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Category: 2024 Press Releases
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October 31, 2024
— The City Commission recently updated protections for endangered sea turtles —
Miami Beach, FL – The Miami Beach City Commission has updated the city’s 18-year-old protections habitat for endangered sea turtles to include lights visible from the beach, integrating interior lighting standards for hotels and commercial properties as well as limiting fireworks to barges that affect the more than 7 miles of beachfront.
“We are encouraging everyone to do their part to help preserve this endangered species and comply with the ordinance by minimizing unnecessary artificial light sources visible from our beaches,” explained Miami Beach City Commissioner David Suarez, who sponsored the amendment to the city’s Turtle Nesting Protection ordinance that was approved on second reading during yesterday’s Oct. 30 meeting. The original ordinance was adopted in 2006.
Protected by the US Endangered Species Act of 1973 and Florida Statute Chapter 370, sea turtles, their nests or hatchlings may not be harmed or harassed under penalty of law. The City of Miami Beach is a nesting ground for three species of protected sea turtles: Loggerhead, Green and Leatherback. Handling of turtles and nests is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Sea turtle nesting in Miami Beach is from April 1 to October 31st.
The ordinance also expands the applicability to include properties west of the Coastal Construction Control Line, codifies special event requirements to protect sea turtles and encourages red and amber filters for authorized vehicles that may need to access the beach at night. The Miami Beach Police Department has been piloting these light filters during the 2024 season.
In urban coastal cities like Miami Beach, sea turtle hatchlings become disoriented by artificial lighting and never find their way to the ocean. The city has a “Flip the Switch” campaign and hosts an annual family-friendly Turtle Fest event to provide education. The city asks the community to keep lights low, long and shielded to minimize the impact of artificial lighting on the beachfront and educate residents and businesses about precautions they can take to avoid disturbing sea turtles during nesting season. Visit www.mbrisingabove.com/seaturtles for additional information.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 30, 2024
— Providing $957,151.36 to local organizations —
Miami Beach, FL – The Miami Beach City Commission has unanimously voted on nearly doubling its planned one-time contribution to local arts and culture organizations that have been hard hit by the loss of state funds for cultural and museum grants during the 2025 fiscal year.
“Miami Beach's arts and culture institutions not only provide jobs and tremendous economic impact to our city, but also extend benefits and free programming to our residents and students,” shared Miami Beach Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt, who urged her colleagues to approve the funding request. “As we transition from a party-till-you-drop city to one with robust diverse entertainment options, this one-time stop-gap funding will continue to cement our reputation for a city which values our cultural anchors.”
The additional city funding would come to about $960,000 over and above what the city typically contributes to its 16 different museums, performance venues and similar organizations that collectively provide a wealth of cultural offerings. The commission previously included a one-time expenditure of $492,676 in the upcoming budget to close the funding gap, but that represented only about 50% of the lost funds. The additional increase would bring the percentage to 100% of the 48% State Legislature recommended funding at $932,151.36.
Funding in the amount of $25,000 is also being provided for the South Beach Jazz Festival, which will take place over four days between January 9-12, 2025 at various locations throughout the city.
The City of Miami Beach was the first municipality in the State of Florida to attempt to make up the state budgetary shortfall — with St. Petersburg passing a similar measure to support its local arts organizations as well.
According to a 2023 study by Americans for the Arts, the City of Miami Beach received a $334.9 million economic boost from its arts and culture focus in the prior year. The study looked at 373 diverse communities and regions from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
The city funding gap measure will be shared among the following 17 Miami Beach-based cultural institutions and organizations in varying amounts:
- The Bass Museum
- The Dance Now! Ensemble
- FUNDarte
- Holocaust Memorial
- Jewish Museum of Florida—FIU
- Living Arts Trust (O Cinema)
- Miami City Ballet
- Miami Beach Botanical Garden
- Miami Design Preservation League
- Miami Music Festival
- Miami New Drama
- New World Symphony
- O, Miami
- The Rhythm Foundation
- South Beach Jazz Festival
- South Florida Art Center (Oolite Arts)
- The Wolfsonian—FIU
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October 30, 2024
— 12 artists will exhibit one-of-a-kind art projects and installations at area hotels with $35,000 in prize money up for grabs during Art Week Miami Beach —
Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach, in collaboration with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), is pleased to announce the return of No Vacancy, Miami Beach — a juried art competition that supports and celebrates local artists, provokes critical discourse and encourages the public to experience Miami Beach’s famed hotels as art destinations. For the fifth edition of the competition, No Vacancy, Miami Beach 2024 will include 12 participating artists and collectives that will present site-specific works at 12 different hotels around Miami Beach. The works will be displayed from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12.
