A Fresh-Smelling Brite Idea

Imagine this:  a light bulb that cleans the air?  Well, there are now brands out there (Fresh2 and O Zone Lite) actually have a coating of titanium dioxide that destroys biologically based, odor-causing molecules that are in the air!  The bulbs last up to 10,000 hours and will save you money on your energy bill because they are fluorescent but can cost up to $10- $40 each.  You can go to www.fresh2.com or www.ozonelite.com.   

Series Finale Top Design

On the season finale of Top Design it was finally decided that Matt has won the final challenge.  With this challenge comes $100,000 to start their own design firm and a spread in Elle Décor Magazine as well as showings at various elite home shows.  It was also announced that their carpenters would receive $10,000 from Lending Tree for their hard work and the prize went to Ed who only two episodes ago almost cut his thumb off on a circular saw. 

I was happy with the final two contestants, Matt from Chicago and Carisa from Miami but in school in New York, and the fact that they were given a loft to design that was bare-bones and had a relatively reasonable budget to work with.  Their challenge was to design it for—themselves.  The challenges were the fact that Matt is married and has a four-year-old daughter and Carisa is single, young, and likes to entertain—a lot.  With a currently working designer up against a design Student, things were not as clean-cut as they may seem and evident in their final projects and even more expressive in their choices and combinations.   

I’m glad that Matt won, but I wanted a minute to reminisce about some of the past contestants and projects given to them.  Who could forget the white haired lady in Episode One that was so bossy and opinionated that messed up her team’s room and got both members sent home?  This is also the episode where we learned how little Michael could actually do when our favorite little Bear John, expert in many diverse areas, would try to help him.  Michael stayed for a long time making great drama while John was voted off next and could have been the “Eye Candy” of the show.  Carisa every week caused as much verbal drama yet pulled it together to make it to the Final Two.  Challenges:  how about making a hotel cabana on a beach from scratch?  Design a bedroom—for a child, after purchasing everything based on a dossier?  I, personally, liked the VIP Tent project for Bacardi Lemon where the one team actually had a very famous, Michael Clarke Duncan-esque Bouncer.  I will miss them all and will be on the look out for Carisa in Miami’s design district when she graduates.  For more information about the show go to www.bravotv.com/top_design.   

On Display

PostSecret Comes to South Florida 

Have you come across one of the latest confession-turned-to-art collections lately?  It’s called PostSecret and has been featured in everything from New Times to Dateline and can be found at their website www.postsecret.com.  The premise is that you anonymously write down a deep-dark secret and put it on a post card and sent it to an address.  Now it has exploded to a website and a traveling show and has even been featured in All American Reject’s video for Dirty Little Secret [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHd3ck6fHBw]  Well, finally the show has come to The Art Center of South Florida and one of the most appropriate and well-visited venues is proud to host it.   They will be holding a fundraiser that will benefit Charlee Homes for Children with a reading on Friday, April 13^th and a viewing of the exhibit on Saturday, April 14^th.  It will be part of the 4 Projects exhibit and the center is located at 3814 NE Miami Court on Lincoln Road in South Beach.  For further information call them at 305-672-4709. 

Dance Sets as Art 

Have you ever considered the sets at Dance shows art?  Well, there is a show going on right now at The Museum of Contemporary Art that features sets and costumes created by contemporary artists for productions by The Merce Cunningham Dance Company entitled Dancing on the Cutting Edge Part I.  This will be on view until April 28^th, and is located at 770 NE 125^th Street in North Miami.  For more information go to www.mocanomi.org or call them at 305-893-6211. 

Nestor Paz at Buck 15 

Thursday, April 5^th marked the opening of a show of local South Beach resident Nestor Paz’s work at area hot spot Buck 15.  The show contained about ten pieces of his work mingled in with their current collection on permanent display and was enjoyed by well over 300 people who partied the night away with DJ Daisy Deadpetals.  To check out his collection, click here to see pictures from the party and what all the fuss is about.  The show will be on display at Buck 15 for the rest of the month so make sure you stop by and check out his work!  For more information about Nestor, check out his website, www.nestorpaz.com. 

Richard Serra 

Richard Serra Double Transversal, 2004

Currently, at The Rosenbaum Contemporary Gallery Center in Boca Raton, they are featuring Richard Serra’s collection The Art of the Curve. This show contains etchings by the noted 20^th century sculptor.  The gallery is located at 608 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton and can be found at http://www.gallerycenter.org/rosenbaum.shtml  or by calling 561-994-9180. 

