On Friday, September 8, naked Grape Wine Company will feature a Cocktail Party - Launching their new cocktails, Cosmo's, Margaritas and other specialty beverages from 7pm to 9pm, $10 advance, $15 door. Then on Friday, September 22, they will feature a Beer Tasting - Their newest selection of microbrew beers as well as some new wines from 7pm to 9pm, $10 advance, $15 door. Finally on Monday, September 25, they feature Richard Cortez Live. This hot new singer/guitarist signs hits from his latest new CD ‘Live At the Red Room’ No cover, 7pm to 10pm.

Holocaust Opera? 

There will be an opera based on The Holocaust called the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz will be staged in Germany.  The opera will premier September 16^th at the Theater Krefeld Mönchengladbach in northwest Germany.  As it happens, between early 1943 and the end of 1944, the orchestra, including inexperienced and professional musician—all of them prisoners, was an institution of social life in Auschwitz, where it also helped to save many of the musician’s lives.  The opera is based on the 1977 memoir Playing for Time that is the Holocaust survivor Fania Fénelon’s portrait of the last year of the orchestra.  The cast is 25 singers and there is an 806-page score and last for three hours.  The Norwegian contralto Anne Gjevang will play the role of Alma Rosé—the then conductor and violinist for The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz. 

Local Theatre Buzz

Please note: we have organized this by the date of the final performance. New additions this week are highlighted in Bold Red.

Miss Vanilla & The Hustler, Through Sept 24^th 

The Hollywood Regional Center for the Arts (formerly the Hollywood Blvd Theatre) is proud to present Miss Vanilla & The Hustler by Bill Spring.  This is a hilarious personal journey through time that cannot be missed!  Catch it at Art Serve at 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, tickets are $20 so call 954*927-1778 for Showtimes, reservations, and group discounts. 

Brother Boy Comes to Miami, Sept 2^nd 

Do you love Brother Boy from Del Shore’s Sordid Lives and Karen’s nemesis and late husband of Jack on Will & Grace?  Well, you can spend An Evening with Leslie Jordan Saturday, September 2^nd at the Hyatt Regency Miami Ballroom.  Leslie is brought to us through the GALA Choruses, Inc. and for $25 gets you a General Admission but for $50 you not only get the General Admission, but you also will be part of a private reception with him!  The Hyatt Regency is located at 400 SE 2^nd Ave in Miami and you can purchase tickets at www.galachoruses.org or at 800*743-8159.  Also, check out their concert Friday September 1^st at 8pm at The Gusman Theater which is located at 174 East Flagler Drive in Miami.  Tickets for this is available at The Gusman Theater Box Office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. 

Cole Porter, Through Sept 17^th 

Catch this snazzy musical review of Ben Bagley’s The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen through the Eyes of Cole Porter at Boca Raton’s Professional Theater.  The Caldwell Theatre Company is performing this revue now through September 17^th.  Tickets are available at www.caldwelltheatre.com or at  877*245-7432 and the Professional Theater is located at 7873 N Federal Highway in Boca Raton.

Pillowman through September 17th

This is a queasy mystery-horror story about a geek who writes murder stories.  He is being interrogated by hard-bitten detectives who think he is not making up his stories.  This play is at GableStage in Coral Gables’s Biltmore Hotel.  For more information, call 305*445-1119.

Help Save Julie Johnson! 

What happens when an uneducated housewife and mother of two reaches the end of he rope with both a bad marriage and personal shortcomings?  Find out now at the Sol Theatre Project which is located at 1140 North Flagler Drive, which is down the street from Bill’s Filling Station and just north of Sunrise Blvd.  For questions, times, and prices call them at 954-525-6555 or email them at sol_theatre@bellsouth.net. 

Julie Johnson is proudly sponsored by New Moon Café where, with every ticket purchased, you get a free drink!  Th play opens Friday, August 11^th, and runs through Sunday September 3^rd. 

Beehive Found at Stage Door Theatre Held Over through September 17th!!!

It was brought to my attention that all of the costumes for Beehive were done by the one and only Maria from Zoo 14 on Wilton Drive.  A local fashion legend in our community, she has helped dress many figures—both male and female into one-of-a-kind creations.  This play is a definite Fashion Must-See to reminisce about and era that brought about social change, creativity, and freedom. 

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.

Click Here to read Stephen's review. 

Ella, through September 3rd

This is a musical about Jazz icon Ella Fitzgerald who invites her favorite musicians to play with her in 1966. This takes place at the Florida Stage which is located at 262 South Ocean Blvd, Manalapan.  Call 561*585-3433 or go to www.floridastage.org  for more information. 

