Not just for poets: O, Miami Poetry Festival aims to reach diverse audience
O, Miami is on a mission to prove that poetry isn't a dusty or complicated thing.
Why it matters: The local nonprofit's annual poetry festival begins Tuesday, with poetry-inspired events across the city.
For one month, the group is hosting almost daily events ranging from performances and workshops to dinners.
Who's who: This year's event — the 12th annual — is the first time the organization's founder P. Scott Cunningham is no longer at the helm.
Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera, two longtime employees, were tapped in August to take over the organization.
What they're saying: The programming, Cabrera says, aims to highlight the work O, Miami does throughout the year and connect with diverse audiences.
Case in point: This year's lineup includes events like "Maternar-te," a workshop dedicated to "those who mother," whether that's raising children or caring for other loved ones. "Graveyard Poetry: A Workshop" is for those who want to explore themes of mortality and nature, among others.
This year's event also features two ticketed dinners: one at Boia De, the other at Recoveco.
The latter highlights "Soy de todas partes," a civic project about the immigrant experience, featuring a poetry vinyl installation.
"Pairing food or drink with poetry is a great formula [and] a really great entry point for someone who isn't sure they're into poetry," says Cabrera.
"Poetry really is this communal medium, and food is that, too."
The bottom line: No matter your interests, there's likely an event for you.
"Anyone that has an opinion about this place, has an emotion and writes it down, is a poet," Cabrera says. "That's the beauty of this festival."
Here are a few events we're keeping on our radar:
April 4: A poetry reading event with Rio Cortez, Z. Yasmin Waheed and Romeo Oriogun at The Cleat Mia. (Free)
April 6: "Poetry for Preservation" is a writing workshop at Oleta River State Park. Eventgoers' nature poems will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis' office to advocate for park preservation. ($15)
April 23: ZipOdes Finale at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens offers readings from all the ZipOde finalists and the end of the "Ode to Your Zip Code" campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Forbes
Club World Cup: Slow Sales & Player Fatigue, Can It Be A Hit?
MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: FIFA President Gianni Infantino poses for a photo whilst pointing at ... More The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy during the reception after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw at Telemundo Studios on December 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) The revamped Club World Cup gets underway on Saturday evening in Miami, amid a mixture of excitement, skepticism and concerns verging from ticket sales to players' welfare. FIFA's latest jamboree is Gianni Infantino's most stunning attempt at defining his legacy yet, but it's been a source of controversy from the moment it was unveiled almost a decade ago. To its many critics, the competition is a not-so-subtle cash grab, which will only benefit FIFA and the richest clubs in the world and stretch an already saturated calendar to breaking point. 'I've got no time for it at all, to be honest," CBS Sports analyst Jamie Carragher said on a media call ahead of the Champions League final last month. "But there's something about the Club World Cup where I almost feel like it's being put together by FIFA to almost — not so much compete with the Champions League — but there's been no thought about the players or the clubs. "They've just tried to create something and I don't think there's any appetite really from players, clubs and even supporters. Infantino, for his part, maintains the new tournament will be crucial to broaden soccer's appeal in the USA and will serve as a dress rehearsal ahead of next year's World Cup. It all kicks off on Saturday night and here are five storylines to keep an eye on over the next 29 days. EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JULY 09: General view of the stadium during the CONMEBOL Copa America ... More 2024 semifinal match between Canada and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) When it comes to staging global tournaments success can be viewed through a variety of prisms, but high attendances are a non-negotiable factor. Having the best players and best teams in the world - more on which later - slugging it out for a month is a great idea in theory, but what happens if games are played against a backdrop of empty stands? According to The Athletic, tens of thousands of tickets remain still unsold for the tournament opener between Inter Miami and Egyptian team Al-Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night. FIFA has since denied reports only 20,000 tickets had been sold at the 65,326 venue, but students at Miami Dade College are been offered the chance to buy a ticket for $20 and receive four complimentary tickets. On Ticketmaster, the portal FIFA