For Robert Battle, artistic director designate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (he takes the reins in July), Miami isn’t just another stop on the company’s 24-city national tour. It’s home. Born in Florida, Battle began studying dance in high school at New World School of the Arts, where he…
If you think making art is easy, check out the gallon of bottled sweat during a Second Saturday arts crawl this weekend that promises everything from the funky to the sublime and climaxes with photos galore. Loriel Beltran’s artwork focuses as much on the toil involved in producing it as…
“Gran Torino: Italian Contemporary Art” Through April 17 at Frost Art Museum, 10975 SW 17th St., Miami; 305-348-2890; thefrost.fiu.edu. Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday noon to 5 p.m. At first blush, the crumpled 55-gallon oil drum spilling its contents onto the gallery floor gives the impression…
Originally written by legendary French filmmaker Jacques Tati, The Illusionist (not to be confused with the live-action Edward Norton film of the same name) is a touchingly simple and beautifully drawn film by renowned animator Sylvian Chomet. When Tati died in 1982, he left behind the screenplay for The Illusionist,…
In past years, the theatrical release of Oscar-nominated live-action and animated shorts has provided a fun peek into intriguing bite-sized cinema from across the globe. But for the 2011 edition, the series is at last making room for five nominated documentary shorts as well. Unfortunately, this year’s nonfiction crop largely…
Edge Theatre is known for occasional unorthodox performances with stripped-down acting ensembles showcased in small venues across the city. Its unofficial motto is “have stage, will travel,” and productions are hit or miss, depending on the cast. But the ensemble’s current production of The Pattern and The Problem, two one-act…
Tibetan Buddhist Master Ngagpa Choekyi Wangpo (AKA Yogi Lama Rinpoche) will perform various healing rituals to clear obstacles and purify karma. Coming from a long line of yogis, Wangpo continues the family tradition, living a meditative life and practicing Mo Divination. Buddhists believe his cleansing rituals cut through disturbances to…
This weekend, from 7 to 11 p.m., the Second Saturday Art Walk delivers a steaming dose of culture to get those juices flowing with plenty of free booze on tap to make for the perfect cheap date during the Valentine weekend. Discover Peruvian portraits aping Renaissance masterpieces by the likes…
If you think taking your SO out for a romantic dinner on Valentine’s Day is too much amateur hour but don’t exactly relish the thought of sleeping on the couch the rest of the week, Essensia Restaurant has just the deal for you. Starting Friday, Feb. 11, and continuing through…
Roberto Huarcaya presents two series of recent work at the Dina Mitrani Gallery that are making their stateside debut. The award-winning Peruvian photographer participated in the sixth Havana Biennial in 1997 and 49th Venice Biennial in 2001. Huarcaya is showing portraits based on famous paintings by Da Vinci, Bosch, and…
Miami Dade College kicks ass. It is one of the largest institutions of higher education in the United States, so it makes sense that it can get superstars such as Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, Oliver Stone, Dan Rather, and David Brinkley to speak at its renowned Miami Leadership Roundtable year…
Remember Andrew Dice Clay? No? C’mon! You know, the Dice Man — he’s the Brooklyn Jew who dresses like Mr. T except with the gall to wear sunglasses indoors. Still doesn’t ring a bell? But he was the only comedian in history to sell out Madison Square Garden two nights…
As one of the five worst teams in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings would have virtually no shot of giving the Miami Heat a game even if LeBron James decided that he would rather stay home and catch up on his DVR recordings than go to work. That said, the…
Fisher Island is Miami’s mansion-on-the-top-of-the-hill. You can see it from a distance, but most of us will never get close enough to observe those who live there — and that’s a good thing. Who wants to keep battling traffic on I-95 when you know the type of luxurious life that…
Haulover Beach always brings out exhibitionists and voyeurs, but this Sunday, crowds of gawkers will flock to the other side of Collins Avenue to watch appendages of a different kind. We’re talking about the 18th annual Kite Day Kite Festival at Haulover Beach. Instead of flying their freak flags, enthusiasts…
For all of Miami’s sun and sea-loving culture, the waves of the Atlantic remain calm as they lap at our sandy shores. Want to surf? Yeah, you’ll have to drive to Central Florida for that. So if the paddle-out culture still holds a certain allure for you, head to Museum…
According to this year’s Forbes Magazine misery index, Miami is the second most miserable city in the United States. The publication cites our city’s overwhelming political corruption (referencing Miami’s 404 government officials convicted of such) as a major misery factor. But Miami-Dade Transit’s Black History Tours program proves that not…
Spase Cadets Foundation’s play Lil Haiti: The Untold Story chronicles the struggles of Haitian immigrants who have journeyed from the impoverished island nation to South Florida over the past three decades. Directed by 26-year-old Haitian national Yonel Aris, it’s set in the early ’80s through mid-’90s, and tells the tale…
What’s better than Miami’s gorgeous February weather? How about live entertainment, tasty eats, and plenty of art thrown into the mix? That’s right, it’s time for the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival (along MacFarlane Road and Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove). Returning Presidents’ Day weekend, the festival will showcase 360 nationally…
Knoxville, Tennessee, band Royal Bangs will inspire any budding musical outfit to spend more time tweaking its MySpace profile. Patrick Carney, drummer for The Black Keys, discovered the group via the clunky social networking site and released its debut LP We Breed Champions on his Audio Eagle Records label. Akin…
The play Cheaper to Keep Her tells the story of Raymond Mays and the dilemma he faces after divorcing his wife Morgan. A judge decides that Morgan will keep everything — including the house and a retirement fund — and Raymond considers that it might have been cheaper to stay…
Cante flamenco, or traditional flamenco songs, evolved from the wailing cries of persecuted Moors, gypsies, and Jews excommunicated from España after the Spanish Inquisition. Their suffering spawned a passionate music and dance tradition unique to Spain. This Friday and Saturday, as part of the sixth annual Flamenco Festival Miami, hear…