Each selected artist or collective will receive $10,000 to create an installation at an assigned hotel. Participants were selected from an open call for submissions issued by the city and by representatives from the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places Committee, Cultural Arts Council and MBVCA.
For the fifth iteration, two artists will be awarded a combined total of $35,000 in prizes. One will receive a $10,000 public prize from the GMCVB and the other will be awarded a $25,000 juried prize from a panel of art world professionals.
Participating Hotels and Projects No Vacancy, Miami Beach 2024:
• Avalon Hotel: Miami Artist Julia Zurilla presents “-- .. .- .-- -..- (MIA WX),” a multimedia project that combines experimental videos and circular photographs, juxtaposing images from past and present that explore nostalgia and contemporary environmental realities. The installation layout is arranged in Morse code, a visual system composed of dashes, dots and spaces that is also known as "the lifesaving language." This project reflects both the urgency of climate communication and the adaptability of the installation, allowing any word associated with the project’s theme to be expressed and tailored to various spaces.
• The Betsy Hotel: Artist [dNASAb] presents "Faux Ecologies + Augmented Visions of the Micro-verse," an AI-assisted film that dives into the unseen world of microplastics and microorganisms and explores their hidden interactions. This installation transforms the spherical form of the structure into a dynamic, translucent water droplet, revealing
an intricate, fictional ecosystem at a microscopic scale. "Faux Ecologies + Augmented Visions of the Micro-verse" serves as both a meditation on the fragility of our environment and an experimental use of cutting-edge technology to bring new dimensions of environmental storytelling to life.
• Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club: Artist Marielle Plaisir presents “Rhapsody for a Beloved World.” Through a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach, Plaisir strives to resist harmful histories and offers hope for a better future. Plaisir draws attention to the interconnections between humans, the universality of fractured identities and the power of recognizing and describing inner worlds. Plaisir's socially engaged works transcend temporal and cultural boundaries, serving as visual meditations on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The color-drenched collage features elaborate compositions of elements, combining intricate botanical images of lush foliage with salvaged vintage black and white photographs as well as elements of landscape paintings.
• The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club: Artist Joshua Aronson presents the site specific installation, "Florida Boys,” featuring the photograph “Spring “(2023–2024). The translucent fabric allows daylight to pass through, transforming the photograph into a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. As air circulates in the lobby, the suspended artwork gently moves, creating a living, evolving presence that shifts with the changing light throughout the day. “Spring” depicts a serene moment of young men floating in a Florida spring, a scene that speaks to themes of unity, tranquility, and the expansive nature of modern masculinity. Set in Miami Beach, the installation resonates with the city’s unique convergence of natural beauty and urban vibrancy, while also nodding to its legacy as a haven for queer culture. The subtle interaction of the photograph with its environment invites viewers into a contemplative space, echoing the rhythmic pace of the city while offering moments of quiet reflection and connection.
• Esmé Miami Beach: Artist collaborative We Are Nice’n Easy’s “Soft Squeeze” represents a site-specific artwork rooted in the dynamic interplay between nature and culture inherent to South Florida. With a focus on public projects within its practice, Nice’n Easy believes in the transformative power of public art and works to elevate Miami’s cultural identity. This playful creation, however seemingly compressed, creates a visual tension that highlights the clash and fusion of natural and cultural elements. As viewers move around and underneath the artwork, the recognizable shapes shift and merge, creating an ever-evolving visual narrative that reflects the fluidity and complexity of Miami’s subtropical environment. This work not only captures the playful spirit of Miami Beach but also prompts deeper reflection on how cultural artifacts and natural habitats coexist and influence one another.
