January 26 to February 2

January 26
Social
Judges & Lawyers
The Tenth Annual Judges and Lawyers Event will be held tonight at the Jewish Museum. The keynote speaker is Judge Joel H. Brown who, in July 2009, became Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Host committee includes Isabel Bernfeld Anderson, Gary A. Appel, Kenneth M. Bloom, Esq., Hon. Philip Bloom and Hon. Elaine Bloom, Judge A. Jay Cristol, Judge Amy Steele Donner, Dubbin & Kravetz, LLP,  Arthur J. England, Jr., Melvyn B. Frumkes, Jeffrey Gilbert, Barton S. Goldberg, Gerald Kogan, Robert J. Merlin, Joel N. Minsker, Esq., Joseph Pallot, Hon. Steven D. Robinson, Debby & Gerald K. Schwartz, Gary P. Simon, Stanley Tate, Jacqueline Traurig & Robert H. Traurig, Linda Zilber & Paul Ruthfield. 5:30pm. The Jewish Museum, 301 Washington Ave; Miami Beach. For info:  786-972-3180 or jewishmuseum.com.

January 26
Food
Taste of the Garden
The 7th Annual Taste of the Garden, a magical outdoor dining experience showcases some 20 of South Florida’s premiere chefs and restaurants. Limited to 320 guests and always sold out, this exclusive Garden soiree raises funds for the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. A sampling of restaurants include Shula’s Steak House, Haven, Sushi Samba, The Cafe @ Books & Books, Catering by Maribel, the Shake Shack, Mercadito, Banfi Wines, Lyon + Lyon, Essensia at the Palms, Thierry’s Catering, Sol Stars, Grazie and more. $75 – $90. Tickets include valet parking, fine wines, cocktails and a silent auction. Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr; Miami Beach. For info: mbgarden.org

January 26
Music
Maria Rivas
Jazz vocalist sensation, Maria Rivas, will be in concert, performing her blend of American Jazz and Latin Music at her Special Birthday Celebration, tonight. Known as one of the most versatile voices in Latin America and now North America, Maria combines American and Latin Jazz rhythms with lively yet sentimental music from around the world.  With a Strong Aquarius Theme in this Year of the Prophecy 2012, the Special Birthday Celebration concert is a part of Maria’s Thursdays for Jazz Series. 7:30pm. Free. Newport Beachside Hotel, 16701 Collins Ave; Sunny Isles Beach.  For info: 305-749-2110

January 27
Music
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra opens its sixth season in Miami tonight with Pianist Yefim Bronfman. Programs include Sean Shepherd’s Wanderlust, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6, and Johannes Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with Bronfman as soloist. Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. Prelude concerts featuring members of the Orchestra performing chamber music by Shepherd and Brahms, along with commentary from Daniel R. Lewis Young Composer Fellow Sean Shepherd. 7pm. Knight Concert Hall, 1300 Biscayne Blvd; Miami. For info: arsht.com

January 27
Books
Made to Order
Don’t miss interior designer Campion Platt when he hits town for a meet and greet tonight. Platt is known for his work  on some of the most stylish hotels in New York as well as his uber celeb list of clients including Conan O’Brien and Meg Ryan. Made to Order, his latest book features a loft in Astor Place, a writer’s retreat, an 1857 sea captain’s house as well as tips on how to achieve design savviness on your own. Platt will lead a discussion eco-sensitive design,
craftsmanship and contemporary styling. 6 to 8pm. RSVP. Free. Ornare Showroom, 3930 N.E. 2nd Ave; Design District. For info: 305-438-0260 or ornare.com

January 27
Arts
Snarkitecture
Don’t miss this! Innovative artists, Jonah Bokaer and Daniel Arsham launch the Dance Up Close series with the Miami premieres of Why Patterns & Recess where Art and architecture meet dance and drama. Choreographer Bokaer and visual artist Arsham collaborate on an innovative program combining dance, architecture, and visual art. The site-specific works are designed by Arsham and his architectural design firm, Snarkitecture, which investigates structure and materials within a space and how they are manipulated to serve new and imaginative goals. 8pm $25. Carnival Studio Theatre, 1300 Biscayne Blvd; Miami. For info: arshtcenter.org

