Happy Friday, Miami. In today’s edition: Safer trail access, German Christmas Market, Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Pops, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Safer trail access ahead: A wider 12-foot Snowden Pedestrian Bridge is underway on Old Cutler Trail in South Dade, promising two-way bike and pedestrian traffic plus lighting and drainage upgrades by summer 2026 — get all the details.

A century-old system evolves: Miami accepted $1,100,626 in state funding to add three trolleys, modernize its fleet, and cut downtime, advancing its 2035 electrification goal and improving service across routes as the city grows — get all the details.

Massive rebuild hits milestones: FDOT reported major 2025 progress on Miami’s I-395/SR 836/I-95 overhaul, with signature bridge arches rising, SR 836 double-deck work moving east, and I-95 pavement upgrades advancing, yet four years remain — get all the details.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Celebrate a magical bayfront tree lighting
• Attend the Proud Family Kiki Ball
• Enjoy Christmas Wonderland’s lights and rides
• Craft photo frames and explore migration stories
• Support Special Olympics Florida at Miami 5K
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

🫶 We got your back

Immersive after-hours escape: Brickell’s nightlife just got wilder: Selva, the Monte Carlo-born club, has made its U.S. debut on the third floor of Amazónico Miami. Open since Nov. 15, the 250-cap jungle-luxe hideaway packs photon lighting, an LED tree, and a thumping NEXO system, with house/electronic bookings. Open Fri, Sat, and Mon, 11:30pm to 3am. Read the full story.

Art Deco vibes ignite: James Beard Award winner Michelle Bernstein has brought La Cañita to Ocean Drive, marking the concept’s third outpost and a bright spot in South Beach’s dining comeback. Expect Cuban-Caribbean plates like croquetas and arroz con pollo, daily live music, and a 40-seat rum bar pouring mojitos and other island-leaning cocktails. Read the full story.

Sip something wild: Craving beer that’s adventurous yet easygoing? At Unseen Creatures Brewing & Blending, farmhouse roots meet Miami swagger with locally foraged yeast, crisp lagers, hazy IPAs, and tart sours, all balanced and eminently drinkable. Bring a skeptic friend… they might leave a convert.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🌙 The World’s Longest Sound Bath @ Auratherapy | Friday (12/5) at 5:00pm – If your soul’s been begging for a reset, this opening night immersion is basically a love letter to your nervous system. Settle into a sequence of micro-sound journeys featuring handpan, channeled vocals, shimmering bowls, and dreamy atmospheres.

🌱 Bonsai Workshop @ Lost City Brewing | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – If your houseplant track record is mixed, try a tiny tree with a warranty at Lost City Brewing. Bonsai Bar brings hands-on pruning, potting, and beginner-friendly coaching, plus 15 taps, a beer garden, and food on site. You leave with a bonsai, not buyer’s remorse.

This weekend

🚆 Miami Railfest 2025 @ Gold Coast Railroad Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 10:00am – All aboard for Railfest at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum by Zoo Miami, with model train vendors, food, and train rides without honking. Explore historic railcars for free, rides run all day, and you score nostalgia, fresh air, and an easy family win.

📽️ Film Preview & Panel Discussion @ HistoryMiami Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 1:00pm – This event spotlights Miami’s nail-art legends with a preview of the new documentary following Kro Vargas’s creative journey. Enjoy early access to the museum’s Nail Art exhibit, meet local artists, and hear a spirited conversation about style, culture, and community. If you love beauty, storytelling, or Miami flair, you’ll be right at home.

🎷 9th Annual Art Blues & Soul Festival @ Marshall L. Davis Sr. African Heritage Cultural Arts Center | Saturday (12/6) at 3:00pm – Think your two-step still has it? Bring the good lawn chairs for Class on the Grass, a grown folks mix of R&B, soul, and visual art with Shirley Murdock, Glenn Jones, Meli’sa Morgan, and Mass Production, hosted by Chello Davis, co-produced by Chico The Leo.

🎨 Miami Art Week @ The Bass Museum of Arts | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Whether you can tell a Basquiat from a beach selfie or you just like air-conditioned culture, The Bass is free all day for Miami Art Week. Wander the galleries, dodge the crowds, and feel smug about your very affordable taste, then grab cafecito nearby.

🎄 German Christmas Market @ Coral Gables Congregational Church | Sunday (12/7) at 12:00pm – Skip the mall madness and hit a cozy German Christmas market instead. Think German eats, home-baked cakes, handcrafted Advent wreaths, Renate’s legendary Glühwein, carols by Sunset Elementary, and a St. Nick cameo for the kids, all with Miami sunshine instead of snow.

🎼 Handel’s Messiah and Holiday Pops @ Broad Performing Arts Center | Sunday (12/7) at 4:00pm – Think you know your holiday tunes? SFSO serves a classy mashup of Pops cheer and Part I of Handel’s Messiah, complete with the Hallelujah you actually want stuck in your head, a sing-along medley, and serious vocal firepower. Consider it seasonal goosebumps, not shopping-mall noise.

Next week

🎅 Christmas Wonderland @ Tropical Park | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:00pm – Holiday chaos returns to Tropical Park, with 14 acres of lights, six themed worlds, the Tinsel Trail, and unlimited rides, including roller coasters. Think Santa photos, Miami food trucks, a human cannonball on Firework Fridays, all in shorts, because Miami.

🎺 Holiday Jazz & Lights @ Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:30pm – Fairchild is glowing with holiday lights and smooth jazz, so swap mall chaos for a stroll under the Miami winter stars. Expect Mitch Franco’s trio, a violinist, artisan market finds, and cocktails. Splurge on premium seats, or grab a blanket and a picnic basket.

🎄 Christmas Parade @ Downtown Naples | Tuesday (12/9) at 6:30pm – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to dust off the lawn chair and pretend 5th Avenue is the North Pole, here it is. Naples Christmas Parade rolls from 3rd Street to City Hall, with floats, lights, carols, and all the magic without the snow.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Art With Me Miami @ RC Cola Plant – 1 pm
• 12/6 Christian Löffler @ RC Cola Plant – 1 pm
• 12/6 Tribute to Adele @ Miami Scottish Rite – 6:30 pm
• 12/7 BlinkDaLink @ Arlo Wynwood – 4 pm
• 12/7 Alivia Blossom @ Hard Rock Stadium – 7 pm
• 12/9 Holiday Jazz @ Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden – 6:30 pm
• 12/10 Fernando Ferrarone @ Adrienne Arsht Center – 7:30 pm
• 12/11 D.R.I. @ Gramps – 7 pm
• 12/12 Music Bingo @ Batch Gastropub – 6 pm
• 12/13 Ela Taubert @ Miami Beach Bandshell – 8 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Miami edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Belinda Sime (Sime Realty Corporation)

Behind a tall privacy fence at Silver Bluff’s edge, this fully remodeled modern with Spanish accents serves clean lines and sunshine. Three bedrooms and 3.5 baths, new electrical and plumbing, impact and insulated windows and doors, plus an ultramodern kitchen. Split floor plan and airy flow open to a brand new oversized pool, ideal for lazy laps, splashy weekends, and palm-framed backyard views.

One block to Coral Gables dining and shops, no flood zone, and approved plans for a 2,000 square foot 3-bed 3.5-bath home in back. Flexibility, investment chops, private compound vibes.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →