Bass Museum’s Cool Nights Hot Jazz
February 8, 2010
MIAMI - Bass Museum of Art kicks off their winter jazz series, Cool Nights Hot Jazz, on Friday, Feb. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. with pianist/composer Mike Orta. The bi-weekly Friday night concert has become a celebrated locals destination for culture, conversation and music, featuring Miami’s most talented local artists.
Held in the museum’s café and lounge designed by Chicago-based artist Dzine, the vibrant wall-to-wall mural painted with kaleidoscopic swirls and electric colors is the perfect backdrop for musical exploration. It’s the best deal in town, with admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members, and includes complimentary Bustelo, Grolsch beer and Chilensis wine.
Winter Jazz Series Schedule (7 – 9 p.m.)
February 19 Mike Orta Quartet
March 5 Fernando Ulibarri Quartet
March 19 Rudolfo Zuñiga Quintet
April 2 Shelly Berg Trio, with special guest Ed Calle
April 16 Negroni Trio
Bass Museum of Art, 2121 Park Avenue (in Collins Park), (305) 673-7530 or www.bassmuseum.org.
Amelia Island Film Festival Set for Feb. 25
February 7, 2010
AMELIA ISLAND –The newly created Amelia Island Film Festival, taking place Feb. 25 – 28, celebrates local and regional filmmakers in venues throughout historic Downtown Fernandina Beach. Program includes a meet and greet with filmmakers, writers, artists and songwriters. Call (904) 335-1110 or see www.ameliaislandfilmfestival.org.
Punta Gorda Art Show
February 7, 2010
PUNTA GORDA – The 7th Biennial National Art Exhibition benefits the programs and artists of the non-profit Visual Arts Center here. Running Feb. 6 – March 12 at the Visual Arts Center, 125 of the best entries are selected from all 50 states. This year, the top prize is $5,000. Call (941) 639-8810 or visit www.visualartcenter.org.
Naples Princess Sets Sail
February 7, 2010
NAPLES – The Naples Princess is a brand new luxury yacht. At 105 feet, the new vessel has three levels and can take up to 149 passengers. Offering daily public cruises for both sightseeing and dining, passengers on the Naples Princess can partake in the Sea breeze lunch buffet, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, or a dinner cruise. Call (239) 649-2275 or www.NaplesPrincessCruises.com.
February is Edison Month in Fort Myers
February 7, 2010
FORT MYERS – During February, Fort Myers celebrates the birthday of its most illustrious historical figure, Thomas A. Edison, with the Edison Festival of Light Stadium Show, Grand Parade & Fireworks on Feb. 20. Invention competitions, parties, craft shows and a 5K run are all part of the celebration. The gates at the Edison Stadium, Fort Myers High School, open at 4 p.m. for individuals with reserved seating who wish to watch the parade and fireworks. Entertainment begins at 5 p.m. climaxing with fireworks at 7 p.m. to kick off the grand lighted parade. Parade admission is free; stadium seating for the event is $20 per person. Go to www.edisonfestival.org for more information.
Fantasy of Flight Honors Black Aviation History
February 7, 2010
ORLANDO – Fantasy of Flight presents the Living History Symposium: “They Dared to Fly” Feb. 19 – Feb. 20. This symposium features the Tuskegee Airmen in honor of Black History month. Several of the original Tuskegee Airmen will share their personal experiences of wartime military service during segregated America. This event features open-forum and question-and-answer sessions. Fantasy of Flight’s permanent multi-media Tuskegee Airmen exhibit and vintage aircraft collection, including the P-51C Mustang, provides the perfect backdrop for this once in a lifetime opportunity to meet these brave men. Call (407) 332-5212.
Lowry Park Valentine’s Day
February 7, 2010
TAMPA – Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo honors love this Valentine’s Day with Wild at Heart on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. Singles, couples and groups of friends (ages 21 and up) are invited to the park for a lighthearted look at love in the animal kingdom. This fourth annual tour and progressive dinner will entertain guests with interesting stories about the pairing, partnering and mating habits of the zoo’s residents.
Guests are welcomed with romantic refreshments and up-close animal encounters, where they will proceed to various animal habitat areas stopping for salads, candlelight dinner and dessert. The event is open bar. Two tours are offered each night of the event, lasting approximately 3.5 hours. Reservations are required. Tickets are $55 per person; Annual Zoo Pass members receive a discount of $5 off per ticket. Call (813) 935-8552 ext. 239 for more information.
