Caitlin Driscoll

Locals and tourists can agree that the best things to do in Miami extend beyond lounging on the sand—though it goes without saying that spending some time on the best Miami beaches is fundamental to life in the 305. Aside from dabbling in our famous nightlife and exploring Miami's best bars, no trip would be complete without scoping out the booming culinary scene and our award-winning Miami restaurants. In between sunbathing, swimming and sipping cocktails, check off these essential Miami experiences, a mix of year-round attractions, seasonal events, cultural staples and exciting one-offs vetted by our expert editors and contributors. (We're a team of born-and-raised locals and passionate Miami transplants with an unhealthy aversion to staying home). By the way, this list is curated, as always, but isn't ranked—we just couldn't choose favorites. Updated October 2026: October in Miami brings a welcomed change of pace after a low-key summer. Festival season kicks into gear. The best bars and restaurants start to fill up, and cultural groups take the spotlight as several new productions come to the stage. Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15, and Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, heralding an epic weekend of parties and spook-tacular events. Here’s what we’re looking forward to. Best Things to do in Miami at a Glance Miami Spice — More than 300 restaurants offer discounted three-course menus starting at $40 for brunch and lunch, and $50-$65 for dinner. (

It’s finally October in Miami and fall is in the air. Well, not so much in the actual weather (it’s still hurricane season), but even so, you can feel it. October brings back the buzz after a slow-paced summer. Festival season kicks into gear. The city’s best restaurants start to fill up. New productions come to the stage—ballet, Broadway, a Caribbean carnival, too. Truly, the list goes on! Football returns to dominate our weekends, and Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15, a perfect moment to celebrate our city’s Latin-American culture. Culminating the excitement, Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, heralding a jam-packed weekend of parties, tricks, and plenty of treats. Simply put, October will be epic. Get out there and have some fun with our guide to the best events in Miami this month.

So long, summer! It's officially fall in Miami, the start of "busy season" and jam-packed calendars filled with music festivals, culinary pop-ups, and lots of Halloween flair. Call up a friend and try something new!   Visit the myriad art museums around the city, check out our many locals-approved attractions, or book a reservation from our ever-changing list of Miami's best restaurants. If you happen across a downpour (it's still hurricane season!), we have a few ideas to keep you busy when it rains. Read on for our curated guide to everything worth doing this weekend. RECOMMENDED: Things to do in Miami

September brings a unique energy to Miami—not quite summer, not quite fall, but still plenty busy. The in-between season has its perks as local creatives and small businesses take the spotlight. Think collaborative chef dinners, local theater productions, and free live music concerts. Many of Miami’s best restaurants offer discounted Miami Spice menus through the end of September (some as late as October). Plus, it's Hispanic Heritage Month, a perfect excuse to celebrate our city’s diverse offerings and the beautiful cultures that make Miami a joyful place to be any time of year. Curated below is our guide to all the special events and happenings worth checking out over the next seven days. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in Miami Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in Miami news, culture and dining.  

*Cues up Shania Twain* Let’s go, girls. Ladies’ night in Miami is an age-old ritual in which several busy women carve out time on their precious calendars to gather and gossip, preferably over free food and drinks. And so long as women earn 81 cents for every dollar paid to men (down 3 cents from 2025!), ladies’ night is very much warranted. Updated August 2026: Our list of the best ladies’ night deals in Miami has narrowed to local bars and restaurants that offer complimentary drinks and special-priced bites to ladies on a regular basis. Glitzy dinner parties alone did not make the cut. We removed listings that have temporarily closed or relocated, including Spanglish and Biscayne Bay Brewing Co. Sadly, we must report that several locations have discontinued their ladies’ night promos in the last year (call it a recession indicator). Just two new additions made the cut: Monty’s in Coconut Grove, and Mango’s on Ocean Drive. Thank goodness for old faithfuls! RECOMMENDED: The best rooftop bars in MiamiThe best bars in MiamiThe best happy hours in Miami

September in Miami marks the slow return of snowbirds, a fast return to tourist season, and an omnipresent fear of hurricanes sneaking onto shore. But it’s not all busy bees and doom-gloom here. September also brings a slew of local events and annual programs that spotlight Miami’s best restaurants, cultural museums, and the Latin-American heritage that makes our city famous. One of our favorite annual events, Miami Spice, continues strong through the end of September, offering special-priced menus at Michelin-starred restaurants starting at just $40. Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off September 15 with a range of cultural events and concerts through mid-October. A historic South Beach party, exciting theater productions, and NFL games round out the season.   RECOMMENDED: Guide to Miami events

