Your Fall Break

The Culture Edit, November 3rd-November 16th

Author

Susan Bannon
November 02, 2025

Jeni Hacker stars as the titular mother in Zoetic Stage’s “The Mother,” opening at the Arsht Center this week.

“Halloweekend” is behind us, and the remnants of the black lipstick and whatever you put in your hair will be gone soon (hopefully). Now we can pivot to enjoy one of my favorite stretches of the cultural calendar - November! Not yet the craziness of December’s art week/holiday sprint, but everything is definitely on.

Speaking of on, Zoetic Stage’s highly anticipated production of The Mother, a deceptively quiet-sounding play about a woman facing an empty nest and a wandering husband, is set to detonate at the Carnival Studios Theater at the Arsht Center this coming Thursday. You’ve only got three weeks to catch this production, so book those tickets now!

Also coming up: a fun-sounding community dinner at Books & Books with the kids from Salsa Z on November 13th. The plan is to enjoy a Puerto Rican-style feast, hosted by James Beard award-winning food critic Carlos Frías, followed by Salsa Z’s resident DJ spinning boogaloo, salsa, and rumba in the bookstore. Don’t say I never did anything for you.

In restaurant news, the revamped Shelborne on South Beach is opening their gorgeous new spots Pauline (dinner) and Little Torch (drinks) this month, giving us some great new options close to New World Center. And downtown is getting two new spots near(ish) the Arsht Center: Eight Bar by the Maple & Ash team, and LA-import Yamashiro on the roof at the Gale Hotel.

Let’s get planning…

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Theater

The Mother

To open the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series, Zoetic Stage presents The Mother, part of Florian Zeller’s searing, award-winning family trilogy (also including The Father and The Son). The play chronicles a fateful night in the life of the titular mother, as she wrestles with her place in the world once her duties as a mother are no longer needed and her husband is largely absent. If that sounds rather tame, reviews of this play during it’s acclaimed Off Broadway run (starring French ice queen Isabelle Huppert) indicate her growing rage and unraveling mind all but set the stage on fire.

November 6th-23rd, 7:30 evenings, 2:30 matinees, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht, $56-$61

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Gablestage: Harry Clarke

Gablestage opens its season with Harry Clarke, a wickedly funny, sexually charged one man show by Obie Award-winning playwright David Cale. Stage veteran Mark H. Dold (whom Gablestage audiences will recognize from last year’s Lehman Trilogy and Appropriate) delivers a mesmerizing, shape-shifting performance as shy Midwesterner Philip Brugglestein, who reinvents himself as the seductive, cocky Londoner Harry Clarke, moving to New York and charming his way into a wealthy family’s life.

Through November 12th, 7:30pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Here There Are Blueberries

Miami New Drama opens its season with Here There Are Blueberries, a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist written by Miami New Drama co-founder Moisés Kaufman with playwright Amanda Gronich. Named one of the “10 Best Plays of 2024” by The Wall Street Journal, the play follows the true story of a mysterious album containing Nazi-era photographs that found its way to the U.S. Holocaust Museum archives in 2007. As curators unravel the shocking truth behind the images, the album soon makes headlines and ignites a debate that reverberates far beyond the museum walls.

November 13th-December 7th, Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, $45-$95

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Art Openings & Events

Bakehouse at Forty: Past, Present, Future

Bakehouse Art Complex kicks off a yearlong celebration marking the fortieth anniversary of the organization and the centennial of its iconic 1926 Art Deco-era bakery building with a birthday bash and new three-part exhibit showcasing its historic past, its decades as an artist-founded incubator, and its future plans for a transformed campus providing artist housing and services for the Wynwood Norte community. The party is technically a fundraiser, but at $40, it’s a pretty accessible way to participate in the future of Miami’s art ecosystem and have a great time in the process.

Friday, November 7th, 7-10pm, Bakehouse Art Complex, $40 in advance, $100 at the door

Neighborhood: Wynwood

Nearby Eats: Lira, Pastis, Pasta | Drinks: this party should have you covered, but if you want to keep things going, head to Gramp’s (til January!) or Higher Ground

Woody De Othello Opening at PAMM

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) hosts an evening of conversation, art, and dancing to celebrate the opening of coming forth by day, a new series of ceramic and wood sculptures from Miami-born, Haitian-American artist Woody De Othello. The immersive exhibit features grounding natural materials and subtle herbal scents to explore “the primordial relationship between body, earth, and spirit.” The night starts with an artist talk with exhibition curator Jennifer Inacio, followed by a DJ set by Miami’s own Paperwater on the terrace.

