Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Catholic diocese purchased some of the bayfront land from Deering's Villa Vizcaya
estate and built a shrine here for its displaced Cuban parishioners. Symbolizing a beacon,
it faces the homeland, exactly 290 miles due south. There is also a mural that depicts
Cuban history. After visiting Vizcaya or the science museum, consider picnicking at this
quiet sanctuary on the water's edge.
RESURRECTING THE COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE
at 3500 Main Hwy in the heart of the Grove. Back in the day this was a grand dame of a
building, with a snazzy marquee and a celebrity vibe balanced by a good deal of artsy
cred; Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godothad its US premiere here in 1956 (the show was
apparently a disaster). Sadly, the theater was shut down during its 50th-anniversary sea-
son due to major debt issues and still sits, today, like a sad shell over Main Hwy. At the
time of writing, the theater had been acquired by Miami-Dade County; the building's fu-
ture remains in question, but plans for turning it into a regional theater house have been
discussed.
