Miami Book Fair International a

Must Attend for Book Lovers of all Ages

Book lovers everywhere rejoice! The 27th edition of the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by the Florida Center for the Literary Arts (FCLA) at Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 14-21, 2010 at the college’s Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., in downtown Miami. The always-popular Street Fair runs Friday, November 19 through Sunday, November 21, with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling books in a festive atmosphere. This year, the Fair will celebrate the literature and culture of Mexico.

TOP CONFIRMED AUTHORS

Each year, the Fair raises the bar of excellence by offering a fine roster of prize-winning authors, and this year will be no exception. Confirmed authors include tennis superstar Venus Williams, Harvard biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson, MacArthur Fellow and Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat, screenwriter and author Nora Ephron, musician Patti Smith, novelist and memoirist Pat Conroy, local South Florida favorite Dave Barry, novelist Michael Cunningham, filmmaker John Waters, biographer and novelist Susan Cheever, humorist Ian Frazier, fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco, comics creator Charles Burns, NPR’s All Things Considered host Michele Norris, as well as Ann Beattie, Kate DiCamillo, Emilio Estefan, Jonathan Franzen and many others.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Fair will again treat book lovers to more than a week of cultural and educational activities, including the beloved Evenings With… series, the IberoAmerican Authors program, Student Literary Encounters, the Weekend Festival of Authors, the popular Street Fair Nov. 19 – 21 on the closed streets surrounding the campus, Comix Galaxy with Kids Comic Con and School of Comics, Children’s Alley, and much more.

Special Topic Panels will discuss current issues of the day,

including the environment, immigration, and the financial crisis.

In addition, the Fair maintains a strong commitment to literary voices of the international community, and always welcomes writers from Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean.

This year’s program includes Sir Michael Caine (England), Salman Rushdie (India), Darren Shan (Ireland), Susan Abulhawa (Palestine), Zakes Mda (South Africa), Binyavanga Wainana (Kenya), Okey Ndibe (Nigeria), Chenjerai Hove (Zimbabwe), EC Osandu (Nigeria), Aappiah Anthony Kwame (Ghana/UK), and others.

The IberoAmerican program will present Paquito D´Rivera (Cuba-USA), Eduardo Sacheri (Argentina), Alberto Fuguet (Chile), Luis Leante (España), Claudia Piñeiro (Argentina), Pablo Simonetti (Chile), and more.

Caribbean writers featured include Earl Lovelace, Raoul Pantin, Gideon Hanoomansingh, Merle Hodge, Winston Maynard-Moderator, Lasana Kwesi, Diana McCaulay, and Geoffrey Philp.  Confirmed Haitian writers are Miriam Chancy, Michele Voltaire Marcelin and Edwidge Danticat.

Celebration of Mexico

An exciting dimension to this year’s Book Fair includes a celebration of Mexico, commemorating the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence and the centennial of the Mexican revolution. The FCLA has partnered with the Mexican government, the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami and the Mexican Cultural Institute in Miami to honor these momentous occasions. Fairgoers will enjoy a grand pavilion dedicated to Mexican culture, and gallery exhibits by Mexican artists.  The diversity of Mexican literature will be represented by authors such as Laura Esquivel, Mario Bellatín, Gonzalo Celorio, Jorge Volpi, Estela Leñero, Natalia Toledo and others.

The celebration of Mexico will also include a local project with a focus on community involvement.  During the Fair, the Miami Book Fair and the Mexican Cultural Institute will collect new or gently used books and build a colossal spiral of books located on the fairgrounds in downtown Miami, and after the Fair, these books will be donated to local jails. The goal is to have more books than prisoners inside jails.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR INTERNATIONAL AND FLORIDA CENTER FOR THE LITERARY ARTS

Miami Book Fair International is the largest and is regarded as the finest literary gathering in America. It is the premier event of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College. The Center promotes reading and writing throughout the year by consistently presenting quality literary activities open to all in South Florida. Literacy projects target children of all ages—from kindergarten to high school—as well as college students and adults.

Established and emerging writers from South Florida and all over the U.S. read, lecture, and teach workshops. They work with K-12, MDC students, and diverse members of the community, helping to deepen their understanding of literature, and encouraging their work of writers at all stages of development. The Center envisions South Florida as a nexus of literary activity in the Americas and beyond, and will continue to champion its mission of promoting the advancement and appreciation of the literary arts in all forms.

