Backpacks and Brain Freeze. School supply shopping? Brutal. Free gelato? Beautiful. After teaming up with the Grove’s BID (Thanks, BID!), Bianco Gelato is handing out free scoops to make your back-to-school grind a little sweeter — and a whole lot healthier. Their creamy, dreamy treats are vegan, dairy-free, white sugar-free, and kosher. Bianco Gelato, 3137 Commodore Plaza. Friday 8/15 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Free.
MUVE Volunteer Workday—Beach Edition. Roll up your sleeves for a morning of coastal love with Frost Science’s MUVE volunteer event. Meet at Virginia Key North Point Park for dune restoration — sea-oat planting, beach cleanup, and real community science vibes. All tools provided; just bring sun and bug protection, closed-toe shoes, and a water bottle. Saturday 8/16, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Free. Register now
One Afternoon Only: Loving Mathew. Area Stage hosts a special staged reading of Loving Mathew, the newest play by actress and playwright Wendy Bryan Michaels (I Love You Phillip Morris, Rabbit Hole, My Sister Is So Gay). This one-time-only performance explores love, resilience, and the ties that hold us together — brought to life by a gifted ensemble cast. Area Stage’s Black Box Theatre, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 286, South Miami. Saturday 8/16 at 2:00 p.m. Free with RSVP. Reserve your seat
Creepy Crawly Cinema. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden hosts a grown-up garden party with a bite — literally. The Bug-N-Grub Night Crawl & Movie Night invites you to explore after dark with bug-inspired cocktails, bold picnic flavors, and a cult-favorite flick under the stars. First up: Bug (Rated R). 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Saturday 8/16 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. Ages 21+ only. $30 solo or $50 for two; members save $5. Details and tickets
Pedals & Palms. Cruise through Coral Gables under the shady splendor of century-old trees on this month’s Cool Canopies bike tour. Guided by City Urban Forester Charles ‘Rick’ Carr, the ride highlights George Merrick’s original vision and the lush legacy he left behind. Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Avenue. Sunday 8/17 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring your own bike (and helmet for kids under 16). Register here
Paws and Applause. With about 7 billion internet videos to choose from (That’s a fact-checked number.), Art Cinema presents a selection of purrrrely cat-chy chaos at CatVideoFest 2025 — a purrfectly curated collection of feline hijinks from across the web. Whether you’re bringing your favorite cat person or flying solo, it’s 70+ minutes of meow-hem you won’t soon forget. Sourced from classic internet archives, hilarious home videos, and jaw-dropping cat stunts, this film is the catnip of cinema. Bonus: proceeds benefit local cat rescues. Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Avenue. One screening only on Sunday 8/17 at 11:15 a.m. Fur real, you don’t want to miss it. The purr-ice is paw-sitively purr-fect. More info and tickets. It will sell out.
Partnering for Progress? Fingers Crossed. Miami City Hall is hosting a free workshop aimed at helping residents become more effective partners in shaping city policies and navigating local government. Skeptical? Understood. But with reps from Planning & Zoning, Public Works, Police, Fire, and even the City Attorney’s Office in the room, this could be way more than just another glossy handout. Learn how to decode departments, understand zoning, build coalitions, and — maybe — get something done. Only one way to find out. Hosted by Commissioner Damian Pardo. Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive. Wednesday 8/20 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free. RSVP encouraged: (305) 250-5333 or [email protected].
Network and Nosh. Join the Grove Chamber for a relaxed evening of networking where Argentinian steakhouse tradition meets big flavor. Just a short walk from wherever you’re already hanging out in the Grove. La Cabrera Casa de Carne, 2895 McFarlane Road. Wednesday 8/20 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets here.
Bingo & Bites for Our Elders. National Senior Citizens Day gets the Grove treatment with an afternoon of bingo, light bites, music, and new connections — including a sneak peek at the neighborhood’s new eco-friendly Circuit shuttle. MDC Gibson Education Center, 3629 Grand Avenue. Thursday 8/21 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Free.
Dominican Republic Heritage at the Ballpark. The Marlins are bringing serious hometown pride to loan Depot Park — and not just in the stands. With seven Dominican players on the roster (that’s more than a quarter of the team), this celebration swings for the bleachers. On Saturday 8/23 at 4:10 p.m., the ballpark transforms into a high-energy tribute to Dominican culture, with music, food, and baseball that feels more like a block party than a ballgame. Ticket packages include a commemorative jersey, post-game entertainment, and music, music, music. More info
Plot Twist: New Hours, Happy Hours. Books & Books in the Grove just gave us more reasons to linger. They’re now open Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday to Saturday until 9:00 p.m. Happy hour runs daily from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., with local beers and wines that go down easy while you flip pages or swap gossip. 3409 Main Highway.
Save Me a Seat
Snails in Glass and Stone. The Haas Brothers’s S. Car, Go! exhibition is on view at the Lowe Art Museum through January 3, 2026. In the Project Room, the duo plays with scale and medium through whimsical site-specific works in glass and sculpted stone—where snails become absurdly charming art heroes. Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables. Free museum admission due to the generosity of Beaux Arts. Tickets here.
Pay-What-You-Wish New World Symphony Concerts. World-class orchestral music for as little as $0? Technically, yes — but come on, this is your chance to step into your patron-of-the-arts era. Don a blazer, channel your inner Medici, and toss a little extra generosity into the till. It’s high culture with a low barrier — and a golden opportunity to act like the big spender we both know you are. Get your tickets here. September concerts include:
- Strings: Clyne, Mozart & Beethoven — Saturday 9/13 at 7:30 p.m.
- Woodwinds + Brass: Dvořák, Shostakovich & Holst — Sunday 9/14 at 2:00 p.m.
- Tianyi Lu Conducts Bartók & Brahms — Saturday 9/20 at 7:30 p.m.
Frost Music Live. A new season of powerhouse performances begins September 19 at U-Miami’s Frost School of Music — and don’t let the word “school” fool you. These are world-class performances by top-ranked musicians, graduate students, and future doctoral-level professionals. Surprisingly affordable, and seriously impressive. Even better: it’s an easy ride from Coconut Grove. Just hop on the Metrorail at Douglas Road or Vizcaya Station and exit at University Station. Tickets typically range from free to $35. Check the full schedule here.
Harvest Hope & Heart in The Spitfire Grill. Actors’ Playhouse kicks off its new season — a soulful, folk-infused musical based on the beloved 1996 film. It follows Percy, a freshly released parolee, as she lands a second chance at life in a small Wisconsin town. Runs October 8 to November 2 at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables. Tickets are already on sale.
