by Zach Manzi
Your exclusive look at Nu Deco’s newest venue!
The Citadel, located in in Miami’s Little River neighborhood, opened in early 2019 as the largest food hall in South FL. Haven’t eaten there yet? The food is one of the best reasons to pay a visit––check out some classic Miami food vendors like Palmar, Taquiza, and Vice City Bean, as well as a centrally located bar that’s reminiscent of the recently-closed Wynwood Yard. Since its opening, the space has begun to flaunt its many other features––a rooftop bar, a retail and maker space for artists to create, show, and sell their work, and the headquarters of a radio station. Bigger than Wynwood’s 1-800-Lucky, Brickell’s La Centrale, and South Beach’s Lincoln Eatery combined, The Citadel is truly unmatched by any similar space in Miami.
Oh, also…there’s a brand new performance venue and it’s our new home! Designed with Nu Deco in mind, The Citadel is already taking our concerts to a new level.
In October, we collaborated with rapper, instrumentalist, singer, producer, and composer Wyclef Jean. With a packed house over two nights, we offered patrons one of the most intimate Nu Deco experiences to date.
I had visited the Citadel many times before the concert venue opened up––for dinner with friends, to hear live music on the rooftop, and just to soak in the vibe. I knew the venue was coming for a while, but had not seen the finished product until I stepped into rehearsal for the first time. The space felt even closer to the audience than ever. With a stage that has more width and less depth than we were used to, we totally shifted our setup to adapt. At first, I was a little unsure of how we’d manage it, and how the audience would feel about it. But by the end of the weekend, my uncertainty was laid to rest.
During those concerts, I felt the energy between orchestra and audience much more powerfully than ever before. Even though I usually sit close to the edge of the stage, this somehow felt closer. It felt as if every musician in Nu Deco was seated arm-to-arm with the audience. Wyclef was front and center the entire time, just feet away from the front row, and at one point took one small step off the stage and danced with the audience, all of whom were on their feet. This lack of a fourth wall is what The Citadel is making possible for us.
The vibe is a mix of black-box theater and club, with an intimacy you can only find in an underground Manhattan comedy venue. It even has a secret entrance on the north side of the building. Everyone in the orchestra level is within feet of the ensemble, and the upper level seating is a lounge that allows for free roaming throughout the concert.
What I loved to see was the choose-your-own-adventure experience that The Citadel offers. Come in early for dinner and drinks, settle in for the concert, visit the maker space or bar at intermission, and hang out after on the rooftop. Before our Friday night show, I was walking around the food hall to kill some time. I recognized many familiar faces engaging in the eating, drinking, and community making, which are the fundamental aspects of the Citadel experience. All this to say, The Citadel is far from a conventional concert hall––everything about the space is vibrant, fresh, and spontaneous.
We’ll be back at The Citadel on January 24 & 25, 2020. If you weren’t able to make it this past weekend, get your tickets now––we sell out fast!