"Just Because I Live in America" is about more than having your picture taken. According to Swedish-born photographer Tone Stockenstrom, her show is about the universality of the experience shared by people who immigrate to America. Her work showcases the similarity of issues faced by immigrants from all cultures by sharing the story of one family through immigration, divorce, and the struggles of bicultural identity. She tells that story via the Mexican-American Castañeda-Torres family in an exhibit at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre (55 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach) that runs through the end of September. Instead of hiding behind the camera as a detached observer, Stockenstrom purposefully interacted with the family and incorporated their input via a scrapbook that juxtaposes the family's writings and collages with Stockenstrom's photographic images. Although they are from different parts of the world, she focuses on the culture of immigration as opposed to the culture of origin. Whether from Europe, Africa, or Latin America, the major issues faced by immigrants in America are the same. Stockenstrom found parallels between her experience and the Castañeda-Torreses' and used film as a medium to share those insights. Along with this exhibit, the center displays the work of budding photographers and summertime shutterbugs from the FOTOcamp youth program, where kids ages 10 to 17 get to develop their skills and have an opportunity for a real gallery show. $3 admission for the general public, free for members. Call 561-276-9797. -- Karen Dale Wolman
THU 8/14
Drink o' the Month
For this month's DotM, we turn our bleary jaundiced gaze southward and stumble into Shenanigan's (3303 Sheridan St., Hollywood). The folks at Shenanigan's take the standard vodka martini and throw it out with the bathwater. Flavored martinis have come in vogue recently, and Shenanigan's is at the top of the game with its orange, pineapple, and sour apple fusion martinis. Flavored vodkas? That's for wusses. Shenanigan's soaks mandarin oranges with Absolut vodka and pineapples and Granny Smith apples with Ketel 1 vodka to achieve their fine flavors. After that, it's just a simple martini recipe, two-and-a-half parts vodka and one-and-a-half parts vermouth, less vermouth if you like it dry, down to a light misting. And, of course, shaken, not stirred. -- Dan Sweeney
MON 8/18
Thong Song
Teen angst made me pee my pants
Anyone who would choose to be a teenager again must be quite mad, but dammit if Louise Rennison's debut book on the life of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson doesn't do a good job of persuading you otherwise. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging is a romp through the teenage psyche, written in diary form. Georgia's minute-by-minute descriptions of her latest debacle make being a teenager seem fun, even if she is British. It has more in common with Monty Python than Bridget Jones, and Georgia's use of words like nunga-nungas (breasts) and nuddy pants (being nude) is delightful. Author Louise Rennison has already penned three other novels on Georgia's pubescent exploits and is the author of the one-woman autobiographical show Stevie Wonder Felt My Face. Read and discuss the book as part of the Young Adult Series at 7 p.m. at the Delray Beach Public Library, 29 SE Fourth Ave., Delray Beach. Call 561-266-9490. -- Audra Schroeder
WED 8/20
That's the Spirit
Women get all artistic and whatnot
"Women at that time were supposed to look pretty and throw little handkerchiefs around. Well, I couldn't play that role."
This quote is from sculptor Louise Nevelson, a 1920s artist who dealt with the double standard of women in the arts in the early 20th Century, and it still rings true today. Founded in 1989, Women in the Visual Arts is a nonprofit corporation whose focus is to promote interest in the visual arts in South Florida. It hosts educational programs for kindergarten through high school, awards scholarships, and presents artwork in various public places. Speaking of which, "The Artistic Spirit" is the latest showing of WITVA's work, featuring photography, printmaking, watercolor, sculpture, jewelry, and two-dimensional art by various female artists. The exhibit takes place at Armory Art Center (1703 Lake Ave., West Palm Beach) until October 1. Call 561-832-1776, or visit www.armoryart.org. -- Audra Schroeder
SAT 8/16
Getting a Leg Up
In a town known for being on the graying side of geriatric, one would assume a decent pair of legs should have no difficulty winning the Mr. Boca Legs Contest. So, get in line, guys. The third-annual contest takes place at Mizner Park's Center Fountain (407 Plaza Real, Boca Raton) at 7 p.m. And you don't even have to be a Boca resident to win! WRMF radio personality Amy Navarro hosts the event, wherein the set of male legs that judges feel best represents this subtropical city will win the grand prize of a weekend vacation for two at Boca's Radisson Bridge Resort. Registration takes place at 5:30 p.m. Call 561-447-8144. -- Dan Sweeney
