When Thembi Nyandeni speaks of apartheid, the passion ignited by repressed memories rises in her voice. “Then, you could be arrested just for being black. And this was our country,” she says with quietly devastating authority. This South African has experienced mankind at its worst — men who delight in…
Say the name Alvin Ailey and images of lithe ebony bodies come to mind. His choreography inspired via simple gestures — a male lead stretching his arms to the sky, a voluminous skirt fluttering midleap, a white umbrella held aloft. The man knew how to make a powerful visual statement,…
Debbie Stoller has done much to dispel the image of a gray-haired knitter wielding needles in wrinkled hands. As the best-selling author of the Stitch ´n Bitch books, she has taken the lessons handed down to her by her nimble-fingered Dutch ancestors and remixed them for a younger generation. “As…
You would not expect to find Cuban jazz legend Arturo Sandoval spending his time at a busy construction site, where the discordant sounds of heavy equipment threaten to overpower conversational tones. But that is just where he has been every day, all day, for the past month or so. Tonight…
Suzanne Mosher, executive director of Music Fest Miami, has a favorite story about last year’s Discover Miami cultural extravaganza. “We took a group of older women from Temple Israel on our bus tour to Little Haiti. There’s beautiful women in ornate costumes dancing and greeting you, the aroma of delicious…
Ah, prom. Teenagers everywhere are preparing for this rite of passage. Ideally it should be a romantic evening of friends, laughter, and totally awesome outfits. Seventeen magazine and JC Penney will demonstrate how it should be done. Visit Aventura Mall today for the Rock Your Prom fashion show. The event…
The alleged inherent physical prowess displayed by athletes of color has provided comedic fodder for films like The Air Up There, Airplane!, and Cool Runnings. But these stereotypical attitudes have also spawned a number of discriminatory accusations in the sports world. “There are some identifying factors that are specific to…
Being a beatnik should be more fashionable than ever. Not because of the clichéd black garb, beret, and sunglasses — though those sartorial statements remain timelessly stylish. But the beat movement was about rhythm, nonconformist language, and rebelling against an oppressive establishment — a cultural revolution largely shaped by Allen…
Disney animators were the first to mine Neptune’s kingdom for family friendly laughs with The Little Mermaid. Then Pixar’s Finding Nemo took fans on a computer animated journey through the briny deep, eschewing the traditional story line of imperiled guy/girl romance for the poignant tale of a lost clown fish,…
Cutting-edge culture organization Gen Art has earned a reputation for always being one step ahead of the Zeitgeist. Miami’s mavens and sartorial gurus should get ready to take notes at this year’s Fresh Faces in Fashion event, a national showcase for up-and-coming designers. Some of the fashion industry’s key players…
The distinctive cultures that call Miami home may have their differences, but they are united by one major factor — they all love to party. Saint Patrick’s Day is here to spread the boozy luck of the Irish across the Magic City. Irish pubs and bars are just about everywhere…
It’s practically becoming an annual tradition. A British rapper with dope skills is ushered across the pond. His albums are well reviewed by critics at Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Spin. His songs gain popularity with college radio DJs and podcasters. His is touted to be the new face of hip-hop…
By 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 5, both parking lots at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay were already packed, and the valets were in full apology mode. Thanks to a swarm of plus-size women heading toward the hotel entrance, escaping the curved driveway wasn’t easy. One lady clad in a slinky…
Few things are more romantic than dinner under the stars. For a truly exclusive and memorable dining experience, take your sweetie out for Dinner in Paradise. Gabriele Marewski of Paradise Farms and Michael Schwartz, executive chef of Afterglo, created this monthly series of fabulous dinners, which are held for 50…
Six months after America’s most devastating natural disaster struck New Orleans, the city struggled back to its feet to host Mardi Gras. With determination and passion, revelers and colorful floats took to the French Quarter, and for three bacchanalian days the air filled with music and tossed beads. If you…
Churchill’s isn’t the kind of cushy, tastefully lit lounge that fans of smooth saxophonists Dave Koz and Kenny G. would consider a fitting venue for a jazz night. But aficionados who wax nostalgic for the gritty jazz clubs that spawned innovators like Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday will feel right…
Your hair is overgrown and out of control. That George Thorogood classic rock song, “Get a Haircut,” is beginning to take on a personal meaning. It’s time for the kind of new look you simply can’t get at Supercuts. Aveda, the feel-good, environmentally friendly beauty company, is looking for you…
Contrary to popular opinion, the British box office smash The Full Monty was about more than naked men letting it all hang out. The plot explores universally resonant issues of corporate downsizing, economic devastation, and desperation. Faced with poverty and despair after losing their jobs in a steel mill, a…
When Michael Moore took direct aim at good ol’ George W. with his incendiary documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, he hoped it might appeal to disenfranchised voters who would show their support at the polls and bring an end to Bush’s presidency. But despite the footage of dead soldiers, grieving mothers, and…
Michelle Riu isn’t exactly what one might expect of a local singer/songwriter. There are no syncopated salsa rhythms or thumping reggaeton bass lines here. Instead her Cuban ancestry fuses with Southern sensibilities, making her songs a welcome addition to the often-nebulous pop-country genre. Her thick, smoky warble is evocative of…
You might imagine Rosie Perez — successful actress, In Living Color’s legendary choreographer who orchestrated the Fly Girls’ every move, and dynamic star of Broadway’s The Vagina Monologues — would have no problem making her dream project reality. But when it came to her directorial debut, the riveting documentary Yo…
Some art is too cool to just hang on a wall. Case in point, the eye catching works in Renée Rey’s Musician series. These detailed, terra cotta tone paintings spoke to their creator in a unique fashion. “I just woke up and had this idea of how great it would…