uses to sell tickets for the Club World Cup, the cheapest ticket prices had dropped to $70 as of Friday morning. For context, the cheapest tickets were priced at $349 after the draw was made in December and at $230 a month later. Tepid interest in the tournament could also have significant knock-on effect for DAZN, which snapped up the rights to the competition to the tune of $1bn after fellow broadcaster declined to put a bid forward. The Club World Cup may still, of course, turn out to be a huge success with packed stadiums. But it could also spectacularly backfire and be played in front of small audiences. SAITAMA, JAPAN - MAY 06: Hiroki Sakai (L) and Shusaku Nishikawa of Urawa Reds lift the trophy after ... More the AFC Champions League final second leg between Urawa Red Diamonds and Al-Hilal at Saitama Stadium on May 06, 2023 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by) When he announced the new jamboree some nine years ago, FIFA President Gianni Infantino proclaimed the Club World Cup would pit together 'the best 32 clubs in the world'. Consisting of only seven teams and hopelessly lopsided in favor of the European representative, the old format was 'not exactly inspiring'. While it is difficult to argue with that notion, the suggestion the Club World Cup features the best 32 clubs on the planet is wide of the mark. Qualification for the Club World Cup followed two main routes: success in continental competitions and each confederation's ranking system. This means automatic qualification for every winner of the UEFA Champions League, Copa Libertadores, Concacaf Champions Cup, and the equivalent Asian and African tournaments from 2021 to 2024. This may have made logistical sense to allow the draw to be carried out six months ago rather than having to wait for the end of the European season, but it has resulted in a number of notable teams missing out. Of the 20 countries represented in the US, only eight feature their respective domestic champions. For example, Liverpool, Napoli and Barcelona, who won the title in England, Italy and Spain this season are all absent. The same goes for Japan, Argentina, albeit with the caveat it produces two national champions each season, and Portugal. It is a similar scenario at continental level, where only newly-crowned Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain, reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo and Auckland City, winners of the Oceania Champions League, will be at the tournament. Conversely, Al Ahli, Cruz Azul and Pyramids, the winners of the most recent continental competitions in Asia, North and Central America and Africa respectively, will be watching at home. Other clubs, meanwhile, haven't won much in a while. Urawa Red Diamonds, for example, lifted the Asian Champions League two years ago, but were last crowned Japanese champions in 2006. Borussia Dortmund hasn't won a trophy in the qualifying period at all. Then you have the curious case of Inter Miami, who has qualified for the tournament on rather dubious grounds. FIFA decided the MLS domestic champions were Inter Miami, who finished with the best regular season record, rather than Los Angeles Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup in December. Inter Miami, of course, happens to be Lionel Messi's club. And what of Auckland City? New Zealand's best two teams, Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix, play in Australia's A-League, which is part of the Asian Football Confederation. But with the AFC spots already taken, they both missed out. Auckland City, meanwhile, will be Oceania's sole representative after winning the OFC Champions League, despite being a semi-professional club. The Club World Cup contains some of the world's best teams, but by no means all or even most of them. MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 31: Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy ... More after his team's victory, to secure Paris Saint-Germain's first ever UEFA Champions League title in the club's history and a record UEFA Champions League Final winning scoreline of 5-0, following the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by) It has been 12 years since a non-European team has won the Club World Cup, so will the revamped format increase the chances of a club from South or North America winning it? Or could an Asian underdog spoil the party? The smart money seems to be on a resounding no to both questions, as the gap between European soccer and its counterparts across the world has only widened since Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0 in 2012. Newly-crowned European champions Paris Saint-Germain look a good bet to become the first French side to win the Club World Cup, while Real Madrid will be looking to kick off the Xabi Alonso era in style. Inter Milan, meanwhile, must bounce back after the thrashing at the hands of PSG in the Champions League final. Winners two years ago, albeit when the tournament followed a different format, Manchester City will be desperate to retain its trophy after ending the season empty handed for only the