Brittany Brave hates when people call female comics "unapologetic."

• "Every time someone reviews a female comic, it's like, 'She says what she thinks!' 'She's in your face!' And you're just like, 'OK,'" she told Axios in a recent interview.

Why it matters: The New York-born, Kendall-raised comedian is set to make her return to the Miami scene next week after almost two years — this time with a darker tone.

• "The reality is, a lot of the [new show] is about my mom having cancer and keeping my dad, who has dementia, alive. I have a lot of material about grief."
• Moreover, Brave is also a domestic violence survivor and the topic is woven through everything she does, both on and off stage.

The big picture: While Brave has always been a performer, she didn't launch her stand-up career until just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was living in New York City, unhappy and coming out of an abusive relationship.

• She spoke honestly about the transition with friends. They suggested she do stand-up.
• "'This is so dark and funny,' they told me. And they were right," she said. "What other medium will allow you to talk like this about these traumatic things?"

She dove in. Then the pandemic hit. And Brave found herself back in Miami — a place she didn't plan on returning to.

State of play: A few years and multiple accolades later — Miami New Times' Best Comedian 2021, TimeOut's Best Comedy Act 2023 and a NY Comedy Festival Comic to Watch in 2024 — she's performing at the Miami Improv Comedy Theater with a new show and fresh material.

• Catch her at 8pm on Aug. 20.

What they're saying: Performing back in Miami "feels like a homecoming and reunion of sorts," she said. "I had all my formative years in Miami's comedy scene, and it's what made me a strong comedian."

Yes, but: Miami crowds are rough. The city is "notoriously bad for comedy," she said.

• "I love it and I know it well. But there's a lot of distractions [in the city] and things that are more interesting than sitting down and listening to someone talk about their trauma for an hour," Brave said.

Zoom out: Brave also recently completed a documentary, "Muchacha."

• The short film is about family, roots, survival and reinvention. It's also a look at the past, present and future of Miami's comedy scene.

The bottom line: Brave's career in stand-up — especially in Miami — was an unplanned one, but she sees potential for the local comedy scene to blossom.

• "There's been a renaissance of Miami comedians," she said. "And I hope to make Miami proud in the hopes we can legitimize our scene here."

Tell a friend

If it wasn't already clear: I love sandwiches. And I've happily been making my way around town sampling Miami's latest offerings.

• Enter Buccan Sandwich Shop, the Palm Beach County ventanita that arrived in Miami in May.

Why it matters: Folks lined up for weeks after it opened, and I wasn't sure if it would live up to the hype. (It did.)

• So my childhood bff Nicky and I met for lunch on a Tuesday.
• We arrived at noon (opens at 11am) and there was a steady flow of folks placing an order or picking up.

State of plate: The menu features 10 sandos ranging between about $15-$18 (a deal!), four salads, a handful of housemade sides and a soup.

• There's also a burger, but only on Wednesdays.

Between the lines: It's takeout only.

What we ordered: The Beef Carpaccio (carpaccio, arugula, crispy balsamic onions, mayo, lemon vinaigrette) and the Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Salad (gruyere, tomato, mayo, mustard shallot vinaigrette).

• The beef carp sando was insane (in a good way). For packing in so much raw meat, it was surprisingly refreshing and crisp with a subtle sweetness. The crispy onions were a standout.
• The tuna salad was tangy and flavorful. Nicky said it was the perfect beach sando.

Fun fact: For $25.25, your sandwich can be a box lunch, complete with a drink, chips, 1/2 pickle and a cookie. (We did it and it's worth it.)

Share with a sando lover

😋 Miami Slice Coconut Grove opened this week after months of anticipation. (Miami New Times)

🗳️ The number of vote-by-mail requests for Florida's August primary elections declined by about half since the 2022 primary, from more than 4 million to 1.9 million this election cycle, a shift that underscores partisan attitude shifts about mail ballots. (WLRN)

🎺 For the 2026-27 school year, high school students who are in marching band for two years can satisfy both their arts and physical education credits. (WLRN)

July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S., per new federal data dating back to 1895.

By the numbers: Last month's average temperature was 76.89°F, topping the 76.77°F mark set in July 1936.

• That's 3.3°F warmer than the 1901-2000 average.

The big picture: July featured a series of "heat domes" across the country that trapped warm air beneath them, fueling several extreme heat events.

• Researchers have found that climate change is making extreme heat events more common and more intense — but they're also linked to phenomena and patterns like El Niño.

What we're watching

🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Laser Evening at Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science tonight: Laser Evening returns to the Frost Planetarium. Experience Phoebe Bridgers' new album plus '80s, '90s and 2000s hits

More than 250 people have died from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit western Colombia on Monday.

• In the days since, local organizations and governments have organized relief efforts to deliver aid to the country.

The big picture: There are over 105,000 Colombians living in Miami-Dade County, comprising one of Miami's largest foreign-born communities.

Here's a non-exhaustive list of groups collecting donations and events to attend:

Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), the Doral-based organization, has been collecting donations and supplies to deliver on-the-ground resources.

• The organization is seeking volunteers. Drop off donations at its headquarters. (This post lists the needed supplies.)

City of Miami Beach: The city's four fire stations are accepting items through Aug. 31 between 8am-6pm daily.

FORÇA RÍTMICA and Bandidos Run Club are asking event-goers to bring essential supplies to be donated to GEM.

• Saturday, Tripping Animals Brewery, 8:30-11:30am.

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