Wishing on a Star...

I have never really been into astronomy. The idea of staring into the night sky for hours on end, never appealed to me. Then one night I looked up and saw a cluster of stars in some kind of formation. Constellations were something so new to me. The stories about all of the "gods" who are eternally sentenced to be "stuck" in the sky, were all so interesting.

If you are like I was, a good idea might to be to check out your local planetarium. The one nearest to me is Buehler Planetarium, located on the Broward Community College Davie Campus. There, one can enjoy the use of a high-tech telescope and personally learn which constellations are visible and when to look for them.

Alone, or with someone special, wishing on a star never seemed so meaningful.

*pictures from various constellation websites.

Tranquility on a Dime

With school registration coming up and finals drawing near, students probably could benefit from some Eastern influenced relaxation techniques. Unfortunately for us, a full body massage is NOT in our budget. On the other hand, mental stimulation and sense reawakening is right up our alley.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, located in Delray Beach, is a great place to take a rejuvenating stroll and a much needed breath of fresh air. Imagine 200 acres of gardens, museums and stone walkways, for less than $10! The best part of this event is that it is great for ALL audiences. Patrons young and old, flock to this Eastern museum and gardens combination, Tuesday through Sunday of every week.

*Pictures from the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Website.

Poetry Slam

Never in my life could I have ever imagined that the words poetry and slam would be together in one sentence. In the past, I had always thought of poetry as a means of expression (usually a light, eloquent pattern of words) and not as a weapon as the High School members of the Poetry League have been using it.

This Saturday, the Broward Center for Performing Arts is hosting the Poetry Slam High School Finals. For just $15, you too can learn how to use your words to make a statement about the complex world we live in.

Consider this event Def Poetry for minors.

If you are searching for something to do in South Florida that is sure to empower yourself and your loved ones, consider this a must see.

I still have a dream

Today marks the 39th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. It was on this day in 1968, that the renowned speaker and civil rights activist was assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.

For those of us who have reaped the benefits of his activism, I felt that it was important to reflect on his life and how he influenced change in this country. For more information on the Martin Luther King story, including audio clips and speech transcripts click here.

Because this website’s primary focus is on finding cheap things to do in South Florida for under $20, I decided to compile a list of things that you can do on a day like today to commemorate the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King.

• Make a contribution to a non-violent association in Florida (Please note this list is NOT just of Florida associations).
  



• If you live near a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, take the time out to visit it and reflect on how life was prior to the Civil Rights Movement, and
  



• Educate yourself and your family by visiting an African American Library near you

Free Thursday Night Fun

For most FAU students, late night partying usually consists of a group of people hanging out either in Boca Raton or driving to Ft. Lauderdale/Miami. Few people think of driving north. This blog might change your mind about that.

If you are in search of a fun way to spend your Thursday nights, consider Clematis at Night in West Palm Beach. Providing a wide range of music talent in varying genres (pop, rock, reggae, etc.), this is a cool way to have fun just for the cost of gas. That's right, this weekly cultural expo is completely free to the public and lasts from 5:30-9:30 p.m.

As if the potential of good music isn't enough, April 19th, an Art Car expedition will take place at Clematis at Night. These fully functional cars have been transformed into works of art.

*Pictures from Clematis at Night website.

Latin American Festival

Starting this Thursday, April 5, Florida Atlantic University will be hosting a month long Latin American Film Festival.

An expected 30 films will be screened at the University, all sharing a focus on Mexican cinematographers and their work in Broward and Palm Beach counties.




The cost for each venue ranges from free to $6.



This is expected to be a great opportunity for Foreign Film lovers and their friends to take a Mexican vacation--even if only for a few hours.





For more information click here.
*Pictures from various Latin American Film Festivals.

Dog Day Afternoon

If you have a cute dog, like I do, chances are you have to search for places to hang out in public with your pooch. Sure doggie parks are fun, but what other options does a pet parent have to spend time (outside of the norm) with his/her baby?

On April 7, pet lovers and owners alike will be able to watch in awe as dogs like theirs participate in a doggy parade.

For just $2 per canine friend, dogs of various colors, shapes and sizes will be showing off in Delray Beach's Sixth Annual Easter Bonnet Dog Parade.

The best part about this event? You can spend quality time with your best friend and get to know a few other pet owners. Who knows, people meet their mates in the most interesting places...

Enjoy!

*Pictures from a New York City blog linked above and the official Delray Easter Dog Bonnet Parade website.