All the info on one of Miami’s top events of the year, the South Beach Seafood Festival, plus art happenings, a nifty cocktail celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and top concerts you won’t want to miss in Things to Do in October.
It’s the fall and you can always count on the Norton Museum to have a top exhibit. This year is no exception. Opening October 14 and running until February 18 is Artists in Motion: Impressionist and Modern Masterpieces from the Pearlman Collection. Artists in Motion navigates the multitude of relationships that drove experimentalism and creativity in Europe during the transformative artistic period at the turn of the century. Among the artistic exchanges explored are works by some of the most renowned modern artists, including Paul Cézanne, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Amedeo Modigliani, Chaïm Soutine, and Jacques Lipchitz. Note that this is just one of several concurrent exhibits plus there’s a wonderful permanent collection and museum shop. The Norton Museum, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.
Big name entertainment is on tap this month. Luis Miguel has a two night gig at the Kaseya Center here in Miami, October 11 and 13 and, for a different change of pace, there’s Aerosmith coming to the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise for the farewell tour. (And Madonna in April). For tickets for Luis Miguel click here and for Aerosmith, click here.
And BTW, if you like Johnny Mathis (yes, he’s still in the game), note that he will be performing at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on February 24. For tickets click here (I already got mine, a big fan).
The role of contemporary art in advocating for the preservation and conservation of Biscayne Bay is the idea behind “Biscayne” at the Kampong.. Bridge Initiative, a Miami-based environmental arts organization, has joined The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden to present the the exhibition described “as a celebratory art exhibition honoring Biscayne Bay’s heritage and future.”
It features 35 local and international artists whose works cross disciplines to explore Biscayne Bay’s cultural, historical, and ecological significance. “
The exhibition is complemented by evening panels featuring a diverse group of scientists and artists who will deliberate on South Florida’s habitat, the imminent threats to the Bay, and strategies for its preservation.
All panel and event registration information can be found at the National Tropical Botanical Garden website (click here):
- Safeguarding Shores: The Art and Science of Mangroves in South Florida’s Landscape (Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm)
- Biscayne:An Evening with Michelle Oka Doner(Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm)
- Closing Reception(Saturday,December 2,2023,from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
- The Kampong, 4013 South Douglas Road, Miami, FL.
.For more information on happenings at The Kampong and other botanical gardens in Miami and South Florida, click here.
Photo by Ranieri Cassuola R.C.-Visuals
The highly anticipated South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 is making its return Wednesday, October 18th through Saturday, October 21st, promising a celebration of ocean-fresh delicacies, live entertainment, and beachside vibes. Kicking off the start of Miami’s famed stone crab season, this exciting annual event features four days of special programming, including endless food and beverage tastings, chef competitions, cooking demonstrations and more, this year’s festival will raise the bar for one of the country’s leading seafood events. . Tickets to the 11th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival are now available at sobeseafoodfest.com.
Set against the backdrop of the city’s colorful Art Deco district, the South Beach Seafood Festival consists of four separate ticketed events taking place throughout the week.
11th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 Event Schedule:
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18 – AN EVENING AT JOE’S STONE CRAB (SOLD OUT)
DAY 2: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 – CRABS, SLABS, & CABS
Taking place at High Tide Beach at Miami’s iconic Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, “Crabs, Slabs, & Cabs” is a formal sit-down, five-course dinner and a dining experience in a tropical oasis set for a seafood extraordinaire, presented by Breakthru Beverage Florida. Some of Miami’s finest chefs will join forces with GOYA’s Executive Chef, Fernando Desa, to create their own unique international take on the traditional ‘surf n’ turf’ dish, hosted in partnership with Halpern’s Steak and Seafood. The chefs participating in this year’s dinner include restaurateur and Pubbelly Sushi partner José Mendín; La Mar Executive Chef Diego Oka; Meat Market Executive Chef and Owner Sean Brasel; Luca Osteria & Eating House’s Chef and Owner Giorgio Rapicavoli; and Leku Executive Chef Carlos Garcia. Limited to 150 guests, attendees will explore flavors from around the world as each chef presents a different course showcasing their own delicious interpretation of the delicious surf n turf pairing.
