This is that heartwarming time of year when we would do well to look for opportunities to warm the hearts of others, because you just never know.
The 13th annual Dan Hosker Music Continuum returns on Sunday to raise money for music scholarships in the name of the Fort Lauderdale punk-rock guitarist who died in 2012, at age 46, from injuries sustained in a car accident. After his death, bandmates and friends threw themselves into creating an ongoing event to remember Hosker and his generous spirit.
In a cruel twist, one of those organizers, local musician and influential scene shaper Frank “Rat Bastard” Falestra was involved in his own traffic accident in November, which left him hospitalized with serious injuries.
Sunday’s DHMC show takes place at Tarpon River Brewing in Fort Lauderdale, an all-day music festival beginning at noon with dozens of top local musicians performing. In addition to the Hosker scholarships, the event will dedicate some proceeds to support Falestra’s recovery. Keep reading for more on the show.
THURSDAY
A war story: Florida Grand Opera will bring the powerful “Silent Night” to the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale this weekend for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday. This dramatic retelling of the 1914 Christmas Truce — when enemy combatants on the World War I battlefield paused to sing together, pray together and play soccer together on an extraordinary Christmas Eve — will be performed in three languages (with English and Spanish translations projected). The Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, featuring accompaniment by the FGO orchestra for the first time in 18 years, coincides with the official launch of FGO’s Voices of Wellness program, which supports the well-being of veterans, first responders and nurses. Tickets start at $25. Visit FGO.org.
Holiday lights: The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi will resume its Holiday Lights Cruises on Thursday, offering views of the city’s festively illuminated waterways, with two 90-minute sailings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. from the stop at the Riverside Hotel/Stranahan House Museum. Beer, wine and (canned) cocktails available for purchase. Tours are $45 for adults, $15 for children age 4 and older, and free for guests younger than 3. Holiday Lights Cruises take place through Jan. 3. Visit WaterTaxi.com.
Game night: Was it Col. Mustard in the library with the wrench? The touring production of the Broadway play “Clue,” the interactive murder mystery based on the 1985 film that was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, continues its run at the Arsht Center in Miami through the weekend. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $47.97 at ArshtCenter.org.
Thursday laughs: Comedian, author and musician Charlie Berens, best known as the creator of news-show spoof “The Manitowoc Minute,” comes to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $41.30. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.
December drinks: Chops + Hops Axe Throwing Lodge, inside Sistrunk Marketplace in Fort Lauderdale, is one of those South Florida bars getting gussied up in holiday trimmings and trappings. From Thursday through Dec. 31, Chops + Hops will host the Winter Wonderland Pop-Up cocktail party, with a menu of seasonal sips such as the apple-cinnamon martini called Apple Sauced. You get the vibe. Visit ChopsAndHopsFL.com.
Miles ahead: I know artists. Fine people, who deserve our support. But the line between art and crass commerce at Art Basel is so annoyingly blurred — do I really need a Mapplethorpe wine stopper? But the annual art conclave also inspires locals to create refreshing moments of authenticity, such as Thursday’s celebration of Miles Davis at Dante’s HiFi+ in Miami. The listening bar, in collaboration with Montreux Jazz Festival Miami, will host an all-vinyl set of Miles Davis music from DJ and Dante’s co-owner Rich Medina, spinning from his personal collection on the bar’s Klipsch-powered system. Admission is first come, first served. Visit DantesHiFi.com.
FRIDAY
Byrne, baby, Byrne: Talking Heads frontman David Byrne is touring with his critically praised Kid Harpoon-produced album “Who Is the Sky?,” his ineffable joy again translated into a danceable musical elixir. The concept of his fall tour is “unlike anything I’ve done before,” he said on Instagram. “You’ll just have to come and experience what that involves.” Byrne will perform at The Fillmore Miami Beach on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Ticketmaster resale tickets are down to scattered pairs. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Friday laughs: “Entourage” wise guy Jeremy Piven will perform four shows in two nights on the Palm Beach Improv stage at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets start at $48.88. The early shows on both nights are sold out, which says something about something. Visit Kravis.org. … Comedian and actor Whitney Cummings brings her Big Baby Tour (she’s a mom now) to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $46.91. Visit ParkerPlayhouse.com.
On their toes: Ballet Palm Beach will present bouncy holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach in performances at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $46. Visit Kravis.org.
