It was obvious that Coldplay -- on tour in support of its enigmatic fourth album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, would focus on its new material. What was unexpected was how dynamic the British band could make the show, and how well the more recent songs would mesh with the classics.
The line between words and the world dissolved as two distinguished cultural observers at the Miami book fair discussed the election of Barack Obama.
The mighty Pulitzer Prize for fiction is the sort of impressive literary award that often arrives with the unclaimed baggage of expectations. ''What next?'' it demands hungrily. ``And when?''
When Casino Royale opened in theaters around the world in November 2006, producer Barbara Broccoli -- daughter of original James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli and keeper of the 007 movie flame -- was a little nervous.
''The trouble with poetry,'' wrote former U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins in his poem of the same title, ``is that it encourages the writing of more poetry.''
The Miami Book Fair International, widely known as one of the biggest and best in the country if not the biggest and best, started out small. Really small. Or the idea behind it did: to borrow some folding tables and sell used books in Bayfront Park.
You would have to travel to far corners of Latin America and Europe to visit some of the 60-plus authors assembled at the Miami Book Fair International's Spanish-language program.
Despite the fact that she has written 27 books -- satiric novels, story collections, children's literature, nonfiction that explores the essence of art and its creators, a deeply critical examination of what it means to read -- Francine Prose is not accustomed to making her readers weep.
Consider, if you will, a completely nonscientific postulation: A book about black holes geared toward children is easier to write than a book on string theory aimed at adults.
In his memoir about his son's decade-long addiction to methamphetamines, David Sheff reveals the bone-crunching pain of loving an addicted child. Even the everyday sound of a ringing phone triggered anxiety for the whole family: Was his son OK? Arrested? Dead?
Miami is a city where many have come to make a fresh start. Soon, international writers persecuted in their home countries may look to the Magic City for the same sort of rejuvenation.
Last winter, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison received a phone call from Sen. Barack Obama, then the underdog to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
It's the worst of times for A Tale of Two Cities. The musical version of Charles Dickens' historical novel set against the backdrop of the French Revolution will close Nov. 16 after a 68-performance run at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
Queen Latifah is tired. The lady is jet-lagged and yawning, nudged into the corner of a couch, bare feet heavy on a coffee table, eyelids drooping, croaking words as if she'd just been wrested viciously from a nap.
A two-time Tony Award nominee is headed for South Florida to star in a pair of shows for the New Vista Theatre. Crista Moore, who made her Broadway debut opposite Tyne Daly in Gypsy, will play leading roles in two musicals: Enter Laughing, the Joseph Stein-Stan Daniels musical that kicks off New Vista's season Nov. 20-Dec. 7, and The Producers, the much-lauded Mel Brooks musical set for Jan. 15-Feb. 8.
At this weekend's 2008 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, practically every movie being screened between Friday and Tuesday's closing night festivities will be accompanied by a famous face. Jane Lynch, who also stars in the Hollywood comedy Role Models, will attend Friday's screening of I Do & I Don't, followed by Superman Returns' Brandon Routh, who is coming to support his film Fling.
If you consider the weekend that Antonio Amadeo, Katherine Amadeo and John Manzelli are about to have, you have to give them props for having nerve. Or taking risks. Or maybe for being just crazy enough to think they can pull off opening the play Nerve at their small theater company, The Naked Stage, and putting on South Florida theater's most buzzed-about fundraiser between Friday and Monday.
For a music that many believe is the United States' greatest contribution to culture, jazz doesn't get as much recognition as perhaps it should. Academic and cultural cred, yes -- jazz music and artists receive awards, doctorates, retrospectives. But pop cred, the everyday presence in people's lives as the music that fills their consciousness, their dancing and downtime? That's another question.
Among the many reasons to attend the South Florida International Blues Festival this weekend -- it's free, first of all -- is the manic rockabilly band Hep Cat Boo Daddies, which performs Saturday. Led by singer-guitarist Joel DaSilva, the trio has enlivened South Florida's music scene for the past 10 years.
For many, Sunday and Monday are dead days when it comes to partying. But never Saturday. Until now. Mary Brickell Village hot spot Rosa Mexicano is rolling out the morbid as it celebrates Dia de los Muertos, aka the Day of the Dead, with a monthlong fiesta including a cooking demonstration and luncheon on Saturday at the ungodly hour of 10 a.m. Good thing -- the $35 charge is all inclusive so your wallet won't be dead afterward. For reservations, call 786-425-1001.
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