Miami Gets a New Museum

The Culture Edit, November 11th-24th

Author

Susan Bannon
November 10, 2024

Some of the most breathtaking art I’ve seen during Art Week over the past couple of years has been the gleaming, lifesize fembots of Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama. So imagine my enthusiasm when I met the director of a brand new museum in Allapattah, planning to open with a huge new Sorayama exhibit. Well, after a year of very Miami permitting and inspection delays, that museum is finally here, presenting Hajime Sorayama: Desire Machines. And it’s, ahem, The Museum of Sex. Turns out his famous “sexy robots” only scratch the surface of Hajime’s imagination, and the full range of his erotic work, including drawings and paintings, are on display at the “MoSex.” While there, you might as well check out Superfunland, their permanent “erotic carnival” installation, or the underwater burlesque shows that used to be such a hit at the Wreck Bar in Ft. Lauderdale.

Moving on! This weekend is packed with big events to choose from: the opening night gala performance of Florida Grand Opera’s The Magic Flute, a showcase of fresh contemporary ballet by Dimensions Dance Theatre, and a Nu Deco Ensemble remix of Chaka Khan hits with Grammy-winner Ledisi at the Bandshell. And that’s just Saturday night!

Earlier in the week, we have a visit by Call Me By Your Name author André Aciman and the opening night celebration for a major new exhibit at PAMM. The weekend wraps up with Miami Book Fair’s free opening day block party on Sunday.

Some good news for this newsletter on the restaurant front - two new places have opened near the Arsht Center! Sixty Vines, a “vineyard-inspired” restaurant concept with cask wine on tap, opened in the still-in-development Miami Worldcenter. Sure, it’s a chain, but the food reviews are good so far and it has a lovely space. Momento by Ikaro, a Spanish-Ecuadorian spot, opened on the right side of the bridge construction (hallelujah!), making it one of the few comfortably walkable options. The downside for Momento is it appears to be all outdoor seating, known as “al fresco dining” in places where the air is a little more “fresco.” So take advantage of these cooler months to check it out.

Let’s get planning...

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Ongoing Theater

King James at Gablestage

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.

Performances through November 24th, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Wednesday, November 13th

Opening Night: Tick, Tick… Boom!

Actor’s Playhouse opens its 37th season with Tick, Tick… Boom!, the “other” musical by Jonathan Larson (who also wrote Rent and tragically died of a heart defect the day it opened). Packed with great songs like Therapy, this autobiographical work follows Jon, a young composer trying to balance the need to create with life’s complications and heartbreak. Performances run through December 8th.

8pm, Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $40

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Thursday, November 14th

An Evening with Author André Aciman

Books & Books presents an evening with Call Me By Your Name author André Aciman, to discuss his latest book, Roman Year: A Memoir. This new work is a follow-up to his acclaimed memoir, Out of Africa, about his colorful Sephardic Jewish family and their eventual expulsion from Egypt as “foreigners.” Aciman will be in conversation with James Woolley, the new Executive Director of the Miami Film Festival.

7pm, Books & Books Coral Gables, $30 for two guests (includes one copy of Roman Year)

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on November 14th: 

  • PAMM celebrates the opening of José Parlá: Homecoming with an artist talk with Parlá and architect Craig Dykers, followed by a Rumba performance and DJ set on the terrace.

  • Legendary designer Bob Mackie visits O Cinema South Beach for a cocktail reception and special screening of the new documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion.

Friday, November 15th

Anora

Here’s your chance to see the movie everyone’s talking about! Coral Gables Art Cinema presents Anora, a “Pretty Woman”-esque tale of a sex worker and the rich guy that falls for her, which won the Palm D’Or and a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival this summer. Part screwball comedy and part gut-wrenching social commentary, Anora has been called the best American movie of the year by just about every publication that’s reviewed it, and features a breakout performance by Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as the title character. CGAC will have six days of screenings if you can’t make this one, including one November 21st on 35mm film.

8pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $11-$13

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on November 15th:

  • Books & Books welcomes former U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan and former U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to discuss Sullivan’s new book, Midnight in Moscow.

  • The New World Symphony Fellows play the score of one of the most popular video games in the world, The Legend of Zelda, using the impressive video and lighting tech at New World Center to immerse you in Zelda’s world.

  • Jimena Fama, aka “Electro Dub Tango”, takes over the Thompson Plaza at the Arsht Center for an evening of her New Generation Tango.

Saturday, November 16th

Dimensions Dance Theatre Fall Performance

Founded by former MCB principals Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra in 2016, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami has been shaking up classical dance in South Florida ever since with their contemporary ballet repertoire. My only complaint about this exciting young troupe is that we have so few opportunities to see them. So you don’t want to miss their fall performance if you can help it.

8pm, The Moss Center, $25-$45

Neighborhood: Cutler Bay

Nearby Eats: Not much! Grab dinner at Platea or Golden Rule Seafood on your way down there and have some rooftop cocktails at Ivy Rooftop or martinis at Fox’s on your way back.

Also on November 16th:

  • The Florida Grand Opera opens their 2024-25 season with a gala opening night performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Break out that ballgown!

  • The South Florida Symphony Orchestra celebrates 100 years of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with a special performance at New World Center.

  • A Charlie Brown Christmas Concert, with jazz pianist Dr. Zachary Bartholomew and his trio, brings Vince Guaraldi’s iconic holiday music to life at the Moss Center.

  • Nu Deco Ensemble welcomes Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ledisi for an outdoor concert of reimagined hits from Chaka Khan and Michael Jackson at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Sunday, November 17th

The Magic Flute

Florida Grand Opera opens its season with Mozart’s The Magic Flute, an imaginative opera classic that features one of the most famous, and demanding, arias of all time - “The Queen of the Night.” Director Jeffrey Marc Buchman used inspiration from the world of gaming to bring the fantasy elements to life in this new staging.

2pm, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $30-$250

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on November 17th:

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.

November 17th - 24th

Miami Book Fair

We’ve been waiting, and here it is! The Miami Book Fair kicks off Sunday, November 17th with a free block party and continues through the 24th, presenting hundreds (that’s right, hundreds) of acclaimed authors in three languages, talking politics, pop culture, prose, poetry - and of course, selling autographed books. The fan favorite street fair runs from Friday, November 22nd thru Sunday, November 23rd from 10am-7pm, featuring book stalls, food trucks, performances, and outposts of local favorites like Sweat Records and Dale Zine. With the addition of The Lost Chapter, a pop-up cocktail lounge with local DJ’s, it’s a proper party.

Street Fair 10am-7pm Friday thru Sunday, Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus and environs, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown

Thursday, November 21st

Jean Caze on The Plaza

To kick off their “Vibes Live” Festival, the Arsht Center welcomes Haitian jazz trumpeter and composer Jean Caze (pronounced the Creole/French way, like “zhan koz”) for an open air concert on the plaza. A magnetic performer, Caze has shared the stage with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, and Arturo Sandoval. Caze and his six-piece band will put on a night of jazz improvisation, spiced up with Haitian rhythms and audience interaction. Come early to catch the happy hour drink specials from 6-7pm.

7:30pm, Thompson Plaza at the Arsht Center, $20-$30

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on November 21st: the Bass Museum welcomes opera singer Maria Elena Vallejo and artist Pablo Cano for a free performance with Cano’s handmade marionettes.

Friday, November 22nd

Huang Yi and KUKA

Live Arts Miami proudly presents Huang Yi & KUKA, a groundbreaking work by acclaimed Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, and mechanical engineer Huang Yi. Huang conceived, built, and programmed KUKA, a robot that executes his choreography in duet with him. A sensation at TED, Huang’s work has expanded to include more dancers and a broader exploration of the future of human-machine artistry. *You can also hear Huang speak on upcoming innovations in art and tech at the Miami Book Fair earlier on Saturday.

