Somebody once told me that Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to bring visual arts to Parisians by…read moredecorating Paris with paintings and sculptures. I don't know how much of this is true, but what is true is that over and over again someone creates an event where common people are allowed to enjoy fine art. Whether it is at a mall, at a hotel or at a government building, the trend is present and has lasted for hundreds of years. Fast forward to 2012, location Miami, Florida. Viernes Culturales is an event where restaurants, galleries, clubs and street vendors, among others, participate. Starting on 17th Avenue and down to 13th Avenue, merchants set up on the streets of Calle Ocho to turn it into what looks like a street fair. The City of Miami sets up an event area in the alley next to the Tower Theater to host DJs, performers, artists and sellers. Sponsors set up booths around here and offer free tastings and free gifts. Down by the McDonald's on 14th Avenue a mini market is set up where jewelers and carpenters are offering their goods. The restaurants that occupy the vicinity are all open for business. Probably this time of the month is the most active for them, though they don't offer anything special other than their regular menus. The most notable ones are Catharsis and Casa Panza, the latter making a giant paella outdoors. Almost all restaurant have performers playing Latin music or DJs either inside or outdoors. At one of the larger eateries I saw a whole orchestra set up outside. Probably the businesses that benefit the most are the art galleries. Some display the works of many local artist, some are owned by artists displaying their work. Most artwork is for sale, and some is just on loan for the occasion. Many studios also offer complimentary food and beverage, normally paid by a sponsor. The largest gallery of the bunch had a jazz trio when I visited. The band, along with the free wine, made things upbeat and sophisticated. Nightclubs and bars also have their doors open, regardless of the time of day. If you walk down the streets, you'll be able to buy drinks like "mojitos" and "Cuba libres". If you feel like getting down to boogie, you won't have a problem finding a good spot, let alone the fact that people are dancing on the streets. Cigars shops close the roundup, surprisingly hosting performers and smokers alike. If you show up you will definitely have a great time. If you want to have dinner at Viernes Culturales I would recommend checking the restaurants' info prior to arrival. The galleries showcase some amazing artwork, and the streets are filled with beautiful knick knacks. The crowds are large but not suffocating, making it good for kids. Some bars are hosting great parties, and last but not least, you can stop by one of Miami's best ice cream parlors called Azucar.

Where can you taste blueberry, pineapple and mango wine in a colada shot glass? Where do Cuban…read moreabuelitas and their family mingle with German tourists, Argentinian jugglers and same sex couples? What about entrancing yourself in a toque de santo while sampling cigars? All this and more can be had for about your $5 parking at Calle 8's Viernes Cultural! The "Viernes Cultural" (or Cultural Fridays) occur the last Friday of every month on about 3 block stretch of Calle 8 (SW 8th Street) between 14th and 17th Avenues during the early evening. For those 3 hours you get to check out street performers, established exilio artists, as well as artists just arrived from Cuba (i.e. the kitty painting). There's also the $3 mojitos and Cuba Libres (rum and coke), as well as the opportunity to check out various restaurants. A couple of the streets had street musicians jamming out to salsa, son and merengue standards, one supposedly with Luis Enrique's drummer. True, the street outside one a couple of the clubs can get a raunchy reggaeton vibe similar to the better known Calle 8 festival, but still it's fun. Heck, one of the times I even saw a couple easily in their late 60's jamming out to Daddy Yanqui "Lo Que Paso Paso" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thw0WQSn7_8 Ah, the beauty of Miami's melting pot!

Such a Fun and Unique Experience! I can't recommend this…read moreenough. It was an absolute blast! The atmosphere was fun, relaxed, and totally tasteful from start to finish. Whether you're part of a small group or planning something for a larger group, this class is a fantastic idea. We did it for my bachelorette party and it was the perfect activity, something totally different that had everyone laughing. If you're looking for a memorable group experience that's both classy and fun, this is it. 10/10 would do it again!

What a blast! I truly enjoyed my time here. The staff were so friendly and welcoming and made the…read moreexperience an unforgettable one. Highly recommend this experience!

