Memorial for Diana 

On August 31^st, there is to be a national day of remembrance for the late Diana Spencer in Britain that is to be kicked off with a memorial service at Westminster Abbey.  There will be celebrations of her life and legacy going on throughout the country including one major one at London’s National Portrait Gallery where you can see Diana, Princess of Wales which features a 1997 photo by Mario Testino.  This will be the 10^th Anniversary of her death and it has been confirmed that Camilla Parker Bowels will not attend. 

London’s Calling… 

If you happen to be in London this week, you might want to check out Carmen Jones, a brand new Royal Festival Hall musical that is based on Bizet’s Carmen—which hasn’t been seen in London in over 15 years and ends on September 3^rd.  For more information, go to www.southbankcentre.co.uk or www.the-car-man.com.   

Will you be looking for a play to go to after that?  Starting on September 4^th is a Pedro Almodovar based play called All About My Mother and is at the Old Vic Theatre and can be found at www.oldvictheatre.com.   

Do Indian things intrigue you?  Well, London is celebrating Indian culture in a festival called India Now and has been featuring Indian fashion shows, historical reenactments, and even a musical titled Sitar Rhapsody and is a tribute to the late great Freddy Mercury.  For more information about that, go to www.visitlondon.com/india. 

D.C. and Jerusalem Get Records 

Just this week two hard drives containing more than 20 million pages each arrived at both the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Yad Vashem Martyr’s and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem.  Within these hard drives are the copies of the Gestapo papers and concentration camp records that will help people piece back, to some extent, their family histories.  After more than half a century the German government finally released these records in a Good Will gesture and even though it is a good start to mending some familiar wounds, it will take years and trained professionals to decipher these records.  The hard drives contain the first installment of digital copies from one of the world’s largest Nazi archives, with the final documents scheduled to be copied and delivered by early 2009. 

Chasing Cool 

Have you ever wondered how is it that some people seem to know what is going on in fashion, what directions it will take, and others just don’t?  Well, with Chasing Cool you will meet the profession trend-hunters and marketing mavericks.  You will go on tour and see the Wizard Behind the Curtain and take a guided tour of the underworld of the business of cool.  Written by DJ-to-the-Stars and marketing iconoclast Noah Kerner and Barney’s visionary Gene Pressman you will get an earful from all their A-List celebrities such as:  Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola, and Tommy Hilfiger.  For more information about this book, go to www.chasingcoolbook.com. 

On Display

Darwin Leon 

Currently, at Palm Beach Community College’s Eissey Gallery they are hosting a show of Darwin Leon.  Darwin, a Cuban-born artist will have paintings on display that have rich colors and surreal parts that will take the drawings and paintings to a whole new level.  The Gallery is located at 3160 PGA Blvd, BB Building Room 113, in Palm Beach Gardens.  For more information call them at 561-207-5015.

Cintas Exhibition 2007 

The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in West Miami is currently working on their Cintas Exhibition 2007. The art museum has been awarding Fellowships since 1963 to fine art students of Cuban Descent.  This biennial exhibit features artwork of the Cuban Diaspora by Cintas grant recipients.  For more information about this go to www.frostartmuseum.org or call them at 305-348-2890.   

It Started in the Garage

The Antikulture Gallery in Miami is proud to announce their latest show entitled It Started in the Garage.  This exhibit features R. Grimes’ richly patterned silk-screens that were an inspiration from his roots in the local punk and skateboard scene that later form the visual vocabulary and creation of his art.  His work has been seen all over the country and as far as Australia using powerful iconography that has even been used in Juxtapoz magazine and even featured at last year’s Art Basel.  The Antikulture Gallery is located at 169 NW 36^th Street in Miami and can be found at www.myspace.com/antikulture or at 305-573-3133. 

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. 

Quick Draw Las Olas, September 1^st 

On September 1^st¸ The Broward Art Guild will once again have their very successful Quick Draw competition!  The last one was in the Alibi parking lot through Hagan Park and featured many local artists painting whatever they wanted for a specific amount of time, then time for framing and clean up, then judged and auctioned off for charity!  Highly successful and be sure to check out the photo gallery here.  For times, entry process, procedures call 954-396-3213.

Bookfest Expo, Sunday, September 30^th 

On Sunday, September 30^th,  The Broward County Library will feature Over the Rainbow:  GLBT Bookfest Expo that will help support local GLBT writers.  During the expo, there will be an opportunity for authors to discuss their genres and for local panelist to talk about publishing as well as future authors to discuss the challenges encountered by first-time writers and getting their works published.  They are currently accepting entries for the expo so contact the library ASAP.  Anyone interested in entering, contact Lorraine Woods at lwoods@browardlibrary.org or call 954-357-7348.   

