“You’ve never heard of beer pong?” Lauren, a Johns Hopkins behavioral biology major, asked me in disbelief on a Tuesday night at Automatic Slim’s. “Didn’t you go to college?” “My fraternity had its own beer pong tables,” interjected Kevin, a 26-year-old computer programmer. To justify my ignorance of the pastime,…
To the jaded South Floridian eye, they might look like just more hotel art — you know, those ubiquitous palm-tree portraits and sea-meets-skyscapes that adorn the walls of the rooms for hire to remind travelers where they are. These idyllic images were once all the rage in a more romantic…
Imagine a tropical nightlife destination where the vibe is as chill as the air conditioning — the lights are low, bamboo lines the walls, and a thatched tiki bar serves a Polynesian elixir, kava, that soothes the nerves. “There’ve been no fights here ever,” manager Ken told me of Nakava,…
“World’s Largest Hell Factory,” the remains of a damaged Shell store sign attests (the s was blown away). You’d think that’d pretty much sum up “Mean Season; Florida’s Hurricanes of 2004,” which documents the statewide legacies of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. Of course, many of the photos document…
My friend Kim’s “bitch switch” was set abnormally high the night we hit the Red Lion Pub in Boca Raton for Thursday-night Frank-E-Oke. The event is named for the intense karaoke host, who discourages other people from taking things too seriously. “I really dislike American Idol wannabes,” Frank E (for…
Now on Display Don’t think of it as commitment-phobia; think of it as curatorial caprice! Eaton Fine Art assures only one thing about its summer exhibit, “Summer Sculpture: A Changing Exhibition” — that visitors will see modern sculpture by a dozen respected artists, many of them innovators in their field…
When local musicians stormed Duck Soup (named for the classic Marx Brothers comedy) to play Hurricane Fest ’06 (so named because the tempestuous season had begun), I had to be there. And not because I had the perfect party dress. My buddy Timb had organized the event to celebrate his…
Now that it’s summer and the locals have reclaimed their turf from the snowbirds, we have a chance to celebrate ourselves. It doesn’t matter that most of us hail from somewhere else; now we’re Floridians, and we’re showcasing our talents in all-Florida art exhibits. The Cornell Museum at Old School…
Sexy Kittys (yes, that’s how they spell it) Modern Burlesque arrived at Kashmir, and the first thing we noticed was that everyone, curiously, seemed to be on his or her best behavior at the gay bar. For once, people were strictly observing the gender divisions designated on the bathroom doors…
Despite the current state of affairs in the Holy Land, “Treasures From the Cornell Museum: Voices of Israel” is not an explosive exhibit nor one with its voice raised in battle cries. In fact, if anything, the 30 exhibited works of Judaica — paintings, drawings, etchings, and mixed media by…
Salvation comes with an awakening. And usually when you least expect it. This was certainly true for Neil, the All-American boy from Jacksonville who found himself at Gumwrappers on a Tuesday night. A lonely out-of-towner in South Florida on a condo remodeling job, he’d come to the Fort Lauderdale joint…
The Girls Gone Wild tour bus had pulled up to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and inside Legends Theater, the video outfit had installed a small battalion of cameramen, a bald-headed host, and an old-school ploy to get women to expose themselves. “Who was the genius who first…
Don’t think of it as commitmentphobia; think of it as curatorial caprice! Eaton Fine Art assures only one thing about its summer exhibit, “Summer Sculpture: A Changing Exhibition” — that visitors will see modern sculpture by a dozen respected artists, many of them innovators in their fields. Depending upon what…
George W. Bush may have famously (and incomprehensibly) once uttered that “human beings and fish can co-exist peacefully,” but “Fresh From the Sea: Tairyobata and the Culture of Fishing in Japan” isn’t doing anything to help improve the historically violent relationship between the two. In fact, if anything, the exhibit…
Abortion is illegal in South Dakota, and all I got to show for it was a plastic necklace. “They’re cycle beads,” my friend Shelby from Planned Parenthood said as she pulled the necklace from her purse and handed it to me during “The Ban Stops Here” mixer on a Thursday…
“Pretty as a picture” is a phrase that was inspired by images like Carmel Brantles’ sepia-toned Paper Nautilus. The photograph of the spiral shell and the delicate shadows cast by its graceful swoops, swirls, and spires was awarded this year’s Best in Show at “InFocus: 10th Annual Juried Exhibition,” which…
More than a view through children’s eyes, the photographs on display as part of Palm Beach Photographic Centre’s “Picture My World” program offer a look at our community — the people and the places. The exhibit is the result of the program’s goal to use photography and digital imaging as…
On a Thursday at the Office in suburban West Palm Beach, I felt more like I was on a cattle ranch than at the tidy little neighborhood joint that pulls in all types for the weekly one-man show by blues man Ben Prestage. It’s not hard to figure out how…
Think of it as the kind of porn you can enjoy with the whole family. “Botanical Angels” captures 30 sexy orchids, their petals spread, lips inviting fertilization — you’ll even find one that is bearded. Wowza! Whereas you might feel like a debauchee studying the beautifully rendered anatomy in an…
On the last Wednesday in May, during the monthly convergence of the South Florida hip-hop scene at the Poor House (a night also known as “The Art of Moving Butts”), the Night Rider was given a title of distinction. “This is my homegirl, Marya,” said Darin, one of the event…
Manufacturing #17, Deda Chicken Processing Plant, Dehui City, Jilin Province, 2005 is not, as far as titles go, a memorable or creative one. But it is apropos for the image, which depicts hundreds, possibly thousands, of nearly identically clad, masked workers in pink scrubs and blue aprons as they do…
When I was a kid, I went through a little Elvis phase. I watched a couple of his movies (I can’t even remember which ones) and joined the legions of those who found the rockabilly legend’s charisma completely disarming. But even as a preteen, I was sensible enough not to…