August in Miami feels like a sweaty hug: warm, sticky, and oddly comforting. Fewer crowds and snowbirds lend a sense of calm to the city. There’s more room to sprawl at Miami’s best beaches, more free concerts by local artists, and serious “staycation” deals at Michelin-rated hotels. Consider it our reward for tolerating daily downpours, and the humidity. Oh, the humidity! Thankfully, August saves the best summer events for last. Miami Spice returns with wallet-friendly specials at over 300 local restaurants, and Miami Spa Months continue the trend with savings on all sorts of wellness treatments, from Turkish foam massage to CBD facials. It’s a grand summer finale this August in Miami, complete with pool parties and art exhibitions wrapped in air-conditioned splendor. Take your pick from our August event guide and experience Miami summer like a local. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in Miami

Not to be a downer, but it rains in Miami. Like, a lot. Especially in the summertime, and especially (seemingly) whenever you had plans to do something outside. Whether that comes as a surprise or you were fully privy to Miami’s tropical wiles but simply hoped for the best, here we are. It’s wet out, and you’re looking for something to do that won’t totally spoil the day. The good news? We’ve got plenty of sweet indoor activities in Miami for when the storms roll in.  Shopping is always an excellent option, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to get off the sand and explore the city’s world-class museums. But really, there’s so much more to Miami beyond the beach, so consider now the perfect opportunity to take it all in. Below, we’ve sourced an in-depth, fully vetted guide to making the most of your rainy day in Miami, including kid-friendly activities, cozy adventures, self-care moments and boozy options, too.

Don we now our gay apparel! Pride Month has arrived. A celebration of the history and culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities, Pride also recalls the importance of resistance. Of standing up for others, caring for our neighbors, and demanding equal rights for a safer, more inclusive world.  Ready to party and show support? Our 2026 Miami Pride Guide has all the juicy details on the best Pride events in Miami this April. Plus, our top picks for the best queer parties, places, and spaces that center the LGBTQ+ community year-round. But wait, there’s more! Think inclusive field days and film festivals, all with insider tips from Miami’s reigning queens and cultural savants.  Here’s where to celebrate Pride in Miami this season. RECOMMENDED: The best gay clubs and bars in Miami for a night out with the boys

In a city that’s literally always late, Miami’s hospitality scene moves at the speed of light. Hot new restaurants are spawning every day. Dive bars suddenly close and magically reopen. By the time you’re done reading this story, another glitzy brunch spot will have opened on the Miami River. The same velocity applies to our nightlife. South Beach mega-clubs reigned supreme in the ‘80s through the early 2000s. The arrival of Downtown’s “24-hour district” brought warehouse raves to the mainland, and today, a growing local cohort is pushing the envelope with smaller, more intentional lounges that focus less on bottle service and more on Hi-Fi sound systems.  While many of us mourn the bygone nightclubs (Grand Central, I miss you), our city’s current variety is really something to celebrate. Fancy a Vegas-style bacchanal with sparklers affixed to your Belvedere? There’s a club for that. Looking for a laidback vibe with mocktails and vinyl DJs? Honey, take your pick. Our latest guide to the best clubs in Miami looks to that variety and spotlights the top destinations for quality sound, curated lineups, and a damn good time on the dancefloor.  Updated January 2026: We’ve shifted away from listening bars and daytime patio parties to narrow our focus on late-night clubs and lounges. Factory Town and ZeyZey were omitted with that in mind (they’re venues more than clubs). Hyde Beach was removed as it’s closed for renovations. In their place, we welcome three new additions: MAD Radio,

