Friday
- "Plan Z for Miami" Exhibition Opening at Coral Gables Museum: Driving toward the mainland on the Rickenbacker Causeway affords a view of the bay on the left and the edge of Brickell on the right — surroundings that make this roadway a favorite among runners and bikers. But Miami hasn't gotten on the green-living bandwagon. Plan Z Miami is looking to change that fact by reimagining Rickenbacker as a public park that complements the beauty of the landscape and provides safety and security to those sans vehicles.
- TransCon at Barry University: Less than half of U.S. states have clear anti-discrimination laws in place to protect transgender people — and you've probably already guessed that Florida is not one of those states. That's why TransCon is in its seventh year of community organizing to create, inform, and embolden a community of trans activists and allies.
- Audience and Protest at Miami Theater Center: Vaclav Havel wrote the plays Audience and Protest after his work was outlawed in Czechoslovakia under an oppressive Communist regime. The hero of the plays and Havel's alter ego, Ferdinand Vanek, is a dissident whose life is shaped by the punishments against his acts of resistance. If the exposure and critique of a government bent on censorship and tyranny sounds eerily appropriate for you right now, Mad Cat Theatre's production of Havel's plays run through March 12.
- Miami Film Festival at Various Locations: Forget the art museums and galleries for the next ten days: The Miami Film Festival is steering the city toward the big screen. Aside from boasting a star-studded schedule including an opening night with Richard Gere and premieres with Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Rashida Jones, the festival is bringing back last year's Marquee Evenings with directors Radu Mihaileanu and Lone Scherfig, plus actress/muse Rossy de Palma. Of course, a bevy of flicks in the oasis of a cool, dark theater with bags of buttery popcorn is worth the price of admission.
- Veuve Clicquot Carnaval at Museum Park: When thinking of Miami, it’s hard not to envision the glittering waters of Biscayne Bay. And Veuve Clicquot knows the power of sparkling liquid. So the company, along with supermodel Adriana Lima, will host Carnaval in Museum Park in support of Pérez Art Museum Miami. The spirit of Brazil will reflect in the waves through samba music, dancers, and drummers.
- Carnaval on the Mile on Miracle Mile: Coral Gables, with its tree-lined streets, quaint Mediterranean-style architecture, and countless shops and restaurants, seems made for block parties. So you can feel good adding Carnaval on the Mile to your winter festival roster. The event boasts two stages featuring music performances by Palo!, Electric Piquete, Stokeswood, and other acts; local painters; jewelry makers; and other diversions. And the corresponding Cork & Fork adds wine pairings and tastings from the chefs at Finka, Taste, Ortanique, and Chef Adrianne's.
- Kyle Grooms at Open Stage Club: There's never a shortage of out-of-town acts coming into Miami, but we can't forget there's love to give to our homegrown comedians. Kyle Grooms, a 20-plus-year veteran of comedy who started his career in the 305, is an example of what Miami offers to the vigilant seekers of our city's laugh-makers. If you haven't caught his show during his recent performances around town, take the opportunity at this HaveNots Comedy event to see the talent that landed Grooms on Chappelle's Show, The Bad Boys of Comedy, and Last Comic Standing.
- Miami Gras at Concrete Beach Brewery: You don't need much to celebrate when beer is involved. So when Concrete Beach Brewery releases a new saison, why not throw a party? Miami Gras nods to the New Orleans original by offering a brass band, Cajun food, and costumes, but because Miami is home, guava king cake, a Latin food truck, and local flair will abound. Don your best getup for a chance to win a VIP party at the brewery's Social Hall, and definitely buy a six-pack or two of Miami Gras beer — a fruity concoction of juniper berries and orange blossom honey.
- Ole Bay All Day at Boxelder Craft Beer Market: If sucking the brains out of a crawfish sounds anything but gross, Boxelder's second-anniversary celebration, Ole Bay All Day, is your jam. Chefs Jeremiah Bullfrog and Kurtis Jantz will be fixin' an old-fashioned crawfish boil alongside other New Orleans classics such as po'boys and gumbo, while Lone Wolf One Man Band and Reverend Ron provide live entertainment. If, on the other hand, the idea of pulling apart your food with your bare hands scares you, just slurp down a few beers first — they'll cost only $5.
- Las Olas Art Festival on Las Olas Boulevard: If you missed the Las Olas Art Festival's first installment this year, you're getting a second chance. The nearly 30-year-old festival will roll out another lineup of national artists on the already-art-laden boulevard this weekend. Two hundred artists from 30 states will mingle among their creations for your personal enjoyment and possible patronage. And with prices ranging from $25 to $40,000, you might just find something to fit your taste and your budget. If your pups are fellow connoisseurs, they're welcome to come along.