Summer may be flying -- August is just around the corner -- but time has been blazing at super sonic speed for those who have made a weekly ritual out of Jazid's last Thursday of the month Brazilian party with singer Rose Max. The party celebrates its 10-year anniversary on Thursday with a performance by Max at 11 p.m. No cover.

Meanwhile, the 21st annual Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation extravaganza will also be held on Thursday, at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. At 7 p.m., 40 of Miami's top chefs and restaurants will serve up samples of specialties in the name of charity, specifically to fight childhood hunger. Seems somewhat odd to stuff your face to prevent starvation, but with 100 percent of ticket sales ($100 in advance, $125 at the door or $200 in advance and $225 at the door for a VIP preview) going directly to the Daily Bread Food Bank, Florida Impact and Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth, the idea makes more sense. Call 1-877-26-TASTE or go to www.shareourstrengthsouthflorida.org

Over in North Beach, the AT&T North Beach Tropical Music & Sports Festival takes place every Saturday through Aug. 15, featuring a slew of activities from beach volleyball and dominoes to dance lessons and live music from 1 to 9 p.m. at the North Beach Bandshell, 73rd and Collins. Carlos y Alejandra and Majic Juan perform Saturday. Next week: Nestor Torres and Havana Soul. Free admission and salsa by the sea? Swell!

Also by the sea on Saturday: the Dziaq (pronounced: dee-zee-ack) Liqueur's fifth annual Beach Ball Festival presented by TAI Entertainment, hosted by Deco Drive and A3TV's Buster and featuring teams composed of the staff of Miami's favorite watering holes. They'll compete in a series of challenges including tug-of-war, dodge ball and relay races. DJ Mr. Sandman will spin, and spectators can sample the title sponsor's offerings, Singha Beer and Pisco 100. The free beach ball bacchanal takes place from noon until 5 p.m. at The Beach Club at Gansevoort South (entrance on 24th Street).

While some people love being sporty on the beach, others take a more erudite approach to the art of the cocktail, which is why SRA. Martinez offers a bar program from 6 to 11 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday at the second floor bar. Indulge in some seriously stellar drinks at a 50 percent discount and get educated as bartenders discuss the evolution of the spirits and cocktails with guests.

Speaking of bars, the one at La Cofradia Ceviche will be pretty lively from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as the restaurant celebrates Peru's Independence Day with live music, free hors d'oeuvres and free pisco sour tastings. But you don't have to wait until happy hour to get happy. The festivities begin at lunch. 305-914-1300.

Anise Riverfront Taverna, 620 NE 78th St., has just launched A Night of Strings, live music and dance shows featuring sounds from Greece, Spain and the Mediterranean every Wednesday night with a four-course dinner at $35 per person, tax and gratuity not included. There are two seatings: 6 to 9 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. 305-758-2929.

Finally, some say the W in the new W South Beach hotel doesn't exactly stand for ``welcome.'' When a reader went to check out the place one afternoon, he was met with resistance and ultimately an e-mail from general manager Eduardo Fernandez, who wrote, ``I apologize if you feel that our staff was not courteous to you during while you visited our establishment. Due to the large volume of people coming and going to the beach and attempting to use our hotel and our restrooms, we have implemented a policy limiting the use of the lobby, living room, and pool areas for guests and residents only.'' What? In this economy? In fairness, we went to the hotel on Friday night and were met with no such resistance. We asked the hotel's PR firm what the deal was but haven't heard back. For now, we guess, the W stands for wary.

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