Not many artists have the vision and artistic energy to be Grammy winners and contribute to so many genres — jazz, rock, hip hop, ambient — while concurrently producing, touring, creating new projects, working on films and continually pushing the envelope. Will Calhoun has this creative vision and he is doing an extraordinary job keeping music a spiritual and motivating force in his life.
Famous for his work with the groundbreaking hard rock group Living Colour, including two Grammys, Calhoun has recorded, toured and performed with diverse artists, including Mick Jagger, Mos Def, Oumou Sangare, Marcus Miller and Wayne Shorter (on the Grammy winning CD, High Life). On Saturday, March 14, join us for this extraordinary performance featuring the Will Calhoun Quartet and be ready for an amazing evening of some of the best music available on the jazz scene today.
The Banyan Bowl also will feature outstanding theater coming up in March when The Miami Acting Company presents Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Directed by Kenneth Kurtz, this great American classic is certain to entertain audiences on the Banyan Bowl stage for four performances only. The full performance schedule is March 19-21at 8 p.m. and March 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. Purchase tickets on line at pinecrestgardens.org or call the box office at 877-496-8499.
CALLING ALL KIDS!
The Gardens presents three outstanding events for children starting with A Taste of the Tropics, our March exhibit in the Hibiscus Room Gardens Gallery. Whether you are familiar with the areas of Miami, the city emits an ambiance of tropical culture. This thematic exhibition allows students to examine Miami’s nuances while viewing it like a true native as they explore it through the use of various media such as drawing, painting and printmaking. Miami’s natural waterways, mangroves palm trees, small islands, seagulls, sultry sea breezes, the sounds of Biscayne Bay lapping at the shore, flora, fauna and sunsets that paint the sky a thousand shades of tangerine and lavender are but a few of those tropical wonders explored and interpreted through this student exhibition. Taste of the Tropics is a juried exhibit by Miami-Dade County public school students in grades K-12.
FAMILY FRIDAY
The Gardens presents Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs on Friday, March 13, at 8 p.m. “Eye-popping and mouth-watering in one, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs spins a 30-page children’s book into a 90-minute, all-you-can-laugh buffet.” Variety. The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a full-feature animated film inspired by the beloved children’s book that focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. The film features the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Mr. T, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker and many more. The evening begins when the gates open at 6:30 where you can fill up on popcorn, tasty treats and the best hot dogs in town. Flashlight tours start around 7:15 p.m. and the movie starts about 8 p.m.
CREATIVE CRAFTS FOR KIDS
This month Creative Crafts for Kids is entitled The Turtle Island T-Shirt! Join us on Sunday, March 22, either at Noon-1:30 p.m. or 2-3:30 p.m. Your child will create a rendition of Pinecrest Gardens’ famous Turtle Island and take home a tee-shirt with their finished project. They will paint a design, including turtles, rock formations, aquatic plants and flowers. These are classes for children 6-12 years old and are all-inclusive for children of mixed abilities, including children with special needs. The fee is $15 per class and it is limited to 15 children. During class time, parents can enjoy the Farmer’s Market just steps away from the crafts workshop area. All classes are taught by VSAFL’s certified teaching artist Yvette Cotera. For reservations, call 305-753-5341.
HORTICULTURE ACTIVITIES
Our popular class Gardening with Craig, hosted by horticulturist Craig Morell, on Wednesday, March 11, at 10 a.m. in the Hibiscus Room, will feature container herb gardening. Put your green thumb to work when Morell conducts a hands-on workshop on the simple methods needed to create your own container herb garden. Participants will take home the herbs they planted to create culinary masterpieces garnished with fresh herbs you have planted and grown, and the best part is you can enjoy these fresh herbs for months. This workshop is limited to 10 people, so please register for the class early by calling 305- 669-6990. The fee is $10. This is the most popular workshop we host all year, so if this class fills up (as it has in the past) we will try to accommodate a second group on another day.
PLANT SHOWS AND AUCTIONS
There are two wonderful opportunities to view and purchase plants this month when the Pan Am Orchid Society and the Tropical Fern and Exotic Plant Society host yearly shows and auctions at the Gardens.
The Pan American Orchid Society has chosen Pinecrest Gardens as its home. This wonderful plant society is one of the oldest societies in Miami. Founded in 1954 by a group of Pan American World Airways employees who wanted to share and expand their love of orchids, this unique group will hold regular meetings at the Gardens the third Tuesday of every month starting in April. The annual Orchid Auction will be on Thursday, March 18, with a preview at 6:30 p.m. and the auction beginning at 7 p.m. Free refreshments. This is a wonderful opportunity to either add to your existing orchid collection or begin your love affair with these magnificent blooms. For more information, call 305-669-6990.
The Tropical Fern and Exotic Plant Society will hold its annual Show & Sale on Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22.
This is an event not to be missed by South Florida plant lovers. Vendors from as far as Louisiana and Thailand will join local growers to exhibit and sell plants that are sought by collectors and hobbyists. Members of the society will sell plants they have grown; some of them are one of a kind! The show will be in the Hibiscus Room and will feature outstanding examples of plants grown by members that have been awarded ribbons by the judges. Sales will be held along the Colonnade.
Admission is $5; Gardens members enter free.
