Miami news, Miami local news

Miami tourism has flourished the last couple of decades. Most people think about Miami and the first thing that come to their minds are nightlife and sunny beaches. Nonetheless, in recent times the art and cultural life in Miami has gotten strong offering much to see and to do to a more sophisticated tourist. The primary place to witness Miami’s art offer isn’t, of course, Miami Beach, yet across Biscayne Bay the Wynwood Art District. Before the Art Basel Festival came to Miami, the Wynwood District was just a wasteland with a handful of pioneer galleries and private collections such as the Rubell Family Collection. However, in the past few years several galleries have opened in the area bringing a new vibe to Miami Florida.

Nowadays, there are 70 galleries high-end like the Spinello Gallery and David Castillo Gallery, to internationally acclaimed galleries such as Fredric Snitzer, Kevin Bruk, and Emmanuel Perrotin. All the galleries are around shops and clothing wholesalers with concrete facades freshly painted in purples, pinks and charcoals giving to the area a bohemian atmosphere. The new development of the Wynwood Art District it might be possible thanks to the cheap rents, too much space, and plenty of parking spaces.

As a consequence of all mentioned, Miami is not longer limited to a four-day event held in December. The Art Basel is no more the primary art scenery in Miami, private collections, galleries, and alternative spaces are exploding faster in the Wynwood District and the Design District.

It is the second Saturday of the month is when many galleries time their new shows. During the second Saturdays, galleries host white-wine receptions and openings usually followed by parties at the bohemian bars nearby.

Here are some must-see places every art lover should visit while in Miami:

Wynwood Art District

The Rubell Family Collection

Seems to be bigger and mores impressive every day.

NW 29^th Street

Miami, FL

305-573-6090

www.rubellfamilycollection.com

Twenty Twenty

Twenty Twenty is ideal to enjoy the work of emerging young artists.

2020 NW Miami Court 2^nd floor

Miami, FL

786-217-7683

www.twentytwentyprojects.com

Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery

A Parisian Gallery has a premier location in a former refrigerator warehouse.

194 NW 30^th Street

Miami, FL

305-573-2130

www.galerieperrotin.com

Spinello Gallery

A jewel box-size run by Anthony Spinello, 25.

2294 NW 2^nd Avenue

Miami, FL

786-271-4223

www.spinellogallery.com

Hardcore Art Contemporary Space

Featuring works centered on social and political issues.

3326 North Miami Avenue

Miami, FL

305-576-1645

www.hardcoreartcontemporary.com

Miami Design District

Bas Fisher Invitational

Where you can see tomorrow’s art stars.

180 NE 39^th Street, Suite 210

Miami, FL

Moore Space

Moore Space has exquisitely curated contemporary art.

4040 NE 2^nd Avenue

Miami, FL

305-438-1163

www.themorespace.org

Nektar De Stagni’s Shop

An ideal mix of art, fashion and music.

155 NE 38^th Street

786-556-3033

www.nektardestagni.com

Most Informal Locations (Great Day-time Activities):

Clevelander - South Beach
Wet Willies – South Beach
Fat Tuesdays – South Beach
Automatic Slims – South Beach

Most Exclusive Night Clubs (Get wild After Sunset):

Mynt – South Beach
Mansion – South Beach
Prive – South Beach
Social at the Sagamore – South Beach

Spring Break South Beach Guide…

If you want to experience Miami like star think about renting a luxury car. Just to let you know, for any trip to Miami you can rely in one of the many miami concierge companies providing all that you might need during your staying.

Langerado is a music festival that has been taking place in Florida for the last 5 years at the Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the South Florida Everglades. This is by far the biggest music festival in our Sunshine State since it represents a 4-day hippie-type event with the performance of some big names in the Music industry. This year event will feature the presentations of legends Beastie Boys and R.E.M. Each year thousands of attendees come to this Florida Festival. And some of them drive from all over the country. As exciting as can be, you can camp on site to experience better the whole festival. Furthermore, you will feel like in other region of the word and in other time. Langerado was started by promoters Mark Brown and Ethan Schwartz as a way to bring the exploding jam-based live music scene to South Florida. Nowadays, Langerado has transformed from a genre-based festival to a more eclectic event that now spans the boundaries of the live music experience.

All 4-day tickets to Langerado include on-site camping for the duration of the event. Gates open 8 a.m .Thursday March 6, 2008. Please do not arrive early as you will be turned away. There will be separate camping sections for those who prefer family-style, quiet camping. Camping areas close Monday March 10, 2008 at 12pm. Please, do not bring your pet with you since pets are not allowed on the premises. For more information visit www.langerado.com

The Miami International Film Festival 2008 is already in town. This popular event in Miami is celebrating its 25^th edition with 120 films, workshops, and seminars. If you like movies, good movies I mean, there will be a great selection this year. You can enjoy the best of independent movies for the next 30 days.

You can buy tickets by phone calling at 305-405-MIFF (6433) from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, you can get your tickets in person during the festival at the Regal South Beach Cinema 18, located at 110 Lincoln Road, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. In person, during the Festival: Patrons may purchase SAME DAY TICKETS ONLY at Festival venues. These box offices open one hour before the first screening of the day. The ticket prices move from $7 for students to $25 in the case of special screenings like the opening night. The General admission is $12. Cash preferred.