January 27
Music
Chad Bernstein Jazz Project
You see him around town playing the trombone and conch shells with the Spam Allstars and Suénalo Sound System or playing the sousaphone. You may also see him with the Keyrats, the South Nine Ensemble, the South Florida Jazz Orchestra or the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band. In this project, Chad Bernstein will be playing “Suite for 2nd Lieutenant”, a body of work he composed in honor of his brother, a Marine officer of the 2/4 weapons unit as he was leaving to go to Afghanistan. They will also be featuring some originals by various members of the group. $25. 8pm.  Reservations required. WDNA Jazz Gallery, 2921 Coral Way; Miami. For info: 305-662-8889

January 27
Film
A Separation
This film is being called the most acclaimed film of 2011. See it at the Tower Theater this week. Selected as Best Film of the year by critic Roger Ebert, A Separation is a compelling drama about the dissolution of a marriage. Simin wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader and daughter Termeh. Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin returns to her parents’ home, but Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When Nader hires a young woman to assist with his father in his wife’s absence, he hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just his marriage. 9:15pm. MDC College Tower Theater, 1508 S.W. Eighth St; Little havana. For info: 305-643-8706 or mdc.edu.

January 27
Talk
Modern Dutch Design
This is worth sitting in on – a conversation between Wolfsonian founder Mitchell Wolfson, the museum’s chief curator Marianne Lamonaca and Dutch decorative arts expert Frans Leidelmeijer. the three will chat about the Wolfsonian’s outstanding collection of Dutch design. Sponsored, in part, by public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services. 7pm. Free. RSVP required. Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Ave;, Miami Beach. For info: 305.535.2645 or wolsonianfiu.org.

January 28
Arts
Orisha Arts
Discover South Florida’s living cultural heritage and partake in an informative performance of music and dance traditions related to the Afro-Cuban Orisha religion. Featuring musician Ezequiel Torres and other artists. 1pm. Free. HistoryMiami, 101 West Flagler St; Miami. For info: 305-375-1629 or historymiami.org.

January 28
Music
Rigoletto
From Florida Grand Opera comes one of the world’s best-loved operas, Verdi’s Rigoletto. It is the story of a court jester who enables the Duke’s philandering and mocks the husbands and fathers of the victims. When he finds his own daughter, whom he has kept a well hidden secret, to be the Duke’s newest victim, he tries to repay evil with evil, and it goes horribly wrong. FGO’s Young Artist Studio participates with several former members taking the stage. These include Nadine Sierra as Gilda and Jeff Buchman as director. Michael Fabiano is the Duke of Mantua. FGO Resident Conductor, Andrew Bisantz. 7pm. $25 – $$229. Ziff Ballet Opera House, 1300 Biscayne Blvd; Miami. For info: arshtcenter.org.

January 28
Art
Fat Village Art Walk
Something a little different is the Fat Village monthly ArtWalk in Ft Lauderdale. Don’t miss a cool Mixed Media Sculpture exhibit by Janet M Mueller at the Art Studio of artists Francisco Sheuat and Julio Green. Mueller has had many solo exhibits and was invited to show in Italy at the Centro per L’Assistenza Sociale e Culturale in Rome. Her current work is contemporary sculpture with clay and tree debris. Through Feb. 17. Free. 7 to 11pm.  Art Expressions, 115 NW 5th St; Ft Lauderdale. For info: artexpressions.tk.

January 28
Music
Jazz in the Gardens
Saturday nights in Miami just got hotter with Rose and Ramatis and Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens.  and  magical and musical experience with the beautiful voice of Rose and the genuine Brazilian acoustic guitar of Ramatis.  It’s the perfect mix of soulful Brazilian music. 8pm. $20 – $25. Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Rd; Pinecrest.  For info: pinecrestgardens.org  or 305.669.6990.

