7 August 20-26, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | Leaves of grass A weird Miami World Cup artifact will be preserved by a Rhode Island museum. BY B. SCOTT MCLENDON I t was the shot heard ‘round the world, and now Sidny Lopes Cabral’s stunning strike against Argentina in Miami is be- ing immortalized in a museum dedi- cated to Cape Verdean history. After this month’s announcement that Lopes Cabral’s 26-yard screamer was named the goal of the tournament, Hard Rock Sta- dium grounds crew members cut out the exact patch of grass from which Lopes Cabral kicked the ball and sent it to the Cape Verdean Mu- seum in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, ac- cording to a state- ment provided to New Times by sta- dium officials (who declined to com- ment further). Hard Rock Sta- dium (officially Mi- ami Stadium during the World Cup) hosted seven matches during this summer’s tournament, including Eng- land’s 6-4 dismantling of France, everyone’s new favorite athlete Erling Haaland’s Norway, the rowdy Tartan Army, and Cape Verde’s his- toric knockout round appearance in their first World Cup. But of all the memorable Miami mo- ments, Lopes Cabral’s goal may have the best chance of living on in the collective memo- ries of soccer fans. The 103-minute goal will certainly live long in the memories of Lionel Messi and Argentina fans, as it brought the game level before Argentina eventually sealed a 3-2 win. Soon, that moment will also live on at what its website calls the world’s first Cape Verdean cultural museum. Along with the new artifact, Hard Rock Stadium sent a note that reads, “Congrats on a historic World Cup run! We hope you enjoy this piece of the pitch from our stadium — the exact spot where Sidny Lopes Cabral scored the best goal of the 2026 tournament against Argentina!” Rhode Island’s Cape Verdean Museum celebrated the gift with a post on Instagram: “This week we received an unexpected phone call from the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium offering a serendipitous blessing of a gift. Yesterday as promised we received a package containing a piece of the field from where the official best goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 was made by Sidny Lopes Cabral. We are currently taking steps to preserve it and soon it will become a part of the 2026 Blue Sharks Exhibit in the sports section for all to view. Thank to the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, also Ryan, Tom and all of the grounds crew.” Museum officials did not respond to New Times’ calls or messages seeking comment. And if you’re wondering why there’s a Cape Verde museum in Rhode Island of all places, the museum explains Pawtucket is “the most densely Cape Verdean populated city in the United States.” [email protected] ▼ Culture Culture Sidny Lopes Cabral scored the goal of the tournament against Argentina during the World Cup. Megan Briggs/Getty Images PAWTUCKET IS “THE MOST DENSELY CAPE VERDEAN POPULATED CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.” That’s lit Yet another Barnes & Noble location is opening in South Florida. BY CELIA ALMEIDA M uch like Miami’s literary scene, Barnes & Noble has been unfairly counted out time and time again. Less than a de- cade ago, the company was closing hundreds of stores and laying off full-time employees. A post-pandemic resurgence reversed the trend, with dozens of new stores opening across the country last year. South Florida readers have feasted on the bounty. Although the beloved West Kendall and Pembroke Pines locations closed in late 2025 and early 2026, respectively, they were followed by new stores soon thereafter. Barnes & Noble Colonial Palms Plaza opened in September 2025, with another opening at Palms at Town & Country shopping center the following month. Now, yet another Barnes & Noble store is coming to South Florida. Local guide platform @miamibucketlist spot- ted signage in Midtown indicating that the com- pany is opening a store at the Collection at Midtown Miami retail complex, inside the space formerly occupied by West Elm. Real estate me- dia company Commercial Observer broke the news about the store in December. Barnes & Noble confirmed it plans to open the new Midtown store this fall. “[Barring] any construction or inspection de- lays we plan to open early October,” a represen- tative told New Times via email. “The store will showcase our new design and format, and we look forward to welcoming customers.” Though the Collection at Midtown Miami’s site says the bookstore will measure 13,958 square feet, Barnes & Noble told New Times, “The store floor area will be approximately 12,300 [to] 12,400 square feet, with additional space being used for a receiving area, storage, office [and] breakroom area.” Even as the company continues to expand its South Florida footprint, Barnes & Noble has felt some of the same pressures affecting other re- tailers in 2026. Last month, business publication Inc. updated its list of Barnes & Noble’s looming store closures. “Nearly every closure is attributed to the same root cause: an expiring lease or a mall undergoing redevelopment — not a deci- sion by Barnes & Noble to pull out of a given market,” wrote reporter Amaya Nichole. That may send shivers down the spines of loyal Barnes & Noble Sunset Place patrons — the store’s fate remains uncertain as the demo- lition of the aging South Miami mall looms. The bookstore is one of its few remaining tenants, with vital third space Tea & Poets holding strong, too. And before you get on your soapbox about supporting chain retailers over mom-and-pops, know that Miami readers are shopping at local bookstores more than ever, and shops are pop- ping up left and right to meet demand. Posman Books and Quade Books opened in 2024, Roots Bookstore and Market opened in Liberty City last summer, and romance-heavy Steamy Lit opened two stores — in Miami Springs and Fort Lauder- dale — in recent months. [email protected] Flickr/Kzoo Cowboy Barnes & Noble bookstores are booming in Miami.