The City of Coral Gables was founded by George Merrick. On February 5, 1916 Merrick married Eunice…read moreIsabella Peacock a daughter of the Miami pioneer family, the Peacocks. In 1921 he attended Rollins College in Winter Park. Shortly after he started planning the City of Coral Gables. It was one of the first planned communities in the United States. He took his inspiration from the City Beautiful movement that was popular in the 1900's. In 1925 Merrick's family moved to Miami from Pennsylvania to join him. It was two years after Henry Flagler brought the railroad to Florida and it was the dawn of the development of Florida. Merrick started selling lots in the city in 1921. He marketed the city as having 40 miles of waterfront property. He wanted all of the city landmarks to be connected by water. He offered gondola rides from the Biltmore to the Cocoplum neighborhood to prospective home buyers. Coral Gables was designed to have four entry arches. They are reminiscent of the medieval gates in Europe and were meant to show that Coral Gables is separate from the surrounding city. At first Merrick planned on developing the Country Club Prado section as the city's downtown. In the end he decided to move it east to be closer to the already established towns of Miami, Coconut Grove, and Brickell. Merrick wanted his buildings to be strictly Spanish and later the Mediterranean style that was popular during Florida's land boom years in the 1920's. Eventually he expanded his vision to include seven unique villages inspired by different international influences. Today they are some of the most sought after addresses in the city. The buildings in Coral Gables were so well made that they survived hurricanes before there were building codes. Among his many accomplishments, George Merrick also created the University of Miami. Thanks to George Merrick's meticulous planning many of Coral Gables historic landmarks survive today including the Venetian Pool, the Alhambra Water Tower, and the Miami Biltmore Hotel. The later years were not kind to George Merrick. The Florida land boom went bust due to two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. By 1928 George Merrick was forced out of the city he founded and ended up in the Keys. He went bankrupt in 1929. He returned to the city two years before he died to serve as postmaster. He died in 1942 at the young age of 55. He and Eunice are buried under a very simple marker in Woodlawn North. You can learn more about George Merrick by taking a tour of his family home in Coral Gables. Today Coral Gables has a population of 50,000 people. It's nickname is "the city beautiful." The University of Miami is a major educational institution. Giralda Plaza and Miracle Mile are popular dining and shopping destinations. The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables was founded in 1973 and they have been very successful in saving the historic landmarks in the city that make it so charming. Coral Gables is filled with ornate Mediterranean architecture and beautiful parks. Fairchild Botanical Gardens is a popular tourist destination for plant and nature lovers. Books and Books hosts a literary festival every November that attract authors and book lovers from around the country. The city is very pedestrian friendly. I could go on and on about my love of Coral Gables. If you haven't been in awhile it is time to rediscover the crown jewel of Miami.

Thank you to the Adult Activity Center and to the wonderful MISO Miami Symphony Orchestra for an…read moreamazing Mother's Day concert. First of all let me mention the fact that everything was free thanks to them, even the Valet parking at The Palace, across. The concert was amazing, wonderful music, genuine people and surrounded but distinguished people, in the area I love, Coral Gables. The hosts at the activity center were so nice and welcoming. My daughter and I had the opportunity to interact with them a couple of times and they are awesome. This place is impecable and we got to chance to be in one of their rooms where we enjoyed the concert. Spacious and great for the occasion. They offered complimentary refreshments, well presented and delicious. Thank you again, my family and I had a great time! Gracias al Centro de Actividades para Adultos ya la maravillosa Orquesta Sinfónica de Miami, MISO por un increíble concierto del Día de la Madres. En primer lugar, permítanme mencionar el hecho de que todo fue gratis gracias a ellos, incluso el servicio de estacionamiento en el Palace, de la calle de en frente. El concierto fue increíble, música maravillosa, gente genuina y rodeado de personas distinguidas, en la zona que me encanta, Coral Gables. Las anfitrionas en el centro de actividades fueron muy agradable y acogedoras. Mi hija y yo tuvimos la oportunidad de interactuar con ellas un par de veces y son increíbles. Este lugar es impecable y tuvimos la oportunidad de estar en uno de sus salones donde disfrutamos el concierto. Espacioso y genial para la ocasión. Ofrecieron merienda de cortesía, bien presentada y deliciosa. Gracias de nuevo, mi familia y yo la pasamos de maravilla!

Great experience. Great show…read more They push the bottle service of course but you can resist and have $20 drinks a la carte. Perfect new wave Cabaret. Club with lots of action for the ADHD.get there early and enjoy the show from 10pm to 2am ish

This place is getting ready to open soon and trust me, it's gonna be unique. It's a 4D Experience…read moreincluding visual, sound, smell and taste as the food is part of the show. The place will open march 16th and will be open on fridays and saturdays, Thursday will be open as well from April. More than 15 performers every night for a unique experience, THE BODYSHOP EXPERIENCE

Indoor arcade and entertainment to keep the kids entertained and great for parties…read more Located in Wynwood, Fun Dimension has its own parking lot but also street parking. They have an outdoor enclosed section which includes rock climbing and what looked like axe throwing (for kids). Inside they have plenty of arcade games along with laser tag. They also have some cool new bowling lanes in the back. I didn't get to taste the food or drinks but they did have a pretty wide diversity of options including the usual fair, pizza chicken fingers and more importantly alcohol for the adults but also lomo saltado and chicken and waffles. They also have private room upstairs for parties. The kids had a great time and it's pretty enclosed so not easy to lose track of your kid. Overall it's a solid option to host a party and keep the kids entertained.

I brought my toddler here for a fun afternoon and we did not expect to have this much fun. I think…read moreit's a great place to let your inner child run wild playing games. We played a bunch of arcade games and she had an absolute blast. The place was clean and managed pretty well. We will definitely be back!

