Wednesday
John Sayles at Miami-Dade College’s Chapman Conference Center, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami; 8 p.m.; $10; 305/237-3258 or
For more than three decades, John Sayles has been an American treasure. A maverick independent filmmaker at a time without a distribution circuit to support him – he launched his directorial career with the 1979 cult hit “The Return of the Secaucus Seven” – Sayles has documented the American experience, in all of its joys and frustrations, across 16 features, including the newly released “Amigo” (which, is at happens, opens Friday at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale). But for this presentation, Sayles will wear his author hat. Also an accomplished novelist, Sayles was nominated for a National Book Award for 2005’s “Union Dues,” and tonight he’ll speak about his latest sprawling effort “A Moment in the Sun,” a story about something no less ambitious than the turn of the 20th century across half a dozen countries.
Dr. Christine Fair at Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 6 p.m.; $30 to $35 or free for World Affairs Council members; 561/236-1825 or www.worldaffairsflorida.org
The World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm Beaches welcomes this distinguished speaker, who will lecture on “Peace and Security in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.” A leading expert on Middle East relations, Fair has authored, coauthored or co-edited several books on the subject, and speaks regularly about these far-flung nations on CNN, NPR, Fox and other networks. In 2009, she appeared before Congress at the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs to discuss aid to Pakistan. There are no easy answers to the complex questions Fair raises; educate yourself by learning some of the difficult ones.
Thursday
Itzhak Perlman at Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 8 p.m.; $50 to $125; 305/949-6722 or www.arshtcenter.org
Surely, I don’t need to recite all of the Grammy Awards, presidential honors of merit and imposing career achievements of this Israeli-born violin virtuoso; if you follow Perlman’s work and have seen any of his South Florida appearances in recent years, you know what greatness to expect. But what is particularly unique about this performance is that the program is titled “Perlman and Proteges.” Building on Perlman’s career as a top pedagogue, the concert showcases the young, virtuosic talent he’s nurtured. The young players will join the master on a program including chamber works from Schumann, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn. Show up early, at 7, for a free pre-show discussion of Perlman’s work led by Aleksandr Bernhard.
Friday
Misfits at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 8 p.m.; $22; 954/564-1074 or www.cultureroom.net
The Misfits are kinda like the Beach Boys of horror-punk (Just think about thatanalogy for a second) in that the band we call “Misfits” today lacks the frontman, Glenn Danzig, on which it forged its reputation. At their height of influence and creativity, the Misfits released two essential albums in the early 1980s, specializing in hardcore punk music rooted in horror and gothic mythology. The band broke up a couple of years later only to reform, and reform again, and reform again, in the ensuing decades. These days, hearing those early songs must sound like a game of telephone: How close can it be to the original intensity of the Glenn Danzig/Jerry Only lineup? Nevertheless, today’s Misfits, which have veered in a more metal-centric direction, will surely pack the Culture Room once again.
Friday to Sunday
Street fair at Miami Book Fair International, 401 S.E. Second St., Miami; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; free on Friday or $5 to $8 Saturday and Sunday; 305/237-3258 orwww.miamibookfair.com
Southeast Second Street near Miami-Dade College will be clogged with bookworms throughout the weekend, one of my favorites on South Florida’s cultural arts calendar. More than 200 national and international exhibitors will offer books for all tastes and ages, from newly released best-sellers to priceless rarities, out-of-print bargains and .50 paperbacks. Support this cultural institution while it lasts, before the printed tome goes the way of the typewriter and VCR. Also, don’t miss the myriad author presentations during the weekend, including comedian Darrell Hammond (1:30 p.m. Saturday),
culture commentator Toure (2:30 p.m. Saturday), novelist Chuck Palahniuk (6:30 p.m. Saturday) and news anchor Jim Lehrer (4:30 p.m. Sunday).
Saturday
Screening of “Marie” and Hitchcock panel at Cosford Cinema at the University of Miami, 5100 Brunson Drive, Coral Gables; 2 p.m.; free; 305/284-4861 orwww.cosfordinema.com
The premier screening from the University of Miami’s Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies, today’s event offers cinephiles the rare opportunity to view this under-appreciated Alfred Hitchcock film in its proper format: in widescreen, Technicolor 35mm on the big screen. I for one can’t wait. Released in 1964, shortly after “Psycho” and “The Birds,” “Marnie” represented the apotheosis of the director’s increasingly controversial psyche; the film was so daring for its time that it alienated most audiences. Sean Connery has never been employed as subversively as he is here opposite Tippi Hedren, and Hitchcock’s significant use of the color red remains a signature directorial flourish. Stay at the cinema after the screening for a 4:30 p.m. panel discussion, also free, featuring Hitchcock scholars Murray Pomerance and William Rothman.
Saturday and Sunday
Art Fest Boca at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; free; 561/544-8600 or www.artfestboca.com
This weekend, downtown Boca’s amphitheater will transform into an art gallery, where more than 100 fine artists from Ana Aguerrevere to Robert Zarcone will fill the space. Selected on the basis of quality, originality and craftsmanship from a panel of esteemed jurors, this seasonal art fair will
hopefully become an annual tradition. Expect the fair to be a great place to purchase unique Christmas or Hanukkah gifts for any budget, or just browse the vendor booths and meet the artists. Visit the website above for a map of the artists’ booths and links to their artwork.
Sunday
Craig Ferguson at Hard Rock Live, 5747 Seminole Way, Hollywood; 7 p.m.; $45 to $75; 800/745-3000 or www.hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com
Of all the hosts on late-night television, “Late Late Show” leader Craig Ferguson remains the one I’d most like to have a beer with. Letterman strikes me as a self-absorbed egomaniac behind the scenes, Leno seems like the kind of square who doesn’t even stay up late enough to watch his own show and Conan probably wouldn’t let you get a word in. But Ferguson has a homey, everyman naturalness that makes him awfully appealing, and he’s as funny on the standup stage as he is in print (he’s written two books) and his CBS television studio.
