Dr. Murray Lichtenstein, retired Associate Professor of Classical and Oriental Studies at Hunter College and now Education Director of Congregation Etz Chaim in Wilton Manors, will lecture on “Myth and Magic in the Bible” at the Synagogue (1881 N.E. 26 Street) on Monday, October 16 and on Monday, October 30.  “Mythology in the Bible” will be offered at 7:30 p.m. on the 16th and “Magic in the Bible” will be offered at 7:30 p.m. on the 30th.  There will be no admission charge for the lectures. According to Dr. Lichtenstein, “the religion of ancient Israel was engaged in an ongoing war of ideas against the myths of her polytheistic neighbors.  Instead of banning these myths, the biblical writers transformed them to serve their monotheistic beliefs.  Therefore, throughout the Bible we meet sea monsters, pagan gods, and the members of G-d’s own ‘divine council.’” Regarding magic, Dr. Lichtenstein tells us that “while the teachers of biblical Israel rejected the belief in it and made its practice strictly forbidden, many of the people continued to be attracted to this supposedly powerful and reliable means of controlling the world around them.  The resulting tension left an indelible imprint on the scriptures.  This lecture will uncover and explore those imprints and the way the Bible’s authors neutralized them and made them serve religion.” For more information call (954) 564-9232.  

Art Expressions Gallery (1212 NE 4^th Ave) presents "ART EROTICA" Group Exhibition from October 9 - November 16^th. The Opening Reception with wine and cheese will be on Saturday, October 14th, from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm. To celebrate the beauty of the human body and to promote a deeper, healthier and more tolerant appreciation of human sexuality, Art Expressions is pleased to present "ART EROTICA". The human body is not mysterious and the exhibition aims to display a stimulating range of works created by established and emerging artists as well as providing opportunities for art lovers to exchange views on art, and also providing support to those who have an interest in erotic art, whether for personal satisfaction or to promote tolerance and freedom of expressions. Their goal is to present tasteful, beautiful, progressive, controversial, challenging, unique and technically assured erotic works; works that are created from the heart and mind that express sexuality and sensuality. Admission is free. Gallery Hours: Mon. - Sat. 11AM - 7PM

Stevie Moon Tattoo is seeking extremely motivated person to start an apprenticeship in tattooing. This is an intensive position requiring commitment, and the person must have good organization skills, ability to make clients feel comfortable and eagerness to learn a lot about tattooing. Write a brief (page or two) essay with details of why you wish to tattoo and what you have to offer a studio that you would be a part of. Be sure to include your contact information, and send to: Stevie Moon c/o Todd K., 1948 East Sunrise Blvd., Suite #6 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

The 21^st Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival scheduled from October 20 – November 12, will feature three films about Art, in this year’s event; three very different films about those who reflect life on canvas.

Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant Garde Award-Winning Director/Producer Mel Stuart’s, 1997 PBS American Masters Series episode about Man Ray, famed Dada artist, expatriate, and innovator. Stockard Channing narrates this in-depth documentary that includes recovered archival materials, candid film footage personally shot by Man Ray, a never-before-seen video interview unearthed in the vaults of a Rotterdam museum, and long lost drawings from his student days that have not been seen since 1908. Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant Garde is part of a Mel Stuart Tribute Film Series.  Stuart produced and directed dozens of documentaries -- among them, The Making of the President, Billy Wilder-The Human Comedy, Wattstax, Sophia: A Portrait, and feature film, the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder. All of which will be featured at during the 21^st Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The film will be presented at The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Thursday, Nov 9, 7:30pm.  Tickets to the film are $8 general admission, $7 seniors & students and $5 for FLIFF and Museum of Arts Members. Mel Stuart will attend FLIFF for an audience Q&A and will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, Nov 11, 7pm during The Awards Celebration at Westin Diplomat Hotel, in Hollywood. Tickets to this star-studded and very chic event are $200 per person.

Purvis Of Overtown Photographer David Raccuglia’s subjects have included a wide range of unique individuals, including Jack Nicholson, Heather Graham, Adrien Brody, Yoko Ono, Ray Charles, Benicio Del Toro, the Dalai Lama and many others.  He and Shaun Conrad now capture the heart of South Florida artist Purvis Young, in the film Purvis of Overtown.  Young’s paintings are admired and displayed in museums and the homes of millionaires worldwide, touching the lives of those who will never experience the reality of what he paints.  The film takes us back to the artist’s beginnings, 1940 Miami in Overtown, which was once a cultural Mecca for black arts and entertainment, and brings us up to Overtown today and Purvis Young’s studio, which remains in Overtown today. Purvis of Overtown will be presented at Parker Playhouse on Saturday, November 4 at 7:15pm. Purvis Young and several of the film’s producers are scheduled to attend the showing. Tickets for Purvis of Overtown are $10.

