So-called "futurists" must have the easiest job in the world. All you do is sit around and think about what the future will be like someday, and 90 percent of the time, you're dead wrong. Consider the ideas of the future that sprouted in the atomic '50s -- ray guns, flying saucers, cities in the sky, friendly androids. Everything you need at the push of a button. And, naturally, this would all be in place by, oh, 1988 or so. Looking back on those visions of the future creates a bit of a chuckle now -- or at least a smug, hindsight-filled smirk. Either way, it's entertaining. That could be why Bacardi chose a retrofuturist theme for its parties to introduce Bacardi Limón: 3003. At one such party at the Diplomat Resort and Country Club (501 Diplomat Pkwy., Hallandale Beach) at 10 p.m., you'll find robots with TVs in their chests, Barbarella-like models, video entertainment, and, of course, copious amounts of Bacardi. It's the last chance to catch the show before it heads on to the bloat and hubris of Miami Beach at Opium Gardens, Crobar, and Nikki Beach Friday through Sunday. Call 954-883-4000.
FRI 12/5
Yeah, it's 2003. But what the heck -- millennium just has such a nice ring to it. To add to the flurry of holiday village-themed events popping up around South Florida, Santa's Millennium Holiday Village rolls into its new location at Hollywood City Hall (2600 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood) through January 4. In addition to a 25-ride midway, hundreds of Christmas trees, animated Christmas and Hanukkah scenes, thousands of lights, and food, you can look forward to a fake snow display and a holiday puppet show by village creator Don Drybread, who actually started the village out of his home back in 1970. The village is open every day, and if you bring an unwrapped toy for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Holiday Toy Drive, you can ride the midway for only $10. Call 954-321-6111.
SAT 12/6
Much as we hate to give our esteemed competition any kudos, if we didn't acknowledge the City Link Music Fest, we'd come off looking mighty ignorant. This year, our rivals have moved the date from Friday to Saturday, assuring that there are so many bands playing that we don't even have the space to mention them all. Suffice it to say, any and all music lovers should get their collective butts to downtown Hollywood, where the music fest takes place at a variety of venues throughout the town but generally near Young Circle Park (Federal Highway and Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood). All in all, it looks like it'll be a spectacular show. And now, let us never speak of City Link again. Call 954-356-4912.
SUN 12/7
A lot of punk bands spout off about politics to get a notch in their studded belt, but in reality, they haven't a clue what their views stand for or any ideas to back them up. That's why it's nice that a band like Anti-Flag, which has been around for more than ten years, is still cranking out music with informed political views. Its website actually includes well-written essays about police brutality during war protests, a piece about a former intern at their record label who was jailed for trying to shut down a covert terrorist training camp, and a hilarious musing on the Rev. Fred Phelps, the homophobic "minister" who threatened to picket Mr. Rogers' funeral. And, of course, the band still plays kick-ass punk rock. Check out Anti-Flag with Rise Against, None More Black, and Against Me at the Factory, 2674 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Show starts at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $13. Call 954-566-6331.
MON 12/8
New York, New York. It's a city where insomnia is welcome, where the streets are endless, and where a simple image can tell a story. Photographer Benn Mitchell captured New York City in the '40s and '50s in a series of black-and-white images aptly titled "New York, New York." Mitchell, who went on to photograph icons like Bogie and Bacall, portrays the essence and simplicity of life in the Big Apple, and you can live vicariously through his photos at the Boca Raton Museum of Art (Mizner Park, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton) through January 18. Call 561-392-2500.
TUE 12/9
As a performer, actress, and founder of Wigstock, New York City's annual drag queen event, Lady Bunny is busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. But perhaps her personal mantra has kept her going all these years: "The higher the hair, the closer to God." Bunny recently upstaged Carrie Bradshaw on a very special transgender episode of Sex and the City. But if you want to see her up-close and personal and doing Barbra Streisand covers in all her Amazonian splendor, then get over to Georgie's Alibi (2266 Wilton Dr., Fort Lauderdale) at 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Call 954-565-2526.
WED 12/10
Gypsies have, in some cases quite deservedly, gotten a bad rap. They come swooping into your store wearing large jackets with many pockets, taking turns distracting you whilst their comrades rob you blind. They set up three-card monte games to steal from gullible American tourists in Europe, and when you try to take a picture of them after they've conned you out of your last peseta, they smack the camera out of your hands. At least, that's what we've been told. But gypsies have their redeeming qualities too. Just look at the music. Dyed-in-the-wool gypsy Django Reinhardt was probably the first "guitar god" in music history, after all. Catch his artistic descendants when the Transylvania Restaurant (113 S. 20th Ave., Hollywood) presents the Gypsy Music Festival at 7 p.m., featuring Budapest-based Ferenc Sánta Jr. and his six-member gypsy orchestra. Admission is $20. Call 954-929-0777.