Ryan Myers is Bitter Sweet 

New York artist Ryan Myers will be hosting a show of his work entitled Bitter Sweets  that will be at The Pink Ghost at 21 West Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale.  The show will open at 8pm and for more information or to check out his work, go to www.pinkghost.net or call 954-616-1304. 

Chutes and Ladders, Until April 24^th 

Students of the Broward Community College Campuses have gotten together and put on an art show entitled Chutes and Ladders.  This yearly juried exhibition hosts contestants from late teens through retirement with expertise and novices all alike, feature works that use such things as potters wheels and kilns and silk screens.  The gallery is located at the Fine Arts Gallery at BCC’s Central Campus at 3501 SW Davie Road in Davie.  For information and gallery times, call them at 954*201-6984. 

Karen Myers At Stonewall  

On Monday, April 2^nd, The Stonewall Library and Archives proudly had the Opening Reception for Karen Myers and her solo exhibition.  Many people attended and enjoyed her artwork.  Her work will be featured until April 28^th and the Stonewall Library is located at 1717 North Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.  For more information, you can go to her site, www.artnabox.com, at www.myspace.com/photosbykarenartnabox, or at www.cafepress.com/artnabox. 

Wolfsonian Goes Free on Fridays 

I don’t know if you know, but South Beach’s very own Wolfsonian is FREE on Fridays!  Located at 1001 Washington Avenue, they will not be charging admission between 6 & 9pm.  For further information and a listing of current exhibits, go to www.wolfsonian.org or call them at 305*535-2622. 

Georgia O'Keeffe: Circling Around Abstraction through May 6, 2007

Organized by the Norton Museum of Art, Georgia O'Keeffe:  Circling Around Abstraction is the first exhibition to highlight this renowned American painter's individual approach to the issue of abstraction, a stylistic strategy which in many ways preoccupied artists throughout the 20th century.

The exhibition brings together fifty-one of O'Keeffe's works to illuminate the various and evolving ways she used circular forms and motifs as the means whereby she organized, simplified, and even energized her compositions.

Both the exhibition and its catalogue, with every work illustrated in color, will enhance both popular appreciation and scholarly understanding of the artist's significant contribution to the development of American modernism.
 

Eden 

Artist Jean Hilary brings us Eden—a new media project that features large-format documentary photographs and videos that offer mysterious scenes from small towns across America.  This show runs through June 3^rd and is at The Boca Raton Museum of Art at 501 Plaza Real in Boca Raton.  For more information, go to www.bocamuseum.org or call them at 561*392-2500. 

Bass Goes Vietnamese 

At the Bass Museum of Art in Miami, they are featuring The Private Jade Collection of Her Imperial Highness Princess Thi-Nga of Vietnam.  Well, this contains approximately 80 sculptures from tht 19^th and early 20^th Centuries made from Jade—considered the most precious stone during Imperial Times.  Did you know that it symbolized the link between human beings and the spiritual world?  The Princess collection will be on display until April 29^th.  The Bass Museum of Art is located at 2121 Park Avenue in Miami Beach and can be found at www.bassmuseum.org or reached at 305*673-7530.  

Chihuly is Back! Until May 31^st 

Right now, at the Fairchild Gardens, you can get a second chance this year to see the amazing blown-glass objects mixed in with the natural flowers and botanicals in Chihuly at Fairchild Part II.  On Sunday, December 10^th, Dale Chihuly will be visiting the garden from 11am to noon for a book signing.  The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables and you can go to www.fairchildgarden.org or call them at305*667-1651. 

Chicano Visions:  American Painters on the Verge

A nationally touring collection of more than 80 works, mostly oils and acrylics that date from 1963 to 2003 that depict life from the Mexican-American artists viewpoint.  Cheech Marin, known from the Cheech and Chong movies, donates most of his personal collection that illustrate urban life and the Latino culture.  The collection, which has been traveling for the past five years, can be found at the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale at 1 East Las Olas Blvd or for further information and gallery times, go to www.moafl.org or call them at 954*525-5500. 

Concert for Diana

As I had reported earlier, both crown princes Andrew and Harry were planning a commemorative concert for the 10^th anniversary of the death of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.  It is now scheduled to take place in London at the new Wembley Stadium on July 1^st—which would have been her 46^th birthday.  Among the performers scheduled to donate their time for charity is Elton John as well as her favorite band, Duran Duran.   

