Welcome to July, Culture Lushes! It’s typically our worst month, with empty streets the only consolation for being stuck here in the broiling heat.

But this July is getting a serious glow-up, courtesy of the World Cup and the legions of global fans that will be partying all over town. And while the Tartan Army has packed up their bagpipes and headed back home, our quietest summer month is still shaping up to be loud.

Cue the fireworks! To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the annual Fourth of July fireworks displays around town are taking it up a notch, especially at Bayfront Park, which will be hosting two watch parties in the FIFA Fan Zone, followed by a July 4th concert featuring Ashanti, Ja Rule, Shaggy, and Willy Chirino before the pyrotechnics begin.

Beyond that, July brings us some heavyweight author talks, a flamenco festival celebrating it’s 20th anniversary, and a free staged reading that digs into a forgotten chapter of Miami-Dade history. Oh, and don’t miss the blockbuster Basquiat exhibit that just opened at PAMM, with ten masterpieces on loan from Miami’s latest sugar daddy, Ken Griffin.

I’ll be back next month with a hitlist for August, and shortly after with a special “Highlights of the Fall” issue so you can get those must-see events on your calendar.

Until then, have a great summer!

Let’s get planning…

Jump to: Music, Theater, Dance, Indie Cinema, Art Events, Book Talks, or History & Such

Celebrating our country’s 250th birthday, The Biltmore’s annual Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza is bigger and better than ever this year. The Greater Miami Symphonic Band will be keeping everyone in proper patriotic spirit with a concert of rousing American classics, followed by one of Miami’s best fireworks displays, including a sky full of drones (the fun kind).

Saturday, July 4th, 7pm Concert, 9pm Fireworks, The Biltmore Hotel, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Zitz Sum, Rò Steakhouse, Zucca | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Armstrong Jazz House

Another Miami fireworks tradition, Coconut Grove’s annual Red, White & Grove festival, is celebrating our semiquincentennial with a a fresh lineup of musical talent before the fuses are lit. Grammy-winning Peruvian-American salsa star Tony Succar will headline the evening, along with “Cuban Cowboy” Orlando Mendez and host DJ Mdot. Taste of the Grove food vendors will be on hand to feed the masses.

Saturday, July 4th, 5-9pm, Peacock Park, Free

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove

Nearby Eats: Bayshore Club, Bellini, AVA | Drinks: Mayfair rooftop, Regatta Grove

Siempre Flamenco celebrates 20 years of its beloved Festival de Cante Flamenco Miami, a unique showcase of the art of flamenco singing, rarely heard outside Spain. Acclaimed contemporary flamenco chanteuse Mari Peña and newcomer Diego Amador, Jr. will be joined by some of Spain’s most celebrated flamenco guitarists and dancers, plus an authentic old-style “festero,” in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater.

July 11th-12th, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center, $64-$82

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: ViceVersa, Klaw, Bunbury | Drinks: Casadonna, Kaona Tiki Room

More Music:

Over the past five years, KDR Gallery’s Florida Room summer shows have become a much anticipated staple of the Miami art calendar, partly because they invariably bring together work from exciting emerging artists, and partly because director Katia Rosenthal knows how to throw a good party. Florida Room V: High Summer features functional sculpture, objects, lighting, textiles, and experimental design works from fifteen different artists and designers. The work will be up through August 8th, but don’t miss the opening if you can help it.

Saturday, July 11th, Opening Reception 5-8pm, KDR Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Allapattah

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ, Morgan's, Jon & Vinny's (at the Rubell), Asado & Wine Experience (3 hours of meat!) | Drinks: Las Rosas, Morgan's

Fredric Snitzer Gallery celebrates the opening of Heat Index, a blockbuster group show featuring the work of global art darling Hernan Bas, alongside a slate of some of Miami’s most renowned artists - Leo Castañeda, Edison Peñafiel, Marielle Plaisir, and Ema Ri.