January 28
Art
Building a Legacy
The Lowe Art Museum is one of the University of Miami’s cultural gems and the museum houses South Florida’s largest and most varied art collection. To celebrate its 60th year the Museum will host “From the Vault: Building a Legacy, Sixty Years of Collecting at the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami.” The show opens tonight with highlights of its distinguished collecting history drawn from some 18,000 works of art. It will include paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photography, and mixed media works of art that represent the unique, multi-cultural holdings of the Lowe. $10. The Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Dr; Coral Gables. For info: 305-284-3535 or lowemuseum.org.

January 29
Music
Music in Beautiful Spaces
South Beach Chamber Ensemble will perform Franz Limmer’s Grand Quintour, Op.13 (1834) and Joaquin Turina’s Piano Quartet in A minor, Op. 67 (1931). Luis Fernandez and Tony Seepersda on violin; Rafael Ramirez on viola; Michael Andrews on cello; Janet Clippard, on double bass and Ciro Fodere and Hyojin Ahn on piano. $20. Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr; Miami Beach. For info: sobechamberensemble.org  or 305-673-7256.

January 29
Books
Bad Kitty for President
Hilarious author Nick Bruel will read from and sign his book today at the Bal Harbour Shops. The votes are in–it’s a Bad Kitty landslide! It’s time to elect a new president of the Neighborhood Cat Coalition! Who will win the election? The candidate chosen by the kitties on the right side of the street or the candidate chosen by the kitties on the left side of the street? When election time rolls around, one candidate (guess who?) will discover that she never bothered to register to vote and the entire election will be decided by a surprise, last minute absentee ballot sent by Old Kitty. Discover what happens to the kitties in Bad Kitty for President. Free. 12:30pm. Books and Books, 9700 Collins Ave; Bal Harbour. For info: booksandbooks.com

January 31
Film
Kawasaki’s Rose
The Aventura Foreign Film Festival launches tonight with the film Kawasaki’s Rose, which will be shown in Czech with English subtitles. The family of a renowned psychiatrist, teacher and dissident who is about to receive the highest national honor is forced to come to terms with new facts that have arisen concerning his past. Foreign film expert Shelly Isaacs will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion.  He created The Boca Raton Classic Film Forum, Café Cinematheque International, Senses of Cinema, The International Film Series for the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Cinematheque at Sea.  The festival will continue with the films, The Piano Factory,  Revanche and Marqueritte.  7pm. $10. Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St; Aventura. For info: 305-466-8002 or aventuracenter.org.

January 31
Discussion
Feeding South Florida
Fight Hunger and Feed Hope, with charitable org., Feeding South Florida. To that end, they will be hosting their 4th Annual Community Breakfast today. Community leaders, elected officials, school board members, and representatives of Feeding South Florida’s network of area not-for-profit organizations will discuss new ideas about how to fight hunger in South Florida. 9 to 11:30am. Feeding South Florida, 2501 SW 32 Terr; Pembroke Park. For info:  jwescott@feedingsouthflorida.org or 954-518-1838.

January 31
Film
Gentlemen’s Agreement
Hang with the folks from the Miami Jazz Society for an evening of film and music. Tonight will be a screening the flick Gentlemen’s Agreement. Philip Green is a highly respected writer who is recruited by a national magazine to write a series of articles on anti-Semitism in America. He’s not too keen on the series, mostly because he’s not sure how to tackle the subject. Then it dawns on him: if he was to pretend to all and sundry that he was Jewish, he could then experience the degree of racism and prejudice that exists and write his story from that perspective.6pm. Reception 5pm. Free. Stay for the jazz from 6 to 10pm. Miami Tower, 19 floor auditorium, 100  SE 2nd St; Miami. For info: 305-684-4564 or miamijazzsoiety.com.