How do we sum up 2025 in Miami? It was a year of triumphs: the legendary music venue Churchill’s Pub switched back on its speakers for the first time since 2020, and Allapattah’s grungy Las Rosas bar reopened, signaling a fresh rock ‘n’ roll renaissance. On the culinary front, Coral Gables’ beloved Fiola closed its doors—but only to make way for Daniel’s, the chef’s namesake steakhouse that has since been ranked among the world’s best.  It was also a year of heartbreaks: After being named 2024’s best chef in the South by the James Beard Foundation, Chef Valerie Chang shuttered her Midtown Peruvian restaurant, Maty’s, this summer. Miami’s queer community lost one of its only havens when Willy’s Neighborhood Bar closed suddenly, citing rapid redevelopment on its Wynwood street. Nearby, the longtime fixture Gramps Bar announced it would close forever at the beginning of 2026…among so many more sad goodbyes. Geographically, northern neighborhoods like Little River and Normandy Isles have continued to blossom with impressive new restaurants, galleries and nightlife venues, while Downtown has battled endless construction gridlock and iconic neighborhoods like South Beach seem to be reinventing themselves altogether. Imports from NYC and elsewhere are still flocking to Miami, but 2025 felt decidedly more locally driven, and that’s a beautiful thing. This year, like most, has been a mixed bag in Miami. For all its mishaps and low points, though, we believe this Magic City is moving i

October in Miami has plenty of frights. The mayoral election race, the downtown “spider bridge” and the omnipresent chance of hurricanes, to name a few.  Considerably less scary is Halloween, perhaps the city’s favorite holiday, where everyone is invited to let their freak flag fly. There are no rules to celebrating Halloween in Miami. Matching costumes with your dog? Sure, why not. A haunted garden party? Check. Dancing like a zombie for 12 hours straight? There’s a festival for that.  From a blood-soaked warehouse rave to a spooky night swim, here are some of the best Halloween parties in Miami for 2025.  RECOMMENDED: Halloween Horror Nights 2025 at Universal Orlando Resort: our ultimate guide to tickets, dates and more

On Sunday, October 4, several art galleries will open their doors at the same time, 11am to 4pm, as part of Progressive Art Brunch, a citywide program that spotlights leading contemporary art galleries in Allapattah, Little River, Little Haiti, and beyond. Here’s how it works: pick a neighborhood from the event website and map out your very own art crawl with stops like Dot Fiftyone, the Mindy Solomon Gallery, and Pan American Art Projects. Everything is self-guided; move at your own pace and let curiosity lead the way. Free to attend for all ages.

Don your finest stockings à la Dr. Frank-N-Furter and head to Pinecrest Gardens for a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday, October 2, at the Banyan Bowl amphitheater. In true cult fashion, the screening will have a live shadow cast lip-syncing and pelvic-thrusting alongside the film. Guests are encouraged to join the fun and dress the part, too (the best costumes win a cash prize). Tickets from $20.

It’s Karol G’s world, we’re just living in it. Colombia’s reggaeton-pop superstar has been on a generational run since she catapulted to fame in 2017 – six Latin Grammys, record-breaking Billboard debuts, and now, a fifth studio album with a global tour. Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour stops in Miami this weekend with two shows at Hard Rock Stadium, October 2 and October 3. Meanwhile, in Wynwood, superfans can immerse themselves in Karol G’s Tropicoqueta universe at a free pop-up experience presented by Cash App. Shop exclusive merch and collect passport “stamps” as you venture through interactive moments inspired by the tour’s signature song. The latter is free to attend, 11am to 6pm, October 2-3, at 555 NW 29th Street.

A new citywide cocktail program is offering discounted drinks at some of the best bars and restaurants in Miami, all October long. Back for its second year, ¡Salud! is sort of like the Miami Spice program, but instead of prix-fixe dinner, you get happy hour pricing on exclusive ¡Salud! cocktail menus. The catch? Offers are only available ‘til 10pm. More than 50 local spots are participating this year, including old favorites like Macchialina, Grazianos, Fox’s Lounge, and Sweet Liberty. See what the hype is about at spots like ViceVersa, go for glamour at the Delano’s Rose Bar, or check out newer, curious spots like Lovecat by Bar Not Found.

There’s no musician quite like Thundercat. A virtuoso bassist, singer-songwriter, and anime superfan, the Grammy Award-winning artist brings his eclectic style and jazzy-funk prowess to The Miami Beach Bandshell on Friday, October 2, as part of his "Distracted AF" Tour. Tickets start at $75 for standing general admission. 

