Hallandale Beach Community Partnerships: There Are Many Ways The City Is Working To Assist Residents By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper May 4, 2023 Share Over the past years we all have seen an increase in health issues due to COVID-19. We have also seen a reduction in access to insurance. Those with insurance do not have money to pay the out-of-pocket costs. Sadly, this trend will certainly impact all residents that are struggling to make ends meet even more since COVID-19 Relief is over. Last month I had a chance to meet with VP Melida Akiti from Memorial Healthcare Systems who is in charge of Ambulatory and Community Service to discuss an amazing community partnership. I was invited to a briefing with her assistant, Chief Michel, Deputy Chief Thouez, Chief of Staff, Grace Mariot and Jonathan Carrillo of PAL. PAL and Memorial Healthcare Systems in an initiative called “One Community At A Time” to bring medical services directly to our residents in Hallandale Beach. The hospital wants to not just help residents, they plan to stay in the community for an entire year if not longer. Memorial Healthcare Systems understands that when people do not take care of their health it has far-reaching implications. Many of us put off seeing the doctor. We miss Tests and Basic Preventive Care. Children miss their Health Checkups too. All too often people simply cannot afford care. This leads to High Blood Pressure and Diabetes and other serious ailments. It has been documented that in underserved areas there is a greater risk of Diabetes and Hypertension. Preventive Health Care is proven to reduce hospital stays. It seems counter intuitive that hospital administration would want to keep people out of the hospital but with insurance controls and managed care the longer people are in the hospital they do not get reimbursed. In our health system this costs us all money and drives up the cost of Health Care. PAL has finally moved into the Foster Park Center. PAL is not simply about sports anymore. They are now The Police Activity League. They are doing many activities. They have already hosted arts and crafts, leadership training and anti-bullying programs just to name a few. They have a wonderful blueprint to move forward and work side by side with our residents. With this new partnership the stars have aligned and the sky's the limit. The partnership will ensure that our local children have healthcare. The timing also could not be more perfect as they have decided to host the Grand Opening of the PAL Offices at Foster Park. This saved money for PAL and allowed them to roll out the new medical services. Weekly they plan to have their mobile unit and utilize Foster Park for doctor visits. This site will only be for our residents. This is for ALL residents within our boundaries. There is no need for insurance. Actually, if you do not have insurance they will help individuals apply for Medicare and Medicaid. They will not turn individuals away but send them to their hometown. For example, if you live in West Park they have a location there. Same for Hollywood, Pembroke Park, Miramar and Pembroke Pines. The program is not just simply a doctor visit, but it is for all care. Pediatrics, Gynecology, Mental Health Care and Testing. There is also a plan to visit our schools with the mobile van. Once a week the program will be at Foster Park, located at 609 Northwest Sixth Avenue and Foster Road for at least a year. There will be no drugs on the vans or at Foster Park due to safety. The doctors will assist patients for access to their needs through the hospital. If you have issues with transportation, please know our minibus provides services at the park. Join us on Saturday, May 20th, 2023 at Foster Park for the FREE Grand Opening Kickoff from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be food, entertainment, face painting and much more for all ages. Storm Update Federal Aid is now available for residents and businesses impacted by the historic flooding. There are three ways to apply. Online at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov on the FEMA App and by calling: 1 (800) 621-FEMA 1 (800) 621-3362. Our residents also can visit our website at: www.cohb.org where we have set up a resource link to all agencies helping the victims. My heart and prayers go out to those impacted. As noted we were not the reporting agency for damaged property, so if you are still having problems, please feel free to reach out to me at: jcooper@cohb.org . Or call my Cell/Text at: (954) 632-5700. As always, I am available for your questions, concerns and ideas to help make our City a better place. Please feel free to reach out to me at my office at: (954) 457-1318. On my Cell/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or email me at: jcooper@cohb.org . < Previous News Next News >

Opening Coconuts with the Gardener and my Brother By Ira Liebowitz March 7, 2024 Share Let’s go back, back through a mist of time to dreamy nostalgia. I am in bright sunshine surrounded by lush greenery - crotons, hibiscus - the pink-green elephant ear plants - - not from the Serengeti - - outside a South Florida apartment. Look up high, higher to the tops of Sabel Palms with frondly foliage of dark, lush green enshrouding its fruit: varying shades of maturity: yellow, gold, olive-green Coconuts. Alongside me is a vital, vivacious, ebullient and keen - yes, wise despite his youth - that was, he was, my twin brother, Alan. Now, Alan was brilliant, having an insight into humane nature for beyond his chronological years. Say, thirty years, his astral age. His actual age: six. Oh, back to coconuts. By the white sidewalk lining our garden stood tall, stately those bundles - like over-sized verdant grapes - prized epicurean treats of which patties are covered in chocolate and sold in two-packs at five-and tens and tourist souvenir shops. Sometimes these enviable edibles, these coveted coconuts (how’s that for alliteration?!) fell to the ground - kerplunk! - for the taking. Again, Alan was beyond his years. Probably all of four-foot and, say, tree-score pounds. “Could you open this for us?” politely he’d ask the gardener, with no small degree of reverence. Probably Gene was clad in blue overalls - not like Captain Kangaroo’s sideman, Mr. Greenjeans. This strong, thoughtful man whose lean fingers perhaps with calluses borne from great toil; his skin, nearly as close to jet black as imaginable. From a leather tool belt Gene disengaged first, if memory is right, a solid steel wrench. A second tool, his trusty clawed hammer with which in delicate, graceful swipes, flick the pink-brown husks, the pithy pulp, from the coconut. Five or six such swipes freed the enveloped fruit. The ease at which Gene performed this arduous task held the two little boys spellbound. I don’t recall the details of this gentleman, save for a lanky physique and a white, broad smile in contrast, in relief, to skin which took on a sheen of polished ebony. Did I mention that Alan had not a prejudiced bone in his little body? And an innate common sense. “Don’t ask mom to buy that bow and arrow, Ira. We can’t afford it,” he confided. He, who’d tied his shoes before I could, who’d instructed me in kindergarten where to find the puzzles and toys and start me coloring. From nowhere, out of the blue, the worst form of brain cancer had struck and ravaged my brother. Years later mom confided to me how Alan had worn a luminous smile after awakening for a month-long coma after surviving surgery. “Why are you smiling?” she’d then inquired. “Don’t be sad, mom,” this valiant boy responded. “I smile because I want you to be happy!” There are those few angelic beings who walk among us. Those tapped into the crucible of love and kindness and goodness to all. Those who stand stalwart for unity and brother/sisterhood. Like Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King .. Like Gene, the gardener, and like Alan. May we learn from the legacy of such quiet heroes and, during Black History Month, reflect on the goodness that unites us all. < Previous News Next News >