Family Secrets 

Ok, imagine this, you are 90 years old and you remember the days back in the 1930’s when you had some pricey art work—one including a charcoal portrait done by Max Liebermann of Albert Einstein in 1922.  Well, World War II happens and your father becomes a Nazi and then, after the war, everything is confiscated—never to be returned.  You want your family’s art back, for your family.  Well, sadly, the art was taken by the Soviets when they occupied Germany and now sits in a museum in Chemnitz and will not be returned.  According to German law you are forbidden to return property to the descendants of Nazi criminals—so you sue.  Well, the Defense digs up that your father, a respected gynecologist, was not only a Nazi, but: one of the first Doctors involved with the Nazi party in 1930, headed up the local Nazi medical association, ordered the sterilization of schizophrenics, abortions, and literally performed more than 1,000 himself—all in the “Superrace” ideology.  The family finally accepted the court’s decision.

Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2007, Wednesday, April 18^th

Jeffrey and Lambda Legal have teamed up for a fashion show of the season.  Taking place on Wednesday, April 18^th, will be Jeffrey Fashion Cares 2007 and will benefit: Lambda Legal, Harvy Milk High School, The Hetrick-Martin Institute, and the GMHC (Gay Men’s Heath Crisis.)  This fashion show has many different prices for it and to get a rundown of all of them and times go to www.lambdalegal.org/jeffrey or call 212*809-8585 Ext. 289 or stop in at Jeffrey at 449 West 14^th Street in Manhattan.  

Local Theatre Buzz

Melt 

Opening Saturday, April 14^th, the Coral Gables New Theatre is proud to host Melt, a new play by Michael McKeever about three different South Florida families.  For tickets or further information go to www.new-theatre.org or call them at 305-443-5909. 

The Clean House 

Previewing Sunday, April 15^th, The Caldwell Theatre Company will have its spring show entitled, The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl which comically tells the story of a successful couple who hire a Brazilian Maid who does not like to clean and tells jokes in Portuguese. This runs through May 20^th and you can get more information at www.caldwelltheatre.com or by calling 561-241-7432.  

Animal Farm, April 13^th through April 15^th   

Nine Parts of Desire. Until May 5^th 

The Mosaic Theatre in Plantation is proud to announce their latest show entitled Nine Parts Desire which depicts the realities of life in Iraq both under Saddam Hussein and after told through the lives of several unique women whose individual worlds have been frayed and fractured—sometimes beyond repair, all by their country’s history.  The Mosaic Theatre is located at 12200 West Broward Blvd in Plantation and for tickets you can go to www.mosaictheatre.com or call them at 954-577-8243.  Tickets are $29 and the show run until May 5^th. 

Animals and Plants 

The Mad Cat Theatre Company will resume their performances of Animals and Plants on Saturday, April 14^th, which will run through April 20^th at The Light Box studio theatre near downtown Miami at 3000 Biscayne Blvd.  Plot:  Two low-level New York drug dealers are stranded in a motel room in Boone, NC during a blizzard.  For tickets and more information go to http://www.miamilightproject.com/index.php?page_id=16 or call them at 305-576-6377 or visit them at their MySpace at:  http://www.myspace.com/madcatcompany. 

Jekyll and Hyde, Friday, April 13^th 

On Friday, April 13^th, the Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts will present Jekyll and Hyde the musical.  This will all take place at the Susan B. Katz Theater in the River of Grass ArtsPark at 17195 Sheridan Street in Pembroke Pines.  For more information go to www.pptopa.com or call them at 954-437-4884. 

Nijinsky’s Last Dance, Until April 22^nd 

Currently, at Miami’s own Edge Gallery, local actor and dancer Frank Rodriguez will take you inside a tortured mind with Nijinsky’s Last Dance.  This is a story about a world famous bisexual dancer who goes insane.  This is the third play inspired by the life of the dancer and when Nijinsky starts going mad, he decides to keep a diary.  Sadly, his wife Romola edited out a lot of his writing about sexuality and schizophrenic ramblings, but 20 years after her death their children have released the full version of his diary.  This one man play takes place in a sanitarium in Sweden in 1919 and tells the story of how his mentor and lover of many years dropped the young dancer after discovering his later marriage to Romola—sending him mad.  The Edge Gallery is located at 210 NE 39^th Street in Miami and is only running on the weekends.  For tickets call 786*355-0976. 

