Veterans Day is right around the corner and Coconut Grove will be front and center this year when South Florida honors its service men and women on Wednesday 11/11. The day begins with a Graveside Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Charlotte Jane Memorial Park Cemetery on Charles Avenue, followed by a morning parade on Grand Avenue from Elizabeth Street to Armbrister Park with marching bands and food vendors. With the conclusion of the election cycle, it’s the perfect moment to remember those that truly served.
Elsewhere this week, free burning boats, free world-class piano and free pizza at the movies makes it easy to grab a friend and explore the secrets of the neighborhood. Read on for a list of things to do…
Friday, November 6
The Ocean Chose You. You Choose Your Pizza. Disney’s live-action Moana sails onto the big outdoor screen. County and city electeds host this free family movie night, complete with pizza and popcorn for everyone. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, settle in and let Moana handle the ocean adventures. Manolo Reyes Park, 6030 SW 2nd St. Friday 11/6, 6–9 p.m. Free.
Caffeine and Adrenaline. Matt McKenna, founder of Miami’s Imperial Moto, shows off his new coffee-table book chronicling the rise of a homegrown brand built around motorcycles and the specialty coffee that fueled it. Books & Books, 3409 Main Highway. Friday 11/6, 6:30 p.m. Free; RSVP.
Saturday, November 7
Electronics Recycling Day. Dig out those old iPhones and laptops. The City of Miami is hosting another drive-through recycling day for electronic devices, including tabletop electronics and household batteries, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Regatta Park, 3500 Pan American Drive. Event Details.
Stop and Smell the Botany. Let’s Botanize, an educational nonprofit founded by two Harvard University researchers, wants to reveal the secrets of the plants you pass by. Join The Kampong for a lively introduction to Let’s Botanize! 101 Ways to Connect with Plants. A lecture and Q&A are followed by a guided botanizing walk through the garden, where you can put your newly sharpened powers of observation to work. The Kampong, 4013 S. Douglas Road. Saturday 11/7, 10 a.m. Free; registration required. Register.
Just How Does a Dance Begin? 4X4 takes you inside the creative process as four choreographers turn their ideas into movement, music and performance. From the Sanctuary of the Arts’ Choreographic Ensemble, they bring each vision to life and you’re there to serve witness. Sanctuary of the Arts. 410 Andalusia Avenue, Coral Gables. Saturday 11/7, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $18.
Sunday, November 8
The Big Reveal. Chopin for All presents its season’s first free Sunday afternoon performance November 8 at Granada Church. Paul Ji shows you just why he’s winning all the awards, traveling the world and cutting another record. Free concert, free parking and straight down Bird Road. Granada Church, 950 University Drive. Sunday 11/08, 3:00 p.m. Reservations recommended with open seating. Add to Calendar
Tuesday, November 10
Checkmate for Kids. Learn the basics or flex your chess muscle at the Virrick Park Library’s chess club for kids and teens ages 8 to 18. 3255 Plaza Street from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Free. Event Details.
Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day
Coconut Grove Stands Up Tall when South Florida honors its service men and women. The day begins early with a Graveside Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Charlotte Jane Memorial Park Cemetery at 3670 Charles Avenue, followed by a 10 a.m. parade on Grand Avenue from Elizabeth Street to Armbrister Park with marching bands and food vendors. Priceless.
Friday, November 13
The Grove’s Own 18 Wheelers Celebrate 30 Years. The 18 Wheelers mark their 30th anniversary with a hometown concert on The Barnacle lawn. The longtime local crowd favorite returns for an easygoing Friday night of live music under the trees, with picnics and BYOB welcome. The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Friday 11/13, 7–9 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. No pets. Tickets. Add to Calendar.
Where Cane Fever Catches Fire. Thousands of Hurricanes gather around Lake Osceola for one of the University of Miami’s signature Homecoming traditions: the boat-burning ceremony followed by a fireworks show over the lake. It’s part ritual, part spectacle and a very Miami way to see school spirit at full volume — even if you never attended UM. University of Miami, Coral Gables campus. Friday 11/13 8:30 p.m. Metrorail to University Station. More information. Add to Calendar.