On Saturday, October 3, Zoo Miami hosts the first-ever Wild Fork Meat & Seafood Festival featuring live cooking demonstrations, animal encounters, and a dedicated kids zone. General admission tickets ($75 for adults, $25 for children) include all-you-can-eat selections of premium meats and seafood dishes, and unlimited wine and beer for guests ages 21 and older. Come for the delicious eats, stay for the tiger feeding and chance encounters with Ron Magill.

Stroll through Little Havana on any given day and you’re nearly guaranteed to hear Buena Vista Social Club. Cuba’s beloved music ensemble became an international sensation during the 1990s with hits like “Chan Chan” and “Tiene Sabor”. Decades later, their influence carries on with the Tony- and Grammy Award-winning musical, Buena Vista Social Club, inspired by the group’s legendary singer, Omara Portuondo. The show runs September 29 through October 4 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, with tickets starting at $52.65. Along with the production, the Adrienne Arsht Center is hosting Rhythm & Roots, a free outdoor concert series featuring live music, domino games, historic artifacts, and more. Grab your complimentary ticket in advance, and get there early to navigate parking.

Miami’s homegrown music scene continues to evolve, thanks in no small part to III Points festival. This year, local acts make up nearly one-third of the lineup, and even more locals are working behind the scenes, managing everything from set design to stage builds to social media campaigns. Curious to get involved? Check out Points of View this weekend, a free two-day seminar designed for emerging artists and industry professionals. Featuring a range of industry leaders—booking agents, city planners, club promoters and others—a series of panel discussions and break-out sessions will pull back the curtain on trade secrets and best practices, and look to what’s next for Miami nightlife.

Is your wellness routine longer than a CVS receipt? Consider a trip to Wynwood on Friday, September 25, for Collagen Cafe, a pop-up event by Revive Collagen. From 10:30am to 8pm at Libertino Café, the UK-based beauty brand will debut a new “Functional Mushroom” line alongside 500 complimentary drinks, live DJ sets, brand goodies, and a meet-and-greet experience with Revive’s founder and reality TV star, Sam Faiers. Free to attend.

‘Tis the season for jump scares and gut-wrenching screams. In other words, House of Horror is back. The annual South Florida scare-fest returns for its 25th year, September 24 through November 1, at an all-new location: Tropical Park. Included with general admission, five haunted houses and unlimited carnival rides await, if you dare. Outdoor scare zones, live entertainment, and food and drink vendors keep things light between the action. Or, brave souls can test their nerves on Howie’s Blind Terror, a pitch-dark rollercoaster run by psychopathic clowns. Fun! Keep an eye out for weekday deals and special theme nights (October 13 is Country Night). 

Picture this: flickering candlelight, a string quartet, Bad Bunny covers, and a giant pineapple. Such is the scene at Ball & Chain on Thursday, September 24, when Candlelight Concerts takes over the famously fruity stage. Music lovers have their pick of two 60-minute tribute concerts—José José at 7pm, and Bad Bunny at 9:15pm— performed by the Listeso String Quartet. Separate tickets are required for each concert, available from $43 online. Open to ages 8 and up.

Ain’t no party like a Dante’s HiFi party. Five years ago, the velvet-smooth vinyl lounge opened its doors and upped the ante on Wynwood nightlife. This week, on September 24, Dante’s is marking the occasion with an anniversary party headlined by founders and local favorites. Walshy Fire, Alan Drummond, Rude Boy Sven, Rich Medina, and Dvize are all in the courtyard while Arturo, YNOT, and others hold it down inside. Expect a crowd that’s ready to dance; hip-hop, Afrobeat, and dancehall are spinning all night long ‘til 3am. 

It’s a rainy Sunday morning in Miami, and instead of cozying up, I’m on a mission to solve a burning question: what in the world is Cuckoo Clock? You see, for months, I’d driven past a mysterious old building on the corner of Northwest First Avenue in Little Haiti. The signs for barbecue and German beer caught my attention first, then the name, Cuckoo Clock, in a gothic Old English-looking font. “This is so random,” I thought to myself. What I found on Google intrigued me more: an impressive 4.9-star rating and over 350 reviews heaping praise on the friendly staff, the authentic vibe, and most of all, the food. Platters of bratwurst and Bavarian gulasch, giant salted pretzels, a mystery dish called “weiner art” and black forest cake. Also, it’s après-ski-themed. No signs of barbecue (ahem, you’ll find some here), but nevertheless, I’m hooked.  Photograph: Caitlin Driscoll for Time OutCuckoo Clock “Did you know about this?” I texted my friends. Have I been living under a rock? It turns out, yes, I may be a hermit, as Cuckoo’s been open since January 2025. They tell me it’s a hangout for soccer fans, and a rowdy one at that. Could this be my spot for World Cup watch parties? I call for an investigation, and by that, I mean brunch. Unexpected après-ski oasis in Little Haiti We brave torrential downpours and follow our mission, timed with the Premier League Cup final. My group is the first to arrive, but we’re not lonely for long. A motorcycle gang rolls in, and by the looks of

