This January, celebrate the start of a new year with a series of jazz events, exhibitions, and cultural conversations on art and legacy. Then, close out the month with a weekend of community events celebrating the re-opening of Huizenga Park in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Jazz
First Friday Jazz Jams by Gold Coast Jazz Society at ArtServe
Gold Coast Jazz Society celebrates 17 years of First Friday Jazz Jams, a monthly series of free community jazz events, on January 2 at ArtServe.
January’s First Friday Jazz Jam features a performance by the Gold Coast Jazz Society’s quartet led by local jazz legend Nicole Yarling, who serves as the series’ host and educational director. Student musicians of all skill levels are encouraged to bring their instruments and are invited to perform for the audience to hone their jazz and improvisation skills. Middle school, high school, and university-level student musicians are welcome to perform.
First Friday Jazz Jams is a free event open to audience members of all ages.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: First Friday Jazz Jams
WHERE: ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, January 2
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 524-0805 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
A Taste of Jazz at Bailey Contemporary Arts Center
Pompano Beach holds its monthly A Taste of Jazz event on Thursday, January 8 at the Bailey Contemporary Arts Center. The evening starts with a wine tasting, followed by live music from the Gold Coast Jazz Quartet. Guitarist and vocalist, Martin Hand, who serves as Music Director for the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band, leads the Quartet.
The performance traces the history of jazz, starting with its birth among African American musicians in New Orleans, and follows its growth throughout the United States.
A Taste of Jazz is open to adults aged 21 and up; tickets must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: A Taste of Jazz
WHERE: Bailey Contemporary Arts Center, 41 NE 1st St, Pompano Beach
WHEN: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, January 8
COST: $25; $20 for Pompano Beach Residents
INFORMATION: (954) 545-7800 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults aged 21+
Niki Haris with the Shelly Berg Trio at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Enjoy the jazz, blues, and soul music talents of Niki Haris and the Shelly Berg Trio on January 14 at the Broward Performing Arts Center. Singer, actress, dancer, and choreographer, Niki Haris is known for her vocal collaborations with artists such as Madonna, Ray Charles, Sheryl Crow, Mick Jagger, and Whitney Huston, as well as jazz legends such as Joe Sample and the Jazz Crusaders.
The Shelly Berg Trio consists of Shelly Berg on piano, Gary Novak on drums, and Chuck Bergeron on bass. Berg heads the University of Miami Frost School of Music as Music Director and has earned five Grammy nominations for his instrumental compositions, productions, and musical arrangements.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Gold Coast Jazz: Niki Haris with the Shelly Berg Trio
WHERE: Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Avenue , Fort Lauderdale,
WHEN: 7:45 p.m., Wednesday, January 14
COST: Tickets start at $65
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults
Al Di Meola: The Guitarchitect Tour at The Parker
Guitarist Al Di Meola brings his Guitarchitect Tour to The Parker on January 16. Di Meola’s music blends jazz with musical styles from around the world such as flamenco and tango, and draws on African, Brazilian, and Middle Eastern influences.. His prolific catalog of music earned him a Grammy, a Lifetime achievement award from the BBC, 12 Guitar Player Magazine awards, as well as four gold and two platinum albums. As a solo artist, he’s released over 30 albums and worked with such notable musicians as Phil Collins, Paul Simon, Luciano Pavarotti, Carlos Santana, and many others. His latest album, Twentyfour includes his signature mixture of jazz, flamenco, rock, and Latin music.
Al Di Meola: The Guitarchitect Tour is part of the TD Bank Jazz Series at the Broward Performing Arts Center.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Al Di Meola: The Guitarchitect Tour
WHERE: Wells Hall at The Parker, 707 Northeast 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, January 15
COST: Tickets start at $47.20
INFORMATION: (954) 462-0222 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults
Cultural Conversations
Cultural Rendezvous Series: Coffee + Conversation at Studio 18 Art Complex
Broward Cultural Division’s arts networking series returns in January for a meetup at Studio 18 Art Complex in Pembroke Pines. Cultural Rendezvous introduces attendees to Studio 18, a creative space that presents arts-based public programming, art classes, workshops, and exhibitions. Studio 18 also houses artist studios for emerging and mid-career artists to rent out and presents professional development classes.
The Cultural Rendezvous Series features informal meetups and expert-led discussions for artists and creatives. Sophie Blanchet of the Broward Cultural Division curates and hosts each event. Attendance is free.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cultural Rendezvous Series: Coffee + Conversation at Studio 18 Art Complex
WHERE: Studio 18 Art Complex, 1101 Poinciana Drive, Pembroke Pines
WHEN: 9 to 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 14
COST: Free
INFORMATION: Visit the ArtsCalendar event page or register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: Adults
Cultural Conversation – Selma: Legacy, Lens, and Liberation and “Selma is Now: The Photography of Spider Martin” Exhibition at African American Research Library and Cultural Center
The African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) presents Selma: Legacy, Lens, and Liberation, a panel discussion focusing on the legacy and ongoing impact of Alabama photojournalist Spider Martin’s iconic photographs of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights marches. Martin documented many civil rights marches, capturing images of pivotal historic events, and his photos of the brutal attack on the marchers helped spur public opinion in favor of voting rights for Black Americans.
