Florida Community Calendar (Week of May 17)

Jacksonville: The Jacksonville Jazz Festival featuring Najee, Gary Staling, the John Ricci Quartet and others will be held May 23-26 at 117 West Duval St.

Orlando: Orlando Black Pride will take place May 28 through June 2 at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel, Pirates Dinner Adventure and other venues throughout Orlando with a full schedule that includes parties, contests, karaoke competition, a bowling night, educational events and church services for the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community. More information: orlandoblackpride.com.

Naples: The NAACP Leadership 500 Summit will be held May 23-May 26 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Participants will attend thought provoking, interactive panel discussions, strategy sessions, and facilitated general sessions led by prominent private sector, non-profit, corporate and community leaders.

Tampa: The second annual UNCF Walk for Education Kickoff will be held May 21 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Tampa Club, 101 East Kennedy Blvd. Suite 4200.RSVP to Robert Foster at 407- 896-6940 or Robert.Foster@uncf.org.

St. Petersburg: A free, two-part household budgeting seminar, designed for people who want to live better on less and/or to save to buy a home, will be held May 23 and May 30 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. North. A certificate of completion will be awarded. More information: 727-461-0618, ext. 4 or www.csfhome.org

Jacksonville: Avant and Brian McKnight will be at the Florida Theater Jacksonville May 24 for a 7 p.m. show.

Orlando: R&B songstress Jordin Sparks will be at the House of Blues Orlando for a benefit concert hosted by Masters Champ Bubba Watson on May 17.

Winter Park: Adult Hip-hop classes are held on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. 244 Pennsylvania Ave. More information: 407-644-3430.

Orlando: Play games including Battleship, Candy Land, Chinese Checkers, Clue and many more at the Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd. on May 31 from 7 p.m.-midnight.  Retro attire encouraged. $5 for non-members, free for members. More information: 407-836-7010.

Mount Dora: The Mount Dora Blues and Wine Festival will be held May 17 – May 19 on Main St. in downtown Mount Dora. More information: 352-728-5250.

St. Augustine: Rap artist Kendrick Lamar will be at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre June 19 for a 6:30 p.m. show.

Tampa: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Centennial Torch Tour makes a stop in Tampa on May 18. The day, hosted by the Tampa Alumnae Chapter, will include a STEM event for students at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information: Visit www.dstta.com.

Tampa: State Rep. Janet Cruz will host a West Tampa Job Fair July 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Higgins Hall, 5255 N. Himes Ave. Admission for job seekers is free and an eight-foot table is free to employers. More information and to register as an employer: 813-673-4673.

Jacksonville: A youth and young adult revival will be held at Central Metropolitan CME Church May 17 at 7 p.m. 4611 N. Pearl St.

Jacksonville: The stage play and musical “Dreamgirls” will be at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts May 21 at 7:30 p.m.
St. Petersburg: LL Cool J, Ice Cube, De La Soul and Public Enemy will be at The Mahaffey in St. Petersburg during their Kings of the Mic Tour on June 6 and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre June 7.

St. Petersburg: First Fridays are held in downtown St. Petersburg at 250 Central Ave. between Second and Third Avenues from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. More information: 727-393-3597.

Fort Lauderdale: The Florida Minority Community Reinvestment along with a coalition of Florida minority non-profits and neighborhood associations are hosting the 2013 Let’s Do Business Florida & Summit June 28-June 29 at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa. No cost to women-minority-veteran businesses and nonprofits. More information: www.letsdobusinessflorida.com.

Jacksonville: Ritz Jazz Jamm “Walter Beasley” will be at the Ritz Theatre June 1 for 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. shows.

Orlando: Kelly Rowland and the Dream bring their Lights Out Tour to the House of Blues June 6 for a 7:30 p.m. show.

St. Petersburg: Youths ages 7 to 11 can enjoy a night of football, kickball, ping-pong, foosball, video games and dance parties during “Freestyle Fridays” at the Fossil Park & Willis S. Johns Center, 6635 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. First visit free; $6 each following visit. More information: 727-893-7756.

Miami: The Miami Jazz Society’s Miami Tower Film Series will present two films, May 21, with a reception with snacks and beverages from 5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. and “Anne of Green Gables’’ (1985) from 6:15 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and “Akeelah and the Bee’’ (2006) from 9:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. at the Miami Tower, 19th floor auditorium, 100 Southeast 2nd St. Free admission. More information: www.MiamiJazzSociety.com or Keith Clarke 305-684 4564.