• Faena Hotel: Artist Magnus Sodamin’s “Reflections of our Environment” offers lush, nature-inspired treatment that explores changing global narratives through spiritual inquiry and spontaneous creativity. Sodamin’s process is cathartic and vigorous, resulting in work that reflects the beauty of the natural world while exploring the states of climate and environment. His vibrant works are full of energetic gestures that are both joyful and turbulent, indicative of the artist’s passionate sense of awe and quiet reverence for nature.
• Hotel Croydon: Artist Dennis Scholl’s work “Untitled (Dodecagon Drawing Grid), 2024” comes across as an obsessive drawing practice. Scholl is interested in the dodecagon 12-sided figure and uses it as an organizing principle in his practice. This presentation consists of up to 100 unique dodecagon drawings shown in a grid. The dodecagon reminds us of the hours on a clock, months in a year or signs of the zodiac — in
essence the passage of time.
• International Inn on the Bay: Artist Asser Saint-Val’s “Aquatic Incursion-MHEDRAYNGT” is a series of amorphous air sculptural installations that integrate into the architecture of South Beach. These organic, sea life-inspired structures create a surreal, otherworldly aesthetic that contrasts with the iconic art deco buildings of the city. The sculptures appear to invade the familiar built environment, generating a captivating interplay between manmade and the sea. The organic forms of the sculptures are inspired by the ongoing discourse around sea level rise and the encroachment of sea life into urban spaces. The underwater quality of these sculptural installations are designed to evoke a sense of wonder prompting viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between human activities as the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
• Kimpton Surfcomber: Artist Adler Guerrier’s ”Untitled (objects, landscape, and things. At the still point of mottled formations and a scruple of compassion)” presents a network of images, places and haunts as the broad errant reaches of here. The work builds on relations to the ways we shape public space, embellish the lived environment within various abstractions, botanicals and sentiments while insisting on expanded views of the commons.
• Kimpton Palomar Hotel: Artist GeoVanna Gonzalez presents “Moving Interlude.” Inspired by the theories of sociologist Henri Lefebvre, Gonzalez’s work investigates the intersection of urban design, cultural values and spatial justice. Gonzalez explores how elements of urban architecture can inadvertently perpetuate social inequalities through exclusionary designs, such as antisocial architecture, which subtly controls behavior and restricts movement.
• Royal Palm South Beach: Artist Philip Lique, presents “YOU ARE HERE,” an interactive installation that serves as an homage to the commonly seen wayfinding maps in public spaces. The work offers a chance to recalibrate one's own spatial and contemplative awareness. The artist aims to engage hotel guests through design, sculpture and cultural programming by intervening in an often overlooked architectural element — the floor. “YOU ARE HERE” reassigns the lobby's purpose — offering a scale shift for guests to consider as they orient themselves within either a single building, city block, Miami Beach and beyond.
• Sherry Frontenac Hotel: Artist Patricia Cooke’s “Anodyne” praises the healing power of South Florida’s mangrove systems. Mangroves are a crucial facet of the South Florida landscape. Their complicated root systems provide filtration and distribution for both fresh and saltwater, as well as acting as attachment sites to marine organisms that filter water with their bodies — a double source of healing. The quilts of “Anodyne” strive to recreate the unique view of both roots disappearing under the water’s surface and the menagerie tangle of the roots themselves. The use of calming pastel colors supports a similar calming experience of kayaking or canoeing through the mangroves, offering a sense of tranquility knowing that these ancient trees are hard at work protecting and healing our world.
Funding for this project is provided by the City of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority as well as the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. For additional information, please visit mbartsandculture.org.
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About the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places Committee
The Art in Public Places Committee is a seven-member City Commission-appointed citizen’s board responsible for the commission and purchase of artwork by contemporary artists in all media. The program allocates funds totaling 2% of hard costs for city projects and joint private/public projects. Funds from construction projects may be aggregated into the Art in Public Places Fund and allocated for artwork at public sites and for collection maintenance.