It's All Happening This May: At The Broward Center For The Performing Arts May 9, 2024 Share Singer Shemekia Copeland and Whee In 1st World Tour as well as The Classical Mystery Tour join Comics Jim Jeffries and the duo from the Reality Gays Podcast at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this month. The venue also showcases students in three productions and offers two events designed to welcome children and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other sensitivity issues or developmental disabilities. Check out what's happening, they have it all this month. Self-professed “Southern Queens,” Jake Anthony and Matt Marr bring the Reality Gays Podcast “If You Can Dream It” to the Abdo New River Room on Friday, May 10th at 8:00 p.m. as part of The Truist Comedy Series. The duo adores reality shows about lonely hearts looking for love and are here to dish like your gay BFF. They recap it all including TLC's 90 Day Fiancé and Seeking Sister Wives as well as Netflix’s Love is Blind and other shows featuring people who are just hot messes looking for love. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Performance Project present Mean Girls, High School Version performed by students of the Youth Teen Spring Musical class grades 9-12, in the Amaturo Theater on Friday, May 10th at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 11th at 8:00 p.m. Based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls and adapted from Tina Fey's 2004 blockbuster film and the Broadway smash hit with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, Mean Girls High School Version is a fearless musical about chasing popularity and being true to yourself. When a high school student moves to suburban Illinois, she is confronted with the wild and vicious ways of the school’s popularity pecking order. When she goes undercover to end the popular girls’ hateful rule, the lines between her real and pretend selves become blurred and she must find her way back to herself and her true friends. This show features students from the Performance Project and the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center at the Broward Center. Mean Girls High School Version is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. The Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles comes to the Au-Rene Theater as part of The Allegro Fort Lauderdale Mosaic Series on Saturday, May 11th at 8:00 p.m. Experience over two dozen of The Beatles’ greatest hits, transcribed note-for-note and performed as originally recorded, with the South Florida Symphony Orchestra and four musicians who look and sound just like the original Fab Four! Hear “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section, experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with acoustic guitar and string quartet, enjoy the classical/rock blend on “I Am the Walrus,” relish the cascading orchestral crescendo on “A Day in the Life,” and so much more. It’s the best of The Beatles, from the early years on through the solo years, accompanied by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestra Sebrina Alfonso. No experience is necessary to enjoy the interactive and engaging All Abilities event on Sunday, May 12th at 11:00 a.m. in the JM Family Studio and the David & I. Lorraine Thomas Creative Learning Suites. The class will be divided into one for ages 4-14 and another for those 15 and older. The event is followed by refreshments. All Abilities classes are made possible with support from the Taft Foundation. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Outback Presents bring comic Jim Jeffries in the “Give ‘em What They Want” Tour to the Au-Rene Theater on Saturday, May 18th at 7:00 p.m. One of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, he has made fans with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy. Honored as Stand-Up Comedian of the Year at the Just for Laughs Festival in summer 2019, Jeffries’ ninth stand up special Intolerant came out on Netflix last year and he currently hosts his own podcast I Don't Know About That with Jim Jefferies. He has also appeared on Legit on FX and The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and South Florida Cappies, Inc. present the 22nd Annual Cappies Awards celebrating outstanding achievement in high school theater on Tuesday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater. Nominees from 26 schools in Broward and Palm Beach will compete for the awards in 48 categories recognizing performers, orchestras, designers, technicians, publicists and critics. Modeled after Broadway's Tony Awards, the Cappies Awards will feature songs and scenes from the top-nominated shows. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts has been selected by Music Theater International (MTI) to be among the first in the country to produce DreamWorks Theatricals Trolls the Musical Jr., a brand-new original musical prior to its official release. The musical will be presented in the Amaturo Theater at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 23rd and Friday, May 24th. Broward Center students will perform in the musical under the direction of Broward Center artist-in-residence Tammy Holder. Audiences will join Poppy and her merry band of Trolls in a brand-new musical adventure set after the events of the first film. In the vibrant land of Berganland, trouble brews when a strict foreign emissary threatens to disrupt the cheerful world where the Trolls love to sing, dance and perform. With the threat of being turned into a diplomatic dish by a vengeful Chef looming over them, Poppy and her friends must revamp their show to meet the high expectations. This fun-filled, cheeky romp that only the Trolls can deliver features catchy songs, lively dances, uproarious comedy and, of course, plenty of vivid colors. Guests are invited to come early to participate in free activities for the whole family. Pre-show activities include friendship bracelet arts and crafts, a Trolls-themed selfie station, giveaways and a Trolls costume contest. A special sensory-inclusive performance of DreamWorks Theatricals Trolls the Musical Jr. will take place on Saturday, May 25th at 10:30 a.m. At the sensory-inclusive performance, guests will enjoy pre-show activities with Young At Art and a post-show meet and greet with the cast. This performance creates a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other sensitivity issues or developmental disabilities. An area adjacent to the theater has been designated as the ABA Centers of Florida Sensory Quiet Room with a specially trained therapist to provide audience support. Award-Winning Blues, Soul, and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland performs in the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, May 25th at 8:00 p.m. Possessing one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time, she is known worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music. Delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion, she won the 2021 Blues Music Award as the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. On her new Alligator album, Done Come Too Far, Copeland continues the story she began telling on her groundbreaking America's Child and the Grammy-nominated Uncivil War, reflecting her vision of America's past, present and future. