Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, Aug 7^th through Aug 12^th 

On August 7^th begins the 2007 Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival in Walhalla, MI.  This festival will cater to every womynly need and will feature such acts as (my favorite from Pridefest 2007) God Des and She, as well as Kate Reid, Alix Olsen, and D’ Lo just to name a few.  All festival information is available online at www.michfest.com including a complete list of performers and dates.  

Memphis Knows How to Say Jerry! 

Opening August 10^th, The Playhouse on the Square in Memphis will proudly host Jerry Springer—The Opera!  This winner of the 2004 Oliver Award for Best Musical is the restaging of The Jerry Springer Show which delivers the ironic universal message, Is television a mirror or a moral agent for our society?  With secrets being divulged the television host is eventually finding himself in a hell of his own making and calls for a reconciliation between Jesus and Satan.  The show runs through September 9^th and the Playhouse is located at 51 South Cooper Street in Memphis and can be found at www.playhouseonthesquare.org.  

On Display

Pablo Cano’s Marionettes  

The Coral Springs Museum of Art is proud to host Cuban immigrant Pablo Cano.   Founded on Dada ideals, he uses his imagination and Surrealist traditions to create a statement using marionettes.  With spontaneity and childlike innocence, Pablo wants to break with tradition and painting techniques and return to the elemental basics of art:  to start from scratch and to allow the process of imagination unfold and begin anew each time.  He was actually on the last flight out of Cuba before the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and has been a resident of Miami’s Little Havana ever since and is even regarded by art patrons and critics as one of Florida’s premier contemporary fine artists.    Ever since childhood Pablo has been fascinated with puppets and marionettes, even making them out of household odds and ends and even today his work is out of found objects. For more information about the show go to http://www.csmart.org/currentpage.htm or call them at 954-340-5000.  

Norton Gets Big 

Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao (Taiwanese, born 1977): 42nd Street Times Square, Manhattan, 2005. Pigment ink print, ed. 2/6, 40 by 96 inches (101.6 by 243.8 cm). Purchase, with funds generously provided by J. Ira and Nicki Harris, 2007 © Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao

Currently, at The Norton Museum they have an exhibition entitled The Big Picture Show which proves that—size does matter!  They have taken photographs, and, thanks to technological advances in photography over the past 20 years, have made HUGE prints that are still crystal clear and wall-size.  This highlights 11 recently acquired works, some by world-renown German photographer Thomas Demand, Reiner Leist, Elger Esser, and Chuck Close.  This show runs through September 23^rd and more information can be found at www.norton.org or by phone at 561-832-5196.

Tamayo at MAM, Through September 16^th

Rufino Tamayo, a Mexican artist has his first posthumous show entitled A Modern Icon Reinterpreted in nearly 30 years.  This retrospective brings together approximately 100 of the best canvases made by Tamayo over a long a productive career that spanned seven decades.  The largest section profiles the most notable period of Tamayo’s career, the 1940’s and 1950’s where he discovered and developed a new form of abstract figuration that made him one of the most recognized and respected modern painters.  This seeks not only to present a careful collection of his work but also to offer a contemporary reinterpretation of this artist.  For more information about this show go to http://www.miamiartmuseum.org/exhibitions-current-tamayo.asp. 

Zen Art at Artist’s Haven 

In & Out of Cologne 

There is a collection currently on display at The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami that is a narrative of the punk rock-ish art scene of Cologne, Germany in the 1980’s and early 90’s.  This exhibit reflects the maker’s Do It Yourself motifs and feature such artists as Albert Oehlen and Martin Kippenberger.  Make Your Own Life:  Artists In & Out of Cologne will be on display until July 29^th.  The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 770 NE 125^th Street in North Miami and can be reached at either www.mocanomi.org or by phone at 305-893-6211.  

The Sky is Really Yellow 

The Sky is Really Yellow at The Art Center of South Florida.  This exhibition features artists who created visual illusions and explained personal realities that test the notions of perception and truth.  The Sky is Yellow runs through August 12, 2007 and is at the ACSF Gallery ( 800 Lincoln Road at Meridian , Miami Beach ).  A musical performance by local favorite Unheard Of and complimentary Grolsch beverages will be served at the event, which is free and open to the public.  For additional information please call (305) 674-8278 or visit the website at http://www.artcentersf.org/newinitialpage.htm

Comfort Food for Breakups 

Do you ever wonder what will mend a broken heart?  FOOD!  The only thing is that you have to be careful when you are overly emotional not to over-indulge in the wrong things. 

