Thursday, October 16

Chamber Breakfast: Good Morning Coral Gables
In recognition of Boss Day, you're invited to bring your boss for breakfast as the Coral Gables Chamber Of Commerce meets for its monthly breakfast at the Biltmore Hotel at 7:30am. The guest speaker is S. Daniel Ponce, president and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee. This event is complimentary to chamber members with RSVP in advance, $20 on site and $30 for future members. Call 305-446-1657. http://www.coralgableschamber.org

Miracle Mile Toastmasters Thursday Lunch
With a shared interest in public speaking, members of the Miracle Mile Toastmasters meet every Thursday at 12:15pm at JohnMartin's Irish Restaurant, 253 Miracle Mile. Enjoy the opportunity to network, gain confidence and become an effective public speaker. The cost of lunch is $19. Call 786-399-9609. http://miraclemile.freetoasthost.us

Lowe Museum Annual Book Sale
Come to the University of Miami's Lowe Art Museum for the annual BOok SAle through October 19. Call 305-284-3535. http://www.lowemuseum.org

Shakra Thursday Specials
Attend the Diamond Peel Microdermabrasion Party from 5 to 7pm for a free 15 minute Diamond Peel Session, complimentary chair massages, complimentary wine and snacks and incredible discounts on packages, plus a raffle with some cool gifts and gift cards. Please RSVP at Shakra Relaxation Oasis, 271 Alhambra Circle. Call 305-774-1355. http://www.shakramiami.com

Live Music At The Grape
Stop in to your favorite wine bar at the Village Of Merrick Park for a great assortment of wines by the glass or the bottle, plus great food and live music to round out the experience. Now, from 5 to 7pm Monday through Friday, enjoy 2 for 1 glasses of wines in the 1 to 6 category. Meet up with friends at The Grape for a great time every time. Call 305-444-WINE. http://www.yourgrape.com

Live At The Biltmore
The Biltmore Unplugged features live stripped down musical performances every Thursday night at Cascade Poolside Bar & Grill. This month, Vic Kinglsey, a local alternative rock band whose 2007 debut album received critical acclaim, will be performing October 16, 23, and 30. Call 305-445-1926. http://www.biltmorehotel.com

Thirsty Thursday Wine Tastings
Join your hosts, Lalo Durazo, owner of Jaguar, and wine educator Barry Alberts of Berries to Wine for a weekly sampling of fine wines and great food at Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Latam Grill, 3067 Grand Avenue from 7 to 9pm each Thursday. The cost is $15 per person for food and wine. RSVP is not required.

Thursday Bierhaus Specials
It's home-made Goulash Night at the Bierhaus, with choice of two side dishes at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way. Call 305-774-1883. http://www.bierhaus.cc

Lecture: Douglas R. Andrew
Douglas R. Andrew has extensive experience in business management, economics, accounting, gerontology (as it relates to the economics of aging), financial and estate planning, and advanced business and tax planning. He is currently the owner and president of Paramount Financial Services, Inc., a comprehensive personal and business financial planning firm with several divisions. Doug helps people find their missed fortune using his asset optimization, equity management, and wealth empowerment strategies. His first two books, Missed Fortune and Missed Fortune 101, are national bestsellers. The Last Chance Millionaire became a New York Times bestseller in 2007. His newest book, Millionaire by Thirty, written with his two sons, Aaron and Emron Andrew, was recently released in May of 2008. As a financial strategist and retirement specialist, Doug shows people how to accumulate money on a tax-favored basis to achieve the highest possible net spendable retirement income. For reservations and more information, visit www.missedfortuneevents.com or call 305-416-0100. This event, at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza at 6:30pm, is free and open to the public. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com

10th Annual HOPE Auction
HOPE (Helping Others through Pro-bono Efforts), the University of Miami School of Law Public Interest Resource Center is celebrating "Ten Years of HOPE". Meet up with friends at the Lowe Art Museum for the Live Auction to bid on exciting items including sports memorabilia, travel packages, gift certificates to spas, restaurants and stores. This event is sponsored by Bacardi and the reception will be catered by Parties by Pat. Call 305-284-2599. http://www.law.miami.edu

Free Night Of Theatre
If you've been waiting for a good excuse to experience live theatre, here's your chance. Theatre League of South Florida is sponsoring a Free Night of Theater. Theatres stretching from West Palm Beach to Coral Gables will be opening up their doors for Free Night of Theatre with performances ranging from large scale musicals to American classics to world premieres. The Theatre League of South Florida is coordinating the event with Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and GableStage in Coral Gables. Call 954-557-0778. http://www.southfloridatheatre.com

Festival Miami: Tierney Sutton And Jazz Vocal Ensemble
Whether headlining at the Spoleto, Sedona or Estoril Jazz Festivals, JazzWeek's Vocalist of the Year and Grammy award-nominated jazz artistTierney Sutton delights crowds with her musical wit and vocal prowess. Her passion for jazz, profound admiration for its musicians and deep respect for its audiences makes Tierney Sutton one of the most admired interpreters of standards and ballads today. Together with FSOM's award winning Jazz Vocal I Ensemble, directed by pianist, composer, arranger and FSOM professor Larry Lapin, the evening promises to beguile you. The event begins at Gusman Hall at 8pm. Call 305-284-4940. http://www.festivalmiami.com

My Miserable, Lonely Lesbian Pregnancy
In My Miserable, Lonely, Lesbian Pregnancy (Cleis Press, $14.95), her memoir of 40 weeks and five days in hell, Andrea Askowitz takes an unflinching look at her pregnant life from struggling with hormones to poor body image to a self imposed exile from family to take us on a ride through the turbulence of single lesbian motherhood. Along the way we meet her liberal parents as they struggle with their daughter's choices, the lover she longs to reconnect with who goes M.I.A. before the pregnancy, the friends who turn out to be no help at all and strangers who offer up some unlikely kindness. Andrea presents herself real, raw, impossibly cranky yet deeply touching with her self-deprecating dark sense of humor that will make you wince or better yet send you into uncontrollable fits of laughter. Meet the author at Books And Books, 265 Aragon at 8pm. Call 305-442-4408. http://www.booksandbooks.com

Comedy Night At JohnMartin's
Enjoy Laughs On The Mile at JohnMartin's (253 Miracle Mile), every Thursday starting at 10pm as local comedian Freddie Stebbins and friends host a night of fun and frivolity at JohnMartin's Irish Pub. Call 305-445-3777. http://www.johnmartins.com

DJ Boe Spins At The Bar
Coral Gables' legacy pub presents the music of DJ Boe each Thursday evening, with drink specials: It's Super Size It Night for an extra ounce of liquor for free. Enjoy the selection of 48 bottled beers, 10 great brews on tap and the best comfort food every Thursday at The Bar, 172 Giralda. Call 305-442-2730. http://www.gablesthebar.com