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts and AEG Presents bring the 2024 Whee In 1st World Tour: “Whee In the Mood [Beyond]” to the Au-Rene Theater on Wednesday, May 29th at 7:30 p.m. The first Mamamoo member to debut as a soloist, Whee In released the album Magnolia in 2019, followed by Soar and the extended play releases Redd and Whee. Following her first studio album, IN the Mood, she is on a tour described as “the beginning of everything, ever changing. This place will pass the limits of yesterday and gift diversity.” Also in May, Vienna Trend Events LLC presents Fire of Anatolia, May 16th; Dance Now! Miami: Pop, May 17th; and Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center presents Israeli Dance Festival 24, May 26th. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org - Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222. In person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org - Subscribe to their channel at: www.YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter - And join the conversation with: #BrowardCenter. For more information, visit: www.BrowardCenter.org . < Previous News Next News >

A Blessing Of the Animals: Honoring Saint Francis At The Humane Society Of Broward County October 5, 2023 Share Every pet owner knows the joy and comfort that their furry, feathered, or scaled companions bring into their lives. These beloved animals become an integral part of our families, offering unconditional love and companionship. In celebration of these cherished bonds and in honor of the Feast of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals, the Humane Society of Broward County invites all pet parents and their four-legged friends to a heartwarming event – the Blessing of the Animals. The Blessing of the Animals is a time-honored tradition that has been celebrated for centuries in various cultures around the world. It is a day when pet owners gather to seek blessings for their beloved animals, expressing gratitude for the joy and comfort they bring into their lives. This special event takes place on Sunday, October 8th, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Memorial Garden, located on the far east side of the Humane Society of Broward County, situated at 2070 Griffin Road, just west of I-95. The Franciscan Friars of the Parish of Saints Francis & Clare will conduct the Blessing, adding a spiritual touch to this meaningful gathering. The choice of Saint Francis as the patron saint of animals is fitting, as he is known for his deep love and respect for all living creatures, believing them to be part of God's creation. This event serves as a beautiful testament to his legacy and teachings. All Pets Welcome One of the most heartwarming aspects of the Blessing of the Animals is the inclusivity it offers. Pets of all kinds are welcome to participate, from dogs and cats to birds, rabbits, and even reptiles. The event recognizes that love knows no bounds and extends to all our animal companions. However, for the safety and comfort of all participants, it is essential to have your pet in a secure carrier or on a leash. This ensures that every pet and owner can enjoy the event in a peaceful and controlled manner. No RSVP Required The Blessing of the Animals is a gathering of like-minded individuals who share a common love for their pets. There's no need to RSVP for this heartwarming event – just show up with your furry friend and an open heart. The emphasis is on coming together as a community to celebrate our shared love for animals and the joy they bring to our lives. Special Blessing For Those With Needs The Humane Society of Broward County understands that some pet owners may have special needs or unique circumstances that make attending the Blessing a challenge. In consideration of this, Father Joe will conduct a second blessing in the parking lot at 3:30 p.m. This thoughtful gesture ensures that everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their circumstances. Supporting A Worthy Cause The Humane Society of Broward County is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. Their mission is to provide shelter, care, and advocacy for animals in need. They rely solely on donations from individuals and companies who share their commitment to animal welfare. Unlike many other organizations, they receive no government funding, making their work even more reliant on the support of the community. By attending the Blessing of the Animals event, you are not only celebrating the bond you share with your pets but also contributing to a worthy cause. Your presence and support help the Humane Society continue its vital work in rescuing, caring for, and finding forever homes for animals in need. So, mark your calendars for Sunday, October 8th, from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and head over to the Humane Society of Broward County's Memorial Garden with your furry, feathered, or scaled friend. No RSVP is required, and all pets are welcome, provided they are secured in carriers or on leashes. Come and be part of this beautiful tradition, receive a blessing for your animal companion, and support the vital work of the Humane Society of Broward County in caring for animals in need. It's a day of love, unity, and gratitude for our special furry friends, and it's an event you won't want to miss. < Previous News Next News >

Free Swim Lessons For Kids: YMCA of South Florida Receives $150,000 Grant May 24, 2024 Share The YMCA of South Florida received a grant for $150,000 from POOLCORP during an event at the Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center pool. Among the dignitaries in attendance for this announcement was YMCA of South Florida President & CEO Sheryl A. Woods, COO Tara Montenaro, POOLCORP Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer Jennifer M. Neil, POOLCORP Corporate Finance Manager Christy Bloom, Vice-Chairman of POOLCORP’s Board of Directors Manuel Perez de la Mesa, Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy as well as five Hollywood City Commissioners. POOLCORP, the leading global wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and outdoor living products, is built on the belief that everyone should know how to swim. Since 2021, its SWIMPACT Program has provided more than $4 million in water safety funding – enabling more than 42,000 children to learn to swim, and training more than 3,000 lifeguards. This grant will allow the YMCA of South Florida to provide at least 1,200 kids in South Florida free swim lessons, in addition to the 25,000 that it already offers annually. Swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% in 1–4-year-olds, emphasizing the importance of this life-changing skill. In 2023, Florida led the nation with 97 reported fatal drownings. For every fatal drowning, seven more nonfatal drownings require hospitalization and medical support, often leaving long-term impacts on victims. “Great partners are the key to making community-based programs available to all,” said YMCA of South Florida President & CEO Sheryl A. Woods. “This generous grant from POOLCORP will help us achieve our goal of teaching as many kids to swim as possible. This also supports