Wynwood's Second Saturday

Saturday, November 10^th 

Just to let you know, on Saturday, November 10^th is the Wynwood Second Saturday, which means that all of the art galleries and businesses will be open and have current artists on hand to discuss art while you stroll around drinking wine and being fabulous.  While you are walking around, be sure to check out the exciting works by the 1^st and 21^st studio artists, as well as Andru John, whose work can be found also online at Andru John's Art.  The festivities start at 7pm and run until midnight and Andru can be found at 2045 NW 1^st Avenue in Miami that night.  Check him out! 

While you’re there be sure to also check out The Art Rouge Gallery with their current show entitled Myths and Shadows by Nicaraguan artist Juan Carlos Robelo.  The Art Rouge Gallery is located at 46 NW 36^th St in Loft 3. 

Next Island City Art Walk, Friday, November 16^th, 7pm 

The Island City Art Walk is held on the 3rd Friday of each month, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., between October and April, along Wilton Drive, in the Wilton Manors Art and Entertainment District. The official participants include galleries, eclectic stores, cafes, boutiques and upscale restaurants, which host over 40 local artists. Come and enjoy an evening of fun in one of South Florida’s most eclectic neighborhoods. The Island City Art Walk is free to the public. Have an early dinner in Wilton Manors then take a stroll or ride the free Sun Trolley up and down “The Drive.” View the art, people watch, and make new friends. Wine and cheese and other treats will be served in many of the participating businesses.  For more information use this link, Island City Art Walk.

Bang Music Festival 2007, November 10^th & 11^th 

Tickets are now on sale for The Bang Music Festival 2007.  Taking place on November 10^th & 11^th, this event will feature such groups as:  The Smashing Pumpkins, kanYe West, Riverboat Gamblers, The Bravery, Spoon, Explosions in the Sky, Automatic Loveletter and many more!  For a complete listing, tickets, or directions to the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami, go to Bang Music Festival. 

Out! and M4M Leather

There is a new store in our midst that has a wide variety of lines for everything from casual to swimwear, leather and fetish to jewelry—all under one roof!  At Out!’s newest location on North Federal Highway, you will find a wide variety of items such as Eightx shirts, Replay and Climber jeans, Whittal & Shon shirts, Tribal Son jewelry, Andrew Christian athletic apparel, LA Sporting Club swimwear, Mindspring bedding and homewares, 665 leather apparel, Bear shirts, Papi, Jockoy, and Go Softwear underwear just to name a few.  Go in, check them out, and be sure to try on at least one thing.  With more things arriving daily, be sure to ask or check back every couple of days.  

El Simbolo comes to Score, November 20^th 

International Recording Artist Frank “El Simbolo” continues his North American Tour with a stop at South Beach’s Hottest Latin Party: Planeta Macho, at Score on Tuesday November 20^th with the pumping Latin beats of DJ George Ferrero.  Don’t miss Mexico’s sexiest recording artist “El Simbolo” who is best known for his dance hits                    ( Levantando las Manos, La Bocina and 1,2,3) as well as his chart climbing single Punchi Punchi; a high energy, hip shaking night club favorite that is getting major radio play all over South America.  With 11 albums under his belt El Simbolo’s newest CD “Enciendelo” has been received enthusiastically by fans from Mexico to Japan.

Pet Shop Boys  

The infamous British band The Pet Shop Boys, who made it big in the 80’s with West End Girl and recently made it big for being gay, has come out with a new album titled, Disco 4.  This contains extended mixes of other people’s songs and the one that is apparently phenomenal is Yoko Ono’s Walking on Thin Ice.  They have an integral live video at www.petshopboys.co.uk. 

Earlier this week marked the anniversary of the historic discovery of the infamous Boy King, King Tut’s tomb but also this week marked another historic event, his bucktooth face was unveiled for the first time to the Public.  Even though he was the youngest King he is still the most famous pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt.  The quartz sarcophagus was lifted and the beige linens were taken off to reveal a leathery black body.  Rewrapped with only his face and feet exposed, Tut’s 19-year-old is now on view in a climate-controlled case to keep him from turning to dust.   Professionals have been restoring the badly damaged mummy for more than two years now, much of which was broken into 18 pieces 85 years ago when British archeologist Howard Carter first discovered it and tried to pull off the famous golden mask.  You had better see it now; because experts fear that mass tourism is further deteriorating Tut’s mummy could dissolve into dust within the next 50 years.   

Mad Mats

While surfing the web this week for my column, I came across a very interesting and unique idea for those who have hardwood or tile floors and want something that will make their abode more homey.  Introducing Mad Mats—they are made from recycled polypropylene (used soda and milk bottles, packaging materials, etc.) which makes them great for indoor and outdoor use.  Imagine a rug that is completely reversible!  They are constructed using a unique flat weave and soft tubular thread that will not absorb dirt or stains of any kind and things like leaves and food spills are easily rinsed away with a mop or a hose.  Mildew?  Nope!  Water does not get trapped so there is no chance for it to even start and this will not even rot wooden decks!  Truly carefree, and the best part, they are produced under fair trade conditions. They come in 4’ X 6’ and 5’X 8’ and start at $36 and come in such creative styles like:  Pennsylvania Dutch, Oriental Garland or Turkish, and can all be found at Recycled Polypropylene Mad Mats. 