Of all the adjectives to describe Miami, “affordable” hardly comes to mind. Tack on tariffs and the rising cost of gas, and suddenly you’re resolved to stay home forever. Mercifully, Miami has plenty of free entertainment to seek out this summer: art exhibits, yoga class, and live music, too.  Our latest music guide spotlights the best local bars and lounges that offer free entry, free performances, and laid-back atmospheres fit for lingering. Each listing also includes a happy hour deal or special-priced item to enjoy with your wallet-friendly outing. Supporting locals and saving some sheckles? We call that a win-win. Here’s where to find free live music in Miami this summer. Las Rosas If rock ‘n’ roll is more your speed, visit Las Rosas in Allapattah. The resurrected dive bar has free live performances several times a week, spanning punk, blues, darkwave, and more. They’ve got a proper stage with a solid sound system, and rotating drink specials like the $6.66 Las Rosas Lager and beer-and-shot combos from $10, available daily. On Tuesdays, live band karaoke invites everyone to be a part of the show.    Conventillo This cozy Argentine cocktail bar leans into its heritage with a bi-weekly Tango night on Tuesdays. The evening begins at 8 pm with a complimentary Tango lesson by two championship dancers, Rocio y Germán. Then, at 9 pm, a live Tango band performs original songs and Argentine classics surrounded by soft candlelight. Get there early for happy hour specials like $8

It’s a balmy Thursday evening in Miami’s North Beach. My friend, Jose, picks me up for a midweek rendezvous. We’re heading to La Poubelle, a speakeasy cabaret in Normandy Isles, though neither of us is sure where to go. This place is a well-kept secret. They never advertise, they barely promote, and you won’t find it on Google Maps, either. The exact location is revealed when you purchase tickets, and even then, you may struggle—but there are clues: poubelle is French for ‘trash can’. I find the directions and read them out loud like I’m following MapQuest in the year 2004. After a few missed turns, we seemingly arrive at our destination: a nondescript parking lot. “Are you sure this is it?” Jose asks. “I think so,” I respond. “I see a bunch of dumpsters over there. We must be close.” There’s a handsome blonde man lingering by the dumpsters. That’s definitely it, I think to myself, and that is definitely David. With sharp cheekbones and a charming smile, David Sexton is the face of La Poubelle. He’s also the producer, maître d' and tonight, he’s playing the doorman. “Bienvenue!” he says. “Are you here for La Poubelle?” Bingo. Photograph: Caitlin Driscoll for Time OutLa Poubelle is hidden behind this dumpster The making of Miami's newest speakeasy cabaret Chatting with David feels warm and familiar, like catching up with an old friend. He tells us La Poubelle just opened a year ago, in August of 2024. What started as a once-monthly cabaret has evolved into a neighborhood sta

8:03pm Dear Diary… My Friend Misty is throwing one of its signature parties at the Museum of Sex tonight—a dark, romantic soirée layered with intrigue and sensory pleasures. Very much my scene. If past Misty parties are any indication, we’re in for a tantalizing treat.  Tonight’s affair takes place inside an erotic carnival. Misty tells me to dress the part. I’m wearing a pair of dark green Victorian bloomers. (I love saying ‘bloomers.’) White cufflinks, a black ruffled corset, and a pair of lacy black stockings, I think I pull it off. Leaning into the carnival theme, I paint my lips like a ventriloquist puppet, with cheekbone hearts and a pink button nose. It’s Moulin Rouge-meets-Barnum & Bailey. Just need to find my riding crop, and I’m off for the night… Photograph: Caitlin Driscoll for Time OutMy Friend Misty at the Museum of Sex in Miami 10:07pm We have arrived. I check in with Alan T, a legend of Miami nightlife, and search for Tam Gryn, the museum’s curator. I find her smiling atop the staircase, in a pleated blue skirt with metal studs. Before we hit the dancefloor, Tam walks us through the exhibitions. First is "Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency," a journey of sexual health mirrored by American media. We marvel at douches from the 1920s. There’s a paper from Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. “Whatever is happening in the world reflects in art, and reflects in sex culture,” Tam tells me. We look at post-World War II advertisements warning