our mission that the YMCA does not turn anyone away for the inability to pay, especially when it comes to a life-changing skill such as swim lessons. POOLCORP shares many of our values and objectives when it comes to water safety and drowning prevention, and together, this grant will enable us to make a lasting impact in South Florida.” “This year, we are thrilled to add the YMCA of South Florida to our growing list of participating YMCAs within the SWIMPACT! program,” said Jenn Neil, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of POOLCORP. “As a company, we are committed to supporting future swimmers in communities across the country, and the YMCA of South Florida is the perfect partner to fulfill our joint mission to ensure all children are given an opportunity to learn how to swim,” Neil added. Local YMCA of South Florida Locations • Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center 3161 Taft St Hollywood, FL 33021 - 954-989-9622 • Pembroke Pines YMCA Family Center 501 SW 172nd Ave Pembroke Pines, FL 33029 - 954-727-9622 • Hallandale Beach YMCA Family Center 501 SE 1st Ave Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 - 954-889-9622 For more information on all of the YMCA of South Florida’s aquatics programs, please visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org/aquatics. POOLCORP POOLCORP is the world's largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related backyard products. POOLCORP operates approximately 440 sales centers in North America, Europe and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers. For more information, please visit: www.poolcorp.com YMCA of South Florida  For more than a century, the YMCA has been woven into the fabric of the South Florida community. As an award-winning nonprofit, the Y is committed to strengthening community through more than 200 programs serving everyone from six months old to 100 years young. Our Family Centers and programs are inclusive, vibrant hubs of community life, offering a diverse array of classes, cutting-edge fitness facilities, life-saving aquatics, exciting community events, unforgettable camps, supportive afterschool care, and holistic health and wellness programming. At the Y, there’s something for everyone. Join the movement visit: www.YMCASouthFlorida.org < Previous News Next News >

March Roars And Soars With Broadway Hits, Musical Legends, Comedy And Family Fun February 13, 2025 Share March roars in like “The Lion King” and breezes through with a show-stopping lineup of music, theater, comedy and family fun that will inspire, entertain and delight audiences all month long at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, from the Broadway smash hit “Something Rotten!” to musical legends The Beach Boys and John Waite, a tribute to Cream, Ari Shapiro in a cabaret-style solo show, sensory-inclusive magic with Kevin Spencer, a family-friendly musical with storybook characters Elephant and Piggie, stand-up comedy with Carlos Ballarta, an immersive murder mystery on foot and much more. Musical legends The Beach Boys will rock the Amaturo Theater in a rare, intimate performance during the Broward Performing Arts Foundation’s Annual Celebration and Benefit, presented by Charles and Laura Palmer on Saturday, March 1st at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the Annual Celebration benefit the Broward Center’s education and enrichment programs. The full evening of festivities begins with a cocktail reception and pre-show dinner followed by The Beach Boys performance and a post-show party with The Weedline Band. The Beach Boys have been giving out good vibrations for more than half a century with a torrent of hit singles and albums that number in the tens of millions. Hits such as “Surfin’ USA,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo” and “California Girls" have made this band Rock and Roll royalty for music lovers everywhere. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago and John Wedemeyer, continue the legacy of the iconic band. This concert will not feature Brian Wilson, Al Jardine or David Marks. Tables of ten and individual tickets are available. Visit: www.BrowardCenter.org/support - Or email: Foundation@BrowardCenter.org for information about buying table sponsorships and tickets to this event. In this musical tribute celebrating the legendary music of their fathers, Sons of Cream, featuring Kofi Baker, Malcolm Bruce and Rob Johnson, comes to the Amaturo Theater on Sunday, March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in a performance presented by the Broward Center. Ginger's son Kofi Baker and Jack's son Malcolm Bruce are joined by Ginger's grandnephew Rob Johnson in performing Cream classics as well as select songs from other related bands of the period, such as Blind Faith, Ginger and Eric's band with Steve Winwood and Ric Gretch. This is a not-to-be-missed concert of blistering Blues Rock performed by its true inheritors with the light, spirit, energy and audacity of the music of their fathers. The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale series presents Disney’s “The Lion King” Thursday, March 6th – Sunday, March 30th. On Broadway since 1997, there is simply nothing else like Disney’s “The Lion King.” Join the more than 100 million people around the world who have experienced the entire Serengeti come to life as never before with awe-inspiring visual artistry, unforgettable music and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage. Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, “The Lion King” brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-Winning Director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. “The Lion King” also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-Winning Choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, including “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” and “Hakuna Matata,” crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Performance times vary. The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale 2024/2025 Season is made possible with the generous support of title sponsor Bank of America. Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale is presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Guests can enhance their experience at Disney’s “The Lion King” by adding the Pride Rock Buffet, located inside: https://www.browardcenter.org/visit/dining/martis - The pre-show buffet dining experience is conveniently located on the Broward Center campus. The family friendly culinary feast features a buffet of succulent starters and entrees inspired by the flavors of African cuisine. Includes a dessert bar with selections of fresh fruit, berries, assorted cookies and brownies. Buffet service begins 2 1/2 hours before show time. Prices are $40 for adults and $20 for children 10 and under when purchased in advance or $5 more at the door. Beverages and gratuity are not included. Audiences will enjoy a hilarious, moving and uplifting evening of songs and stories when the Broward Center presents Ari Shapiro in Thank You for Listening in the Amaturo Theater on Friday, March 7th at 8:00 p.m. One of the most recognized and beloved American storytellers, Shapiro (NPR, Pink Martini) returns to the stage with a new cabaret solo show that adapts tales from his best-selling memoir “The Best Strangers in the World” into an evening of stories and songs about the power of listening to bridge divides. “I’ve used the phrase ‘Thank you for listening’ to mean so many things,” Shapiro says. “It’s