Latin sounds: Salsa legends El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Grupo Niche will bring their tour to the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday at 8 p.m. Remaining tickets start at $65.30. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Seattle soul: Seattle-spawned, blue-eyed soul band The Dip will bring an irresistible energy to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night on a tour supporting new album “Love Direction.” Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for a set by special guests Soulpax. General-admission tickets cost $40.35. Visit CultureRoom.net.
Friday tributes: Grateful Dead homage Dark Star Orchestra will play the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44. Visit FTLWarMemorial.com. … Nationally acclaimed, Wellington-raised Elvis tribute artist Matt Stone will bring his “Elvis: In Person” show to the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $43.02 at Ticketmaster.com. … Tool tribute band Schism will be joined by The Pantera Experience at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $35.25 at Ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY
Poppy holidays: Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton will host the second annual Holiday Pops Concert, with The Symphonia conducted by the esteemed Jacomo Bairos, co-founder and artistic director of Miami’s adventurous Nu Deco Ensemble. They will be joined by the FAU Chamber Singers and Schola Cantorum of Florida. Gates open at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. performance. Some tickets are available, starting at $15. The holiday theme continues at the venue on Sunday with the annual FAU Tuba Christmas concert at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Visit MiznerAmp.com.
Saturday tribute: The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton will host one of the region’s favorite tribute acts, Tony Monaco’s spot-on Billy Joel simulation Turnstiles, performing at 8 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m. Standing-room general admission tickets cost $44.40 at FunkyBiscuit.com.
Holiday shopping: The effervescent Jamboree Flea sets up at 26 Degree Brewing Co. in Pompano Beach this weekend, filling the parking lot with more than 40 vendors from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visit Facebook.com/thejamboreeflea.
New Bonamassa: A perennial South Florida favorite, blues-rock guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa brings the heat to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Saturday at 8 p.m., a show sure to lean into his new album, “Breakthrough.” Tickets start at $60.75. Visit Ticketmaster.com.
Morning chocolate: The Chocoholics 5K will take place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach, with free chocolate and a limited-edition medal waiting for you at the finish line. Registration is $44+. The morning also includes the 400-meter Kids Choccy Dash at 9 a.m. ($25+). Visit Chocoholics5K.com.
SUNDAY
Easy riders: One of South Florida’s iconic holiday-season events, the 38th annual SFPC Toys in the Sun Run returns Sunday with the famous morning motorcycle ride culminating with an open-to-all festival featuring Grammy winner Gretchen Wilson, Soulicide, Southern Blood and others. The escorted ride will begin at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood (rider meet beginning at 8 a.m., with kickstands up at 9:30 a.m.) and ends at the festival site, Bergeron Green Glades Ranch in Weston, with gates open at 11 a.m. Participation in the ride starts at $30 per rider. Festival-only admission costs $30, and everyone attending must bring a new, unwrapped toy or pre-purchase one online. Proceeds from the ride and festival will benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and the Bergeron Everglades Foundation. Visit SFPCToyRun.com.
Sunday laughs: Emmy-winning comedian and actor John Mulaney (he’s everywhere, including “The Bear” and the upcoming John Madden biopic from David O. Russell) will bring his new Mister Whatever tour to Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $94.60 at Ticketmaster.com.
Local sounds: Another long-running event that allows South Florida to display its beneficent spirit, not to mention the rich diversity of the local music scene, the 13th annual Dan Hosker Music Continuum returns to Tarpon River Brewing in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday at noon. As mentioned above, the free, family friendly event will be a fundraiser for Hosker music scholarships, with merchandise proceeds going to support Falestra’s recovery. The day’s soundtrack will be provided by some of the defining musicians of the past couple of decades in the region, among them John Camacho, The Lightworkers, Nil Lara, Les Norris, Nervous Monks, Shaved Hamster, Tongues of the Heartworm, and Mr. Entertainment & the Pookiesmackers. Admission is free. Visit Facebook.com/DanHoskerMusicContinuum.
Brothers, but no Bill: Sunday’s Broward Center concert by Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers has been postponed until Saturday, April 18, but Blood Brothers Albert Castiglia (of Wilton Manors) and Mike Zito will fill the void with a show at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Sunday at 3 p.m. General-admission, standing-room tickets cost $55.25 at FunkyBiscuit.com.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on IG: @BenCrandell.
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