See a little introduction of my selection of must-see movies…

Miami Film Festival Venues:

• GUSMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (GUS)

174 East Flagler St., Downtown Miami

305-374-2444

• COLONY THEATRE (COL)

1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

305-674-1040

• TOWER THEATER (TWR)

1508 S.W. Eighth St. at 15th Ave., Little Havana

305-237-FILM (3456)

• REGAL SOUTH BEACH CINEMA 18 (R10, R11, R17, R18)

1100 Lincoln Rd., South Beach

305-674-6766

• BILL COSFORD CINEMA (COSF)

University of Miami, Second Floor, Memorial Building

Campo Sano Drive, Coral Gables

305-284-4861

• SUNRISE INTRACOASTAL CINEMA (INTR)

3701 N.E. 163rd St. at Sunny Isles Blvd., North Miami Beach

305-949-0064

• BYRON CARLYLE THEATER (BYC)

500 71st St., Miami Beach

305-867-4194

View the official film schedule…

Calendar of Miami Events 2008

January / February / March / April / May / June

Coconut Grove Arts Festival

From February 16th to the 18th, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival will be in Miami Florida. The festival will be open each day from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and is held in the streets of Coconut Grove. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival it offers the chance to see great art and meet with the artists themselves.

Attention Art Lovers! The biggest art event in Miami will arrive to Coconut Grove this weekend. There is going to be everything at this Miami event. Last year, I really enjoyed a little stand of hand made soaps. I know soap isn’t precisely art, yet I found it peculiar, and the soaps were awesome they smelled great and were pretty. Also at this family-oriented event, the little ones will have lots of things to do. Just beware the parking issue is big. I can suggest you to park on the Coconut Grove Metrorail station’s parking and walk from there to the festival in order to avoid heavy traffic. The other option will be to park along the 27^th street were several buildings offer their fronts for parking. The parking fees can move from $10 to $20.

The Food Network South Beach Food and Wine Festival is one of the most popular events in Miami and it features several TV personalities. The event will also feature live music, wine and food degustations, and plenty of activities for the kids. A family event you should not miss!

Miami International Boat Show

There is going to be a lot of things to do at the 2008 Miami International Boat Show. The Miami International Boat Show will be at the Miami Beach Convention Center this weekend. Probably, the highlight of this Miami exhibition is going to be the Big Game Room.

The Miami Boat Show is in Miami right NOW! This weekend the Miami International Boat Show will hit the city of Miami. Great event for boaters!

Check out this new Miami art event! The Art Rouge Gallery presents sculptures & paintings on glass and metal by internationally acclaimed visual artist Carson Case. The artist’s work is abstract or surreal figurative and she often uses mythological creatures like dragon, phoenix and. Carson expresses herself through the visual arts, dance, music, and poetry with the pure perfection of the spirit.

The opening reception will take place on March 8, 2008 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm at Art Rouge space in Wynwood Ar t District.

For more information or to RSVP please contact Art Rouge Gallery at info@artrouge.com or 305-448-2060.

Calendar of Miami Events

January / February / March / April / May / June

The first large-scale solo exhibition of the work of Wifredo Lam ever to be presented in a Miami museum! This Miami event will be opening on February 8th and will run until March 18th, 2008 at the Miami Art Museum. Seriously, you should got to this exhibition because you will be supporting the museum, which it is already a good reason, while enjoying the art work of a great twentieth century’s artist.

For those who do not know, Wilfredo Lam is the most celebrated Cuban artist of the 20th century.  Just a little about his history… Lam traveled to Spain in the 1920s and later moved to France, where he became closely acquainted with Pablo Picasso and the leading figures of the Surrealist movement. Then in 1941, Lam went back to Cuba, where he rediscovered the Afro-Caribbean myths, art forms and religious practices that had influenced his work.

Lam mixed mainstream European Modernism with these non-Western traditions and used the unique visual language that resulted to raise questions of social injustice and redemption. 

Do not miss this event in Miami!

Miami Art Museum

101 West Flager Street
Miami, FL 33132
305-375-3000
www.miamiartmuseum.org

Calendar of Miami Events

January / February / March / April / May / June

When: January 26th and 27th
Where: Fairchild Tropical Garden

For all chocolate lovers out there, there is the Miami International Chocolate Festival. This Miami event is schedule to take place at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, located in Coral Gables, on January 26th and 27th. At The Miami International Chocolate Festival, there is so much to do! You will be please that it runs for two days.

The Miami International Chocolate Festival provides everything you need. The Miami event features several lectures that will give visitors insight into how the popular treat is made and how it is made. Each lecture is given by quality speakers, including one from the U.S.D.A. Also, there is going to be tree sales and cooking demonstrations so visitors can learn how to make their own. There are even displays of chocolate sculptures and activities aimed at the children among you.

Contact Information:
www.fairchildgarden.org.
305-667-1651.

If you are coming to Miami and looking for a great place to stay, it is strongly advised to try Miami Vacation Rentals or South Beach Vacation Rentals since they are usually cheaper than Miami hotels. Learn a little bit more about vacation rentals…

Calendar of Miami Events

January / February / March