Hello, South Florida. Got a minute? Can we talk about you — one last time? I just want to say how much I appreciate you.
When I started writing a local entertainment column for the Sun Sentinel — I am shocked to report that it’s been more than 25 years — South Florida was a very different place, if it was even a place at all.
At that time, the column space I inherited in the newspaper’s remarkably comprehensive Showtime section was called South Beach Scene, reflective of the interest we assumed everyone had in the comings and goings of neon-bathed models and DJs and rock-star restaurateurs and hoteliers on Ocean Drive.
This was around the time when sagacious Florida poet Campbell McGrath, writing in The New York Times Magazine, described the Sunshine State as “a pyramid scheme of ineptitude and sloth,” and we did not yet take it as a compliment, as we do now.
But as all corners of South Florida grew more sophisticated, the aperture of the column widened to include events in Broward and Palm Beach counties, and in 2010 it became less of a report than a call to action under a new flag, The Go Guide, with all the cynicism and self-indulgent linguistic gymnastics that you know and grudgingly tolerate today.
And look at us now!
We once had to travel to Miami to get Schnabeled and Tharped and Michelined, but now there are cutting-edge restaurants and world-class music venues and performing arts centers the length of South Florida. Art Basel has been a game changer for the region, and Tortuga Music Festival created a market no one knew existed. And don’t get me started on The Guitar Hotel. I mean, Pappy Van Winkles and Kardashians come to us now.
Not that there hasn’t been loss: Some of my favorite neighborhood places are gone, including Maguires Hill 16, the Internationally World Famous Treasure Trove, The Hut, Tom Jenkins’ Bar-B-Q and, recently, Foxy Brown.
And the forces that contributed to their demise — avarice, ignorance and a lack of imagination — are ascendant, illustrated by plans for a five-story Rolex shop on Las Olas and the Gekko district being built in downtown West Palm Beach.
So I appreciate what’s still here. Stay golden, you beloved survivors: Swank Farm, Respectable Street, Revolution Live, Elbo Room, North Beach Village, Laser Wolf, Invasive Species, Culture Room, The Floridian, Shuck N Dive, Kim’s Alley Bar, Riverside Market, The Field …
This is my last column in this space, but I will continue to support these local businesses and more in other ways. Maybe I’ll see you out there, or feel free to drop me a line: bencrandellstories@gmail.com.
Have a good weekend. Thanks for being here. Let’s do it, y’all.
Thursday
New pop: Rosalía released her fourth album, “Lux,” last fall to remarkably enthusiastic praise — Rolling Stone: “Pop’s most provocative chaos agent delivers a transcendent album that sounds like nothing else in music right now.” The Spanish singer brings the global tour supporting the album to the Kaseya Center in Miami on Thursday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Tickets: KaseyaCenter.com.
Rosalía has concerts scheduled at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Thursday and Saturday. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Good Day-o!: The Broadway tour of “Beetlejuice,” the musical comedy based on Tim Burton’s zany film, continues its run at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in downtown West Palm Beach this Thursday through Sunday. Showtimes will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: Kravis.org.
The way of José: Celebrated chef and global humanitarian José Andrés will speak about his new book, “Spain My Way” (Ecco, $45), in a conversation with “The View” co-host Ana Navarro on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Miami Dade College’s Chapman Conference Center in Miami. Get tickets for the event, a partnership with the Miami Book Fair, at MiamiBookFair.com. Each ticket ($45) admits two people and includes a copy of the book. Additional copies will be available for purchase.
Smoke on the water: Chef Michael Lewis’ Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, one of the best restaurants to open in downtown Fort Lauderdale in recent memory, will celebrate the first anniversary in its lovely riverfront location on Thursday. The party will run from 4 to 9 p.m. and include $10 Japanese-inspired cocktails, House of Suntory spirits samples, raffles, a DJ, photo booth and more. Dinner guests will receive a complimentary House of Suntory cocktail and a slice of coconut cake for the table. Information, reservations: UkiahRestaurant.com.
Weekend laughs: Canadian comedian and actor Russell Peters will bring his Relax World Tour to the Fort Lauderdale Improv in Dania Beach for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: ImprovFTL.com.
