Artists find inspiration in the strangest places. "I was walking behind a very, um, obese lady, and she was wearing purple spandex," says New York photographer Daniel Aubry, who pauses to laugh. "And I imagined her as a mound, or pile, of cheeseburgers." From that thought Aubry conceived the idea of projecting common images -- bar codes, money, dollar signs, Marilyn Monroe, and, yes, cheeseburgers -- onto the human body. "I wasn't working from a concept, but once I had about 30 photos, I started to see a theme," he says. "We are very materially oriented people and reduce everything to money and food." When asked how he found a 350-pound woman willing to strip down and have burgers projected on her canvas, Aubry replies, "Well, I paid her." Exactly. You can meet the charming and talented Aubry at tonight's opening reception for Projections from 7:00 to 10:00 at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Española Way, Miami Beach. The evening also includes short films by Man Ray. Admission is free. Call 305-673-4567, or visit www.mbcinema.com or www.aubryphoto.com. (LO)
FRI 9
We've burned them, embraced them, and at times have tried to sport them as outerwear, but many of us are still wearing the wrong bra size. Today from 11:00 to 5:00 you can receive a free fitting for a cause at the Fit for the Cure event at Saks at Bal Harbour (9700 Collins Ave.). For every woman who lifts her arms for the tape measure, Wacoal America, Inc. will donate two dollars to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. (And if you buy a bra, they'll kick in another two bucks.) You'll also receive a free embroidered lingerie travel bag. Call 305-865-1100. (LO)
SUN 10
Wendy Shanker has come to fully embrace the f word. "I was afraid my whole life that someone would call me fat," she explains. "Then I realized, wait a minute -- I am fat. And it doesn't make me a loser." She's the author of The Fat Girl's Guide to Life, a fun, inspirational book directed at typical American women (who, according to statistics, wear size 14). Shanker also moonlights as one of US Weekly's Fashion Police, so she makes a great spokesperson for Her, Macy's fabulous plus-size department. Shanker has some advice for the big-bodied in Miami who feel intimidated by skinny South Beach bitches: "If you carry yourself like the hot girls do, people will be attracted to your confidence. And if you're not confident, fake it until you make it." Meet Shanker and enjoy a full-figure fashion show at 2:00 at Macy's Dadeland, 7303 N. Kendall Dr., Miami. Call 305-662-3400, or visit www.wendyshanker.com. (PEGY)
The Bakehouse Art Complex (561 NW 32nd St., Miami) helped pioneer the Wynwood Arts District. "We'll be celebrating our twentieth anniversary in 2006. We were here long before it was fashionable," says executive director Doris Meltzer. The nonprofit organization provides affordable studio and gallery space for up to 65 artists. For the first time the Bakehouse is opening its doors during the Wynwood Second Saturday gallery night. At Get to Know Us, art lovers are invited to browse creative work from the tenants, Bakehouse alumni, and supporters at 7:00. Admission is free. Call 305-576-2828, or visit www.bakehouseartcomplex.org. (PEGY)
SUN 11
It's Sunday in September, so you know it's all about the football. The Miami Dolphins are opening the 2005 season at home against the Denver Broncos. With the dismal preseason behind us, we can only hope that coach Nick Saban and his mighty Fins will surprise us with a winning season. Kickoff is at 1:00 at Dolphins Stadium, 2269 Dan Marino Blvd., Miami. Tickets start at $51. Call 305-573-8326, or visit www.miamidolphins.com. Watching the game at home? In addition to your beer, chips, and seven-layer dip, why not mix up a batch of Dolphin T.D. cocktails? Add two parts coconut rum to one part blue curaao and a splash of pineapple juice. Stir and serve over ice with an orange slice to show your true colors. (LO)
MON 12
For anyone who has yearned to leave responsibility behind to travel the world, Elliott Hester is living the dream. In 2002, Hester gave up the lease on his Miami Beach apartment, sold his car, and officially became a nomad. The award-winning travel writer and best-selling author's latest effort is Adventures of a Continental Drifter: An Around-the-World Excursion into Weirdness, Danger, Lust, and the Perils of Street Food. Hear his adventures tonight at 7:00 at Books & Books, 933 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. Call 305-532-3222, or visit www.elliotthester.com. (PEGY)
TUE 13
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, who was recently diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, creates works -- including Fences and The Piano Lesson -- that make the particular pain of African Americans accessible to audiences of any color. There is no better time for the African American Performing Arts Community Theatre to present his passionate drama King Hedley II. Actors -- specifically African-American men and women between the ages of 20 and 60 -- who want to perform in this upcoming play should come to today's auditions at 6:00 p.m. Prepare a one-minute monologue and bring a resumé and a headshot to the Black Box Theatre, 1300 NW 50th St., Miami. Call 305-751-4043, or e-mail [email protected]. (PEGY)
WED 14
Chef Carmen's menu reflects her Puerto Rican roots and is testament that her heart is on the island. Carmen's heart also goes out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. A percentage of the proceeds from tonight's James Beard Preview Dinner at Carmen the Restaurant (700 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables) will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. After enjoying hors d'oeuvres and a cool rum float, made with Coca-Cola sorbet and Bacardi, you can indulge in a dinner of Key West shrimp pionono with a sofrito broth, red snapper filet with yuca and roasted garlic mofongo, adobo-marinated pork tenderloin with a sweet plantain fufu, and Kobe beef ropa vieja, sweet corn, and ripe tomatoes with boniato mash. And if you still have room for dessert, you'll be rewarded with caramel flan, warm mango bread pudding, and crisp churros with warm chocolate dipping sauce. Cocktails will be served at 7:00, followed by dinner at 8:00. The dinner costs $75, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required. Call 305-913-1944, or visit www.carmentherestaurant.com. (LO)
