Wednesday
“The Unseen World Around Us” at FAU’s Wimberly Library, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 8 a.m. to midnight; free; 561/297-3785 or www.library.fau.edu
Photographer and recent FAU Chemistry graduate Efram Goldberg may very well be afraid of many things in life, but one thing is certain: Arachnophobia isn’t one of them. Nor does he shy away from any other creepy, crawly creatures, for that matter. Visit Goldberg’s website (eframgoldberg.com), and you’ll be treated to an extreme close-up of a jumping spider; cycle through his other images for tactile impressions of a weevil, paper wasp, dragonfly, orchid bee and other insects, all explored with vivid, colorful detail. These works and more are currently displayed at FAU’s Wimberly Library, running through Oct. 1.
Friday to Sunday
Chris Kattan and Friends at Palm Beach Improv, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; various show times; $22 plus a two-drink minimum; 561/833-1812 or www.palmbeachimprov.com
Chris Kattan was an integral part of what might be called the fourth wave of “Saturday Night Live,” performing in sketches from 1995 to 2003. During that time, he forged at least three indelible characters: One of the two Roxbury guys, a pair of head-bopping club-goers with an unhealthy obsession with “What is Love?”; Mango, a flamboyant gay male stripper; and Mr. Peepers, a half-man, half-animal science experiment gone horribly wrong. In the Peppers sketches, Kattan’s manimal crouches on two feet, digs ferociously into food bowls with his bare hands and throws glass beakers around the room with reckless abandon. Kattan’s comic artistry was not subtle on “SNL,” but how is his stand-up? YouTube doesn’t have any samples, so you’ll have to see for yourself. His “friend” in this show is opening act Finesse Mitchell, another “SNL” alum – and University of Miami graduate.
Friday
Opening night of “Love’s Labours Lost” at Studio One Theatre at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $20; 800/564-9539 orwww.fauevents.com
One of Shakespeare’s least-produced comedies, “Love’s Labours Lost” will be given a localized face-lift from FAU’s theater department. The plot concerns a king and his three noblemen’s attempts to remain romantically detached and focus on their work – an idea that has never worked for anyone, anywhere, and which leads to comic shenanigans when a princess and her three ladies visit the kingdom. If the setting seems a little too British and bloodless, don’t miss FAU’s take on the play: Director Jean-Louis Baldet’s version is set in a mythical Key West in 1947 – “A time of exhaustion and tension immediately following WWII,” he says. “I hope to carry all of you to an exotic location of our contemporary imagination; a Key West that never existed, but in our romanticized view we believe it did.” It runs through July 21.
Alien Encounter at Revolution, 100 S.W. Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 8 p.m.; www.jointherevolution.net
Of the seemingly countless DJ concerts happening in South Florida each weekend, only this one encourages its guests to dress like aliens – with cash prizes awarded for the best costumes. Scheduled to run until 4 a.m., the Revolution dance floor will transform into an extraterrestrial rave, with neoned Greys, Reptilians and little green men enjoying a four-dimensional visual spectacle along with the music. The headlining DJs will be Midnight Conspiracy. I could try to describe them, but I could never top their own biography, from their website: “In the ever-growing sea of electronic acts out there, it takes more than talent and desire to distinguish yourself from the rest. It takes a mustache, a ninja and a big giant laser eye that can travel through time, space, and the realms of hell. It’s a good thing that Midnight Conspiracy posses all three.” Oh, dear.
Jazz at Moca at Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 N.E. 125thSt., North Miami; 7 p.m.; free; 305/893-6211 or www.mocanomi.org
Each month, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosts a free concert with a jazz luminary. At 8 tonight, the outdoor MOCA Patio will resonate with the sounds of acclaimed trumpeter Jean Caze, a Haitian-born Miami resident who has performed with acts as varied as Herbie Hancock and Chicago. But there’s more than just jazz highlighting this special event. Beginning an hour earlier, two Haitian authors will share their children’s books in free readings in the MOCA Pavilion. Alexandra Barbot will read from “Mommy, Tell Me about Haiti,” and Hannah Yoldine Lowenstein will read from “Hannah Has a Story.” Lowenstein is 9 years old and was adopted by a Pompano Beach family after the 2010 earthquake. The family enrolled Hannah in painting classes to improve her communication skills, and the resulting book includes reproductions of 25 of her paintings. Pretty moving stuff.
Coldplay at AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 7 p.m.; $26.50 to $96.50; 786/777-1250 or www.ticketmaster.com
Coldplay has done awfully well for itself since it released its debut single back in 2000. The song was called “Yellow,” and it was a pretty great anti-rocking rock song – measured, cerebral and British enough to label the band as Radiohead knock-offs. In the convening 12 years, Coldplay has emerged as an enviable pop-music powerhouse. Now, instead of emulating its forebears, Chris Martin and company have created a virtual genre in and of themselves, with countless Coldplay clones angling for their 15 minutes. So far, none of them have eclipsed the Real McCoy: Coldplay has sold more than 55 million records worldwide, securing seven Grammys from 20 nominations. The band is still touring behind its 2011 release “Mylo Xyloto.”
Saturday
Night Owl Market at Flagler Village, 541 N.W. First Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 5 p.m.; free; http://www.facebook.com/events/438149469542310/
It sounds almost too good to be true. At this premiere event, with aspirations to become an annual summer tradition, Fort Lauderdale’s FAT Village will offer more than just an art walk. Independent local vendors will sell their crafts, Radio-Active Records’ Mike Ramirez will spin the evening’s music, food trucks will line the streets and new exhibits will be hosted in the surrounding warehouses. And here’s the kicker: Craft beer, wine and cocktails are all free, all night long. (The event’s Facebook page also promises “gypsies and unicorns.”) All proceeds from the event will go directly to funding Flagler Village, so if you want awesome gatherings like this to continue, tip well and prosper.
Saturday
Marco Rubio signing at Books and Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 7:30 p.m.; book voucher required; 305/442-4408 or www.booksandbooks.com
The Books and Books patio will be swelling on Saturday night with supporters of Marco Rubio, the Tea Party favorite elected to the United States Senate in 2010. A Cuban immigrant who fled the Communist country with his parents in 1956, Rubio’s rise in the public eye has been practically meteoric. After eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, Rubio won his Florida Senate race against Charlie Crist and is still in the running to be Mitt Romney’s Vice President, to the delight of conservatives and horror of liberals. But at least part of Rubio’s just-released memoir, “An American Son,” chronicles his escape from Cuba and immersion into American culture and exceptionalism, which should be an inspiring read regardless of your political orientation. Rubio will sign English and Spanish copies of his hardcover at this exclusive Miami appearance.
