An Unwelcome Surprise

The Culture Edit, July 22nd - August 31st

Author

Susan Bannon
July 21, 2024

As I hope you all remember, Cultured Miami is on summer break, since it’s the off season for the arts and things are pretty slow. I had planned to spend the time off writing a stack of guides and long-form articles, but so far I’ve mostly been in a state of brain atrophy (aka vacation). It’s been awesome! I hope you’ve all been enjoying your summer brain vacation, as well.

Before I get to the events we do have coming up for late July and August, a bit of news:

Miami’s cultural organizations got a nasty surprise this summer when Governor Desantis took the unprecedented step of vetoing all (that’s right, all) arts spending for the year. Our legislature had allocated less than half of the funding recommended by the state Division of Arts & Culture, so it wasn’t a heavy burden or politically controversial in any way.

So why did he do it? Something about “sexual” content at the Orlando Fringe Festival (thanks, Orlando!). Whatever it was, it doesn’t appear likely to change, and the impact on our theaters, dance companies, orchestras, etc. has been anywhere from bad to catastrophic.

The upshot of all of this is that, since our tax dollars aren’t supporting these organizations, we need to step up our personal support of them. The best thing you can do is buy a season ticket subscription for your favorite organization, or make a donation, but you can also email the governor or your state reps.

Okay, enough about that! I know your inbox is already bursting with reassuring political news.

On the dining and drinking front, Miami has had a ton of new openings this summer, including some standouts near top cultural venues: ViceVersa near the Arsht Center, Francesco next to Actor’s Playhouse, and Brother’s Keeper near the Colony Theater. Then there’s Miami Spice starting August 1st, two months of discounted menus that’s our annual reward for enduring late summer in this town. You can find a list of participating restaurants here.

Now, on to the events. I’m including dates through the end of August here and I’ll be back by Labor Day with my weekly emails and a guide to the Fall Season (yes, I will write it!).

Let’s get planning...

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Now through August 4th

Hundred Days

Actor’s Playhouse presents Hundred Days, an exhilarating musical, based on a true story, about embracing uncertainty, taking a leap, and loving as if you only had 100 days to live. With magnetic chemistry and anthemic folk-punk music, creators Abigail and Shaun Bengson explore a fundamental question: how do we make the most of the time that we have?

Performances through August 4th, Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $65-$125

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, July 25th

SFSO Chamber Concert: The Passion of Youth

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra concludes its “Summer with the Symphony” chamber series with The Passion of Youth, a concert for string quartet of Ravel and Mendelssohn pieces, written when they were 18 and 28, respectively.

7:30pm, Temple Israel of Greater Miami, $35

Neighborhood: Between Arsht Center and Wynwood

Also Thursday, July 25th

Anne Applebaum with Alberto Ibarguën

Anne Applebaum, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose writing for The Atlantic keeps me in a mild state of panic, is coming to Miami to discuss her new book, Autocracy, Inc. Her five previous, award-winning books include the bestsellers Twilight of Democracy and Gulag. She will be in conversation with former Knight Foundation president and Miami Herald editor Alberto Ibarguën.

7:30pm, the Hub at Temple Beth Am, $35 for 2 tickets

Neighborhood: Pinecrest

Also Thursday, July 25th!

Classical Guitarist Bokyung Byun

For the past thirty years, the Community Arts Program at Coral Gables Congregational Church has hosted acclaimed musicians from all over the world for its Summer Concert Series. On July 25th, CAP welcomes Korean classical guitarist Bokyung Byun, the first woman to win the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition.

7:30pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $35-$50

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Saturday, July 27th

Florida Room No. 3: SNOWBIRDS

KDR Gallery celebrates the third iteration of its “Florida Room” group show, opening July 27th and running through August 17th. The show will present 20+ artists, organized by curator Jordan Smith around the theme of “Snowbirds” somehow. The opening reception runs late and there will be music and dancing, which sounds like a proper party. Nearby gallery Andrew Reed typically stays open late when there’s a neighborhood opening, so you can probably get a look at their Cornelius Tulloch exhibit, as well.

Opening reception 6:30-11pm, KDR Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Allapattah

Nearby Eats: Morgan’s (new location), Hometown BBQ, Pastis (Wynwood) | Drinks: Dante's Hifi, Higher Ground (both Wynwood)

Also Saturday, July 27th

A Tango Story

A Tango Story is a musical by Argentinian musician and composer Gabriel Mores exploring the history of tango up through the iconic compositions of his grandfather, Mariano Mores. Mores will be performing alongside dancers from Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami and the Sanctuary of the Arts Choreographic Ensemble.

8pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $35

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, August 8th

Clarinetist Doreen Ketchens

As part of its annual Summer Concert Series, the Community Arts Program at Coral Gables Congregational Church is thrilled to host the “Clarinet Queen of New Orleans” Doreen Ketchens for an evening of Dixieland Jazz. Dr. Ketchens has performed everywhere from the Kennedy Center to Jimmy Kimmel Live, and can be seen in the HBO show Treme.

7:30pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $35-$50

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Saturday, August 10th

The Inter-Temporal Symposium on Miami History

Say what? (Anytime I see something that elicits that reaction, I know I’m going to include it in the newsletter.) The Inter-Temporal Symposium on Miami History is an immersive pop-up art installation and lecture organized by Malcolm Lauredo - historian and self-appointed head of the “Greater Miami Bureau of Time Tourism”. The show will present pre-historic Miami, from the Pangea through the Ice Age, with installations by Kayla DeLacerda and Siera Grace (aka “Lush Suburb”), 16mm film screenings by Strange Pursuits, and music by The Imbecile. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to miss this.

7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

August 16th

Mountains - U.S. Theatrical Premiere

Coral Gables Art Cinema is proud to present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Mountains, a new feature film set in Miami that was selected and awarded at major film festivals this year including Tribeca, Toronto, and of course our own Miami Film Festival. The film follows a construction worker in Little Haiti whose demolition projects edge ever closer to his home as gentrification consumes his neighborhood. Miami native Monica Sorelle, who also worked on Moonlight, co-wrote and directed the film.

7pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, August 22nd

Jazz Vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan

For the final concert of its Summer Series, the Community Arts Program at Coral Gables Congregational Church welcomes acclaimed Armenian-American jazz vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan. With three albums under her belt and regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Yeghiazaryan has become a leading voice in jazz and fresh interpreter of the Great American Songbook.

7:30pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $35-$50

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Planning Ahead…

Sunday, December 22nd (yes, December!)

Andrea Bocelli Holiday Concert

Adrienne Arsht Center presents Andrea Bocelli in concert for the holidays at the Kaseya Center this December. One of the most beloved voices in the world, Bocelli will perform songs from his No. 1 album, A Family Christmas, and his solo album, Believe. Planning this far ahead is painful for any Miami resident, but just think how happy you’ll be come December when you actually have tickets for this show.

7:30pm, Kaseya Center, $86-$366

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Set your calendar alerts to reserve at Vice Versa, NIU Kitchen, Jaguar Sun | Drinks: The Roystone, Night Swim

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