Events Calendar January 30 – February 8

Economic Development Plan Meeting: The City of Fort Lauderdale is seeking public input for a comprehensive economic development plan that will build community and bring the citywide vision to life at 6 p.m., at City Hall Commission Chambers, 100 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-828-6130 or email efuredi@fortlauderdale.gov

Friday, Jan. 31

Free Tax Preparation: Branches and its partners in the Miami-Dade County Volunteer Income Tax Program (VITA) Collaborative will offer individuals and families making $52,000 or less high quality tax preparation for free. Those making $58,000 can take advantage of Facilitated Self Assistance and prepare their own returns for free. Items to bring include: photo ID, social security cards of all members of your household, information for credits and deductions, proof of income (W-2, 1099, etc), Childcare tax ID numbers, copy of previous year’s return (if applicable), check for direct deposit and small business documents. By appointment only. Call 211 to find your nearest VITA site.
Take the Train … Take the Test: Miami-Dade Transit and 3-1-1 will continue to join forces to offer FREE HIV and STD testing to the public at select Metrorail stations. HIV test results available in as little as 20 minutes. Counseling will also be available on-site. The next event is from 3:30-9:30 p.m. at the Government Center Station. Call 800-352-2437.

Distinguished Visiting Chef Dinner: Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami Campus, 1701 NW 127 St., will host Alumnus Vishwesh Bhatt of the City Grocery Restaurant Group with a pre-dinner reception, beginning at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner is open to the public at $85 per person. Guests are invited to a delectable meal and a $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student from the university’s College of Culinary Arts.  Seats are limited. RSVP to 305-892-7578.

Saturday, Feb. 1

Black Public Relations Society Meeting: Calling all communications professionals! Learn about “The Art of Winning and Retaining Clients” from Bernadette Morris, President and CEO of award-winning Sonshine Communications and Black PR Wire, 10 a.m. at Dickey Consulting Services, 1033 NW Sixth St., Suite 103, Fort Lauderdale. Please park in the rear. Email mbeatty@miamifoundation.org

Remembering Our Roots: Enjoy live performances from several musical, dance and other specialty groups from 3-5 p.m., at Riverland Park, 950 SW 27 Ave. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. Call 954-828-5320.

Seminole War Re-enactment: The Seminole Tribe of Florida will present a re-enactment of the Second Seminole War from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Feb. 1-2 at the Big Cypress Shootout at Billie Swamp Safari, 30000 Gator Tail Train, Clewiston. The first 150 people through the gate on Saturday, Feb. 1, can attend a meet and greet at 1 p.m., with Troy Landry from the Swamp People television series. Country and southern rock band Confederate Railroad will perform at 5:30 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 2. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children.  Cash Only. Tickets for the Confederate Railroad concert cost $25 and may be purchased at Billie Swamp Safari.Call 800-GO-SAFARI, email shootout@semtribe.com or visit bigcypressshootout.com

The Wet Spots:  The vaudevillian sex comedy duo comes to South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., for the acclaimed Cabaret Series. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the show. The center is located at 10950 SW 211 Street in Cutler Bay and free parking is available. Call 786-573-5300 or visit smdcac.org

Salute to WWII Veterans: Enjoy dinner, big band music and special World War II guests from 5:30-10:30 p.m. at Miami ELKS Lodge 948, 10301 Sunset Dr., Miami. This musical evening is a fundraiser for three local organizations which promote veteran’s activities. You may purchase tickets by calling the Wings Over Miami at 305 233-5197; Carol Nobels at 305- 251-4398 or Sherry Maer at 305-613-1946. Tickets are $75 per person for dinner, music and great camaraderie.

Friday, Feb. 7

Destination Fridays: Get your bead on as Broward County Libraries launches Destination Fridays with New Orleans-style festivities from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy a jazz band, dancing, complimentary “Hurricane” cocktails and Cajun food, costumes, prizes, a fortune teller and travel discounts to New Orleans. It is an after-hours, over-21 event. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite at a cost of $10 each.

Following Your Own Sense of Justice: A public reception honoring the life and legacy of Leonard Turkel will take place from 6-8 p.m., at the Freedom Tower at MDC, 600 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The reception is a part of Miami Dade College’s Museum of Art and Design’s retrospective exhibition of Leonard Turkel’s rarely seen collages. More than just an exhibition of one man’s avocation, it is a true testament to the legacy of a man who proved to be one of Miami’s greatest mavericks of civic equality and community building. Call 305-237-7702, email museum@mdc.edu or visit mdcmoad.org

Star Gazing: Astronomy buffs are invited to the First Quarter Moon Star Gazing Party from 7-10 p.m. at the Fruit and Spice Park, 24801 SW 187 Ave., Homestead. This free event features the first quarter moon, where Bright Jupiter will be visible with its four closest satellite moons dancing around the King of the Planets. Outer planets Uranus and Neptune may be visible in the southwest in telescopes, and Mercury will shimmer low in the southwest. Ruddy Mars may be visible in the east just before closing time. The beautiful Great Orion’s Nebula and star clusters will accent the blazing winter night sky. Call 305-247-5727.

Saturday, Feb. 8

Trayvon Martin Peace Walk: The Trayvon Martin Foundation presents the “I Am Trayvon” Day of Remembrance Peace Walk at 9 a.m. beginning at Carol City Park, 3201 NW 185 St. There will be free food, entertainment and motivational speakers. Register at trayvonmartinfoundation.org or call 305-600-8810.

Domestic Violence Workshop: District 2 School Board member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall will host her annual “No More Broken Hearts” workshop from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. to provide the community with information regarding the signs of domestic abuse and the services available to assist victims. The workshop will take place at Miami Edison Middle School, 6101 NW Second Ave., and include two separate sessions running concurrently, one for adults and another for youth. The youth component will be facilitated by the Jonathan Spikes Foundation, Urgent Inc. and the Millennials Project. Adult participants will hear from noted experts in the field of domestic violence intervention and prevention. Call 305-995-2311 or visit nomorebrokenhearts.eventbrite.com