Thursday night live: Bermudian singer-songwriter Mishka and the Blak Diamond Band will perform during the sixth annual World Ocean Celebration at the Miami Beach Bandshell on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: MiamiBeachBandshell.com. … Jazz-rock guitarist, composer, bandleader and prolific sideman (Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Carla Bley), Wayne Krantz will bring his trio (with Keith Carlock and Brad Miller) to The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Thursday for shows at 6 and 9 p.m. Tickets: FunkyBiscuit.com. … Sharing music from new album “Victory Garden,” Young the Giant comes to the FTL War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., joined by Cold War Kids and Almost Monday. Tickets: Seatgeek.com.
Mahjong clique: Those crazy mahjong kids (of all ages) will gather on Thursday for Mahjong & Mingle, a new series at Burlock Coast, the waterfront restaurant in The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. Led by Kari Long of Mahj on the Beach, the series includes Mahjong 101, with instruction on everything from tiles to strategy, or open play in a relaxed, social environment. Each session includes a welcome cocktail, a snack board for grazing and a full mahjong setup. An a la carte menu also will be available. Sessions will be on Thursday (6-8:30 p.m.), June 20 (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.), July 9 (6-8:30 p.m.) and July 25 (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Seating is limited; prices vary. Tickets, information: RitzCarltonFortLauderdale.ipoolside.com.
Friday
Wild world: The Coral Springs Museum of Art will celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary with two new exhibitions, “Across This Land: America at 250” and “Clyde Butcher: Lifeworks in Photography,” opening with a reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. South Florida-based Butcher’s reverential black-and-white landscape photography is filled with rapturous moments of stillness and natural beauty in the Florida Everglades and other wilderness environments across the country, scenes also captured in images from “Across this Land.” Information: CoralSpringsMuseum.org.
Triple play: Contemporary jazz supergroup The Caribbean Connection — featuring Latin Grammy-winning flautist Néstor Torres, guitarist Bernie Williams (the former New York Yankees star) and saxophonist Elan Trotman — will be at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton for shows at 6 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets: FunkyBiscuit.com.
You can catch former New York Yankees star Bernie Williams at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Friday and Saturday. (Julio Miranda/Courtesy)
Intimate confines: Charismatic singer-songwriter Charlie Puth — seen recently at a sold-out Madison Square Garden performing “The Boxer” with Art Garfunkel — brings his Whatever’s Clever! World Tour to 7,000-seat Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Friday at 8 p.m. He’ll be joined by openers Lawrence and Ally Salort. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Free music picnics: The popular Bank of America Starlight Musicals free summer concert series returns on Friday to the football field at Holiday Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale, with the Andrew Morris Band performing country favorites from 7 to 10 p.m. As always, lawn chairs, picnic baskets and coolers are encouraged, with food and beverages available for purchase. The rest of the summer lineup will include: the Valerie Tyson Band (June 12), Rockabilly Kings (June 19), Sabor Latino (June 26), The Pitbull of Blues (July 10), ReaXtion (July 17), Brass Evolution (July 24), Shaw Davis Band & The Black Ties (July 31), Mischief (Aug. 7) and the Shane Duncan Band (Aug. 14). There will be no concert on July 3. Information: Parks.fortlauderdale.gov/starlight.
Friday tributes: Nationally known, South Florida-based Billy Joel tribute Turnstiles will play Galuppi’s in Pompano Beach on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, reservations: Galuppis.com. … Nationally touring Tom Petty tribute band The Broken Hearts (straight outta Gainesville) will play an all-ages show at Revolution Live in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: JoinTheRevolution.net. … Tom Petty tribute You’re Gonna Get It will be at the Boca Black Box Center for the Arts on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets: BocaBlackBox.com.
Saturday
Free and Easy: The Hollywood ArtsPark Experience series will return to downtown’s Young Circle with another free concert on Saturday, this edition featuring the rhythm & dub energy of New York reggae collective Easy Star All-Stars, known for their spirited interpretations of Pink Floyd, Radiohead, The Beatles and David Bowie. Running from 8 to 11 p.m., the Rhythm Foundation-produced concert also will include performances from Brooklyn band SunDub and Miami singer-musician Kaylan Arnold. Visit HollywoodArtsParkExperience.com.
