Autumn in Miami
As much as it pains me to say it, there is a lot to look forward to with the advent of "the season". That's right, I mean
tourist season. That time of year when South Florida is inundated with snowbirds, hedonists and, dare I say? Cultural events.
Yes, you read that correctly. In the next few weeks we have:
Vizcaya Halloween Party: A perennial favorite where the craziest costumes meet with open bars .
Opera season: You read that correctly. I am now a season ticket holder the Florida Grand Opera and I'm psyched! Aida is up first.
Ribfest 2006: See my previous post below. A whole weekend to celebrate ribs. Thank you, Homestead!
Miami-Dade Book Fair: Last year I attended this through a really nasty hangover and heard Maureen Dowd speak about her new book. Afterwards, I wandered the fairgrounds and picked up bunches of used books. It was almost like I lived in a normal, intellectual city ... at least until I crossed the causeway back to the intellectual wasteland that is South Beach.
Lots more to come, of course. I always find it amusing that during the summer, there is nary an event worth attending. But with the influx of tourists, the city puts on the greatest events imaginable. It
almost makes it worth living here.
"The Departed"
Starting off, what's not to love about a DiCaprio/Damon doubleheader? Throw in Nicholson for some diabolical humor and you've got a hit.
There's not much that can be said about this film that won't give away the plot, but I'll just say this -- it has a lot more to offer than just eye candy. Leo turned in a great performance. Matt was merely good, but it wasn't his fault -- he wasn't give much to work with here. Still, it was nice to see him return to his "Good Will Hunting" stomping grounds of South Boston in a look at what Will might have become had things turned out a little differently.
"The Departed" will keep you guessing until the end. And the end never quite seems to come. That's part of the beauty, I guess. So go see it!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Club Cinema, 10/12/06
Generally I don't gush about how cool girls are. But I've got to say that seeing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs live confirmed what I had long suspected: I want to be Karen O. when I grow up.
There are several problems with this aspiration, including that I'm already kind of grown-up, and Karen and I are the same age. But God-damn can that girl put on a show. AND she was wearing a silver romper. She probably gets to watch "The Price is Right" every day if she feels like it. The girl is living my dream.
S and I drove to Pompano to see the band at a newish venue called Club Cinema. I desperately wanted to see this show and sucked up the two hour roundtrip drive even though I had to wake up early the next morning and drive to Tampa for work. My attempt to see the YYYs had been thwarted once before two years ago when they, and Le Tigre, were supposed to play in Miami during Art Basel. For reasons unknown to me, the show was cancelled and I actually received a refund. Of course, this made me want to see the YYYs all the more.
The venue is a renovated old movie theater with a large mezzanine still in tact and large, tiered, open floor area. The place was crawling with Karen O. look-a-likes who looked far too trendy to be teenage South Florida residents. It was like Urban Outfitters vomited all over North Broward.
We missed the two opening bands because frankly, it was a Thursday night and we didn't care enough to leave work early. The band bounded on to the stage and started their set, one of the most high-energy performances I've ever seen. And they sounded as good as they look. Mostly they played material from the new album, which I don't like as much as "Fever to Tell" -- but they still played a bunch of their earlier songs -- "Maps" (of course, but a beautifully quiet, understated, almost a capella version); Y Control (my
favorite); "Date with the Night" and a choice between "Black Tongue" and "Tick" for the encore (the crowd chose "Tick" -- I was psyched). I had extremely high expectations for this show and they were completely surpassed.
Like I said - I don't usually gush about girls -- but Karen O. is one chick to deserves one.