Ed. Note: For regular updates visit www.miamibookfair.com or call 305-237-3528. You can also email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bonnet House Artist Series Schedule

The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens and St. Lawrence Gallery Fourth annual Best of the Artists Series continues with its Third installation Thursday, August 12 at the St. Lawrence Gallery. The five exhibitions feature a variety of works from 16 Bonnet House Fine Artists. The four artists included in this exhibition are Sandra Camper, Barbara Dix, George Dolan and Sandy Dolan. The exhibition runs August 12 through September 4.

Attendees have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece at the first four exhibitions and the fifth exhibition will include the winning pieces from the first four shows.  The Best of the Artists Series winner will then be announced at the closing reception scheduled for Thursday, November 4.

All five exhibitions are free and open to the public and the opening receptions include raffle items donated by each participating artist, wine and cheese and beautiful art. A percentage of all art sale proceeds will benefit Bonnet House and its programs.  The receptions for each show will begin at 6:00pm on the first night of each exhibition as well as the closing night of the final exhibition.

The upcoming exhibition dates are as follows:

Third Exhibition: Thursday, August 12 – Saturday, September 4 (Opening Reception: Thursday, August 12, 6pm)

Fourth Exhibition: Thursday, September 9 – Saturday, October 2 (Opening Reception: Thursday, September 9, 6pm)

Fifth Exhibition: Thursday, October 7 – Thursday, November 4. This show will include favorite pieces voted on by all the attendees from the previous four shows. (Opening Reception: Thursday, October 7, 6pm)

Best of the Artists Closing Reception: Thursday, November 4 at 6pm. Best of the Artists Series winner will be announced.

St. Lawrence Gallery is located at 3556 N. Ocean Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale two lights north of Oakland Park Blvd. on the east side. For more information, please contact Monica Estevez at (954) 563-5393 ext. 127 or St. Lawrence Gallery at (954) 566-8011 or visit www.bonnethouse.org or www.stlawrencegallery.com.

Bonnet House Museum & Gardens -- 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale

Open for tours Tues.- Sat. from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm; Sundays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm www.bonnethouse.org

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival's

Ninth Annual Perrier French Film  Festival Offered a Taste of France Through Cinema and Cuisine

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) in conjunction with The French Consulate-Miami completed an extremely successful run with a number of sold out houses and special events.

Fifteen (15) films were presented during the four-day fest featuring an eclectic array of dramas, scenic adventures and side-splitting comedies.

The fest opener July 29th was the street-smart comic adventure, PARIS EXPRESS. Michaël Youn (Iznogoud, Around The World In 80 Days) stars alongside Heroes' Jimmy Jean Louis and two of France's hippest, sexiest young actresses, Géraldine Nakache (Comme t'y es belle) and Catalina Denis (Go Fast).  Following the film, FLIFF hosts their popular Opening Night Soiree catered this year by internationally renown Chef Kim Naimoli. The sumptuous buffet of classic French cuisine will include Salad Nicoise, Pommes Dauphine, Coq au Vin and deserts including crepes.

Film and food pairings continued throughout the film festival.  Wine, baguettes and brie were served July 30th between the comedy LES SŒURS FÂCHÉES starring Isabelle Huppert and Catherine Frot and the wildly entertaining MICMACS from director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's (Amélie).  Refreshing Sorbets and cupcakes, provided by Gelato Station & Gelati Martini Lounge, was enjoyed by the crowds on July 31 between COCO CHANNEL & IGOR STRAVINSKY - the "sumptuous recreation of '20's France and the mad affair between two the century's most iconic figures" (Hollywood Reporter) and the romantic comedy MA VIE EN L'AIR starring Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (Nine, La Vie en Rose). The monthly Sunday morning Cafe Cinematheque International brunch went French with croissants, pastries and French roast coffee or tea before the irreverently funny road movie AALTRA.

On Saturday, July 31st, FLIFF'S Summer MAKE-A-MOVIE Camp concluded as FAB! Films for Kids presents a screening of the campers final film projects with a French flair..

