FRI 9/24
As every mother knows, when it's not paralyzing you, guilt can be a wonderful motivator. Tamarac-based fashion designer NiFlame Barrett says she feels just terrible that she didn't vote in the last election. "I didn't think about it until it was too late to register," she says. "So this time I'm gonna do something." To take the sting out of her regrets, Barrett is organizing a fashion show and voter registration drive, called "Mix Politics with Fashion," at Café Iguana Beach Place (17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). Barrett, who learned to sew at her mother's elbow, will show her summer/fall collection of formal, sports, and club wear. The clothes draw on influences from hip-hop and reggae, often in colors from the Haitian and Jamaican flags. You'll also get a taste of her made-to-order wedding dresses: as cool and sexy as a piña colada. Representatives from Rock the Vote, plus a bevy of local politicos and bigwigs, will distribute voting information and sign up the as-yet unregistered. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and runs until midnight. Call 954-721-5737 or visit www.niflamefashions.com. -- Gail Shepherd
DJs Do It Deeper
Drop the needle in the wax
FRI 9/24
One thing's for sure: Somebody's going to be slinking away in the agony of defeat after tonight's Seriously Deep House Showdown at Karma Lounge (4 W. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale)-- and it'll be either DJ Paul Head of London or DJ Justin Pipon, our homegrown house-music hero. And instead of just watching some poor electronic dweeb get pummeled to death by a throbbing bass line, you can dance to his comeuppance. Karma is Lauderdale's place to go if you worship the distinctions between ambient, acid, breakbeat, and d&b, or if you like to move your body to something more sophisticated than George Michael remixes. So even if you're old enough to remember the birth of Deep House almost two decades ago, tonight's war of the woofers ought to get you swooning around moodily, just like the good old days. The showdown runs from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Call 954-532-7159. -- Gail Shepherd
First Year and Thriving
The little poetry slam that could
FRI 9/24
Team Spitt Fi'ya placed 10th out of 70 teams in 2004's National Poetry Slam -- not bad for a group whose HQ is an obscure Cuban restaurant in Broward County. Tonight at Audy's Place (316 SW Sixth St., Fort Lauderdale), the team celebrates its win and says happy first birthday to the monthly "Profetik Mixture" open mic and poetry slam. Hosts Yusef Malik Shabazz (Da Profet) and Terese Hill (Chunky) will introduce poets, musicians, comedians, singers, rappers, and emcees. "[Profetik Mixture] is seeking to promote spoken word poetry and bringing people together in a more relaxed environment in hopes to forge greater ties within the community," Shabazz says. Admission is free and includes an all-you-can-eat buffet. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Call 786-357-1253. -- Emonde M. Prosper
The Grass of Steel
WED 9/29
The Misfits may be 138, but Supergrass is 10. Yep, it's been ten years since the four Brits first threw their Who and Buzzcocks albums into a blender and gave it a '90s spin. So join the Wormhole Wednesdays crowd for a free CD listening party tonight at the Lounge (517 Clematis St., West Palm Beach). The night starts at 9 p.m. Call 561-655-9747. -- Jason Budjinski
