Thursday, Aug. 30

Miami and South Florida History Class

The wildly popular  Florida history class at Miami Dade College is available once again on Thursday evenings, 5:40 – 8:10 p.m. at the Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Bldg. 3, Room 2217 in downtown Miami. Notable historian and MDC faculty member Dr. Paul George will teach the class, which will include classroom lectures, visits to historical libraries, repositories and exhibits, video and slide presentations, and tours of Greater Miami’s historic neighborhoods. Visit mdc.edu or contact Paul George at 305-237-3723 or email paul.george@mdc.edu

Friday, Aug. 31

After 5: Join Broward's Black

Professionals, 6 p.m. to midnight to help celebrate its first year anniversary at Bokamper's newest Sports Bar and Grill in Miramar. Special guest is award-winning attorney, author and CEO of Gill Law Firm, A. Wayne Gill. RSVP at eventbrite.com/event/4106071370

State of Black Business Forum & Reception

The Mosaic Group along with several business and community partners will host the third annual South Florida State of the Black Business Forum & Networking Reception from 1:30 to 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, 1230 South Pine Island Rd. in Plantation. Admission is $20 and the event is open to the public. Visit upscalebymosaic.com or call 561-290-6739.

Tuesday, Sept. 4

South Miami-Dade Cultural

Arts Center 2012-2013 Season: SMDCAC, at 10950 S.W. 211 St., Cutler Bay, embarks on its second season of showcasing a diverse set of artists and performing-arts events. Buy tickets online at smdcac.org or call 786-573-5300.

Thursday, Sept. 6

Southern Circuit Independent Film Festival  Season

The Miramar Cultural Center kicks off its fifth anniversary season by rolling out the red carpet for the first annual showcase featuring six independent films at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Pl., Miramar, through Sunday, Sept. 9. Visit miramarculturalcenter.org

Friday, Sept. 7

Jazz & Blues at Jackson

Soul Food:  Join the Overtown Music Project, 7-10 p.m. for this history making event at the historic Jackson Soul Food, 950 N.W. Third Ave., Miami. Tickets $10-25. Visit overtownmusicproject.org

Ruined: The Footprints Foundation and Florida International University will present Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, 7 p.m. at the Coral Gables Stage at the Biltmore. Tickets $65 and will benefit the First Midwives training program in the Congo. Contact Lorna Owens at 305-573-8423, visit footprintsfoundation.org and follow on Twitter @FootprintsCongo

Saturday, Sept. 8

Miami Broward Carnival Launch: The highly anticipated Miami Broward Carnival set for Sunday Oct. 7 at Sunlife Stadium gears up for an unprecedented launch event, 5-11 p.m. at Hialeah Park, 2200 E. Fourth Ave. More than 25 bands from nations all over the Caribbean will be in attendance displaying their picks for this year’s costumes and sections. Tickets $10. Visit miamibrowardcarnival.org

All for a Cause Multicultural

Festival: Enjoy art, international cuisine, culture and music to bring together natives, immigrants and exiles in a great international celebration of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the image of Cuba's patroness, the Virgin of Charity. Admission and parking are at Miami-Dade Tamiami Park, 11201 S.W. 24th Street, Miami. Visit allforacauseinternationalartfestival.com

Ongoing

Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar Promotion: The Key West-style location is offering a special Brazilian Beat promotion during the month of September, coinciding with the Brazilian Independence Day Celebration in Boca Raton on Friday, Sept. 7 which includes two-night, three-day accommodations for two in a luxury cabana/beachhouse room starting at only $299. The travel package includes: a pitcher of house-made Red Sunset Sangria in room upon arrival, two passes for a Delray Yacht Cruise, a $50 Credit for delicious dining at Deck84 Waterside Restaurant and complimentary breakfast, parking & Wi-Fi. Reservations can be made by phone at 1-866-372-6273 or online at cranesbeachhouse.com

Miami-ABSE

A re-established affiliate of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) is holding its inaugural membership drive on Thursday, Sept. 20, 5:00 p.m. at Miami Lakes Educational Center, 5780 N.W. 158th St., Miami Lakes. Email miamiabse@gmail.com

Caribe Arts Fest

A weekend celebration of artists originally from or influenced by the Caribbean, Sept. 28-30, Huizenga Plaza and Riverfront, downtown Fort Lauderdale, with indie films, interactive Kids Art Zone, paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, crafts, fashion, wearable art, performance arts featuring a Caribbean Music Concert, and Carnival artistic expressions. Admission $10. Organized by the American Art Initiative, visit CaribeArtsFest.com

Ninth Annual Fundraiser

Luncheon: The Historic Hampton House invites you at 12 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Church of the Open Door, 6001 N.W. Eighth Ave., to honor Miami’s homegrown achievers Harry Coaxum, John R. Marks and Ronald Blocker. Donations $50. To RSVP, call 305-638-5800. 

Photographs from the London Olympics: The Palm Beach Photographic Centre (PBPC) hosts two timely exhibitions — OLYMPIX 2012, Photographs from the London Olympics by renowned sports photographer and PBPC instructor Adam Stoltman, and FOTOcamp Memories 2012, at the City Center municipal complex, 415 Clematis St., downtown West Palm Beach. Exhibits run Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Nov. 10. Call 561-253-2600 or visit workshop.org or fotofusion.org

Clematis by Night

Chill out South Florida style with the popular concert series, 6-9 p.m. every Thursday night at Centennial Square at the end of Clematis Street along the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach. Visit clematisbynight.net or call 561-822-1515.