The Art of Banksy is the best rotating art gallery I've been to recently in Miami. I thought it was…read moremore robust than the Van Gough exhibit, a historic artist I love, and eons better than Superblue, which wasn't for me. I really enjoyed the artist history and story, but I dropped a star (was debating two) because after reading more about it after the fact, I'm pretty sure this is not condoned or associated at all by the artist (which would go against some of his or her messaging). Still, I personally did like the exhibit and learned a lot. I just prefer clearer communication from the exhibit about what it is and is not and ideally support from/to the artist. Banksy is a living artist legend of our time. Known for their elusiveness, street art and rebellious nature - this may not instantly appeal to everyone, but it did for me (but hey that's art right?). I casually followed some of his or her headlines over the years and always liked the underlying messages and rebellious nature of this artists work. I don't consider myself a Banksy or art expert by any means; however, after visiting this exhibit I felt a lot more attune to the artist and his or her passionate messages, struggles, frustrations, etc. I can't say this often: some of these visuals provoked a really emotional feeling out of me. There's a lot of irony in the pieces. Raw truths. A lot to self reflect on, some encouragement of hope - maybe. I felt this exhibit didn't sell out to just cater towards an Instagram crowd (but did perhaps rip the artist off). In true Banksy irony, even if it did go viral like some of the less stellar exhibits I've been to: great - not for the ticket sales (which I'm unclear associated with the artist), for the thought provoking meanings in and behind the work challenging society to do better. Raise the bar. This exhibit is a good introduction to Banksy's work, however, after some post visit research I'm unclear if its officially condoned by the artist. If true, that's the biggest negative and may steer some people away. Official Banksy FAQ: https://pestcontroloffice.com/faq.asp

Wonderful exhibit of more than 155 pieces of Banksy's art, video and sculpture. I found the FEVER…read moreAPP to be a bit difficult to maneuver but all worked out OK. There is some limited parking on the street of the exhibit, but valet for $20 and $30. The $30 price is to have your car parked on site. For $20 the car goes somewhere else and you need to wait to get your car. The venue is very open and breezy which is good during CoVid. The exhibit is sectioned off into topics and are spaced out well to not feel crowded. Our tickets were for 11am, we arrive a little early and were admitted. Closer to noon the exhibit became more active. I'd say allow 1:45 minutes to view the exhibit without rushing. The QR codes enable you to get deeper into each piece's explanation. Clearly Banksy has a message about political and current events. He is an insightful artist and this exhibition is thoughtful and worthwhile viewing.

Friday night plans can get repetitive, but this was such a fun switch-up. My boyfriend and I are…read morealways looking for cool date ideas, and Rooftop Cinema Club in Lincoln Road was honestly a vibe. From the moment you walk in, the place sets the mood. There's this retro-style entrance with a mini food truck setup where you can grab snacks, drinks, and even cocktails before heading up. It already feels like an experience before the movie even starts. Then you get to the rooftop--and wow. Open-air cinema, Miami skyline, perfect weather... it doesn't get more "Miami night" than that. They give you wireless headphones so you can fully immerse yourself in the movie without distractions, which I thought was such a cool touch. We watched The Dark Knight, one of our favorites, and seeing Heath Ledger as the Joker on a rooftop under the Miami sky? Unreal. Still the best Joker, in my opinion. The whole experience felt relaxed, different, and honestly kind of romantic without trying too hard. Perfect for a date night or just doing something out of the usual dinner routine. Definitely adding this to our list of go-to Miami date spots.

Movie was great, but the experience was not quite what I expected. We went on a Monday night, so it…read morewas not crowded at all, almost empty really. I didn't realize this was a headphone thing; they provide headphones that you have to use to listen to the audio. They were not extremely comfortable (hurt my ears by the end) and the sound quality was bad, and I'm not much of an audio snob so they must have been really bad for me to notice. Also near the end they just switched and started playing the audio out loud for no particular reason, which just made me wish it had been that way the whole time. The food was also not great; I got the nacho dog and every piece of it was not quite right; chips a little stale, dog a little waterlogged, just not great. The drinks were pretty good; I got the strawberry daiquiri and another one whose name I forget, but both were pretty good. And the general experience of being on a rooftop watching a movie was still as fun and novel as you'd expect. Bathrooms were fine, parking was easy. If a movie I wanted to see was playing and someone invited me, I'd be happy to go again, but I probably won't suggest it.

I love this place! I have seen many shows here and have taken the improv classes. The staff and…read moretalent are amazing!! You should definitely stop by and see a show or even try a class. The place definitely has hole in the wall comedy venue feels with two different venues for improv (Main Stage or The Spotlight) and stand up (The Spotlight). They only sell light snacks and drinks (soda, wine, and beer) here, but it is fine since it is a comedy venue. I do like that their beers are from local Miami breweries. It's nice to see local businesses support local businesses.

Great spot to catch a local improv show! Good street parking options and easy to find. The place…read moreitself has a lot of character and charm. Great selection of snacks and drinks during the show with speedy service. Have a lot of friends that have taken classes here and have heard nothing but good things!