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Wednesday marks three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.

The big picture: Militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed an estimated 74,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

South Florida's Jewish community is commemorating the Oct. 7 attacks with remembrance events.

The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is organizing a day of remembrance with a reading of the victims' names, candle lighting ceremonies and educational programming. Wednesday, 10am-7pm.

Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center hosts a special Shabbat morning with guest speaker Avichai Brodutch, a nurse whose wife and children were taken hostage Oct. 7 and later released. Saturday 9:15am.

"Tribute to Israel: Miami Stands with Israel" is a unity walk to the 93rd Street beach in Surfside culminating with a seaside concert. Hosted by several groups. Sunday, 10:30am–1:30pm.

The South Florida Coalition for Palestine is hosting a community gathering "marking three years of genocide in Gaza," featuring kite making, poetry and a teach-in. Saturday, 3–6:30pm.

A United Nations independent commission has accused Israel of genocide, but the government has denied it.

Tribute to Israel: Miami Stands with Israel

Miami marks 3 years since Oct. 7 attack that sparked Israel-Hamas war

Pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups are commemorating Oct. 7 in different ways.

Photo illustration of the Gaza war zone, an Israeli security officer, an armed member of Hamas and mourning Palestinians overlaying a map of the Middle East.

Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photos: Anadolu, Ahmad Gharabli via Getty Images

Wednesday marks three years since the Oct. 7 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hamas-led attack" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-anniversary-war-20950e811130e9a1ee4056f207150f55" data-vars-content-id="03f0e62a-f498-4899-841b-09d7c509f787" data-vars-headline="Miami marks 3 years since Oct. 7 attack that sparked Israel-Hamas war" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-anniversary-war-20950e811130e9a1ee4056f207150f55" target="_blank">Hamas-led attack</a> on Israel.The big picture: Militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251. Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an estimated 74,000 Palestinians" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-iran-israel-yemen-september-27-2026-96b100178557a28f51e2ad4f74539699" data-vars-content-id="03f0e62a-f498-4899-841b-09d7c509f787" data-vars-headline="Miami marks 3 years since Oct. 7 attack that sparked Israel-Hamas war" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-iran-israel-yemen-september-27-2026-96b100178557a28f51e2ad4f74539699" target="_blank">an estimated 74,000 Palestinians</a>, according to Gaza&#x27;s Health Ministry.

News

Ah, mid-October. It's not even Halloween and, yet, the Christmas ads are popping up.

Take your mind off the passage of time with these weekend events around Miami.

🎨 Art studio tour: Tunnel Projects, an independent artist-run space in Little Havana, is hosting an open studio offering an intimate look at what the artists are working on.

👻 Spooky things swap: The Things Lab, the artist-led project and nonprofit centered on diverting household items from landfills, hosts a free Halloween-themed "things swap" with costume contest and coastal cleanup.

Bring no more than 10 gently used Halloween-themed items that are clean, functional and ready for a new owner. You can also make a donation to purchase things you want.

Sunday, 3-6pm. Peacock Park in the Grove.

🎸 III Points: The massive Wynwood music festival is back with a lineup of 293 artists across 13 stages, including Adam Port, Men I Trust, Blood Orange and more.

🖤 Halloween death cafe: Good Grief Women, which hosts monthly "death cafes" to offer a welcoming space to talk about death and grief, is hosting a free Halloween-themed gathering.

Peach on 14th, 123 NW 16th Street, Miami.

Things to do in Miami this weekend

Here's a sampling of fun weekend events around Miami.

Illustration of posters and flyers with emojis on them, stapled to a telephone pole.

Ah, mid-October. It&#x27;s not even Halloween and, yet, the Christmas ads are popping up.<ul><li>Take your mind off the passage of time with these weekend events around Miami.</li></ul>

Things to Do

Miami's love affair with Grand Theft Auto is heating up with another public display of affection: Wynwood Walls Museum announced free admission for Miami-Dade residents through 2028, courtesy of Rockstar Games.

Why it matters: The upcoming video game, based on a fictional Miami called Vice City, is blanketing the city with promo material ahead of its November release, including a giant "Welcome to Vice City" sign atop the Kaseya Center and branded concession umbrellas on Miami Beach.

The latest: Wynwood Walls announced a partnership with Rockstar to give locals free entry for two years.

The collab also includes the unveiling of ten new murals around Wynwood featuring original in-game artwork, including from Miami-based artists ATOMIK and Tatiana Suarez.

The deal also spawned a merchandise collection featuring GTA-inspired designs from the participating artists.

Meanwhile, Rockstar is funding a free Little Haiti block party in partnership with BAYO and the Haitian cultural ambassador and artist Michaël Brun.

The Nov. 22 concert marks a return for BAYO ten years after the international musical event series started in Little Haiti, per a press release.

Tickets will be available through a raffle, with more than half earmarked for Florida residents and Haitian community members. Fans can sign up at bayotour.com.

From the Beach to Little Haiti, GTA promos are taking over Miami

Grand Theft Auto mania is taking over Miami.

Teenagers taking photos in front of Wynwood Walls murals.