Irma Vep in Coral Gables, through September 3^rd

The Mystery of Irma Vep a wonderfully crafted play with only two actors playing over 20 parts will be appearing at The Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables July 12^th thru September 3^rd.  The Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables and tickets can be purchased online at www.actorsplayhouse.org  or for further information call them at 305*444-9293. 

For Three Days You Can Light My Candle

Tickets are now on sale for Rent which will be at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts September 14^th thru 17^th.  Tickets are available at the theater Box Office and at www.ticketmaster.com .  You can also check out other shows at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com  or at www.browardcenter.org . 

Things on Display

Through the Lens of the Camera:  Environments 

Straight from the Cuban Collection at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, which has free admission the entire month of August, they are featuring Through the Lens of the Camera:  Environments which focus on such topics as:  Eduarde del Valle’s and Mirta Gomez’s shots of salt fields in Mexico, Abelardo Morell’s Boston backyard, and Silvia Lizama’s prints of Hurricane Andrew’s ravaging impact.  This show runs through November 1^st and is located at 1 East Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale and you can call them at 954*525-5500 or at www.moafl.org. 

Oye Vey! 

I have just heard about a new gallery that is in Fort Lauderdale in which is hosting Judaica a show in which all the artisans are Jewish themselves or whose works explore Jewish life and culture through paintings, sculpture, or mixed-media pieces.  There are sculptures by Myriam Franck and paintings by Holocaust survivor Alain Kleinmann which will intrigue and delight those who are interested.  The show is at the Saba Gallery which is located at 1015 East Las Olas Blvd and you can visit them on the web at www.sabagallery.com or call them at 954*467-5745.

Metro Pictures: Part 2 through September 17th

You may be wondering if this show has to deal with the Metro Golden Mayer Production Company…no.  Metro Pictures “refers to snapshots of the city” and that the works “define, interpret and/or reject the city.”  This show is wide open to interpretation and includes stuff like a set of musical vests that “only when two participants wear them…do the sculptures emit sound.”  The exhibit is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art until September 17^th.  The Museum is located at 770 NE 125^th Street in North Miami.  You can either call 305*893-6211 or visit them on the web at www.mocanomi.org for further information.

West Palm Summer Sculpture Show 

Eaton Fine Art will be featuring works by Alexander Calder, Dale Hihuly/Dennis Oppenheim, Patrick Ireland, Mark di Suvero, and many others in their North and South Galleries.  This exhibit runs all summer long from 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday.  The Eaton Fine Art Gallery is located at 435 Gardenia Street, West Palm Beach.  Call 561*833-4766 for further information or contact them at www.eatonart.net. 

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. 

Coming to Town

Please note: we have organized this by date of appearance. New additions this week are highlighted in Bold Red.

Saturday, September 2^nd Chris Isaak will be performing at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre.  God knows I Wanna Fall In Love with him!  Tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.com . 

Her Hips Don’t Lie, Saturday, September 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

The Chicks Will be in Town, Saturday, October 7^th 

John Mayer & Sheryl Crow, Wednesday, October 11^th 

Tickets are now on sale for John Mayer and Sheryl Crow who will be live in concert October 11^th at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre.  Go to www.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com , or you can call 561*966-3309 for more information.  If you are truly a fan, you can also go to www.johnmayer.com and/or www.sherylcrow.com as well.

Danke Schoen October 15th and 16th

The legendary Wayne Newton will be performing at the Hard Rock Live Seminole Hotel & Casino October 15^th & 16^th and tickets are now on sale.  You can get tickets through the Hard Rock Live Box Office from noon to 7pm daily or at www.ticketmaster.com. 

I’m Verklemnpt, Saturday, October 28^th

Yes, the legendary Barbara Streisand will be performing Saturday, October 28^th at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sawgrass and will be having special guest Il Divo perform with her. Tickets are priced starting at $100 to $750 and VIP packages up to $1,800.  Much of the proceeds go to charities, one of which being The Streisand Foundation, which expects to raise millions from this tour.  Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com.    

