Creative Marketplace Bazar À La Carte Returns to Miami on Its Florida Tour

How Bazar, a Central Florida creative hub that dubs itself "your third place," offers shopping, a bar, live music, and networking opportunities for local creatives. This week, its Gainesville-based arts and culture market, Bazar À La Carte, is stopping in Miami as part of a statewide tour running from July through December. It's the event's second year running at Miami's historic Riverset Studios in Riverside.

Bazar À La Carte guests will encounter food and drink vendors and lounge space as they stroll through the marketplace. As they head into the building's airplane hangar, they'll find about 50 vendors selling art, plants, records, clothes, and jewelry. Although the market originated in Gainesville, organizers say 90 percent of vendors are local.

"Every floor is going to be super active with different experiences and different collaborators who are from South Florida that are going to make different types of energy come to life in the space," says Laila Fakhoury, co-owner of How Bazar and coproducer of Bazar À La Carte.

Jolt Radio and Omni Soundspace are curating the event's soundtrack, featuring a lineup of eight DJs, including vinyl DJs, who will spin in different parts of the building throughout the night. You'll find vendors selling high-end jewelry and clothes right alongside vendors from Little River Flea, as Bazar À La Carte collaborates with markets with deep local roots. An art exhibition and group art show curated by Palmas de Luna and Man, I Love Figure Drawing, will display the work of about 25 artists, and guests are welcome to participate in ceramics, poetry, sewing,  and free figure drawing workshops.

Fakhoury says last year's event filled up quickly — it reached capacity shortly after doors opened — despite being rained out by Hurricane Debby's outer bands. How Bazar recommends purchasing tickets early to secure a spot for the best price this year, as prices will increase the week of the event. Organizers utilized two floors at Riverset Studios last year. This year, they'll use three. After the main event, there will be an afterparty at the Boombox.

This year's Bazar places greater emphasis on making long-term connections. Fakhoury says many of last year's attendees keep in touch and continue to collaborate on photo shoots, videos, and fashion projects. The coproducers encourage people to arrive with a mindset of openness, connection, and collaboration.

"You're going to get to meet a whole community of people that maybe you didn't realize were your neighbors, who have the same kind of energy, interests, and passion," Fakhoury says. "A lot of times, being creative, that's exactly what we need — that kind of community around us. Otherwise, it can feel a little daunting and lonely and less expressive."

Bazar À La Carte. 6 p.m. at Riverset Studios, 301 NW Ninth Ave., Miami; 305-318-4337. Afterparty at the Boombox, 4447 SW 75th Ave., Miami; theboomboxmiami.com. Tickets cost $5 to $13 via thehowbazar.com.