Where Is This?

This week I went around to local businesses and made a list of different art that would be interesting that some may overlook.  At Java Boys one of my favorite new friends Bubba of Bubba Clicks Digital Photography is on display.  To see his work and read my review of his last show down in Hollywood at The Gallery of the Unknown Artist click here.  While at Storks Wilton Manors check out Angela Farinelli who’s famous now for her comic style cowboys and latest…cowgirls!  Click here to read my review and bio of Angelina.  Click here and see the New Moon Café and check out my review of owner Carol’s Wine & Art Nite with artisans Debbie Forsmith and Karen Friedman (aka Weavegrrl).  Don’t forget to go and stop in at Items 2 Envy and see owner Keith Myers who has Miami’s own Rosello.  Click here to see some of Rosello’s work from the store. 

Coming to Town

Natasha is Giving it Away for Free, Thursday, June 1^st 

Natasha Bedingfield, known now for her Top 10 Singles These Words and Unwritten will be performing this Thursday, June 1^st FREE at Clematis by Night, Centennial Square, downtown West Palm Beach from 5:30pm to 9pm. For further information call 561*822-1515.

Calling All Azzmastahs, Friday, August 11^th 

The one and only Margaret Cho will be in concert Friday, August 11^th at 8:30pm at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, FL.  LISP, the greatest gay rapper in the world, will be her Special Guest.  Tickets go on sale THIS FRIDAY [June 2^nd] at 10am so call the Ticket Office at 321*242-2219 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Mimi Does Miami, Aug 5^th 

Mariah Carey will be launching The Adventures of Mimi, her first US tour since 2003, Saturday, August 5^th at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami.  Tickets range from $19.50 to $129.50 and go on sale Friday, June 2^nd.  Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 305*358-5885. 

The Chicks Will be in Town, Oct 7^th 

Who’s Your First Idol?

Kelly Clarkson will be live, onstage Friday, June 30^th at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre.  As part of her Addicted Tour, her Special Guest will be Rooney.  The Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansbury’s Way, West Palm Beach.  Tickets are $25-$75 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com www.livenation.com, or by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954*523-3309, or 305*358-5885.  To get more Kelly info, go to www.kellyclarkson.com. 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot, June 4^th 

Listen all you rockers out there, Pat Benetar will be at Revolution June 4^th at 7pm.  Revolution is located at 200 W Broward Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale.  Tickets are $35 & $40 and can be ordered through www.ticketmaster.com. 

Il Divo

I remember the first time that I was blown away by the music of these four Opera singers.  George’s Alibi had a promotion and giveaway of their CD and my roommate won one.  We LOVED it and you will too!  Their latest CD Ancora and latest DVD Encore is now available in stores and online at www.ildivo.com.   

They will be in concert June 13^th & 14^th at 8pm at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre and is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event— www.fantasma.com.  You can also charge by phone at:  561*966-3309, 954-523-3309, or 305-358-5885.

Do You Have a Heart of Glass? June 15^th 

He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me, June 21^st 

Toni Braxton will be at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise Wednesday, June 21^st.  Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com. 

There’s a Redneck Woman Coming! June 29^th 

Gretchen Wilson’s dramatic rise to stardom is well known to fans of her signature country-rock blend.  Come and see her perform her breakthrough single “Redneck Woman” in her Redneck Revolution Tour at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.  Tickets are now on sale, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call 954*523-3309 or go to the Hard Rock Live Box Office which is open from noon to 7pm daily. For more info on Gretchen, visit her fan club website, www.gwfans.com

 Jersey Boys are Back!

Yes, we all survived the BIG HAIR of the 80’s.  If you know that “You Give Love a Bad Name” and feel like you are “Living on a Prayer”—yes Virginia, there is a Bon Jovi!  All four members (John Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan) will be onstage at Hard Rock Live July 10^th  at 8pm.  Tickets are now on sale.   

For further information, call 954*523-3309, www.ticketmaster.com, or stop by the Hard Rock Live Box Office—they are open from noon to 7pm daily.

The Queen of Miami, July 15 

The undisputed Queen of Miami, Gloria Estefan, along with her band the Miami Sound Machine, will be at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, Saturday, July 15^th at 10pm.  Tickets are $30-$85 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. 

Hide Your Fur, July 24^th 

Pink will be performing her latest songs at Revolution, 200 W Broward Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale Monday, July 24.  Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. 