Wynwood Walls Museum in 2022. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Miami&#x27;s love affair with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Grand Theft Auto" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/17/grand-theft-auto-miami-vice-controversy-debate" data-vars-content-id="391dbfd9-169d-4854-b71a-cd77440d3158" data-vars-headline="From the Beach to Little Haiti, GTA promos are taking over Miami" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/09/17/grand-theft-auto-miami-vice-controversy-debate" target="_self">Grand Theft Auto</a> is heating up with another public display of affection: Wynwood Walls Museum announced free admission for Miami-Dade residents through 2028, courtesy of Rockstar Games.

Culture

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

A new social app from a South Florida startup hopes to spark real-life connections, whether you're looking for a friend or a date.

Why it matters: Stoke wants to make it easier for Miami singles to mingle by partnering with bars, coffee shops, gyms and other venues to put users in the same space.

How it works: The idea is that when you download the app, you create a basic profile and see a map with participating venues and how many users are there.

Once you arrive, you check in, select whether you're interested in dating or friendship, and peruse the profiles of the folks who are also at the venue.

If you find a match and you're both interested in meeting, the chat function turns on and lets you take it from there.

Once you leave the venue, the chat disappears.

Follow the money: The venues pay Stoke to get customers in the door. The app is free.

What they're saying: Kevin Battista, founder and CEO of Stoke and a recent Fort Lauderdale transplant, says singles are tired of swiping on their dating apps but acknowledges approaching someone in person can be awkward.

He wants Stoke to help break the ice and get people off their phones.

"I've always been terrified to go approach people mainly because there's a stigma," he tells Axios. "We need something different, especially with Gen Z — they grew up around phones."

The latest: Stoke is launching a pilot dating event Nov. 7 at five venues in Wynwood to test the app and get feedback.

Participating venues include the Sylvester cocktail lounge, Sürenitea Wellness Kava Bar and the White Elephant cocktail bar.

What's next: Battista says he wants to launch in January with a target of partnering with 60 businesses across the Miami area.

Need a date or a friend? Miami social app hopes to spark connections

Stoke is hosting a pilot dating event in Wynwood to test the app.

Screenshots of the Stoke app, including a feature showing how many users are at The Sylvester bar and prompting you to check in and see who is there.

Screenshots of the Stoke app, including a feature showing how many users are at a venue and prompting you to check in and see who is there. Photos: Courtesy of Stoke

A new social app from a South Florida startup hopes to spark real-life connections, whether you&#x27;re looking for a friend or a date.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stoke" data-vars-click-url="https://stokesocial.app/" data-vars-content-id="880da363-ff58-4886-b6b1-61b45e209ee2" data-vars-headline="Need a date or a friend? Miami social app hopes to spark connections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stokesocial.app/" target="_blank">Stoke</a> wants to make it easier for Miami singles to mingle by partnering with bars, coffee shops, gyms and other venues to put users in the same space.

Dating

Eight-foot-tall temporary advertising posters may soon be allowed along construction sites in Miami's urban core. 

Why it matters: The proposal, up for a final vote before the Miami City Commission on Thursday, has been controversial. 

Supporters say the signs would look "cleaner" than the typical green mesh construction fencing, deter graffiti and bring money to the city.

Critics say the commercial messaging would add more visual pollution to Miami.

Driving the news: Commissioners are scheduled to vote Thursday on the  one-year pilot program, titled SR 1, which it already unanimously approved with modifications last month. 

While the original proposal reserved usage exclusively to one company, the updated proposal allows the city to consider any applicant.

The signs would be limited to certain sections of the city's urban core, excluding Commission Districts 2 and 5.

The signs may include solar-powered lighting, but no other digital technology. Other restrictions include an eight-foot height limit. 

A map of the city of Miami's urban core. If the proposal is approved, commercial signs will be allowed in portions of the urban core, excluding Commission Districts 2 and 5.

If the proposal is approved, commercial signs will be allowed in portions of the urban core, excluding Commission Districts 2 and 5. Image: Courtesy of Miami-Dade County

Follow the money: The city would receive at least $10,000 in fees per applicant, along with 40% of gross revenue.

If you go: The meeting begins at 9am at City Hall and can also be viewed online.

Miami commissioners consider advertisements on construction fencing

Advertising banners may be coming to a construction project near you.

Chain-link construction fencing with work-safety banners around construction equipment next to the I-395 Signature Bridge project in downtown Miami.

Construction fencing like this, next to the I-395 Signature Bridge project, could be covered in advertising if a Miami proposal is approved. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images


Eight-foot-tall temporary advertising posters may soon be allowed along construction sites in Miami&#x27;s urban core. Why it matters: The proposal, up for a final vote before the Miami City Commission on Thursday, has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="controversial" data-vars-click-url="https://www.themiamian.net/p/longtime-miami-insiders-pushing-for-construction-fence-ads-in-downtown-miami-f30d" data-vars-content-id="9dc64fd2-1666-46de-afc2-447b5f36c380" data-vars-headline="Miami commissioners consider advertisements on construction fencing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.themiamian.net/p/longtime-miami-insiders-pushing-for-construction-fence-ads-in-downtown-miami-f30d" target="_blank">controversial</a>.

Martin Vassolo

Featured stories

Things to do in Miami this weekend

From the Beach to Little Haiti, GTA promos are taking over Miami

Need a date or a friend? Miami social app hopes to spark connections

Miami commissioners consider advertisements on construction fencing

Miami marks 3 years since Oct. 7 attack that sparked Israel-Hamas war