A "Super Latina" Returns

The Culture Edit, April 29th-May 12th

Author

Susan Bannon
April 28, 2024

It’s been years since we first met Elena, the unforgettable protagonist of ¡Fuácata! A Latina's Guide to Surviving the Universe, a sleeper hit in 2017 that chronicled one very trying day in the life of this café-fueled “Super Latina”. Now she’s back, in Cuban Chicken Soup: When There’s No More Café, facing another crisis-filled day ten years later. Incredibly talented playwright, actress, and director Elena Maria Garcia brings over 20 characters to life in this one-woman season finale at Zoetic Stage.

Also this week, Michael Tilson Thomas leads the New World Symphony for his final performance of the season and ICA Miami celebrates the opening of two new exhibits with one of their fun, free “First Fridays” events.

Let's get planning...

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Thursday, May 2nd

Cuban Chicken Soup: When There’s No More Café - Opening Night!

From Zoetic Stage and the creative team behind the hugely successful ¡Fuácata! A Latina's Guide to Surviving the Universe comes a new one-woman, comedic tour de force starring the incomparable Elena Maria Garcia. All the powerful, eccentric and very funny women introduced in ¡Fuacata! return, as Elena’s story continues 10 years later.

7:30pm, Carnival Studio Theater at the Arsht Center, $55-$60

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on May 2nd: PAMM celebrates The Spirit of Basquiat with music, art, and interactive experiences.

Friday, May 3rd

Opening Night for Huguette Caland: Outside the Line (1970-1984)

First Fridays at The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami are some of my favorite art events in town. Drinks and music are out in the lovely sculpture garden, and you get to see the exhibits they have on in the museum, all for free. In this case, ICA is celebrating the the opening of two exhibits - Huguette Caland: Outside the Line (1970-1984), the first solo show of the late Lebanese artist’s work in a U.S. museum, and Toward the Celestial, a selection of artwork from the permanent collection for its 10th anniversary. The musical guest is Grammy-winning spoken word poet Aja Monet.

6-8pm, ICA Miami, Free

Neighborhood: Design District

Also on May 3rd: author Margot Livesey speaks at Books & Books, an adults-only film festival at O Cinema, and a performance of Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Saturday, May 4th

MTT and Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Hailed as a “master colorist,” “titanic force,” and “a complete triumph,” pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins New World Symphony for a highly anticipated performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto. Also on the program, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15. Beloved conductor and co-founder of New World Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas will be at the podium, so this is sure to be a hot ticket. If you can’t get a seat inside, grab a blanket and enjoy a free WALLCAST at SoundScape park.

8pm, New World Center, $40-$175

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Joliet, Barceloneta, Zaytinya | Drinks: MILA, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Also on May 4th: an opening reception at Dimensions Variable for a solo show of new work by Pittsburgh-based artist Kim Beck, a second day of the adults-only film festival at O Cinema, and a performance of Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Sunday, May 5th

Candlelight Jazz: The Best of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole

Fever brings its internationally popular candlelight concerts to Miami, with a series of performances that bring together local working musicians, interesting venues, and a LOT of candles. This one features local jazz artists provided by PureSoul Miami performing romantic favorites from the catalogs of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole (Fly Me to the Moon, Unforgettable) at the moody Scottish Rite Temple downtown.

6:30pm and 9pm, Scottish Rite Temple, $36-$70

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on May 5th: a second performance of MTT and Jean-Yves Thibaudet at New World and Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Happening NEXT Week:

Because maybe your friends are busy this week. Or you're busy this week. Or this week just seems too soon to pull your act together and make a plan.

Wednesday, May 8th

Oolite Artists in Residence: Everything is a Spiral

Oolite Arts, which provides studio and exhibition space to local artists, celebrates the opening of Everything is a Spiral, a group show of 17 of its artists in residence. The maze-like layout of artist studios will be open to the public during the reception, which is a great chance to meet an artist and hear them discuss their work. Opening receptions at Oolite feel a bit like an interactive game, where new art and new people are encountered around every corner. Plus, there’s music and free wine (of course!), if you can find it.

7-9pm, Oolite Arts, Free

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Also on May 8th: Brazilian singer-songwriter Céu plays the Miami Beach Bandshell, The 6th Annual Jazz Series at Faena Theater presents The Shelly Berg Trio, and Cuban Chicken Soup gets another performance at Zoetic Stage.