Thursday, November 13th, talk at 7:30, Paperwater at 9, PAMMSonic til 11, PAMM, $18

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Verde at PAMM, Eight Bar (new!), Yamashiro (new!) | Drinks: Verde, Vice Versa

More Art Events:

  • November 6th-9th: the third annual Doral Art Fair brings galleries, artists, collectors, and art lovers together at the Doral Cultural Arts Center.

  • Friday, November 7th: LnS Gallery opens Act I: Timelines, a survey exhibition of the work of Alexandre Arrechea, just as Arrechea’s new public art murals debut at the new Inter Grove Gallery at The Underline, reception from 6-9pm.

  • Saturday, November 8th: a professor, a scientist, a curator, and an artist walk into a garden… for a conversation on art and climate science, at 2pm at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.

  • Saturday, November 8th: ICA Miami welcomes acclaimed New York–based artist Adam Pendleton, a central figure in contemporary American painting, to share insights into his work, at 4pm.

  • Saturday, November 15th: Angles of Incredulity, a solo show of the work of multimedia artist Ariel Orozco opens at Dimensions Variable, with a reception from 6-9pm.

Opera

Silent Night

The Minnesota Opera performing “Silent Night,” 2018. Photo: Don Norman

Florida Grand Opera opens its season with Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night, a moving and tragic retelling of the spontaneous Christmas Eve ceasefire between Scottish, French, and German troops during World War I. Composer Kevin Puts’s sweeping score blends everything from simple folk tunes to grand, cinematic orchestration, capturing the raw emotion of both battle and brotherhood. *If you plan to attend the Saturday premiere, be aware people get really dressed up. So if you’re looking for an excuse to break out the tux or ballgown, this is it!

November 15th-18th, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $30-$250

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Indie Cinema

Dead Man’s Wire with Director Gus Van Sant

As part of its annual autumn GEMS fest, the Miami Film Festival presents an award presentation and screening of Dead Man’s Wire with director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Elephant). Van Sant’s new film is about a real-life hostage situation that captured the world’s attention in 1977. The festival is on til November 5th, and you can check out the full lineup of films here.

Monday, November 3rd, 7pm, UM’s Bill Cosford Cinema, $33

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Vice City Pizza, Daniel’s, Matsuri | Drinks: Fox’s Lounge, Titanic (of course!)

Opening Night: Miami short Film Festival

Turkish film “Tasliman” by director Gokhan Bulut opens the Miami short Film Festival.

Each year, the Miami short Film Festival brings us short films from around the world, showcasing some of the best independent, up-and-coming filmmakers. A red carpet reception at O Cinema South Beach kicks off the fest, with a selection of six films that fall under the theme of “defiance,” whether against injustice, fate, or the quiet pressures of everyday life. The festival continues through the weekend, with nine different compilations of selected shorts around town. You can check out the full calendar of screenings here.

Friday, November 14th, 8pm, O Cinema South Beach, $40, or $125 for 3-Day Festival Pass

Neighborhood: South Beach

Music

Beethoven X Beyoncé

New World Symphony brings back their wildly popular “Late Night” series with an ambitious melding of Beethoven and Queen Bey. Musical visionary Steve Hackman will lead the New World Fellows on a tour of Beyoncé’s hits from Destiny’s Child to Cowboy Carter, woven into Beethoven’s emotional Seventh Symphony. For these performances, New World Center transforms into a club-like setting where you can get up close to the orchestra or head upstairs for cocktails, comfortable seating, and a bird’s eye view of the concert. 

Friday, November 7th, 9pm, New World Center, $50

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Joe’s Pizza NYC | Drinks: Little Torch (opening Nov. 9th!), Water Lion at the Sagamore

Dvořák's New World Symphony

Ladies, this man is a conductor and he’s leading New World Symphony this month!

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.

November 15th-16th, 7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $40-$175

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Pauline (opening Nov. 12th!), AVIV, Las’ Lap | Drinks: Water Lion at the Sagamore, Medium Cool

More Upcoming Music Events:

  • Friday, November 7th: as part of its Jazz Roots series, the Arsht Center presents Grammy-nominated trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane in a celebration of the music of Miles Davis.