Within the pages of Marausya Bociurkiw’s Comfort Food for Breakups—A Memoir of a Hungry Girl you will discover an elegiac memoir about food, family, and the thorns of personal history written by a Ukrainian Canadian Lesbian whose family recipes connect intimate vignettes in which food nourishes, comforts, and heals the wounds of the past.  They even helped her father who was haunted by memories of a concentration camp during WWII!  Marausya also reconciled with her family with her queer identity through food and as a vehicle of salvation and way to engage the world and shows the ways in which food intersects with the crossroads of hunger, for intimacy, family, and home. 

Jerry Goes Ebay 

The man that purchased the former estate of famed rocker and lead singer of The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, is dismantling the house piece by piece.  With interesting finds throughout the place, he is selling specific items on the computer auction site Ebay and starting next month is, literally, the kitchen sink!  Check www.ebay.com for times and descriptions. 

Local Theatre Gigs

A Marvelous Party 

The Florida Stage is proud to host A Marvelous Party:  The Noel Coward Celebration.  This witty and poignant retrospective features many of the showman’s music hall talents.  With Stefanie Morse and Jeffrey Rockwell you will swing and sing and saunter to more than 30 Coward’s songs such as Sail Away and Would You Like to Stick a Pin in My Balloon?  For those who did not know, Coward was among the early and mid-20^th century’s biggest superstar, a vaudeville entertainer, songwriter, playwright, author, and producer whose multiple careers have spanned stage, film, TV, and bookshelves.  This runs through August 19 and tickets more information is available at www.floridastage.org or by phone at 561-585-3433. 

Tom Foolery 

The Actors’ Playhouse is proud to host Tom Foolery which is a witty, wicked, and offbeat and thoroughly twisted songs by satirical songwriter Tom Lehrer and nothing is sacred in his review that features such favorites as:  Poisoning Pigeons in the Park, When You Are Old and Gray, The Masochism Tango, The Old Dope Peddler, and The Vatican Rag.  Why not come out and rediscover the man and songs that have delighted and skewered the world for over forty years!  The Actors Playhouse can be found at www.actorsplayhouse.org or at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Galbes and by phone at 305-444-9293.  

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, and tickets are available online at http://www.browardcenter.org. 

Cyrano  

Starting July 14^th,  The Promethean Theatre will have Cyrano.  This swashbuckling tale of love and mistaken identity will take place at Nova Southeastern University’s Black Box Theatre which is located at 3301 College Avenue in Davie.  For more information or tickets go to www.theprometheantheatre.org or call them at (786) 317-7580. 

The Odd Couple 

Shout! 

Tickets are now on sale for Shout!  The Mod Musical.  This will take place at the Parker Playhouse and tickets are available at or call 954-462-0222.  The Parker Playhouse is located at Holiday Park in Fort Lauderdale.

Absinthe Returns, Through September 30^th 

Currently, at Spiegleworld in New York’s South Street Seaport, you can catch Absinthe 2007 which features an intoxicating acro-burlesque concoction.  Sharing the bill will be the world premier production of La Vie which is Montreal’s sizzling circus-arts theatre company that mix life-threatening aerial acrobatics, wild characters, and wicked music.  This will be ongoing until September 30^th and tickets are available at http://www.spiegelworld.com/absinthe/absinthe.html or by phone at 212-279-4200. 

Patti Lupone is Gypsy 

Currently, and for a limited engagement, the incomparable Gay Icon Patti Lupone is taking the stage nightly as Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy.  This will only last unitl July 29^th so get your tickets now!  For tickets go to www.nycitycenter.org or call 212-581-1212.  If your also in the mood, real life couple Lisa Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin are staring in Chicago at The Ambassador Theatre and tickets are available at www.chicagothemusical.com.   

June Bride 

Currently at the Yossimilo Gallery in New York you can catch their latest show entitled June Bride.  This show features offbeat nuptials and other captured wedding photos.  The idea of the Bride varies as radically as do cultural differences, religious traditions, family dynamics, and modes of dress. Brides appear in various guises, from Diane Arbus’ bride shrinking from her groom’s overeager kiss to Nikki S. Lee’s impersonation of a Jewish bride.  For more information about the show go to www.yossimilogallery.com. 