Make a wish! Miami’s wildest nightclub, E11EVEN, is turning 11 this week. Once a tattered warehouse on the corner of Northeast 11th Street, the downtown mecca has drawn international fame and A-list celebrity fans for its unique “ultraclub,” a magic potion brewed with the spectacle of theater, the scandal of cabaret, and the glamorous debauchery of Vegas—with an over-the-top attitude that can only be Miami.   Ahead of their birthday bacchanal, we spoke with the founders of E11EVEN and teams behind the scenes for the craziest, jaw-dropping moments of the last 11 years. Take a trip down memory lane, and join the celebrations from January 30th to February 2nd for performances by Lunay, Marshmello, and more surprise acts to be announced.  Playboi Carti finds himself in a cage  “Hands down, the biggest moment for me was when Playboi Carti performed in July 2023,” says Carolina Joaquinez, Show Producer for Theatrics and Costuming. “A massive cage was built on stage, which we managed to set up in a matter of minutes. He started his performance inside of the cage, but the whole atmosphere shifted when Playboi Carti went on top of the cage…The crowd went absolutely wild.”  Photograph: Courtesy ADINAYEVPlayboi Carti at E11EVEN A shoe-less Kanye West shows up to the party  “During Art Basel 2023, the night Lil Wayne was performing, perhaps one of the strangest moments [at E11EVEN] was when Kanye West arrived unannounced, wearing socks but no shoes,” says Daniel Solomon, the club’s Ope

The story of Wynwood is all too familiar. Industrial area sees local artists set up shop. Area becomes cool and popularity explodes. Corporate brands and chains move in, the cool factor fades, and the original movers and shakers get priced out of the neighborhood they helped create. It’s true, Wynwood of today is vastly different from 10 years ago, and 10 years before then, and so on. But as a lifelong Miami girl, I’ve held on to hope that Wynwood maintains some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, and fun activities that are light on the wallet.  Photograph: Caitlin Driscoll for Time OutA graffiti artist doing his thing in Wynwood, Miami's arts district that's become quite commercialized over the last decade To test this theory, I romped around Wynwood to revisit old favorites and uncover some new-to-me spots that still embody the cool, independent spirit we knew Wynwood for. Here’s what I found. Photograph: Caitlin Driscoll for Time OutMy steaming cortado from Suite Habana Cafe, a local family-run cafeteria in Wynwood, Miami You don't have to go to Little Havana for real-deal Cuban coffee I started off hot—steaming hot—at Suite Habana, a local family-run cafeteria that brews its own specialty Cuban coffee. The ambiance here is bright and cheery; quiet enough for worker bees to crank out emails, but lively enough to chat with friendly baristas and avoid side-eye from the worker bees.  There are classic go-to’s like cafecito, cortado and iced cafe con leche, and

Back-to-school season has arrived. To me, a childless adult, this means more traffic and a tinge of jealousy toward the kids. Days full of arts and crafts, science projects, reading books and lunchtime with friends? Sounds kind of wonderful!  Middle school me would cringe reading this, but present-day Caitlin feels nostalgic for her youth—at least the fun parts, like volleyball practice and drama club rehearsal. Thankfully, Miami has plenty of creative workshops and adult learning courses, so it’s easy to get back to class and learn something new. To test this theory, I rolled up my high school musical sleeves for the Level 1 improv class at Villain Theater in Little Haiti. Here’s how it went. Photograph: Falyn Wood for Time Out Setting the scene Founded in 2015, Villain Theater is a local theater company and cozy black box theater located on Second Avenue near the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. I pulled up on a rainy Wednesday night for VT-1: Improv Foundations, an introductory course to the art of improv acting.  It’s been a while since I belted “Seasons of Love” on stage. As it turned out, that didn’t matter. My group had a woman in cyber security, a casino manager and a Pilates instructor, among others—we were all different ages and backgrounds, and no one had any improv experience. One student enrolled to “bring more zing” to her public speaking. Another wanted “a form for more fun and laughter.” Mostly, we were all there to let loose and have fun. Class started with

