Star Search: Forget Planet Hollywood. If you want to see real stars in action, South Beach is still the place. Just last week I was sitting on my front steps with my dog when Gloria and Emilio Estefan strolled up my street. The next night they were at the Jackie Gleason Theater on international television, performing and receiving lifetime achievement awards. Just your average superstar pedestrians.
The big stars of the Latin world were all over the city, too. Erik Estrada, Celia Cruz and Xuxa flew in for the show and stayed for days, checking out the new restaurants and clubs. This past week, the 60-something Tito Puente made a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe to donate his timbales and introduce his son’s band, Tito Puente Jr. and the Latin Rhythm Trio.
Puente introduced mambo to the masses, reigning over New York’s Palladium Ballroom in the ’50s. A graduate of Juilliard and a four-time Grammy winner, Puente has recorded more than 100 albums and continues to be an influence on musicians. Gracious and jovial, Puente mugged for the cameras and even pounded out a little rhythm before handing over the autographed drum set.
More Latin star power shone later that night over at the Center for the Fine Arts as the eccentric and surreal Julio Galan show opened. Galan, one of Mexico’s top artists, paints intensely autobiographical works in much the same way as Frida Kahlo did. Galan made a dramatic entrance, wearing a jacket and skirt made of burlap, a ring and chain through his nose and a large rubber bat tied into his ponytail. MTV Latino DJ Alfredo Lewin was there to bring in the hip Latino music crowd.
After the opening, there was a museum-sponsored dinner for Galan and about 50 people at Tap Tap, a colorful and exotic Haitian restaurant on Fifth Street, which has become the beach’s newest hot spot. After the dinner, the group made its way over to Cafe Manana at 15th and Washington for the Thursday night salsa show. Normally sedate Manana was turned into a spicy club with the tables cleared away for dancing. Galan’s bat was seen doing the funky chicken.
Galan’s show is up through July 24 at CFA, 101 W. Flagler Street, Miami.
— Fit for a Queen: You didn’t hear it from me, but the rumor going around town is that Prince will be performing at his new Glam Slam club at 1235 Washington Ave. this weekend.
— Ramble on: On Saturday, the Stephen Talkhouse brings in the quirky and wonderful Red Clay Ramblers at 8 and 10. This 20-year-old band blends traditional string-based music with artful originals. Playwright and actor Sam Shepard chose the group to compose the scores for two of his plays, Lie of the Mind and Far North. Polkas, waltzes, gospel and bluegrass are just some of the styles this group throws into the melting pot. This special show includes a pre-show dinner to benefit Camillus House.
On Sunday, Bobby Ramirez and Full Power bring Latin and Brazilian jazz to the house. This high-energy contemporary jazz is influenced by rhythm and blues and Afro-Cuban rhythms, for a spiritual and soulful earful.
On Wednesday the soon-to-be international sensation Nil Lara hosts Havana night, with special guests.
The Talkhouse is also taking a stab at being an after-hours club. From Wednesday through Sunday, the back patio bar will be closed off at 1 a.m., with entry through the back alley. A pool table, music by beach favorite DJ Carlos Menendez, and $2 Rolling Rocks and tequila shooters make it happen.
Talkhouse lives at 616 Collins Ave. Call 531-7557.
— Southern nights: South Pointe Park at 1 Washington Ave. is cranking up its Friday Night Live Concert Series again with music from the ’50s, ’60s and beyond. Starting at 8 p.m. weekly there will be music, amusement rides, a crafts market and food vendors at the waterfront park. Tonight the Coasters perform Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown and Poison Ivy. All events are free. Parking is $3 in the South Pointe lot.
— Premiere play: Burning Patience, an award-winning play by Chilean playwright Antonio Skarmeta, opens tonight at the Bridge Theater, 2100 Washington Ave. A sadly funny tale, Burning Patience tells of poet Pablo Neruda, who learns the mailman has been claiming Neruda’s love poems to his sweetheart as his own. The play runs through June 26, with shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 and $15, call 886-3908.
— Next stop SoBeland: South Beach the new Disney World? It happened last week during the enormous powwow convention for travel agents. They actually closed off Ocean Drive for a private party. The place was spotless and crawling with security and waiters. Every restaurant had free food and drink, bonfires roared on the beach as dance troupes, models, in-line skate teams and live bands played. Designer Barton G. outdid himself, hanging beach balls and lights from the palm trees like coconuts and planting jet skis in the park like kiddie rides. For a native like myself who remembers Ocean Drive as a seedy drug-dealer-infested slum just eight years ago, it was pretty amazing. But did the travel agents see the real Miami? Who knows? Maybe they saw the future.
The South Beach column appears every week. Please send photos, tapes, videos, invites, fliers and hot tips to SoBe It, Entertainment, Sun Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 33301.
