Miami Stories

The Culture Edit, April 22nd-May 5th

Author

Susan Bannon
April 21, 2024

When it comes to our cultural calendar, I get most enthusiastic about things that are uniquely Miami. If something is new and fresh, with homegrown talent and themes that speak directly to our community, I want to see it. So I was thrilled to catch a performance of Miami New Drama’s Dangerous Days at the Colony Theater recently. It’s a fascinating, immersive look at Miami history with a knockout 1980’s Miami Herald set and some great performances. The final dates are this week, so get those tickets!

Speaking of uniquely Miami events, this is also the last week of our O, Miami Poetry Festival and the final Seraphic Fire concert of the season, with some surprisingly modern works on the program.

Let's get planning...

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Wednesday, April 24th

O, Miami “Zip Odes” Finale at Vizcaya

Zip Odes is a collaboration between O, Miami and WLRN that invites Miami residents to submit a poem about their zip code using the numbers as the structure (meaning if your zip code is 33133, your poem has 3 words on the first line, 3 on the second, 1 on the third… you get the picture). At the annual Zip Odes Finale, hosted by Vizcaya, awards are given and poems are read and wine is complimentary.

6-9pm, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, $5-$10

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove / Brickell

Nearby(ish) Eats: head north to Edge Brasserie or LPM, or south to Bayshore Club or Regatta Grove (those places should have you covered for drinks, as well).

Also on April 24th: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon performs with Amernet String Quartet at the Wolfsonian, FilmGate Miami’s Comedy Festival screens the best comedic short films from local filmmakers, and Faena Theater presents comedian Adam Ray.

Thursday, April 25th

Dangerous Days - Final Performances!

Miami New Drama presents Dangerous Days, a new play by Nicholas Griffin, based on his acclaimed nonfiction book, The Year of Dangerous Days: Riots, Refugees, and Cocaine in Miami 1980. The story tracks the investigative work of Miami Herald reporter Edna Buchanan, who follows a tip in 1980 that leads her on a trail ending in murder, riots, and the city on fire.

8pm, Colony Theater, $46-$76

Neighborhood: Lincoln Road

Also on April 25th: a series of art and ecology panels (and then happy hour) at PAMM, award winning writer Leila Philip at Books & Books to discuss her new book on beavers (yes, beavers), and a screening of Climate in Crisis with panel discussion at Coral Gables Art Cinema.

Friday, April 26th

Seraphic Fire: Mid-Century Modern

Seraphic Fire is truly one of Miami’s cultural gems, not just for their impeccable artistry, but also for their inspired musical selections. Typically focusing on rare baroque and classical work, they’re mixing it up with this concert of 20th century pieces for a cappella chorus. You can check out a Spotify sampling of the program at the link above.

8pm, Church of the Little Flower, $53

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on April 26th: Miami New Drama’s Dangerous Days at the Colony Theater, novelist Lydia Millet at Books & Books discussing her new “anti-memoir” on grieving a changing climate, and a special WALLCAST collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art and New World Symphony.

Saturday, April 27th

Nu Deco Ensemble with Emily King & Durand Jones

Nu Deco Ensemble brings its genre-bending talents to the Arsht Center for this packed program of collaborations and new music. A world premiere orchestral work by multi-instrumentalist and composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, who has performed with Shakira, Wyclef Jean, and many others, headlines the program. R&B sensation Durand Jones, of Durand Jones & the Indications, and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Emily King will both have special collaborations with the ensemble, and the music of Rihanna will get the typically adventurous Nu Deco orchestral treatment.

8pm, Knight Concert Hall at the Arsht Center, $35-$115

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Also on April 27th: an opening reception at Andrew Reed Gallery for its show of new work by artists Merik Goma and Jeffrey Meris, readings of four fast and funny short plays around the theme of “Critters” on Key Biscayne, Miami New Drama’s Dangerous Days at the Colony Theater, and the chance to Meet a Poet at Books & Books.

Sunday, April 28th

The Third Man: 75th Anniversary Restoration

Coral Gables Art Cinema is celebrating the 75th anniversary of The Third Man, with a special screening of the film in glorious 4K resolution. Considered one of the finest films ever made, and filmed on location in bombed-out postwar Vienna, The Third Man features a mesmerizing Orson Welles in his best role, a gripping story by Graham Greene, an iconic score, and some of the most legendary shots in film history. This restored print brings its famous shadows and angles into sharp focus for the big screen, so if you’ve only seen it on the small screen in your living room, or never seen it at all, you’re in for a real treat.

12pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $12

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Also on April 28th: Decomposition Compositions - a poetry workshop that involves compost somehow, a performance of Dangerous Days, and another Meet a Poet event at Books & Books.

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.

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

Friday, May 3rd

Words to Sea Book Release Party

Books & Books Coconut Grove hosts artist Amanda Keeley and sound experience curator Andrea Mihalik to celebrate the launch of Amanda’s book, Words to Sea, a compilation of inspirational thoughts and quotes on dissolvable paper. The idea is to find words that are meaningful to you in the book, tear out the page, and send it out to sea. Since the bay is right around the corner, I suspect this group will be heading down to the water’s edge with their pages. Rsvp required.

7pm, Books & Books Coconut Grove, Free

Neighborhood: Coconut Grove

Nearby Eats: So many great places in the Grove these days! Try QP Tapas at the Mayfair, Eva, Krüs Kitchen, Bellini, Bartaco (save a spot in line and have a drink upstairs while you wait) | Drinks: Mayfair rooftop, Level 6, Bodega (speakeasy, door at the back behind the counter)

Also on May 3rd: 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: a second day for 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.

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...

May 18th-19th

Andrew Scott: Vanya

Coral Gables Art Cinema is proud to present National Theatre Live, a groundbreaking project to broadcast the best of British theater, live from the London stage to cinemas around the world. Andrew Scott (Fleabag) brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens’ (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Filmed and broadcast live during its sold-out run in London’s West End.

12pm Saturday, 1pm Sunday, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $20

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Sunday, December 22nd (yes, December!)

Andrea Bocelli Holiday Concert

Adrienne Arsht Center presents Andrea Bocelli in concert for the holidays at the Kaseya Center this December. One of the most beloved voices in the world, Bocelli will perform songs from his No. 1 album, A Family Christmas, and his solo album, Believe. Planning this far ahead is painful for any Miami resident, but just think how happy you’ll be come December when you actually have tickets for this show.

7:30pm, Kaseya Center, $86-$366

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: I’m assuming we’ll have five new places to try by then, but if not… Jaguar Sun, NIU Kitchen, Klaw | Drinks: The Roystone, Night Swim

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