Melissa Etheridge Live Saturday, August 19^th  8pm 

New Greatest Hits CD “The Road Less Traveled” in stores now!

Tickets available at Ticketmaster locations or you can charge by phone:  305-358-5885 / 954-523-3309 / 561-966-3309 or www.ticketmaster.com. 

Mizner Park Amphitheater is in Boca Raton and this is a Fantasma Productions Concert Event.  For further information go to www.fantasma.com or www.melissaetheridge.com

Her Hips Don’t Lie, Sep 16^th 

Shakira and Wyclef have added a second show 7:30pm on September 16^th at the American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami.  Tickets are $19.50-$87 and you can get them through www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 786*777-1250. For more info about Shakira: www.shakiraheaven.com

Local Theatre Buzz

Five Course Love, Until June 4^th 

Three actors play 15 characters in this comic musical set in five different restaurants, one being a Mob hangout and another being a down-home Texas barbeque.  This runs through June 4^th, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, 2pm on Sundays.  The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables.  For further information, call 305*444-9293.

I’m Scared, Until June 11^th 

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf a story about a married couple living in a faculty house of a small New England college invite the new professor and his wife over for a nightcap and fun and games.  This play is being performed at Dreamworks on 322 Banyan Blvd in West Palm Beach.  Tickets are $35-$38 and can be purchased by phone at 561*514-4042 or on the web at www.palmbeachdramaworks.org. 

Beehive Found at Stage Door Theatre, May 26^th thru June 25^th 

Beehive, the 60’s musical sensation, will be at The Stage Door Theatre May 26^th thru June 25^th with big hair and bigger hits. 

The Stage Door Theatre is located on 26^th right across from Wilton Station in the Old Florida Seafood House Plaza.  For times and tickets, call 954*344-7765.

Things on Display

Queens & Kings, Until July 17^th 

June is Gay Pride Month.  Art Center South Florida is hosting an exhibit of gay iconography through:  photographs, paintings, and a variety of different mediums.  This will be on exhibit through July 17^th at the Miami Beach City Hall Public Gallery, 4^th Floor, at 1700 Convention Center Drive.  For further information call 305*674-8278 or 305*538-7887. 

ARTe ABSTRACTo, May 27^th thru June 29^th 

Art Expression Gallery is hosting an ARTe ABSTRACTo exhibit and there will be an opening reception at 7pm Saturday, May 27^th at the gallery that is located at 1212 NE Fourth Ave, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information call 954*527-7770.   

Metanoia, Until May 31^st 

The RaZoo Gallery is hosting a sculpture exhibit, “Metanoia” featuring the work of artist Michael Stiles.  This exhibit will be on display until May31st at 3038 N Federal Highway, Ft. Lauderdale.  For further information call 954*663-3888.

Signals/Senales, Until June 11^th 

The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood offers a timely and spirited exhibit of works by more than 30 contemporary Mexican artists.  Some of the artists are schooled, but many are self-taught, such as the factory workers who, under the guidance of photojournalist Adrian Caldera, have learned to fashion pinhole cameras from boxes and other found objects.  This exhibit runs through June 11^th.   

The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood is located at 1650 Harrison Street, Hollywood.  For more information call 954*921-3274 or go to www.artandculturecenter.org. 

China Change, Until June 18, 2006 

On exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art is now showing Documenting China:  Contemporary Photography and Social Change.  The exhibition is a collection of 57 dramatic works by seven contemporary Chinese photographers that reveal the essence of that nation from an insider’s point of view.  This show is organized by the Bates College Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.   While you are there, check out Edward Burtynsky:  The China Series that contain 20 new large-scale color photographs from recent trips to China and Pop Prints that are works from the permanent collection of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichetenstein, Jim Dine, and others.   

The Boca Raton Museum of Art is located at 501 Plaza Real, Mizner Park and you can contact them at 561-392-2500 or www.bocamuseum.org.  

Titanic:  The Artifact Exhibit, Until October 

This exhibit chronicles the journey of RMS Titanic from its design and construction through its fateful maiden voyage and sinking, to the scientific recovery efforts.   

The Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium is located on 3280 South Miami Avenue, Miami.  You can contact them at 305*646-4200 or www.miamisci.org. 