Closing the fest on August 1 was LET IT RAIN, an endlessly charming and a sharp-witted battle of the sexes from the celebrated director Agnes Jaoui (Look at Me and the Oscar® nominated The Taste of Others).  FLIFF's  Wrap Party followed with light French fare including Soup d'Oignon, Ratatouille, Quiche Lorraine and for dessert, a Chocolate Fountain with fruit and cake.

Additional film highlights included: TWO IN THE WAVE an absorbing look at French directors François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard,  THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN Winner of the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, DREAMS OF DUST which will transport audiences to a world few have seen, and DUMAS a fascinating and gorgeously told tale of French author Alexandre Dumas and his relationship with Auguste Maquet, the little known co-author of such classics as The Three Musketeers and  The Count of Monte Cristo. DUMAS stars Gerard Depardieu and Benoit Poelvoorde.

For news and information: www.FLIFF.com or 954-525-FILM (3456)

Venue:  Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6 Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale, one block east of Broward County Courthouse on south bank of New River.

Art Job Saved! Robert E. Davis Reels It In at Cinema Paradiso

Broward Cultural Division distributed economic recovery funds to 17 arts organizations including Cinema Paradiso, which retained a position that was previously slated for elimination due to financial cut backs.  Robert E. Davis assists with programming daily film screenings, special film series events, and educational programs while successfully serving a diverse and art-conscious community.

To date, 47 arts jobs in Broward County were retained through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a national American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enacted through the Obama Administration.

Cinema Paradiso is one of South Florida's most unique theaters. Operated by the Broward County Film Society and home of the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, it is known for its role as Broward County's only full time Art House theater, showcasing the finest in independent and foreign films, along with documentaries and classic films not shown anywhere else on the big screen.

As a hub for the local and international film community, filmmakers, press, investors, celebrities, and movie fans from around the world gather during the annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival; and many will spend the bulk of their time in Fort Lauderdale at Cinema Paradiso!

Davis will specifically assist with the programming of The Italia Festa and the Perrier French Film Festival, selecting, procuring and writing program notes for the 24 Year Retrospective; and negotiating celebrity appearances. He will also be involved in the preparation of the Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival – the longest running film festival in the world. All this saved, through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a national American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Through the economic stimulus package, Broward County’s Cultural Division received a $250,000 grant, and in turn re-granted the funds through an ARRA Lifeline application process. These funds were specifically directed to restore jobs in the arts, endorsing the notion that the non-profit arts industry is an important sector of the economy. Arts organizations had the opportunity to apply for funds to provide salary support for an existing staff member who would otherwise have been laid off; or to re-engage artistic/contracted services already let go.

Even before the Obama Administration signed the ARRA into law on February 17, 2009, County staff was immediately mobilized to respond. The Broward Cultural Council as well as the Cultural Division moved quickly to execute these grants and distribute the funds to the cultural organizations. Also, a Broward County Stimulus Grants Coordination Office, www.broward.org/recovery was established for the purpose of centralizing the identification, development, review, approval and tracking for grants and contracts resulting from ARRA. The office is managed by Linda Ross, stimulus grants coordinator with Broward County.

For further information on the list of grantees, or this program, visit the Broward Cultural Division website; or contact Jim Shermer 954-357-7502; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD. NAMES MICHELE NADEEM
VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named Michele Nadeem to the position of vice president, Global Corporate Communications. Nadeem is responsible for leading Royal Caribbean’s overall global communication strategies and community relations efforts throughout all of its brands, and reports directly to the company’s chairman and CEO, Richard D. Fain.

“We are delighted to have Michele join our team,” said Fain. “We feel Michele’s extensive international and domestic accomplishments and experience in corporate communications leadership roles will make her invaluable when the company needs to deliver clear and consistent messages across the organization and to the public.”

A highly versatile communications professional with over 25 years of experience, Nadeem has achieved success in the fields of transportation, logistics, crisis/issues management, internal/external communications, reputation management, technology (software solutions), analyst relations, public and private sector relations, corporate sponsorships, social responsibility, community relations and healthcare.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Club Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 39 ships in service and three under construction.

Nearly $22,000 Raised at Cuisine for Art Fund-Raiser

Nearly $22,000 was raised for the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood at its 13th Annual Cuisine for Art fund-raiser, which was held recently at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. More than 350 people attended this fun event, where for the first time, community leaders joined elected officials to serve as celebrity waiters. Another first at this year’s event was recognizing local restaurateur Steve Martorano for his culinary excellence and national attention to South Florida.

