October 9 - 14

Get your passports ready! Miami's Italian Film Festival opens October 9th with an Opening Night Screening and Party. It's six days packed with ten of the best Italian films, special events and after parties in the hottest clubs in South Beach. Reserve your first class seats for all the festivities. Your VIP Passport ($250) allows entrance to the opening night film, official after party, all film screenings during the festival, and the final closing dinner party and awards ceremony to be held at The Forge. Opening Night Pass ($75) for opening night festivities; Movie Pass ($60) for all films during the festival; and Single Ticket ($10) available at Regal Cinema the day of the screening. The schedule for films is Thursday at 7:30; Friday at 8, Saturday and Sunday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., Monday at 7 and 9, and Tuesday at 7 p.m.

October 9 - November 3

Festival Miami 2008 celebrates "Destination Miami: 25 Years of Musical Magic" during its month-long music series presented by the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Enjoy world renowned musical artists performing all kinds of music - from traditional classical fare to fusion jazz - along with everything in between. Festival Miami hits the road this year with two exciting performances in spectacular venues - the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the BankUnied Center - during its four musically-themed weeks featuring 23 performances.

The Festival kicks off at the Arsht Center's Knight Concert Hall on October 9 for an evening of music by Academy Award winning composer John Corigliano with violinist Jennifer Koh. Week 2 features "Jazz and Beyond;" Week 3 finds Bruce Hornsby and Friends at the BankUnited Center during "Creative American Music" week; and the final week of Festival Miami 2008 pays tribute to "Music of the Americas." Festival Miami continues to entertain audiences with its diversity of musical offerings and internationally acclaimed guest artists. The 2008 Festival will not disappoint the South Florida audiences.

October 17 - 19

The inaugural Sunny Isles Beach 2008 Jazz Fest will feature world-renowned celebrity jazz entertainers and notable jazz artists, including the sounds of local Miami Latin jazz musicians. Florida-born saxophonist, David Sanborn, headlines at Samson Oceanfront Park on Saturday night. With twenty three albums and two Grammy awards, Sanborn is revered the world over as one of the greatest sax players of all times and an artist whose music has inspired countless other musicians. Celebrate with South Floridians and tourists alike the diverse sounds of jazz music performed by an illustrious line-up of artists in an exciting array of venues in Sunny Isles Beach.

On Friday, Roberto Perera will perform during Supper Club at Le Meridien, and a performance by George Tandy will follow at After Hours at the Acqualina Resort and Spa. On Saturday, the main event will take place oceanside at 174th Street with David Sanborn and George Tandy as the opening act. On Sunday, the Jazz Fest will come to a close with a Jazz Luncheon at the Trump International Resort.

Tickets are $15 for each of the Friday performances and Sunday's luncheon and $20 for the main event with all proceeds benefiting Best Buddies Florida. The festival is produced by the City of Sunny Isles Beach in partnership with the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association. Visit the website for more information or tickets.

Saturday, October 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LegalArt extends an invitation to Miami artists and arts organizations who have legal issues or questions - like: copyrighting your art or trademarking your innovation; infringements of your copyright; dealing with a contract or agreement that has been breached; how to incorporate your business; gallery contracts and agent agreements; even immigration and estate planning questions. Register no later than October 1st to have your individual legal issues addressed. Between the time of registration and the consultation, UM law students and professional attorneys will do the preliminary research in preparation for a thorough counseling session on the 18th. Appointments set for consultations will range from 30 to 60 minutes. The clinic is free, but you must be a LegalArt member to participate. Memberships are $30 for individuals and $45 for organizations. Sign up today by email!

October 24 & 25

Former Miami Dolphin and radio personality Jim Mandich, a/k/a Mad Dog, is hosting his second fishing classic in the Florida Keys. The tournament will seek Funfish species, including Dolphin, Tuna, Kingfish and Wahoo, along with a “Weekend Warrior” division for Snapper and Grouper. Kick off the event - and two days of extreme fun - with cocktails, a silent auction and the Captain's Meeting Friday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. Tournament headquarters will be at the Chesapeake Beach Resort, MM 82.5, which will also serve as the location for the weigh-in, beach party and Awards Ceremony on Saturday. Trophies and cash prizes of $5,000 for top boat and $2,000 for second will be awarded, along with $500 for the heaviest Funfish in each division, plus prizes and trophies for the Top Angler, Top Lady and Top Junior. In keeping with the tournament's mission to give back to the community, a portion of the proceeds will go to Mariner’s Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida.

