Miami, FL

Lewis Black

Today, Monday, December 31 9:00 PM at Jackie Gleason Theater; Price: $58.50|$87.50.

Satirist and standup comic Lewis Black rose to prominence in the late ’90s with regular appearances as a commentator on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Obsessed with human stupidity, Black became one of the show’s most distinctive contributors with his weekly "Back in Black" segment; his delivery was so full of frothing, barely articulate bile and rage that it could sometimes obscure the sharpness of his social and political observations.

Lewis Black rose to prominence in the late ’90s with regular appearances as a commentator on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Obsessed with human stupidity, Black became one of the show’s most distinctive contributors with his weekly "Back in Black" segment; his delivery was so full of frothing, barely articulate bile and rage that it could sometimes obscure the sharpness of his social and political observations. Black graduated from the Yale Drama School and worked for a government anti-poverty program under President Nixon before becoming the playwright in residence at the West Bank Café Downstairs Theatre Bar in Manhattan. Black authored over 40 plays that were produced there and at other theaters across the country (one, The Deal, was made into a movie). Seeking to move into comedy, Black made his motion-picture debut in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters in 1986, and went on to land a series of guest-starring roles on TV shows like Law and Order, Murphy Brown, Mad About You, Homicide, and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (the last of which was recurring); he also appeared in several more films, including 1990’s Jacob’s Ladder. Black’s standup star began to rise with appearances on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and he landed a big break when he signed on as a regular contributor to The Daily Show. Since then, Black has continued to tour the country as a standup comedian, and in 2000 issued his first CD, The White Album (which naturally took its art design from the Beatles’ release).

Port at Mansion November 9, 2007 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Today is the day that you flex-fuelers out there can purchase ethanol blended gasoline in Miami. Via the Post:

The UGas station on 210 N.W. 79th Ave. will sell the E85 - for 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline - beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday for 85 cents a gallon for the first two hours.

After that, it will sell for about 15 or 20 cents cheaper than regular unleaded gas, the station’s owners said. The fuel can be used only in so-called flex-fuel vehicles. It would damage regular engines.

There are only about 11,000 flex-fuel vehicles in the Miami area, officials said. UGas hopes to make a success of the business by selling to flex-fuel fleets.

I like the development. Now, if only more was being done to prevent global warming.

Miami, ethanol, flex fuel, UGas

At least that is the logic behind a new initiative in Broward County, where officials are seeking cheaper ways to combat the erosion that occurs on the city’s beaches every year. According to the AP, about $80 million is spent every year trying to keep Florida’s beaches intact.

Broward County, beach, Ft. Lauderdale, glass

Daily Candy’s got the weekend guide. Have a safe and fun weekend.

SEE
Tiny Ninja Talmud Theater
What: The ancient Jewish text brought to life via miniature Asian warriors.
Why: Should be good for a nunchuckle.
When: Sat., 9:15 p.m.
Where: The Moore Building, 4040 NE 2nd Ave., Design District. Info online at sobejewish.org.

Rewind/Fast Forward Film and Video Festival
What: Screenings of works celebrating all things South Florida.
Why: There was life before Crockett and Tubbs.
When: Fri.-Sun.
Where: Miami Dade Public Library, 101 W. Flagler St., Downtown. Info at 305-375-1505.

HEAR
Dear Diary
What: Lesley Arfin reads from her book, a collection of diary entries about the awkwardness of adolescence that first appeared in Vice mag.
Why: Smells like teen angst.
When: Thurs., 8 p.m.
Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables (305-442-4408).

GIVE
Morgan Miller Shoe Drive
What: Donate a pair of lightly worn shoes to Soles4Souls and get 20 percent off merch; two pairs get you 30 percent off.
Why: Benevolence, not blisters.
When: Thru Sept. 30.
Where: 1634 Euclid Ave., Miami Beach (305-672-6658).

DANCE
FM
What: DJs, Malibu rum sno-cones, and artist-designed putt-putt holes.
Why: Party with frequency.
When: Sat., 6-11 p.m.
Where: Upper Eastside Garden, 7244 Biscayne Blvd. (305-984-3231).

Miami, Weekend Guide, Daily Candy, Tiny Ninja Talmud Theater, Rewind/Fast Forward Film and Video Festival, Lesley Arfin, Upper Eastside Garden

Today is the day Ricky Martin tickets go on sale. Martin is bringing his Black and White Tour back for a three-night stop October 10-12 at the 2,700-seat refurbished Jackie Gleason Theater.

Miami, Jackie Gleason Theater, Ricky Martin, Black and White Tour

We mentioned it earlier, and today is the day. Starting at 8:00 AM, American Idol auditions at American Airlines Arena begin. Best of luck to all the contestants.

Miami, American Idol, American Idol Auditions, American Airlines Arena

I agree with Alex at SotP, USA Network’s Burn Notice has become one of my favorite summer shows. Next to Top Chef Miami, this Miami based show has me hooked. And others are watching the show too. According to the Herald, there will be a season two and it will be filmed here because of the break on the rent the city is giving the show.

The show’s monthly rent to the city: a relatively minuscule $7,000 a month for 107,000 of the expo center’s 152,000 square feet.

By comparison, North Miami’s Greenwich Studios — which bills itself as South Florida’s largest such facility — charges $1,500 per day for use of a 9,202-square foot stage.

Burn Notice producer Terry Miller acknowledged the city’s rent is ’’pretty much a gift.’’ The state also has pitched in, pledging at least $1.6 million in tax incentives to Burn Notice.

