Years in the making and five million dollars later, Hollywood’s Young Circle is finally finished with its multi-phase renovations and is ready to unveil the icing on the cake: a $3 million amphitheater. This Friday, the city is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony, crafts, fireworks, and 80’s acts Exposé (Seasons Change, Point of No Return). The amphitheater includes theater-quality sound and lights, restrooms, dressing rooms, and grassy seating for 2,500. Other changes to the land have included landscaping, new sidewalks, fountains, artwork, a two-story visual arts building, and a courtyard. In the past, Young Circle was less concrete-like and had been overtaken with non-native trees and other shrubbery. Despite recent financial urgencies, Hollywood is looking into adding permanent covered seating in the future.
For some time now, Downtown Hollywood has been having Funtastic Fridays for families every week from 5-9pm featuring crafts, music, clowns, and shows. Given the area’s new accommodations it will hopefully appeal to a greater variety of artists and performers, perhaps even National Acts. For a complete and up-to-date listing of events, including free art classes for adults, click here.
Stopping by? Make sure to check out PRL for their 100+ beer selection 🙂
The Hollywood ArtsPark Amphitheater grand opening is this Friday, June 3rd from 7 to 10pm, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7 and Exposé performing at 8. En Vogue will perform Saturday, June 4th at 8pm. Both nights are free.
Every first Wednesday of the month, The Village At Gulfstream Park in Hallandale hosts a charity Wine Walk. For $10 you get five samplings and about five hors d’oeuvres at participating shops (Note: wine sample sizes vary, if you know what we mean). Each store has a selection of wines to choose from and you must get stamped at each stop. This month’s featured charity is the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Florida. Below are some photos from May’s Wine Walk.
Some stores have things you might actually buy, like these tabletop goodies at Z Gallerie
Barker Animation was one of the stops on the last Wine Walk
When you get tired from walking, wining, shopping, and munching there are comfy seats scattered around the outdoor shops
Wine Walk Wednesday is June 1st from 6-9pm at The Village at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale. $10 for wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres at participating shops. Pick up your wine passport and have your first “glass” at Full Bodied Wine & Spa.
With the emergence of FAT Village art walks, Digital Love Thursdays, The Bubble, various artist collectives, the opening of Laser Wolf, downtown music fests, and the food truck invasion, there’s no doubt that Fort Lauderdale’s local scene is on the rise. That doesn’t mean we should be complacent; there’s always room for more venues and events for artists, musicians, and local foodies to showcase their craft. Thanks to the incredible support of the people behind Revolution and the stronghold of regulars for Digital Love, the new-ish downtown venue Green Room will now become a destination for local art and music lovers through the weekend, not just Thursday nights. Starting this Saturday, May 28th, the Green Room will introduce Gallery Saturdays. Below is the official press release:
Green Room Gallery Night Grand Opening
Art and music collide this Memorial Day weekend at Fort Lauderdale’s hottest new lounge, Green Room, the newest addition to the Revolution-America’s Backyard complex. On May 28th, Green Room kicks off its newest night, Gallery Saturdays, which will take place every Saturday night. Each month Green Room will feature a variety of local artists in the lounge’s loft area, which has been transformed into a sleek, new gallery space. The grand opening will feature Fort Lauderdale’s most sought after artists- Sean Murdock, Laura Atria, Laura Marie Peterson, Solé Del Real, Gina Bentivegna, and John Bernasconi. Eye and ear candy abound at the lounge’s grand opening! In addition to art displayed in the gallery, the grand opening event will include a live and gallery art exhibition by Gina Bentivegna, video installations by Ana Perez, delicious treats from CloudNine Cupcakes, and a fashion show by famed Fort Lauderdale designer, McLaine O. as well as a sultry burlesque show by The Reckless Dames. Local band, Pretty Please will be performing live and later, DJs Andie Sweetswirl and MIG will provide the soundtrack for the night.
Drink specials include $2 PBR, $5 shots of Jack Daniels and a special on craft beers.
