THU 3/4 Sometimes, it seems the biggest difference between big-time Hollywood movies and small, independent films is the level of hype. Although Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ will most likely generate more visceral reaction than critical thought, local films such as Nathan Rausch's Man Killed God (in which two men decide whether to kill a being from another dimension for worshiping a different god) allow audience members to make up their minds after watching the film, not before. Such is the mission of the Miami Light Project's "Here & Now: 2004," featuring the works of four performance artists and three filmmakers who explore a wide range of biographical, philosophical, and ontological issues. Performance artist Natasha Tsakos' trippy Up Wake travels the boundaries of the subconscious, stressing the importance of perception as hallucination becomes reality. Nancy Garcia's Watchers Watching Those Being Watched Watching the Watchers blurs the distinction between voyeur and object. David Cirone's [Instant Message] deals with the sometimes-seedy world of Internet sex addiction, and in Silvina Soto's Their Own Prisons, two lovers are trapped in an elevator (insert Aerosmith joke here) and must decide how to cope with their grim situation. "Here & Now: 2004" runs March 4 to 13 at the Light Box (3000 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). Admission is $20. Call 305-576-4350. -- Jason Budjinski
What a Find!
Now how much is it worth?
FRI 3/5 You really need to do something about that empty space next to your living-room wall unit. Maybe it's time for you to go antiquing, and this weekend's the perfect time, as the "West Palm Beach Antique & Collectibles Show" springs up at the South Florida Fairgrounds Expo Center (9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach). The show features more than 500 antiques and collectibles dealers offering an array of items, including antique furniture, toys, dolls, retro kitchenalia, silver, china, glassware, jewelry, and books. And if you're not sure how much you should pay for an item, antiques expert and appraiser Vivian Highberg of PBS's Antiques Roadshow speaks on the subject. Maybe that china your neighbor pawned off on you is actually worth the price of the brand-new Escalade you've been hankering for. The Antique & Collectibles Show runs through March 7. Call 561-640-3433. -- Jason Budjinski
Toe the Line
TUE 3/2 Try to imagine country-and-western night at the local bar, and you might picture a traditional set of husband/wife couples line-dancing to Kenny Rogers. Now try imagining a bar full of gay and lesbian couples doing the "Tush Push" or the "Freedom Dance." Throw in an occasional disco tune and you've got an average night out for Southern Country South Florida, a Fort Lauderdale-based group that offers line-dancing lessons for same-sex partners. The fun takes place Tuesdays and Fridays at Manhattan South (6890 N. Powerline Rd., Fort Lauderdale) and Wednesdays at the Gay & Lesbian Community Center (1717 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale). They also do occasional "bar invasions" at straight clubs. A $2 donation is requested. Call 954-722-3031. -- Jason Budjinski