Xanadu 

Ok, we’re gay, we love glam rock, Divas as Goddesses, and roller skating.  Ok, some are not old enough to have seen Xanadu when it was on the big screen, but anyone can catch this timeless Olivia Newton John movie from time to time on VH1’s Movies that Rock or Netflix.  Well, for those of us familiar with this cheesy Roller Disco Musical, we now have a musical to claim as our own…Xanadu: On Broadway!  As the story goes it is the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira, who descends from the heavens of Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time - the first ROLLER DISCO! But, when Kira, falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation and chaos abounds.  This opens on Tuesday, July 10^th and tickets and information are available at http://xanaduonbroadway.com/index2.html. 

Bon Festival, Saturday, August 11^th 

On Saturday, August 11^th, The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens will host The Bon Festival 2007.  This will feature:  Toro Nagashi latern floating, Ennichi Street Fair games and vendors, Taiko drum performances, traditional Japanese folk dancing, and fireworks.  For more information about this festival, go to www.morikami.org or call them at 561-495-0233. 

Fairchild Goes Bananas! July 21^st through September 8^th 

Beginning on July 21^st, The Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens is going Bananas!  This summer’s exhibition is entitled No End to the Banana and will explore the diversity and conservation of bananas for those who use them and various ways they are used.  For more information go to www.fairchildgarden.org or call them at 305-667-1651 X3301 or 3362. 

Kinoki Foot Pads 

Do you feel restless?  Have back pain?  Depression, fatigue, insomnia problems?  There are plenty of toxins in the foods we eat, water we drink, air we breathe and the Kinoki Foot Pads are your solution!  This amazing system for cleansing the body is based on the ancient practices of foot reflexology. Working much more quickly than other detox methods and using the natural cleansing power of double distilled bamboo vinegar, harmful substances are drawn out of your body.  You’ll feel the results right away as you rid your body of things like: heavy metals, toxins, metabolic waste, chemicals and even parasites. You'll be better able to combat fatigue and even lose weight.  Kinoki Foot Pads:  remove toxins, improve circulation, combat fatigue, work quickly, and revitalize your body by drawing toxins out through the bottom of your feet.  For more information, go to www.buykinoki.com –but make sure you check out the twenty second infomercial! 

Cast Iron 

Gee, you say Cast Iron in our community and some people perk up.  I’m not talking about shackles…I’m talking cookware!  Get back to your roots with a Cast Iron skillet and reminisce about what your grandparents and great grandparents used to do to cook with on wood stoves.  Well, things might have changed, we have microwaves and George Foreman Grills, but we all need to use a frying pan every so often.  It is even being said now that there are studies underway on how Teflon coating on nonstick pans poses health hazards, but why not go for the original?  When you use a well-seasoned Cast Iron skillet, you can cook evenly, and even after a few uses, the flavor of your cooking will improve, and unlike other nonsticks, the more you use it the better it gets!  Why not go out and get one, they’re only about $20, and season it, and you just might turn into a Foodie!  If you are looking for high quality skillet, go to www.lodgemfg.com. 

Sean Kingston 

Hailed by Time as The Undeniable Song of the Summer Sean Kingston makes a splash with Beautiful Girls.  Jamaican by birth and Miami native, Sean has a fan base that is increasing in size especially since his debut album is due out July 31^st!  For those who want a younger-fresher look at Reggae, Sean is the way to go.  Check him out at www.seankingston.com  or at http://www.myspace.com/seankingston. 

Piano Music Center Free Concert 

Fashion Week Timetables 

As many know, September is the big month for The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  If you are one of the luckiest people alive, New York’s will be held from September 5^th through September 12^th, while London’s is from September 16^th through September 23^rd, Milan’s begins September 22^nd, and Paris’ starts on September 30^th.  For a complete listing and schedule of events go to www.mercedesbenzfashionweek.com, www.londonfashionweek.co.uk,  http://www.modeaparis.com/va/index.html.   