About the City of Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council
The Cultural Arts Council (CAC) is an 11-member body created in 1997 for the purpose of developing, coordinating and promoting the performing and visual arts in the City of Miami Beach. The CAC serves as arts advocates before governmental bodies, coordinates collective marketing initiatives for the local arts community and funds not-for-profit arts organizations. Since the program’s inception, the CAC has awarded approximately $18 million in cultural arts grants, supporting thousands of performances, exhibits, and other cultural activities in Miami Beach.
About the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA)
The MBVCA is a seven-member authority, appointed by the City of Miami Beach Commission, with the goal of encouraging, developing and promoting the image of Miami Beach locally, nationally and internationally as an outstanding tourist destination. To this end, the MBVCA strategically focuses its funding investments in a balanced manner, fostering outstanding existing programs, stimulating new activities and encouraging partnerships. The MBVCA is committed to a careful, long-term plan for allocation of resources to help Miami Beach thrive as a destination with something for everyone.
About the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB)
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is an accredited, independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami & Miami Beach for leisure, business, meetings and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiandMiamiBeach.com or call 1.888.76.Miami (US/Canada only) or 305.447.7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305.539.3000. Meeting planners may call 1.800.933.8448 (US/Canada only) or 305.539.3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com. To get further engaged with Greater Miami & Miami Beach, join the conversation by following us on our social media channels at Facebook.com/visitmiami, Twitter.com/visitmiami, Instagram.com/visitmiami, TikTok.com/@visitmiami and Pinterest.com/visit_miami Pinterest.com/visit_miami.
Press Contact
cityofmiamibeach@culturalcounsel.com
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 30, 2024
— The veteran executive will oversee hundreds of municipal assets for the City of Miami Beach —
Miami Beach, FL – Veteran facilities executive and real estate professional Ron Mumaw has been selected unanimously by the Miami Beach City Commission to lead the city’s Facilities and Fleet Management Department, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the city’s more than 100 municipal buildings, nearly 1,400 vehicles and other assets.
“Ron has a proven track record of managing complex facilities, properties and assets, including 2,200 JP Morgan bank branch locations,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Eric T. Carpenter in announcing Mumaw’s appointment. “I am confident that his 26 years of experience, training and professional background make him the ideal candidate for this position.”
Prior to joining the city, Mumaw served as vice president of account/facility operations with Lessen Inc., where he managed a $161 million budget. He also was director of real estate and facilities at MISO Energy and regional account director facilities with CBRE/Eli Lilly Elanco among other positions.
“I am looking forward to working with the city’s very capable Facilities and Fleet team to address the challenges of transitioning city vehicles to greater energy efficiency and moving toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions,” Mumaw said. “The city is already a leader in sustainable and resilient building practices, which we will continue to expand upon.”
The National Association of Fleet Administrators recently named the City of Miami Beach to its NAFA 100 Best Fleets in the Americas for the third year in a row. Miami Beach is on target to achieve an ambitious goal of converting half of the entire municipal fleet to a combination of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles next year.
Mumaw holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Purdue University. He is a Certified Facility Manager, Sustainable Facility Professional, Certified Project Manager and also holds a Facility Management Professional credential.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 23, 2024
— This ‘paw-sitively’ spooky event draws attention to the tie between preserving Biscayne Bay and responsible pet ownership —
Miami Beach, FL – Dress up your four-legged fur baby and join your neighbors for a costume party unlike any other when the City of Miami Beach hosts its annual Yappy Hour celebration on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5-7 p.m. at Flamingo Park.
“Let’s raise a paw for our furry friends while we protect our precious waters,” shared Miami Beach Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez. “The message behind this fun event is don’t be ‘ruff’ on the bay as we are hoping to call attention to the tie between protecting Biscayne Bay and responsible pet ownership.”
The event at 13 Street and Michigan Avenue will feature dog adoptions, free caricatures with pets, pet supply vendors and an opportunity to interact with water quality experts on three key messages related to the city’s We ♥ Biscayne Bay campaign:
- Don't be Ruff on the Bay: Pet waste can take a huge toll on the environment if not cleaned up and disposed of properly. If pet waste enters the waterways, it affects water quality because it contains bacteria as well as nitrogen and phoshporus, which can deplete the oxygen that marine life needs to survive.
