Thursday, June 9
Drink for a cause at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation's Art Uncorked, where guests can enjoy a philanthropic evening of vino and art. At Bottle & Bottega (2765 SW 27th Ave., Miami), sommelier Jacqueline Coleman will lead a winetasting, followed by a painting session guided by a few of the studio's resident artists. Expect small bites and entertainment too. To attend, a minimum donation of $60 is required, which will benefit NAAF. The nonprofit serves those affected by alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss and emotional pain. For those who cannot attend, donations to NAAF are still welcome. The event takes place Thursday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit
support.naaf.org/deirdrenero or naaf.org.
Cuba has endured a communist dictatorship for the past 57 years. The Middle East is home to several countries where kings and religion rule the people with the absolute authority of God. These hardly seem like two worlds that would join to push the boundaries of female expression and women's rights. Yet united by one woman, Tiffany Madera, they've done just that. The Cuban-American dancer and filmmaker brought these strange bedfellows together in 2003 after a visit to her native country. While reconnecting with family, she used Middle Eastern dance to form Cuba's first belly-dance troupe, Groupo Aisha Al-Hanan, and consequently provided an alternative artistic outlet for her Cuban sisters and brothers. This Thursday, O Cinema Wynwood (90 NW 29th St., Miami) will host the world premiere of Madera's documentary, Havana Habibi (which translates to Havana, My Sweetheart). Get a first-look screening of Havana Habibi at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $12. Call 305-571-9970 or visit o-cinema.org.
If there's one thing we know about the 2010s, it's that this is the era of oversharing. Blurred lines are everywhere. Should you share your pro-legalization position if you're friends with your boss on Facebook? Is Snapchatting a skinny-dip pic to your ex too much? Will alcohol-fueled Twitter rants hurt your business? How much, exactly, should you share? Let Nadia Payan (graphic designer and art director) and Gaby Guzman (founder of branding and social media strategy firm the Jupiter Circle) give you answers to those crucial questions at Brand New Mornings, a monthly interactive conversation-focused event. Attendees will talk branding, creativity, and business in the ladies' Little Havana space. The discussion of the day will revolve around how to build a brand, and who/what/when/where/how to share stuff via social media — and, specifically, "The Blend: Where Branding Meets Your Personality." Get ready to learn what constitutes TMI and what's acceptable — if you wanna build your business, that is. The Thursday event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at their studio in Little Havana (537 SW 12th Ave., Miami). Admission is free, but RSVP is requested. Visit eventbrite.com.
Friday, June 10
Almost everything about adulthood is a major bummer. You go to work, pay bills, chose a health insurance plan, ugh, ugh, and more ugh. Luckily, grownups are also allowed to eat dessert for dinner and go to bed whenever they want (maybe the only two upsides of this adult gig). At Funding Emerging Art With Sustainable Tactics' FEAST Miami #7, it's all about the desserts. Instead of experiencing the usual vegan dinner routine, guests will get to sip drinks and dig into five gluten-free sweets made by chef Loren Pulitzer. These mouthwatering munchies will include chocolate mousse parfait and stone fruit cobbler. While eating and imbibing, attendees will learn about five awesome artists and their innovative ideas. Concepts include a ladies' book club, a floating park outside Miami Marine Stadium, and an art-focused program supporting military veterans. Feasters will then get to vote on their favorite project, and grant money will be doled out accordingly. The dessert-athon runs from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday at Spinello Projects (7221 NW Second Ave., Miami). Tickets cost $30. Visit feastmiami.org.
American Idol ended its 15-season run this year. Are you in withdrawal? Probably not — that show hadn't been relevant in about a decade. But if you're craving some real singing talent in place of Idol's mean-spirited mocking and horny celebrity judges, you're in luck. Magic City Casino (450 NW 37th Ave., Miami) will once again host Ultimate Miami Voice this Friday, bringing out South Florida's favorite crooners to compete for the grand prize of $5,000. Part of the casino's Ultimate Miami series of events — which highlights Miami's best artists from realms as diverse as bartending, comedy, and drag queen fierceness — Ultimate Miami Voice pairs a lineup of finalists for the title with live performances by freestyle music favorites, including Puerto Rican singer George Lamond, "In a Dream" singer/songwriter Rockell, and Collage, whose "I'll Be Loving You" is the black-and-white '90s nostalgia anthem of your pool-hall dreams. The result is a mix of styles and influences you'll find only in Miami. The event begins at 8 p.m. General admission costs $10; VIP tables for four cost $150. Call 305-631-4576 or visit theultimatemiami.com.
