Happy Monday, Miami. Enjoy what's new in town this week, including New Times' Best of Miami 30th-anniversary party at the Frost Museum of Science, a dining tour of CityPlace Doral, and a Miami Spice preview dinner at Artisan Beach House.
Concrete Poetry Dinner at the Standard Spa Miami Beach
7 p.m. Monday, June 20; $75 to $95
Ruth and Marvin Sackner spent a large part of their lives gathering works of concrete and visual poetry, eventually amassing the largest collection of this type of art in the world — and it's based right here in Miami. It will be celebrated at the Concrete Poetry Dinner, a "performative" meal blending food, art, and literature at the Standard in Miami Beach. So whether you're dedicated to the art of cooking, the visual arts, or the written word, there’s a plate with your name on it at this shindig. For more information, visit concretepoetry.splashthat.com.
Support Local Mixer: Collaboration at Brothers & Brawlers
6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20; free
Sure, the internet offers just about anything you desire delivered to your front door in hours. Diapers on demand are a dream, but wouldn’t you rather buy your radishes locally? Contributing to local businesses helps protect the environment and nurtures your community. Prism Creative group is helping small Miami businesses connect through its Support Local Mixer at Wynwood’s Brothers & Brawlers. The focus of this meetup is how to strengthen through collaborations. Local wares, handcrafted drinks, and food will sweeten the deal.
"I Love Sushi" Omakase Dinner at Pao by Paul Qui
7 p.m. Tuesday, June 20; $125
Chef Paul Qui’s omakase dinner will offer a medley of Japanese-inspired sushi dishes. His multicourse feast will show off the restaurant's best small plates, paired with spontaneous sushi creations. Seating is communal, and space is limited. Tickets cost $125 per person. For more information, call 786-655-5630.
Kaiseki Tasting at Lure Fishbar
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 21; $125
Attend an exclusive kaiseki tasting to welcome Lure Fishbar's newly appointed executive sushi chef, Kiichi Okabe. The six-course experience, curated by Okabe, is priced at $125 per person, which includes pairings of Suntory whiskey. Seating is limited. For reservations, call 305-695-4550.
Mystic & Holistic at Concrete Beach Brewery
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 21; free
Before WebMD, humankind had to turn to alchemists and snake oil salesmen for medical advice. Not all of their remedies were winners — blood letting, for example — but some have persisted, especially ones that have added benefits like getting you drunk. Concrete Beach is hosting an ode to the wisdom of old with Mystic and Holistic, a night of tarot card readings, crystal healings, and four versions of its Stiltsville brew made with different hops varieties. Hops have been used to treat insomnia, ADHD, and anxiety, and they also make beer delicious. So go ahead — drink to your health.
An Evening with Jack at R House Wynwood
8 p.m. Thursday, June 22; free
This is the first installment of R House's music dinner series. The restaurant's new monthly event — An Evening with Jack — is in collaboration with Jack Daniels. This week, enjoy a performance by Jeff Grainger and the Sinatra Band. The free concert will run throughout the restaurant's regular dinner and bar service. Expect Jack Daniels samples and promos for the early birds, and JD drinks specials all night long. For more information, visit Facebook or Eventbrite.
CityPlace Progressive Dinner Tour at CityPlace Doral
6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22; $47
In case your engagement with Miami-Dade restaurants is still limited to Coral Gables, Brickell, and South Beach, you should get to know CityPlace, the new dining, shopping, and entertainment mecca of Doral. The CityPlace Progressive Dinner Tour will introduce the uninitiated to the city's new cluster of restaurants and bars with a kind of sampling crawl across its concentrated grounds. After stops at CinéBistro, Icebox Cafe, the Rusty Bucket, and Sloan's Ice Cream, you'll be waddling to closing drinks at Cabo Flats with a newfound appreciation for what West Miami-Dade offers. For more information, call 305-205-9322.
Spice by the Sea at Artisan Beach House
7 p.m. Thursday, June 22; $75
To celebrate the return of Miami Spice, which kicks off in August, three waterfront dining destinations will team up for a one-night-only Miami Spice mash-up dinner. Chefs from Lightkeepers at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Tatel at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, and Artisan Beach House at the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour will curate a three-course, family-style meal offering selections from each restaurant’s upcoming Miami Spice menus. Priced at $75 per person, the preview dinner will include pours from Spice sponsors Chandon California, Stella Artois, Terrazas de los Andes, and Fiji Water. Seating is limited. Reservations are required; call 305-455-5460.
Best of Miami Party at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
8 p.m. Thursday, June 22; $50
Miami New Times is turning dirty 30 this year, meaning we're just as sexy but can impart something like sagely advice on you younguns. Which is why celebrating our yearly picks for the top places, people, and things in the Magic City is especially pertinent this year. At the Best of Miami Party, you'll not only be introduced to the crème de la crème, but also get free booze, bites, and entertainment courtesy of the crazy young aunt of South Florida newspapers. Let's hope we don't end the night crying under our birthday crown. For tickets and more information, visit newtimesbestofmiami.com.
Del Maguey Mezcal Tasting at Mercado Negro Mezcaleria
8 p.m. Thursday, June 22; $20
Enjoy an evening of drinks during Del Maguey Mezcal’s tasting and food pairing at Tacocraft's Mercado Negro. Tequila enthusiasts will get a taste of four exclusive mezcals from Del Maguey, paired with four mini tacos. Mercado Negro will also offer $8 Del Maguey Mezcal Vida cocktails throughout the evening. Admission costs $20. To RSVP, email [email protected].
Pineapples & Pizza at Matador Room
9 p.m. Thursday, June 22; $35
The folks at Matador Room assure us that the age-old debate is over: Pineapple and pizza do go together, and the combo is scrumptious. That's why they're pairing a Spanish ham pizza with a fancy pineapple cocktail and inviting everybody over to partake. It's the beginning of the restaurant's monthly series Pineapples & Pizza, which will offer live music and off-menu pairings of exotic pizzas and specialty cocktails. Naysayers are encouraged to bring a friend to share, although it's doubtful you'll be able to deny the deliciousness. For more information, call 786-257-4600.