By Jennifer Agress and Yours Truly
Plan to be around this summer and early fall in Miami? Expecting visitors from out of town ? We’ve put together a two part series of cultural, entertainment, and other things to do Miami. And even if you’re familiar with the entertainment venues, museums and such, you’ll find out what shows are on tap in one curated list (we’ve marked them in bold type). Try one or more of these activities, listed below—you’ll experience another side of the Magic City you and your guests haven’t seen before.
Go to Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Sitting right off Florida’s Turnpike, in Hollywood, FL, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino promises a little something for everyone. Filled with everything from its world-class casino, hotel and gambling rooms, to countless bars and concert venues, renowned restaurants, celebrity events and more, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has so much to do indoors, that you won’t even think of stepping outside. Head there this summer, and you can see top performers like Seal, Ricky Martin, George Lopez, Nick Cannon, Howie Mandel and more.
Visit One of Miami’s Private Museums
Miami is home to a variety of private art collections. Rubell Family Collection, which started in NYC in 1964 and has been in Midtown Miami since 1993, features top works and exhibitions by artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Cady Noland, Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker and more. Through the end of the summer, visitors can see High Anxiety: New Acquisitions, an exhibit with artworks from 32 artists, many of whom use art to explore polarizing social and political concerns, and whose works help us visualize and understand feelings of uncertainty, nervousness and pessimism. The de la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space—which serves as an extension of the home of its sponsors, Carlos and Rosa de la Cruz—supports the community by welcoming local artists and helping fund educational initiatives. Visitors can head there to checkout its current exhibition, You’ve Got to Know the Rules…to Break Them, which features select artists, from the Cruz’ own personal art collection, who defy traditional 21st-century art practices through New American painting and German Neo-Expressionism techniques.
Opening in December 2017 in a permanent location in the Miami Design District, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) currently sits in the iconic Moore Building. Committed to promoting contemporary art, the new location will debut with The Everywhere Studio on December 1st, which will include 100 paintings, sculptures, videos and installations from more than 50 artists from the past 50 years. Just down the street, the award-winning Haitian Heritage Museum is filled with art exhibitions, cultural arts events and educational programming that highlights the rich culture of Haiti. There is currently an exhibition on display, brought in part by the National Museum of Kenya, called Rites of Passage, which celebrates five major cultures present in Miami: Jewish, Native American, Kenyan, Latin American, and of course, Haitian. Finally, Miami’s largest private museum is The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, a non-profit institution that takes up a retrofitted warehouse in Wynwood. Home to seasonal exhibitions from renowned collector Martin Z’s personal collection, this museum currently has works by Anselm Kiefer on display, as well as permanent exhibitions by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ron Bladen, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Anthony Caro, Chamberlain, de Kooning, Eliasson, Flavin, Heizer, Judd, Jannis Kounellis, LeWitt, Miró, Noguchi, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Segal, Serra, Tony Smith and Franz West.
See a Show
There are plenty of theaters in Miami where you can catch an off-Broadway tour, an independent theater performance, or even a concert. In Downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center has the Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony and the Florida Grand Opera in residence, and regularly hosts singers and Broadway tours coming through town. (This summer, fans can get excited to see the ultimate diva, Diana Ross, who will perform at the Arsht Center on June 25th at 7:30 p.m. and Neverland the musical is also on tap) The Fillmore Miami Beach is operated by Live Nation, and regularly showcases top names in live entertainment, like Phoenix, Pink Floyd and the Russian Ballet in this year alone. This summer, you can go there to catch Andres Lopez on Saturday, June 17th; Chevelle on Tuesday, July 18th; or Bill Maher on Saturday and Sunday, August 5th and 6th. If you live near Coral Gables, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre showcases a year-round calendar of musicals, dramas and programs for the whole family. Not far away, GableStage, at the Biltmore Hotel, will feature The Legend of Georgia McBride from now to June 25th, a comedy about an Elvis impersonator who becomes a drag queen.
Go to an Art Theater
Want to see a movie? Try one that’s a little different: like one of the Magic City’s art cinemas. At O Cinema (which has locations in Wynwood, Miami Beach and Miami Shores), you can see first-run independent, foreign, art, and niche market films. At Coral Gables Art Cinema in Coral Gables, catch a screening of international and American cinema and classic films, or attend a lecture by a visiting filmmaker. In Little Havana, you have Miami Dade College’s Tower Theater, with multicultural films, live performances, and cultural and educational programs. And while you’re there, check out the newly opened Ella’s Oyster Bar for a bite. On Miami Beach, there is also Miami Beach Cinematheque, an intimate screening room, gallery and bookstore dedicated to the alternatives to commercial cinema. This establishment actually houses the Miami Beach Film Society, and since June is “Miami Film Month,” you can go there to see $8 films.
Have Lunch Overlooking the Water, From Inside
Much of Miami is right on the water; so even if it’s raining, you can still take in its gorgeous views. Palmeiras Beach Club, on Grove Isle, offers a relaxed and quiet setting and good Mediterranean fare (Karen’s earlier review), while the Peruvian-tinged Panorama, at the top of Coconut Grove’s Sonesta Hotel, is completely surrounded by glass. The River Yacht Club, which sits on the Miami River, is a seafaring-inspired spot with indoor and outdoor dining and a decisive Mediterranean flair. Check out its newly opened Japanese gem, a new fave, Dashi (see earlier review).And up north in Hallandale, Juniper on the Water is a good choice. At places like these, you can get a taste of Miami’s thriving food scene and take in the city’s natural beauty—rain or shine, and they’re a solid choice for quiet conversation (a rare commodity these days).