Burn This, Until Sunday, April 22^nd 

A powerful, electrifying work by the playwright whom many regard as our theatre's finest living writer. Presented both in Los Angeles and on Broadway to critical and popular acclaim, the play probes deeply and with great dramatic and comic effect into the lives of its singular characters. "Quite simply, Lanford Wilson's BURN THIS is superb writing transformed into brilliant theatre…" —Drama-Logue. "BURN THIS is Lanford Wilson's masterpiece." —LA Herald Examiner. "Broadway has finally gotten masterfully into its stride with a new American play—BURN THIS…" —NY Post. "John Malkovich's entrance in Lanford Wilson's BURN THIS is probably the most sensational since the young Brando's in "A Streetcar Named Desire." —Newsweek. 

Tickets can be purchased at www.thealliancetheatrelab.com or by phone at 305*567-2721.  The Alliance Theatre Lab is located at the Main Street Playhouse at 6766 Main Street in Miami Lakes.   

Naked Grape First Wine Tasting New Owners

Wilton Manor’s own The Naked Grape Wine Co. is under new ownership.  As part of their first act, new owners Caleb and Tim want to throw their first Wine Tasting!  The theme is Do You Know The Way To Chardonnay? and will being at 7pm on Wednesday, April 18th.  Did you know that Chardonnay is the most popular white grape in the world? The style and quality of this grape has grown and changed dramatically in the past few years. Come and reacquaint yourself with the many facets of this versatile grape at their tasting of outstanding and interesting selections of Chardonnays, from crisp and non-oaked to rich, buttery, and oaky.  Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.  The Naked Grape Wine Co. is located at 2039 Wilton Drive and their phone number is 954-563- 5631. Stop on by!

3rd Annual ViniPortugal Tasting, Sunday, April 15^th 

On Sunday, April 15^th, America's largest Portuguese wine tasting moves to South Beach to celebrate its 3rd Anniversary in Miami. Presented by ViniPortugal, the Douro Wine & Port Institute and The Portuguese Trade Commission, this year’s event will feature over 200 wines from all around Portugal, and a special section dedicated exclusively to Portugal’s best known beverage, i.e., Port. 100% of consumer ticket sales will benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami.  The tasting will be at The Ritz Carlton on Lincoln Road and tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at http://www.localwineevents.com/Miami-Wine/event-121725.html.  It will begin promptly at 5pm so don’t be late!  

12^th Annual Wine & Culinary Celebration, April 13^th

On Friday, April 13^th, Bank of America and The Museum of Discovery & Science want you to dine/drink/discover the 12^th Annual Wine & Culinary Celebration.  The VIP Admission is $150 and the General Admission is $85 and will benefit The Museum of Discovery with such participating restaurants as:  Galanga, The Melting Pot, The Four Rivers, Taverna Opa, The Grape on Las Olas, and many more.  For tickets or information, go to www.mods.org or call 954-713-0954.  

2^nd Saturday s Wynwood Gallery Walk

The Wynwood Art District of Miami will be having their monthly 2^nd Saturdays Gallery Walk on Saturday, April 14^th beginning at 7pm and running to approximately 10pm.  The Walk begins at 282 NW 36^th Street in Miami and all of the Art District’s galleries and studios will be open and displaying their latest collections.  This is a new association bringing together:  art dealers, galleries, collections, studios, and alternative art spaces that will strengthen the concept of a true Art District and will help them with Miami’s art image.  For further information go to www.wynwoodartdistrict.com or call 305-573-4949.    The next Art Walk is scheduled for May 12^th—the second Saturday of the month. 

7^th Annual Riviera Beach, April 13^th through April 15^th

Beginning Friday, April 13^th, The Jazz on the Beach will host it’s 7^th Annual Riviera Beach Jazz & Blues Festival.  Scheduled performers include:  Michael McDonald, Angie Stone, Ruben Studdard, Angela Winbush, and Yolanda Adams.  The festival will continue on to Sunday, April 15^th and will be at The Riviera Beach City Hall which is located at 600 West Blue Heron Blvd—across from Ocean Mall.  For tickets and further information, go to www.jazzonthebeach.com or call 561-845-4004. 