Pompano Beach: A Haitian Cultural Panorama celebrating Haitian history and culture hosted by Kevin Dorival (mentor, motivational speaker and author of “The Courage to Believe’’), will celebrate and educate attendees about Haiti’s past, present and future, through spoken word, fashion, dance and music. Performers include Nayeli Fanfan (Miss Haiti International).The event will be held May 22 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library, 2800 NW 9th Ct. More information: 954-357-7670.

South Beach: Bringing together a multi-ethnic community during Memorial Day weekend, Urban Beach Week is an annual event that holds festivities promoting unity and pride with entertainment, food, music, and other activities that attract thousands to various locations throughout South Beach, May 24-27. Events and more information: www.blackbeachweek.com.

Miami: Enjoy a free session of yoga in the park every Monday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. – 10:15 p.m. all participants must be at least 18 years old and sign a waiver. Bring your own yoga mat, water and towel. Class is taught by a certified yoga teacher.  More information: 305-358-7550.

Miami: A slate of comedians including Bruce Bruce, Cocoa Brown, Shawty Shawty and Red Grant will perform at the sixth annual Memorial Day Weekend Comedy Fest May 26 beginning at 8 p.m. at the James L. Knight Center. More information: Miamicomedyfest.com.

Miami: Performing such favorites from Stevie Wonder and Cole Porter, Connie James brings the “Great American Songbook’’ to the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center May 24 at 8:30 p.m.

Miami Gardens: A soccer match pitting Spain vs. Haiti will be held at Sun Life Stadium June 8 at 4 p.m.

Pembroke Pines: The Pembroke Pines jazz concert series takes place May 19 at William B. Armstrong Dream Park, 1700 Dykes Road.

West Palm Beach: T.I. and Tyga are scheduled to be part of the America’s Most Wanted Festival starring Lil’ Wayne at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach July 14.

Coconut Grove: The Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival, the largest Black heritage festival in the U.S., celebrates the first Black settlers in South Florida, the Bahamians. The festival is June 8 at 10 a.m. The street festival stretches from Grand Ave/Douglas Road (S.W. 37 Avenue) through Margaret Street, with smaller events held at other locations in Coconut Grove.

Coral Gables: The Miami Romance Month Bridal Showcase featuring a fashion show, free product sampling, special wedding services offers, and the chance to win prizes to include a dream honeymoon on MSC Cruises will be held June 2 from noon to 4 p.m. at The Westin Colonnade. $10. More information: 305-539-3076.

Fort Lauderdale: Photographer Diana Pierre-Louis’ work “The Real Haiti,” featuring historical sites, landscapes and real life, are depicted in a series of photos through May 31 at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. More information: 954-357-6282 or www.TheRealHaiti.com.

Fort Lauderdale: Community Builders HDC presents a 10-week series of West African and Yorùbá Orisa classes. Experience informative classes rooted in authentic traditions with drum, rhythm, song and dance. The class is every Saturday from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. through May 24 at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd. Adults $15, children $5 per session. More information: 786-344-1153.

Fort Lauderdale: The Florida Minority Community Reinvestment group along with a coalition of Florida minority non-profits and neighborhood associations are hosting the 2013 Let’s Do Business Florida & Summit June 28-June 29 at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa. More information: www.letsdobusinessflorida.com.

Fort Lauderdale: Live jazz, blues, pop and everything in between along Hollywood’s signature 2.5 mile Boardwalk is every Friday of every month. More information: 954-924-2980.

Fort Lauderdale: The touring exhibition of Harlem artist Nikki Williams is at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center through May 20. The center is at 2650 Sistrunk Blvd. More information: 954-357-6210.

Boca Raton:  An open mic night for 18 and up featuring comedy, poetry and music is held every Monday at the Funky Biscuit in the back of Royal Palm Plaza, 303 SE Mizner Blvd. Sign up is at 8 p.m. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. More information: Richy Lala 561-512-8472.

Miami: Miami-Dade County hosts a Downtown Harvest Market every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Residents and visitors have the opportunity to purchase seasonal produce directly from Miami-Dade growers at the Stephen P. Clark Center’s Courtyard, 111 NW 1st St. More information: www.earth-learning.org.