The Season is Almost Here!

Schools have been back for weeks and the mangos have fallen, but we still have another month to wait before Miami’s official cultural season begins.

Your trusty weekly culture newsletter is back, though, to tell you what’s happening in the meantime (book talks, art openings, and indie cinema) and get everyone hyped about the new season (see last week’s Highlights of the Fall issue, in case you missed it).

On the restaurant front, two new spots will be making their way into this newsletter: Basilico (near Coral Gables’ Miracle Theatre) and Las’ Lap (near New World Center on the beach). Having visited Las’ Lap, which comes to us from the chef that runs one of New York’s top-ranked restaurants, I can tell you it’s a gorgeous space with excellent cocktails and top notch food, but be warned - it’s really expensive!

Let’s get planning...

Friday, September 12th

Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale Celebration

Coral Gables Art Cinema celebrates the end of Downton Abbey with a special screening and red carpet wine reception. This is officially your last chance to ride along with the well-tailored Crawley’s as they face change (what?), scandal (not again!), and look incredible doing it (that Lady Mary just looks good in everything). Your finest period-inspired attire is encouraged!

6:30pm reception, 7pm screening, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $22

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Vinya Table, Zitz Sum, Basilico (New!) | Drinks: Armstrong Jazz House, Maíz y Agave

Also on September 12th: 

• Fred Snitzer Gallery celebrates the opening of Lacuna, a solo show of new large scale paintings by young Miami-based artist Noah Cribb (whose work is already in the permanent collection at PAMM), with a reception from 7-9pm.

Saturday, September 13th

Justyna Kisielewicz: Living Space 

La Cometa Gallery presents Living Space (Lebensraum) a new solo exhibit of the work of Polish-born, Miami-based artist Justyna Kisielewicz. Her large scale, color-drenched canvases for this show explore themes of colonialism, and the historical line between European and American colonizers of earlier centuries through to the violent Nazi expansion into Poland in the quest for more “living space.” On view through October 10th.

3-6pm, La Cometa Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Allapattah

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ, Morgan’s, Jon & Vinny’s | Drinks: Las Rosas, Morgan’s

Also on September 13th:

• Mindy Solomon Gallery celebrates the opening of three new shows by artists Damon Davis, Basil Kincaid, and Juan Tessi, with a reception from 6-8:30pm.

• Piero Atchugarry Gallery hosts a reception for the openings of two new exhibits by artists Panmela Castro and Li Hanwei, from 6-8pm.

• The New World Symphony strings section plays a “pay what you wish” pre-season concert of Beethoven, Mozart, and contemporary composer Anna Clyne, at 7:30pm.

Sunday, September 14th

Sam Bloch & Germane Barnes at Books & Books

Environmental journalist Sam Bloch visits Books & Books to discuss his new book, Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource, with renowned Miami artist, architect, and designer Germane Barnes. The book chronicles how the ancient urban-planning lessons around shade were lost in our air-conditioned, car-centric present. But with heatwaves becoming our deadliest natural disasters, innovative city planners are finding new ways to cool our future.

6pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Basilico (New!), Dojo Izakaya, Luca Osteria | Drinks: Cebada Rooftop, Sra. Martinez

Also on September 14th:

• The New World Symphony woodwinds and brass sections play a “pay what you wish” concert of Dvořák, Shostakovich & Holst, at 2pm.

• Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale gets another special screening at Coral Gables Art Cinema, this time with tea and scones (fun!), at 3:15pm.

• The Miami short Film Festival hosts a special screening of selected shorts from Mexico and Central America, with cocktail reception, at the Deering Estate from 7-9pm.

Happening NEXT Week:

Because maybe your friends are busy this week. Or you're busy this week. Or this week just seems too soon to pull your act together and make a plan.

Thursday, September 18th

FilmGate Fusion: Immersive Art for Wellbeing

Filmgate Miami and Frost Science present FUSION: Light, Sound, and Memory/Immersive Art for Wellbeing, a selection of animated films (like this one) at the nexus of art, technology, and mental health, mounted on an epic scale on the planetarium screen. I saw their last FUSION screening, simulating a space launch, and it was pretty mind-blowing in the giant dome. You can prepare yourself with pre-screening cocktails, as the ticket price gets you one drink ticket.