“The Boys in the Band”, Friday, June 2, 2006 @ 7PM

The classic 1970 movie “The Boys in the Band” will be show at Stonewall Library this Friday, June 2^nd. At 7pm.  Its Harold’s birthday and his friends have ‘bought’ him a present.  The story is about a birthday party staged by a group of gay men. An old college friend of the host drops in unexpectedly with disastrous results. The characters are miserable and bitchy towards each other and themselves. Nothing new.  Yet, the film was groundbreaking as being the first mainstream Hollywood film to focus on the lives of gay men.  The film almost got an “X” rating from the Motion Picture Association of America but after some scenes were deleted it was given an “R” rating.  Suggested donation:  $2.

North Miami’s Ancient Spanish Monastery 

If you know how eccentric and wealthy William Randolph Hearst was, then you know anything was possible—including purchasing an old Cistercian monastery in 1925.  He purchased The Monastery of Saint Bernard de Clairvaux that was built in 1141, had it dismantled, and then shipped the 35,000 individual pieces in numbered crates to New York.  Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of Hoof & Mouth Disease in Segovia [the hometown] and U.S. Customs agents opened and burned the hay packing material—the carrier of the disease.  Not knowing or not caring, agents repacked the stones however they felt.  Sadly, all the stones sat in a warehouse in Brooklyn for 26 years.  However, in 1952, after Hearst’s death, two Florida entrepreneurs bought the lot and brought it to Miami.  Now, it seems like it was built there with all of Southern Florida’s trees and flowers.  The Monastery is located at 16711 W Dixie Highway in North Miami.  For further information call them at 305*945-1461.

Key West Cultural Events 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be performed at the Red Barn Theatre at 319 Duval Street, Key West.  Performances will be going on until June 3^rd and cost $35.  The Key West Players present The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams at the Waterfront Playhouse, Tifts Lane, Key West.  Performances will be going on until Saturday, May 27^th and cost $30.   

For further information www.fla-keys.com/keywest/calendar.cfm or call 1-800-LAST-KEY.

The Fashion File

True Illusions, June 3^rd 

This Saturday, June 3^rd, the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale will hold it’s seventh annual True Illusions Fashion Show at the Broward Convention Center, which is located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale and will showcase current students and alumni.  It will start at 7pm and costs $30.  For further information cal 954*308-2428 or go to www.ArtInstitutes.edu/fortlauderdale for further information. 

Nano Masks 

If you happened to catch The Oprah today (Tuesday, May 30^th), she did an hour-long special on The Bird Flu.  Like many other special in-depth reports she has done, this one will probably take us places we did not want to go.  Now introducing The Nano Mask…these custom anti-bird flue masks are possibly practical and are available in multiple colors to match your outfits or moods.  A 10-pack of masks costs $10.99 and are available at www.BirdFluProtection.com.   

Summer is White Hot 

Think about it, we live in Southern Florida and have varying degrees of vanity.  We do whatever we feel comfortable doing to tan our skin [I prefer the HP beds at Electric Sun myself] so why not show it off?  Experts say that White is the color for all this summer and Summer 07.  Think about it—it is flattering if you have a tan, it is a sign of purity and cleanliness, and with all the possible graduations, functions, meetings, and whatever-have-you of your life, why not look good?  Don’t forget about the beach—Undergear has a belted square-cut man’s swimsuit for only $27.99.  If White is not within your reach, there are always the cousins:  beige, cream, oyster, eggshell, bone, and ivory. CLICK HERE or the pic for more info.

The Color Purple 

This is a sentimental musical retelling the story of Alice Walker’s novel about what it was like growing up poor, black, and female in the South in the early 1900’s.  The Oprah has the honor, since not being in the performance, to be Lead Producer and has LaChanze as the star role.  You can catch this at the Broadway Theatre at 1681 Broadway at 53^rd Street and can call 212*239-6200 for further information.  Pictured: Felicia P. Fields and La Chanze in a scene from The Color Purple (photo © Paul Kolnik)

American Embassies Abroad, Tuesday, May 30^th  

E. Robert Dunn Does It Again! 

E. Robert Dunn, creator and writer of the series Echelon’s End has just published his latest book PlanetFall.  Click here to read my interview with Mr. Dunn and learn more about this interesting and unique individual. To read Stephen's interview with E Robert Dunn, Click Here.

