Thursday, Feb. 14
One Billion Rising (OBR): Join women, men and families in more than 180 countries and great American cities at 7 p.m. on Valentine’s Day to demand change, dance and RISE in defiance of the injustices women and girls suffer. The local event will take place under the stars at the New World Symphony Soundscape Park on South Beach, 500 17th St., Miami Beach. Contact Suzan McDowell at 305-490-9145 or email suzan@circleofonemarketing.com
BOLD! Student Luncheon: Miami Dade College’s Workforce Education program hosts a luncheon geared to attract more female and minority students into South Florida’s expanding transportation and supply chain industries, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Wolfson Campus’ Chapman Center, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Room 3210, Miami. For more information call Jorge Guerra, 305-237-7649.
Friday, Feb. 15
Chess Program Launch Weekend: Councilman Shelby L. Lowe is creating a multi-level, afterschool chess program in all of Riviera Beach’s elementary, middle and high schools and at several off-campus sites including the Municipal Library, in partnership with the U.S. Chess Federation. Planned events include the showing of Brooklyn Castle at 7 p.m.; and on Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., an all-day training workshop, with lunch, to teach the tenets of the game and draw connections to math, critical thinking and life skills. Free and open to the public at Suncoast High School, 1717 Ave. S, Riviera Beach.
Melton Mustafa in Concert: Join the renowned jazz icon and the Lion’s Pride and Negroni Trio, 7 p.m. at the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts at Florida Memorial University, 15800 N.W. 42nd Ave., Miami Gardens. Tickets $35 general admission, $15 with student ID. Call 305-626-3600.
Ayikodans: Haiti’s most prominent dance troupe is coming back to Miami for a triumphant celebration of its 25th anniversary season. at 7:30 p.m.; also Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. in the Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets $35. Call 305-949-6722 or visit arshtcenter.org
The Canterbury Tales Remixed: Combining virtuoso lyricism with physical theatre and dramatic storytelling, Chaucer’s best-loved tales come to life in an engaging, accessible and often hilarious hip-hop style. Showtime is 8 p.m. in the Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets $28. Call 561-832-7469 or visit kravis.org
Saturday, Feb. 16
Filter: Acclaimed Haitian-American classical violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) teams up with members of the Detroit-based Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, the only all Black and Latino orchestra, and The Harlem Chamber Players, for an explosive evening of music at 8 p.m. at South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 S.W. 211th St., Cutler Bay. Tickets $10 – $30. A select number of $5 Cultureshockmiami.com tickets are available for ages 13-22. Visit smdcac.org or call 786-573-5300.
Book Discussion: Priscilla Dames will take you on a journey of her experiences and collected artifacts and memorabilia from Africa to Cuba as she’s faced and resolved conflict, 3 p.m. at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale. The lecture, about her book, How to Survive When Your Ship is Sinking, will be filmed by Comcast Television. A release form is required of each member of the audience. RSVP by Feb. 12 toconflict@wingspanseminars.net and a film release form will be emailed to you.
Seventh Annual Duck Fest Derby: JM Family Enterprises Inc. presents the derby, 1 – 4 p.m. at Esplanade Park, 400 S.W. Second St., Fort Lauderdale. The ducks will race at 3:30 p.m. Ducks can be “adopted” for $5 each by visiting duckfestderby.org
Black History Month Annual Extravaganza: Celebrate Black History with entertainment, vendors and senior steppers, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 N.W. 22nd Ave. Miami. Call 305-375-4606.
The Rap Guide to Evolution: Enjoy a novel species of theatre combining the wit, poetry and charisma of Baba Brinkman, a rapper with the accuracy and rigor of a scientific expert, who uses hip-hop as a vehicle to communicate the facts of evolution while illuminating the origins and complexities of hip-hop culture with Darwin as the inspiration, 8 p.m. in the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Playhouse at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Tickets $28. Call 561-832-7469 or visit kravis.org
No More Broken Hearts: Miami Dade County Public School Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall invites the community to a domestic violence workshop, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Miami Jackson Senior High School, 1751 N.W. 36th St., Miami. Call 305-333-8154.
Sunday, Feb. 17
Live At Birdland: The Birdland Big Band, directed by the acclaimed drummer Tommy Igoe, will play at 7 p.m. at South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 S.W. 211th St., Cutler Bay. Tickets $25-$45. A select number of $5 Cultureshockmiami.com tickets available for ages 13-22. Visit smdcac.org or call 786-573-5300.
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Art Unites Cultures: Broward College hosts the opening reception of the Black History Month exhibit featuring the work of South Florida artists such as Jean-Jacques Alexi and Dinizulu Gene Tinnie, 6 – 8:30 p.m., 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., 12th floor Art Space, Fort Lauderdale. RSVP by Feb. 19 at 954-201-7470 or events@broward.edu
Thursday, Feb. 21
4th Annual Ascension Awards: The Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County celebrates the best in black business, 11:30 a.m. at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd. Tickets $50-$55, call or visit blackchamberpbc.com
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Led by dynamic Artistic Director Robert Battle, a Miami native, the renowned troupe returns at 8 p.m., also Friday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m., to Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Visit arshtcenter.org
Food-Raiser for Foster Kids: Zona Fresca will host a fundraiser to benefit ChildNet, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. at Zona Fresca, 1095 S. University Dr., Plantation. Visit childnet.us.
Saturday, Feb. 23
Key West Cemetery Stroll: Honoring Black History Month, an opportunity to learn firsthand about African Americans who contributed to Key West’s history. Gravesites visited include George Adderley, Willie Ward, Roosevelt Sands Sr., Frank Adams, Nelson English, Thomas Romer, Ellen Welters Sanchez, Sandy Cornish and the U.S. Battleship Maine Memorial. The strolls will last approximately 90 minutes; groups limited to 30 people will depart from the Frances Street gate every 20 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. A donation of $10 (cash or check) per person to the Historic Florida Keys Foundation is recommended, pre-registration is required. Call Cemetery Friends Committee member Cynthia Edwards, 305-294-8503.
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