- Don't Fertilize the Bay: Excessive or incorrect fertilizer usage has been found to lead to algal blooms. When it rains, fertilizers are carried as runoff into our waterways. Improper fertilizer use not only impacts our waterways but can also lead to long-term degradation of the soil.
- Don't be Trashy: It is important for everyone to do their part in minimizing the amount of pollution that enters the city's vast system of streets, interconnected waterways and sensitive marine habitats. Litter that ends up on the street or ground can eventually make its way into bodies of water.
For more information on Yappy Hour, visit www.mbrisingabove.com/events. For information about the We ♥ Biscayne Bay campaign, visit www.mbrisinabove.com/biscaynebay.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 18, 2024
— A portion of 9 Street between Ocean Drive and West Avenue will be named Commissioner Nancy Liebman Way on Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. —
Miami Beach, FL – Preservationist, community activist and former Miami Beach Commissioner Nancy Liebman, who has been described as a force of nature in protecting Miami Beach’s rich architectural history, will make history herself as one of the first women to have a street named after her in the city. A ceremony will take place on Monday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at Ocean Drive and 9 Street.
“From her tireless efforts to protect South Beach’s unique art deco architecture for future generations to saving what is now the Miami Beach Feinberg Fisher K-8 Center from the wrecking ball, Commissioner Liebman is being honored for her many contributions to the City of Miami Beach,” explained Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt, who sponsored the Miami Beach City Commission resolution honoring Liebman. “She was a trailblazer and modeled for other community activists how to be a fierce and fearless advocate for the causes in which she believed. Our community is better for it.”
In addition to serving as a city commissioner from 1993 to 2001, Liebman also served as executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League, co-founded citizens group Miami Beach United and served as president of the Miami Modern Biscayne Boulevard Association that was created to preserve the Miami Modern architecture along Biscayne Boulevard. Liebman also served on the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board and spearheaded an effort to require one of the seats on the Miami Beach Planning Board to be set aside for a historic preservationist.
Most notably, Liebman fought for the designation of a 1-square mile area of South Beach to become a National Register District in 1979 and later a local historic district.
A similar resolution sponsored by Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins to honor Liebman, was approved unanimously by the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners. Under the Miami-Dade charter, the county must approve the co-naming of all platted, public roads in the county.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 14, 2024
— Miami Beach first responders will provide public safety assistance to one of the hardest-hit counties in the state —
Video: Miami Beach First Responders
Miami Beach, FL – The City of Miami Beach sent a team of first responders today to Florida’s hard-hit Hillsborough County following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in recent weeks.
“Supporting our neighbors during this critical time is essential – people are in dire need and Miami Beach is ready to help,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “We’ve sent valuable resources and personnel to ensure we provide the aid that’s needed now.”
Officers from the Miami Beach Police Department were deployed to Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa. The county suffered severe flooding and other damage from the two major hurricanes that struck Florida less than two weeks apart. Another contingent of Miami Beach police personnel completed a deployment on Oct. 8 in the nearby Gulf Coast City of Treasure Island in Pinellas County.
The Miami Beach team will assist local public safety agencies with recovery operations, traffic control, crime deterrence as well as other duties as needed under a regional relief task force made up of personnel from Coral Gables, Miami and Miami Beach through the Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police, Florida Police Chiefs Association and Florida Division of Emergency Management.
The Miami Beach contingent includes 13 police offices, four sergeants, a lieutenant and captain, who departed Monday, Oct. 14. The team also includes a victim advocate and K-9 along with an employee of the department’s Property and Evidence unit, a fuel truck operator as well as two maintenance mechanics and two maintenance workers from the city’s Facilities and Fleet Management Department. The team is equipped with a Miami Beach Police Mobile Command vehicle.
Team members are expected to remain in the area for one week but may be extended or replaced by the regional task force.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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October 8, 2024
— The beloved performer got his show business break on Collins Avenue —
Miami Beach, FL – Known for his timeless TV catchphrases like “Lucy, I’m home” and “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do,” beloved entertainer Desi Arnaz will be honored by the City of Miami Beach nearly 90 years after the Cuban immigrant got his big break at a nightclub on Collins Avenue.