Palm Beach International Jazz Festival, April 14^th through April 15^th

On Saturday, April 14^th, will be the official kick-off of this year’s Palm Bach International Jazz Festival.  This will feature the likes of such entertainers as:  Chris Botti, David Benoit, The Rippingtons, Sophie Milman, Chick Corea, and Gary Burton. The gates open at 1:30pm and will feature not only national jazz acts but gourmet foods, wine and specialty bars, and enough classy ambiance to make you drool.  This all takes place at The Cultural Campus, Mall at Wellington Green which is located at 10300 Forest Hill Blvd.  Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased at either www.culturaltrustpb.org or 877*772-5425. 

Las Olas Wine and Food Festival, May 10^th

The annual Las Olas Wine and Food Festival 2007 is now approaching and will take place on May 10^th.  Get ready to stroll the streets of one of Fort Lauderdale’s most famous and unique streets sampling both hundreds of wines and cuisine from all over the world.  This event is presented by Premier Beverage and will benefit The American Lung Association of Florida, Inc.  For tickets and further information, go to www.lasolaswineandfood.com or call 800*LUNG-USA.  Tickets are advance purchase only and there is a limited quantity so buy now to avoid disappointment!

Dine Out, Fight AIDS,  Thursday, April 26^th

In conjunction with the AIDS Walk Miami—Dining Out for Life will be taking place at a variety of different restaurants and establishments throughout Southern Florida.  Did you know that by just having a meal at one of the participating restaurants on Thursday, April 26^th a percentage of your check will go to help will go to help those living in Southern Florida with HIV/AIDS?  In the Fort Lauderdale area stop by What’s the Scoop in Wilton Manors, Herban Kitchen, and Jimmie’s Garden Café in Dania, and Primavera Restaurant in Oakland Park—but for a complete listing of all the participating restaurants, go to www.diningoutforlifesouthflorida.com.  To sign up your restaurant call 305*576-1234 Ext. 236. 

The Ravel Project, April 13^th through April 15^th 

Urban Ballet Theatre, Friday, April 13^th 

At 8pm on Friday, April 13^th, The Miami-Dade Parks Division of Arts and Culture will present The Urban Ballet Theatre at the Joseph Caleb Auditorium which is located at 5400 NW 22^nd Avenue in Miami.  Tickets range from $15-$25 and can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 305-636-2350. 

Romeo & Juliet, Sunday, April 15^th 

On Sunday, April 15^th, The Sinatra Theatre is proud to host Romeo & Juliet.  Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com or any TicketMaster locations.

The Lord Is Coming 

Just kidding, I know it’s the week before Easter and all…but famed showman Michael Flatley will be at The Jackie Gleason Theater on Sunday, April 29^th at 3pm as The Lord of the Dance.  They will also be at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on April 26^th through April 28^th.  The Jackie Gleason Theater is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive in Miami Beach and The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okechobee Blvd in West Palm Beach.  Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com or at www.kravis.org.    

Nicolle Chirino at Siren Party  

Anyone who knows anything about the hot Girl Scene in Southern Florida knows about the Siren Party at Score on Saturday nights.  Well, they get some of the best Girl Performers and Saturday is no exception!  They will have Florida Grammy Showcase winner Nicolle Chirino performing and for those who do not know, she is the daughter of the Grammy award winning, Cuban Salsa singer/bandleader, Willy Chirino and singer Lissette.  Can we say musical talent pumps in her veins?  She will be singing in both English and Spanish with acoustic guitar and be sure to catch her interview in this month's She Magazine. There will be two performances so make sure you make it before 11pm because this is really going to be a treat.  Siren is at Score Bar at 727 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.  Doors open at 8pm and remember, the Crème Lounge is now a Smoke Free area!

How About A Free Concert?

On Saturday, April 14^th,  The Florida International University’s Wolfsonian will have a FREE concert entitled Concert IV 2007:  New Music Miami and will begin at 3pm.  The concert will feature internationally renowned virtuoso Cellist Craig Hultgren who will be performing cutting-edge solo works by composers Matthew Fields, Vincent Chee-Yung Ho, and Jorge Grossman as well as a host of others.  The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach and can be found at www.wolfsonian.org or by calling 305-348-1998. 

Jerusalem Quartet at Broward Center

On Monday, April 16^th, the world-renown Jerusalem Quartet will take center stage at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts at 8pm in the Amarturo Theater.  They will be performing Beethoven, Barber, and Brahms and all tickets are $30 and are available online at www.browardcenter.org or at www.concertfla.org or at 954-462-0222.  Did I mention they’re cute?