Womanfest Line Up Announced 

Key West’s very own Womenfest has announced it’s featured performers for two nights.  Suzanne Westenhoefer will take the Tropic Cinema sate on September 7^th and has been noted as possibly the very first openly gay comedian in New York.  Her A Night at the Village can be seen on both LOGO and Bravo.  Also, back by popular demand, the dance sensation Lori Michaels will return and has been earning national recognition including performances at NYC’s Madison Square Garden and this year will headline the Womenfest Street Fair and will be dancing on Duval with a public performance at 7pm on Saturday, September 8^th to which she will take it to Aqua Night Club and will perform her popular Me and The Girls.  For tickets go to www.keystix.com. 

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. 

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. 

Local Theatre Gigs

Romeo & Juliet, October 10^th through 13^th 

Rising Action Theatre Has Some Men, Opening September 21^st 

Locally owned and recently housed Rising Action Theatre will have a Grand Opening on September 21^st for their latest production entitled Some Men.  This will be their first production their own space at 840 East Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale.  The space, which can accommodate 100 seats, is the brainchild of troupe leader David Goldyn.  Some Men tells the story of a gay wedding  and will run through November 9^th.  For tickets or more information, contact them at 800-595-4849. 

Feed Me….Feed Me! 

Last week the Main Street Playhouse in Miami Lakes opened with Little Shop of Horrors, which features a geek, ditz, unrequited love, financial woes, and a very hungry plant.  It has been coined “Broadway meets Motown” and is a wildly funny, irreverent musical that will make you talk to your plants when you get home.  For more information go to www.mainstreetplayers.com or call them at 305-823-1545. 

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, 2008 and tickets are available online at http://www.browardcenter.org. 

Awesome ‘80s Prom 

Anyone that is a fan of John Water’s The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink movies will get a kick out of the latest musical creation hitting New York and Chicago, The Awesome ‘80s Prom.  This is an interactive play that features such ‘80s archetypes as the:  Slutty Cheerleader, pensive Nerd, Captain of the Football team… and how they are all vying for the titles of Prom Royalty.  Best part…the audience chooses!  I have been told that if you play your cards right you just might be able to slow dance with the Captain of the Football team!  (I personally enjoyed the Soccer team myself…)  For more information about this show go to www.awesome80sprom.com. 

W&G’s Karen in Young Frankenstien 

It is now announced that famed drunk Megan Mullally who played Karen Walker in the hit TV show Will & Grace has been slated for the Bernadette Peters role in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.  This will be at The Hilton Theatre at 42^nd at 7^th and previews being October 11^th.  Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 212-307-4100.

Anyone that has gone out in South Beach knows about Pizza Rustica and how this amazing little treasure trove of mozzarella goodness is perfect after a fun excursion at the local watering holes. Pizza Rustica is along the lines of Seinfeld’s Soup (Nazi) Shop in which you file in, order, wait in line with ten other people and pay as your order is paper plated up and you leave.  File in—file out and you will find the most amazing pizza on earth.  I’ll never forget the first couple of times ordering, I would forget how big the pieces are and order two—one is clearly plenty.  Made in large baking pans, their pizza is then loaded with all sorts of stuff from spinach and Blue Cheese (Spinaci e Blue Cheese) to my favorite (and honestly I cannot pronounce it after 2am—Chicken Alla Fiorentina) which has fresh chicken, Alfredo sauce, spinach, sweet red onions, plum tomatoes, and a touch of Jalapeno sauce.  They are now serving some slice selections and whole pie orders in a delicious Whole Wheat Crust. But you can also Create Your Own Salads for $5.95.   

They were established on South Beach in 1996 and now boast eleven locations, seven in Florida and four in California (Beverly Hills, WeHo, Sherman Oaks, Downtown LA). On Miami Beach look for them at 667 Lincoln Road (in the same block as Score), 863 Washington Avenue (two blocks from Dek23), and 1447 Washington Avenue (in the same building as Cameo) all in Miami Beach. Downtown Miami, 250 SW 8th Street. In Fort Lauderdale look for their location at the intersection of Oakland Park Blvd and A1A (near Dudes. Other shops are located in Hollywood at 1928 Hollywood Blvd and in Delray Beach at 1155 East Atlantic Avenue. For more information you can always go to www.pizza-rustica.com.  Next!