Numerous other successful TV shows, such as CSI: Miami and Nip/Tuck, use Miami’s skyline as their sexy ’’location’’ but film primarily in California.

That makes Burn Notice — the story of a CIA spy who solves crimes after being fired, or ’’burned’’ from the government — the first series since Miami Vice to film an entire season in South Florida and then get picked up for an additional season.

Miami leaders responded by holding a press conference during Thursday’s final day of filming, at which City Manager Pete Hernandez signed a lease extension with the show for another six months. Burn Notice likely will need until the middle of next year to complete season two, so the terms of those final months still must be negotiated.

Note to the producers of CSI: Miami: it’s rude to base your show here but not actually film it here. I think a boycott of this show is in order until they actually film it here.

Miami, Burn Notice, USA Network, CSI: Miami, Nip/Tuck

Miami resident Hulk Hogan and VH! reality show star has had a string of bad luck. His yellow Lamborghini Diablo VT "spontaneously" caught fire last November when son Nicholas was driving and over the weekend $100,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. Via the Herald.

Hogan was moving out of his home in the 2900 block of Bay Road on Thursday when jewelry — including a platinum diamond watch and some dog tags — vanished, according to a report filed with the Miami Beach Police Department.

Hogan’s son Nicholas told police officers he had left a watch and two necklaces wrapped in a T-shirt in his upstairs closet.

About 3:30 p.m., he went to retrieve the items. Gone.

Four maids and several movers were in the house at the time.

Hmmm. Son Nicholas sure is imputing some back luck on Hogan.

Miami, Hulk Hogan, Hogan Knows Best, VH1

Get ready for American Idol Auditions - Miami. If you have ever dreamed of having Simon scream at you, Paula possibly sleep with you, and Randy, well, what does Randy do, then head to American Airlines Arena for American Idol auditions for season 7. Registration starts Monday, August 20th and actual auditions begin Wednesday, August 22, 2007.

Via the website:

Location: AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132

Lineup/Registration: No one will be allowed to line up prior to 6:00AM, August 20, 2007.
Registration begins August 20, 2007 and continues to the morning of August 22.

Actual Auditions: August 22, 2007 / Approximate Start Time: 8:00AM
Line Up: TBD / Look for the “Front Of Line” banner.

Parking: TBD / Be prepared to pay for parking each time you park as there are no in or out privileges in any lot.

Good luck!

Miami, American Idol, American Idol Auditions, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, American Airlines Arena

Dean brews and begins the journey towards us.

Photo Via The Miami Herald

Via USAToday:

In the Caribbean, hurricane warnings were issued for the islands of Dominica and St. Lucia by their local governments as Hurricane Dean approached. Hurricane watches were in effect for the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe and its dependencies, Saba and St. Eustaties.

At 5 a.m. ET, Dean was centered about 485 miles east of Barbados and about 590 miles east of Martinique, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was moving west near 24 mph, and was expected to continue the same path for the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph, above the threshold for a hurricane. Dean is a Category 1 hurricane and is expected to strengthen during the next 24 hours, forecasters said.

Miami, Hurricane, Hurricane Dean

If you are a fan of Cocodorm.com then this will bring a tear to your eye. The only "black and latino dorm" has been ordered closed by Miami’s Code Enforcement Board.

Via UPI

The board ruled that Phillip Bleicher’s Flava Works violates residential zoning rules by operating an adult business in a single family home, The Miami Herald reported Wednesday. The board dismissed a motion by Flava Works attorney James Benjamin seeking to dismiss citations posted by city code inspectors, and ordered the business to cease operations in the home.

The company paid young males $1,200, plus room, board and meals, to live in the house and have sex with each other on a regular schedule. The sex acts were broadcast online at CocoDorm.com.

"I think the city has met its burden of showing a link between the house on 27th Street and the Web site," board member Oscar Rodriguez Fonts said.

Posted on the site is this statement:

With the Code Enforcement Board’s ruling, starting today, the city will fine us up to $500 per day for each day we remain open. We are filing an emergency motion in federal court to block the city’s ruling citing VOYEUR DORM v CITY OF TAMPA and sue the City of Miami.

Miami is wasting tax dollars to prosecute the legal CocoDorm residence, while drug dealers and prostitutes reign free on the streets of this neighborhood, which is known for it’s infamous ’hoe stroll’, but we suppose NBC and the city don’t care about real problems.

Customers do not visit the CocoDorm location and neighbors didn’t know about CocoDorm (until NBC knocked on their door after they received an anonymous packet mailed by a competitor). What happens inside of CocoDorm is no different than what happens behind the closed door of any other house; people live, interact and have sex. This is our and your First Amendment right, and we will fight for these rights.

By the way, no one from the neighborhood was present at any of the three hearings. In fact we have a petition of neighbors in support of CocoDorm!

We will not close the CocoDorm!

I will keep you posted.

Miami, Cocodorm.com, gay

Brett Ratner’s latest action adventure, Rush Hour 3 opened this past weekend and the director and some Hollywood friends were in town to kick off the event at The Forge. I personally will be sitting this one out.

James Caan and director Brett Ratner

Brett Ratner and Michael Bay

Lennox Lewis, Nancy and Al Malnik, and James Caan

Miami, Rush Hour 3, Brett Ratner, James Caan, Lennox Lewis, Al Malnik, Michael Bay

The island dictator’s birthday is today and he turns 81. The headline says allegedly because the
Castro has not been seen in public since he underwent emergency intestinal surgery last year and rumors that he’s still living remain rampant until he’s seen in public.

Miami, Castro, Cuba