Pierre Dorge & The New Jungle Orchestra, Saturday, April 14^th 

On Saturday, April 14^th, Pierre Dorge & The New Jungle Orchestra will take the stage at The Carnival Center for Performing Art’s Knight Concert Hall at 8pm.  They will perform cutting-edge jazz, a bit of Bollywood, down-home Blues, as well as world music rhythms.  This Danish guitarist and his 10-piece ensemble of musicians have played the hippest clubs around the world and are simply fabulous!  For tickets and further information, go to www.carnivalcenter.org or call 305-949-6722. 

Shakespeare & Opera

The Frost Opera Theater and The University of Miami is proud to host Shakespeare & Opera on Saturday, and Sunday, April 14^th and 15^th  at the Clarke Recital Hall from 3pm to 5pm.  The Clarke Recital Hall is located at 5501 San Amaro Drive in Coral Gables.  Tickets are $10 so call 305-284-4886.  For additional information about the school go to www.music.miami.edu.  

Samson et Dalila, Begins Apr 5^th 

Beginning Thursday, April 5^th, The Florida Grand Opera will present Saint – Saens’ Samson et Dalila.  This timeless opera of betrayal will be at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on April 5^th & 7^th and then moves to The Carnival Center for the Performing Arts starting April 14^th.  For tickets go to www.fgo.org or call the Box Office at 800*741-1010. 

Something to Say

Are you one of those people who feel like their voice isn’t heard?  Are you being photographed by the Mad Paparazzi and want so express yourself without saying a word?  Well, I have the Tee Shirt company for you!  With saying like:  You looked better on MySpace, My Herpes Are Inactive If Yours Are, or better yet:  Quien Es Tu Papa?  With an Almightee shirt, you will get noticed!  Starting out as a local graphic tee company by Miami natives Jordan Steele and both Thompson and Katiana Quinones, they used to do screen printing out of their apartments.  Since they are a small-scale production company, all of their shirts are under $20 and you won’t be operplayed or overcharged.  They are available www.almightee.etsy.com or at Rag Trade at 4600 Northeast 2^nd Avenue Suite 6 in Miami.  You can also call them at 305-573-1478. 

Queer Cowboys 

With this weekend’s FGRA festivities surrounding The Sunshine Stampede, I actually found the perfect book for those of us who want to know more about our history and why not a book about Gay Cowboys?  In Chris Packard’s book entitled, Queer Cowboys: And Other Erotic Male Friendships in Nineteenth-Century American Literature he asks the major question, Was the American Cowboy gay? Judging from the earliest representations of cowboys and other frontier figures in popular literature—who typically preferred a "buddy" over a wife--the answer seems to be yes. He will prove with evidence from books by nineteenth-century Western writers such as James Fenimore Cooper, Mark Twain, and Owen Wister as well as others to shows how same-sex intimacy and homoerotic admiration were key aspects of Westerns well before the word "homosexual" and its synonyms were invented.

Did you know that American writers celebrated erotic frontier friendships as alternatives to the lawless violence? These males-only clubs of journalists, cowboys, miners, Indians, and vaqueros defined themselves by excluding femininity and the confines of domesticity while embracing "strenuous living" with other bachelors in wilderness conditions. Queer Cowboys recovers this forgotten culture of exclusively masculine—sometimes erotic, and often intimate camaraderie in fiction, photographs, illustrations, song lyrics, and theatrical performances.

Comedy at Hard Rock 

This week marks some great comedic performances at The Seminole Hard Rock & Casino.  On Sunday, April 15^th funnyman Sinbad will take the stage and on Wednesday, April 18^th, fans of the hit TV show Everyone Loves Raymond will be delighted to see two of the main characters performing onstage—both Ray Ramano and television brother Brad Garrett will continue their act they perfected.  For tickets go to www.ticketmaster.com , more information go to www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com or call them at 305-358-5885 or stop by their Box Office at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood. 

Clay Aiken, August 18^th 

On August 18^th American Idol runner up and amazing showman Clay Aiken will take the stage at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts at 8pm.  He will take the stage with a full Orchestra and will perform hits from his debut album Measure of a Man—which went Number One on Billboard’s 200 Chart and then Triple Platinum as well as This is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water that won the 2003 Billboard Music Award for Best Single.  For tickets, which go on sale Saturday, April 14th go to www.kravis.org.

