Josh Garrick: Culture Worthy of Your Calendar

Tonight – Aug. 1 – Chef John Rivers at the James Beard House in NYC

Fresh from his fourth restaurant opening – with two additional locations and a book release coming soon – Chef John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse is honored to have been invited to cook at the James Beard House, the most revered culinary kitchen in the country. Using Florida ingredients, Rivers brings his BBQ-inspired cuisine to New York City with a Southern menu including Shredded Pork with cheese grits and his famous 18-hour smoked Angus brisket. 4 Rivers Smokehouse is one of the fastest-growing restaurants in Florida with locations in Winter Park, Longwood, Winter Garden and Jacksonville. Gainesville and east Orlando locations will open soon. Visit 4rsmokehouse.com

Aug. 2 to 25 – ‘Death of a Salesman’

Mad Cow Theater is the theater company we wish to entrust with the production of great American drama. There are those who say Arthur Miller’s masterpiece may be the greatest American play ever written, and we get to experience Mad Cow’s take on “Death of a Salesman” through Aug. 25. This is serious, award-winning American drama that combines hard-biting realism with magical theatricality. Miller’s visionary play takes on the American Dream and sends it to the dumpster. You want to see this one! Call 407-297-8788 or visit madcowtheatre.com

Aug. 2 to 24 – The Winter Park Playhouse presents ‘Forever Plaid’

The Winter Park Playhouse opens its new season with the musical ”Forever Plaid,” inviting us to return to the 1950s when four starry-eyed, young male singers are miraculously revived for a chance to perform the “show that never was.” Featuring great voices, four-part harmonies and 30 hit songs of the decade, the show is both funny and enchanting. Creating the ’Plaid sound’ are Kevin Kelly, Todd Allen Long, Nick Rishel and Michael Swickard. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org

Aug. 2 to 19 – Come to ze ‘Cabaret’

Berlin in 1931 serves as the backdrop for one of Broadway’s greatest musicals as the fearless Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park presents the Kander and Ebb musical “Cabaret” through Aug. 19. With the ominous rise of Nazi power in the background, the musical focuses on nightlife in Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub, cabaret performer Sally Bowles, and her relationship with an American writer. With Dorothy Massey as the irrepressible Ms. Bowles and direction by Justin Scarlat, this is a classic addition to our summer performance schedule. For reservations call 407-920-4034.

Current – Full Sail announces four new degree programs

Congratulations are in order for the always-creative and ever-expanding Full Sail University, which last week announced four new degree programs. They include: the Business Intelligence Master of Science and the Mobile Gaming Master of Science (available online), and the Film Production Master of Fine Arts and the Software Development Bachelor of Science degree programs, offered on the University’s Winter Park campus. Visit fullsail.edu

Aug. 5 – Summer Winds celebrate the ‘Ludwigs’

Each of the Orlando Philharmonic’s Sounds of Summer music series serves up an interesting theme, and Aug. 5 begins with Beethoven. Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat was among his early hits, and served as a preview to the great symphonies to follow. Another Ludwig, Ludwig Spohr, wrote his Grand Nonet along Beethovenian lines, but with a new Romantic spirit. Join the strings and winds for a performance of both works at the Shakespeare Center on Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. Call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org

Aug. 6 – A ‘going-away-party’ for crime

National Night Out is an annual event that builds safer communities by bringing crime and drug prevention awareness to local neighborhoods. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invites residents to participate in the 30th annual National Night Out on Aug. 6 with community block parties throughout Central Florida. This year’s theme is “Lights on mean lights out for crime!” with residents encouraged to turn the lights on outside their homes while joining neighbors at registered block parties on Aug. 6. For information, visit cityoforlando.net/police

Aug. 8 to 18 – A Clandestine take on ‘RENT!’

Central Florida’s newest theater company – Clandestine Arts – will open their premiere season with Jonathan Larson’s rock opera “RENT.” Directed by Derek Critzer, “RENT” is the cutting-edge musical – based on Puccini’s opera “La Boheme” – that tells the story of seven friends in the AIDS-ravaged New York City of the 1990s where their romantic entanglements struggle with a disease that threatens almost everyone they know. “RENT” will run from Aug. 8 to 18 at the Shakespeare Center. Visit clandestine-arts.com

Aug. 10 – Taste of the Nation helps end childhood hunger

It’s impossible for most of us to comprehend that one out of five people in Central Florida – that is more than 732,000 people – needed food assistance in Central Florida last year. But it gladdens my heart to know that in the past year Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida distributed more than 35 million pounds of food to our hungry neighbors. That is 732,000 reasons to support Taste of the Nation Orlando on Aug. 10 when our finest chefs come together to donate their talent to end hunger in America. We can help by purchasing tickets at $150 with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to Second Harvest Food Bank and the Coalition for the Homeless. Visit ce.strength.org/orlando

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.