Miami Art Week has become one of Miami's most dynamic, exciting, and wildly popular events, drawing millions of international visitors yearly, and showcasing the most cutting edge contemporary art from around the world from Art Basel and the multitude of fairs. While getting a healthy dose of art-watching is a wonderful way to stimulate your intellect and awaken your creative sensibilities, it's also important to take some healthy time away from all of that aesthetic stimulation. Below we've listed 6 fun things to enjoy during Miami Art Week that don't require you to try to understand anything abstract.
- Eat and Drink
Even if you're not that interested in the art, you can definitely enjoy all of the social activities and VIP parties that Miami Art Week brings to town. One of my personal favorite Art Week activities is savoring the tasty brunches that many of our local art spaces serve up during this special time of year. In particular, I can't wait to chow down at the free Creole brunch being served up Friday December 6 starting at 9am at the Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design (MOAD), doled out with a side dish of free parking at 500 NE 2nd Avenue in Downtown Miami! Definitely arrive early for this.
Photo courtesy of Miami Dade College Museum of Art and Design (MOAD)
- Space Out
Any Miamian will tell you that the hectic pace and traffic created by millions of tourists flocking to our laid-back city in harried worship of the arts can make us locals feel a little weary. If you're in need of an escape from all of this earthly madness, a perfect getaway awaits at the Frost Science Museum, where you can go stargazing to your heart's desire in the amazing new Planetarium. Once you return from your voyage to the center of the Milky Way, you might be ready to brave the buzzing streets of Wynwood or South Beach once again.
Photo courtesy of the Frost Science Museum
- Spice Up Your Life
If your creative juices come alive in the kitchen, take some time out from the galleries to catch the Art Basel Edition of the Spice It Up food and drink extravaganza happening at Little Haiti Cultural Complex on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm. Master chefs, mixologists, herbal connoisseurs & exotic food gurus come together in a culinary feast for the senses, sharing kitchen secrets that are sure to liven up your next cooking adventure.
Photo courtesy of Little Haiti Cultural Complex
- Rock On
If music festivals inspire you more than galleries and museums, catch the Rakastella Music Festival on the beach at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park (4020 Virginia Beach Drive) on Saturday, December 7th. Doors open at 3pm in preparation for an all-night reverie curated by two of the world's most renowned music labels. The 17-hour sunset to sunrise happening will rock your world with a bevy of featured artists including Âme LIVE, Aurora Halal, Ben UFO, Dixon, DJ Minx, Jayda G, John Talabot, KiNK LIVE, Marie Davidson, Mor Elian, Öona Dahl, Palms Trax, Soul Clap, and Tara Brooks, among others.
- Beach Yoga
After a day of focused art viewing and a night of VIP partying, you may need to decompress your body and soul. A great way to re-align your chakras and recover some much-needed physical, mental, and spiritual energy is to indulge in a session of beach yoga. While there are many locations that offer this, one of our favorites is the sunrise/sunset yoga sessions at 3rd Street Beach Yoga in South Beach, located at 3rd Street beach... an excellent and healthy way to start your day and/or end your night. You can also catch a special edition of Yoga Art Basel at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Dec. 7 at 10am.
- Make Art
Renowned Beard-Award winner and NYC chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav partners with Habitat at 1 Hotel South Beach for a three-day, pop-up restaurant Dec. 4-6 and interactive art and dining experience. From Dec. 4-6, diners can enjoy a four-course, family-style dinner that includes signature dishes such as the Zahav Hummus-Tehina, Cauliflower Baba Ganoush, and Bulgarian Lamb Kebab, while book author and photographer Melanie Dunea's Don't Play with Your Food creates artwork to photograph and print presto for guests to take home.
Photo courtesy of Melanie Dunea
We're not saying that we don't appreciate the art – we definitely do. In fact, we'll be reveling in the fabulous, eye-popping exhibitions offered at all of our local galleries, fairs, museums, and alternative art spaces, and basking in the glow of an art-filled city with amazing public installations. But if Miami Art Week seems like an endless feeding frenzy of over-caffeinated art aficionados, here's to some Art Week events that aren't art! And remember that this, too, shall pass – even though we'll eagerly await its return next year!