  • Saturday, November 8th: uber-cool poet and musician Aja Monet performs at The Ground downtown in collaboration with Live Arts Miami, at 7pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: the New World Symphony Fellows present a chamber concert of work by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen and Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 1, at 2pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: to celebrate 50 years of supporting up-and-coming opera stars, the Richard Tucker Foundation hosts its annual gala performance here in Miami for the first time, with performances by bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green and tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, at 7:30pm at the Arsht Center.

  • Friday, November 14th: to celebrate their favorite composer, the insanely talented singers and early music instrumentalists of Seraphic Fire present an evening devoted entirely to Bach, at 7:30pm at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.

Book Talks & Events

An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert

Books & Books and the Arsht Center welcome Elizabeth Gilbert, internationally bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, to discuss her life and work, and her forthcoming memoir. Her first non-fiction work in ten years, All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation chronicles her struggles to detangle love from addiction and self-destructive patterns. You can upgrade your ticket to get a signed book and/or a pre-talk author meet & greet.

Monday, November 3rd, 7:30pm, Arsht Center, $38-$111

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Miami Book Fair: Opening Day Block Party

Each November, the Miami Book Fair takes over downtown for eight days to host hundreds of acclaimed authors in three languages, talking politics, pop culture, prose, poetry - and of course, selling autographed books. Check out the author list here to see who’s coming and reserve your seats. This year, the fair is upping its DJ game for its opening day block party, with four-time Grammy nominee and legendary producer Kenny Dope manning the turntables.

Opening Day Block Party Sunday, November 16th, 4pm, Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus and environs, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown

More Literary Events:

Dance

Dimensions Dance Theatre Fall Performance

Founded by former MCB principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra in 2016, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami has been shaking up classical dance in South Florida ever since with their contemporary ballet repertoire. My only complaint about this exciting young troupe is that we have so few opportunities to see them. So you don’t want to miss their fall performance if you can help it.

Saturday, November 8th, 8pm, The Moss Center, $25-$45

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Not much! Grab dinner at Platea or Golden Rule Seafood on your way down there and have some rooftop cocktails at Ivy Rooftop or martinis at Fox’s on your way back.

More Dance Events:

  • Friday, November 7th: returning to Sanctuary of the Arts for a second year, 4×4 presents new work by four of Miami’s most notable choreographers, at 7:30pm.

  • Saturday, November 8th: influential flamenco choreographer and dancer Siudy Flamenco and her company celebrate 25 years of artistry with the premiere of an emotional new work and guest performer José Manuel Álvarez, at 8pm.

  • Sunday, November 9th: Dance NOW! Miami kicks off its 26th season with a selection of modern works, including Winter’s Breath, in an open-air performance at the Miami Beach Bandshell, at 7pm. 

  • Saturday, November 15th: Syncopate Collective presents Five Fingers, Six Strings, a dance journey inspired by the sounds of Flamenco guitar, by choreographer Rafael Ruiz-del-Vizo, at Sanctuary of the Arts at 8pm.

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…

December 12th - 28th

Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The quintessential Christmas spectacular, Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker has it all: gorgeous sets with a stunning snow drop, sumptuous costumes, Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, and some thrilling dancing by MCB’s precise, energetic dancers. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun, with a new immersive pre-show “Journey to the Land of Sweets” this year. If you need to put yourself in the holiday mood, look no further.

Various times, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $53-$264

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Mignonette, Klaw, Casadonna | Drinks: Klaw, ViceVersa

Saturday, December 20th

Sounds of the Season

My absolute favorite Miami holiday tradition! The New World Symphony is so good, I often forget they are technically students (albeit post-grad students and some of the most talented musicians anywhere). Their youthful energy and playfulness are on full display for this annual holiday concert of Christmas and Hanukkah favorites, where everyone is just having a ton of fun. Tickets sell out fast for this one, so book early. But if you miss out, you can enjoy a free WALLCAST of the concert in adjacent Soundscape Park.

7:30pm, New World Center, $40-$120 or free outdoor WALLCAST

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Barceloneta | Drinks: Brother’s Keeper, Water Lion at the Sagamore

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