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IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance
Festival
Cultural Miami
Miami is more than beaches and palm trees. Its neighborhoods pulse
with diverse cultural traditions, kept alive not only through events
and holidays but through the practice of everyday life. Here, many
different ethnic -- Cuban, Haitian, Bahamian, African-American,
South American, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Russian, etc. -- communities
keep traditions alive.
Have a link/resource to suggest for this section? Please let
us know!
Miami Neighborhoods
Salsa/Timba/Latin Jazz Clubs
Miami Salsa/Latin Jazz/Afro-Cuban Radio Stations
Other Arts/Culture Events During the Festival
Online Exhibits on Miami's Ethnic Communities
Culture is Alive in Miami Neighborhoods
Little Haiti
In this bustling, historic neighborhood, home to approximately 30,000
Haitian immigrants, visit a quincallerie (hardware store), buy gros
savon (soap) and taste beurre chaud (bread) or any number of delicious
tropical fruits. In markets and botanicas, find and learn about
Vodou traditions. In many local shops you can find Haitian crafts
and art, bursting with color, and hear traditional Compas and Racine
music. Say "Sak Pase!" and you should find your visit
to Little Haiti to be a complete pleasure.
Within the Little Haiti area is the Design District, spanning from
NE Second Avenue on the east to North Miami Avenue on the west and
then from NE 38th Street north to NE 42nd Street. It began as a
trade center for the design trades, and is now an area with not
only many design stores but art galleries and other arts-related
businesses.
Little Havana
Although this neighborhood is now home to a growing number of immigrants
from Nicaragua, Venezuela and other Latin American countries, it
is still the home of many Cuban refugees. The main street, Calle
Ocho, is known for its many art galleries, music venues and the
famous Maximo Gomez (Domino) Park, where old Cuban men like to play
dominos and tell stories. Taste strong and sweet Cuban coffee at
El Esquisito or tropical juice (guava, guayaba, sugarcane, to name
a few) at the fruteria on the corner of 13th Avenue. Eat a Cuban
sandwich (or other delicious meals for less than $10), and at least
one of the delicious, fancy Cuban pastries and desserts (pastelito
de guayaba) offered by many cafes and restaurants in the area.
Have your own cigars hand- rolled in a cigar shop factory. Visit
a botanica, where many Santeria and Spiritism items can be found,
or buy a set of claves or a hard-to-find Latin jazz CD at the music
store. At night, go see a performance at the restored Tower Theater
or check out a performance at music venues like Hoy Como Ayer, which
features everything from rumba fusion to Cuban salsa.
Allapattah
Nicknamed Little Dominican Republic, the community of Allapatah (the
Seminole word for alligator) is also the home of many of Miami's Afro-Cubans
as well as people from all parts of the world. In fact, it has been
considered the most diverse neighborhood in the United States. Allapattah
is filled with fresh juice bars, restaurants and cafes where you can
listen to the popular Dominican music called Bachata. Buy fresh passion
fruit and other tropical fruits in markets or eat delicious, authentic
meals for a very cheap price.
Overtown
This historic African American community has churches built as far
back as 1896, when the City of Miami was incorporated. Its Lyric
Theater, recently restored, was described in 1915 by The Miami Metropolis
as, "Possibly the most beautiful and costly playhouse owned
by colored people in all the southland." In the '60s, two interstate
highways were built in the heart of the community, and in the '70s,
much housing was demolished as part of "urban renewal,"
leading to displacement of many residents. Even more residents were
displaced and housing/buildings lost during the '80s, when civil
disturbances took place. Local community organizers and organizations
are working to help lift local residents out of poverty.
Liberty City
In this historic African-American neighborhood, find Black-owned
businesses selling items like Afrocentric books, colorful murals
celebrating African-American heroes, and Liberty Square, the first
public housing project in the State of Florida. Liberty City is
also the home of the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center and a
wall that once separated Black and White communities.
Salsa/Timba/Latin Jazz Clubs*
Hoy Como Ayer
2212 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33135
Phone: 305-541-2631
Live bands Wednesday through Saturday.
Ball and Chain
1513 SW 8th St,
Miami, FL 33135
305-643-7820
La Covacha
10730 N.W. 25th Street, Miami.
Phone: 305-594-3717
One of the most varied musical venues in Miami, where you can hear
salsa, merengue, soca, songo, samba and even gaitas. Part is open
air, under a thatched roof.
Rancho Gaspar
16480 NW 117th Avenue, Hialeah Gardens
Phone: 305-827-1659
For a venue very much like Cuba's La Tropical, check out this place,
which features timba and reggaeton as well as salsa. Take Okeechobee
west to the first street west of the Turnpike South (NW 117th Avenue).
It is not marked! It doubles back east for about a block then turns
north. Watch for the big sign on the fence that says "Rancho
Gaspar". Keep going until you see the white wooden fence on
the left-hand side. That is the parking area for Rancho Gaspar.
Dress comfortably and prepare to get dirt between your toes if you
wear sandals. Features good Cuban food. Live bands on Sundays (call)
and DJ on Saturdays.
* Thanks to SalsaPower
for the additional info/comments.
Miami Radio Stations
We highly recommend listening to the following radio station
while you're in Miami:
- WDNA 88.9 Serious Jazz (lots
of Afro-Cuban jazz, bata/Orisha, fusion plus Brazilian, world,
AfroBop, Charanga, salsa, etc. See schedule.
Listen online now!
Other Arts/Culture Events
Miami New Times
Miami New Times features arts and events listings, an online calendar
of events, and listings of music and club venues, too. Check out
this site regularly to find out what's happening during your visit.
Historical Museum of Southern
Florida
101 W. Flagler St.
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 375-1492
Exhibits of South Florida history, cultures and folklife ...
Online Exhibits on Miami's Ethnic Communities
Exploring
the Culture of Little Havana
Cultural
Groups Living in South Florida
Caribbean
Percussion Traditions in Miami (features drums by IFE-ILE's
Ezequiel Torres)
Miami Arts/Culture Resources
Historical Museum of
South Florida
Florida
Folklife
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