While amongst the plethora of gay and gay-orientated magazines, I came across this company and website and just screamed!  This company is called Low Tee and was started by Philip Heckman and offers men’s swimwear in a unique, one-of-a-kind way that is rarely seen in resort or beach attire.  Each piece is handcrafted by the designer himself from vintage logo and concert t-shirts and keeps the promise that each suimsuit is a distinct original and have made a favorite among pop culture buffs and anyone who wants to stand out in the crowd.  They are reinforced and fully lined with durable featherweight lycra that gives Low Tee excellent memory allowing them to stretch and return to their original shape and even features elastic leg lines, waistbands, and drawstrings.   Their normal collection costs $45 each while they also have the Crystal Collection that cost $75 and have some sort of something extra—whether it be a jewel, sequin they are definitely worth the peek at!  All are available online at www.lowtee.com. 

Kissing Sailor Found! 

Of most of the images ingrained in our memories of photographs from the 20^th Century, one of the most famous ones is that of the sailor kissing the nurse at the end of WWII in Times Square.  Many have claimed to be that man but this last one, experts agree, could be him!  The famous photo, taken by Life photographer Alfred Eindstaedt, was taken on August 14, 1945 and the two people in the photo have remained a mystery ever since. 

Glenn McDuffie, of Texas, who joins the ranks of more than 10 other men who claim to be the sailor, recently enlisted the aid of one of the world's top forensic experts to prove he was the subject of Eisenstaedt's picture.  They have brought in a forensic facial artist Lois Gibson, and she claims that McDuffie’s measurements are exact.   

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/has-kissing-sailor-mystery-been-solved/20070728155909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001 

6th Annual Miami International Wine Fair, September 8^th through 10^th 

Beginning September 8^th guests of the 6th Annual Miami International Wine Fair will have the opportunity to taste 1,000 different wines from all over the world including Argentina, Spain, Italy, California, France and Portugal.  This is the largest wine expo in Florida showcasing more than 400 wineries from 18 countries and 20 local restaurants will also be offering samples of their menu. This will be at The Miami Beach Convention Center which is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive in Miami and for more information go to www.miamiwinefair.com or call 305 777 2255. 

Galanga Wine Festival 

Wilton Manor’s very own Galanga Restaurant is celebrating their Five wonderful years by offering 50% off bottles of your favorite wines.  This will take place on each and every Monday until further notice so get in there and get yourself a bottle!  Galanga is located at 2389 Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors.  Call 954-202-0000 for reservations and directions. 

Live, Sept 25^th 

Tickets are now on sale for the September 25^th appearance of famed rockers Live who will take the Mizner Park Amphitheater stage along with Collective Soul.  For tickets and more information go to www.ticketmaster.com or www.fantasma.com.  

Kristine W at Iguana, Thursday, Aug 2^nd 

On Thursday, August 2^nd, recording artist Kristine W. will be at Tantric Thursdays at Las Olas Iguana Beachplace.  Come out and join the fun with MC Mizz Cori and Steve S.  There will be a $10 cover charge and call for VIP bottle reservations and directions.  The Iguana is located at Beachplace, one block south of Sebastian Beach in Fort Lauderdale and their phone is 954-588-7010.  

Jane Monheit 

Henry Rollins, September 25^th 

Ok, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a Slamming Heavy Metal Rocker fan by any means.  I will give them credit as a genre of music that plays an important role somewhere in society.  With that being said, one of my earliest crushes is coming to town, famed scream rocker now talk show host Henry Rollins will be at The Theatre on September 25^th in West Palm Beach.  This performance is called Provoked:  An Evening of quintessentially American Opinionated Editorializing Storytelling.  Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or call 561-833-7305 for more information. 

Macy Gray, August 14^th 

On August 14^th, legendary unexplainable sensation Macy Gray will take the stage at Hard Rock Live at 8pm.  Singing songs off all three of her albums, Macy is sure to entertain you.  Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Hard Rock Live Box Office at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood.   

The Fab Four at Kravis 

Twelve Girls Band, October 16^th 

On October 16^th, the Asian sensation sweeping the world, Twelve Girl Band, will take center stage at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts.  Recently named International Artist of the Year, they have crafted a unique niche in world music playing such songs as:  Coldplay, Enya, Dve Rbrubeck, as well as others on classic Chinese instruments!  For tickets and further information, go to www.browardcenter.org or call their Box Office at 954-462-0222. 

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.