Buckle up, Culture Lushes, because Miami’s calendar is absolutely packed this week!

Let’s start with Florida Grand Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor, opening this Saturday and featuring the shortest honeymoon in opera (she murders him). Director Neil Robinson, whose credits include The Met and Broadway, wrote a beautiful meditation on the title character’s epic unraveling that you can check out here (scroll to the bottom).

If you need something special to accessorize your ballgown for the gala opening night, the Coconut Grove Jewelry & Watch Show has you covered. It opens Friday, showcasing vintage, antique, and conversation-starting estate pieces for three days at the Hangar at Regatta Harbor.

Continuing our “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” theme, we also have the 20th Miami Beach Polo World Cup on the sands off Collins Park and the very first E1 All-Electric Raceboat Championship on Biscayne Bay, with teams owned by celebrities like Marc Anthony and Tom Brady. Good thing you got that watch at the CG Jewelry & Watch Show, dahling!

Now, let’s talk about a once in a lifetime chance to see Motown legends The Temptations, coming to ZeyZey for their official Farewell Tour on February 19th. Needless to say, tickets are flying out the door - this show was just announced and they already sold out the first ticket release. So if you want to see them, buy your tickets now!

Last thing: I caught the opening of Zoetic Stage’s God of Carnage on Thursday and laughed so hard I cried. You’ve only got two more weeks to see this show!

Let’s get planning…

Jump to: Music, Theater, Cinema, Opera, Art Events, Dance, Literary Events, or Planning Ahead

Florida Grand Opera opens its season with Donizetti’s bel canto masterpiece of love and insanity, Lucia di Larramoor, featuring one of opera’s most legendary, blood soaked “mad scenes” (see above). So what happened? Well, poor Lucia loves Edgardo, her family’s sworn enemy, but after her brother tricks her into a politically suitable marriage, she discovers Edgardo does still love her and bloodily murders the new guy. It’s all very romantic, apparently. Get tickets.

November 14th-17th, Various times, Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht, $32-$386

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Casadonna, Klaw, Yamashiro | Drinks: Rooftop by Klaw, Vice Versa

To open the Arsht Center’s Theater Up Close series, Zoetic Stage presents Yasmina Reza’s Tony and Olivier Award-winning dark comedy, God of Carnage, described as “a comedy of manners…without the manners.” The play presents two sets of parents who gather to discuss their respective sons’ playground fight “as sensible adults.” Chaos ensues. Get tickets.

Through November 22nd, 7:30 evenings, 2:30 matinees, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht, $67-$73

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Cafe Fenicia, Miami Slice, Yamashiro | Drinks: Casadonna, 400 Vinyl Room

Miami New Drama has had a run of success incubating new plays that move on to Broadway or Off-Broadway, including 2021’s A Wonderful World, and last year’s Birthright and Here There Are Blueberries. So when you see a new work at MiND, you might be getting an early look at the country’s next hit show. This season, Artistic Director Michel Hausmann and team have a lot of irons in the fire, with four world premieres coming up. The first is Gandhi and the Jew, a new play by Harley Elias on the seminal friendship between Gandhi and Lithuanian-born South African Jewish architect Hermann Kallenbach. Get tickets.

Through November 29th, Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre, $45-$95

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: CHO Asian Bistro, Tropezón, Lucali | Drinks: Brother’s Keeper, Abbey Brewing Co.

If you were lucky enough to experience some of Juggerknot Theatre’s past performances, like Miami Motel Stories or Amparo, then you know they’re masters of very Miami-specific, immersive, participatory theater. Their highly anticipated new show, La Casita, is set in a Little Havana art space and explores themes of family, displacement, and the meaning of home. And with a short, four-week run, it should be on your priority list. Note: you will be walking or standing (or dancing) for the entire 75-minute performance, but it will be worth it! Get tickets.

November 19th-December 20th, Various times, El Fresco Art Space, $75

Neighborhood: Little Havana

Nearby Eats: Tín Tín, Lung Yai Thai Tapas (get a beer from the cooler while you wait), Ahi Sushi Bar | Drinks: Cafe La Trova, Ball & Chain

Just in time for Art Week, Gablestage presents the regional premiere of Jessica Provenz’s True Art, a witty corporate thriller set in the high-stakes art world. The plot follows a wide-eyed Art History major, interning at a major museum for “dragon lady” Jody Dean, the only woman being considered to lead it. When the provenance of a long lost Michelangelo Jody discovered comes into question, our intern is drawn into a fast-moving game of ambition and treachery. Get tickets.

November 20th-December 20th, Various Times, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Eating House, Zucca, Buccan | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Armstrong Jazz House

Each year, the Miami short Film Festival brings us short films from around the world, showcasing some of the best independent, up-and-coming filmmakers. A red carpet reception at O Cinema South Beach kicks off the fest, with a selection of four films that fall under the theme “Echoes We Carry,” exploring how memory shapes our lives. The festival continues through the weekend, with nine different compilations of selected shorts around town. Check out the full calendar of screenings here.

Friday, November 13th, Cocktails at 7pm, Screening at 8pm, O Cinema South Beach, $35, or $100 for 3-Day Festival Pass

Neighborhood: South Beach

Nearby Eats: Macchialina, Tropezón, The Drexel | Drinks: Swizzle Rum Bar, Mac’s Club Deuce

More Upcoming Cinema:

Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami’s genre-bending contemporary orchestra, is known for its fresh interpretations of popular music and A-list collaborators. This year, they’re welcoming groundbreaking hip hop icon, author, actor, and activist Common for a one-night only show at the Arsht Center. Both Common and Nu Deco radiate positive energy, so I think we can look forward to some inspiration along with full orchestrations of Grammy-winner “Love of My Life” and Oscar-winner “Glory.” Get tickets.

