OUT AND ABOUT IN MIAMI

Thank you for your continued support of Miami! The March issue of the monthly Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau e-newsletter is filled with exciting news and events. Enjoy!
 

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL DRAWS NEAR: The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) is celebrating its 26th anniversary March 6-15, 2009. This year the festival will screen 137 films from 43 countries during its run. It will also offer dozens of lively events, educational programming and meaningful community outreach. The festival will inaugurate a "Cutting the Edge" competition to explore the many aspects of non-narrative filmmaking. The festival director feels the idea will merge different art forms in the same multimedia environment including photography, videos, paintings etc. MIFF is sure to bring out an eclectic crowd and lots of fun for the destination. For more information on scheduling and screenings, visit www.MiamiFilmFestival.com.

BE TOP CHEF FOR A DAY: Chef Allen's, legendary Aventura restaurant is now offering reality cooking classes Monday-Friday, 3-7:30 pm. Novices or fledging gourmets can work shoulder to shoulder with James Beard Award recipient, Chef Allen Susser and his talented staff. Classes walk participants through the fundamentals of cooking, providing insider tips, discussions on food, resources and culinary philosophy. After a brief orientation, hands on instructions and participation in restaurant activities are tailored to personal interests. For more information, visit www.ChefAllens.com

ARTEAMERICAS BRINGS ART TO MIAMI FOR THE 7TH YEAR: Merrill Lynch Arteamericas, the premier fair of art from Latin American returns to Miami Friday, March 27-30, 2009. The art fair will showcase the latest trends in paintings, sculpture and multimedia from contemporary artists as well as renowned masters at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Seventy of the best galleries from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Haiti, Panama, Peru, and the U.S. to name a few will be in attendance this year. Merrill Lynch Arteamericas provides unique exhibits to a diverse audience while maintaining an intimate, boutique feel. The art available at the show ranges from $2,000 to close to one million dollars. For more information, visit www.Arteamericas.com.

CRAZY PIANO HITS COCOWALK: Crazy Pianos, a unique and wildly popular dueling piano bar, restaurant, and late-night club venue, is hitting South Florida's entertainment venue, Cocowalk. The restaurant/bar is investing nearly $5 million in preparation for its grand opening including expansion of the space. The Crazy Pianos menu features a wide variety of International and Americana fare, Pan Asian, and French-American bistro style cuisine, with a full-service bar, where the bartenders are as much a part of the fun as the Crazy Pianos entertainers. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. At 10:00 p.m., Crazy Pianos morphs into a late night club venue for adults 21 and over featuring live performances from entertainers specializing in a variety of musical genres including oldies and classic rock hits from the 70's, 80's, and 90's. For more information, visit www.crazypianos.com.

BAYFRONT PARK'S FARMERS' MARKET RETURNS: Back for the third year, Bayfront Park's Farmers' market will be running Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm until April 2, 2009. Rain or shine, located in the center of the park, the market is showcasing vendor favorites selling fresh, locally grown produce; exotic fruits; homemade, organic honey; orchids; and smoothies, salads, and gourmet sandwiches. For more information visit www.BayfrontParkMiami.com.