• What: Dragon Boat Races
• When: Sat and Sun June 28th and 29th
• Where: Quiet Waters Park (Deerfield Beach)

(source: http://soarteam.murphyslawfirm.net/index.php)

• What:    Outdoor Urban Gourmet Market
• When:   Sun June 8th 9am-4pm
• Where:  Northeast Corner SE 12th Ave and Los Olas
• Phone:  954-462-4166

The new farmers market is coming to Las Olas Boulevard as the Outdoor Urban Gourmet Market, featuring farm fresh fruits and vegetables, culinary herbs, tropical plants and orchids, fresh baked breads and pastries from Gran Forno and Stork’s Coffee House, local honey, handmade soaps and wonderful market baskets to carry your selection of goodies home. The Las Olas Association is sponsoring the event and local businesses are supporting the endeavor, which will take place in the Las Olas Chemist parking lot on the Northeast corner of Las Olas Blvd. and Southeast 12th Ave. The market is held the second Sunday of each month.

(source: http://southflorida.metromix.com/events/dining_event/outdoor-urban-gourmet-market-fort-lauderdale/131409/content)

• What    Relay for Life of West Palm Beach
• When   Friday June 6th 6pm to Saturday June 7th 8:30am
• Where  Meyer Amphitheatre (105 Evernia St, West Palm Beach)

We live in an age where science has enabled 80-year-old men to continue procreating via a pill or two. And where bald men can grow hair by rubbing foam on their domes. Despite these extraordinary breakthroughs, cancer, one of the most devastating diseases known to man, still runs rampant. Fortunately, the good folks at the American Cancer Society are doing everything they can to find a cure, and helping them out is a cinch. Get involved by simply participating in Relay For Life of Downtown West Palm Beach at the Meyer Amphitheatre (105 Evernia St., W. Palm Beach). The relay begins on June 6th at 6:00 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 a.m. on June 7th. The reason the relay takes place during these unorthodox times is to remind everyone that cancer never sleeps, but we’re all thankful that the summer sun won’t be out for most of the relay, making running and walking much more comfortable. Call 561-650-0139, or visit www.acscan.org/relay for more information on the event and how to donate.

(source: http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/events/relay-for-life-of-downtown-west-palm-beach-530637/)

So an art exhibit isn’t really what I had in mind for photo ops but ITS LEGOS! What can be cooler than that? I mean.. I’ve been to Legoland… I love them….

• What      The Art of the Brick Art Exhibit
• When     Opening Reception Friday June 6th 6-9PM
• Where    Hollywood Art and Culture Center (1650 Harrison St, Hollywood)

Nathan Sawaya: The Art of the Brick

The Art of the Brick museum show is currently touring the U.S. It is the first major museum exhibition in the United States to focus exclusively on the use of the popular LEGO® building block as an art medium and artist Nathan Sawaya takes it to new heights.

This 33-year-old New York artist is exhibiting more than thirty works created solely from standard LEGO bricks over the period 2002 – 2007 with several new ones created specifically for this exhibit. Nearly one million colorful LEGO pieces transformed into whimsical and awe-inspiring images are on display.

(source: http://artandculturecenter.org/nathan-sawaya-the-art-of-the-brick)

• What    Skyward Kites
• Where  Haulover Park Beach 10800 Collins Ave (Miami)
• When   Sundays 10am

Add the joy of kite flying to your day at the beach. Staff can help with assembly and give instructions on how to be a master kite flyer.

(souce: http://www.southflorida.com/events/499924,0,4975381.event)

• What    Hollywood Dream Car Classic
• Where   Tyler St to West Dixie Hwy, then east on Hollywood Blvd (Hollywood)
• When    10am to 3pm

Enjoy music, live entertainment, and view dozens of vintage cars.

(source: http://www.southflorida.com/events/617406,0,1501960.event)

UNIFEST the first Caribbean festival in Broward County is a demonstration of Caribbean pride that attracts thousands of locals and visitors alike to the City of Lauderdale Lakes for a full day of cultural entertainment.

(source: http://www.gcaccoalition.com/)

• What:    International Soccer Friendly Match
  •  Guatamala vs Panama
• Where   Lockhart Stadium (Fort Lauderdale)
• When    Sun June 1 Kickoff at 4PM

(source: http://www.lockhartstadiumftl.com)

• What: Seminole Tribe of Florida Jason Taylor Golf Classic
• When: Sunday and Monday June 1st and 2nd
• Where: Hard Rock Live (Hollywood) and Grande Oaks Golf Club (Davie)

2008 SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA JASON TAYLOR CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC

June 1-2, 2008 marks the fifth annual Seminole Tribe of Florida Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic, hosted by Miami Dolphins All-Pro defensive end Jason Taylor.  Following the success of last year’s event which netted more than $250,000 for South Florida children Charities, the 2008 JTGC looks to further its position as one of the area’s premier celebrity fundraisers.  Proceeds from this year’s event will again benefit the Jason Taylor Foundation, Holtz Children’s Hospital and Take Stock in Children. This marquee outing will bring together some of the top celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds in a start-studded event fit for South Florida.  Activities will begin with a gala dinner at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, followed by a day of golf at the exclusive Grande Oaks Golf Club of Ft. Lauderdale.

(source: http://jasontaylorfoundation.com/index.php)

• What:  Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
• When: Saturday May 31
  • Racing 8am-5pm
  • Festival 10am-5pm
• Where:
  • 777 Brickell Ave
    Miami, FL 33131
    (Brickell Ave S.E. 8th Street)
• Website: http://www.miamidragon.com/festival.html
• Contact: miamidragon@bellsouth.net

What is the purpose of the festival?

The purpose of the annual Miami Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is to promote the sport and tradition of dragon boat racing, sharing this dramatic aspect of Asian culture with the greater Miami community. Proceeds from the Dragon Boat Festival will go towards promotion of dragon boat racing in Miami and toward charitable activities. The Dragon Boat Festival is also a way of encouraging Miamians to become more physically fit, while enjoying the outdoor opportunities of our city.

HISTORICAL FOLKLORE – DRAGON BOAT

Traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth moon on the lunar calendar — late May to mid June on the solar calendar (June 3rd this year) — the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the ancient patriot-poet Qu Yuan who lived from 340-278 B.C.. Qu Yuan was a minister who advocated reforms in his home state of Chu. The King refused to listen to Qu Yuan’s advice and instead banished him from the state of Chu. In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and people. In 278, when Qu Yuan heard that his home had been invaded, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.

The people of Chu rushed to the river to rescue him. Too late to save Qu Yuan, they splashed furiously and threw zung-ze, steamed rice wrapped in reed leaf, into the river as a sacrifice to his spirit and to keep the fish from Qu Yuan’s body.

Since that time, some 2,000 years ago, dragon boats are raced on rivers in China and people throw zung-ze into the river to honor the memory of Qu Yuan. Even before Qu Yuan, the fifth moon was a time of danger. With the hot and wet weather of the summer came the perils of plagues and diseases. Chinese people consider themselves to be the descendants of dragons and so during the fifth moon feel it is appropriate to paddle boats with dragon designs and make sacrifices of zung-ze to cajole the river dragons.

(source: http://www.miamidragon.com/about.html)