Jay Brannan 

If you happen to catch the Buzz Movie Shortbus you will be familiar with the next artist/musician.  His name is Jay Brannan and played the song Soda Shop in the movie.  He was taught how to play the guitar by local folk Lesbian singing artist Richard Cortez years ago in New York and has gone one to some acclaim on his own.  He loves Lesbian music because it is: sad, quiet, angry, and funny all at the same time and was raised Southern Baptist and always with music around.  He had entered every music competition available and literally learned to play the piano when he was learning to read.  To learn more about him, check out his MySpace.com/JayBrannan or YouTube him for more videos and songs. 

The Last Kiss Goodnight

Last week I reported on a new group that was making the local concert rounds, The Last Goodnight, which came to The Culture Room on Friday.   

Let me just start out by telling you—they are amazing!  They are an Irish-Euro-esque band that comes from Connecticut and will make you a fan by the time you finish looking and listening to their website, www.thelastgoodnight.net or their Just Released album Poison Kiss.  First, the lead singer is hot!  He has this amazing Mohawk and is adorable and commands the stage when he has the mic in his hands and looks like the kind of guy who you could buy a pint at a pub and he would actually come over and give you a personal Thank You.  The other four members blend well together and seem to never to mind him taking the lead.  Some of my favorite songs are:  I Need You: which has a Prom-esque/Bon Jovi feel that you wouldn’t mind listening to over and over again but my favorite song would be Pictures of You that utter for the chorus:  

Pictures of you, pictures of me

Hung upon the wall for the world to see

Pictures of you, Pictures of me

Remind us all of what we used to be. 

If you like Sting/The Police and/or Bono/U2, then you will probably want to test these guys out.  If you like their songs, check out their Tour Schedule and see if they happen to be coming near you and GO!  I just bought their album on Tuesday when it came out and I am completely happy and literally feel that Poison Kiss is the Must Have Album for anyone who likes music.  

Petals Panache’s One Year in WilMa 

Anyone that knows anything about flowers in the Wilton Manors area knows about Petals Panache.  Well, to help celebrate their one-year anniversary, Bobby and the boys will be having an auction and party at Island City Part Preserve on August 31^st.  There will be a Silent Auction of more than 10 floral art pieces and other donations that will benefit both The Poverello Food Bank and The Pet Project.  Festivities begin at 8pm and there will be both cocktails and hors d’oeuvres served. 

Chicos Mambo 

Could you imagine a Dance Troupe made up of entirely boys?  Well, the goal of Chicos Mambo is to make you laugh.  All four members of the troupe are gay and were actually formed in Barcelona in 1993 after the Olympic Games there.  They are now one of Europe’s most celebrated acts and just finishing up their engagement in Edinburough, Scotland.  Their current production is titled Méli- Mélo II (The Return) actually pokes fun at World Dance.  Look forward to a feather-clad and rhinestone encrusted Ballerina who comes face-to-face with their counterpart?  What will happen?

Dance Like You’re Dead—in Rhythm! 

I know this video has made it around the world, but I would just like to point out the old phrase, You can’t make a caged bird sing—but you can make them dance!  The world’s video website YouTube.com has reported that the highest viewed video on their site this month has been the prisoners in The Philippines dancing around and recreating such infamous dance steps as Michael Jackson’s Thriller –complete with zombie dancers and others are boogying, all with bright orange jump suits on!  The best part is MJ’s girlfriend who is played by a slightly balding prisoner who wears jeans and white halter-top.  The clip is 4 minutes 25 seconds of complete hilarity and has been viewed well over 4 million times!  Designed by prison officials to help with physical fitness and discipline, almost all 1,500 inmates participate.  Former dances have been done to Queen, The Black-Eyed Peas, Pink Floyd, and Sister Act. What should we be on the look out for next?  Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer.

Stomp, September 25^th through 30^th   

The international sensation Stomp has just gone on sale this past week.  For anyone that has never seen any of their shows or caught any of their countless specials on HBO/Showtime, you will have no idea what I am talking about.  Imagine this, people making music out of anything and everything.  This show will have people using 55-gallon drums as stilts, hubcaps and metal garbage can lids as cymbals, and my favorite, large straw Janitor brooms as both snare drums and sticks, this is a show not to be missed!  For tickets go to www.carnivalcenter.org or www.broadwayacrossamerica.com   

Nate and Jamie

As I was watching The Oprah last week, I came across a very poignant and interesting show she was doing.  The subject was how the infamous Nate Burkus—known by Oprah-heads everywhere as The Designer got to team up for a project with his Australian equivalent Jamie Durie to help one family sell their house.  Jamie, known Down Under as The Landscaper, is quite celebrated south of the hemisphere with countless books and appearances.  Well, they teamed up to help a family in need of some serious downsizing after some financial woes and they gave some very useful help and aided in the somewhat overlooked topics when selling your home:

·         Be proud of your home.  If you cannot imagine living there how can you expect someone else to?

