On the Radar: Nov 8–14 — Vice City Is Real, and Miami Knows It

The week of November 8 runs the full range: NASCAR season finale, Veterans Day on Wednesday, Doja Cat, Stars & Strings, NightGarden opening, E1 electric raceboat racing, and the Miami Book Fair on deck for Sunday. Here is the full day-by-day breakdown.

The Neon Vice — white rum, dragon fruit purée, lime, coconut water, glowing pink sugar rim. The GTA VI Vice City cocktail menus launch Monday, November 9 at $14 each across three Ariete Hospitality venues: Chug’s Diner (Coconut Grove) is pouring the Vercetti Margarita, a direct nod to the original Vice City protagonist Tommy Vercetti. Hoy Como Ayer (Little Havana) is serving a Cafecito-inspired tribute styled after the game’s fictional Bean Machine coffee chain. The Scapegoat (South of Fifth, Miami Beach) is mixing custom rum margaritas inside their newly revamped cocktail bar. For the full immersive experience, NINE1NINE at E11EVEN (Downtown Miami) has transformed the entire venue with Vice City branding, themed cocktails, and the GTA VI aesthetic running nightly.

NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead) — the season finale, one of the biggest motorsport days on the South Florida calendar. New World Symphony performs Debussy's Influence at the New World Center (South Beach), with violinist Sean Lee. The South Florida Seafood Festival returns to Wynwood Marketplace at 2250 NW 2nd Ave — free admission, local vendors, live music. Miami Dolphins host the Detroit Lions at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) for NFL Week 9. Fall For Dance NOW! closes its run at the Miami Beach Bandshell.

Victoria Monét brings the Frequency of Love Tour to Kaseya Center (Downtown Miami) — one of the stronger R&B shows of the fall season. The Spain–US Smart Tourism & Travel Tech Forum opens at FIU (Sweetwater, runs Nov 9–10) — a two-day summit on AI, sustainability, and the future of travel. FIU's 11th Annual Salute to Military Service Breakfast honors veterans and active-duty service members ahead of Veterans Day.

Spain–US Smart Tourism Forum continues at FIU through the afternoon. Brickell Run Club at 7:00 PM — a social 3-to-4-mile loop through Brickell with refreshments after. Uchibā’s Brickell pop-up (Brickell) is open for dinner — the izakaya-style offshoot of Uchi, soft-launched before the permanent space opens. No reservations.

Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony — the annual parade steps off at 11:10 AM along Ocean Drive from 5th to 14th Street (South Beach), culminating in a wreath-laying ceremony and military flyover at Flamingo Park. Free and open to the public.

Free museum admission for active-duty military and veterans (bring valid military ID): Frost Science Museum (Downtown Miami), The Bass Museum of Art (Miami Beach), and HistoryMiami (Downtown Miami) are among those participating. The Underline's Out Collective Run Club holds its Veterans Day run along the Brickell Backyard trail — pet-friendly, open to all.

Doja Cat's Ma Vie World Tour hits Kaseya Center (Downtown Miami) at 7:30 PM. Deer Tick plays Revolution Live (Fort Lauderdale). If you're traveling through MIA this week, the Gate D31 Gallery's free historical photography exhibition tracks South Florida's ties to military arrivals and historical relief efforts.

Common with Nu Deco Ensemble at the Adrienne Arsht Center (Downtown Miami) at 8:00 PM — a symphonic hip-hop and soul performance, one of the stronger cultural events of the week. Stars & Strings at Hard Rock Live Hollywood (Hollywood) — patriotic concert honoring veterans and active-duty military with country artists and live orchestra. NightGarden opens at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Coral Gables) at 6:00 PM — the annual nighttime light and sound installation, running through the month.

E1 Miami GP brings all-electric raceboat racing to the MacArthur Causeway waterfront (Downtown Miami, runs Nov 13–14) — free to watch from the waterfront. The 18 Wheelers Moonlight Concert at The Barnacle Historic State Park (Coconut Grove) — a pet-friendly, family-friendly anniversary concert under the trees. honestav: The Sweet American Boy Tour at Midline Miami (Wynwood) at 8:00 PM. Feid’s FERXXO — The Green Star Tour tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM for his February 2027 Kaseya Center date. Smorgasburg Miami Friday Night Market (Wynwood) opens at 5:00 PM — 30+ food vendors, craft cocktails, live music, free admission at 318 NW 23rd St.

E1 Miami GP continues on the MacArthur Causeway waterfront. Smorgasburg Miami Saturday Market (Wynwood) runs 11 AM–6 PM at 318 NW 23rd St — free admission, 30+ local food vendors. Florida Grand Opera opens Lucia di Lammermoor at the Ziff Ballet Opera House, Adrienne Arsht Center (Downtown Miami) at 7:00 PM — the opera of Pavarotti’s American debut, opening night of the FGO season. PAMM Free Second Saturday (Edgewater) — free general admission all day. Lincoln Road Christmas Tree Lighting (South Beach) — free, outdoor, dog-friendly. Wynwood Walls free admission through the GTA VI launch window.

E11EVEN Miami (Downtown Miami) is NINE1NINE through December 6 — the full Vice City nightlife experience, with custom branding, themed cocktails, and the GTA VI aesthetic running through the entire venue.

Miami Book Fair opens November 15 at MDC Wolfson Campus (Downtown Miami) — one day after this week ends. The street fair is free. The South Florida authors lineup this year is strong. If you are going to one event this month, this is the one.

South Florida Seafood Festival at Wynwood Marketplace (Sunday, free admission). Veterans Day free museum admission at Frost Science, The Bass, and HistoryMiami (Wednesday, military ID required). Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade along Ocean Drive (Wednesday, 11:10 AM, free). E1 Miami GP waterfront viewing (Friday–Saturday, free). Smorgasburg Miami Friday Night Market (Friday, 5 PM, free). Smorgasburg Miami Saturday Market (Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM, free). PAMM Free Second Saturday (Saturday). Wynwood Walls free admission through the GTA VI launch window.

Veterans Day, NASCAR, Doja Cat, Stars & Strings, NightGarden, E1 raceboat racing, and the Book Fair on deck. This week has range.