Saturday, October 25 beginning at 6 pm.

Be one of the guests who attend MOCA Mystery Dates and enjoy an intimate dinner party at one of Miami's most glamorous homes. The evening, hosted by MOCA Shakers, begins with cocktails and music at MOCA at Goldman Warehouse where guests first learn the surprise location of their Mystery Dates dinner - perhaps at a top executive’s stylish loft in South Beach, the waterfront home of a savvy art collecting couple in Coral Gables, an interior design maven’s home in Key Biscayne or an entrepreneur’s villa on Fisher Island. Each of the homes offer opportunities to mingle with young professionals and fashionable Miamians who share an interest in the arts. The event concludes with a late night party at The Shore Club, starting at 11 p.m. Tickets are $150 for MOCA members or $200 for non-members, and proceeds go to MOCA exhibitions of emerging artists. RSVP before October 17 please!

Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The South Florida art season kicks off with the ever-favorite fine art show at Coral Reef Park presented by volunteer members of the Cultural Council. More than 100 artists, selected by professional jurors, will showcase their work in a variety of medium, including acrylic, oil, watercolor, sculpture, and photography. Festival guests can also savor culinary delights as they browse the fine art on display, as well as enjoy sounds from AcoustiCon, jazz by the Robert Morgan Band and lyrical symphonies by the Miami String Project. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking available near the part. In The Park With Art benefits the Cultural Council's Scholarship Fund that assists talented students as they enter a Florida college to pursue an education in the arts. Poster shown by Fred Caravetta.

October 25 - 27

Anyone who enjoys a glass of wine will want to attend the Miami International Wine Fair, Florida's largest wine expo, featuring over 65,000 square feet of exhibit space and some 1,200 wines from 15 countries available for tasting. First and foremost MIWF is a trade show, but after hours consumers are welcomed to sample great wines and learn about the regions and the people who produce the wines. Whether you are new to the pleasures of wine or a seasoned connoisseur, the Grand Tasting and the Fair’s comprehensive seminar program will help you expand your wine knowledge in record time.

The Collectors’ Club, the most exclusive section in the Grand Tasting Hall, features wines with the same characteristics: passionate and extremely talented winemakers, great quality grapes from the best wine producing regions in the world, controlled low-yields, outstanding reviews from renowned wine critics, and a retail price point that keeps most of us from being able to purchase them on a daily basis. Grand Tasting hours are 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available online.

Friday, November 14 at 8 p.m.

Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami is hosting a benefit performance of Corteo by Cirque du Soleil. This evening of wonders, created and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, will raise funds to support this 91-year-old Miami-Dade organization that offers prevention programs, mental health counseling and support services to children and families. Join friends and supporters of Family Counseling Services under the Big Top in Bicentennial Park and make a difference in the lives of children and families in Greater Miami. Tickets are $110 p/p for Level 1 seating. To purchase tickets, call 305-740-8998, Ext. 144, or visit the website for more information.

November 14 - 17

Yoga Journal is bringing together a decade's worth of experience to South Florida for novice and veteran yoga practitioners alike. With over 100 classes to choose from, you can study any level and style of yoga with some of the world's finest instructors, including Rodney Yee, Seane Corne, Rod Stryker, Patricia Walden, Jimmy Barkan, Shiva Rea, and Baron Baptiste. Delve into the the four-day conference where you can choose from high-energy classes or contemplative sessions; stick with one style or sample them all! Stay on the cutting edge with the All-Day Intensives and lunchtime panel discussions. And enjoy a highly anticipated keynote address by one of the country's most sought-after speakers, filmmaker and activist Trudie Styler. Whether it's golf, vastu home design or using yoga as medicine, just follow your passion. Take a breath of the salty sea air, unfurl your mat and dive in! The Yoga Marketplace, featuring all kinds of yoga products is free and open to the public. The cost of the Conference ranges from $225 to $965, depending on the number of days.