8pm, MDC Koubek Center Theater, $35

Neighborhood: Little Havana

Nearby Eats: Bargean (new!), Lung Yai Thai Tapas (if you’re willing to wait), Ahi Sushi Bar, El Rincón Asturiano | Drinks: Cafe La Trova, Ball & Chain, Bar Nancy

Also on November 22nd: 

  • The “Vibes Live” Festival continues on the plaza at the Arsht Center, with South Florida bluegrass trio Low Ground.

  • Miami Book Fair takes over the streets of downtown with music, food, authors, merch, and lots of books!

Saturday, November 23rd

LnS Gallery celebrates the opening of a solo show of new work by Colombian artist Jerónimo Villa, pictured above working on a new piece for the show in his Bogotá studio. In Villa’s work, raw materials like sandpaper, wood, and carborundum are transformed into powerful geometric artworks. His latest work, Los Héroes Caídos Op.3, explores the concept of Moksha - a journey of liberation and new purpose.

Opening Reception time TBD, LnS Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove (sort of)

Nearby Eats: Eva, Krüs Kitchen, Bellini, Bartaco (save a spot in line and have a drink upstairs while you wait) | Drinks: Mayfair rooftop, Level 6, Bodega (speakeasy, door at the back behind the counter)

Also on November 23rd: 

  • A second chance to see Huang Yi & KUKA at MDC’s Koubek Center.

  • Bach specialist Shunske Sato leads the New World Symphony in a concert of work by J.S. Bach, his son J.C. Bach, and J.C.’s remarkable student, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

  • The Diaspora Vibe Afrobeat Allstars bring the sound of 1970’s Nigerian big bands to the Arsht Center for the final night of its Vibes Live Festival on the plaza.

  • Catch a rare performance by the Rock Bottom Remainders, a very literary band whose musicians include the likes of Stephen King and Dave Barry, on day two of the Miami Book Fair’s Street Fair.

Sunday, November 24th

Mozart + Bach

New World Symphony welcomes Bach specialist Shunske Sato, making his NWS debut, for a special concert showcasing the evolution of genius through generations. Sato will lead the NWS Fellows through a Baroque program that explores how the brilliance of J.S. Bach inspired his son and fellow composer J.C. Bach, who later inspired a budding student - the young prodigy Mozart.

2pm, New World Center, $40-$165

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Paya | Drinks: Water Lion at the Sagamore, Brother’s Keeper

Also on November 24th:

  • Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion presents Back to Beethoven, with a two-piano arrangement of Beethoven’s Fifth performed by Ukrainian classical stars Olha Chipak and Oleksiy Kushnir.

  • The final day of the Miami Book Fair’s Street Fair (be out by 5pm to avoid Heat Game traffic)!

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…

December 5th - February 16th

Lincoln Road Hustle

In the depths of the pandemic, Miami New Drama triumphed with The Seven Deadly Sins, an innovative roving theater piece set in shuttered Lincoln Road storefronts. Last year, they brilliantly staged a series of short plays in The Rubell Museum for The Museum Plays. Now, MiND is bringing a similar concept to Lincoln Road Hustle, a new play co-written by Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys). Staged in secret locations - shops, restaurants, public spaces - along Lincoln Road, the audience will be “eavesdropping” on the actors. The plot features a massive casino and real estate deal that could change Miami Beach forever, and all the hustlers in its orbit. How Miami is that?

Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, times & ticket prices TBA

December 13th - 24th

Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The quintessential Christmas spectacular, Miami City Ballet’s The Nutcracker has it all: gorgeous sets, sumptuous costumes, Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, and some thrilling dancing by Miami City Ballet’s precise, energetic dancers. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun, as evidenced by this very “hype” Mouse King vs. Nutcracker promo MCB dancers made with Florida Memorial University’s marching band. If you need to put yourself in the holiday mood, look no further.

Various times, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $40-$250

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

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