Thursday, May 9th

Miami Chamber Fest: Ariel Quartet

The Miami Chamber Music Society presents Chamberfest 2024: New Directions, a series of intimate recitals throughout the month of May by chamber musicians from around the world. The opening recital features the internationally renowned Ariel Quartet, with pianist Marina Radiushina, performing Dvorak, Ravel, and Schumann, at the brand new performance center at Temple Beth Am.

7:30pm, The Hub at Temple Beth Am, $39-$53

Neighborhood: Pinecrest

Also on May 9th: a performance of Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Friday, May 10th

Miami Dances

Miami Dances returns for its second year, bringing us an exciting sampler of local dance companies as a celebratory finale to the South Florida dance season. There are two programs, with two different lineups of companies, for Friday and Saturday. The Friday performance includes performances by Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami and Dance NOW! Miami. (You can see the complete lineups here.) Ticket holders are invited to come early for cocktail hour and stay after for a Q&A with the artists.

7pm, Sandrell Rivers Theater, $15

Neighborhood: Little River / Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: so many good ones! Try Rosie's*, Phuc Yea, Blue Collar, or Ogawa | Drinks: Bar Kaiju at the Citadel, Zey Zey (*Rosie’s is closing temporarily after May 12th, so make this one a priority.)

Also on May 10th: Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Saturday, May 11th

Fountainhead Arts: Artists Open

Launched in 2019, Artists Open is a unique open studios event series welcoming the public into over 300 artist studios across the county. The event is organized by Fountainhead, an artist residency program that has grown into a pretty vast art ecosystem since its founding 15 years ago. For this edition, Artists Open will focus on artist studios in just the Little Haiti and Little River neighborhoods, and thank goodness because that’s already 70+ studios to explore in one afternoon. Rsvp required.

1-5pm, Artist Studios in Various Locations, Free

Neighborhood: Little River / Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: all the ones listed for Miami Dances, plus Boia De, Walrus Rodeo, Branja | Drinks: rooftop at the Citadel, Offsite Nano Brewery

Also on May 11th: New World Symphony performs Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for its season finale, Miami Dances presents Program #2, and Cuban Chicken Soup gets another performance at Zoetic Stage.

Sunday, May 12th

New World Symphony Season Finale

Artistic Director Stéphane Denève leads the New World Symphony for their season finale, performing Stravinsky’s groundbreaking Rite of Spring and the world premiere of a “prelude” to Rite of Spring by eclectic French composer Guillaume Connesson. Also on the program, two works by John Williams, one of our best-known living composers, including his First Violin Concerto, a touching work dedicated to the memory of his late wife.

2pm, New World Center, $40-$130

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Nearby Eats: Joliet, Casa Tua, Zaytinya | Drinks:  MILA, Water Lion at the Sagamore

Also on May 12th: a performance of Cuban Chicken Soup at Zoetic Stage.

Planning Ahead:

Miami's most anticipated events sell out and those new restaurants you want to try book up. Here are a couple of upcoming events you need to lock down now...

Tuesday, May 28th

An Evening with Author Kevin Kwan

Books & Books presents an evening with Kevin Kwan, internationally bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, one of the most successful series in recent publishing history. (In 2018, the trilogy held the #1, #2, and #3 spot on the New York Times bestseller list simultaneously and the movie adaptation was the highest grossing romantic comedy in over a decade.) Kevin will be discussing his new book, Lies and Weddings, along with his publisher, Doubleday’s Todd Doughty. Lies and Weddings will be available for purchase at the event. Rsvp required.

7pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church, Free

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Wednesday May 29th

Masters of Comedy: Jamie Kennedy

New this year, Faena Theater’s Masters of Comedy series brings top notch comics to their intimate cabaret-style theater space on the last Wednesday of each month. For this performance, actor and comedian Jamie Kennedy, best know for his roles in the Scream movie franchise and his show, “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment”, takes the stage with his stand-up hour. Seating at Faena is two by two, and you can upgrade with fancy bottle service and even caviar, so this is definitely a date night booking.

6:30pm and 9:15pm, Faena Theater, $65-$95

Neighborhood: Mid Beach

Nearby Eats: Los Fuegos at Faena, also 27 Restaurant and Cecconi's  | Drinks: Choose from three great bars at the Faena - Tree of Life, Living Room, and The Saxony Bar, or head to WunderBar for a change of scenery.

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