Night + Day: Seven Things to Do in South Florida This Week

Night + Day is a roundup of events happening in Broward and Palm Beach counties this week and can be found in print editions of New Times Broward Palm Beach every Thursday.

Thursday, August 6

Turns out, despite much repeated "common knowledge," having two X chromosomes does not actually prevent a human being from having a sense of humor. Who knew?! Well, a lot of people. Women, mostly. Whole binders of them — or, in this case, a whole stash of them. Despite a long and well-established tradition of very funny people like Gracie Allen and Lucille Ball, who happened to be women, modern-day women of humor, from Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to Amy Schumer, are still forced to constantly prove that women can be funny. Fortunately, the only way to do that is to keep us laughing (so we don't cry). Experience a wash of estrogen-laden humor Thursday night at the Stache of Ladies Comedy Showcase at, appropriately, Bar Stache in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The evening's funny femmes include Trellany "Feelinmyself "Payton, Taylor Cohen, Natalie Tyler, and Anna Lepeley. Local comedian Bear Webb will headline, and Mary Smith will be special guest. The night doesn't end when the laughter does, however, so stick around for the live bands playing after the show.

Stache of Ladies Comedy Showcase kicks off at 9 p.m., with doors opening at 8. There's no cover, but it's strictly 21 and older. Bar Stache 1920's Drinking Den is located at 109 SW Second Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-449-1044, or visit stacheftl.com. 

Given that his mother was a pastor and his father a senior bishop in Detroit's Great Faith Ministries International, it's only natural that the teenaged Brandon T. Jackson would rebel — in this case, finding secular salvation in standup comedy. The theory makes sense, except that Jackson started out mimicking Chris Rock jokes, with the curses omitted, in his father's church, after the ceremonies finished, to the surprising delight of the congregants who stuck around. By 17, he had performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and these days, the 31-year-old actor/comedian is a popular attraction at colleges, which allow more liberality than church gigs (or at least they used to). Embraced by the rap community as much as by Hollywood, Jackson has been managed by Mobb Deep's Prodigy while costarring in a few films you've likely seen (Tropic Thunder, the Percy Jackson franchise) and a few more that didn't fare so well at the box office (Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son, Cuttin' da Mustard).

The cast member of NBC's brand-new sitcom Mr. Robinson will return to his standup roots — and hopefully weave in his stellar impressions of Rock, Chris Tucker, and Kevin Hart — Thursday to Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale Improv, located at 5700 Seminole Way in Hollywood. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $20. Call 954-981-5653 or visit improvftl.com.

Friday, August 7

With hundreds of miles of canals and waterways, Fort Lauderdale is frequently referred to as the Venice of America — fortunately, it's not yet sinking like the original. One could easily do nearly everything that must be done in life by boat. Need to go grocery shopping? There's a Publix right by Port Everglades. Banking? Dock your vessel and head to one of the many banks on Las Olas. It's actually pretty easy as long as you can afford the dockage and fuel. For those who don't have that kind of cash, there's always the booze cruise. On Friday, get ready for the second-annual Riverwalk Summer Social Cruise aboard the Liberty Belle. Taking off from and returning to the Hyatt Pier 66, the ride features a live DJ, an open bar (Bacardi, Jack Daniels, Finlandia, Budweiser, and Bud Light are the sponsors), and a picnic dinner with burgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings. It takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., rain or shine.

Valet parking is available for $10, and standard rates apply to self-parking. It's for those age 21 and up only. All proceeds benefit Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, the American Lung Association, the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick's Parade & Festival, Jack & Jill Children's Center, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Historic Stranahan House Museum, and Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center. Hyatt Pier 66 is located at 2301 SE 17th St. in Fort Lauderdale. Visit goriverwalk.com. 

The next time anyone gives you undue grief for tinkering with your road toys in the driveway, spending hours poring over issues of Auto Trader, or hitting up every flea market in the area code for spare parts or flare, just remind them that your seemingly obsessive little hobby pales in comparison to the competitors of Monster Jam truck series. Case in point: It costs more than $600,000 a year to build, tour, repair, staff, and transport the giant beasts from city to city. And each truck comes complete with its own driver, mechanic, and specialized transport vehicle with a mobile repair shop. At 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide, sitting on 66-inch-tall tires, weighing in at 10,000 pounds, with the ability and horsepower to fly over 14 cars side by side and up to 30 feet high in the air and to escalate to speeds of 100 miles per hour, the vehicles of Monster Jam are a lot more than a hefty hobby for those involved.

Witness their impressive stature when Monster Jam truck series arrives at the BB&T Center (1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise) with performers like Monster Mutt, El Toro Loco, Madusa, Zombie or Mohawk Warrior this weekend. Tickets for Friday night's show cost $18.15 to $23.25 and are available at ticketmaster.com. Start your engines at 7:30 p.m. Visit thebbtcenter.com, or call the box office at 954-835-7000. 