“Desi Arnaz represents the ultimate American dream,” shared Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who sponsored a resolution to partially fund a Florida historic marker in honor of Arnaz that will be placed in Collins Park. “As a proud Cuban American, Desi was a role model for future generations, including mine.”
The marker will be unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 15 during a 4 p.m. ceremony in Collins Park (2200 Liberty Ave.) — the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month and the 73rd anniversary of the “I Love Lucy” premiere on Oct. 15, 1951. Together with Lucille Ball, his wife of 20 years, the couple won the hearts of America in what became the country’s most popular television show of its time.
“Miami Beach has been — and continues to be — home to so many who have come from elsewhere to make their marks on American culture,” added Miami Beach Commissioner Tanya K. Bhatt. “Desi Arnaz remains not only a timeless pop icon, but also a visionary producer and innovator. Commemorating his story in the city which shaped him, at the site where he first started making his mark, is a deeply fitting tribute.”
Born to a family of privilege in 1917, Arnaz found himself at the other end of the economic spectrum when he arrived in South Florida from Santiago, Cuba. The man who would go on to introduce the “one, two, three — kick” conga dance craze to America at the then Park Avenue nightclub on Collins Avenue and 23 Street, cleaned canary cages for 25 cents apiece to help make ends meet while attending St. Patrick Catholic School in Miami Beach.
“When I thought how Desi began his life in Miami Beach — penniless and without the ability to speak English, yet within four years he's leading a band and making a name for himself as "King of the Conga' — I really felt he deserved something aside from the two Hollywood Walk of Fame slabs of pavement, pieces which say nothing about his story,” added Gary McKechnie, an author, speaker and former comedian, who led a three-year effort that will culminate with the Collins Park ceremony. McKechnie raised $800 to put toward the historic marker largely from his own funds and donations from his family.
Arnaz enjoyed success as a band leader, star of television and motion pictures as well as owner of Desilu Productions and RKO Radio Pictures with Ball. He died in 1986 at the age of 69.
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October 2, 2024
— City officials will mark the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel Monday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. —
Miami Beach, FL – Mayor Steven Meiner and members of the Miami Beach City Commission will reaffirm support for Israel at a ceremony on Monday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. to mark the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack. Nearly 1,200 Israelis were murdered, including women and children. As many as 100 of the more than 250 hostages abducted a year ago are still being held captive.
“We stand with Israel now and forever,” said Mayor Steven Meiner. “In this moment of profound pain, we reaffirm our steadfast and unshakable support for freedom, democracy and the core values that bind us. The October 7 attack is Israel’s 9/11 — an unimaginable tragedy that will never be forgotten — and only strengthens our resolve to stand united with Israel in the face of evil.”
The event will be held outside Miami Beach Fire Station No. 2 at 2300 Pine Tree Drive.
The eight Miami Beach firefighters who volunteered to travel to Israel shortly after the massacre plan to attend the ceremony. The firefighters filled in for some of the country’s first responders who were called to military service.
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WHEN: Monday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Miami Beach Fire Headquarters at Fire Station No. 2
2300 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach.
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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September 27, 2024
— The free cultural series brings a new slate of family-friendly entertainment to a massive outdoor projection wall —
Miami Beach, FL – The SoundScape Cinema Series arrives back in Miami Beach for its 15th season beginning this October through May. This season’s lineup features all new weekly movies that will be projected onto a 7,000-square-foot wall outside New World Center via a state-of-the-art projection and sound system in SoundScape Park.
“This is truly an exceptional outdoor theater experience,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Eric T. Carpenter. “We invite our residents and visitors to discover one of the city’s most popular cultural experiences in SoundScape Park.”
The visual and audio system is capable of projecting movies at a resolution that is multiple times greater than high definition.
A different movie will be shown each Wednesday at 8 p.m. on the southwest corner of Washington Avenue and 17 Street. The season debuts on Oct. 2 with music biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” followed by “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” on Oct. 9, “The Garfield Movie” on Oct. 16, “Hocus Pocus 2” on Oct. 23 and 1931 Halloween classic “Dracula” on Oct. 30 starring screen legend Bela Lugosi.
Click here for more information and a listing of upcoming movies.
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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