Stars, Stripes and Very Short Pauses. The Miami Sousa Band salutes veterans with Marches of Honor, mixing patriotic favorites, classical selections and solo features. The selections arrive with barely a pause between them, so save the lengthy commentary for the ride home. Free and open to the public. First United Methodist Church Coral Gables, 536 Coral Way. Friday 11/13, 7:30 p.m. Info. Add to Calendar.
Young, Gifted, and Black. The Lowe Art Museum invites you to a happy hour celebrating the Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection of Contemporary Art, an exhibition showcasing contemporary Black artists and their perspectives on identity, culture and the world around them. Enjoy an early evening of art and conversation. Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables. Friday 11/13, 5–7 p.m. Pro tip: take the Metro to University Station. Plan your visit. Free.
Saturday, November 14
Santa Paws Is Coming to Town. The Barnacle goes to the dogs with Holiday Barkzaar, where your four-legged companion can chase a lure, splash in the doggie pools, pose with Santa Paws, compete in a holiday costume contest or demonstrate questionable table manners in the Pup Cup Showdown. Bring proof of your pup’s vaccinations and complete the required waiver; dogs must be leashed except in designated play areas. The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway. Saturday 11/14, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission $7; dogs and children 5 and under free. Tickets and doggie waiver.
Fitness, Health and Unity. Get moving with a beginner-friendly, no-equipment workout at St. James Baptist Church. Expect a full-body class, a judgment-free room and no pressure to arrive already in Olympic shape. St. James Baptist Church, 3500 Charles Avenue. Saturday 11/14, 1–2 p.m. Add to Calendar.
Save Me a Seat
Yoga in the Park. The fall series of free yoga classes continues with a session at Glass & Vine, 2820 McFarlane Road from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Sunday, 11/15. Free with registration. Details and registration.
The Kampong Reaches Beyond Serenity. Vespers–a restorative gathering blending quiet meditation, poetry, and collective sound-making–makes stress impossible within the garden’s tranquil surroundings.The Kampong, 4013 S. Douglas Road. Saturday 11/21, 3–4:15 p.m. Free; registration required. Limited to 30 participants. Register.
Art in the Garden Party. A ticketed event on Sunday 11/22 from 5 to 8 p.m. with Miami plein aire artists painting in the garden of a 1920s Coconut Grove estate, with finished artwork available at silent auction. Ticket proceeds support the 2027 Secret Garden Tour. Proceeds from the sale of all art benefit the artists. Details and Tickets.
Still Playing
The Early Birds. Fairchild’s Early Morning Bird Walks start before the garden opens, when hummingbirds and other winged residents are at their most active. Bring binoculars and meet at the South Gate Entrance for a guided walk along the Kushlan Bird Trail, with birding tips and species insights from trained guides. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road. 7:30–9:30 a.m. Capacity 20. Free for members with registration; nonmembers must purchase admission. Schedule and Tickets.
First Draft. A new monthly First-Thursday open-mic night is starting at Emissary Café, giving Grove writers, storytellers and other brave souls three minutes to get something new, rough or vulnerable out into the world. Read in English or Spanish, or just grab a coffee or glass of wine and listen while somebody else takes the risk. Sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m.; the mic opens at 7. Emissary Café, 3308 Mary St. 6:30 p.m.
The Doctor Is In. More than a century after Miami-Dade’s first female physician, Dr. Eleanor Galt Simmons, treated patients from a tiny limestone office, Meg Wallace becomes the first artist invited to exhibit inside it. Out of Darkness: The Ecology of Care places antique medicine bottles and archives in conversation with painting, sculpture, poetry, sound and a new film about South Florida’s mangroves, exploring how care sustains both people and ecosystems. Advance reservations recommended. The Kampong, 4013 South Douglas Road. Exhibition continues through 9/11/27.
The King Returns. The King Mango Strut Parade reclaims the streets of Coconut Grove for its annual dose of satire, costumes and wonderfully unserious civic spirit. The streets of Coconut Grove. Sunday 01/03, 2–6 p.m. Add to Calendar.
