For the past few weeks at the Tower Theater (1508 SW Eighth St.), Miami-Dade College has been previewing documentaries set to air on PBS as part of the series called POV (Point of View). Not only have people gotten the opportunity to sneak a peek at the films, they've been able to offer their comments about them afterward on camera for possible broadcast on the POV Website. If you haven't made it out to one of the screenings, tonight is your last chance. Unspooling at 7:00 is Larry v. Lockney. The tale centers on Larry Tannahill, who was the only voice of dissent against the drug-testing policy implemented by the school board in his hometown of Lockney, Texas, population 2000. Arguing that a drug test was a violation of his son's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches, Larry, as you can imagine, became a really popular guy. He lost his job, got death threats, you know, all those perks that come with being an outspoken American! Admission is free. Call 305-237-1696. (NK)
Friday August 1
Just call David Alan Harvey a happy wanderer with a camera. For more than 30 years, the Magnum and National Geographic photographer has explored more than his share of the Spanish-speaking world, stopping in Spain, Cuba, Honduras, Brazil, and Chile. (Hey, what about Miami?) A visual record of his extensive travels can be seen in his book, Divided Soul, which he'll present tonight at 8:00 along with an exhibition of his work at Books & Books, 256 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. Admission is free. Call 305-442-4408. (NK)
Saturday August 2
The Grateful Dead's colorful leader Jerry Garcia would undoubtedly be grateful eight years after his passing. The rock and roll legend will never be forgotten. Legions of Deadheads will gather today to celebrate what would have been Garcia's 61st birthday with Jerry's Birthday Bash at Ives Optimist Park (1511 NE 207th St.). The powwow will feature live music that will linger on until dawn with Crazy Fingers, a local Dead cover band, and Muscadine Wine among the performers. No Garcia gathering would be complete without a drum circle, hippie marketplace, and vegetarian food. Because camping will be permitted for the event, tents and vehicles will be allowed into the park. So get your tie-dye, freaky acid funk accessories together and wish a cosmic happy birthday to the original hippie from Haight-Ashbury. Gates open at 2:00 p.m. Admission cost is $15. Call 954-926-5458. (JCR)
Sunday August 3
Test your mettle and help raise funds to combat a dreaded disease at today's Huntington's Disease Sprint and Olympic Distance Triathlon at Crandon Park (4000 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne). If you're up to the challenge, you can get started at 6:30 a.m. when the Olympic part of the event kicks off. That entails a 1.5K (.93 mile) swim in the Atlantic Ocean, a 40K (24.8 miles) bike ride along the Rickenbacker Causeway, and a 10K (6.2 miles) run through Crandon Park. If you're more of a wimp, you can go for the lighter sprint stuff, which means a 1/4-mile swim in the ocean, 13-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run. Whichever you do, you'll be helping to raise funds in the fight against a genetic disorder that strikes people between the ages of 30 and 50, slowly progressing to leave them mentally and physically incapacitated. At least 30,000 people currently have been diagnosed with the disease. Kids can be stricken with it as well. All proceeds will benefit the South Florida Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America. One catch: You must register early. If you haven't already done it by mail, go to the park on Saturday, August 2, between noon and 5:00 p.m. And you might want to attend the orientation session, which will take place there at 4:00 p.m. Call 305-971-4372. (NK)
Monday August 4
How can you not love a musician who fronts a band called the Groove Organization? That would be stellar jazz guitarist Bob DeVos, who although he counts B.B. King and James Brown as early influences, really plays more along the lines of jazz guitar virtuoso Wes Montgomery. The Groove Organization also features Hammond B3 organist Gene Ludwig and drummer Billy James. But DeVos, who has worked alongside a plethora of performers including Etta James, David "Fathead" Newman, and Hank Crawford, will leave all those cats behind when he comes to Miami Beach to play some gigs with bassist/Van Dyke music director Don Wilner. Hear them at 9:00, 10:30 p.m., and midnight tonight and tomorrow at the Van Dyke Café (846 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach). Music charge is five dollars. Stand by the bar at no charge. Call 305-534-3600. (NK)
Tuesday August 5
Angst-ridden poets dramatically emoting and expressing their rage, their love, their indignation is what you can expect at local poetry slam events. Since media magnate Russell Simmons jumped on the bandwagon, spoken-word competitions have been something of a phenomenon across the urban American landscape. Not to be excluded, a group of performing Miami poets has teamed up to compete in national championships as the Miami Masters Poetry Slam Team. The team is gearing up to compete in Chicago tomorrow through Saturday, August 9. Tonight they perform a bon-voyage warm-up concert at Power Studios (3791 NE Second Ave.). From the sublime to the politically charged, these wordsmiths will undoubtedly provoke ideas and inspire revolutionary thought. The showcase begins at 9:00. Admission is $10. Call 305-751-1471. (JCR)
Wednesday August 6
Making you think Saddam Hussein's sons are dead via those fabulous photos or letting you know who actress Demi Moore's latest boy toy is. Face it: You can't live without the media. You can, you say? Well, then why are you reading this? Allen Casebier, a visiting scholar in the philosophy department at the University of Miami, will show you just how much the media truly influences you when he delivers an illustrated lecture titled "Ethics of the Mass Media: Politics, Gender, Sex, and Violence in Film and Television" tonight at 7:30 during the MiamIntelligence series at the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, 3280 S. Miami Ave. Admission is ten dollars. Wine and cheese are served at 7:00 p.m. Call 305-773-8408. (NK)
