Entertaining concerts, events upcoming in South Florida will also help worthy causes
The tropical beauty of winter in Miami and the kindness of volunteers blend to bring us some wonderful events. Here’s more on groups you can support.
Youth Symphony to play garden concert
Concert attendees will have the rare opportunity to see, and even hold, a prestigious Emmy Award as part of the South Florida Youth Symphony Fairchild Garden concert at 2 p.m., Feb. 26 at the Garden House. You can sit inside or outdoors.
One of the country’s leading youth music organizations, the Emmy Award-winning SFYS will be performing its ‘Italy Tour Preview’ program, less than a month before a March 17-23 Grand Performance Tour of Italy with performances in Florence, Lucca and Rome.
After the concert, Executive and Music Director Marjorie Hahn will bring out the group’s Emmy for people to hold and take photographs with.
“Very few people ever get to see an actual Emmy close up, let alone hold one,” Hahn said. “This is a very rare opportunity.”
The concert is free with admission to Fairchild. For more, contact MakeMusic@sfys.net or 305-238-2729.
Tropical Audubon concert series begins
The good times are set to roll again when Tropical Audubon Society’s 13th annual Conservation Concert series takes flight at 7 p.m., Jan. 28, 5530 Sunset Dr.
The event’s founding band, Take Sixx, will again inaugurate the popular string of winter concerts. The band’s volunteerism has led other local bands to follow them onto the storied Doc Thomas House Keystone Stage.
Original member Steve Chavoustie said the group is “always stoked to return to Audubon. It’s our favorite all-time venue, and we’re all about helping protect Biscayne Bay and the Everglades!”
Chavoustie planted the seed for a concert series back in 2009 when he noticed the property’s large chickee was in need of repair and suggested, “Let’s hold concerts here and raise the money for a new thatch!”
Since the inaugural January 2010 season, the chickee has been re-thatched three times, most recently in mid-2022 with proceeds from last winter’s concert series. Proceeds from the 2023 concert series will help restore the outdoor kitchen and network of nature trails.
Tickets are a $10 donation per person, children 12 and under can enjoy the concert free.
Purchase at https://support.tropicalaudubon.org/a/conservation-concert-featuring-take-sixx-2023
Brunch helps homeless animals
The Humane Society of Greater Miami is taking its “Brunch for the Animals” to the “next level” for its 25th anniversary – and you and your four-legged friends are invited. The animal welfare organization will host its event 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., March 12, at Level Three in Aventura Mall.
WPLG Local 10 News Miami Anchor Louis Aguirre will emcee for the fourth consecutive year. The silent auction includes hotel stays, high-end fashion pieces, home accessories and more.
Furry best friends will have their very own four-paw rated menu. And there will be on-site pet adoptions, so you might even leave with a new furry family member.
Proceeds help the hundreds of homeless dogs and cats looking for forever families at the Humane Society’s Soffer and Fine Adoption Center.
Tickets are $350 per person and $50 for children ages 3 to 10. Well-behaved doggies are honored guests. Seats are limited. Contact Alina Roché at 305-749-1815 or alina@humanesocietymiami.org or visit www.humanesocietymiami.org/brunch-for-the-animals.
Event to help special needs youth
Alper JCC Miami, an organization with a mission to provide a much-loved source of enrichment, inspiration, education and recreation to South Miami-Dade County, is hosting “I Wanna Dance with Somebody: Benefit for Special Needs and Youth Programs.”
The March 16 event at 11155 SW 112 Ave., Robert Russell Memorial Theater, will feature musical artist Nicole Henry singing the songs of Whitney Houston. General admission is $100 and preferred seating is $125. In addition to entertainment, there will be a silent auction and refreshments.
“This event is about raising much needed funds to offer the resources and support for children to instill confidence, develop social and life skills, increase attention span and improve fine and gross motor abilities,” said Jenine Simon, Senior Programming Director.
For more, and for sponsorships, contact ahorenstein@alperjcc.org, or call 305-271-9000, ext. 253.
Sailors to demonstrate ocean work
Miami Navy Week is Jan. 23-29 and it will bring between 50 and 75 sailors from across the nation to volunteer in the community. The program was last hosted here in 2019.
Sailors from USS Constitution, U.S. Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command, U.S. Divers from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, U.S. Navy Band Brass Quintet and U.S. Navy Ceremonial Drill Team will attend events 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 27, at the Frost Museum of Science.
Activities will include interactive STEM displays and presentations, and demonstrations within the Museum’s aquarium on the work U.S. Navy Divers do every day and the science behind their dive equipment.
There are also scheduled performances by the U.S. Navy Band Brass Quintet and U.S. Navy Ceremonial Drill Teams. Visit https://www.frostscience.org/event/navy-day/
Live backgammon is back
This month marks the return of weekly backgammon play in Coral Gables. Discover the fun of live games, matches, chouettes, and tournaments with a friendly bunch of South Florida backgammon fans. Players of all ages and levels are welcome.
You can join in every Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at Rice Mediterranean Kitchen on Giralda Plaza, 164 Giralda Ave. There are no costs or membership dues. Tournaments have entry fees— $10 for the novice (Fish) Division or $30 for the experienced (Sharks) Division. All entry fees are returned as prizes to the players.
Check out MiamiBackgammon.com or contact Leo@MiamiBackgammon.com or 305-669-5260.
Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column.
