DISTRIKT : Best Events in Miami and Miami Beach

HistoryMiami museum hosts a free family fun day the second Saturday of every month, with free admission for all. The family fun day now is all day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum gathers and presents the history of Miami and South Florida as a cultural crossroads of the Americas. For more information, call 305-375-1492 or visit www.historymiami.org

The Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Division has added FREEdOM Project to its health, wellness and recreation programming. The free weekly community outdoor yoga class is led by Cat Haayen, founder of FREEdOM Project. It’s at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. During the class you’ll learn more about the ancient tradition of yoga, explore flexibility, balance and strength, create a practice of inner peace, help craft a happier, healthier, sustainable community and bring the body, mind and soul together for a greater good. No prior yoga experience is needed and all ages and yoga levels are welcome. Participants must bring their own mats.

The NY Yankees are coming to play against the Miami Marlins from the 15th of June to the 18th of June.

On Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., find such farmers market staples as fruit, vegetables, plants, honey and more. The market stretches along Lincoln Road from Meridian Avenue to Washington Avenue on Miami Beach.

To get a true taste of the Caribbean, you’d have to spend thousands of dollars island hopping and months of time off from your 9-to-5. But what if you could enjoy the cuisine of some of the region’s most talented chefs without having to deal with customs? For four consecutive years, that’s exactly what Taste of Caribbean has aimed to do, and it’ll return to Miami this Friday through June 14 for your eating pleasure. Taking place at the Hyatt Regency and presented by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the annual bacchanalia of Caribbean cooking brings together top toques and barkeeps for a bevy of culinary competitions.

The Miami International Boat Show, held annually in mid-February over President’s Day Weekend, is one of the greatest boat shows in the world. Whether you’re coming to shop for a new sailboat, yacht, powerboat or fishing boat, brush up on the latest in marine electronics or just check out what’s new on the boating scene, you’ll enjoy the Miami International Boat Show. This event features more than 3,000 boats and 2,000 exhibitors from all over the globe. Preview what’s new in boating and experience fun and education on the water. From the latest in powerboats, sailboats and engines to cutting-edge marine electronics and accessories to the best in nautical gifts, services and apparel, it’s the ideal shopping destination for every boater and offers entertainment for all ages.

What began as a small grassroots festival produced by the Miami Design Preservation League has grown into one of the largest celebrations of Art Deco architecture in the nation. Today, South Beach’s Art Deco Weekend has evolved to include musical performances, fashion shows, walking tours, movie screenings, a lecture series and a showcase of antique cars. Held annually over a three-day weekend in January, over 400,000 people come out for the festivities. The event is free and family-friendly with many activities for children. It’s a must-see spectacle for anyone interested in the history of South Beach.

The Lifetime Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is Miami’s premiere race, and has successfully brought Miami into the conversation of great running cities. Taking place annually in late January or early February, the marathon and half-marathon play host to over 25,000 participants each year, beginning at 601 Biscayne Boulevard, right in between the American Airlines Arena and The Freedom Tower.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the city of Miami Beach, the Miami Design Preservation League is presenting a Centennial Walking Tour, focusing on the history of the city. The 90 minute tour features some of the architectural landmarks of Miami Beach. Tours start at the Art Deco Welcome Center at 11 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors/students. Tickets may be purchased at the Welcome Center.

In Miami, we know how to put on a show, and this year’s Fourth of July events promise to deliver all the patriotism and excitement you would expect from the Magic City. This year marks America’s 239th birthday, so get ready to celebrate with parades, barbecues, and fireworks displays. And take advantage of the holiday weekend with these 2015 Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in Miami: Miami Beach The City of Miami Beach will be hosting its annual Fire on the Fourth Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Shore Park Bandshell at 73rd Street and Collins Avenue. There will be food trucks, live music and DJs. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. If you plan to watch them from the beach, get there early and bring a blanket or chair to claim your spot. Downtown Bayfront Park and Bayside Marketplace will team up again this year to present America’s Birthday Bash, one of South Florida’s largest fireworks displays. Bayfront Park will have a free all-day event from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. featuring a kid zone, food, beverages, petting zoo, giveaways and live music. The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. Come view the spectacle from the park, Bayfront Marketplace or aboard the luxurious SeaFair yacht. Key Biscayne The Village of Key Biscayne will be hosting its 56th annual Fourth of July Parade at 11 a.m. along Crandon Boulevard from Harbor Drive to West Enid. Bring the kids along to see traditional floats, bands and decorated golf carts. A Kiwanis Picnic on the Village Green will immediately follow the parade where the whole family can fuel up in time for the 9 p.m. offshore fireworks display. Coconut Grove Spend Independence Day in Coconut Grove and top off the holiday celebration with a spectacular fireworks display at 9 p.m. at Peacock Park. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., kids can enjoy free interactive art activities, balloon animals, ice cream and more. The Coconut Grove BID will be raffling off two Panama Jack Beach Cruisers. Park opens at 5 p.m. CocoWalk will also be hosting its 7th Annual Independence Day Hot Dog Eating Competition beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Barnacle Historic State Park will have an Old-Fashioned Picnic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Which one will you choose?

