Miami New Times

In 2019, the art world descended on Miami Beach for Art Basel. There was plenty of blue-chip art and recognizable names in the contemporary art space. However, the piece everyone was talking about that year was by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, titled Comedian, simply featuring a banana duct-taped to the wall. During Art Basel's VIP preview, two copies of the artwork were sold for $120,000 a piece by the Perrotin gallery, with only a third one being available by day's end. Keyboard warriors had a field day, deriding Cattelan's work as an example of why the art market is a joke. However, one could argue that it was the artist's intention to highlight precisely that, as well as what makes art, well, art. It's the same question Marcel Duchamp sought to answer more than a century ago when he took a urinal, scribbled "R. Mutt 1917," and placed the work on a pedestal. Since then, the lore surrounding Comedian has only grown. In 2020, a copy of the work was donated to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. And last year, while on display at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul, college student Noh Huyn-soo ripped the banana off the wall, claiming he was just hungry. It's also been displayed at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, Rome's Palazzo Bonaparte, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Now, the second of the three editions is set to be auctioned by Sotheby's on Wednesday, November 20, for an estimated $1 to $1.5 million. (Yes, cryptocurrency payments are accepted, but probably not MiamiCoin.) The auction will also include two artist proofs and a certificate of authenticity signed by Cattelan. Read the story:

Miami's artsy, graffiti-draped neighborhood isn't just a place to play these days — it's a place to stay, too. Moxy Miami Wynwood, the neighborhood's second hotel, will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, November 20. The 120-room hotel quietly began welcoming guests in late June and is now ready to make things official. "This brand was meant for this neighborhood, meaning that the location, art, and culture here really mesh with our target guest," says hotel manager Chris Thompson. "It all starts from check-in, where you're greeted with two welcome cocktails, and things only get livelier from there." The Wynwood location marks Moxy Hotels' second in South Florida. In 2021, the brand, which falls under the Marriott International umbrella, opened a location on South Beach. Thompson says that, whereas the Miami Beach property is more resort-style, the Wynwood location caters to a wide variety of guests. 📰 Read the story: https://lnkd.in/eudnsktN

It's been nearly 30 years since China Grill changed Miami's dining scene forever. Now, the pioneer is coming back. Legendary Asian-fusion restaurant China Grill closed in 2012 but will reopen at Bal Harbour Shops in the next two years. According to a report by Commercial Observer, in 2021, renowned restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow and his company, China Grill Management, secured a deal for a "first-floor unit at the exclusive Bal Harbour Shops in the greater Miami area," according to public documents and state records. New Times can also confirm it will replace Stephen Starr's French bistro Le Zoo on the first floor. However, it is important to note that Starr's hospitality group, STARR RESTAURANT CATERING GROUP LP, will oversee the new China Grill. 📰 Read the story:

Even after more than a decade, iii Points Music Festival still feels like Miami's best-kept secret. The annual music festival continues to bring underground and left-field acts to the Magic City for two days of nonstop performances. Taking over the Mana Wynwood compound and the adjacent streets, the festival somehow manages to feel expansive in its footprint while still delivering an intimate experience. You aren't fighting thousands of people for a good spot, and traversing the grounds from stage to stage is mostly painless. It seems, however, the word is out. Pollstar, the trade publication for the live music industry, recently announced the nominees for its 36th annual Pollstar Awards. III Points is nominated for "Music Festival of the Year (Global; under 30K attendance)". It will vie for the award against fellow nominees All Things Go in Columbia, Maryland; Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio; Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island; Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California; and Two Step Inn in Georgetown, Texas. 📰 Read the full story:

🌟 We’re proud to share that The Deering Estate one of our iconic Miami-Dade County Parks, has been awarded the Miami New Times 2024 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒊: 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔’ 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑭𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒍! This accolade highlights a unique festival that celebrates seafood, entertainment, and sustainability right here in Miami. Deering Estate’s festival isn’t just a local favorite; it’s also a platform for our commitment to 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. With locally sourced seafood, eco-friendly practices, and a scenic location, we’re helping residents and visitors connect with Miami’s natural treasures while promoting responsible practices that protect our beautiful coastlines for generations to come. Join us in congratulating Deering Estate, and if you haven’t experienced this award-winning festival, we hope to welcome you in April 2025! Share your thoughts or tag someone who should join you at the next one! 🐟🌱🌊 #DeeringEstate #LiveAParkLife #OurCounty #BestFestivalMiami #BestOfMiami #CommunityImpact #SustainableFestivals #MiamiEvents #MiamiDadeParks #ConservationInAction #PlacemakingMiami #MiamiNewTimes