versatile, sort of like shalom, aloha or bless your heart.” In this show with music direction by Henry Koperski, Shapiro shares behind-the-scenes stories of flying on Air Force One and reporting from war zones, imparts lessons he learned from his fortune teller grandmother, and recites selected excerpts from his treasured collection of hate mail – all in an exploration of the profound difference that merely listening to one another can have on the world. With songs from Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Stephen Sondheim and Rufus Wainwright, among many others, audiences will leave Thank You For Listening feeling more hopeful about the world around them and may never listen to “All Things Considered” in quite the same way again. The Magic of Kevin Spencer: A Sensory-Inclusive Performance comes to the Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom with a post-show meet and greet on Saturday, March 8th at 11:00 am. The award-winning magician delivers a fun-filled show that combines storytelling, stage magic and audience participation in a show for the entire family. Intended to create a welcoming and supportive environment for children and adults on the Autism Spectrum as well as individuals with other sensitivity issues or developmental disabilities, this performance features slight adjustments including reduced sound levels, no flashing or strobe lights and minimal special effects. An area adjacent to the theater has been designated as the ABA Centers of Florida Sensory Quiet Room with a specially trained therapist to provide audience support. Patrons may bring their own headphones, fidgets and other calming items into the theater or borrow these items at the theater. The Broward Center's sensory-inclusive programming is made possible through the generous support of ABA Centers of Florida, The Batchelor Foundation, The Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust, Nicklaus Children's Hospital and The Taft Foundation with special thanks to UM-NSU CARD for their in-kind support. Elephant & Piggie's “We Are in a Play!,” a rollicking musical adventure ripped from the pages of Mo Willems' beloved, award-winning, best-selling children's books, comes to the Amaturo Theater. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, "bestus" friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Not worried at all, Piggy is happier and more excited than usual because they are invited to a party hosted by the Squirrelles, three singing squirrels who love to have a good time. The production is presented on Saturday, March 15th at 1:00 p.m. as part of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Imagination Series, which offers a passport to a fun-filled adventure with a host of family-friendly productions, and Thursday, March 20th at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as a Smart Stage Matinee, recommended for pre-K(4) – grade level 2. Smart Stage Matinee performances are ideal for charter, private, public and parochial school students and home-school networks. These educational performances are curriculum-driven and align with Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards. Free study guides called “Curriculum Connections” are available to download on the Broward Center’s website. This production offers an optional added Smart Stage Plus interactive learning experience, a 30-minute workshop featuring a Broward Center teaching artist. Skip the classroom and step into a night of American history-telling, live music and multimedia when the Broward Center presents History That Doesn’t Suck! With Professor Greg Jackson in the Amaturo Theater on Saturday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. Adapted from the top-ranked history podcast, Professor Jackson tells the epic tale of “The Unlikely Union,” weaving defining moments in American history (1754-1865) into a thrilling narrative of the struggle and triumph of a young nation to form, define and reform itself. Audiences will travel back in time through epic storytelling of familiar and unsung real characters from history and return with real context for today. The iconic family-favorite board game comes to life when the Broward Center presents CLUE: A Walking Mystery!, an interactive and immersive experience Thursday, March 20th – Sunday, April 6th; times vary. Anyone who has ever wanted to solve a cold murder case, inhabit the world of Clue and unravel its mystery like a real detective now has the chance with this real-life version of the beloved board game. In this version, the murder was never solved, the mansion sold, and the furniture from all nine rooms has been auctioned off and scattered throughout a specified area. Players must find the furniture at local businesses and solve puzzles within them to figure out who did it where and with what. This outdoor experience begins on foot at the Broward Center’s Peck Courtyard and stretches across Las Olas Boulevard, involving approximately 1.5 miles of walking. Ticket holders are urged to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the appropriate weather conditions. The Broward Center and Outback Presents bring the Spanish-language stand-up comedy show Carlos Ballarta: Tlatoani to the Amaturo Theater on Friday, March 21st at 7:00 p.m. Born in Mexico City in 1990 and raised in Chicoloapan, a borough in the Metropolitan area, stand-up comedian and actor Ballarta began his artistic career as a voice actor, first taking the open mic in 2012. Due to his fear of looking audiences in the eye, he started wearing glasses, which has since become his signature look. In 2014, Ballarta became a fan favorite with his debut on Comedy Central Latam. Since then, he has taped three Netflix specials and has toured around Mexico, Latin America, the U.S., Canada and Europe. He has also appeared on many films and TV shows as an actor, comedian and voice actor, positioning Ballarta as one of the most recognizable faces in the growing Spanish-speaking stand up scene. A father of two, Ballarta is an advocate of diversity in the Mexican entertainment industry. His three stand up Netflix specials, “El Amor es de Putos,” “Furia Ñera” and “Falso Profeta” are a testament to his beliefs. The Cleveland Clinic Rock Series continues when the Broward Center presents John Waite: The Golden Voice of Rock Tour on Saturday, March 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater. During The Golden Voice of Rock tour, English singer and songwriter Waite performs his catalog of hits from his 40-year career. As a solo artist and as the lead singer of The Baby’s and Bad English, Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the '70s and '80s. He has a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, occasionally touching on new wave-styled power pop as well. Waite’s catalog of hits feature some of the most loved songs of the '80s and '90s. The number one worldwide hit “Missing You,” The Babys’ “Isn’t It Time” and Bad English’s “When I See You Smile” rank among some of his biggest international hits and are still heard on the radio today. Other hits include “Tears,” “Change,” “These Times Are Hard For Lovers,” “Every Step Of The Way” and “If Anybody Had A Heart.” The Electric Light Orchestra Experience featuring Evil Woman, the American ELO, comes to the Amaturo Theater as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series on Sunday, March 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Delivering the chance to experience what it would be like to see and hear an Electric Light Orchestra concert, this incredible show with a sensational string section accurately reproduces ELO smash hits including "Mr. Blue Sky," "Telephone Line" and "Evil Woman." Not content with just one day, Slow Burn Theatre Company delivers weeks of April foolishness in the Amaturo Theater with “Something Rotten!” Saturday, March 29th – Sunday, April 13th, including an open captioned performance on Sunday, April 6th at 2:00 p.m. Proclaimed “Broadway’s big, fat hit!” by the New York Post and nominated for 10 Tony Awards, this hilarious smash journeys back to 1595 as brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom compete to write a hit play against the popularity of the insufferable superstar Shakespeare. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, they set out to write the world’s first musical. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, the musical added up to a winner with New York Magazine proclaiming it “’The Producers’ + ‘The Book of Mormon’ x ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ Squared!” Performance times vary. Slow Burn Theatre Company’s 2024/2025 Season is supported by American National Bank and Visit Lauderdale. Major support of Slow Burn Theatre Company is provided by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Cultural Council, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Visit Lauderdale. Also at the Broward Center in March: Broadway in Fort Lauderdale: Disney’s The Lion King from March 6th – March 30th; Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida: Dancing Prokofiev and Ravel from March 8th – March 9th; Symphony of the Americas: Courage & Resilience on March 11th & March 16th; South Florida Symphony Orchestra on March 12th; and Gold Coast Jazz: Warren Wolf Quintet on March 12th. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center and The Parker. Buy tickets online at: www.BrowardCenter.org - Or: www.Ticketmaster.com - By phone at: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 Southwest Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312. For more information visit: www.BrowardCenter.org - Like us on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenter - And at: www.Facebook.com/BrowardCenterEducation - Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @BrowardCenter. Subscribe to our channel at: www.YouTube.com/user/BrowardCenter - And join the conversation with: #BrowardCenter. The Broward Center 2024/2025 Season is supported by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, AutoNation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Spirit and Nicklaus Children’s Health System. < Previous News Next News >

Dania After Dark Returns With An Oktoberfest Beerfest Tue Sep 19 2023 16:03:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Hijacking Religion - How The Pentagon Turned The Sermon On The Mount Into A War Manual By John & Nisha Whitehead Apr 9, 2026 The Language Of Modern Government Is The Language Of The Empire. It is the language of domination, retaliation, conquest and control—of enemies to be crushed, nations to be subdued, and dissenters to be silenced. Under the Trump Administration, the language of empire has also been imbued with a religious fervor that recasts Jesus Christ—not as a peacemaker—but as a mascot for power, conquest and control. War has been dressed up in patriotism. Wrapped in Scripture. Called “righteous.” Marketed as “peace through strength.” But this is not a holy war. It is a political war dressed up as holy. Despite the pageantry—crosses held aloft, prayers offered from podiums, politicians invoking God while demanding loyalty—the values animating America’s wars and power plays bear no resemblance to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus said: Love your enemies. The government says: destroy them. Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers. The government says: blessed are the war-makers. Jesus said: Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. The government cages the poor, criminalizes the homeless, bombs the foreigner, and calls it security. This is not a misunderstanding of Christianity. It is a deliberate rewriting of it. Consider the prayer offered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon worship service: “Let every round find its mark… Give … overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” No mercy. Spoken in the name of the Prince of Peace. This is not faith. This is blasphemy baptized in nationalism. It is the hijacking of religion to sanctify violence—the turning of the Sermon on the Mount into a war manual. It is also an attempt to recast modern warfare as a holy war—sanctioned by God, justified by faith, and beyond moral reproach. That idea is as unconstitutional as it is un-Christian. And it raises a constitutional question that should alarm every American, regardless of faith. The First Amendment was designed to prevent exactly this kind of fusion of church and state power. It protects the free exercise of religion—but it also forbids the government from establishing, endorsing or advancing religion. There is a difference between religious freedom and religious indoctrination. There is a difference between private belief and state-sponsored theology. When government officials invoke God to justify violence, when military power is cloaked in religious language, when prayer becomes a tool of state policy—we are no longer dealing with freedom of religion. We are staring at the early stages of religious establishment. History has shown us where that road leads. As Thomas Jefferson warned, the Constitution erects a “wall of separation between church and state” precisely to prevent this kind of fusion of political power and religious authority. When the government begins to speak in the language of divine mandate, that wall is already being breached. And more to the point—it is the very abuse of religion that Jesus Himself stood against. Jesus did not preach “overwhelming violence.” He did not bless the empire. He did not anoint governments to kill in His name. And yet today, we are told that violence brings peace, domination ensures security, and revenge is strength. What we are witnessing is not Christianity. It is Christian nationalism—a counterfeit religion that wraps political power in religious language and calls it holy. It is idolatry of the nation masquerading as devotion to God. Christians are not called to identify with power, but to speak truth to power—even at great cost. Yet today, far too many churches have traded prophecy for proximity to power. They have exchanged the cross for the flag. And in the process, the message of Jesus is hollowed out. Stripped of its challenge. Neutralized. Because the real Jesus is dangerous to power. He doesn’t flatter kings. He confronts them. Jesus was not crucified for being polite. He was executed as a threat. To the authorities of his day—both religious and political—Jesus was a destabilizing force. He challenged the legitimacy of power built on coercion, greed and violence. He exposed hypocrisy. He disrupted systems of exploitation. And for that, the empire killed Him. Crucifixion was not just execution. It was a warning. This is what happens to those who refuse to submit. Which raises a question modern Christians would rather avoid: If Jesus walked into today’s halls of power—into the Pentagon, the White House, the halls of Congress—would He be welcomed? Or would He be surveilled, silenced, labeled a threat? Would He bless drone strikes and military parades? Or overturn tables? Or would he be told, as Americans