An Icon Comes Home

The Culture Edit, September 23rd - October 6th

Author

Susan Bannon
September 22, 2024

Rachel Feinstein, photographed by Galerie Magazine for her upcoming show at the Bass Museum.

This Thursday, the Bass Museum opens its first major exhibit of the year - a three decade retrospective of the work of artist and fashion icon Rachel Feinstein. Her fantasy-themed sculptures often have a heavy dose of complicated eroticism, and this is her first big show in Miami, which happens to be her hometown. You can read about how Miami shaped her work in this fascinating profile of the artist by Galerie magazine.

This week is actually the last bit of relative quiet before Miami’s cultural season is in full swing. As much as I’m looking forward to all the blockbuster events we have coming up, I’ll miss one thing about these slower weeks - not having to make hard choices!

For brevity’s sake, I only feature one event per day, and list no more than four “also on” events. That means some events from smaller, emerging companies might not make the cut, which pains me because those up-and-coming artists only have a chance to become cherished institutions if they can get patrons in the seats.

So I will do my best to mix it up in the hectic months to come - including some quirky, risky performances from newcomers alongside marquee events from our city stalwarts. And if I happen to exclude one of your favorite events, I apologize in advance! 

On the restaurant front, I was thrilled to hear that local culinary hero Chef Niven Patel (Ghee, Erba) is opening a new spot in the old Joliet location on Lincoln Road. As you may remember, I’m forever hunting for decent places to recommend near the Colony Theater and New World Center, so the closing of Joliet was a tragedy. Fingers crossed this new space, Paya, which opens Thursday night, will be all that and more.

Let’s get planning...

If you’re enjoying this newsletter, please share it! If it was forwarded to you, you can subscribe by email or by text - or both!

Thursday, September 26th

Rachel Feinstein: The Miami Years

“Mirrored Ball”, 1998, Rachel Feinstein

Following last year’s “Miami Years” exhibit of Nam June Paik, The Bass Museum opens a career-spanning retrospective of New York-based artist Rachel Feinstein, the first in Miami, her hometown. (Well, technically, she grew up in Coral Gables.) Feinstein’s multidisciplinary approach to sculpture includes painting, video, and performance, and is known for its Baroque influences and fairy tale themes. This exhibit will include a massive Bass-commissioned installation of painted mirrored panels, featuring a collage landscape of 1980’s Miami.

Opening Reception 7-9pm (6-9pm for Members), The Bass Museum, Free

Neighborhood: Miami Beach

Also on September 26th:

  • A launch party at Books & Books for Sally Rooney’s new novel, Intermezzo.

  • A screening of the final cut of Apocalypse Now at Coral Gables Art Cinema.

Friday, September 27th

Carmen: Genesis of Fire

The Faena Theater premieres Carmen: Genesis of Fire, an original cabaret production based on the (unfortunately) timeless tale of love, jealousy, and murder. Spanish singer-songwriter Mimi Barber leads the evening as Master of Ceremonies, with performances that blend flamenco, cabaret, cirque nouveau, illusion, and percussive live music. Seating at the Faena is two-by-two, and tables can be upgraded with fancy bottle service, so this is definitely a date-night booking.

8pm, Faena Theater, $100-$300

Neighborhood: Miami Beach

Nearby Eats & Drinks: Make it an all-Faena night, with dinner at Pao or Los Fuegos and drinks at Living Room or The Saxony Bar (or head to Broken Shaker for a change of scenery).

Saturday, September 28th

New World Pre-Season Symphony Debut

In their debut outing as a full orchestra, the 2024-2025 New World Fellows bring us a final “pay what you wish” concert before the official season begins, featuring rising star Stella Chen as a guest soloist on Barber’s Violin Concerto. Also on the program are Beethoven’s Leonore Overture and Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Fourth Symphony.

7:30pm, New World Center, “Pay What You Wish”

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Also on September 28th:

  • City Theatre Miami presents HOMEGROWN, readings of new work by four local up-and-coming playwrights at the Sandrell Rivers Theater.

  • Tango Lovers’ VOLVER 2 brings award-winning tango singer Guillermo Fernandez and electrifying tango dancers to the Moss Center.

  • The Alhambra Orchestra celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with the first of two concerts at Sanctuary of the Arts.

  • Pan American Art Projects celebrates the opening of The Future of America at their Little River gallery from 6-9pm.

Sunday, September 29th

Alhambra Orchestra with Koh Kazama

Stellar classical guitarist Koh Kazama joins the Alhambra Orchestra for a celebration of Hispanic Heritage, featuring the music of Hispanic composers. Also on the program, guest flutist Carol Naveira-Nicholson performs a work by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo, while violinists Steffen Zeichner and Daniel Andai take on a duet by Pablo de Sarasate.

3pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $10

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

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.

Monday, September 30th

Sigur Rós with The Wordless Orchestra

I’ll admit, I’d never heard of Sigur Rós. But they definitely got my attention by practically selling out Knight Concert Hall for a Monday night. A little research turned up an Icelandic band with a catalog of trippy, contemplative music and a devoted following that describes them as “transformative” and “life-changing”, and their concerts as “maelstroms of ecstasy.” There are only choral riser seats left for this particular maelstrom of ecstasy, so if you want to experience it, you need to book it right now.

8pm, Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht Center, $63-$182

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Wednesday, October 2nd

Etienne Charles at the Faena

The Faena Theater welcomes internationally-acclaimed trumpeter and composer Etienne Charles for an intimate evening of jazz. Having performed with many of the greats, including Roberta Flack and Chucho Valdes, Charles is known for his innovative fusion of jazz, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and modern musical compositions.