Doug McCraw, co-founder of Fort Lauderdale’s creative hub, FATVillage and Chevara Orrin, an award-winning activist, filmmaker, and social entrepreneur will examine the ongoing impact of Martin’s photographs and their role in inspiring action on racial justice, democracy, and equity. This event is held in conjunction with the exhibition Selma is Now: The Photography of Spider Martin on view at AARLCC from January through June 27. Entrance to the exhibition and the cultural conversation is free.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Selma: Legacy, Lens, and Liberation and Selma is Now: The Photography of Spider Martin
WHERE: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: (Cultural Conversation) 3:30 to 5 p.m., Saturday, January 31
(Library/Exhibition Hours) 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6282 or visit the Cultural Conversation event page and the exhibition page
BEST FOR: (Cultural Conversation), Adults, (Exhibition), all ages
Exhibitions
Amazon Rising: The Legacy of Wonder Woman – Opening Reception and Exhibition at Stonewall National Museum & Archives
The Stonewall National Women’s Fund presents Amazon Rising: The Legacy of Wonder Woman, an exhibition on the personal, political, and cultural legacy of the iconic comic book heroine Wonder Woman and her symbolic power within the LGBTQ+ community.
Featuring artifacts and images taken from the Harriet Leyden Collection and Stonewall Museum’s archives, Amazon Rising traces the story of Wonder Woman from her start as a comic book hero in 1941, to her evolution into a powerful symbol for lesbian identity, feminism and womanhood, sisterhood, empowerment, and resistance. Entrance to the opening reception is free; the exhibition runs through February 17
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Amazon Rising: The Legacy of Wonder Woman – Opening Reception and Exhibition
WHERE: Stonewall National Museum & Archives, 1300 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: (Opening Reception) 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, January 18
(Exhibition Hours) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Exhibition runs January 17 through February 17
COST: Free, RSVP required
INFORMATION: (954) 763-8565 or visit the event page to RSVP
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
The Unseen: Closing Reception and Exhibition at Pompano Beach Cultural Center
Abstract contemporary artist Julian Castro closes his exhibition The Unseen at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center with a public event on Thursday, January 8. Castro’s paintings urge viewers to dive into hidden emotions and experiences and bring the unseen to light. Castro, who lives and works in Fort Lauderdale, creates large-scale, abstract works in oil that encourage viewers to uncover their hidden selves and embrace their emotions.
The exhibition is on display through January 10. The closing reception takes place January 8; entrance to the exhibition and reception is free.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Unseen: Closing Reception and Exhibition
WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach
WHEN: (Closing Reception) 6 p.m., Thursday, January 8
(Exhibition Hours) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Exhibition runs through January 10
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 545-7800 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
Re/Fractions: Beyond the Vanishing Point Opening Reception and Exhibition at Pompano Beach Cultural Center
Re/Fractions: Beyond the Vanishing Point brings together art from LGBTQ+ artists that play on the idea of refraction and the vanishing point, transforming the pressures of queer and trans erasure from public life into new stories that disrupt the current narrative. This collective show includes painting, installation, digital art, sculpture, and photography. The featured artists are known for creating work that nurtures connection and fosters representation. The exhibition is presented by Black LGBTQ+ Liberation Inc. (BLINC).
The opening reception is Friday, January 16; the exhibition runs through March 19. Both the reception and exhibition are free.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Re/Fractions: Beyond the Vanishing Point – Opening Reception and Exhibition
WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 West Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach
WHEN: (Opening Reception) 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, January 16
(Exhibition Hours) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Exhibition runs through March 19
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 545-7800 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
Park Reopening
Huizenga Park Reopening Weekend
Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s riverfront Huizenga Park reopens Saturday, January 24 after a two-year redesign, with a weekend of celebration and community activities. The waterfront park overlooking Fort Lauderdale’s New River features new play areas for children and dogs, shaded seating, open lawn, public art installations, and more walkable space for visitors. The official reopening ceremony starts 10 a.m., Saturday, with a ribbon cutting and remarks from local leaders, followed by a programming showcase until 2 p.m. that offers a preview of the park’s upcoming programs.
Additional events taking place Saturday night and Sunday include:
Grand Reopening Movie on the Lawn: Join an evening showing of Disney Pixar’s Ratatouille with friends, family, or even your pet. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from vendors curated by the Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival.
Huizenga Park Community Market: A yoga class kicks off Sunday morning at 11 a.m., followed by a community market featuring goods from local food vendors, artisans, and small businesses. Browse and shop for specialty items, handmade goods, food, and other unique finds.
Muse and Meditation: End the reopening festivities with a reflective evening of meditation and poetry. Attendees will go through a series of mindfulness practices, including a guided meditation, breathwork, and creative journaling. Local poet, playwright, and educator, Darius Daughtry, leads the event as part of his organization, Art Prevails.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Huizenga Park Grand Reopening Weekend
WHERE: Huizenga Park, 32 East Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: Grand Reopening Celebration: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, January 24
Grand Reopening Movie on the Lawn: Ratatouille 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, January 24
Huizenga Park Community Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, January 25
Muse and Meditation: 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m., Sunday, January 25
COST: Free
INFORMATION: Visit the event page to RSVP for the weekend activities
BEST FOR: All ages
This story was produced by Broward Arts Journalism Alliance (BAJA), an independent journalism program of the Broward County Cultural Division.