Saturday, August 8

The term "Back to School Special" doesn't always have a big-box store sale on Chinese-manufactured protractors or an earnest television program about the wondrous learning opportunities that await when leaden backpacks are once again hoisted onto shoulders. In this case, it can indicate a fun improv show. Business Casual, a troupe led by former Sick Puppies assistant director Anthony Francis, features paid comic actors with up to 15 years' experience spinning narrative gold from audience thread. For its monthly program at Boca's Sol Theatre, Business Casual will riff on the "Back to School Special" theme as well as the Back to the Future franchise. Francis describes this weekend's performance as "high school meets time travel. The way we theme our shows is through the suggestions we ask for from the audience. For example, I will ask the audience, 'What is one thing you would go back and change if you had a time machine?' or 'What is the worst thing to make a time machine out of?' I structure the questions, but what I get from the audience is unknown until that moment." Francis says they'll also be including some musical improv, so be prepared for ad hoc sing-alongs.

The show runs from 8 to 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Sol Theatre, located at 3333 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton. Tickets cost $12. Call 561-706-5128, or visit improvu.org. 

Thanks to Atlantic Studios' Margate Under the Moon series, participants will be able to enjoy a series of outdoor festivals that involve food trucks, live music, local businesses, and local artists. This event happens once a month from August through November and features a different theme each month. This Saturday is "A Night in Paradise" featuring Caribbean and Latin cuisine, live music, artists, and, of course, dancing. Food vendors will include Bahama Bucks, Conch Shack, and Tip A Roo. Be sure to stop by on the other dates as well. On September 12, the theme will be "Goodbye Summer," with interactive summer games and activities. The theme for October 10 is "Craft Beer Special," which will be jam-packed with a brewery showcase, food pairings, and tastings. For November 14, the theme is titled "Shop Small" and will showcase homemade crafts as well as activities. No need for a dog, cat, or fish sitter — this event is pet-friendly.

Margate Under the Moon will happen from 5 to 10 p.m. on the northwest corner of 441 and Margate Boulevard in Margate. All ages are welcome, and there is no charge for admission or parking. Visit margateunderthemoon.com. 

Sunday, August 9

You don't have to wait until October to support breast cancer awareness. Thanks to Glam-A-Thon, a breast cancer charity and 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, fundraising events are offered all year 'round. This Sunday is no exception. Starting at 7 p.m., Glam-A-Thon's Pump It Up event will honor Glammy Award honoree and "shoe enthusiast" Lauren Fyke for her fundraising efforts for Glam-A-Thon. Fyke is being honored at the second-annual Glammy Awards for her contribution to the community. This fun yet momentous charity event will be at none other than drag-queen haven Lips and will feature raffles, prizes, and plenty of dancing. The theme for the night is "Dining With the Divas" and will feature impersonations of Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, Cher, Pink, and Rihanna. Prizes from the raffle will include donations from establishments such as REM French Riviera at the Galleria Mall at Fort Lauderdale, JP's Chocolate Shoppe, and spa services from SiSpa at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa.

Lips is located at 1421 E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Admission costs $50 and includes a show, dinner, and dessert. A $65 VIP ticket includes priority seating as well as a glass of champagne. Call 954-567-0987, or visit glam-a-thon.com. Can't attend but still want to donate? Visit glammy.kintera.org/lauren.fyke to contribute to Fyke's fundraising efforts. 

Wednesday, August 12

For more than three decades, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton has provided a refuge for coastal marine life. More particularly, the organization is known for providing a refuge for loggerhead sea turtles to lay their eggs. As a nonprofit, it relies on financial support from the community, much like the support at the Funky Arts for FINS event at Funky Buddha Brewery on Wednesday, a day for beer and art. Several local artists will sell their wares, which include jewelry, vintage prints, and melted glass. The event will benefit the Friends of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and will feature artists Michelle Opresi from Vita Di Amore art shop, Sara Henick, Stewart Montague, Samantha McInnis of the Clay Cache, Ingrid Schindall from IS Projects, Bethany Conti, and Lisette Pickard. All artists are confirmed for the benefit. Food truck Box of Chacos will be there dishing out grub for the event. Each vendor will donate one item to a raffle, the proceeds of which will go to the Friends of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. All vendors will be set up outside the brewery for an easy walk-through tour. And while you're doing that, you can always enjoy a fresh glass or two of Funky Buddha beer.

The benefit runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Funky Buddha Brewery, located at 1201 NE 38th St. in Oakland Park. Dogs are always welcome, as long as they are friendly and on a leash. Call 954-440-0046, or visit funkybuddhabrewery.com.