8pm, Faena Theater, $55-$180

Neighborhood: Miami Beach

Nearby Eats & Drinks: Make it an all-Faena night, with dinner at Pao or Los Fuegos and drinks at Living Room or The Saxony Bar (or head to Broken Shaker for a change of scenery).

Thursday, October 3rd

Miami Dance Makers at PAMM

The Perez Art Museum Miami presents the culmination of Miami DanceMakers 2024, an annual program of new commissions inspired by art on view in the museum. Three early-career, local choreographers will perform their work in the galleries throughout PAMM. Bonus: you get to check out all of PAMM’s current exhibits and enjoy happy hour on the terrace beforehand. RSVP required.

7-8pm, Perez Art Museum Miami, Free with Museum Entry ($18)

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Verde, ViceVersa, NIU Kitchen | Drinks: Verde, The Corner

Friday, October 4th

WITCHES!

Actor, comedian, and TikTok sketch-comedy celebrity Tim Murray brings his original stand-up comedy hour about, well, WITCHES!, to the Arsht Center to get your Halloween celebrations started a little early. His show mixes stand-up, drag, and original comedy songs, partly about his favorite pop culture witches, and partly about his touching and hilarious efforts to pass as straight growing up and “avoid being burned at the stake.” Standout songs include “I Wanna Be Witches” and “I Hate Kids,” which might explain why this show is strictly 18+.

8pm, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center, $46

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Mignonette, Bunbury, ViceVersa | Drinks: Night Swim, The Corner

Also on October 4th: LnS Gallery celebrates the opening of Alexandre Arrechea: Uncharted Surfaces with a reception from 6-9pm.

Saturday, October 5th

New World Symphony Season Opener

Actress Daisy Ridley (Rey, from the latest Star Wars trilogy) joins New World Symphony and Artistic Director Stéphane Denève for their season opener, narrating Michael Tilson Thomas’s haunting From the Diary of Anne Frank. This concert is the first of a season-long series, entitled “Resonance of Remembrance,” honoring of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Holocaust. Also on the program, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, a coded work created under the watchful eye of Stalin.

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

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Also on October 5th:

  • Nu Deco Ensemble kicks off it’s 10th season at the Colony Theater with genre-bending Cuban composer and jazz piano virtuoso Alfredo Rodriguez.

  • The 14th annual Daniel Lewis Dance Sampler showcases nine works from six of South Florida’s most dynamic choreographers and dance companies on one stage for one night only.

  • Grammy-winning bolero singer Aymée Nuviola brings 1950’s Havana to life in Havana Nocturne at Sanctuary of the Arts.

Sunday, October 6th

Progressive Art Brunch

The Progressive Art Brunch is one of my favorite art events in town: part bar crawl, part art crash course, part scavenger hunt. You have five hours (11am-4pm) to see the current exhibits at fifteen local galleries sprinkled throughout Allapattah, Little River and Little Haiti. Typically, some type of sparkling wine is available at each stop, which can get a bit messy if you don’t take time to stop for lunch. Galleries usually aren’t open on the weekends, and the PAB isn’t a monthly event (it comes around when the galleries decide it’s time), so you don’t want to miss it.

11am-4pm, Various Galleries, Free

Neighborhoods: Allapattah, Little River, Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ (Allapattah), the Citadel (Little River), Walrus Rodeo (Little Haiti) | Drinks: Off Site, Magie

Also on October 6th:

  • Books & Books welcomes New York Times bestselling author Dan Jones to discuss his latest historical biography, Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King.

  • Dance NOW! Miami and New World School of the Arts celebrate Daniel Lewis’ 80th Birthday, with a dance recital and fundraiser featuring performances by Dance NOW! Miami and tributes by dance luminaries like Robert Battle (longtime artistic director of Alvin Ailey).

  • You have a second chance to see Nu Deco Ensemble’s season opener at the Colony Theater with genre-bending Cuban composer and jazz piano virtuoso Alfredo Rodriguez.

  • AND you have a second chance to see New World Symphony’s season opener with actress Daisy Ridley narrating Michael Tilson Thomas’ From The Diary of Anne Frank.

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 17th-20th

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Miami City Ballet opens its 2024-25 season with this blockbuster production of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A retelling of the classic Shakespeare rom-com, the action has been relocated from an enchanted forest to our South Florida waterways, featuring dazzling “underwater” sets and costumes by Miami-born artist Michele Oka Doner (you’ve walked over her graceful bronze inlays of sea life at MIA countless times) and dramatic direction by Miami-born playwright and screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Choir Boy). Six vocalists will join the top-notch MCB orchestra to perform Mendelssohn’s glorious music.

7:30pm Fri. & Sat., 2pm Sat. & Sun., Ziff Ballet Opera House, $35

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

November 1st - 24th

King James

Gablestage’s season opener is a basketball story, or at least a story about how basketball can help two Lebron superfans from Cleveland navigate their tumultuous relationship. A clever, fast-paced comedy by Pulitzer finalist Rajiv Joseph, King James is told over twelve years, from James’ rookie season for the Cavaliers through the championship.

Gablestage at the Biltmore, times & ticket prices TBA

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thanks for reading! If you know a friend that would like this newsletter, please forward it.

If someone forwarded it to you, you can subscribe here.

Any feedback? Or tips on events or restaurants? I'd love to hear from you! Hit reply and it will come directly to me.

Reply

or to participate.