January 31
Music
333 Days in Painting
The work of artist Max Miller will be showing at the Jewish Museum in a new exhibit opening this weekend. After the death of his father, Murray Miller, artist Max Miller chose to undertake the custom of saying Kaddish, the Jewish prayer of mourning. This prayer, exalting the name of God, is recited in the presence of a congregation daily for eleven months. The artist’s grief provided the inspiration for a vivid, moving and cathartic account of his experience of honoring his father through the daily recitation of the Kaddish. Miller created a watercolor of each of the synagogues he visited during the 333 days of saying Kaddish in New York, Vermont, Ohio and Florida.  The Jewish Museum, 301 Washington Ave; South Beach. For info: 305-672-5044 or jewishmuseum.com.

February 1
Sport
Canoe Launch
Love the great outdoors? Then head to the opening of a new canoe launch. Rub elbows with Mayor Gimenez,  Commissioner Xavier Suarez, and a bunch of other County dignitaries and officials as they ribbon-cut and dedicate the new L-shaped concrete pier with a metal gangway and floating dock.  The project also included a concrete bridge to provide access to the waterways and provide an underpass for canoes and kayaks. The 566-acre-park features 350 acres of pristine mangrove forest, as well as three lighted ball fields. The waterways surrounding include mangrove-creeks, manatees, rays and dolphins. Chapman Field Park, 13601 Deering Bay Drive, Coral Gables. For info: 305-665-3837 or miamidade.gov/parks.

February 1
Theatre
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
The Playground Theatre’s adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic English fairy tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland returns to enchant audiences both young and old with a tropical South Florida twist tonight.  In this adaptation, directed by Stephanie Ansin and designed by Fernando Calzadilla, time, space and cultures collide as Alice tackles the challenges of her ever-changing dream world, with video projections enhancing every step of the way. Contemporary costumes, sounds, and objects infuse this classic tale with modern metropolitan Miami life. Cast includes Linda Bernhard, Marjorie O’Neill-Butler,  Emily Batsford, Josh Carpenter, and Jeremy Greenbaum. Through March 11. 10am. $20. The PlayGround Theatre, 9806 NE 2nd Ave; Miami Shores. For info:  305.751.9550 or theplaygroundtheatre.com.

February 1
Music
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Catch the music of phenom pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet when he plays with the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra tonight. Thibaudet’s masterful playing can be heard on the movie soundtracks of Pride & Prejudice, Atonement and  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and he is recognized as one of the world’s leading pianists. Tonight he will perform the Lizst Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Tschaikowski St, Wagner: Prelude and “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde and Rimksy-Korsakov: Scheherazade. Roman Leontiev, music director and chief conductor. 8pm. $50 – $125. Knight Concert Hall, 1300 Biscayne Blvd; Miami. For info: arshtcenter.org.

February 2
Music
In Celebration of Afro-Caribbean Culture
Don’t miss this unique concert that feature the University of Miami Frost Concert Jazz  Band and  Grammy Award winning trumpet player, Brian Lynch. They will perform a program of contemporary Jazz and Afro-Caribbean Jazz Compositions in Celebration of Afro-Caribbean Culture. Grammy Award Winner Brian Lynch is as comfortable negotiating the complexities of clave with Afro-Caribbean pioneer Eddie Palmieri as he is swinging through advanced harmony with bebop maestro Phil Woods. As a bandleader and recording artist he has released 19 critically acclaimed CDs featuring his distinctive composing and arranging. He currently is Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the Frost School Of Music, University of Miami . The University of Miami  Frost Concert Jazz  Band conducted by Dante Luciani is widely considered one of the top  big bands in the world. It has won multiple multiple  awards  and it’s performance of a commisioned work by Maria Schneider was nominated for a Grammy. $15. 8pm. University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall,  1314 Miller Rd; Coral Gables. For info:  305-284-2400 or music.miami.edu

February 2
Art
If the Face Had Wheels
Artist Dana Schutz’ work is currently on exhibit at MAM. Her work combines fantasy and reality, humor and horror, to create figurative paintings that abound with expressionist energy.  One of the most important young artists to emerge in the past ten years, she has developed a distinctive visual style characterized by vibrant color and raw and tactile brushwork. Miami Art Museum, 101 West Flagler St; Miami. For info:  305-375-4633 or miamiartmuseum.org

Category: CALENDAR, HIGHLIGHTS, TO DO