Tickets: $250 per person*
Where: Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel; 1717 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL
DAY 3: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 – CHEF SHOWDOWN
Join Miami’s top chefs for an evening of competitive culinary cook-offs where attendees will serve as the judges as they indulge in endless seafood dishes and refreshing cocktails. “Chef Showdown”, brought to you by Herradura Tequila and presented by GOYA in the Culinary Pavilion of the Cadillac VIP Village, will guide guests through some of the best of Miami’s culinary scene where 23 chefs—including last year’s champions—will battle it out in the most battles ever to hit the showdown stage, with 11 unique seafood showdowns in one night. Chefs will host ‘battle pavilions’ where guests will sample and vote for their favorites. Throughout the night, chefs from each battle will take the Demesmin & Dover Live main stage to put on a show in their action packed live demos as representatives from the culinary industry will serve as the final judges to award the best in each showdown. Previous years have seen chefs featured with Mariachi bands, LED Robots, Acrobats, Miami HEAT dancers, and more as they wow the crowd while preparing their dishes on stage. Each battle will have one lucky champ. This year’s participating restaurant chefs and competitions will include:
- Battle Shrimp: Returning Champion Latin House Grill’s Chef Sergio Mazuelos vs Golden Rule’s Chef Generric Kyles
- Battle Salmon: Ocean 234’s Chef Nicole Fey vs American Social’s Chef Ryan Leonard
- Battle Oyster: Two-Time Champion (2021 and 2022), UCHI Miami’s Chef Cristian Canencio vs Joliet’s Danielle Veit
- Battle Fusion-Sushi: Two-Time Champion (2021 and 2022) Tanuki’s Chef Gustavo Montes vs SIMS Sushi & Tapas Bar’s Chef Carlos Flores Torre
- Battle Ceviche: Aida Mexican Seafood’s Chef Mauricio Hernandez vs Cilantro 27’s Chef Nilton Castillo
- Battle Tuna: Seawell Fish n’ Oyster’s Chef Raymond Fiorello vs Billy G Catering’s Chef Andres Garcia
- Battle Sushi: Paperfish Sushi’s Michael Asalie vs Sushi | Bar Miami Beach’s Chef Francis Arguilla
- Battle Surf n’ Turf presented by Halpern’s Steak and Seafood: Two-Time Champion (2021 and 2022) Rusty Pelican’s Chef Fiorela Cornejo vs Rum Room’s Chef Samantha Cruz
- Battle Taco: Tacos & Tattoos’ Chef Randy Piedra vs La Santa Taqueria’s Chef Omar Montero vs Call Me Cuban’s Chef Michael Calvo (3-way battle)
- Battle Caviar presented by Sterling Caviar: Perl by Chef Ip’s Chef Isaac Perlman vs NOMA Beach at Redfish’s Chef Donatella Arpaia
- Battle Crab: 3-Time Champion, Beaker & Gray’s Brian Nasajon vs Fox’s Lounge Chef Roxana Garcia
Cocktail lovers will have their fair share of fun as four talented bartenders battle it out as part of Friday night’s festivities during the “Tequila Herradura Extraordinary Bartender Showdown” happening within the Tequila Herradura experience. The finalists will be selected and announced in early October.
Tickets: $160 per person*
Where: Lummus Park; 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
DAY 4: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 – SOUTH BEACH SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
The main event spans four blocks on the sands of South Beach and will feature a selection of curated pop-up cafés created by some of Miami’s favorite seafood restaurants. In addition to an assortment of restaurant pop-ups and complimentary all-day open bars for all ticketed guests at the general admission and VIP admission level, the beachfront festival will also include 5 blocks of live music stages, interactive sponsor experiences, beach games, Milam’s Marketplace with the always popular Culinary Showcase Kitchen, featuring local chefs and mixologists to include chefs from Branja, Pez Loco, Mixologists from Pacifico, Wine education featuring Vine and Branches, and more. Pop-up café attendees will enjoy shareable portions of stone crabs, lobster waffle cones, steak and lobster skewers, ceviche, oysters, shrimp tacos, and shrimp cocktails among other enticing seafood favorites. VIP ticket holders will gain access to a one-and-a-half block private village with exclusive premium experiences, private samplings, and more set for the ultimate VIP guest. Restaurants participating in Saturday’s pop-up cafe experience — featuring over 70 menu items to choose from — include Aida Mexican Seafood, A Fish Called Avalon, Café Avanti, Café Bernie, Cilantro 27, CJ’s Crabs Shack, Ella’s Oyster Bar, Latin House, Lobster Shack, Pubbelly Sushi, RED Steakhouse South Beach, Sala O’ Cuban, Sim Sushi & Tapas, Social Club, Tacos and Tattoos, and The Wagyu Bar by Meat N’ Bone.
Tickets: $60* for General Admission; $160* for VIP Where: Lummus Park; 1400 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 host hotel is the newly revamped Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, located at 1717 Collins Avenue. Limited Weekend passes are available for $250 per person. Hotel Packages for two with weekend tickets and a festival room are available for $1,100.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the 11th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival 2023, please visit sobeseafoodfest.com. Follow along on Instagram at @sobeseafoodfest and Facebook @SOBESeafoodFest.
The festival benefits a great cause with CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a program that provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to Florida’s youth, and each year, a portion of the proceeds from the South Beach Seafood Festival 2023 benefits the nonprofit.
2 Responses
Excelente! Wish I could be there. There should be some kind of discount for Miami Beach residents and also how is that the Joe’s Stone Crab event is always sold out. I know why. But how do I get 2 Tix for next year’s? Is it invitation only? Do I have to be 120 years old? What’s the deal? Same for the Food & Wine Festival BTW. THANKS.
Hi! We actually do have a Miami Beach residents discount. It has been running since May 1st on all City of Miami Beach sites and on our social channels. The free tickets that the City of Miami Beach helps provide unfortunately sold out within a DAY but we did have a 50% off promo code and a 20% VIP promo code for residents. While it expired August 31st, we’re happy to extend it if you email us at info@sobeseafoodfest.com.
And for Joe’s, we do a VIP pre-sale since it’s such a high interest event and it usually sells out before pre-sale even begins in February to our sponsors that purchase them in their sponsorship packages. If you are interested in attending the event next year, please email us at info@sobeseafoodfest.com or call 305-255-3500 and one of us can assist.
Happy to help and hope you can make it to this year’s event!