Richard Cortez is Live At The GLCC 

The Richard Cortez, local folk singer, will be hosting a benefit concert at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center (GLCC) at 8pm on Friday, September 22^nd.  This concert will coincide with his CD release party for Richard Cortez:  Live at the Red Room which, with the $10 admission, you will receive a copy of his album from which he will be playing the songs.  These songs are pre-Wollenberg songs that are from his seedy back room bar days playing for prostitutes, stoners, and college students.  You will also get a sneak peak at some of the tracks from his upcoming album He Loves Me Not which contains even more of his pre-recording days.  For more information, go to www.wollenbergrecords.com or at www.myspace.com/richardcortez.  The GLCC is located at 1717 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale and all proceeds go to benefit the Youth Group of the GLCC.  

Qiao Qiao IS the Real Thing 

If you're looking for music by a Certified Card Carrying member of the I Heart The Ladies club, look no further! Qiao Qiao has a girlfriend of three years and even hosts a very successful Saturday Ladies Night at a bar in Beijing.  She is sure to win worldwide audiences with her boyish good looks. 

Her latest single is “Ai bu fen” which is a celebration of lesbian life and love.  Qiao Qiao's first song and video contain an incredibly simple message:  My love is not different from others and my heart is not difficult to understand.   

Youth on the Rise 

Get to know the name Bianca Ryan.  Bianca won last week the Grand Prize Winner of America’s Got Talent, which hosted a wide variety of talents from all across the county and nationally televised the elimination process.  For fans of the show, Bianca first auditioned and the “Simon Cowell” of the show, Piers Morgan, totally Chopped her, telling her, “Lose the dress, lose the shoes, and change the hair—and you will win.”   Her voice is not only powerful, on-pitch, but something you will hear in the near future.

The Denver Center Theatre Company is proud to announce that they will be featuring Amadeus from October 5^th through 28^th with a preview September 28^th.  This is timed to coincide with the 250^th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. 

The Island Repertory Theatre Company in Cherry Grove in Fire Island is performing Two Boys in Bed on a Cold Winter’s Night which is a revival of James Edwin Parker’s romantic drama about two gay men in New York who spend a life-changing evening together.  Sounds hot!  This is currently going on through September 17^th. 

Musée Des Arts Décoratifs Opening Sept 15^th 

September 15^th marks the opening of the Louvre’s Musée Des Arts Décoratifs wing that has been closed for the past 10 years.  After ten years and over $47M this restoration project features furniture, metalwork, wallpaper, ceramics that all traces the evolution of French taste and style from Medieval times to now.  Two of the highlights of this section are the views of the Tuileries Gardens and the star being an Art Deco boudoir and bath designed by Armand Albert Rateau that was intended for his muse, fashion icon, Jeanne Lanvin. 

Japanese industrialist, Takumi Shimamura

Would you ever consider carrying around a wooden briefcase?  This was designed by a Japanese industrialist, Takumi Shimamura back in 2003 and is made of ecological thinned Japanese Cedar that is both sturdy and water repellant and perfect for carrying around laptops.  The case has sturdy canvas edges, and leather handle, double zippers, and inner pockets and can be yours for $265.  Spilled a latte on it?  No problem—just clean with a damp cloth!  It is available through www.momastore.org and is under Ideas at Work.   

Do you take great photos?  Do people tell you have a knack for the camera?  Well, here’s your chance to show the world…Reyataz is proud to announce the Fight HIV Your Way Photography Contest for 2006.  They say that if HIV has touched your life, they want you to share what it means to “Fight HIV Your Way.”  What you will need is:  a photograph that shows you how you “Fight HIV Your Way.”  It could be a portrait, a place, or anything that inspires you.  Also, you will need a 50 words or less paragraph explaining how you fight HIV.  Deadline for entries is November 15th. For more information and an official entry form go to www.reyataz.com and click on the banner or look for the display at your local HIV/AIDS service organizations.  Winners will be selected by a panel of award-winning photographers and representatives of the HIV community.  One Grand Prize Winner will be honored at the Gala Opening of the Exhibition in New York City and will be featured in a limited edition hardcover book.  50 Second Place photographs will be showcased in the Traveling Exhibition and published in the hardcover book.  50 Third Place photographs will be included in the hardcover book.  All winners will receive a free copy of the book. 

Project Runway; Design for Yo Momma 

With eight designers left, last week’s challenge was to design something new and innovative for the average woman.  Come to find out, their models were not their skinny people; it’s their family!  Robert Best said it best, They flew her in from England, does she realize the humiliation she’s about to endure?  And how about Jeffrey saying I ended up with Darlene, Angela’s mother because God was drunk.  Oh, did I forget to mention the Laura forgot that she didn’t tell anyone outside Project Runway—not even her husband! 

