Churchill's Pub, the once-shuttered Little Haiti dive bar known as the CBGB of the South, is pairing mimosas with mosh pits this weekend for the Vice City Festival Du Noir — a 12-hour marathon of live bands, yoga, burlesque and vintage shopping happening under one roof. The event blends brunch, wellness activities, shopping and live entertainment into a single day at the historic venue at 5501 NE 2nd Ave, according to WSVN 7News.
The pub underwent a massive renovation before reopening, per the WSVN report, and now hosts Bleu Island Kitchen as its house kitchen, run by a husband-and-wife duo serving ribs, waffles and eggs. That renovation followed a far more turbulent stretch for the venue: Churchill's closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and endured a five-year hiatus marked by eviction battles, foreclosure lawsuits and real estate sales listings before officially reopening its doors on September 5, 2025, according to WLRN. At one point during that shutdown, the property, its liquor license and an adjacent parking lot were listed for $4.6 million amid foreclosure proceedings, as Miami New Times reported at the time.
A Punk Landmark Finds New Purpose
Founded in 1979 by English businessman and promoter Dave Daniels, Churchill's operated for four decades as a landmark of Miami's underground culture, earning that CBGB of the South reputation for hosting acts like Marilyn Manson, Social Distortion and Iggy Pop, per the same Miami New Times account. Since reopening, the pub has added a fresh coat of paint, new stage carpeting, additional restrooms near the pool table and a new outdoor patio, while its famously grimy original hallway restrooms remain largely untouched — a detail the New Times highlighted in its reopening coverage. Longtime sound engineer Frank Falestra, known locally as Rat Bastard and founder of Miami's International Noise Conference, has returned to run sound for the venue's shows, maintaining continuity with its underground legacy, according to reporting from The Jitney.
Vice City Festival Du Noir was created by Patty Hernandez, who according to WSVN said that people who like live music should also take care of their bodies. Per Shotgun, Hernandez designed the event as a living tribute to her late father's rock and roll legacy, blending somatic movement and wellness practices with heavy underground music. The festival kicks off with a pole floorwork class and continues with yoga on Churchill's back patio, weaving movement classes between sets from local and touring bands.
Bands, Burlesque and a Marketplace With Rules
The musical lineup features Los Angeles-based band Blood Orchid, South Florida post-punk duo His Panic, Miami mainstay Lone Wolf One Man Band, and vinyl sets from DJ Rick Smith, known for his work with heavy rock bands Torche and Shitstorm, according to Shotgun's event listing. WSVN reports the day also includes live burlesque by Sofia Luna and an acrobatic show by Joshira, alongside dark circus and aerialist acts, live green room karaoke, and a marketplace featuring more than 20 local Miami vendors.
Hernandez told WSVN that the festival will not feature goods made in China or mass-produced items, steering the marketplace toward small-batch jewelry and vintage clothing instead. One vendor, Natalia, focuses on vintage clothing from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, per the outlet's report. Another attendee named Alex told WSVN the festival offers opportunities to watch, buy and drink all in one place.
A Cause Behind the Chaos
Organizers have dedicated a portion of ticket and event proceeds directly to benefit Venezuela Relief Aid, according to information from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tickets for the Vice City Festival Du Noir are available through Shotgun, with the event running the full 12 hours at Churchill's.
Before its recent revival, Churchill's weekly programming historically included the Monday Night Jazz Jam and the Theatre de Underground open mic night, which ran for more than two decades, according to Miami Chronicles. That mix of eras — jazz jams and open mics giving way to pole floorwork and burlesque alongside the mosh pits — captures how far Churchill's has stretched to stay relevant while teasing its long-awaited comeback earlier last year. Whether the pub can keep its subcultural edge intact while expanding into wellness programming and community fundraising remains an open question for the venue's next chapter.
