It’s time to get on (or in) the water this week in Miami, either through a boat tour or an underwater meditation. Take advantage of special foodie events, such as a tropical barbecue set to music or the can’t-miss-’em restaurant deals of Miami Spice. Then enjoy the Miami Light Project’s weekly open mic event.

AFAR Local is our weekly insider guide to the best of what’s happening in cities around the U.S.  

July 28 | Concert & BBQ
Magic City Hippies
All this summer, AE District Miami is hosting a Tropical BBQ series showcasing some of Miami’s finest local artists and food vendors. The Magic City Hippies—a groovy rock band that formed from the former Robby Hunter Band and The Flying Bellisario Brothers—will provide the tunes this week, and food mavens like Miami Smokers, Box of Chacos, and Della Test Kitchen will serve up a tropical-themed barbecue menu.
7–10 p.m. | Canvas Miami, 90 N.E. 17th St., Miami | Free with RSVP | website

Click here to plan your trip to Miami

July 29 | Open mic
Speakfridays: The Open Mic Revolution!
The Miami Light Project, a laboratory space for new work in the arts, is the backdrop for an open mic night billed as the city’s most diverse. Speakfridays: The Open Mic Revolution! promises an eclectic mix of performers, including singer/songwriter Maye Osorio. Along with spoken-word performances, this open mic features live art and live music from DJs Pazmal and VLVT Jones.
7 p.m.–1 a.m. | The Miami Light Project, 404 N.W. 26th St., Miami | From $7 | website

July 31 | History tour
Moon over Miami Boat Tour with Dr. Paul George
Hop aboard and set sail from Bayside down the Miami River with one of Miami’s preeminent historians, Dr. Paul George. He’ll tell tales of the river’s many residents—including the Tequesta Indians, the area’s earliest known inhabitants—and point out historic sites along the way. By the end of the tour, you’ll see how the industrial fishing town surrounding the water grew from humble beginnings into the trendy nightlife and restaurant hub it is today.
6–8 p.m. | Bayside Market, 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami | $60 | website

Speakfridays
Speakfridays
Courtesy of @miamilightproject
July 31 | Meditation    
Summer Floating Meditation Beyond Time
The Standard Spa understands that summer is a time for relaxation, and there’s not much that’s more relaxing than pool time—except maybe meditation. Summer Floating Meditation Beyond Time combines the two in an underwater meditation that takes advantage of the Standard’s underwater stereo system. You’ll hear—and feel—live gong vibrations  through the water as you float, weightless and transcendent, for an hour and a half. The song vibrations are said to be transformational and meditative, helping you both access a higher state of consciousness and tap into your inner summer chill.
7–8:30 p.m. | 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach | From $45 | website

Through September 30 | Food
Miami Spice
In the heat of the summer, when business is slow and the snowbirds are long gone, Miami’s restaurants offer special prix fixe deals on lunch ($23) and dinner ($39) in the annual two-month-long Miami Spice event. Miami’s best restaurants participate, including Tom Colicchio’s Beachcraft Restaurant, Cecconi’s at the Soho Beach House, Market at EDITION, and Talde Miami Beach. For a full list, check online—the hardest part is choosing where to dine first.
Locations vary | $23 (lunch) or $39 (dinner) | website

Patricia Guarch Wise is a Miami native and the blogger behind Miami Nice. Her interests include paella, paranormal activity, Proenza Schouler, and her Pekingese named Bonnaroo. 

>>Next: What Do Champagne and Korean Food Have in Common?