On October 27, the FAACT Florida - French American Association of Crafts & Trades - Florida Chapter and online magazine French Morning USA held their annual competition at the National Hotel in Miami Beach to name the state’s best French baked goods. Ficelle Bakery, a family-owned shop located at River Landing on the Miami River, emerged victorious, winning both Best Baguette and Best Croissant in Florida. Founded just three years ago by Olivier Rizk and his two brothers, the family-owned bakery has quickly risen to the top of the local scene with its dedication to authentic French techniques and ingredients. For Rizk, a Haitian-American baker who grew up in Miami, the win marks an emotional and professional high. At 32 years old, he brings more than a decade of experience to his craft. Starting his career under his uncle’s wing at Delices de France in Palmetto Bay, Rizk honed his craft at New York’s Maison Kayser, where he won the title of Best Baguette in New York City in 2019. Back in his hometown since 2021, he’s been dedicated to bringing that level of quality to Ficelle, combining traditional French methods in a modern cafe. 📰 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ecY3tdaZ

This year's election will transform life in Florida and across the nation in myriad ways. That's why our writers have been working so hard on so many fronts to bring you the independent, eye-opening coverage you expect from New Times. We're committed to doing much more, before and after November 5, but we need your help. We hope to raise $3,250 in our membership drive this election cycle,. By becoming a member, you help ensure we have the resources to keep producing independent journalism that produces the stories you won't find anywhere else. Will you become a member today? Consider contributing at bit.ly/4e0TrpM

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us at our Books & Books event! It was wonderful to see familiar and new faces in the crowd. Members received a free signed book and a poster. Become a member to support our journalism and get future perks like this one at miaminewtimes.com/support. If you weren’t able to make it, we hope you’ll join us at next month's Miami Book Fair, where we’ll reconvene for another Cocaine Cowboys panel. On November 17, join Jim DeFede, Billy Corben, Alfred Spellman, and Tom Finkel as they share their memories of Miami in the 1990s and delve into the stories behind the rise and fall of Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta. Don’t miss it!

Miami New Times has an immediate opening for an Arts & Culture Editor (and we are still seeking a News Editor). The successful candidate will manage and lead our coverage of Miami's vibrant arts and lifestyle scenes. Since its founding in 1987, Miami New Times has become a cultural touchstone in South Florida. We've got a hard-earned reputation for publishing compelling stories ignored or overlooked by major media, whether they're insightful looks at local arts and entertainment or unflinching exposés about Miami's steamy political life. This management position is based in our Miami newsroom and reports to the editor-in-chief. Remote candidates will not be considered. Think you've got what it takes? Email a cover letter detailing your editing and management experience, as well as your proposed approach to helming the arts & culture section. Also include a résumé and links to your best work to: mia-culture-editor@voicemediagroup.com. Please type Arts & Culture Editor in the subject line.

Just three months after Miami residents expressed their heartbreak over the sudden closure of the Frieze, a legendary Miami Beach ice cream shop of nearly 40 years, New Times has sweet news to share — it's back! The original owners of the ice cream parlor have come out of retirement to reopen the iconic ice cream shop under a new name, Ice Cream Factory, paying homage to the original name, the Frieze Ice Cream Factory. Opened in the summer of 1986 at 1626 Michigan Ave., along what is now Lincoln Road Mall, the ice cream shop was a home away from home for generations of South Florida families and Miami Beach residents who frequented the shop for its classic American ice cream and sorbet. On Thursday, June 27, the ice cream said farewell to its longtime customers. However, the outcry from the community touched its owners so much over the past three months that they knew they had to bring the ice cream parlor back — but with the right partners. "The original owners, Robert and Lisa Warren, approached my husband and I to reopen the location, but under a new name," explains Ice Cream Factory partner Vicky Brejt. "So, we rebranded it as the Ice Cream Factory and we brought back the original recipes, the ice creams, and the sorbets. "They wanted to bring back the legacy that they had built for so many years. They heard all of these stories from the '90s and 2000s, so, they really wanted to bring that back. They wanted to retire, but not totally retire — and it's working out for all of us." Brejt and her husband are longtime Miami Beach residents and business owners, so when the Warrens reached out to them to partner on the shop, it was a no-brainer. "We live close to the original owners, so it all came together at the right time." Read the full story below 🍦