Much like Dante’s “Inferno,” a Miami summer has nine circles of hell. We start in limbo, where the weather is moody and the snowbirds take flight. Slowly, we descend into a tropical fever dream, our skin practically set on fire, begging for mercy in the form of cold A/C.  It’s not all doom and gloom though. With each circle comes the chance for salvation, a way to look at the bright side and make the most of summer in Miami—like frozen soft serve or cute little trips to the gardening center. What summer fate awaits you? Read on if you dare to find out. See you in hell! Circle One: The Great Migration Watch as Miami’s part-time pleasure seekers flock up north and cross the pond. It’s far too humid for their taste, so off to the Hamptons and Bordeaux they go. Our fragile snowbirds will fly down again at their soonest convenience, probably when hurricane season ends and state tax extensions are due. The salvation: Empty nests mean baller Airbnb staycations. Now’s the time to invite your friend down from Minnesota, and maybe even score a reservation at Boia De.  Photograph: Shutterstock Circle Two: Borderline Concerning Can you believe it's this effing hot already? Was the 4th of July this brutal last year?! Our regular record-breaking temps are cause for concern—but also a great excuse for a Miami pool party. The salvation: Miami is stacked with beautiful pools, from swanky beach clubs to spacious city pools in Brickell. Pick your favorite and play tourist for the day. Circle

Every March, music lovers from around the world flock to our city for the annual bass-filled bacchanal known as Miami Music Week. This year, seemingly every major electronic DJ is playing a show, from sun-soaked pool parties in Miami Beach to Downtown’s massive Ultra Music Festival, to sweaty warehouse raves in Little River.  This eclectic mix of artists and events attracts a wide range of characters, offering up some excellent people-watching. Here’s a preview of the nine kinds of party-goers you’ll meet at Miami Music Week. RECOMMENDED: The best Miami Music Week pool parties for daytime debauchery 1. The guy with the all-access Space pass Miami Music Week is this guy’s Super Bowl. He put in his PTO request in September. Honestly, the stamina is pretty impressive. Watch him jump from Factory Town to the Space terrace, back to Factory Town, and round and round he goes. Without skipping a beat, this B2B party boy can tell you exactly who’s playing on any given stage across the Club Space universe—and that’s no small feat.  Photograph: Courtest Ultra Music Festival/Doug Van Sant Photography 2. Rave babies Going to Ultra is like a rite of passage for Miami teens. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, the adorably clueless rave baby is having the time of their life with absolutely zero regard for how to behave in a crowd. They’re pushing their way to the front, wearing completely nonsensical footwear and dripping glitter from head to toe. They’ll scream and shout as the Metro Mover app

From my early days crowd surfing at Vans Warped Tour, to my more recent Hot Topic-themed birthday, to the septum ring my parents hate, I’ve always held a deep appreciation for punk culture. But skateboarding? Not in my wheelhouse.  Be it fear of falling (or fear of looking stupid in all that padding), I'd never actually hopped on a skateboard. But after my first lesson at SkateBird Miami in El Portal, I seriously can’t wait to hop back on.  MORE THAN A SKATE PARK Tucked away on an unsuspecting street off Biscayne Boulevard and NE 83rd, SkateBird is the definition of a hidden gem. While technically a pro-level park, it feels more like a giant community center. Parents are dropping off kids for lessons, regulars greet each other by name, locals are picking up pizza to-go. I immediately felt at home, something SkateBird Founder and CEO Joner Strauss says was built by design.  “SkateBird is a curated safe space for kids and adults to learn the culture,” he says. “In the past, to be part of the street skateboard culture, you had to hit the streets and there’s risks to that. Here, we’ve curated it so that Miami has a space for an Olympic sport, where people from all walks of life can coexist and grow safely.” Photography: Courtesy Skatebird GEARING UP After checking in at the front desk, I met Coach Cody, SkateBird’s Head Coach and Park Manager, for my trial class. Required for newcomers and experienced skaters alike, this 30-minute class ($20) includes all of the protective gear