Soul changed her life. But really then, hasn't every book Oprah touts on the telly changed her life? Anyhow, Zuckav made his requisite Oprah appearance and he seems like a humble guy, so we won't hold the talk show diva's ringing endorsement against him. The author of The Dancing Wu Li Masters, which eloquently explains quantum and particle physics to the layman, attempts to do something easier in his new book: He wants to enlighten readers about what he considers the new phase of human evolution. Yeah, okay! Zuckav maintains humans were put on Earth for a specific purpose and that all of us have paths our souls have laid out for us. He's hit the road for a book tour, which stops in our parts at 8:00 tonight at Temple Judea, 5500 Granada Blvd., Coral Gables. Admission is free but tickets are required. Call 305-442-4408. (NK)
tuesday
july 13
Okay, we're patriotic and all that, but we have to admit the whole business of sending things into outer space isn't nearly as successful as it used to be. Lately when it comes to launching satellites, the United States hasn't boasted a stellar record. The darn things never make it into orbit, or they fall out of it once they're there, or they just crash down into the ocean or onto someone's house. Not a big deal. We just look like morons to the rest of the world, that's all! About 30 years ago we and our arch enemies at the time seemed to be hot stuff in the space department. Guys were walking all over the moon, doing somersaults in zero gravity. People were guzzling Tang by the gallon. And the space program seemed something worth investing in. Re-live the bygone glory days when the Louis Wolfson II Media History Center presents Video Rewind: The Space Race at 1:00 p.m. today and Thursday in the auditorium of the Miami-Dade Public Library (101 W. Flagler St.) What you'll see: vintage local television reports, specials, and original news film covering monumental events such as John Glenn's first trip to space and the various Apollo missions. Admission is free. Call 305-375-1505. (NK)
wednesday
july 14
Forget the old adage, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." FIU photography professor William Maguire both teaches and "does" exceptionally well. See for yourself. Evidence is on display at the annual faculty exhibition in the Art Museum at FIU, University Park Campus, PC 110 (SW 8th Street and 107th Avenue). More than 100 black-and-white night shots (taken between 1993 and 1998 all over the country) emanate tranquility and dignity, be it a desolate housing development, a funky ice-cream stand, or a rundown storefront. Contrasting with his nocturnal images are a series of photos Maguire captured, mostly in late afternoons, last summer during a jaunt through Bolivia and Chile. The show runs through August 14. Admission is free. Call 305-348-2890. (
