Social Miami events

Sara Laimon Piano Recital
Thursday
February 21 at 7 p.m.

Sara Laimon, co-artistic director of the ensemble Sequitur and teacher at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal, will perform at The Wolfsonian-F.I.U. The program includes three major recent works: Sonata No. 3 by Ezra Laderman, "In the Stillness of the Seventh Autumn" by Canadian composer Brian Cherney, and a new piano sonata by New York-based composer, Harold Meltzer. Commissioned by Brandon Fradd, the concert is free and open to the public.



The Wolfsonian-Florida International University
1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach
305-535-2622




Writing After Zora
Friday
February 22 at 3 p.m.

As part of "The Big Read," presented by the Miami-Dade Public Library System and Miami Dade College, a public conversation will be held to explore the newest generation of African-American writers and how they relate, nurture, respect and cultivate Zora Neale Hurston's contribution to American Letters. Presenters include internationally acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat ("Brother I'm Dying") and Carla Kaplan of Northeastern University, author of "Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters." For dates and locations for discussions related to The Big Read (a community-wide discussion of Hurston's classic coming-of-age novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God"), click here.



Miami-Dade Main Library
101 W. Flagler Street, Downtown Miami
305-375-2665






Symphony with a Splash: Bartók's World
Friday
February 22 at 8 p.m.

"Symphony with a Splash" is a perfect introduction to the New World Symphony. It's a short concert with action packed music and commentary from the stage. The experience begins with a complimentary happy hour, and then you can sit back and discover why Bartók is the Hendrix of classical music. When he looked to Hungarian folk tunes for inspiration, Béla Bartók created his own amazing vernacular that has thrilled audiences ever since. The "Romanian Folk Dances" and "Miraculous Mandarin" are fun, foot-stomping examples of his genius. Tickets are $25; student tickets are available 50% off with ID in person at the box office.



Lincoln Theatre
541 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
305-673-3331




Miami City Ballet Program III
Friday - Sunday
February 22 – 24

Featured in Program III is the Miami City Ballet Premiere of Balanchine's "Bourrée Fantasque," - French to the max and pure pleasure - set to the music of Emmanuel Chabrier, staged by NYC Ballet soloist Susan Pilarre with costumes courtesy of American Ballet Theatre. Also shown on this program is "Serenade," performed by 28 dancers to the music of Tchaikovsky. The mostly female cast is dressed in long flowing neoclassical romantic tutus, set against a dreamy blue background. This ballet, choreographed in 1934 by George Balanchine, is based very simply on an evening ballet class and its moving choreography has stood the test of time. Also featured is "Pas de Dix," a set of dances in the grand manner dominated by a brilliant ballerina role yet inflected with Hungarian folk style. Tickets range from $19 to $125, and performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Program III is performed in Miami-Dade at the Arsht Center February 29 - March 2. Pictured: Patricia Delgado and Carlos Guerra in "Bourrée Fantasque;" photo by Joe Gato.



Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District, Fort Lauderdale
1-877-929-7010




30th Annual Everglades Bluegrass Festival
Friday – Sunday
February 22 -24

The South Florida Bluegrass Association presents Kenny & Amanda Smith, Special Consensus, Everett Lilly & the Lilly Mountaineers, The James King Band, James Rodgers & Blue Cypress, The Doerfel Family, Roger Bass & the Hillbillies, and popular local groups for 3 days of great bluegrass music. It's on, rain or shine. Three-day tickets is $55; Fri $20, Sat $25, Sun $20.