second time in a decade. Outside of UEFA's representatives, Flamengo and Palmeiras, currently first and third in the Brazilian Serie A, look the best-equipped to pull off an upset along with reigning Copa Libertadores champions Botafogo. A trophy, meanwhile, appears out of reach for Boca Juniors and River Plate, who were both knocked out in the quarter-finals of the final phase of Argentina's Apertura championship. Chelsea's English midfielder #20 Cole Palmer takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's ... More Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on May 20, 2025 ahead of their UEFA Conference League final football match against Real Betis. The UEFA Conference League final will take place between Chelsea and Real Betis, on May 28 at Wroclaw Stadium in Wroclaw. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) One of the many aspects why the Club World Cup has proved controversial before a ball has been kicked in anger is the strain it will put on players already running on fumes. World soccer's calendar is already saturated beyond breaking point and shoehorning another major tournament in the summer does very little to allay concerns over players' welfare. The Premier League, Serie A and LaLiga seasons all ended on May 25, seven days after the final round of games in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1. The Liga MX Clausura also ended on May 25, while the Argentine Apertura ran until June 1 and the AFC Champions League finished a month earlier. Paris Saint-Germain played Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31, barely three weeks off before the Club World Cup gets underway. Inter played 59 games this season across all competitions and face seven more if it were to reach the final next month. Worse still, FIFA's new extravaganza concludes on July 13, just three weeks before the Premier League and La Liga begin their 2025-26 seasons on August 16 and 17. It is why FIFPro, which represents more than 65,000 professional players in men's and women's soccer, has called for a mandatory four-week rest period in between seasons to be followed by a four-week training period ahead of the new campaign. FIFA, predictably, insists it has nothing to do with the ever-increasing number of fixtures. 'The FIFA Club World Cup is not responsible for calendar congestion,' said a FIFA spokesperson. 'It is a competitive tournament that takes place once every four years with a maximum of seven matches only for the two teams who reach the final." Aside from the obvious implications in terms of players' welfare, tired footballers are not conducive to producing great spectacles, which could in turn hurt FIFA's product. MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 12: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Trent Alexander-Arnold poses with president of Real ... More Madrid Florentino Pérez as the Englishman is unveiled as a Real Madrid player at Valdebebas training ground on June 12, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images) One of the hitherto most interesting aspects of the Club World Cup has been the flurry of transfers at the beginning of June, as teams scrambled to get signings over the line ahead of the tournament. An ad-hoc shortened transfer window opened on June 1 and ran until June 10, with the traditional trading period set to resume on June 16. Nobody quite knew to expect as the mini transfer window came into effect, but the result has been an avalanche of signings. Premier League clubs alone have spent almost £500m ($676m) on players, with Manchester City completing the signings of of AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for £46.3m ($62.7m),Wolverhampton left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri for £31m ($42m) and Olympique Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki for £33.7m ($45.6m). Chelsea signed Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap for £30m, but missed out on Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, after the German giants turned down an initial £42m ($56.8m) bid. Gittens will wear Dortmund colours at the Club World Cup as will Jobe Bellingham, who signed for the Bundesliga club for an initial £27.8m ($37.6m) fee less than a month after helping Sunderland win promotion back to the Premier League. Bellingham follows in the same path of his elder brother Jude, who swapped Birmingham City for Dortmund in the summer of 2020, before moving to Real Madrid three years later. And speaking of the Spanish giants, they too will unveil a trio of new signings in the USA, with Trent Alexander-Arnold joining from Liverpool and Alvaro Carreras arriving from Benfica. Dean Huijsen, meanwhile, became the most expensive teenager in football's history after Real Madrid paid Bournemouth £50m ($67.6m) for the Spain international. Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah signed for Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in time to play in the Club World Cup, while N'Golo Kante will join Al-Hilal on a short loan from Al-Ittihad for the duration of the tournament. Both clubs are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
