MONKEY JUNGLE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH RAINFOREST ADVENTURE TOUR: Monkey Jungle is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Amazonian Rainforest with a new behind the scenes “Rainforest Adventure Tour.” Since Hurricane Andrew, public access to the Rainforest has been limited. Explorers on this adventure are immersed in a five acre natural habitat filled with South American monkeys. As you cross a slow running stream, to a bridge over a large natural sinkhole, this living laboratory seems to come alive and enables you to experience the unique thrill of the touch of the squirrel monkeys hand or the greeting from a capuchin monkey. During the tour you will learn about the monkey’s adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle. Guided encounters are available at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Reservations are required and space is limited. Encounters are $89.95 + tax per person and include admission into Monkey Jungle. For more information, call (305) 235-1611 or visit www.Monkeyjungle.com.
CHEF JONATHAN EISMANN OPENS Q AND FIN RESTAURANTS IN THE DESIGN DISTRICT: Q, an American barbecue smokehouse, combines dry rubs, light sauces, classic brines, and cures to deliver authentic Southern flavors in a ‘down-home’ and fun atmosphere. You’re going to want to go with a meat lover or three and order up something from the 6,000-pound, 9-foot-tall custom Bewley barbecue pit (it’s the Hummer of BBQ pits)— the Q-Zillah, a pile of dry-rubbed spare ribs, slow-roasted baby back ribs, pulled pork, pit beans and house made pickles is highly recommended. Fin, a local and sustainable seafood eatery features simple yet vibrant preparations in a setting evoking the casual elegance of Nantucket. The two venues are located side by side in the former Sheba restaurant space. For more information visit http://www.qamericanbarbeque.com and http://finrestaurantmiami.net.
THE PALMS HOTEL & SPA COMPLETES $20 MILLION RENOVATION PROJECT “INSPIRED BY NATURE”, EARNS AAA 4 DIAMOND AWARD AND BECOMES MEMBER OF PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS: Reintroducing itself as one of South Florida’s most exclusive independently owned hotels, where wellness and environmental awareness are at the center of each guest experience, The Palms announced the project’s completion with a private Reinvention Celebration on January 15, 2010. The extensive 16-month enhancement project, which includes a 5,000 square-foot flagship AVEDA destination spa and salon, The Palms Spa, a new signature restaurant and lounge, Essensia, beautification of the pool and garden facilities, renovated meeting and event facilities and upgrades to the lobby areas, further the hotel’s long-term commitment to providing guests with an overall sense of well-being, while highlighting the hotel’s inspiring natural surroundings with botanical and coastal design elements. For more information, visit www.thepalmshotel.com.
THE STRIP TAKES THE LEAD IN SHOWCASING AVANT-GARDE PERFORMANCE ART: In the heart of South Beach, The Strip, a new exclusive nightclub, taking over the former Rumi space, is setting a new bar for nightlife entertainment. The Strip’s a nightclub/sultry burlesque soiree that keeps you on your toes with randomly occurring naughty acts; you never know who’s going to bust out and perform where or when, including the 20-odd lingerie-clad cocktail waitresses and bus girls. Though there’s a main stage, the spectacle occurs throughout the two-level space, which boasts 30-foot ceilings in the middle, old-time Hollywood-esque tasseled velvet seating, suspended swings, walls covered with leather and feathers, three bars, a peep show booth for one-on-ones, and a private VIP space complete with a dance pole and one-way mirror. Acts consist of aerial-ists dangling overhead from silks plus the aforementioned burlesque girls clad in minimal amounts of boy shorts, bloomers, bustiers, pasties, and sometimes nothing but a g-string and body paint, each with a different persona, like a glammed-out disco girl, a busty anime-ish chick with elf ears, and a saloon gal from a western, who’s sure to leave every night with a fistful of dollars. Strip’s also boasting spooky, naughty contortionism by WildChild, and music stylings from Blade Runner-esque songstress Tokyo Diiva and NYC’s Box veteran DJ Jeffrey Tonnesen, who promises a range of house, rock, hip-hop. The Strip will leave you breathless with its raw sex appeal. For more information call 646.723.4338 or visit www.thestripmiami.com.
DEEERING ESTATE AT CUTLER KICKS-OFF SPRING CABARET SERIES: The Deering Estate kicked off the 2010 Spring Cabaret Concert Series on Thursday, February 25th. The Deering Estate’s Spring and Summer Cabaret Concert Series features eclectic and world music artists in an intimate setting. The concerts are held on Thursday evenings in the Spring (February, March and April) and on Saturday evenings in the Summer (June, July and August). All concerts begin at 8 pm; the main gate opens at 7 pm. It is recommended to arrive early for preferred seating. Guests are welcome to bring refreshments and snacks to enjoy during the show. Single tickets are $20; the three-concert series is $55. Limited seating is available. Advance tickets are recommended. To purchase tickets, please call the Deering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668 ext. 233, www.deeringestate.org.
CULINARY BOOT CAMPS TAUGHT BY SIMPLY MEXICAN COOKBOOK AUTHOR AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL: As the only hotel with a recreational cooking school operating in North America, The Biltmore Hotel’s culinary academy is pleased to offer culinary boot camps taught by Lourdes Castro, an instructor at New York University’s prestigious Food Studies department and author of the best-selling cookbook, Simply Mexican this Spring. The boot camps offer up to 37 hours of culinary instruction with a curriculum that includes basic training in knife skills, pantry, herbs & spices, Italian technique, cold kitchen, meats, seafood and poultry & grains. Two culinary boot camps are scheduled: March 15th to 19th and an abbreviated version on the weekend of April 16th to 18th. The program is priced at $1500 for the week-long camp and $900 for the weekend camp. An all-inclusive package that includes deluxe accommodations, daily meals at the Biltmore’s restaurants, beverages, tax and gratuities is available upon request and priced at $3,750 for the week-long camp and $2,175 for the weekend camp. To register, call 305.913.3131 or e-mail CulinaryAcademy@BiltmoreHotel.com.
Calendar of Events:
- MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Mar. 5-14, www.miamifilmfestival.com
- 2010 WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DORAL, Mar. 9-14, www.worldgolfchampionships.com
- CALLE OCHO FESTIVAL, Mar. 14, www.carnavalmiami.com
- MIAMI INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON, Mar. 14, www.mitriathlon.com
- MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK, Mar. 18-21, www.miamifashionweek.com
- JAZZ IN THE GARDENS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Mar.20-21, www.jazzinthegardens.com
- SONY ERICSSON OPEN, Mar. 24–Apr. 4, www.sonyericssonopen.com
- ARTEAMERICAS – THE LATIN AMERICAN ART FAIR, Mar. 26-29,www.artamericas.com
- WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL, Mar. 26-Apr. 2, www.wiffonline.org