·         Create a beautiful life in your space—no matter how big or small it is.  Do not push all the furniture against the walls to make a small room look big—it only makes it look weird. 

·         Fresh flowers and lit lightly scented candles.  If possible, bring some color, life, and warmth to your space.  A large clear bowl of fresh lemons, limes, or peaches can bring color for low costs.  Stock some Perier bottles or Peligrino bottles that are colored on a visible shelf.

·         Do the things that need to be done so they can Move Right In.  Paint the walls, change the carpets, get new burners for the stove—no one wants to think of all these things prior to moving in.  Easiest thing to increase value—change the knobs on cabinets and drawers!

Boiish

Are you looking for something fun, semi-unique, and just plain fun?  Well I have the company for you!  At Boiish, you can celebrate pride with beachwear and apparel.  At Boiish they recognize human diversity as the greatest human experience. Boiish is about men: stylish, classic, adventurous, strong, confident, romantic men...Men who don’t mind the extra pampering. Boiish is about feeling young and wanted, sexy and desired.  The fabrics used represent a lifestyle of adventure and leisure without compromising quality, comfort and style. Go to www.boiish.com for more information. 

Dave Matthews Band, September 14^th & 15^th   

Tickets are now on sale for the September 14^th and 15^th dates for Dave Matthews Band.  They will take the state at The Sound Advice Amphitheatre with Special Guest stars The Wailers.  For tickets and times go to www.livenation.com or call them at 561-966-3309 or go to www.ticketmaster.com.  In stores now is their latest album The Best of What’s Around and form more information about The Dave Matthews Band, go to www.davematthewsband.com or www.warehouse.davematthewsband..com. 

Albita, October 4^th 

For those of you that missed the amazing live two-hour performance of Cuban sensation Albita at Score on South Beach last Tuesday, you can now catch her as she takes the Knight Center stage on Thursday, October 4^th.  Be forewarned—she no speak English!  (I met her!) You could have paid $20 and been within 50 feet of her—but I guess you can now pay $48- $70 and use binoculars!

Maná, Friday, October 12^th 

On Friday, October 12^th, Maná will take the stage at The American Airlines Arena in their Amar Es Combatir World Tour.  Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 305-358-5885. 

Celtic Woman, October 18^th 

On Thursday, October 18^th, one of my favorite female groups, Celtic Woman will take the American Airlines Arena stage for a One Night Only concert not to be missed.  Click here to read my review of their March 2006 visit to The Broward Center. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.com or the Box Office at 786-777-1250. 

Metropolitan Opera Coming to Miami-Dade 

If you are a fan of The Metropolitan Opera yet cannot afford the time off from work or the plane ticket to NY, then I have the answer for you!  The Metropolitan Opera will be being broadcast live to select Southern Florida movie theaters.  Two for the inception are South Beach 18 and Movies at the Falls 12, which are both in Miami-Dade County.  Tickets will start at $22 each and there will also be five productions released on to DVD as well.  

Anúna, November 28^th 

The Parker Playhouse is proud to announce their latest production of the singing troupe Anúna in their latest show entitled Celtic Origins.  This show promises to be both magical, mystical, as well as emotional and will bridge the gap between Classical, Pop, and World Music.  Known as the original vocal group for Riverdance, Anúna have  performed ethereal harmonies with the likes of:  Sting, Elvis Costello, and The Chieftains.  For tickets or more information, go to www.parkerplayhouse.com or call them at 954-462-0222. 

She’s Baaaaack 

If you missed the one and only Broadway Diva Patti LuPone a couple of months ago, you can join your friends who did go when she returns to the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts on October 7^th.  The one-woman show titled Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda has gotten rave reviews and is worth the acclaim.  After ending this summer as Momma Rose in the City Center’s Encores production of Gypsy, Patti will continue touring around the country.  For tickets and more information, go to www.carnivalcenter.org. 

Tori Amos, Wednesday, November 21^st

On Wednesday, November 21^st, famed singer and influencer of lives Tori Amos will take the Kravis Center’s Dreyfoos Hall stage at 8pm.  Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com.  For more information about the concert go to www.fantasma.com, www.kravis.org, or www.toriamos.com.  If you get the chance, ask Daisy Deadpetals how she got her name!

The Neville Brothers 

The infamous group of the 80’s who gave us great hits such as Lady in Red will take the stage at Hard Rock Live on October 11^th.  They will be singing other favorites as well as tracks off their latest album Walkin’ in The Shadow of Life—which is in stores now! Tickets are now on sale at the Box Office or at www.hardrocklive.com  

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.  

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. 

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.