CBS News
13 hours ago
- CBS News
Sip, savor and chill: Magie Wine Bar brings the community together in Miami's Little River
Looking for a fun and affordable wine bar with bold snacks or even full meals in the most relaxed vibe? Magie Wine Bar in Miami's Little River area is calling your name. This laid-back neighborhood gem has become such a hit that owners recently opened a second location in Coconut Grove. But the original Little River spot maintains its come-as-you-are charm, with locals and visitors alike making it their go-to hangout. Chill atmosphere brings community together At Magie, guests can pour their own glass of wine, plus non-alcoholic options and beverages from carefully curated shelves. The concept is the brainchild of co-owner and Food Network's Ciao House Season 2 winner Chef Ivan Barros and his partner in life and love, Caroline Strauss, who created this chill atmosphere to bring the community together. "So here at Magie, we are very kind of low intervention service, kind of come as you are, come with the group, come with friends, come with your loved one," explained Barros. "Choose whatever wine you like. We have red wines behind you. We have some chilled wines, some very unique wines, kind of some staff picks, and then you can have meat and cheese, and we kind of build a charcuterie board for you." Magie operates with no cover charge and no reservations — it's truly come as you are and feel at home. The cozy interior reflects this philosophy, with most furnishings plucked from local thrift stores. The couches make your grandmother's couches look cool again. "It's 'granny chic, '" Strauss laughed. "It's all about being cozy. We want you to feel like you're in your living room. If you want to come here and have drinks with friends, you can. If you want to come grab a snack, you know, this is definitely a place for everyone. It's super inclusive. I want the furniture to feel that way, too." The relaxed vibe is attracting wine lovers from across the city. Des and David Quintero made the trek all the way from West Kendall just to soak up the atmosphere. "This place, the moment we came in with the little outdoor area, the aesthetics, the art, it was, we were sold," Des said. "We love it." Bold snacks and homemade pasta The menu at Magie is intentionally ever-changing, reflecting Barros's philosophy of keeping things fresh and fun. "We give them new things to kind of, you know, grasp on to and just kind of not take ourselves too seriously and make really good food, that's affordable and anybody can come and, you know, have some bites," he said. Among the standout dishes that showcase this playful spot: Dino Nuggets with Caviar: Barros's nostalgic and whimsical take on childhood favorites, elevated with a luxurious caviar topping. Barros's nostalgic and whimsical take on childhood favorites, elevated with a luxurious caviar topping. Spanish-Style Tater Tots: The chef's creative spin on patatas bravas, featuring crispy tater tots topped with house-made aioli and delicious brava sauce loaded with tomatoes, garlic, onions, red pepper flakes and chipotle peppers. The chef's creative spin on patatas bravas, featuring crispy tater tots topped with house-made aioli and delicious brava sauce loaded with tomatoes, garlic, onions, red pepper flakes and chipotle peppers. Campanelle with Tuscan Ragu: Available during Wednesday pasta nights, featuring perfectly al dente homemade pasta with a flavorful sauce that delivers just the right kick of heat. Magie offers excellent value with special weekly promotions. Wednesday nights feature pasta night with three different homemade pastas priced at $15 per plate. From Wednesday through Sunday, 6 to 7 p.m. is "power hour," where wine is $35 per person for all you can drink. With its combination of quality wines, creative affordable eats, and genuinely welcoming atmosphere, Magie Wine Bar has carved out a special niche in Little River's dining scene.
Axios
15 hours ago
- Axios
Richmond attorney competes on Fox's "The Snake"
Local attorney Amanda Short is one of 15 contestants on " The Snake," a new reality show that debuted this week on Fox. Why it matters: Short is competing to be named the final "Snake" ... and take home $100,000. State of play: The show pits (pun intended) 15 "master manipulators" against each other in what Fox describes as a "social survival of the fittest." Each week, the contestants must form alliances and figure out their competitors' true motivations to survive the "saving ceremony." "It's not about who wants you gone, but who is willing to save you," according to the network. To execute the premise, Fox rounded up a group of people from .... er, diverse professions. Short is " The Lawyer" and is, in fact, an associate attorney at Richmond firm Moran Reeves and Conn. She's up against an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, a Miami-based OnlyFans creator, an Oklahoma City bounty hunter, a Florida cop, a pastor from California and a half dozen others that may or may not include a bull rider. And only one of them can be "The Snake."