Writer/director of Local Color, George Gallo, originally attended college to become a graphic arts major. After seeing Martin Scorsese's 1973 film "Mean Streets", he was inspired to become a Filmmaker instead.  "Wise Guys", his first film, starred Danny Devito and Joe Piscopo. The classic buddy/cops and robbers picture "Midnight Run" came next with Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin. Then, in 1990, he wrote and directed "29th Street" starring Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia. Other credits include; "Bad Boys" starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, See Spot Run with David Arquette and Michael Clark Duncan and The Whole Ten Yards with Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry.  Gallo will soon direct The Poison Rose with Ray Liotta, and just wrapped directing his script of “Homeland Security” starring Antonio Banderas. Gallo wrote and directed the film Local Color, a bittersweet, bio-based coming of age tale of John Talia Jr. (Trevor Morgan), a teenager whose only pursuit is to become a painter.  When John seeks the tutelage of Seroff, a famed but now reclusive Russian painter, Trevor’s desire to learn from this master is not met with instant acceptance.  What transpires is a simple, but stunningly gorgeous reflection on a summer that is indelibly etched in John’s memories.  Laughs, tears and majestic visuals abound is this mesmerizing film with an all-star cast including Armen Muller-Stahl, Trevor Morgan, Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman, Samantha Mathis, and Charles Durning. Gallo also paints landscapes in the style of the Pennsylvania Impressionists and has won the coveted Arts for the Parks Award in 1990, and has had three one-man exhibitions in New York City.  The amazingly beautiful artwork displayed throughout the film is his. Local Color closes the 21^st Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Sunday, November 12, 5pm, at Parker Playhouse.  George Gallo, Samantha Mathis and newcomer Trevor Morgan are scheduled to attend the film and the festival’s Wrap Party which follows. Tickets for the Closing Night Film and Wrap Party are $20 members; $30 non-members.  Tickets for the film only are $10. For advance tickets, memberships, passes and a complete film schedule visit www.FLIFF.com or call 954-525-3456.

For audiences who love to laugh and think, the Public Theatre of South Florida is opening their 18^th anniversary season with the South Florida premiere of the witty and wild comedy All the Great Books (abridged). Opening September 30^th at the Soref JCC and playing through October 29^th, All the Great Books (abridged) presents 87 literary classics in only 90 minutes.  Originated by members of the Ridiculous Theatre Company, who created and toured the highly successful The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), this energetic farce is reminiscent of the best of the Marx Brothers comedies that combine belly laughs and brain teasers. At each performance, the audience becomes a remedial Literature class at Public High School.  You have flunked the Final Exam in Western Literature, and must pass the make-up exam in order to graduate.  Only the Football Coach, the Drama “Professor”, and a very raw Student Teacher are available to do the review session.  Their wild interpretations of many of the great works of western literature and interactions with the audience will have you laughing until you hurt!  Will you pass the make-up final exam to graduate? These outrageous antics are performed by a sterling ensemble:  Joel Kolker as Coach, Christopher Kauffmann as the Drama Professor and Noah Levine as Noah (duh!) the student teacher.  The comic chaos is nominally under the control of Jerry Jensen. “All the Great Books (abridged)” opens on Saturday, September 30^th and runs through Sunday, October 29^th, with the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 2:00 p.m. All performances are held at the Soref Jewish Community Center, 6501 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, FL (three traffic lights west of the Florida Turnpike).  Tickets are $22 for Adults; $20 for seniors; and $10 for Students with IDs.  For Information and Reservations, please call 954-537-3648.  For Subscriptions and Group Rates, please call 954-427-0784.  Special discounts are being offered to school groups, who should call 561-394-9256.