6pm, Frost Museum of Science Planetarium, $40

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Vice Versa, Maple & Ash, NIU Kitchen | Drinks: The Corner, Night Swim

Also on September 18th:

• The Bass Museum hosts one of its free Third Thursday events with a performance by cellist Guy Michel, a panel by local film collective White Elephant Group, and a self-portrait collage workshop, from 6:30-8pm.

• UM’s Lowe Art Museum hosts a reception to celebrate the opening of How Much a Heart Can Hold, a career retrospective of work by multimedia artist Petah Coyne, from 7-9pm.

Friday, September 19th

G Flip at the Bandshell

The Rhythm Foundation presents Australian-born, LA-based G Flip at the Miami Beach Bandshell for a first-ever Miami performance. With the brand new release of her third studio album, Dream Ride, G Flip takes her signature 80’s-style synths, powerful vocals, and stadium-sized ambition to the next level. Disco Cowgirl was the first single off the album and it looks pretty great.

8pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, $43

Neighborhood: North Beach

Nearby Eats: Wabi Sabi, Double Luck, Taquiza | Drinks: Conventillo, Lido Champagne Bar

Also on September 19th:

• Ascaso Gallery celebrates the opening of Reciprocity, a group show bringing together the work of legendary Cuban-born artist Julio Larraz and eleven contemporary artists influenced by him, with a reception from 6-10pm.

Saturday, September 20th 

Jayne Kennedy at Books & Books

Books & Books is proud to welcome trailblazing sportscaster, actress, model, and early fitness icon Jayne Kennedy to discuss her first-ever memoir, Plain Jayne. The book chronicles the high’s and low’s of her singular career, from becoming the first black Miss Ohio, through breaking barriers as the cohost of CBS’s NFL Today, and on to her mentorship today. She will be in conversation with legendary Hall of Fame sportscaster Leslie Visser.

7pm, Books & Books, $34 (with book) or Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Babette, Zitz Sum, Luca Osteria | Drinks: Armstrong Jazz House, Sospiro Wine Bar

Also on September 20th:

• ICA Miami hosts a curator-led symposium on the work of textile artist Olga de Amaral at their new expansion space in the former De la Cruz Collection building, from 2-6pm.

• N’Namdi Gallery celebrates the opening of Ocean Rise, a solo show of new work by Nigerian textile artist Samuel Nnorom, with a reception from 4-7pm.

• Multi-Grammy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir brings its joyful African freedom songs, plus music from American icons like Aretha Franklin, to the Moss Center, at 7pm.

• Film classic Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and a smoldering James Dean, gets a 4K Restoration screening at Coral Gables Art Cinema, at 9pm.

Planning Ahead:

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. For the ultimate plan-ahead guide, you have my complete Highlights of the Fall Season, but if that’s too much trouble, you can just plan for these two…

October 10th-11th

Nu Deco Lounge: Psychedelic Symphony

Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami’s genre-bending contemporary orchestra, returns to the Citadel cabaret space for its intimate - and very popular - Nu Deco Lounge series. To kick off the season, the orchestra takes on the music of psychedelic rock legends The Grateful Dead and Talking Heads. If you’ve never experienced one of these concerts, they are very high energy, with a lot of audience participation. Note that general admission prices are for standing-room only. If you want a seat on the floor or the balcony, you’ll need a VIP ticket.

7pm & 9:30pm both nights, the Citadel lounge, $45 or $85 VIP

Neighborhood: Little River

Nearby Eats: Sunny’s, Bar Bucce, La Natural | Drinks: Bar Kaiju, Magie

November 15th-16th

Dvořák's New World Symphony

One of today’s most exciting young conductors, Domingo Hindoyan has made waves as Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Guest Conductor for marquee orchestras around the world. He’ll be making his New World Symphony debut, fittingly taking on Dvořák’s New World Symphony, one of the most famous symphonies of all time. Also on the program, celebrated young cello virtuoso Johannes Moser returns to NWS for Glanert’s Cello Concerto. This double bill of talented young artists is selling out fast, but if you can’t score a ticket, Saturday’s performance will be projected as a free WALLCAST concert in adjacent Soundscape park.

7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $40-$175

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Pauline (opening “Fall 2025”) | Drinks: Water Lion at the Sagamore, Greystone Bar

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