increasingly are, to comply, submit, obey and defer to authority? Because the version of Christianity now being sold to the public is not one of resistance to injustice, but one of obedience to power. The Jesus of the Gospels was not aligned with the empire. “I was hungry… I was a stranger… I was in prison…” Not: I was powerful, and you defended me. Yet today’s political religion flips that script. It exalts power. It sanctifies wealth. It demands loyalty to the state. And it calls this inversion of the Gospel “faith.” But Jesus was clear: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” There is no footnote that says—except in matters of national security. This is the great moral crisis of our time. Not just that the government wages endless war, but that it dares to do so in the name of God—and too many cheer it on. The early Christians understood something we have forgotten. Their allegiance was not to Rome. It was not to Caesar. It was not due to the machinery of the empire. Their allegiance was to a higher law. And for that, they were persecuted, imprisoned, executed. They did not seek to control the empire. They refused to conform to it. Today, by contrast, much of the modern church has become indistinguishable from the power it once challenged. But the teachings of Jesus have not changed. They still confront us. They still demand something costly. They still refuse to be weaponized for political gain. So we are left with a choice. The Constitution was designed to guard against the union of political power and religious authority. As I make clear in Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, what we are witnessing today is not just a theological failure—it is a constitutional one. Editor’s Note: John Whitehead is an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law, human rights and popular culture. John Whitehead's commentary are his views and he is open for discussion, he can be contacted at: johnw@rutherford.org . Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at: www.rutherford.org Previous Next

23rd Annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival: 500+ Chefs Will Come Together In South Florida February 22-25 November 17, 2023 Share Tickets are officially on sale for one of the biggest, most star-studded, and delicious wine and food charity festivals in the country: the 23rd Annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®). Taking place February 22nd, 2024 - February 25th, 2024, the four-day Festival will return with more than 105 events, Food Network’s biggest stars, Grammy-Winning Musicians, today’s biggest lifestyle personalities and more than 500+ Chefs and Wine and Spirit Producers who will come together for an unforgettable celebration as the Magic City transforms into the ultimate culinary playground. “The Festival is as much a showcase of great food and drink as it is a celebration of the spirit of Miami,” says Lee Brian Schrager, Festival Founder and Director. “The magical setting of Miami is as much a secret to the Festival’s success as the amazing local, national and international talent that brings fans back year after year. It’s amazingly rewarding to see the Festival that started on the campus of FIU as an international stage that benefits the school nurturing the great hospitality leaders of the future.” So what fan favorites are returning? Of course, it wouldn’t be SOBEWFF® without the Festival’s two iconic open-air tasting tents – American Airlines North Venue and Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village – returning to South Beach’s sublime stretch of sand for two days and four nights of the nation’s most talented chefs and lifestyle personalities, all supported by more than 1,500 student volunteers from Florida International University. Here's a taste of what you can expect: • Rachael Ray returns to host the 17th Annual Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® (Thursday, February 22nd 2024) • Guy Fieri will host Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE featuring more than 25 eateries from the hit show. (Friday, February 23th, 2024) • Enjoy LIVE cooking demonstrations from Food Network personalities and explore three-blocks worth of delicious bites and drinks at the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast. (Saturday, February 24th, 2024 and Sunday, February 25th, 2024) • Aarón Sánchez will host Tacos & Tequila presented by Tequila Cazadores featuring more than 25 chefs serving up various iterations of Mexico’s most iconic dish. (Saturday, February 25th, 2024) • Andrew Zimmern and Melba Wilson will close out the Festival with BACARDĺ presents The Block Party with a special performance by Rev Run! (Sunday, February 26th, 2024) From Overtown and Wynwood to Hallandale Beach and the Miami Design District and all points in between, the 2024 Festival offers a carefully-curated series of events spotlighting the vibrant local cuisine and culture of these neighborhoods and the profoundly important role they have had in shaping South Florida today. Event highlights: • A Taste of Italy hosted by Dario Cecchini, Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabriele Bertaccini part of the Miami Design District Event Series (Thursday, February 22nd, 2024) • Steak and Whiskey hosted by Michael Symon part of the Miami Design District Event Series (Friday, February 23rd, 2024) • The Cookout presented by Stella Artois hosted by JJ Johnson (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Chicken Coupe: Fried Chicken and Champagne hosted by Kardea Brown part of the Miami Design District Event Series (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Hallandale Beach Food & Groove: A Wine, Food and Art Experience part of the Hallandale Beach Event Series (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • A Feast of Local Flavors sponsored by Grove Bay Hospitality Group & Friends part of The Hangar Event Series presented by Capital One (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Overtown EatUp! hosted by Marcus Samuelsson (Sunday, February 25th, 2024) • Farmer’s Market Brunch hosted by Michael Schwartz part of the Miami Design District Event Series (Sunday, February 25th, 2024) The Festival’s crown jewel, Tribute Dinner part of The New York Times Dinner Series, will take place on Saturday, February 24th, 2024 and will pay homage to two luminaries who have left an indelible mark on the realm of hospitality. The Italian affair will honor culinary virtuoso Massimo Bottura, along with Luca Garavoglia of Campari Group. The effervescent Rachael Ray will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and a world-class roster of chefs including Alain Ducasse, Mauro Colagreco, Albert Adrià Acosta, Jordi Roca i Fontané, Antonio Bachour and Bernardo Paladini will serve up dishes to pair perfectly with some of the finest wines and spirits from the Campari portfolio. This year's Festival will feature more than 60 intimate gatherings – from seated Brunches and Lunches, to Master Classes, to Wine Seminars and one-night-only Intimate Dinners. These present attendees the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in the art of gastronomy, engage in meaningful conversations and intimately connect with their favorite chefs, local restaurateurs, vintners and mixologists. Each event will feature a variety of high-end wines and spirits from the Festival’s exclusive provider, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Highlights include: • Dinner hosted by Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo, Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi (Thursday, February 22nd, 2024) • Dinner hosted by Alon Shaya, Michael White and Michael Costa part of The New York Times Dinner Series (Friday, February 23rdm 2924) • BBQ-Making Master Class and Lunch hosted by Apocalypse BBQ part of Master Class Series presented by Capital One (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Pasta Omakase Lunch hosted by Fabio Trabocchi, Thomas McNaughton, Ryan Pollnow & Danny Ganem (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Champagne Lanson: Taste the Art of Blending, Crafted by Hervé Dantan Wine Spectator Wine Seminar (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Brunch hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Michael Beltran and Jose Mendin (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Dinner hosted by Valerie Chang, Chabela Coss and Ana Castro (Saturday, February 24th, 2024) • Beer-Making Master Class at Biscayne Bay Brewing Company part of Master Class Series presented by Capital One (Sunday, February 25th, 2024) • Drag Brunch hosted by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris featuring Mistress of Ceremonies Athena Dion and special performances by Ms.Alaska5000 and Willam Belli (Sunday, February 25th, 2024) To date, the Festival has raised more than $37 Million in support of its educational mission to cultivate future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). Between SOBEWFF® and its sister NYCWFF, more than $51 Million has been raised to benefit the respective charities of each Festival. Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining cultures of their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as a platform to drive awareness and engagement for a wide array of philanthropic activities. Tickets for the festival are On Sale NOW, with various options to suit your taste and budget at: www.sobewff.org - Stay up to date all year long by following along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. < Previous News Next News >

Resolving Tax Burdens and Building Community: Jesus Abikarram’s Lifetime Impact with Freedom Tax Resolution Fri Nov 15 2024 18:15:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Broadway Gets A Hilarious Twist With Spamilton: An American Parody - The Side-Splitting Musical Satire Lights Up The Stage At The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center Aventura Digest January 22, 2025 Share Described by The New York Times as “smart, silly and convulsively funny!” Spamilton: An American Parody will light up the stage at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center for four unforgettable performances on Friday, January 24th at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, January 25th at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, January 26th at 2:00 p.m. Presented by the City of Aventura, Spamilton: An American Parody will captivate audiences with an uproarious spoof that has enchanted audiences nationwide. Created by Gerard Alessandrini, the comic mastermind behind the long-running hit Forbidden Broadway, this fast-moving, laugh-out-loud parody features a versatile cast and is accompanied by hip-hop piano arrangements. The performance delivers a crash course in Broadway’s most iconic blockbusters, complete with razor-sharp celebrity satires and pop culture zingers. The fictitious story follows a very famous writer, director and star on a mission to save Broadway from mediocrity and oblivion. Along the way, audiences are treated to hysterical parodies of current mega-hits and cherished classics, making Spamilton a multi-generational delight. The New York Post calls it “the next best thing to seeing Hamilton,” while The Huffington Post assures, “You don’t have to see Hamilton to have side-splitting fun at Spamilton.” Whether you’re a Broadway aficionado or simply looking for an evening of infectious laughter, Spamilton: An American Parody promises a night to remember. These performances contain adult language or content. Tickets for Spamilton: An American Parody are on sale now. Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center. Buy tickets online at: www.aventuracenter.org - By phone at: (877) 311-7469. Or: (954) 462-0222. Or in person at the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center box office Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. Noon to 5:00 p.m. and 90 minutes prior to each performance. For Group Sales, please call: (954) 660-6307. The Aventura Arts & Cultural Center is located at 3385 Northeast 188th Street, Aventura, Florida 33180. Join the conversation, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram @aventuracenter or #aventuracenter. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts manages the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, a 14,864-Square-Foot, 330-Seat Waterfront Complex that hosts performing arts, cultural and educational programming for all ages. < Previous News Next News >

Head to Downtown Hollywood: Kick off the Holiday Season With Free Family Fun This Weekend November 17, 2023 Share Make plans to spend an evening full of free holiday family fun at the ArtsPark at Young Circle this Friday, November 17th. Arrive early and check out the Visual Arts Pavilion that hosts live glass blowing demonstrations. It’s that time of year - the Annual Tree Lighting takes place at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the tree lighting, the festive evening features holiday music and a special appearance by Santa, Admission is FREE! Artspark Movie Night Spread out on the lawn this Friday, November 17th and watch the sequel to “The Santa Clause 2,” where Santa discovers that his run as Father Christmas will end if he doesn’t find Mrs. Claus. Showtime is on the Amphitheater stage at 8:00 p.m. Reminder: Single-use plastics and Styrofoam containers are prohibited at the ArtsPark, including plastic bottles and bags. For more information, please call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts at: (954) 921-3500. Downtown Hollywood Artwalk Start that holiday shopping, grab a bite to eat, or pop into an art gallery while enjoying art, cultural entertainment, live music and the murals at the Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. A FREE Guided Mural Tour begins at 6:00 p.m. at the information tent at the corner of 20th Avenue and Harrison Street. At 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., meet at the information tent and learn the stories behind the art and artists on a Gallery Tour guided by Evan Snow of Choose954. Live performances on the Main Stage at Harrison Street at 21st Avenue: • 6:00 p.m.: DJ Tony Tiru
• 8:00 p.m.: The Flyers The Downtown Hollywood Artisan Market at ArtWalk on Harrison Street between 20th and 21st Avenue, features pop-up shops, artist showcases, handmade items, local purveyors, vintage shopping and fun! At 10 p.m., catch an amazing sleight-of-hand performance by "Magic Jack" Maxwell at Cinema Paradiso at 2008 Hollywood Boulevard. Downtown Hollywood offers on-street metered parking for $1.50 per hour, as well as municipal garage parking for $1 per hour. Municipal garage location: 251 South 20th Avenue (between Harrison Street and Van Buren Street). Valet parking is available for a $10 flat rate Thursday - Sunday, 5:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m., and is conveniently located in front of 1932 Hollywood Boulevard. For additional information, please call: (954) 924-2980. Or visit: www.hollywoodcra.org/ArtWalk < Previous News Next News >