Thursday, November 12th, 8pm, Knight Concert Hall at Arsht, $70-$298

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Cafe Fenicia, Bunbury, Giotto | Drinks: The Corner, Kaona Room

Under the baton of celebrated conductor Stephanie Childress, New World Symphony reunites with the Master Chorale of South Florida and a slate of renowned vocalists for Mozart’s haunting Requiem, the final composition of his tragically short life (and the piece evil Salieri used to kill him in the totally true movie). Also on the program, Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, a soaring choral adaptation of Walt Whitman’s poem. Get tickets.

Saturday, November 14th, 8pm, New World Center, $40-$225

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Casa Tua, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Pauline | Drinks: Little Torch at The Shelborne, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Under the baton of Artistic Director Stéphane Denève, New World Symphony welcomes one of the most sought-after violinists on the international stage, multi-Grammy winner James Ehnes, to tackle Prokofiev’s notoriously challenging Violin Concertos. (Here’s a little clip of him practicing it. Wow.) *Saturday’s performance will be projected as a free WALLCAST concert in adjacent Soundscape park. Get tickets.

November 21st-22nd, 7:30pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday, New World Center, $25-$175

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

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

More Upcoming Music:

Each November, the Miami Book Fair takes over downtown for eight days to host hundreds of acclaimed authors in three languages, talking politics, pop culture, prose, poetry - and of course, selling autographed books. The street fair on the second weekend features book stalls, food trucks, performances, and outposts of local favorites like Sweat Records. Headliners for this year’s talks include literary icon Margaret Atwood, actor Tony Shalhoub, literary podcaster Zibby Owens, plus authors Colson Whitehead, Bonnie Garmus, and Hernan Diaz. Browse the whole lineup.

November 15th-22nd, Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus and environs, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown

Nearby Eats: Tâm Tâm, Mangrove, NIU Kitchen | Drinks: Lost Boy Dry Goods, Over Under

I don’t typically cover ongoing art exhibits in Culture Lush because openings, talks, and studio tours are just more fun. But I’m making an exception for PAMM’s Picasso–Klee–Matisse: Masterpieces from the Museum Berggruen, which opened last week. This blockbuster show of 20th century modernist masters, including Cézanne and Braque as well as the big three in the title, is a pretty unique opportunity to see these masterworks right here at home. The show will be up until February 28th, but make your plans to see it now so you don’t miss out. Get more info.

Through February 28th, PAMM, $18 or Free after 5pm Thursdays

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Verde at PAMM, Vice Versa, Yamashiro | Drinks: Verde, Vice Versa

Getting a jump on Art Week, Spinello Projects opens Becoming Landscape, its latest show of work by Miami-based Cuban artist Marlon Portales, with a “Locals Only” preview on November 19th. Portales’ surreal, large-scale oil paintings explore themes of masculinity, eroticism, and connection to the natural world in compositions that read like mythology. If his last show with Spinello is any guide, you don’t want to miss this one. Get more info.

Thursday, November 19th, “Locals Only” Preview 5-8pm, Spinello Projects, Free

Neighborhood: Allapattah

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ, Morgan's, Jon & Vinny's (at the Rubell) | Drinks: Las Rosas, Morgan's

The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA), in partnership with Fondation Cartier, celebrates the first U.S. solo museum exhibition for Sheroanawe Hakihiiwe, one of Venezuela’s most important contemporary artists, with a free reception in its lovely sculpture garden (one of my favorite places in town). On view will be over 100 of Hakihiiwe’s works, rooted in his Yanomami heritage and the forested world around him, from his celebrated drawings to new photography and animation. RSVP here.

Thursday, November 19th, Opening Reception 7-9pm, Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, Free with RSVP

Neighborhood: Design District

Nearby Eats: Mother Wolf, Michael’s Genuine, Cote Miami, Yasu Omakase | Drinks: The Roof at The Moore, Michael’s Genuine

More Art Events:

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. Get tickets.

Saturday, November 14th, 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.

Miami DanceMakers celebrates five years of incubating new commissions and supporting early-career, local choreographers with a special performance by five MDM alumni at PAMM. The performance will feature new and revised works inspired by the art on view in the museum and performed throughout the galleries. Bonus: you get to check out all of PAMM’s current exhibits (including Picasso–Klee–Matisse!) and enjoy happy hour on the terrace beforehand. RSVP required.

Thursday, November 19th, 7pm, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Free with RSVP

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Verde at PAMM, Vice Versa, Eleventh Street Pizza | Drinks: Verde, Vice Versa

More Upcoming Dance:

The Arsht Center welcomes four-time Emmy Award-winning writer, comedian, and actor John Mulaney, currently touring a grateful world with his Mister Whatever stand-up show. Reviews online indicate he’ll be touching on having evil children, being possessed by the devil, movies about being possessed by the devil, and RFK Jr., among other crucial topics. This show is almost sold out, so get those tickets now!

Sunday, December 13th, 7pm, Knight Concert Hall at Arsht, $76-$410

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Cafe Fenicia, Miami Slice, Yamashiro | Drinks: ViceVersa, 400 Vinyl

Thanks for reading, Culture Lushes! See you back here next week!

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