Admission: Free
If you couldn’t tell already, I’m very excited about everything that’s happening at Green Room. This blog was formed to promote all kinds of local art, music, and businesses — now with Gallery Saturdays, we’ll get all that every weekend. Come out this Saturday and check out the event for yourself. With this many creative types merging in one space, it’s sure to be a great time. RSVP to mig@ftlcollective.com for FREE CHAMPAGNE from 9-11. Hope to see you out there.
For full disclosure, I (Mig) help put together nights for Green Room. Regardless, I promise you that my excitement is very genuine and not just to get heads in the door. It’s indisputable that this weekly event/venue will be a great addition to the arts scene in Ft Lauderdale.
When it comes to the South Florida music scene, Astari Nite is a name that pops up often and for good reason. The hardworking band of four consistently pleases crowds from Palm Beach to Miami-Dade and since its inception has developed quite the rep, even scoring a stage at this year’s Ultra Music Festival. This Saturday, the band kicks off the release of their new EP at The Stage in Miami and unveils four new tracks.
The latest Astari Nite EP continues to reflect the band’s already established style of mostly fast-paced new wave (Astrid may be the exception with a slightly slower, but just as melodic, intro with a pick up in the chorus.) Gesture of Submission, perhaps the catchiest and most post-punk sounding song on the EP, along with Saddest Satellite, probably best showcase the band’s influences- the two songs’ lyrics and vocals echoing that of New Order and The Cure. You might say nods or emulation to the Brit rockers may be obvious, but that would be paying Astari Nite a compliment. Only after you realize what a flawless job the band does fitting right into character do you come to appreciate their authenticity and the genuinely great job this band does.
Catch Astari Nite with The State Of, Saturday, May 28th at 10pm The Stage 170 NE 38th St Miami, FL
Breakfast is awesome. There’s really no other way to put it. There’s nothing like a huge well-rounded breakfast chased by a cup of diner coffee. Typically, I like to make massive breakfasts on the weekend with all of the things I like, the way I like them, since diner breakfasts are not always what you expect. The eggs might be too runny, the coffee too watered down, or you just can’t get the combo you want without spending more than ten dollars, which, if you ask me, is a little ridiculous. Read our take on three area diners and their strong points.
Lester’s- The Classic
250 W State Rd 84
Ft Lauderdale
Most Ft. Lauderdalians, especially those that drink, probably know this joint. It’s open 24 hours, and pretty much a staple, having been around for forty plus years. The staff is friendly and fast, the place is huge so nine times out of ten you won’t have to wait a long time for a table, and the extensive menu has all the items you’d expect from a diner. Lester’s got atmosphere, coffee, and attentive servers; all the things a classic diner should have yet oftentimes don’t, and, bonus, it’s clean and the food is fresh.
A scrambled veggie omelette with peppers and onions, hash browns and toast will set you back about $8. The pancakes are rich, fluffy, and filling, and run about $5 for two big ones with butter and syrup. A breakfast like this will easily keep you full for a good part of the day. Add coffee and conversation and you’re all set for a great day : )
Tip: Go here for breakfast foods or sandwiches, not dinner. Order the “salsa” at your own risk.
We don’t want to assume anything but we can only hope this doesn’t mean what we think it means: that Bluejay’s Cafe on Himmarshee might be closed for good. The restaurant which was suddenly and mysteriously packed up almost three weeks ago now has the card of a Ft Lauderdale business tax worker taped to the front doors. Bluejay’s opened last summer and quickly hit it off with their gourmet Southwestern dishes and popular breakfast burritos. It seemed to be the perfect addition to the area and appeared to do well, its outdoor seating area frequently full. Check out our review from last year, some mouthwatering breakfast photos here, and let’s cross our fingers that this tasty joint isn’t gone for good!