Calling Artists & Theatre People 

Call For Artists for ArtsUnited’s United & Proud Exhibit 

ArtsUnited is seeking submissions for its annual United & Proud Visual Art Exhibit in celebration of Gay Pride Month.  Entries are not limited to a theme, but rather the exhibition is designed to showcase local gay and lesbian artists to the general public.  Exhibiting in United & Proud is for ArtsUnited Members only.  Membership is only $20.00 per year for artists, and applications are available at ArtServe, Stonewall Library and     Archives, and online at www.artsunitedonline.org.  This year’s United & Proud Exhibit will be on display from June 5 through 29, 2006 at Gallery Six, Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Avenue, Ft Lauderdale. The opening reception will be on Wednesday June 7^th from 6 to 8:30 PM. Admission will be free.  There will be prizes for Best of Show and People’s Choice that will be announced at the Opening Reception.  Visual artists who wish to participate must complete and submit an application on or before May 31, 2006 either by mail to ArtsUnited, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd, Suite 145, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304, or by fax to 954-567-1439.  Applications are available at ArtServe, Stonewall Library and Archives or online at www.artsunitedonline.org.

Dance

Channel Your Inner Seductress

T.Y. Park will be hosting belly-dancing classes for ages 12 and up.  The park is located at 3300 N Park Road, Hollywood.  These are the following dates and times:  May 31^st at 5:30pm and June 3^rd at 9am.  Cost is $12 per person and for further information call 954*985-1980.

Famed Dracula’s Castle Returned to Royal Family 

On Friday, Bran Castle, a Transylvanian castle known as a connection to the 15^th century medieval ruler, Prince “Vlad the Impaler” aka Dracula, was returned to a Romanian royal heir, Dominic Habsburg.  Dominic, now a New York architect, returned to his home after 58 years abroad.  Back in 1948, the country’s Communist regime confiscated Bran Castle and forced the remaining Romanian Royals to leave the country.  The castle sets atop a rock mountain and is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and supports the local community through tourism and merchandising.  Bran Castle receives more than 400,000 foreign visitors a year and many earn a living from selling Dracula souvenirs.  Dominic has signed and agreement with the Culture Minister to keep the castle a historical site and open to the public for at least three more years.

Germany is World Class 

If you happen to be in Germany any time soon, whether it be for the World Cup Soccer Championship or just for the world’s best beer, there are 12 World Cup host cities for you to stay in.  While not at the games, here are a list of interesting side trips you can take when in four of the cities: 

Berlin:  There is an area called Museum Island in the Mitte district that has the Pergamon Museum [www.smb.spk-berlin.de] that contains a second century BC altar from the Greek city of Pergamon and a blue-tiled Ishtar Gate built around 575 BC in ancient Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II.  Also, nearby, you can view a 3,300-year-old bust of Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti at the Altes Museum.  If you are looking for something more recent, you can always go to the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie [www.mauermuseum.de] that goes through everything within the forty years it was a divided city.   

Munich:  At the Alte Pinakothek Museum [www.pinakothek.de] contains works by Duerer, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Rembrandt.  If you would like to see, Dachau Concentration Camp is only 20 minutes away and very worthwhile.   

Nuremberg:  Restored after World War II, you will find Nuremberg’s famed Kaiserburg Fortress.  This medieval palace was the personal residence of German rulers from 1050 to 1571.  If you are really into history, you can to the north part of town and see Room 600 at the Nuremberg Palace of Justice where the trial against Nazi leaders was held.   

Cologne:  A must-see is the Cologne Cathedral with twin gothic spires reaching 518 feet into the air which contains a gilded sarcophagus holding what tradition says are the remains of the Magi—from the Nativity Story.  Also, they have the Roman-German Museum that has amazing floor mosaics and other things from when it was a Roman outpost.   

For more information, go to www.germany-tourism.de or call 800*651-7010.

Muppets Take the Smithsonian 

The Muppets, and their ancestors have gone on prominent display Thursday at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.  The collection includes an early version of Kermt the Frog, which was fashioned from scraps of creator Jim Henson’s mother’s discarded green coat and two halves of a ping-pong ball.  Kermit, who turned 50 in October, made his debut on WRC-TV, a Washington station, which gave Henson—then a University of Maryland Freshman, a five-minute show that aired twice nightly.  The display runs through September 4^th, consists of two exhibits, one being Sam and Friends cast that also has Rowlf the Dog, the Swedish Chef, and other Muppet characters.  The other being all the technical innovations he contributed to puppetry.  One major innovation was puppets that moved by remote control instead of strings. Sometimes it is easy being green!