With the way things are going, "Weird Al" Yankovic may have to change his name to "Bestselling Singer/Songwriter and Superbusy and Megapopular Al" Yankovic. True, it might be a bit wordy, but that's never been a problem for the grammar-loving parodist and pop-culture maven. This Friday, Yankovic will bring his Mandatory Fun world tour to Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center (1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). The reviews of the show so far are as colorful and excited as the music the performer writes. His Magic City stop promises much of the same, which includes "three more costume changes than Lady Gaga" and 30-plus years of material. In fact, a Weird Al performance might be the best concert to take someone who's been frozen in carbonite for a long time. With the amount of well-known references in his songs, Yankovic is a cultural historian of sorts. From cavemen to connoisseurs, everyone can benefit from the comedic teachings and goofy wordplay. Showtime is 8 p.m., and tickets cost $39.50 to $273. Call 305-949-6722 or visit arshtcenter.org. See page 36 for an interview with Weird Al.
Vaping is where it's at, bro. And for those down with e-cigs, tiny blue lights, and enormous plumes of faux-smoke, the World Vapor Expo is the place to be this weekend. More than 100 companies, retailers, distributors, and wholesalers will be represented. The first day of the convention is reserved for business-to-business attendees, vendors, and industry professionals, but the rest of the weekend serves the general public. Guests can attend sessions with three industry speakers (from VapeMentors, ShopGlobalVapor, and VonVape.com) discussing issues pertinent to the field, sample new flavors of e-liquids from all over the world, and snag smokin' deals on the newest and most technologically advanced vaporizers. The World Vapor Expo takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach) Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $15 to $99. Call 800-293-9850 or visit worldvaporexpo.com.
Saturday, June 11
With each passing month, Wynwood's Art Walk keeps trying to one-up itself. This week, the Private Key Club (567 NW 27th St., Miami) will host a multisensory event featuring DJ Dennis Ferrer spinning a range of classic and future house music. The event, hosted by Secret Garden and sponsored by Beck's Beer, includes works curated by Siglo Events in an effort to unite the worlds of visual and aural arts. The entire Secret Garden Art Walk experience will be super-immersive — with projection-mapping shimmering and dancing on the walls while attendees shake it on the floor. Additional musical and visual artists, site-specific performances, and more will take place Saturday. The event begins at 8 p.m. Admission is free before 11 p.m. and $10 after. Call 306-900-5512 or visit minimaxevents.com.
You might not think you have a lot in common with your grandparents. Maybe you're a liberal, and abuelo is a staunch Republican. Maybe you're loving the single life, but abuela can't stop pressuring you for grandkids. But if you're the grandchild of a pair of Cubans, chances are there's at least one thing you all can enjoy together: an intense game of dominoes. So bring your bag of bones — and your grandparents — to the Wolfsonian-FIU (1001 Washington Ave., Miami) this Saturday for Dominoes With Abuelos. The museum will host an intergenerational afternoon of gaming for young and old alike. Even if you've never played before, expert abuelos will be there to show you the ropes. And afterward, you and the grands can tour the Wolf's "Promising Paradise: Cuban Allure, American Seduction" exhibit. At the very least, it'll give you something to talk about next time abuelita tries to set you up with her dentist's stepson. The gathering runs from 1 to 3 p.m. and is free with museum admission, which costs $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Call 305-531-1001 or visit wolfsonian.org.
Being a Star Wars superfan is stressful stuff. You've gotta memorize the names and relationships of hundreds of characters. You've gotta troll eBay to find the rarest collectibles. You've gotta make a big stink in the comments section whenever anything about the universe changes to your disliking. And if you're a dad, there's the added pressure of introducing your little Lukes and Leias to your favorite franchise in a way that ensures they'll follow in your superfan footsteps. This Father's Day, Star Wars dads can take a break without really taking a break at Lumina Massage's Star Wars-themed infant massage class. Dress up in your favorite Han Solo or Queen Amidala gear and head to the Perfect Circle Fitness Studio (17671 NW 78th Ave., Hialeah) to get schooled — Yoda-style — in the art of calming and therapeutic massage for your Ewok-size new addition. Massage therapists say infant massage can strengthen the bond between baby and father, basically ensuring you won't end up in a Darth Vader situation. The class takes place this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $25. Call 305-570-0506 or visit luminamassage.com.
Monday, June 13
Everyone has an opinion about the current state of American politics and the upcoming presidential election. Candidates and party leaders almost seem like caricatures of themselves, so it's no wonder so many observers sit stunned. In the midst of this circus, some of us have given up and others are panicking. Author Nadia Asencio, on the other hand, offers a solution based on the simple concepts of understanding and communication. Now, just because an idea is simple doesn't mean it is necessarily obvious or easily attainable. In her book Politiquette, Asencio argues that "seven simple-but-not-quite-easy steps of effective communication" can change how you interpret political infighting, how you react to politicians and the party elite, and how you interact with other people in general. The first of these steps is to drop your labels. She asserts that voters don't need to operate within the confines of the two-party system — actually, we are better served if we don't. "There are three teams: You have Industry, the Government, and the People," Asencio lays out. "If you're not creating policy or shaping governments worldwide, you're not part of the government." Hear Asencio talk all things politics and etiquette at Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables) this Monday at 8 p.m. The event is free to attend, and copies of her book will be available for purchase. Visit booksandbooks.com.