The Easy Star All-Stars, are known for reimagining rock music with a reggae beat, from Radiohead to David Bowie. (Northstar Artists/Courtesy)
Saturday laughs: Autotune-assisted comedian Morgan Jay (not gonna lie: it’s funny) will bring The Goofy Guy Tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Saturday at 8 p.m. To the surprise of none of his fans, tickets are down to scattered singles or resale. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Dancing queens: A DJ night taking place at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m., the Earlybirds Club is “a dance party for ladies who have sh*t to do in the morning.” Expect to hear sing-along hits from the 1980s through the 2000s in “a supportive space where kindness, good vibes and sensible footwear rule.” Also a fundraiser, the Earlybirds Club will send 10% of ticket proceeds to Gilda’s Club South Florida and its support for local cancer patients and their families. Tickets: JoinTheRevolution.net.
Weekend burger and beer: Local legend Cheffrey Eats has unveiled his burger of the month for June — the Umami Bombi, which layers an Angus beef patty with smoked gouda; a black garlic, miso, maple aioli slaw; sesame dill pickles; and a house-made chili crisp. Says Cheffrey on Instagram: “Flavor wise it may be the best I’ve ever created.” Which is saying something. Of course, you’ll find Cheffrey at his permanent spot outside Barrel of Monks Brewing in Boca Raton. Visit CheffreyEats.com. … Meanwhile, if you are looking for something to wash it down with, Barrel of Monks will have two beer releases on Saturday: Criterion Lager, a 5.5% ABV thirst-quencher in cans, and the dark and scary 2026 Grand Cru in bottles, checking in at 12% ABV. Visit Facebook.com/barrelofmonks.
All wet: The Guy Harvey Foundation will host the fourth annual International Ocean Film Festival on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Savor Cinema in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The evening will feature five ocean-inspired short films from around the world, free concessions, a post-screening panel discussion and a raffle, with proceeds supporting the GHF’s educational outreach. Tickets, information: GuyHarveyFoundation.org.
Saturday night live: Country iconoclast Hank Williams Jr. will play the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with openers David Lee Murphy and Spencer Hatcher. Tickets: LiveNation.com. … Singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins (who had one of the great rock-radio hits of the late ’90s with “Lullaby”) will play the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets: BrowardCenter.org.
Peace in: Lauderhill Peace Month continues on Saturday at 8 a.m. with the free Lauderhill Walk for Peace, beginning at the police department and ending at City Hall, where festivities will run until 2 p.m. and include live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, family activities, and health and wellness resources. Participants are asked to wear orange in recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Month. Information: Lauderhill-fl.gov/peace.
Fruits of your labor: Zak the Baker‘s fourth annual Mango Trade is back: Throughout the month of June, just bring five of the ubiquitous seasonal fruit to the kosher artisan bakery in Wynwood, and they’ll give you a fresh loaf of Zak’s revered bread. There are a few rules — one trade per person, per day; mangoes must be larger than a closed fist; no bruised, damaged or overripe mangoes accepted. Visit: Instagram.com/zakthebaker.
Sunday
Coco Market is back: The much-missed Coco Market will return to Old School Square in downtown Delray Beach on Sunday, gathering more than 60 local vendors, wellness practitioners, yoga and movement classes, sound healing, live music and more from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the first Coco Market on the square since Delray Beach officials suspended the event for three months after a dog-bite incident involving a local rescue. Visit CocoMarket.org.
Coco Market will bring local vendors, wellness practitioners, yoga and movement classes, and live music to Old School Square in Delray Beach on Sunday. (Coco Market/Courtesy)
Girls just want to have fun: A new edition of ’80s Brunch & Bingo returns to Crazy Uncle Mike’s in Boca Raton on Sunday at noon, with DJ Gio Black leading four rounds of music bingo beginning at 1 p.m. Ladies get a free bottle of bubbly with purchase of an entree. What could go wrong? Information, reservations: CrazyUncleMikes.com.
Purple jams: Sweat Records owner and DJ Lolo Reskin will spin her favorite Prince cuts (and classic roller disco jams) to celebrate the legend’s birthday on Sunday during the Purple Gemini Prince Party at Bayskate Miami, the indoor rink at The Hangar @ Regatta Harbour in Coconut Grove. The all-ages skating session goes from noon to 5 p.m., with Lolo and DJ Hottpants spinning from 2 to 5 p.m. Wear purple. Tickets: Instagram.com/sweatrecords.
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