Holiday Happenings
The Village of Merrick Park is having their Tree Lighting Ceremony tonight and Santa’s Enchanted Forest is now open, but can you really think about Christmas before Thanksgiving?

Nightlife
Tonight, Ft Lauderdale’s Revolution is the place for The Most Interesting Show in the World presented by Dos Equis (free admission and free Dos Equis all night long if you RSVP through the links). The White Room is going old school Friday night with 2 Live Crew live in concert and special guest DJ sets by Otto von Schirach, Dr Feathers, Chris Video, Debbie D, RK9 and Fly Boi. Also Friday night, check out DJs spinning from their iPods/iPhones at VooDoo Lounge (Ft Lauderdale) or the Vivid Pornstar Ball at Cameo. Saturday you’ll find The Shameless Burlesque at The Vagabond, Kaskade at Mansion, and Damian Lazarus at Club Space’s Techno Loft.

Music
For live music this weekend, the Idan Rachel Project is at the Arsht Center, as is Julian Marley and the Uprising, and, for the kids, Hot Peas ‘N Butter. La Excepción is the North Beach Bandshell; Ruben Blades is at the James L Knight Center; Jackson Browne is at the Fillmore Miami Beach; Depedro + Martin Wenk are at the Colony Theater.

Film
The Miami Short Film Festival wraps up this weekend. Spanish film El Truco del Manco will be shown at the North Beach Bandshell Friday night. The Cinematheque will be showing Lars von Trier’s “Dancer in the Dark” tonight, and Cinema Green film Earth Days and French film 35 Shots of Rum the rest of the weekend.

Food
You should know that Simply Italian is going on for the next week. Local Italian restaurants are offering a prix fixed dinner menu with Italian wine through November 29th.

Tours/Classes
The Historical Museum of Southern Florida presents the Old Parrot Jungle: Pinecrest Gardens Eco Walk, the Oleta River Full Moon Eco Boat Tour, and a Miami River Boat Tour.

Want more? Visit the Event Calendar to see what else is going on. Is your event missing? Send it to me now!

Halloween comes and goes, but according to local ghost hunters, at least one place in Miami stays haunted year-round. The Deering Estate, located just off Old Cutler Road is now offering ghost tours, opening its stately wooden gate at night for those who like to be spooked. [...]

by Carlos Miller

For the second time, Miami Beach hosted Sleepless Night, an all-night event consisting of more than 150 acts throughout the city. And it was all free. [...]

Festivals
The Street Fair portion of the Miami Book Fair will take place at Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson Campus all weekend long. The Miami Beach Antique Jewelry & Watch Show returns to the Convention Center for its 17th year. The Ft Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the Miami Short Film Festival are going on all weekend at various locations in both cities.
The Festival of Speed will be at Bayfront Park Sunday.

Nightlife
Louis celebrates their one year anniversary with DJ Samantha Ronson. Lil Jon, Deadmau5 and Day 26 all headline at Mansion. And the originator of house music, Jesse Saunders, will be at The Vagabond. There’s more! Visit the Nightlife section of the Event Calendar to see what else is going on at the clubs.

Music
The DWNTWN Miami Concert Series returns for a second season at Bayfront Park with Irish soul/pop singer Laura Izibor. Click here for a preview.
The La Quinta Estacion concert scheduled at the Fillmore Miami Beach has been postponed.

Theater
The Broadway musical Legally Blonde is at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts all weekend long. The Celebrity Chef Series returns to the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Friday with chefs Bourdain, Pepin, & Ripert.

Film
Aside from the two film festivals going on, Miami Beach Cinematheque will be showing Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet) and the documentary Being Jewish in France (Comme un Juif en France).
Classes/Tours
Ayesha’s Kitchen presents an Indian Cooking Class: Vegetarian Delights. Take a salsa class on Friday and on Sunday at Yuca. The Historical Museum of Southern Florida presents Roaming the Roads: Inner City Oasis Walking Tour and Lost and Found: Pinewood Cemetery Walking Tour. There are also several yoga classes. Visit the Event Calendar to see them all.

Miscellaneous
America Recycles Day Miami Beach happens on Lincoln Road Saturday. Learn about Miami’s recycling efforts, drop off your old/outdated electronics, and enter to win a refurbished computer.
Wilhelmina Models/Shape/Men’s Fitness are looking for some hot bodies and there will be an open call at the Vitamin Shop (1101 5th Street,
Miami) at 10am - 3pm on Saturday. Visit www.wilhelminamodelsearch.com for more information.

Have an event to be added to the Event Calendar? Send it to us now!

Sungal takes you out to dinner for less than $25 in South Beach.  This week it’s Juice & Java, a favorite of Miami’s beautiful people.

by Doug

The Rat Pack may have paved the way, but Jackie Gleason really put Miami on the entertainment map when he started taping his weekly variety show here in 1964, and he remains an indellible part of the City’s history.  Here’s a look back at “the Great One” and his love affair with “the sun and fun capital of the world.” [...]

Sleepless Night Miami Beach, running 6pm Saturday - 7am Sunday, will provide more than 150 FREE arts & entertainment events around the city. Some highlights include Global Cuba Fest at the Fillmore Miami Beach; Miami Remnants and Umbrellas 8-12, A Dance & Film Installation at Plaza de España on Española Way; Rainbow Circus at Lummus Park; and A Taste of Out in the Tropics at the Colony Theatre.

Other events going on this weekend include The Walworth Farce at the Arsht Center’s Carnival Studio Theater; Miami City Ballet’s Program I at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; and a Bike Miami Ride.
The Historical Museum of Southern Florida is offering a guided Little Havana Walk and Lunch at El Pub Restaurant with Pepe Menendez as well as walking tour of Lummus Park and Fort Dallas with Dr Paul George.

At the clubs, Vantage Magazine celebrates its November edition with singer/songwriter Jami Jo Harris at Louis and Miami Living Magazine celebrates 6 years at Segafredo Brickell. If you want an early girls-night out check out Cameo’s new One Night Stand or stop in later to party in the newly reopened club; party with Sander Kleinenberg at Mansion; or experience Mindcontrol featuring Richie Santana & Peter Bailey at Space.

Also, the 2009 Miami Book Fair International begins this weekend with the Festival of Authors. The Evenings With…series kicks off Sunday with authors Elizabeth Alexander and Margaret Atwood. Visit www.miamibookfair.com for the schedule of participating authors throughout the week. The Spanish/Portuguese IberoAmerican Authors sessions also run all week long. The ever popular Street Fair, along with The Comix Galaxy and the Children’s Gallery, will take place next weekend (November 13th-15th).

Looking for more? Visit the Event Calendar to see what else is going on. Is your event missing? Send it to me now!