14 August 21-27, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | She’s Back! Locals celebrate the return of Las Rosas. BY FLOR FRANCESCHETTI L ast week, the internet broke (at least locally), with the news that the venue and dive bar Las Rosas was reopening. Although it was a friends-and-family event with no official announcement, most Miami fans of metal, goth, post-punk, alternative, and live music consider themselves friends of the house. Despite the rainy weekend, there was a line outside. The atmosphere? Just as you remember: red neon-dimmed lights, graffiti-covered walls, dark floors, and yes — even the arcade games are still there. Last weekend marked the official grand reopening, nearly three years after Las Rosas closed its doors during the pandemic in 2022. The return, under new ownership, feels timely and crucial for a city whose music scene has weathered too many losses. Las Rosas is more than back; it’s improved with a bigger stage and a new bar in the con- cert room. Photographer Maureen Roxanny, who has documented the hardcore, punk, and metal scenes across Miami (including many iconic concerts at Churchill’s before it closed), was one of the first through the door. “When a venue makes a comeback, you can’t help but wonder if it will still capture that same feeling of excitement it had three years ago. Las Ro- sas not only delivers on that energy, but also stays true to its authentic vibe,” she said. “The thoughtful renovations make the space even more welcoming and enjoyable, without los- ing any of their local venue charm.” For Roxanny, the soft opening was proof of what’s to come: “The crowd was such a great mix of ages and diversity... It was effortless to capture because ev- eryone was just fully in the moment. That perfect balance is no accident; it’s a testament to (program direc- tor) Nayra Serrano’s deep understanding of the music scene.” Bands and DJs echoed those feelings. For Laydboy, one of the first acts to play the friends-and-family weekend, it was personal. “My first performance as a musician was at Las Rosas, so it was an honor to play there again. Sharing smokes and drinks with friends, sweating together with guitar riffs in the air felt like a return to a time in Miami that has been dearly missed.” When asked why venues like this matter, they didn’t hold back: “A city’s culture doesn’t exist without venues like Las Rosas. The un- derground of Miami that keeps the culture alive needs more spaces for local artists, out- casts, anyone who grew up being called a slur. My hope is that its return is here to stay until the city sinks for good.” DJ Rippin Kittin (Kimberly Andrews) also performed at the friends-and-family reopen- ing: “It was really great! It was humbling to have so many people happy to see me behind the decks... It was an epic night! I felt blessed to christen those decks — no pressure,” she laughs. For Emmanuel Nanni, who performed with Pena Maxima and has a long history as a musician and promoter at Las Rosas, the re- turn struck a chord. “It’s a place for us — artists, freaks — to get wild. A second home. A place for the outlaws and anyone who doesn’t feel part of a group to come together and feel like they belong.” He’s played there in several bands, DJed, and promoted shows. The reopening, he says, felt like a continuation of something essen- tial: “It picked up right where it left off, but better. The stage is bigger. There’s a green room now. They tore down a wall, so now you can watch the band from the bar. It’s still raw, still packed, but it feels even more inten- tional.” Nanni’s band Pena Maxima recently re- leased a new album, and playing it live at Las Rosas felt like a full-circle moment: “People were singing along. Folks who’d seen the band years ago were like, ‘Man, you guys are serious now.’ It was like winning somehow.” The community has spoken. Las Rosas is a cultural anchor for Miami’s underground. It’s a comeback with bite, sweat, and purpose. Las Rosas. Open daily at 5 p.m. 2898 NW Seventh Ave., Miami; instagram.com/lasro- sasmiami. [email protected] The Las Rosas reopening is making many locals happy. Photo by Maureen Roxanny “IT’S A PLACE FOR US — ARTISTS, FREAKS — TO GET WILD. A SECOND HOME.” | CROSSFADE | t Music