Ok, you are a sophisticated, well adjusted and want products that display that.  You are not necessarily a name brand person, where so much emphasis is placed on packaging and promoting that you literally forget what it was in the first place, are you?  Well, I have a possible solution to your problems all the while looking cool while trying not to look like you care.  Introducing Bigelow, a 168-year-old apothecary that is tucked amid the bustling chic of New York City’s West Village.  (For those of you missed that episode of Friends—an apothecary was a pharmacist of sorts, with different remedies, more homeopathic of the sorts, that would give you things to help with whatever you may need, and was famous for having desks with many, many tiny drawers.)  

The people at Bigelow have grown and have gone on-line with a catalog of must-have items that are perfect for this upcoming holiday season.  These items, pure and great as they may be, are in simple, plain packaging—with the look like it came from the apothecary not Macy’s.  After traveling the world for the best line of products that are fun, amusing, and just plain good for you, they guarantee that it will make a difference in the way you look and feel.  Their motto says it all; If you can’t get in anywhere else, try Bigelow.   

Just for example, their Honey Almond Scrub, ($18) comes in a 4 oz. plain jar with a label on it that says, with no frills,

No. 513 This rich and creamy formula is made from honey and pure crushed almond grains to delicately exfoliate dead skin cells.  Honey is one of nature's finest moisturizers and also acts as a buffer between the skin and the grains.  Your skin will feel comfortable, smooth and moisturized. 

The best part of these products are that they make you look like you don’t care, but in turn make you look so sophisticated!  Order now for the holidays and for those “surprise” gifts. 

Imagine being tortured by the memories of being bullied at school.  Well, Ben Reilly sets out to put his demons to rest about Terrence O'Connell, the beautiful boy who tormented him who is now a successful writer in Manhattan—but also is a man seeking out his own identity. As Ben and Terrence form an unlikely friendship, hidden motives and long-kept secrets bubble to the surface. Darkly disturbing, brilliantly written, A Push and a Shove is a chilling depiction of the once-victim who unwittingly becomes the bully. 

Reminiscent of The Talented Mr. Ripley this is the story of a tortured relationship between a bully and a bullier.  Let me just tell you, I read the first ten pages and was gripped over the vivid detailing and creepy inner monologue that you can hear for yourself.   

After witnessing the aftermath of a student in the high school he's teaching at, Ben thinks, He did this. Somehow he is responsible for this. He is still sixteen. He is still in high school. He is in this high school. He stepped into a time machine in the summer of 1990, a week or two after I last saw him, and landed here. Terrance pushed Elliot down these stairs...Terrence is still here, still in the building-lurking, hiding, ready to pounce. He's coming to get me next.

The Hills are Alive… 

Judy’s Back, November 6^th through 11^th 

Starting November 6^th, famed funny woman and Lesbian mother Judy Gold is returning to the area with her one-woman show entitled, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother.  This will be taking place at The Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts and running through November 11^th.  For tickets or more information, go to www.coralspringscenterforthearts.com or call them at 954-344-5990. 

Urinetown, Through November 11^th 

Opening this week at The Actors Playhouse in Coral Gables, is Urinetown.  This three-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical revolves around a town suffering from a 20-year drought.  There are not any private toilets in this town and a corporation forces the citizen to pay to use the public amenities.  This leads our young hero into a revolution against the establishment.  The Actors Playhouse is located at The Miracle Theatre at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.  For more information about the play, tickets, or directions, go to www.actorsplayhouse.org or call them at 305-444-9293.

Eliza’s Back, December 18^th 

Starting December 18^th, Eliza Doolittle will take The Carnival Center for the Performing Arts center stage in her production of My Fair Lady.  This will run from December 18^th through December 23^rd and is part of Broadway Across America.  For tickets and more information, go to www.carnivalcenter.org or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. 

Sweeney Todd, January 1^st 

Tickets are now on sale for the January 1^st performance of The Demon Barber of Fleet Street—Sweeney Todd.  This musical thriller will take you places you don’t want to go with catchy songs and amazing performances.  You can purchase tickets online at www.carnivalcenter.org or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.  This show runs Janurary 1^st through January 6^th. 

Rising Action Theatre Has Some Men, through November 9^th

Locally owned and recently housed Rising Action Theatre will has a production entitled Some Men.  This will be their first production their own space at 840 East Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale.  The space, which can accommodate 100 seats, is the brainchild of troupe leader David Goldyn.  Some Men tells the story of a gay wedding  and will run through November 9^th.  For tickets or more information, contact them at 800-595-4849. 

South Park Meets Desperate Housewives 

The Great American Trailer Park Musical features a cast of saucy characters that spoof the lives and loves of Florida’s most “exclusive” trailer park community—Armadillo Acres.  With an appealing and sparkling score this musical runs the gamut from Country balladry to Pop, R&B, and Rock & Roll.  Some of the characters include:  Pippi who is a saucy stripper with a heart of gold, loony Duke, Norbert the toll booth collector, as well as Jeannie the agoraphobic.  The show begins on February 21^st and runs through February 24^th, 2008 and tickets are available online at http://www.browardcenter.org.