Thursday
Award-winning filmmakers from South Florida have been charged with writing, directing, and shooting a film in 48 hours. Because of the absurdly short amount of time afforded for these films, they could end in complete disasters or in absolute gems of short cinema. With the added caveat of having an assigned character, a prop, and a line of dialogue that must be incorporated into the final work, it’ll be fun to see how local cinema creatives come through. And that’s the point: to have a good time, create something fun, and build a stronger filmmaking community in the process. The Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club (20 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale) is the event host and facilitator and will screen the top-rated films from this year's and last year’s competition. The local derby is part of a global competition for the filmmaking group with a chance to win a 5K grand prize and the opportunity to screen at Filmapalooza and the Cannes International Film Festival’s Short Film Corner. There will also be a Q&A between films with the teams facilitated by Cathleen Dean. The 48 Hour Film Project Shorts will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 20. A $10 donation is suggested. There will be free popcorn and popsicles as well as a cash bar. Call 954-761-9407 or visit fortlauderdalewomansclub.com.
They say laughter is the best medicine, and a charitable group is hoping that continues to be true this next week as they raise money to find a cure for Crohn’s disease. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America is hosting its annual 7th-Annual Comedy Night on October 20 at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek with film and TV standout Mark Simmons. Show tickets are $75 and include a cocktail hour with open bar and appetizers as well as a night of comedy that will take place for a great cause. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is raising money toward finding a cure for digestive diseases and improving the lives of the children and adults who suffer from them. This annual comedy night has raised over $200,000 in the past to help the 1.6 million American adults and children suffering from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Simmons is best known for his work on Chappelle’s Show, BET’s Comic View, and P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy tour. His lighthearted humor and over-the-top personality will provide an abundance of laughs on a night when the goal is to send everyone home smiling and come a little closer to a cure for Crohn’s and colitis. Those interested in registering or becoming a sponsor can contact Jennifer McCorvey at [email protected] or at 561-218-2929.
Saturday
OMG, it's fall! Time for a pumpkin spice latte, like, right? Wrong. Long before the PSL took over the taste buds of every basic millennial in America, autumn was known for one beverage alone: beer. In Germany, the sudsy celebration of Oktoberfest dates back to the 1800s. And this Saturday, New Times is keeping the tradition alive with the Original Beerfest. This year, the annual fiesta of froth hits C.B. Smith Park (900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines) to bring you more than 100 beers, along with live music, delicious food, and an all-around jammin' atmosphere unlike anything you'll find at the Starbucks drive-thru. It's also the only place you can drink damn near every local craft brew in South Florida, from Concrete Beach and Miami Brewing Co. to Funky Buddha, Biscayne Bay, J. Wakefield, and others. Tickets cost $46 for general admission, which opens at 3 p.m. Craft connoisseur tickets, available for $70, grant access to the event at 2 p.m. plus an exclusive lounge with specialty craft beers not available elsewhere onsite. For $85, VIP tickets snag you all the same perks as craft connoisseurs plus large beer pours. Visit microapp.browardpalmbeach.com/beerfest.
What's going on in Tamarac? Flavors beyond your wildest taste buds. Taste of Tamarac gathers restaurants from the city and surrounding communities for one delectable day. Presented by the Tamarac Chamber of Commerce, the event is intended to connect the general community with the area's local restaurants — first by giving the public a taste of some of the lesser-known (or local favorite) restaurants and allowing restaurants to expand their customer base through more exposure. If you're in the service industry, you might even be able to land a job; think of it as a culinary networking event too. Attendees will be able to sample a wide range of cuisine, from Colombian to Chinese, courtesy of more than 25 restaurants. There will also be cooking demos, chef demos, giveaways, a kids' zone, and other attractions. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend. Tickets prices start at $8 for adults and $4 for kids (aged 6 to 12), and kids under 6 get in for free. Taste of Tamarac will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Tamarac Community Center (8601 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac). Call 954-597-3620 or visit tasteoftamarac.org.
Boredom and curiosity are seemingly opposing concepts, but for artist Francesco Clemente, the two have worked in unison, helping to forge a nomadic artistic journey that's now four decades along. Clemente has said that without boredom, he never would've felt the need to move to India simply because he wanted to know more about the geography of a place he had never visited. And while he was there, curiosity pushed him into wanting to know more about reconciliation between body and spirit through Hindu teachings. As one of the participants of the trans-avant-garde movement of the 1980s, he stood proudly alongside luminaries of his time including Allen Ginsberg, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat — saying he was fortunate to simply be in the right place at the right time among these giants. While those he stood with are no longer here, Clemente continues to create fervently. Local art enthusiasts will have a chance to see Clemente himself when he arrives for his "Dormiveglia" exhibit reception at NSU Art Museum (1 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale). "Dormiveglia" will present several large-scale paintings featuring muted colors and long, protracted figures positioned in a partially conscious, dreamlike state. Saturday's preview and reception runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free for museum members and $25 for nonmembers. Call 954-262-0258 or visit nsuartmuseum.org.
Sunday
Common is the luncheon that begins with multiple mimosas and concludes with dancing — usually the drinkers' sloppy two-steps. It's a better deal to imbibe the nation's favorite brunch drink and then sit back and watch dancing while supporting one of the region's most beloved cultural nonprofits. Following a silent auction, mimosa service, and a luncheon, Boca Ballet Theatre's landmark 25th-annual A Princely Affair fundraiser will feature an exclusive program of three ballet performances: the "Odaliques" variations from Le Corsaire, a favorite of Marius Petipa's Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg; the iconic "Waltz of the Snowflakes" from The Nutcracker; and George Balanchine's six-minute masterpiece, Tarantella. This nimble, fast-paced pas de deux will feature two nationally acclaimed guest performers: New York City Ballet's Daniel Ulbricht, a prodigious dancer who earned the nickname "the Billy Elliot of St. Petersburg" (as in Florida this time, not Russia); and Erica Pereira, a New York City Ballet soloist. Boca Raton resident and arts journalist Arlene Harris will serve as the event's honorary chair, and the event's admission will help support this long-standing company's 2016-17 season of performances and dance instruction. It begins at noon Sunday at the Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton). Tickets cost $95 for adults and $60 for children 13 or younger. Call 561-447-3000 or visit bocaballet.org.