Ives Estates Optimists Park
2 blocks west of I-95, off Ives Dairy Road, Miami
305-358-1800 or www.southfloridabluegrass.com




Snatam Kaur Live in Concert
Saturday
February 23 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Chant Enchantress, Snatam Kaur, and her Celebrate Peace Tour performs live in South Florida. It's a concert, chantfest, musical group meditation, a yoga class in melody and more in one fabulous evening! Seated center stage, Snatam is an angelic presence, dressed in traditional Sikh attire, bejeweled dress, white turban and veil. She's a diminutive woman, barely five feet tall, but possessed of a voice that could wrest tears from a stone gargoyle — crystalline and radiant, redolent of the simple yet powerful truth of the heart. That voice has made her one of the top selling artists in the field of world sacred music. Amid the swelling ranks of devotional divas and mantra mamas, Snatam stands tall. The music she performs is mostly of her own composing, divinely melodic songs based on traditional Sikh mantras but also with a decidedly Western flavor. Tickets are $35 at the door and $30 in advance (purchase online) or at 2017 Harrison Street in Hollywood.



First Church of Religious Science
1550 26th Street, Fort Lauderdale
954-929-2369




2nd Annual Romance in a Can Film Festival
Through February 24

The only romantic film festival in the U.S., continues with a choice of screenings on Valentine's Day: "Le Coeur des Hommes 2" makes its U.S. debut at the Alliance-Francaise on Calle Ocho; a silent American classic, "Girl Shy," at the Miami Beach Cinematheque; and a German film, "Du bist nich allein (You are not alone)," co-presented with the German Consulate at the Wolfsonian FIU. And more... a Spanish evening on the 16th at Books & Books Coral Gables with "Atlas de la geografia humana," and films from Germany, Hungary and Iceland at the Mutiny Hotel in Coconut Grove on February 17 and 18. Advance tickets available through Ticketmaster or directly from Romance in a Can.



Variety of Venues




Concerts for Kids: A Journey Around the World
Sunday
February 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Around the world in 80 days? New World Symphony does it in an hour! Travel light with this delightful program featuring music from around the globe. Watch as the music makes your child's imagination take flight. Come early and meet the musicians at our Instrument Petting Zoo, where children can see and play the instruments! The program includes works from Ginastera, Elgar, Offenbach, Tchaikovsky and Sousa; Steven Jarvi, Conductor. Tickets are $10.



Lincoln Theatre
541 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
305-673-3331




Comedy Improv Show for Kids
Sunday
February 24 at 2:30 p.m.

The whole family will love "Thinking on your Head, Standing on your Feet," a unique, side-splitting romp through the world of improvisational comedy. The show is geared specifically for the enjoyment of Miami Children's Museum's young audiences. Admission to the museum is $10; MCM members and children under 12 months are free.



Miami Children's Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami
305-373-5437




"The Bellboy" Film Screening
Sunday
February 24 at 3:00 p.m.

In the classic comedy, The Bellboy (1960, 71 minutes), Jerry Lewis makes his directorial debut and also stars as Stanley, a bumbling, clumsy bellboy at the Fontainebleau Hotel. Stanley does his job without saying a word to anyone, but bad luck seems to follow him everywhere as one thing after another goes wrong around him. Through his signature slapstick style, Lewis creates sight gags using a Volkswagen engine, a golf tournament and a passenger jet to create timeless hilarious movie moments. Free with admission to the Bass Museum of Art.



Bass Museum of Art
2121 Park Avenue, Miami Beach
305-673-7530




Miami Virtuosi Debut Performance
Tuesday
February 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The CGCC Community Arts Program proudly presents the debut performance by Miami Virtuosi, South Florida's newest performing ensemble. This free concert also features viola instructor Ross DeBardelaben sharing the stage with cello prodigy Anna Litvinenko (pictured), who appeared in May on NPR's "From the Top," spotlighting outstanding young musicians. Joining Anna are her father, Ukraine cellist Konstantin Litvinenko, and Chilean violinists Jaime Mansilla and Stephanie Sidgman Matthei. A courtyard reception follows the concert.



Coral Gables Congregational Church
3010 DeSoto Boulevard, Coral Gables
305-448-7421, Ext. 33.




Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Garrick Ohlsson
Wednesday
February 27 at 8 p.m.