Over the last few years Radio-Active Records has bloomed into Fort Lauderdale’s darling indie record store, hosting entertainment in the form of various bands, DJs, and other nighttime events, while offering top customer service and musical knowledge. It’s no wonder they’ve been the recipients of Best Of awards and the subject of many blog posts here and other places. Radio-Active is more than just a fad or a place for trendy hipsters to hang though. Below we’ve got some reasons to visit even if you’re not buying vinyl:
1. They play uncommon and/or new tunes you might’ve otherwise never heard. The staff is even happy to hook you up with some music info- whether it’s some rare psychobilly or the new Radiohead. 2. Album art gets much less face time these days- check out Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request or Culture Club’s Waking Up With The House On Fire then go in and browse others firsthand. 3. They carry Uncut, Spin, Wire, Under The Radar, and a few more of the best music mags. 4. You can find out about upcoming community events by either talking with staff there or checking out the plethora of flyers that get dropped off there. 5. They sell Iron Forge Press prints from a variety of local shows. 6. Even if you don’t own any vinyls, you can listen to them on one of the tables there. 7. They keep a pretty impressive collection of local CDs and demos- FTLC favorites Rebel included. 8. If cassettes are your thing they have those too! (Mostly newer artists) 9. You can pick up some black and yellow (stickers, that is). 10. Catch a show! Jacuzzi Boys frequents the place and were last there on Record Store Day ’11 along with Blank Dogs, Merchandise, and Axe and the Oak.
Radio-Active Records is located at 1930 E Sunrise Blvd # B in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Phone number (954) 762-9488
Well, we got spoiled last weekend, so we’re due for a slight letdown the following week. This Thursday kicks ass, but Friday and especially Saturday aren’t overly packed with activity. Luckily, we managed to scrounge together a couple of note-worthy events for your weekend. Here’s where you might find us this weekend:
Thursday
Twilight Notes & Freedom Art have put together a great lineup of exhibiting photographers for this month’s Dialect at Brew Himmarshee. You know the drill by now — lots of art, a handful of chill DJs, craft beer specials, and a large gathering of some of South Florida’s most creative types. All the specific details can be found on the Facebook event page. Make sure to check out yesterday’s interview with the mega talented Danny Hammontree, one of Thursday’s exhibiting photographers. Party is from 8:30 to 12:30 at downtown Brew, 209 SW 2nd Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The limited edition silk-screen poster by Jose E Lopez of Freedom Art. Available for purchase at Thursday's Dialect at Brew Himmarshee..
Just a block away from Dialect, Digital Love hosts Depressed Buttons, the side project of 3 members of popular group the Faint. Signed to Diplo’s record label Mad Decent, these guys are sure to please the crowd with their electro laden remixes and originals. There’s a cover of $14, but readers of the FTL Collective can get in for free. RSVP to mig@ftlcollective.com to get on the guestlist for FREE entry into tonights soiree.
Friday
An Evening Of Experimental Music at the Arts And Culture Center Of Hollywood sounds really interesting. There is a slew of participating artists (the list can be found here) and unconventional music by fsik huvnx, Pocket of Lollipops, Richard Vergez, and Susan Telemetry. The event starts and ends early (6pm-9pm), so it’s a good idea to start your Friday night here. Admission is free for members, $10 for non-members. It’s located at 1650 Harrison St., Hollywood, FL.
It’s a hardcore music throwdown at Rocketown. The 2 day event is called Bringing It Back For The Kids at Rocketownand features some heavy hitters such as Terror, Casey Jones, Evergreen Terrace, Stick To Your Guns, and Shai Hulud. Only want to go one day? Here are the set times for all the bands. Bands start at 6pm. Single day tickets are $20. Rocketown is located at 371 S Federal Hwy, Pompano Beach, FL.
Saturday
Wait…free entry, free massages, free cupcakes, free drinks, free live music, and free-to-view art. That’s exactly what’s happening at the closing of the month-long Earth Day Fest at 1310 Gallerey in the Sail Boat Bend Artists Loft (1310 SW 2nd Ct, Ft Lauderdale, FL) from 7pm – 11pm.
Next door, the minor leaguers from the Palm Beach Cardinals and Tampa Yankees face off for an epic Florida State League battle. First pitch at 6:30.
Sunday
I got nothing. Lay off me!
In addition to this weekend preview, make sure to also check out South Florida Music Obsessed for Lauren’s weekly listing of music events in all of South Florida. Despite covering a lot outside of our metro area, she does a great job with her local only Around Town posts.
