Happy Friday, Miami. In today’s edition: Housing delistings surge, a sensory-inclusive The Nutcracker, A Very Merry Garden, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Inside a dining juggernaut: Miami Beach’s MILA has been named the highest-grossing independent restaurant in the U.S., topping Restaurant Business’s 2025 list with $51.1 million in sales, edging out rivals across the country — read the full story.

Housing market frustration grows: Miami led the nation in delistings, with 45 pulled per 100 new listings in October, down from 60 in August, as nationwide delistings rose nearly 38 percent year over year — see what’s driving delistings.

Ambitious downtown tower plan: RFR Realty filed plans for a 955 foot, 87-story tower at 130 Biscayne Boulevard by Foster + Partners, replacing three mid-rises. The county is reviewing a Metromover Subzone application — 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

• Round up reindeer and meet Santa
• Celebrate heroes at Tropical Park
• Explore Fairchild’s glowing NightGarden wonderland
• Explore six worlds of holiday magic
• Enjoy festive dishes at Surfcomber
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

Breakthrough for Miami mental health: Miami-Dade’s Appropriations Committee was set to vote this week on the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery’s operating plan, a long-delayed step that could open the first-of-its-kind diversion hub in four to six months. With first 2.5 years funded, it aims to move people from jail to treatment and stop burning $7.2 million a year keeping it closed. Read the full story.

A coastal dining fairytale: Miami is dining inside a giant sandcastle this week. To launch DoorDash Reservations, Casadonna is serving complimentary three-course lunches and four-course dinners in the Sand CastleDonna at Jungle Plaza through Sunday, December 14. Book in the DoorDash app, 21+ only. Seats are scarce, so keep refreshing for cancellations. See how to book.

Hair day, upgraded: Whether you’re overdue for a clean-up, flirting with a new shade, or ready to add length, Atma Beauty does thoughtful cuts, color, and extensions under one chill roof. The result is the kind of tidy-up that makes your week feel effortlessly put-together.

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 for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are 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

🎅 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas @ Church of The Little Flower | Friday (12/12) at 8:00pm – Seraphic Fire serves the Christmas classics you actually want to hear, The First Noel, Joy to the World, and Silent Night, plus a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Associate Conductor James Bass leads. Skip the Publix playlist, keep the goosebumps.

🎹 Martin Bejerano @ WDNA FM | Friday (12/12) at 8:00pm – If your idea of a big night is world-class piano, a decent pour, and conversation you can hear, catch Martin Bejerano. Longtime Roy Haynes collaborator and DownBeat favorite, he brings the kind of swing, fire, and finesse that reminds you why we go out.

This weekend

🏃 Miami Race for Inclusion @ Maurice A. Ferré Park | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00am – Feel like breaking a sweat for something that actually matters? Join Miami’s Race for Inclusion, a 5K run or walk supporting Special Olympics Florida and its 75,000 athletes. Walk it, jog it, or pretend it’s a brisk cafecito run, then register at RaceforInclusion.org.

❄️ Winter Whisper @ Sanctuary of the Arts | Saturday (12/13) at 7:30pm – This winter concert blends frosted landscapes, unspoken secrets, and haunting melodies into a curated program that spans eras. Expect Caccini’s Ave Maria, a steady Little Drummer Boy, and a journey that nudges memory awake. Bring tissues, not tinsel.

✨ Holistic Spirit Holidays Festival @ Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center | Saturday (12/13) at 10 am – If your spirit needs a tune-up before 2026 hits, this holistic gathering has you covered with meditation circles, family constellations, wellness talks, and creative healing spaces. Shop unique crystals, meet local authors and healers, and enjoy gourmet treats while soaking in live medicine music. It’s a full-day energy reset wrapped in good vibes.

🎀 Sensory-Inclusive Performance @ Aventura Arts & Cultural Center | Sunday (12/14) at 11:00am – This calm, welcoming twist on The Nutcracker trims the intensity but keeps every bit of the holiday wonder. With softened sound, gentle lighting, and a Quiet Room nearby, it’s ideal for guests who thrive in supportive settings. Add in pre-show crafts and a post-show character meet-and-greet, and you’ve got the sweetest seasonal outing.🥂 Victoria’s Voice Foundation’s 2025 Gala @ Ice Palace Studios | Sunday (12/14) at 5:30pm – Nothing beats dressing up for a good cause, especially when Victoria’s Voice goes Moulin Rouge. Expect Parisian cabaret glamour, polished company, and fundraising that saves lives by educating parents, empowering youth, and equipping communities to prevent overdose. Feathers, philanthropy, and a guilt-free morning.

🕯️ A Jazz Tribute to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole @ Jungle Island | Sunday (12/14) at 9:00pm – Jungle Island takes a breath from the noise with candles, crooners, and subwoofers off. A jazz tribute to Sinatra and Nat King Cole, with smooth vocals, trumpet glow, and favorites you know the words to. Sixty-five minutes, no late shuffles, just swoon, sway, and nostalgia.

Next week

🎄 A Very Merry Garden @ Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | Monday (12/15) at 10:00am – Take a break from mall madness and wander Fairchild’s Very Merry Garden all December, a month of kid-pleasing reindeer roundups, letters to Santa, and cocoa-fueled storytime with Mrs. C. Reindeer hide among the palms, Santa drops in for photos, you get sunshine, and actual peace.

🎁 Christmas Wonderland @ Tropical Park | Monday (12/15) at 5:00pm – Christmas Wonderland is taking over Tropical Park with 14 acres of lights, six worlds, and unlimited rides, so you can tire the kids and still hit your step goal. Firework Fridays, a human cannonball, the Ferris wheel, food trucks, and free parking, because Miami.

🌙 NightGarden @ Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden | Monday (12/15) at 6:00pm – Ready to trade Brickell bar lines for fairy-lit banyans? NightGarden turns Fairchild into a glowing escape with laser gardens, whimsical trails, and photo-perfect domes, plus food trucks and cocktails. Tickets start at $28, kids three and under free.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 Obituary and more @ Gramps – 6:30 pm
• 12/13 Agnostic Front and more @ Gramps – 6 pm
• 12/13 KinAhau and more @ Club Space – 11 pm
• 12/14 Uncle Vutu @ Little Haiti Cultural Center – 12 pm
• 12/15 Jeryko @ ZeyZey – 8 pm
• 12/17 DJ EFX @ E11EVEN – 11 pm
• 12/18 Chizzle @ E11EVEN – 11:30 pm
• 12/19 Aterciopelados @ ZeyZey – 8 pm
• 12/20 Scrooge! A Fractured Christmas Carol @ Sandrell Rivers Theatre – 11 am
• 12/21 Zach Bartholomew @ Ocean Drive – 5 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: Efren Grafals (Miami Portfolio Collection)

A 3-bed, 2-bath charmer with exposed beam ceilings and an airy, open kitchen that makes weeknight dinners feel like a pop-up. Sunshine runs the show, bouncing through a breezy layout built for hanging out. Out back, a detached 1-bed, 1-bath guest house brings bonus space for guests, work, or income.

Fenced yard, privacy, and room for hammocks and hot sauce. Minutes to Wynwood, Design District, Midtown, and Downtown, so murals, galleries, and late-night bites are a quick cruise away. Urban convenience with homey swagger.

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