Joni Mitchell: Music Cinema at the Bishop Planetarium

"The reason I'm unruly, is because I never wanted to be a jukebox," Joni's voice reverberates from the dome-shaped screen at the Bishop Planetarium.

The Think + Drink Cinema at the South Florida Museum is three-quarters of its way through its American Music summer series, which featured Elvis, Les Paul, Pete Seeger, the Funk Brothers, Leonard Cohen, and tonight...Joni Mitchell.

Haunted by her music, ever since being introduced to songs like Come in From the Cold, the River, Amelia, and Both Sides Now, I - along with a group of gal pals - dropped in to experience Mindy Simmons live (who, unlike Joni, made it to A Woodstock, if not THE Woodstock).

A sold out show, more than half of the people who called to attend, had to be turned away.

The night continued with the showing of Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind on the large screen at Bishop (Where they let you bring your wine with you...always a plus at any venue).

"Her life was so tragic," a friend proclaimed.

"No, it wasn't." I argued. "Everything about her life had been a success, with the exception of the way she chose to look at it. After all, of those three men who fell in love with her, not one of them left her. She chose to leave them. She was heartbroken by choice."

Or not...Perhaps the need to create outweighed the need for romantic love. But one thing is certain, her music moves many.

Just an FYI for those hoping to catch the Bob Dylan tribute next week, more than half of the tickets are already sold out, so you'll want to phone to reserve your space now vs. later. Contact: Jessica Schubick at 941-746-4131 x27.