The critically acclaimed Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by world-renowned Yan Pascal Tortelier, and featuring 2008 Grammy winner, pianist Garrick Ohlsson as soloist, will be presented by the Concert Association of Florida. Ohlsson will perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, the centerpiece of the 1996 film "Shine," based on the true story of Austrian pianist David Helfgott. The Pittsburgh Symphony will be heard in the Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, the revolutionary masterpiece taking its subject as the young musician in love and marking a breakthrough in the composer's career. Also a Grammy Award winner, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra reached No. 1 on Billboard crossover charts with its recording of popular film music with John Williams. The career of Principal Guest Conductor, Yan Pascal Tortelier, has included engagements with leading orchestras throughout the world. Tickets are $120, $81, $48 and $18.



Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami
1-877-311-7469 (Box Office)




The Platters and The Coasters in Concert
Thursday
February 28 at 8 p.m.

You and your date will want to jump into your '57 Chevy and take a spin after your hear The Platters and The Coasters in Concert at Alper JCC. Take a trip down memory lane as you remember the tunes that got The Platters into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame - "Only You," "Twilight Time," "The Great Pretender," "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown." The group starred in more than 20 hit movies, including "Rock Around The Clock" and "The Girl Can't Help it." The Coasters created a string of songs that have become classics, beginning with their first Top 10 single "Searchin'," followed by "Poison Ivy" and "Along Came Jones" and lots more. Preferred seating is $50; general admission $35; and JCC Members $30.



Alper JCC on The Jay Morton-Levinthal Campus
11155 S.W. 112th Avenue, Miami
305-271-9000, Ext. 268




"The Earth, The Sky and The Sea"
Friday
February 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

An exhibition of recent work by renowned artists Kim Rody, Deborah Carfagno and Rhea Gary will open at Coconut Grove Gallery & Interiors in Coconut Grove. The landscapes of Rhea Gary show her passion for the environment and her particular interest in the fast-disappearing coastal wetlands. Debbie Carfagno, a painter since 1975, has developed a new medium. Her work converts precise drawings to the clean lines of laser-cut aluminum to create unique sculptural and "multiple originals." Kim Rody first picked up a paintbrush as a high school student and has taken classes ever since. When she painted her first fish, it appeared on the canvas seemingly with no effort. Now bringing life to these sea creatures is her passion. Join the artists at the opening reception. There's plenty of free parking at the Mary Street entrance.



Coconut Grove Gallery & Interiors
2884 Bird Avenue, Coconut Grove
305-445-7401, Ext. 217 (Michelle Morillo)




Jose Gonzalez in Concert
Friday
February 29 at 8 p.m.

José González's low-voiced, serious and introverted music has been embraced across Europe and in the US by indie fans. Now the sensational young artist from Sweden makes his Florida debut in concert with special guest, Mia Doi Todd. The concert, co-presented by Poplife and the Rhythm Foundation, launches the 6th annual Heineken Festival. Reverb will assist Gonzalez in calculating and cancelling out the carbon emissions this Green tour produces, and a portion of the cost of each ticket goes to support Reverb's mission. Tickets are $16 purchased in advance and $21 at the door.



Manuel Artime Theatre
900 S.W. 1st Street, Miami
305-672-5202




Jazz at MOCA
Friday
February 29 at 8 p.m.

Vocalist Debbie Orta performs favorites from the Great American Songbook and other jazz styles made popular by other singers such as Diane Reeves, Natalie Cole and Diana Krall. Orta's performances are infused with passion and emotion that comes from a lifelong love of great melodies and lyrics. She has toured extensively with Jose Luis Rodriguez "El Puma" and the Latin heartthrob Chayanne, and she appears regularly with the 16-piece Dana Paul's Real Deal Band and the well known New York society orchestra The Bob Hardwick Sound. Jazz at MOCA, sponsored by Starbucks Coffee Company and the City of North Miami, is Miami's longest running free jazz concert series, held the last Friday of the month, rain or shine. The MOCA galleries will be open by donation from 7 to 10 p.m. so visitors may tour Jorge Pardo: House, featuring over 60 works, including photo murals, sculpture and paintings presented as actual rooms of a house. The exhibition closes on March 3.



Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
770 N.E. 125th Street, North Miami
305-893-6211




Mo's LoftJazz
Friday
February 22 from 8 p.m. to midnight

Mo Morgen kicks off LoftJazz in a great new spot just blocks away from MOCA in North Miami. Relax, take in some fabulous jazz, enjoy snacks, wine, soft drinks, and coffee, check out the art, mix and mingle - all in one incredible art space. It's jazz with Mo Morgen, keys, vocals, sax; Patrick Lopez, trumpet, keys, vocals; and Barry Bach, drums and congas. After 10 p.m. pro jazz musicians are welcome to sit in. $12 gets you everything - plenty of parking. Just a little tricky to find - go South on N.E. 6th Avenue from 125th Street and turn right on 124th Street. Parking is across the street on West Dixie Highway. Use the side rear door on 124th Street (not front door).



SUYU Galleries
12399 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami
305-456-6460 (on night of performance only)




"Mad Forest" and "The America Play"
Through March 2

Jerry Herman Ring Theatre presents two powerful theatre pieces in repertory through March 2. Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks' comic-drama "The America Play" is a provocative play that focuses on race, history, aspiration and their role in shaping contemporary American identity. Caryl Churchill, a British playwright, took a group of students from the London School of Drama to Bucharest on the heels of the Romanian Revolution in 1989. "Mad Forest" was the result; a drama that combines the non-fictional insights of Romanian citizens with the fictional stories of 2 families connected by the wedding engagements of their children. Performances alternate Weds - Sat at 8 p.m. and Sat and Sun at 2 p.m.



Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at UM
1312 Miller Drive, Coral Gables
305-284-3355 (Box Office)




"Levee James"
Through March 2

"Levee James," directed by New York's Jerry Maple, Jr., is a powerful love story set in Georgia in 1923. Just in time for African-American History Month, M Ensemble Company's production portrays a hard working man's attempt to have and hold onto the American dream. Written by S.M. Shephard-Massat, the play explores love in a world and at a time when random cruelty and lynching are commonplace. When an Atlanta ladies' maid returns home to Senoia, Georgia for a visit, she finds more than she bargained for. Showtimes are Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 general admission and $20 for students and seniors.



M Ensemble Actors Studio
12320 West Dixie Highway, North Miami
305-895-0335




Viagara Falls
Through March 2

The newly renovated Hollywood Playhouse presents the new hit comedy "Viagara Falls" as the opening production for its revival season. The show revolves around Charley Millhouse (Lou Cutell), who is about to celebrate his 77th birthday, with his Korean War buddy Moe Crubbs (Don Jacob). Wanting one last fling, Charley finds an internet call girl service run by Jacqueline Tempest (Janice Hamilton), and plans to further spice up the evening with the help of a "little blue pill," leading to multiple surprises and a twist ending. Carol Burnett remarked after seeing the show, "On a scale of one to ten, this show's a 12!" Performances are Weds and Thurs matinees at 2 p.m., Fri at 8 p.m., Sat at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sun at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39 with reduced prices available to groups of 10 or more.



Hollywood Playhouse
2640 Washington Street, Hollywood
954-922-0404




"A Nervous Smile"
Through March 23

Strained to the breaking point by caring for their severely disabled daughter Emily, a wealthy New York couple weigh their own happiness against that of their child-with shocking consequences. Emily's lyrical poetry, the bitter volleys of the couple's disintegrating marriage, and the appraisals of the outside world frame the narrative of this insightful play. The play previews at New Theatre on Thurs Feb 21 at 8 p.m. (tickets $20), and on Fri Feb 22 there is a special celebration with a pre-performance reception at 7 p.m., catered by Catering by Lovables (tickets $55). Thereafter for the run of the show, performances are Thurs - Sat at 8 p.m. and Sun at 1 p.m. with additional shows on Sundays Mar 2, 9 and 16 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $40 with student tickets available at $15.



New Theatre
4120 Laguna Street, Coral Gables
305-433-4909