This year’s celebrity waiters included Hollywood Commissioner Patricia Asseff;  Broward County School Board Member Robin Bartleman; Memorial Healthcare System Senior Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer John Benz; Hollywood Commissioner Dick Blattner; City of Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober; AutoNation Vice President of Corporate Affairs Gale Butler; Hollywood Commissioner Beam Furr; Bitner Goodman Partner Michael Goodman; Broward County School Board Chair Jennifer Gottlieb;  Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger; Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Alan Koslow, Esq.; Broward County School Board Member Ann Murray; Hollywood Vice Mayor Heidi O’Sheehan; Nova Southeastern University’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences Dean Don Rosenblum; Funding Arts Broward! President Drazia Rubenstein; Miami Dolphins Alumnus and Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation Founder Twan Russell; Hollywood Commissioner Fran Russo; Winterfest, Inc. President and CEO Lisa Scott-Founds; and Hollywood Commissioner Linda Sherwood.

"We changed the recipe for this year’s event, and we were thrilled with the results,” says Art and Culture Center of Hollywood Executive Director Joy Satterlee. “Everyone present thoroughly enjoyed themselves while raising funds for the Center’s education, visual and performing arts programs."

Event sponsors include Black Art Beer; the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; and Southern Wine and Spirits.

The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood presents contemporary gallery exhibitions, live stage performances and high-quality education programs for adults and children. The Center fosters a creative environment where new and challenging work can flourish through programs that reflect the highest standards of artistry and diversity. To learn more, call 954.921.3274 or visit www.ArtandCultureCenter.org.

Week of the Ocean Sea-Son

Continues Through May 8

Bu Year Around Awareness is

Ultimate Goal of Organization

National Week of the Ocean members encourage year-round ocean study from the arts to commerce, from history to foods, from endangered sea creatures to issues such as offshore drilling or ocean dumping. Once an interest is developed, some action steps should be taken by those involved with the preservation of the ocean as the goal.

Those who wish to support Week of the Ocean efforts can order a full-color 24 x 36" poster for $10.00 plus $4.95 shipping & handling. Proceeds will help fund campus celebration kits for teachers which are available for $5.00 plus $2.95 for shipping & handling. Topics include a campus-wide Week of the Ocean or a School Marine Fair to showcase student projects.

A complimentary festival schedule for events held annually in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is also available.

The Fort Lauderdale’s 31st festival sea-son through May 8, 2010 includes the April 30 - May 2 Week of the Ocean School Marine Fair and the May 8 Mother Ocean Day Community Awards & Film.

For more information about National Week of the Ocean’s programs, write to National Week of the Ocean, Inc., P.O. Box 179, Ft Lauderdale,FL 33302 or call 954-462-5573 for a Festival program. Visit the website at www.national-week-of-the-ocean.org.

National Week of the Ocean, Inc. is a Federal and State registered 501c3 operated solely by a volunteer staff of officers and directors.

Entre Nous completes a successful fund-raising year with

Starry, Starry Night Gala for the 24th Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Entre Nous, the support group of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, completed another successful fund-raising year with its Starry, Starry Night Gala, opening the 24th annual Fort Lauderdale Film Festival on Friday, October 23, 2009, according to chairpersons Estelle Fineberg and Teri Pattullo.

Five hundred gala attendees - film buffs, stars, producers, directors and honorees - enjoyed an elegant buffet, dancing to the music of Joe Kuels, jazz vocals by Lisanne Lyons and live and silent auctions.

In late March Entre Nous also presented The Fine Art of Film, Fashion & Food, a benefit for FLIFF and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Scholarship Fund. Held at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale the evening included fashions designed and modeled by the Art Institute students, a buffet, silent auction and entrance into selected Museum exhibitions.

According to Gregory von Hausch, FLIFF CEO and President, Entre Nous members provide not only fund-raising support, this year amounting to $60,000, but also act as emissaries for special events such as the upcoming Academy Awards party scheduled for March 7, 2010 and their next planned fund-raiser Diving into Spring scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2010 to be held at the International Swimming Hall of Fame from 5 - 8 p.m. featuring a swimsuits through the ages fashion show.

Event proceeds benefit the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, a 501c3 organization.

For more information on FLIFF visit www.fliff.com or call 954-760-9898.