One of the most enduring icons of popular songs, movie musicals and — let’s face it — “gay culture” (whatever that is) is Judy Garland. Now, the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus will salute this superstar in the musical revue “JUDY: A Celebration of the Music and Legend of Judy Garland,” for one special performance Friday, Oct. 27 in the Amaturo Theatre of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale. “Judy Garland was not only blessed with incredible musical and acting talent, she was fortunate to sing some of the very best of the American musical songbook,” says Todd Wiley, FTLGMC director. “From Over the Rainbow to The Man that Got Away and many more, she performed what became the gold standards of pop classics from the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and other great song writers of the 20^th century. Music associated with Judy not only reminds us of her incredible energy and talent, but are familiar friends or — in a handful of cases — lost treasures to enjoy.” The special JUDY revue will include a mixture of lush harmonies from the chorus and its select ensemble, as well as a number of featured solos. Some of the “charts” are from Judy’s own trunk and were used in her now-legendary Carnegie Hall triumph, while others have been specially crafted for gay men’s chorus performance. Tickets are $40, $30 and $20 and are now available through the AutoNation Box Office at (954) 462-0222 or online at www.browardcenter.org.  Tickets for both the JUDY revue and the chorus’ entire 21^st season are available at www.ftlgmc.org. Season tickets for $40 or $30 seats for all four main productions of the chorus’ 2006-07 season (at 15% discount per ticket) or “pick 3” (at 10% discount) are only available through www.ftlgmc.org or from chorus members. All four of the main productions will be performed in the beautiful, 590-seat Amaturo Theatre of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus exists with a mission to build community through quality musical performances that promote a world that accepts and values diversity. Rehearsing on Wednesday evenings at the Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9th Ave., the chorus welcomes new singing members, as well as those who support the chorus behind the scenes on its crew, governing board or as donors. Next scheduled auditions for new or returning singing members are Nov. 4. For more information on the FTLGMC and its 21^st season, see www.ftlgmc.org or call (954) 832-0060. This organization is funded in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Division. The chorus’ 21^st season is also sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) and Pride South Florida.

SunServe, Fort Lauderdale’s gay and lesbian social services agency, has announced Fort Lauderdale City Vice Mayor / Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson will be awarded the 2006 Valuing Our Families Senior Advocate Award at the second annual “Valuing Our Families – Senior Style” conference, health fair and luncheon on October 14. This gathering of seniors, caregivers, professionals, families and allies will take place at the Metropolitan Community Church’s Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW 9^th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Serving as Board Member of a multitude of local organizations, including the Downtown Council Steering Committee, the Broward County Airport Task Force, Broward General’s Cancer Advisory Board, and the Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Center Advisory Council, Vice Mayor Hutchinson works tirelessly to ensure a vibrant future for all members of our community.   Her firm commitment to protecting and caring for the rights of seniors across Fort Lauderdale and her invaluable support in creating the Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Center; the World’s first senior day center designed to meet the needs of lesbian and gay seniors and those who care for them, has earned Vice Mayor Hutchinson the honor of being this year’s award recipient.  Past Valuing Our Families Awardees include Actress Sharon Gless, Rosie and Kelly O’Donnell, Congressman Barney Frank, Author Armistead Maupin, and local, regional and Florida leaders who have contributed in promoting respect for the diversity of our community. The Senior Advocate Award will be presented on Saturday, October 14, as part of SunServe’s “Valuing Our Families – Senior Style”: A FREE senior and caregiver focused conference, health fair and luncheon from 9am to 2pm that will feature nine workshops on numerous topics of concern to seniors, caregivers and families, from Medicaid changes to Coping with Alzheimer’s and making the most of community resources to sex after 60.  Workshops will also include specialists on the unique needs of Lesbian and Gay seniors, their families and their loved ones, covering the unique legal issues, estate planning, and social opportunities for lesbian and gay seniors in our community.   FREE health and wellness screenings will be provided all day at the Health Fair.  The Award celebration, with award presentation by Edith Lederberg, Executive Director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County, will be followed by the luncheon, catered by Fort Lauderdale’s critically acclaimed Tarpon Bend.  While the luncheon is free, due to limited space, reservations are required.  Reservations or more information and can be found online at www.SunServe.org/conferences, or by calling the Sunshine Cathedral at 954-462-2004.  The luncheon will be followed at 2pm by a lively Bingo tournament.  Cash, gift certificates, great prizes and a weekend giveaway - all proceeds will go to benefit the Noble A. McArtor Senior Day Center. Recognizing that everyone has the right to quality services and care, SunServe reaches out to those in need, with a special emphasis on the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities South Florida, focusing on the economically disadvantaged, underserved, marginalized youth, senior adults, people of differing abilities and those facing life- challenging conditions. For more information on SunServe, the conference, luncheon award celebration, or Bingo, go to www.sunserve.org or call (954) 764-5150.