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Too many stodgy old farts, Broadway isn't what it used to be, now that nearly all of the productions are based on movies, TV shows or previous productions, and -- these days -- every patron shows up dressed like a slob. Hey, sounds like a good time to us.

If you're equally sick-and-tired as hell of frou-frou, chi-chi musicals and plays, might we recommend the Trailer Park Boys' "Drunk, High and Unemployed Tour," which hits Fort Lauderdale's Parker Playhouse on Saturday.

The tour features the three main players from Showtime's cult fan-favorite original series Trailer Park Boys, detailing the lurid (often hilarious) exploits of Canadian conmen forever damned to Sunnyvale Trailer Park. To pass the time, they booze hard, burn mad reefer, and constantly scheme any which way they can to make some cash, which always results in arrest-laden finales followed by the "fresh out of jail" season openers.

Not sure that you're really ready for an up-close peak into the lurid lifestyles of Ricky, Julian, and, of course, Bubbles? Or maybe you're worried you relate just a little too much. Well, check the jump for sure-fire signs that you yourself are a bona fide Trailer Park Boy.

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Photo by Mike Rice

​Even if the cause for a memorial concert is a sad one, the large crowd of participants toasted the late drummer and promoter Jimmy Pagano at America's Backyard Sunday with smiles. In the brilliant, sunny afternoon, a collection of area musicians, bar regulars, friends, and family mingled, took photographs, and remembered a man who had spirit big enough to bring them all together.

Organized by Main Event Talent Agency's Judy Blem, who responded to the night's attendance with: "Two words. Fucking wow." From teens with grown-up rock attitude to seasoned vets of the scene, the event featured an assortment of acts who all had Pagano on their minds and many dedications went out to him -- including a cover of Guns 'N Roses' take on "Knockin' on Heaven's Door."
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Photo by Betsey Denberg

​Returning for its second year, Art Rock revamped the white walls of the Armory Art Center into a marketplace filled with unique works of art this past Saturday. From skateboards to plushy taxidermy and even the tiniest little people one ever did see, there was something to tickle everyone's fancy. However, this wasn't just any old art show. Organizer and crafty queen Amanda Linton (of Stitch Rock and House of Sweets fame) exceeded in creating an environment in which the art was affordable and far from boring. More >>

Photo by Betsey Denberg

​On Sunday afternoon, the Kreepy Kittins (Kreepy Tiki Tattoo's pinup girl gang) transformed downtown Fort Lauderdale's music venue Revolution into a wonderland of vintage and handmade goods for a day of good ol' retro fun. In the past, I'd only seen concerts at Revolution, so I was curious about how the "crafternoon" would pan out.

One of the busty pinup clad girls selling raffle tickets greeted patrons entering the market. Everywhere I looked, there was a smiling face peddling handcrafted treasures.  

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Photos by Alex Rendon

​Our sister paper's account of the drama that unfolded with the Winter Music Conference and Ultra Music Festival divorce this year and all finger-pointing that ensued left us curious regarding how everything would actually unfold for the weeklong dance music festival.

Noticeably lacking in 2011's WMC list were the agency shows, like Windish Agency, which always bring down a great assortment of talent, and other reliable parties like the one hosted by online dance music store Beatport. Additionally, Ultra's reported exclusivity contracts made this year's WMC a rather skimpy one in terms of headlining über-DJs like Deadmau5 and Tiesto. But what we came to find out during the day and a half we spent soaking up the action was that many of this year's attendees truly preferred it this way.

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​ABC Fine Wine & Spirits' Fort Lauderdale location opened its doors for a "Bethenny Frankel SkinnyGirl Margarita bottle signing" over the weekend. The beverage itself is strong in alcohol content but definitely needs some lemonade to balance out the sweetness -- much like our hostess?

Although 200-plus people RSVP'd to the Facebook invite, I didn't really expect that many to actually show to see Bethenny of Real Housewives of New York City fame. The 20 minutes it took to find a parking spot suggested I was wrong, way wrong.
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Photo by Jaclyn Rosansky

​As we mentioned earlier in the week, the Driven Music + Art Conference attracted many serious artists/musicians to the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood last weekend. Sponsor and local haven for artists ArtServe was setting up for the conference bright and early by putting together an exhibit and handling registration.

The exhibit was racks of various themed art done by locals. Each of the pieces was purposely sized to 10x10 inches so that it could be reduced to a CD album cover nicely. Musicians, bands, and industry professionals were encouraged to purchase the art for that purpose or even to use as promotional aids. 

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Photo by Jaclyn Rosansky

In one panel discussion at the first Driven Music + Art Conference on Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, someone asked, "How do you get on the radio?" Scott Putesky AKA Daisy Berkowitz, original guitarist for Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, answered, "Create your own station."

This advice was among a wealth of knowledge shared reverently or tossed aside as a joke by attendees from Maine, Los Angeles, and Salzburg experiencing a day of artists passing out CDs, exchanging business cards, and generally eager about getting noticed. The first half of the day was divided into a visual art panel and two music panels, while the second half was music performances. Nothing quite on the scale of the much-discussed, oft-maligned Miami Music Festival, but we'll be watching closely in the years to come.

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It seems this weekend was the quiet before the WMC storm as people stayed in preparing for the onslaught of the 24/7 party mayhem that starts tomorrow. Still there were a few events that gave people a reason to come out of hiding. But in case you hunkered down, here is what you missed over the weekend:

Afrobeta Do You Party? EP Release at 7th Circuit Studios

Photo by Jipsy

​Can you believe local band Afrobeta has never released a physical EP or full-length? Lead singer Cuci Amador admitted the fact to us once when we bumped into her grabbing some food at Latin Cafe on Biscayne Boulevard. Well, that changed Friday as the duo celebrate the release of its EP, Do You Party?, along with Paparazzi, Them Jeans, Panic Bomber, and more at 7th Circuit Studios. Click here to view the full slideshow.
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