Saturday, July 11th, Opening Reception 2-5pm, Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Bunbury, Aoko, Miami Slice | Drinks: Kaona Room, ViceVersa

Fountainhead Residency, which has hosted national and international artists for monthlong residencies here in Miami since 2008, welcomes the community to its Session 5 Open House. Bronx-based sculptor and painter Pachi Muruchu, Japanese-American painter Maya Fuji, and New York-based Peruvian-American paper mache artist Piero Penizzotto will give studio tours and discuss their practice.

Thursday, July 16th, 7-8:30pm, Fountainhead Residence, Free

Neighborhood: Morningside

Nearby Eats: Fiorito, Walrus Rodeo, Boia De | Drinks: Mi Chini at Phuc Yea, ZeyZey

More Art Events:

Books & Books welcomes bestselling author Maggie O’Farrell, whose heartbreaking Hamnet was adapted into a heartbreaking movie (that won Jesse Buckley an Oscar for a heartbreaking performance). O’Farrell will be discussing her latest novel, Land, a story of buried treasure, ghosts, and rebellion set in hunger-ravaged 19th century Ireland. Ireland’s Consul General, Sarah Kavanagh, will be moderating.

Wednesday, July 1st, 7pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $32 (incl. two tickets + one book copy)

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Luca Osteria, Zitz Sum, Rò Steakhouse | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Books & Books Café

In partnership with the O, Miami poetry festival, Books & Books presents bestselling author and poet Ocean Vuong, whose debut novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, won the American Book Award and established Vuong as a major literary voice. UM professor and award-winning author Kei Miller will be moderating, asking Vuong about his latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, about an unlikely bond between a rudderless teen and the elderly neighbor who saves his life.

Wednesday, July 15th, 7pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, $10-$25

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Salumeria 104, Sra. Martinez, Eating House | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Books & Books Café

More Book Talks:

Zoetic Stage presents a rarity for Miami, a free staged reading of a new play in development. Directed by Zoetic founder Stewart Meltzer and written by Michael McKeever (whose performances on local stages are always a highlight), A Day Without Sunshine chronicles a pioneering 1977 anti-discrimination ordinance and the public “Save Our Children” backlash led by singer Anita Bryant that overturned it.

Friday, July 10th, 7:30pm, Peacock Foundation Studio at Arsht, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: ViceVersa, Klaw, Bunbury | Drinks: Casadonna, Kaona Tiki Room

Coral Gables Art Cinema invites you to celebrate the Fourth with the classics: hotdogs, beer, and total carnage in the waters of the fictional Amity, NY. Instilling terror in children and adults alike since 1975, Jaws combines a simple man vs. beast story and Spielberg’s impeccable filmmaking, with top notch acting and the most iconic horror score of all time.

BBQ on the Plaza 11am, Screening 12pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $18

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Drinks (since you just had hotdogs and popcorn): Bay 13 Brewery, Cebada Rooftop, Maíz y Agave

More Indie Cinema:

Two of Miami’s more innovative companies, Dimensions Dance Theatre and Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion, are teaming up for a night of collaboration and new work. Summer Dances & 2 Pianos will present four Dimensions company premieres, including one by acclaimed choreographer Dayoung Jung, with accompaniment by international husband-and-wife piano duo Stephanie & Saar.

Saturday, July 11th, 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.

On June 15th, the National Archives’ “Freedom Plane” touched down in Miami to much fanfare, carrying a trove of original, founding-era documents that haven’t left Washington, D.C. in decades, including the Declaration of Independence and the signed Treaty of Paris. Through July 5th, you can view these living artifacts at the Museum of Miami. Visitors can also share their “Wishes for America” on the museum’s new digital mural.

Through July 5th, 11am-4:30pm, Museum of Miami (f.k.a. HistoryMiami), $15

Neighborhood: Downtown

Nearby Eats: Tâm Tâm, Mangrove, Fratesi’s Pizza | Drinks: OverUnder, Lost Boy Dry Goods

More History:

Thanks for reading, Culture Lushes! Enjoy your summer and I’ll see you back here in a month.

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