Skyline, the New Airplane Bar in Miami
February 7, 2010
MIAMI BEACH – Look for the new bar Skyline, an airplane themed bar-lounge. It was made with four retired commercial jets including a DC-9 and 747. Co-creators are Javier Maldonado, a Spanish entrepreneur with interests in Ibiza and Madrid, and Carina Burguete, a Mexican restaurateur.
The new Miami club houses a bar made of an actual airplane wing, booths which give clients the option of window or aisle, a private, high- rollers’, first-class lounge, and of course stewardesses that besides serving drinks will sing and dance. The cocktail list includes: Crash Landing Turbulence Drink, the High Jack shot, Flight 69, Airforce One, Red Eye, the Altitude, the Black Box Martini, and the most recent addition, the Miracle on the Hudson. The bar is at 645 Washington Avenue. See www.skylinemia.com
See Lu, Daktari Star, At Homosassa Springs
February 6, 2010
TALLAHASSEE- Lu, resident hippopotamus at Homosassa Springs, last week celebrated his 50th birthday with park staff, visitors and Homosassa Elementary School students who presented the hippo with his own birthday cake.
A fixture at Homosassa Springs since 1964, Lu’s claim to fame is his role as a former movie and television star with the Ivan Tors Animal Actors troupe, which wintered at the park while in private ownership. He is credited in the 1960s movies Daktari and Cowboy in Africa, and in television specials such as Jack Linkletter Show and Herb Alpert Special.
“This year marks a special milestone for both Homosassa Springs and the state park system as a whole,” said Homosassa Springs Manager Art Yerian in a press release. “Both a 50th birthday and the 75th anniversary of Florida State Parks makes this a great time for residents and guests to experience the fascinating wildlife and affordable fun at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.”
Lu, an African Hippopotamus, was born at the San Diego Zoo on January 26, 1960. He weighed 90 pounds at birth and now weighs more than 6,000 pounds. As a vegetarian, Lu consumes 15 pounds of alfalfa hay, four scoops of herbivore diet and a five gallon bucket of vegetables and fruit every day.
Although Lu’s fame has remained steady for more than four decades, his state park habitat was once jeopardized. When the Florida Park Service purchased the attraction in 1989, the state planned to shift the emphasis of the park to native Florida wildlife and find homes for all the exotic species, including Lu. Public support, however, led Governor Lawton Chiles to grant Lu an exemption in 1991. Special Florida citizenship has allowed Lu to stay at the park, and his fans to continue to display their appreciation annually at his birthday celebration.
Located 20 miles north of Florida’s newest state park Weeki Wachee Springs, Homosassa Springs is one of the region’s most popular attractions. An underwater manatee observatory provides a unique view of Florida’s famed sea cows. In addition, a 1,600-foot Wildlife Walk showcases the natural habitats of bobcats, cougars, otters, bears and hundreds of birds. The state park also offers boat tours, trails, picnicking and an interactive Children’s Education Center and Museum. To learn more about Homosassa Springs and Lu the hippo, visit http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/default.cfm.
B Bar Opens In Miami’s Betsy
February 6, 2010
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| From Website-Floridasnapshot.com |
MIAMI - Representing a fresh take on vintage glamour, the new B Bar, in the hotel Betsy, is a nightclub that evokes an older time.
The bar as envisioned by designer Callin Fortis of Big Time Design Studios, said it is “intentionally crafted with French mid century contemporary styling which rests delicately on top of true nightclub bones.”
It’s a true cocktail lounge, with drinks that include:
- Hendricks Gin based Blue Velvet is infused with blueberries and raspberries and shaken extra cold with Luxardo Maraschino Original.
- Black Pearl combines Corner Creek Bourbon, fresh blackberries and elderflower liquor,.
- The signature Josephine pays homage to The Fabulous Ms. Baker, created with apricot liqueur and Thousand Flower runny honey.
It’s had good writeups. On December 28, 2009 Urban Daddy said it was “Everything that was important in Miami….” The Sun Post included B Bar in their “Guide to Some of the Year’s Best Moments in Miami.”
You get to B Bar through The Betsy Hotel located on Ocean Drive. A hidden staircase brings you to the lower level of The Betsy hotel from Wednesday through Saturday evenings 9 pm to 3 am. See www.bbarmiami.com
