By Jan Engoren and Yours Truly
Make the most of the last month of 2022 with special holiday events in Miami. Between art happenings, new shopping and sporting experiences, light extravaganzas at Pinecrest Gardens and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and a new WOW ADA-accessible playground , December promises to go out with a bang!
Superblue Miami
Start your December adventure with Superblue Miami immersive art experience. Wind your way through a mirrored labyrinth by English artist and stage designer, Es Devlin, discover a transcendent digital environment by the art collective, teamLab, and enter an enveloping light-based “Ganzfeld” work by California artist, James Turrell. “Ganzfeld” is a German word that describes the phenomenon of perceptual deprivation.
In addition, the latest, stunning new installation, titled, Pulse Topology, by Canadian-Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, runs until August 2023. An immersive, biometric artwork consisting of 3,000 suspended light bulbs, each glimmers to the heartbeat of the different participants.
Lozano-Hemmer creates a choir of heartbeats by detecting the pulse of each visitor and converting it to sound and light with newer pulse recordings replacing the older ones.
Groups of 15+ enjoy special ticket prices. Book a group now through April 2023 and save up to 25% on tickets and get exclusive access to their add-on guided tours.
For $12, you can “add-on” teamLab’s Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life. Become part of the art in teamLab’s Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life. The debut of this new sculpture work at Superblue Miami invites you to interact with clouds made of soap bubbles in an ever-changing installation.
Superblue Miami is located directly across from the Rubell Museum in Allapattah. Limited on-street parking available and valet parking provided for a fee Tuesday – Sunday.
Superblue Miami is located at 1101 NW 23 Street, Miami, Florida 33127.
Tel: (786) 697-3414.
Brickell City Centre
With Christmas and Chanukah shopping over, now it’s time to shop for YOU:
There’s SNOW place like Brickell City Centre for the last few weeks in December.
The Centre is home to Santa’s Ski Lift at the BCC Ski Chalet, on the Garden Deck, Level 2 through the month of December. Complimentary visits and photos with Santa are also be available on December 22, 23 and 24th. After doing your holiday shopping at any of BCC’s 100+ of stores, get wrapped up at the Ski Chalet while Santa’s helpers wrap your presents every Wednesday and Saturday in December from 1-6 p.m., available through December 21. BCC’s complimentary Gather programming for little ones will return with holiday activities, like decorating ornaments, musical storytelling classes, and book readings by local moms. Add a Centre Passto your holiday wish list and unwrap exclusive offers from select shops and restaurants at Brickell City Centre – pick up yours at the Concierge desk on Level 2.
.Also making its South Florida debut is entertainment giant Puttshack, the first upscale tech-infused mini-golf experience, featuring three nine-hole competitive mini-golf courses, a globally inspired dining menu and unique cocktails.
And, what would the shopping experience be without dining the dining experience?
Not to fear, Café Americano, a new all-day diner will open, offering American food and drinks with a Latin flair, made fresh for breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night. Offering an abundant morning breakfast, an extensive all day brunch menu, great variety for lunch and dinner plus an elaborate cocktail program and a late-night menu to satisfy any craving. Cocktails include tropical concoctions, martinis, American classics and a selection of wine and beer.
Brickell City Centre is located at 701 South Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33130. For more information, visit www.brickellcitycentre.com. Tel: (305) 350-9922.
Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami
Check out “Complete and Perfect Truths: 200 years of British Watercolors from the Collection of BNY Mellon, running through February 5.
Bringing together nearly 70 exquisite works executed by British master artists working between the 1770s and the 1930s, this show highlights the course of English art between the late 18th and early 20th centuries, and reflects broader societal, political, and economic changes in the UK, Europe, and America.
Also on display are “Charles White: A Little Higher,” from the Primas Family Collection and “A Fine Line: Highlights from the Berkowitz Contemporary Foundation,” both through February 26, 2023.
The Lowe Art Museum is located at 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, Coral Gables, Florida 33124.
Tel: (305) 284-3535.
More Holiday Events in Miami
A Very Merry Garden – Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Holiday Event
From artist Germane Barnes and English Old Masters to A Very Merry Garden. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is celebrating all month long with the debut of its holiday event ideal for families, couples and furry four-legged friends. Running through Jan. 1, 2023, the 83-acre tropical oasis will transform into a special winter wonderland with reindeer scavenger hunts, letters to Santa, hot cocoa, story time tales with Mrs. Claus and a sing-along tram express with Santa.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33156. Tel: (305) 667-1651. Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Check the website for admission fees. Visit https://fairchildgarden.org.
Nights of Lights at Pinecrest Gardens
Pinecrest Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland where thousands of lights dot the botanical gardens. Some nights feature musical performances in the iconic Banyan Bowl, such as Homestead Mariachi Conservatory on Dec. 22 (included in ticket price).
Adults can enjoy a Pinecrest Gardens signature cocktail while the little ones participate in story time or visit with Santa on select nights. Also visit the Holiday Bazaar produced by Herpreneur by Liz.
Now ADA-accessible, South Florida Pinecrest Gardens will showcase its inclusive playground complete with oversized animal-shaped play structures, an Inspiration Center for education and events, (with photographer Annette Bonnier’s inaugural exhibit entitled, “Reflections from the Shadows,”) a Sensory Learning Garden which acts as an oasis where visitors can connect with nature through their five senses and an interactive Mini Zoo that even includes a goat mountain.
Children of all ages can learn, laugh and play together regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities or need for wheelchairs and other assistive mobility devices.
Nights of Lights | Through Sunday, Jan. 1 (closed Dec. 31), 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Pinecrest Gardens is located at 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, Florida 33156. Tel: (305) 669-6990.
Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $5 per person, $3 for seniors 65+, and free for children under two and active military.
More information and tickets at pinecrestgardens.org.
For more holiday events in Miami and new art events at leading botanical gardens, click here.
FitCrest 5K
After all of the holiday events in Miami and dinners, all the indulgences of the holidays, come January it’s time to make those New Year’s resolutions and lose those extra pounds.
The whole family is invited to make a fresh start and run in the FitCrest 5K starting at Evelyn Greer Park on Sat. Jan 7. All race bibs will have a timing chip. The course runs through Pinecrest’s beautiful canopied streets which will be temporarily closed and will have police presence. After the race, stay for field day activities, fitness-related games, obstacle courses, bounce houses, music and sponsor giveaways. The family-friendly event, sponsored by Baptist Health, is part of a larger community health initiative.
FitCrest 5K | Sat., Jan. 7, starting at 8 a.m. with check-in at 6:30 a.m. and pre-race warm-up at 7:45 a.m.
Evelyn Greer Park is located at 8200 Southwest 124th Street, Pinecrest, Florida 33156.
Tickets: Early bird tickets ($30) for all ages are on sale through Dec. 11. After Dec. 12, tickets are $35.
Get tickets and learn more here.
And in case you missed my earlier post on things to do this month, click here.
