Welcome to summer! No, it’s not our best season. But June, at least, has it’s charms.

We’ve got the last remnants of the official cultural season (see Theater); a full plate of musical performances, from minimalist chamber concerts to the maximalist spectacle of Rosalía’s LUX tour; Fairchild’s wildly popular Mango Festival; and this year, four World Cup games with all the attendant madness.

As for those World Cup games, watch parties and community “fan experiences” will be all over town, starting with the free kick off event and opening night concert with Carlos Vives at South Beach’s Lummus Park on June 11th. The Miami Beach Bandshell will be getting into the game with massive watch parties on the big screen, plus concerts by bands from the countries matching up on the pitch (the Scottish “punk-funk” band looks interesting).

Not wanting to be left out, our art institutions are getting involved, from PAMM’s Get In The Game exhibit to a World Cup takeover of The Betsy’s Orb (yes, it will be a very instagrammable giant soccer ball). And the innovative Reefline restoration project (that has already installed an underwater “traffic jam” by Argentine surrealist Leandro Ehrlich) will be creating two giant soccer goals on the sand at 12th Street.

On the restaurant front, the new Michelin picks are in, and North Beach’s farm-to-table kosher spot Mutra earned it’s first Michelin star, while four new places earned a Bib Gourmand nod: Barra Callao, Double Luck, To Be Determined, and Cotoa. Get those tables before the tourists come back!

Last thing: Summertime means this newsletter shifts to a monthly schedule until the season starts up again in September. I’ll be back with July highlights in a month!

Let’s get planning…

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

As part of its 8th annual Jazz Series, Faena Theater presents an evening with Brazilian virtuoso mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, known for revolutionizing the choro style with infusions of jazz and samba. Seating at the Faena is mostly two-by-two, and tables can be upgraded with fancy bottle service, so this is definitely a date-night booking.

Wednesday, June 3rd, 8pm, Faena Theater, $70-$225

Neighborhood: Mid 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.

The Mainly Mozart Festival continues with two intimate performances by acclaimed classical guitar and cello duo Boyd Meets Girl. Celebrated for their innovative original arrangements of popular music (like this version of Radiohead’s Daydreaming) and natural chemistry, the pair has toured around the world.

Saturday, June 6th, 4pm, The Betsy Hotel, $13

Neighborhood: South Beach

Nearby Eats: Tropezón, The Drexel, Gigi Rigolatto (new!) | Drinks: Swizzle Rum Bar, The Piano Bar at The Betsy

Sunday, June 7th, 7pm, Sanctuary of the Arts, $38

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Buccan (new!), Luca Osteria, Zitz Sum | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Cebada Rooftop

New Coral Gables private salon/bar The Burrow welcomes Grammy-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen and his trio. Born in Israel, raised in Australia, and now based in Miami, Cohen’s style blends Middle Eastern and Jewish melodic influences with the harmonic depth and spontaneity of modern jazz. Since most Burrow nights are members only, this is a good chance to get a look inside.

Friday, June 12th, 8pm, The Burrow, $85 Early Bird / $95 Door (includes open bar)

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Cantina Leon (new!), Buccan (new!), Salumeria 104 | Drinks: If you haven’t had enough, head to John Martin’s or Bodega

The Rhythm Foundation, in partnership with Deuterman Productions, presents one night in Havana with Orquesta Akokán, a Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban big band that has been lighting up stages worldwide since they burst onto the scene in 2018 with a reenergized, 21st century take on Cuban mambo. This official video for their hit Con Licencia, gorgeously shot in Havana, gives you a taste.

Saturday, June 13th, 7pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, $47 (or $532 for a 6 person VIP cabana!)

Neighborhood: North Beach

Nearby Eats: Marc’s Artisanal Pizza, Double Luck, Taquiza | Drinks: Conventillo, Lido Champagne Bar

More Music:

Fountainhead Residency, which has hosted national and international artists for monthlong residencies here in Miami since 2008, welcomes the community to its Session 4 Open House. Nigerian-American painter Anthony Akinbola, installation artist Nao Bustamante, and Cuba-born sculptor and painter Napoles Marty will give studio tours and discuss their practice.

Thursday, June 4th, 7-8:30pm, Fountainhead Residence, Free

Neighborhood: Morningside

Nearby Eats: Fiorito, Walrus Rodeo, Boia De | Drinks: Mi Chini at Phuc Yea, ZeyZey (2000’s party that night, free with RSVP)

More Art Events:

NEW SEATS ADDED! The Miami Book Fair and Books & Books welcome Michelin-starred chef, bestselling author, and global humanitarian José Andrés to discuss the launch of his latest book, Spain My Way. A love letter to his homeland, the new book lays out the cornerstones of Spanish cuisine and favorite recipes from his home kitchen.