Fires spread as heat is added to the stew.  Darlene doesn’t like what Jeffrey purchased, Angela tries helping her mother, and then Pam helps her son Jeffrey to which everything is blown out of proportion.

Vincent, to surprise to most, was chosen as the winner designing for Uli’s mom while sadly, one of my absolute favorite Robert Best, was sent home after designing for Vincent’s sister Patricia.  This does not in any way mark the end of my love for this designer and will be on the lookout for him through various friends who love Barbie.  I truly feel that these women expected Miracle Workers out of these designers and had unreasonable expectations.  I feel that most of them designed for what they would literally wear and would wear.  It is sad to see such designers as Jeffrey and Michael be so weirded out as to have to design for plus-sized people.  I realize that the fit and hang will be different, and that everyone is not a size 4, but Jeffrey should have gone home for making his model cry and have to wear that thing.  I’ll miss you Robert! 

Germans to Return Parthenon Piece 

The Greek government has reported that a German university will be the first foreign institution to return a piece from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon.  This 3-inch by 5-inch relief sculpture of a man’s foot will be handed over next month by officials from the University of Heidelberg.  For years Greece has been asking to have relics returned and with the return of this relief, a highly symbolic gesture, maybe it may offer hope that other institutions will return Greek antiquities. 

Bob Marley is Now Heavy Metal 

Bob Marley, famed Jamaican Reggae singer, is now going to be remembered in both gold and silver with the help of the British Royal Mint and the Bank of Jamaica.  These commemorative coins bear the profile of Marley who was born in 1945 in Jamaica and later died in 1981 in Miami, and was initially started to remember his 60^th birthday.  The coins, priced at $100 each, help remember one of Jamaica’s beloved heroes.  

Right now is the time to purchase tickets for The Light in the Piazza which will be performed from September 26^th through October 1^st.  This will be the very first production at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts which comes directly from Broadway where it won six 2005 Tony Awards including Best Score.   

Aïda will be premiering at the Ziff Ballet Opera House October 28^th, and selected days in early November.  This Giuseppe Verdi opera will feature Angela M. Brown, Andrew Richards, Arnold Rawls, Guang Yang, Gregg Baker, Morris D. Robinson, and Valerian Ruminski and is the first production of the Florida Grand Opera in the New Carnival Center.  Aïda will be performed in Italian and will have English and Spanish subtitles and was first commissioned by Verdi to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal and first performed in Cairo in 1871, and people loved it so much in 1872 that one night the standing ovation lasted for 32 curtain calls! 

For more information about these events or any future ones, you can go to www.carnivalcenter.org.  

Absinthe 

Do you love Cirque du Soleil?  How about Rocky Horror Picture Show? Well, Absinthe will not fail you, it’s part cabaret, part circus and aims to be kind of a seedy decadence that is mingled with the simple wonders of knife-jugglers, sword-swallowers, and man creating constructions out of soap bubbles.  It is the main event at Spiegletent, a vintage European tradition that has come to visit the South Street Seaport this summer.  Spiegeltent is at the former site of the Fulton Fish Market, Pier 17, South Street, under the Brooklyn Bridge.  For more information call 212*279-4200. 

Rubin Museum 

At the Rubin Museum of Art they are currently hosting a show called What Is It?  Himalayan Art which will give you lectures, films, and exhibitions devoted to the aspects of living in the Himalayas and what their culture is really like.  They have Tibetan and Nepalan art that you can experience, with such other things that are spiritually stimulating.  The Rubin Museum is located at 150 West 17^th Street in Chelsea.  You can call them at 212*620-5000 or visit them on the web at www.rmanyc.org. 

Designers to Check Out 

Jimmie Martin is a company based out of London who are made up of two former boyfriends that came from Sweden in 1997 as designers, but broke up and ended up creating some of the most amazing furniture around.  Now, these pieces are not for the Martha crowd, not even your mother, but they could be yours.  They earned the title Design Anarchists and bagged New Designer in Practice Award for the Design & Decoration Awards 2005.  They have been in well over 65 magazine layouts either as features or as part of the scenery for models.  They provide an eclectic showcase of one-off pieces of furniture combining the decadent and quirky with the nostalgic and urban and if you do not like what you see in the showroom or website, they will make it for you!  They reclaim and rescue antiques and then hand-finish them with such things as gold leaf and silver paint, graffiti, flowers, and even sewing new backs and seats into old Louis XIV chairs—personalizing them to their clients. Both are actively involved in designing each of their pieces, so check them out at www.jimmiemartin.co.uk.