​"We're all fans of this stupid movie," says Radio-Active Records manager Mikey Ramirez of The Karate Kid. This is his honest explanation for how the 1984 martial arts romantic drama for kids came to inspire the store's first essay contest.

"We're all fans of the soundtrack too," he adds. "It's terrible."

What started as an inside in-store ironic appreciation -- "It's one of the movies we constantly quote" -- has blossomed into a full-blown contest, complete with a $25 Radio-Active gift card for the winner.

Check the jump for complete details on how to enter.
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​The mighty Buzz Bake Sale's 16th running is upon us this Saturday at Cruzan Amphitheatre. Staind, Seether, and Chevelle (featured in a fine story penned by our own Matt Hendley) ride atop the rock-heavy lineup for the daylong festival put on by 103.1 the Buzz.

And, if you're hungering for more of a Buzz between now and Saturday, be sure to attend the final Battle of the Bands -- featuring Submission Red, Fallen From the Sky, and Shatterglass -- at Speakeasy Lounge on Thursday evening (Facebook invite).

For once, this is actually a good time to be without tickets. If you haven't picked up your entry passes for this year's event, we're here to remedy the situation right quick. Yes, a contest lurks below that anyone with a Facebook account and a dream can enjoy.

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​Update: here's a review of the 2011 Y100 Jingle Ball!

Want to hit a holiday party with Pitbull, Kelly Clarkson, and a wide range of pop acts who dominate the airwaves on Y100? Yes, you do. The radio station's annual Jingle Ball bash is coming up on December 10 -- check out the lineup here -- and you could end up with a free pair of tickets in your stocking.

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​Curiosity will lead plenty of folks to Opium Nightclub at the Seminole Hard Rock on Saturday for Kreayshawn's live performance. Over the course of the past few months, the "Gucci Gucci" rapper from Oakland has immersed herself in the popular culture stream, and now is the chance to find out what her onstage persona is all about.
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Update: The winners have been announced! Click here.

​You probably have a friend who claims to be an expert in politics and another in where to go out to eat and another in... well, any conversation that's brought up. But beer? Everybody knows good beer.

What we're looking for here, however, is a true beer expert to help judge the awards contest in the New Times Beerfest 2011. You'll join an esteemed panel of experts to pick the Best Overall, Best American, Best Import, and Best Florida beers.

Think you know beer? Head to the County Grind Facebook page. Leave a
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There's something in the air. It's the aroma of a freshly popping beer froth, the bustle of bodies gently brushing past one another, the anticipation of carefully concocted liquid refreshment about to rush past your taste buds, and the thrill of the extra oxygen rushing through your head as a gentle buzz sets in. That's New Times' Beerfest 2011, friends. We just poured your first glass (above), and there are plenty more to be had on Saturday at Fort Lauderdale's Esplanade Park. Discerning County Grind readers (over the age of 21, of course) have a chance to experience the magic free of charge.
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​Fans of Butch Walker & the Black Widows rejoice! We're giving away tickets for the band's Wednesday show at Culture Room. Don't snooze on this.

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​Who among our money-grabbing readers would like to attend next Tuesday's predictably soulful Fitz & the Tantrums show at Culture Room free of charge? It's a simple question with a very simple solution if you follow along.

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The Soft Pack

​Alright, so last year, it was fair if you waffled about forking over the cost of a cabin on the inaugural Bruise Cruise Festival, the world's first garage-ish rock cruise. After all, it was the first-ever attempt at putting that kind of craziness at sea -- but, if you followed New Times' extensive coverage, you'll know it worked. Really worked. (The pre-cruise show on land in Miami, which was open to the public, was pretty kick-ass too.)

The 2012 lineup doesn't boast any local bands -- no Surfer Blood or Jacuzzi Boys, like last year -- but many favorites from last year return: the Oh Sees, Vivian Girls, Quintron & Miss Pussycat. New this year: Reigning Sound, the Dirt Bombs, the Soft Pack, King Khan & the Shrines, and now, Fucked Up, who also headline the cruise's island party in the Bahamas.
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​We love contests! We love local venues! We love exclaiming our love for things! Attention, artists and likers of prizes: One of Fort Lauderdale's hottest nightclubs, Green Room, is holding one hell of a competition. It is releasing a free compilation CD that will feature songs from every band to perform there -- and thus it would include John Ralston, Lavola, the Band in Heaven, Astrea Corporation, Ryan Alexander, Retrocities, and more. All you need to do is design a cover, send it to them, be judged, and maybe win a $50 gift certificate! Boom!

We're going to enter the contest ourselves, so we can show you how easy it is. When working as a graphic designer, it's important to consider your client. So let's think about Green Room for a minute. It's a dance club, a rock club, a bar, an art gallery, and a place where South Florida creatives get loose. It seems like the utopia Shredder used to lure stray teens into joining the Foot Clan.

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