Entertainment

More than 30 Latin music artists took the stage at Miami’s Kaseya Center on Sunday, August 16, for a benefit concert and nationally televised telethon that began as a response to Venezuela’s catastrophic June earthquakes and expanded in the final week to include relief for Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country’s western region on August 10. The event, originally announced as “Unidos Por Venezuela,” was renamed “Unidos Por Los Nuestros” to reflect the broader humanitarian mission now covering two neighboring countries facing mass displacement, destroyed homes, and long recoveries. Doors opened at 5 p.m. and the show began at 6 p.m. ET, with the broadcast airing simultaneously across TelevisaUnivision and iHeartLatino platforms. Viewers who could not attend in person were able to donate through QR codes displayed during the broadcast, by texting “UNIDOS” to 707070, or through Univision.org. The concert combined live musical performances with survivor stories

The City of Coral Gables unveiled “Giralda in Bloom” on August 14, suspending hundreds of floral-patterned umbrellas above Giralda Plaza in downtown Coral Gables as the second installation in the 2026 Giralda Sky Series, a rotating public art program that has turned the pedestrian block into one of Miami-Dade County’s recurring outdoor gallery destinations. Key Takeaways “Giralda in Bloom: A Floral Canopy” was unveiled on August 14 and will remain on display above Giralda Plaza through October 2026, casting colorful floral reflections and patterns across the pedestrian corridor. The installation was created by Impact Plan, the Portuguese firm behind the internationally recognized Umbrella Sky Project and the original 2018 Coral Gables installation that drew widespread attention to the plaza. “Giralda in Bloom” succeeds “Cielo Tejido: A Woven Sky,” the first installation in the 2026 series, which featured handwoven textiles created by artisan women from Etzatlán, Mexico, and ran from May

Pérez Art Museum Miami will open two exhibitions on August 20 that expand the museum’s 2026 programming in distinct directions: “John Baldessari: The End of the Line,” a 50-year retrospective drawn entirely from the collection of Miami design leader Craig Robins, and a new iteration of “Fragments of Time: Selections from PAMM’s Collection,” a video-art survey exploring memory, loss, and the passage of time through works from the museum’s permanent holdings. Key Takeaways “John Baldessari: The End of the Line” opens August 20 and runs through July 23, 2027, presenting five decades of the late conceptual artist’s work from the private collection of Craig Robins, one of Baldessari’s closest friends and collectors. “Fragments of Time: Selections from PAMM’s Collection” also opens August 20, presenting video works that address Alzheimer’s disease, shared cultural memory, the erosion of innocence, and the fragility of memory in the digital era. The openings join an

Miami Spice Restaurant Months launched its 25th edition on August 1, running through September 30 with more than 300 participating restaurants across Greater Miami and Miami Beach offering three-course prix-fixe menus at a minimum 30% savings. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau announced updated pricing for 2026: brunch and lunch menus are set at $40, dinner menus range from $50 to $65, and a new Miami Spice Reserve tier introduces premium tasting menu experiences starting at $95. The program, which began in 2002 with 56 restaurants, welcomed a record 387 participants last year and has become one of the most anticipated culinary events on the South Florida calendar. Miami Spice 2026 runs August 1 through September 30 with more than 300 participating restaurants spanning neighborhoods from Aventura to Key Biscayne to Wynwood to Coral Gables Standard pricing for 2026: $40 for brunch and lunch, $50 or $65 for dinner,

The International Ballet Festival of Miami launches its 31st season on July 31, opening a 17-day run through August 16 that brings over 100 principal dancers from 17 ballet companies representing 11 countries to stages across Miami and Miami Beach. The festival, recognized as the most successful of its kind in the United States and the only ballet festival in Florida, transforms South Florida into a destination for international dance during the weeks when the city’s cultural calendar typically slows for summer. Beyond the main stage performances, the 2026 edition includes contemporary dance ensembles, a free dance film series, art exhibits inspired by dance, book presentations, workshops, and masterclasses that extend the festival’s reach well beyond the theater seats. The 31st International Ballet Festival of Miami runs July 31 through August 16, 2026, across multiple venues in Miami and Miami Beach Over 100 principal dancers from 17 ballet companies representing

The Miami Takeover concluded its 18th annual four-day cultural beach festival on July 27, 2026, closing out a weekend of standup comedy, live R&B and go-go performances, art activations, pool parties, a community beach cleanup, and a VIP mega yacht cruise across Miami Beach and Downtown Miami. Founded by three HBCU graduates from the Washington, D.C., area, the Miami Takeover — commonly known as MTO — has grown from a niche cultural gathering into one of the largest Black cultural beach festivals in the country, drawing attendees from cities nationwide and operating in official partnership with the City of Miami Beach Tourism and Culture Department and the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority. Key Takeaways The Miami Takeover ran July 24–27 across six curated events at venues including the Miami Beach Bandshell, the Marseille Beachfront Hotel pool, Uva Uva Wynwood, and a private mega yacht along the Miami coastline. Opening

The City of Miami secured a $20 million federal grant to build a 1,450-foot pedestrian bridge connecting the Miami Intermodal Center to Miami Freedom Park, upgrading what was originally planned as a $5 million state-funded footbridge into a significantly larger infrastructure project. Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins announced the funding on July 10 during a topping-off ceremony for the city’s new civic center, which is rising alongside Inter Miami CF’s Nu Stadium on the 130-acre Freedom Park site near Miami International Airport. Key Takeaways The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Miami a $20 million BUILD grant to construct a 1,450-foot pedestrian bridge linking the Miami Intermodal Center’s Tri-Rail and Metrorail stations to Freedom Park The bridge replaces an original $5 million plan that had stalled for more than a year; Miami-Dade County will provide the non-federal matching funds and oversee construction compliance Without the bridge, transit riders currently face a 0.3-mile

Miami Beach, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife, and diverse culture, holds more than just its glamorous appeal. Beneath the surface of the city’s sun-soaked streets lies a tale rooted in ancient Jewish folklore. According to local lore, a Golem—a creature created from clay and brought to life through mystical rituals—was summoned by a rabbi in Miami Beach to protect the Jewish community. This mysterious figure is said to roam the streets at night, silently guarding the area against any potential threats. But where did this legend come from, and what keeps the story alive today? The Golem’s story has been passed down through generations, merging ancient Jewish traditions with the contemporary landscape of Miami Beach. Like all myths, it reflects the hopes, fears, and values of the community it serves. To better understand this eerie tale, let’s explore the Golem’s origins, how it became tied to Miami Beach,