Rekindling the Soul

So often times I have noticed that people get into one of two habits, they only frequent the old and comfortable or they only go to all the shiny and new. For me, I can understand both because there are just times when you need that reassurance that those places bring, and other times you need the stimuli that something new and different draws out. But what happens when you go somewhere that is "old and comfortable" and it drops something "shiny and new" on you?

Never had that happen? I have had the joy of this recently. We live on the outskirts of Miami. There is always, and I do mean always something shiny and new. You see, Miami is always reinventing herself. She is fluidity in it's purest form. One of her neighborhoods, Wynwood is a place of constant fluidity and a source of disgruntlement all in one. When we came to Miami in 2018, Wynwood was a huge artist hub, very raw and I do mean raw.

It was amazing! The energy, the mix of high and low spaces and places, the people, the vibe. It set your senses on fire! That has changed. It is still alive but it has an identity now that is no longer unique. The artist, the real gritty artist have moved on. The developers moved in like locusts and started "upscaling" it with high rises and buildings that no one who was there before could afford or would want to afford. It was a recipe for gentrification.

Now let me pause here and say, I am not against gentrification, everybody wants and deserves to live in safe spaces, good spaces, and places that nourish who they are. What they don't deserve is to be displaced or feel like there is no room for them at the table. This is the issue I take with gentrification. It makes those who created the spaces feel as if they no longer belong. Everyone needs a seat at the table and the soul of a space, which is what initially draws people needs to be preserved and protected.

Back to what we were talking about before my soapbox, Wynwood. We first visited in 2018 and this place was obviously going through a transition. It was an artist hotspot that drew people from all over. The graffiti scene was mind-blowing, the foodies were drooling due to the culinary offerings that the locals were bringing. It was electric, always vibrant and so gritty that you walked away feeling like an oyster working out a pearl. Now spring forward to 2020 and it is a completely different scene. No more originals, no more artists shops (the real ones), the energy is changed, the food has changed, the old is gone. Replaced. It is the repetitive story of gentrification.

A developer gets wind of a space where people are going outside the mainstream, land is cheap and income low. It is prime pickings to buy low and sell high, right? Wrong. The thing developers never understand is that the people are the soul. Their raw, unfiltered realness is what pulls others. I always say people crave authenticity in this scripted world that has become defined by reality TV, which is anything but real, and social media, which is snapshots of poses and stills that do not truly reflect life as it is. The beauty of Wynwood is those special places that are pushing the envelope and challenging the gentrification; bringing a revitalization that honors the old soul and breathes a new life into the vibe that was. This new vibe shines brighter and harder than any that have come before.

Enter Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen with a vibe that is inherently Wynwood. The cook is the artist whose work will transport you across the seas to Jamaica. It is quintessentially island and wholly Miami. It honors everything that you can dream of when you think of South Florida. The food is hot and full of spice that makes you tingle all the way to your tips, the music is vibing in a way that transports you off the planet and into another space but, what really pulls you away is the drinks.

These are creations that confuse and tantalize. If you close your eyes you might be lost somewhere in India roaming a spice market or on a beach in the warmth of the sun listening to the sounds of the ocean as you sway in a hammock. The most amazing creations and confections of this liquid kind come from the mind of the master behind the bar, Kierra (also known as Gorilla Kie on Instagram and on YouTube, links below). It has been over 18 years since I came across a brilliance like this. She finds those notes in the liquor that others miss and has the daring to go all in pulling it forth altering people's views on what was, what can be and what she has breathed into life. She's a scientist, a mixologist, an artist, a ninja, and Lord can she move!

She dances behind the bar and is known for what us locals call, the shake. When she's mixing it is vigorous, deep, and hard. You can guarantee whatever comes out of that shaker is blended to perfection and smooth as silk. What always amazes me is her energy. It is electric and vibrant. Her potions weave a spell that removes all doubts and takes you away from everything outside those doors. I honestly forget sometimes that there is a restaurant behind me when I belly up to her bar.

When I go here I don’t think, I just sit back and let her weave her spell. It is a higher plain. This is what brings the soul of Wynwood back to life, that old and beautiful eclectic mix of cultures, energy, sights, and sounds. It invigorates you, intoxicates you, and draws you forth in a way that something inside cries out for. It is a destination revitalized and yet something wholly new.

IG - @gorilla_kie

YouTube - Gorilla Kie Mix LT