It's very easy to find things to do around here. I'm personally impressed at the variety and the choice, and it's not uncommon that I skip something either because it conflicts with something else, or because I need a break from activity. I know people from elsewhere who also note the unexpected good amount of opportunities for activity, fun, and enrichment here in Dade County. Broward, too. And Palm Beach County, if you can be bothered to go up there.
I could make a pretty long list of the regular features and series. But since I'm cheap, I decided to confine myself to a rundown of the good deals to be had, entertainment-wise. So as good as the many and varied Arsht shows are, and the New World Symphony, which is much better than it should be, being comprised of younger musicians, is, and the many shows at the "Fillmore East," the old Theater of the Performing Arts, and the Jackie Gleason Theater before that, are, I'm going slightly off Broadway, to review some of the things you can do for little money and to produce great satisfaction.
GableStage is a playhouse at the Biltmore Hotel, unless it ever really does move to the old Coconut Grove Playhouse, as the artistic director keeps saying it will. It puts on six plays a year, a new one every other month. The artistic director, who also directs almost all the plays, and chooses the actors, is Joe Adler. The guy is a magician. He's provocative, and he doesn't always choose plays you'll love necessarily, but what a job he does putting them on. The are all superbly staged, acted, and directed. The south Florida award for plays is called the Carbonell, and Joe Adler and his actors have lots of them. And, the series is comparatively cheap, especially for the quality and the stimulation. A season ticket for all six plays is $200, and you get one extra ticket with each season ticket, so you can invite someone once a year for free.
There's a ton of great stuff happening at the University of Miami main campus at an auditorium called Gusman Hall, which is not the Gusman Theater on Flagler Street. Many of the musical offerings are U of M projects, and one particular series is not. The highest ticket for the U of M series, which includes two jazz series, one in the fall, and one in the spring, is about $60, which is rare. Most of them are less than $40. Some are $20. Some are free. And they're terrific. The best series there that is not a U of M series is called Sunday Afternoons of Music. Absolutely incredible chamber music. Single ticket prices for individual concerts are $35, which is a crime, because they're so good. Season tickets are even cheaper per concert. And some of the "Sunday Afternoon" concerts occur on Sunday evening or Saturday evening.
I already told you about the Miami Symphony Orchestra (MiSO, or MISO, as they write it), and you really can't do better for the price. They're half the price, or less, of the Cleveland Symphony, which plays a few concerts a year at the Arsht, and they're less than the New World Symphony. Bizarrely, they never fill the auditorium, and they really, really should.
There are non-stop good and interesting productions at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC), and the range is breathtaking. There are symphonic concerts, small cabaret room concerts, jazz concerts, modern dance and other dance, and plays. Ticket prices are very low for almost everything. I saw Keb' Mo' there last year. He had just played a date in Stuart the night before, at the Lyric Stage, and his price at SMDCAC was significantly lower. The only problem is it's in Cutler Bay, so it's a long drive south on US 1 to get there. It's worth it, though, and the parking is free.
Siempre Flamenco is a husband and wife team who play guitar/sing, and dance, respectively. Sometimes, they have additonal guitar players, singers, and dancers. It's very good flamenco, though not the elite, always for a low price. If you like flamenco, or you want to find out if you do, Siempre Flamenco is the perfect way to go, and they perform in various places in the County.
There's lots of jazz. Really lots. The free concert is at 8 PM on the last Friday of every month on the front patio outside at MOCA. It's hit or miss as to whether the performers are pleasing, but they are often enough. Some people, like John Holland and his wife Elena Olson, and Tim Horner and his mate Judi Hamelberg, bring food and beer or wine and make a nice picnic evening out of it. Obviously, weather can be an issue, and it's a little noisy, especially if an emergency vehicle comes by, but it's a nice night out under the stars, and you're more likely than not to enjoy the music. And if you do, many performers have CDs to sell.
The almost free concert is on Coral Way at about 30th Avenue, in the WDNA radio station building. These are very interesting concerts, and the significant majority of them are good or very good. The first hour is the headliner, who can be locals or an out of town combo coming through Miami, and the second hour is kids, mostly teenagers, who bring their instruments and either perform something they've worked up, or jam and take a lesson from the headliners. It's often good. And you get wine and food (fruit, cheese, salsa and chips, and sometimes something more substantial, for free. If you just go there for a concert, they'll charge you $15 a person. But if you "join" the station, for $50 a year, your membership card admits two to every concert, so it's $50 for 24 admissions. So they come out dirt cheap. These concerts are at 8:00 on the third Friday of every month.
Rose Max sings Brazilian-inspired jazz in several places in Miami. I think she's free at the Biltmore once a week, and her shows are cheap at PAX (the Performing Arts Exchange) at 3rd Avenue and SW 8th Street. She's a magnificent jazz singer, and she's accompanied by her husband, who plays guitar.
DJ LeSpam, and the Spam Allstars, are another local group, and they play at various places in town. Andrew Yeomanson, who is the "DJ," works a sound board, which includes his bass tracks, and the group are terrific. Negroni's Trio, featuring Negroni senior and junior, and one other guy, are also wonderful. Negroni junior doesn't look like he'd be a great drummer, but he is.
The Miami Jazz Cooperative also has weekly shows and jams. They might be at PAX now. If I remember correctly, admission is $10, and the local talent is first rate.
That's just off the top of my head, and there's more. I just tried to include what I know and like best, and what's cheap. Enjoy.
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