The Miami Marlins have been able to string together some wins here and there this season, but watching the actual games can be a little rough. So rough that right now theyāre running a close second to the Montreal Expos for worst average attendance in Major League Baseball history.
Luckily there are plenty of reasons to go that arenāt the actual baseball being played. Here are some tips on how you can make the most of your time there.Ā
CHECK OUT THE BOBBLEHEAD MUSEUM
In case you get a little bored during the game, head to the stadiumās main concourse level and check out our bobblehead museum, which was once referred to as the largest permanent public bobblehead display in Major League Baseball. (FYI: Former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria compiled the collection, but then took a bunch of his personal ones back when the new owners took over).
EAT LIKE A CHAMPION
One of the main things Marlins Park does right is provide great concessions. Thereās a whole row of local specialties, called the Taste of Miami section, where you can find Cuban sandwiches, Argentinian food and other favorites from places like Don Camaron and Latin American Grill. Thereās also a spot to get cool Azucar ice cream during the dog days of summer.
ENJOY THE LIGHTS SHOW
Win or lose, one thing is certain at Friday home games: one of the best fireworks displays in the 305. If youāre at the park on a Friday night make sure you stick around for a great show.
EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT CULTURE
On various game nights the park will feature the music, culture and energy of different countriesā Ā cultures, including Venezuelan, Mexican, Nicaraguan and more. There are also fun nights featuring Star Wars and pro wrestling legendsāso thereās something for just about every fandom, even if the game isnāt going so great for the Marlins.
Still curious? Head here for our full list of tips on how to make the most out of a visit to Marlins Park. Theyāre playing a home series this weekend against the Washington Nationals. If you go to the stadium and snap some pics for the āGram, be sure to tag @thenewtropic!
Rain rain go away. Will this rain ever end? Not really. As the rainy weather system sitting on top of us finally dissipates, another wet one will come up behind it. (Pretty much the only ones enjoying this now are our friends at Bridgeliner in Portland and the Evergrey in Seattle, who are relishing all their sunlight RN while we Google how long it takes for seasonal affective disorder to set in.) (Miami New Times)
Not okay. For the last couple months, a local Spanish-language theater has been showing Ā a play in which one of the main characters performs in blackfaceā¦ and apparently no one saw a problem with that. The play, Tres Viudas en un Crucero (Three Widows on a Cruise), cast a light-skinned Cuban actress in a role of a dark-skinned woman, and rather than shift the role or cast a different actress, they put the actress in blackface makeup and an afro wig. Those involved with the play seem shocked, SHOCKED that anyone sees anything wrong with this. We recommend reading this important Twitter thread started by Politico reporter Marc Caputo on whether Miamiās ready to confront racism within the Cuban-American community. (Miami Herald)
Food hall frenzy. Time Out Market wonāt be opening its South Beach food hall until the fall, but the restaurant lineup, which is basically a whoās who of top Miami chefs, is so lit that everyoneās already buzzing about it. After looking at the list, we get why. (Miami.com)
All grown up. Tonight is the premiereĀ of Grown, a coming-of-age TV series written, produced, and acted by Miami born-and-raised Haitian-Americans Joshua Jean-Baptiste and Edson Jean. The two play cousins who move in together and have to navigate that Miami 20-somethings life and their Haitian culture. It premieres tonight and you can catch it on Complex.com. Full disclosure: Joshua is one of our street team members, so maybe weāre a little biased when we say we are SO HYPE FOR THIS. (Variety)
This is why we canāt have nice things. We have three companies offering dockless bike sharing options in Miami, and local commissioners are pretty annoyed by the bikes that are regularly left all over the sidewalks and streets when riders are done with them. āWe have an inflammation of ābike-itis,ā Commissioner Javier Souto says (LOL). He and Commissioner Rebeca Sosa are calling for more regulation. (Miami Today)
Lots of questions, few answers. The investigation is still underway into why a Cuban flight crashed almost immediately after taking off from Havana, killing all but three of the 113 people on board, but the black box has been recovered intact, so we should know more soon. Itās the kind of crash that has many Miamians wondering if it’s safe for them or their family members to keep taking domestic flights within Cuba. (Miami Herald)
Some good news. Despite all the damage wrought by Hurricane Irma last year, the fund that helps private insurers pay out insurance claims after a storm is still pretty flush with cash. It has $17.3 billion this year, and officials say thatās a good place for us to be. (AP)
Weāll catch you maƱana.