Joss Stone, Saturday, June 16^th 

Recently featured British singer Joss Stone will be at Fort Lauderdale’s own Revolution on Saturday, June 16^th at 8pm. At only 19 years old, she will perform songs from her first album XXX as well as her recently released Introducing Joss Stone.  Revolution is located at 200 West Broward Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.  For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets are only $33.50. 

Shake Your Bon Bon, Saturday, May 19^th 

Grab your Cup of Life and get ready to shake your Bon Bon to the one and only Ricky Martin as he takes the stage at the American Airlines Arena on Saturday, May 19^th.  Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or any TicketMaster locations.  Tickets start at $46. 

SunFest, May 4^th through May 6^th 

Three new names have been added to the lineup of entertainers to take the stage at this year’s SunFest:  Rihanna will be on May 4^th,  Ne-Yo on May 5^th,  and Robin Thicke on May 6^th.  The festival site is along Flagler Drive near the Intracoastal Waterway in downtown West Palm Beach.  Tickets range from $23 to $45 and can be purchased either at the event or at www.sunfest.com or by calling either 561*659-5980 or 800*786-3378.  

The 5 Browns, Tuesday, April 10^th, Friday, April 13^th  

The Carnival Center for the Performing Arts is proud to host the hottest youth musicians The 5 Browns.  This Quintet of siblings—each a virtuoso pianist, have been on such shows as:  Oprah, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America, but also have landed at the top of the weekly Billboard charts with their first album and become of the Top Classical Artists of the year.  Imagine not only one—but all five siblings getting into Julliard at the same time?!?  Tickets are available through www.carnivalcenter.org or by phone at 305*949-6722.  Later, they will move to The Kravis Center for Performing Arts and be performing there on Friday, April 13^th at 8pm in Deyfoos Hall.  Tickets range from $15-$45 and can be purchased at www.kravis.org or by phone at 561*572-8471. 

Earth Wind & Fire, April 27^th 

On Friday, April 27^th, famed 70’s grove group Earth Wind & Fire will take center stage at The Mizner Park Amphitheater at 8pm sharp.  The Amphitheater is located at 590 Plaza Real in Boca Raton and tickets can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.com. 

The Police, Tuesday July 10^th 

On Tuesday, July 10^th famed singer and songwriter Sting will team up with bandmates and tour as The Police Live in Concert at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.  They will feature Fiction Plane and tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 305*358-5885. 

Call Her Miss Ross, Apr 30th 

On Monday, April 30^th, legendary songbird Diana Ross will take center stage at The Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood.  For tickets go to www.ticketmaster.com, call them at 954*523-3309, or drop by their Box Office at One Seminole Way in Hollywood. 

Gwen, May 9^th 

On May 9^th famed pop singer and L.A.M.B. designer Gwen Stefani will take the stage at 7:30pm at the Sound Advice Amphitheatre.  The Amphitheatre is located at 601-7 Sansbury’s Way in West Palm Beach.  Tickets range from $10 to $69.50 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 561*966-3309. 

Broadway News

Boys Just Wanna Have Fun

On Broadway right now is Boys Just Wanna Have Fun by the creators of My Big Gay Italian Wedding which is the story, set in the late 1980’s and two people go undercover to infiltrate an alleged drug ring.  During their investigation at a local Staten Island gay bar populated by a mix of zany club regulars.  One falls in love with the local heartthrob which becomes the relationship is soon tarnished as disturbing truths are revealed by both men.  The show is recently extended until June 9^th and is located at The Actors Playhouse at 100 7^th Avenue South in Manhattan.  Tickets available through www.telecharge.com or 212-239-6200 and for more information about the play go to:  www.boysjustwanna.com. 

[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/105966.html]

Some Men

Imagine a play set in a gay bathhouse in the mid 1970’s and contains four actors but fifteen different characters?  Got your attention now!  This Terrence McNally play opened last week at the Second Stage Theater and was in a setting where men were known to ask men to do all sorts of things—but marriage definitely was not one of them.  Taking place during eight decades, Some Men is a series of breezy sketches about gay American life from The Hamptons to a Harlem nightclub in 1932 to a preppy piano bar in Greenwich Village during the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and also a waiting room in an AIDS ward in 1989.  The Second Stage Theater is located at 307 West 43^rd Street in Clinton and for tickets and further information, call them at 212*246-4422.  Catch it if you can, it only runs until April 15^th.  For further information go to http://www.secondstagetheatre.com/somemen/index.html