Thursday, June 4th, 8pm, MDC Chapman Conference Center, $52 (for 2 guests, incl. 1 book copy)

Neighborhood: Downtown

Nearby Eats: ViceVersa, Yamashiro, NIU Kitchen | Drinks: ViceVersa, NIU Wine, 400 Vinyl Room (new!)

In recent years, bodice-ripping romance has gone from niche to necessary, now accounting for over one-quarter of all book sales. Miami Book Fair, in partnership with Steamy Lit bookstore, celebrates the genre with a panel discussion featuring five leading authors in the wildly popular dystopian subgenre (sample plot: woman wakes after the fall of humanity to a world overrun by monsters and is taken captive by one… Hope he’s handsome!). Ticket prices include a box set of their latest titles.

Tuesday, June 16th, 7:30pm, MDC Wolfson Campus, $70

Neighborhood: Downtown

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

More Book Talks:

Actors’ Playhouse presents a new adaptation of noir classic Dial M for Murder, updated by playwright Jeffrey Hatcher to include a few new twists. The plot opens on an unhappy couple and goes on to deliver all the betrayal, greed, illicit romance, and yes, murder, a discerning noir enthusiast could ask for.

Through June 7th, 8pm evenings, 3pm matinees, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $50-$95

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Buccan (new!), Pastor at Pascal, Salumeria 104 | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Maíz y Agave

Gablestage closes out their 2025-26 season with a play I’ve been looking forward to all year. Eureka Day, the Tony Award-winning play by Jonathan Spector, is a hilarious send-up of superwoke parent culture that got rave reviews for its Broadway run last year. The action follows the hyper-polite and painfully correct school board of an elite Berkeley, CA private school, trying to keep the peace when a mumps outbreak triggers all-out parent war.

Through June 14th, 7pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

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

Arsht Center presents the touring production of The Book of Mormon, a show that breaks so many rules, it’s hard to believe it’s even legal, much less the 10th longest-running show on Broadway. If you’ve never seen it, be prepared to spit out your expensive show-drink while enjoying the Tony-winning score and modern musical bangers like I Believe.

June 9th-14th, Ziff Ballet Opera House at Arsht, $48-$188

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

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

O Cinema welcomes journalist Amy Goodman and Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin for a screening and discussion of Steal This Story, Please!, their critically acclaimed documentary following Goodman’s three decades of speaking truth to power. Moderators for the screenings include The Knight Foundation’s Amalie Nash and Hayley Margolis of Jewish Voice for Peace.

June 6th-7th, 3 Screenings, O Cinema South Beach, $14

Neighborhood: South Beach

Nearby Eats: Tropezón, The Drexel, Macchialina | Drinks: Swizzle Rum Bar, The Piano Bar at The Betsy

Coral Gables Art Cinema presents a special 10th anniversary screening of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins’ groundbreaking Miami film that very memorably won Best Picture over La La Land that year (plus Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali). Filmed in gorgeous 4K digital on location in Liberty City, Virginia Key, and South Beach, the film’s knockout performances and heartbreaking story make it a modern-day masterpiece.

Friday, June 19th, 9pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $12

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Luca Osteria, Zitz Sum, Dojo Izakaya | Drinks: Cebada Rooftop, Books & Books Café

More Indie Cinema:

Dancer José Manuel Álvarez pulls from the archive of renowned photographer René Robert, whose fifty years of flamenco photography inspired Captura y Fuga, a performance where dance and digital art converge. Álvarez seeks to translate the captured moments into the present, embodying photographer and dancer alike.

Sunday, June 14th, 5pm, Carnival Studio Theater at Arsht, $88

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

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

No city goes mango crazy like Miami, and for over thirty years, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has given us a safe space to show our love with its annual Mango Festival. The fest is partly educational, with over 400 varieties of mangos on display, but mostly about eating and drinking mangos every which way, with chefs on hand for demonstrations and tastings. The annual brunch ($135), which always sells out, features chefs from Sunny’s, Phuc Yea, and Zak the Baker this year. So if you’re interested, I’d get those tickets now.

June 13th-14th, 10am-5pm both days, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, $28 (kids are $15)

Neighborhood: South Gables

Nearby Eats: You’ll find all the (mango-related) food you can possibly eat on site | Drinks: Ditto (try the “Mango Cocktail Flight”)

On June 15th, the National Archives’ “Freedom Plane” will touch 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. From June 20th-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.

June 20th-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

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

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.