It’s that time of year in South Florida. Every conversation now begins with, “Man it’s so freaking hot,” and ends with, “Damn it’s hot out there.” But fortunately even in these dog days of summer there are still things to do in our home sweet home. Here are some South Florida summer events you can circle on your calendar assuming no hurricanes come our way.
Miami Spice, August 1 to September 30, at various restaurants.
If you enjoy fine dining, but have a limited budget Miami Spice is the time to get your belly stuffed. Over 250 local restaurants offer three course meals at reasonable prices of $23 for lunch or brunch and $39 for dinner. Among the fancy and schmancy restaurants participating are Palme d’Or, Hakkasan, and Mr. Chow.
Florida Marlins, from now through September 25, at Marlins Stadium.
Baseball is boring. Our hometown team the Florida… we mean Miami Marlins are even more boring. But the stadium us taxpayers paid for is actually pretty awesome. Tickets go for as low as $10. Since no one is ever at a Marlins game, you can pretty much sit where ever you like and not get bothered as you wile away some summer hours.
Miami Beach Cleanup, August 6 at 24th Street Miami Beach Lifeguard Tower.
If you can’t stand seeing our beautiful beaches as an ashtray and garbage dump and want to do something about it with like minded do-gooders volunteercleanup.org is a wonderful resource. It lists all kinds of cleanups along our coastline and lets you organize your own. This particular cleanup on August 6 at 6:30 p.m., might be of interest because afterwards there will be free drinks at the COMO Metropolitan Hotel’s Traymore Restaurant.
Popcorn Frights Film Festival, August 8-16, at Savor Cinema.
Fort Lauderdale’s Savor Cinema is hosting the fifth annual Popcorn Frights Film Festival, the biggest horror movie extravaganza in all of the Southeast. This year’s edition starts off with the world premiere of Haunt, by the writers of A Quiet Place. Those looking to support local filmmakers should check out Homegrown: 100% Pure Fresh Squeezed Florida Horror, Saturday August 10 at 3 p.m., featuring short horror films from our home state.
National Rum Day Fest, August 16, at The Confidante Miami Beach.
For those whose drink of choice is rum, this is the right festival for you. Tickets which range from $45-$55 will grant you live music cigars, and “curated cocktail samples and tastings during the duration of the event.”
Festival de Cante, August 30 to September 1, at Adrienne Arsht Center.
For the 14th year Siempre Flamenco’s Festival de Cante will bring Miami the best of the best from the world of flamenco. This year’s line-up features Spanish singers Rocio Bazan, Manuel de Manuel, and Javier Heredia, dancer Antoñete Castro, guitarist Paco Fernandez. Siempre Flamenco’s founding members Paco and Celia Fonta will also join the ensemble with their guitar and dance moves.
The Rolling Stones, August 31, at Hard Rock Stadium.
One ticket for this event starts at an outrageous $260 , but this might be your last opportunity to see the rock and roll legends before they’re replaced by holograms. We were reminded of their mortality when the previous date of April 20 was postponed because Mick Jagger needed heart surgery.
Bumblefest, September 13-14, at 500 Block of Clematis Street, West Palm Beach.
Fans of indie rock will find it worth the time and gas money to drive to West Palm for the eighth annual Bumblefest. It features two nights of 6 stages and over 36 bands including The Blank Tapes, Big Bliss, and Winter. Local bands will be represented by Las Nubes, Palomino Blond, All the V Words and many, many more.
Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots, September 15, at Hard Rock Stadium.
Nobody is expecting the Dolphins to make the Super Bowl this year. For once though Miami can be optimistic about the greatest football team. After seven long seasons quarterback Ryan Tannehill has finally been given the boot. Grizzled vet Ryan Fitzpatrick and untested young gun Josh Rosen are competing to line-up under center. This week 2 game against the hated Super Bowl champion New England Patriots could go Miami’s way with their strange streak of home success over the Pats.