Celebrate Bastille Day (July 14) by partaking in French festivities around Miami FOOD AND WINE PAIRING AT L’ECHON BRASSERIE Pubbelly Boys’ new L’Echon Brasserie is saluting the French national holiday with a three-course prix-fixe menu ($55) and optional French wine pairing on Monday, July 14. The menu starts off with Provençal summer vegetable terrine or Niçoise salad, with a second-course option of crispy lamb belly or brochette of local tripletail. The meal ends on a sweet note with a choice of pot du opera with Panther Coffee mousse or Granny Smith apple mille-feuille with homemade ice cream. Get even more in the spirit with the absinthe-themed Bastille punch, La Fée Verte, composed of vodka, fresh Florida citrus, cucumber, cane sugar, and Pernod. 6261 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 786-483-1611 MAKE BAGUETTES AT LE CORDON BLEU COLLEGE OF CULINARY ARTS Start your Bastille Day celebration a little early this Saturday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m., when Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts is hosting a Bastille Day cooking demo of French dishes à la maison. Chefs will show you how to whip up baguettes, crêpes, French onion soup, and chocolate mousse. They’ll also offer tips to add French flair to your at-home cooking a la Julia Child. 3221 Enterprise Way, Miramar, 888-569-3222 BASTILLE DAY BRUNCH AT TAMARA BISTRO Sunday brunch takes on a French twist on July 13 at Tamara Bistro at the Art Deco National Hotel. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m., enjoy the sounds of jazz wafting from the French Horn Band while sipping themed cocktails and feasting on a menu complete with charcuterie, a pasta station, French cheese, and, of course, French pastries. 1677 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-532-2311 FIVE COURSES OF FRENCH FARE AT PALME D’OR Michelin-starred Executive Chef Gregory Pugin at the Biltmore Hotel’s Palme d’Or restaurant is serving a five-course Bastille Day dinner on July 14 ($105). Dine on an assortment of authentic dishes including foie gras terrine, les escargots de Bourgogne, l’agneau aux saveurs des pyrennees (lamb with sweet pepper and mashed beans) and la tarte tropezienne, composed of brioche, cream, honey, and almonds. 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables, 305-913-3200 SHOP LIKE A PARISIAN AT ISA Perfect your Parisian look when Miami-based, French-themed boutique Roses and Dreams pops up at ISA boutique on July 14. From noon-7 p.m., attend a shopping event offering exclusive prices and French indulgences like macarons and rosé. If you’ve been meaning to get to Paris for French labels like Emika Paris, Antik Batik, and Crezus Paris, this shopping excursion will save you a plane ticket. 34 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables, 786-558-8027

When you think of the personality types that are usually down for a fierce battle of skills and chest-thumping, fine artists might not immediately come to mind. Maybe that’s because we tend to see artists as soulful, sensitive types and not as passionate, fiery competitors looking to make their mark. Prepare to have your misconceptions crushed Friday, when a friendly little clash of creative forces among five local artists known as the Art Battle returns to the Art and Wine Promenade in Northwood Village. The participants will paint live, on three-by-four-foot canvases right in front of you and battle it out for your votes. Host Craig McInnis says guests will be asked to compare “apples to apples,” with the winning artist taking home gift certificates from Easel Art Supply in Lake Park. The event is part of community service for the Lot 23 program, an artist living and work space in the area. The recurring battles take place the last Friday of each month. July’s participants include returning champ Becky Osbourne Phillips, Dariel Donovan, Tasha Blymier, and Sami Makela. This month, McInnis takes a break from hosting, with Lot 23 resident Wayne Smith stepping in. Art Battle runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at 400 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach. Visit northwoodvillage.org. DETAILS Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. July 31 LOCATION INFO Art and Wine Promenade 400 Northwood Road West Palm Beach, FL