First, an obligatory reference to the old glory days of South Beach: Sandra Bernhard totally hung out there in the 90s and obligatory related reference to Ingrid Casares totally dated Ingrid Casares! OK, got that out of the way. Everyone involved in that era has moved on, but ribald comedienne Bernhard makes a habit of returning to her old Miami stomping grounds. Most recently, it was for a 2007 Evening With stand at Colony Theatre, where she performed a variety-style mix of music and comedy.
As part of a new slate of programming at Prelude by Barton G., Bernhard will take over the Arsht Centers in-house restaurant this Friday and Saturday. Bernhard first proved she had pipes in 1994 when she scored a bona fide club and chart hit, a cover of Sylvesters disco classic You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real). Since then, shes opted for more serious musical stylings along the jazz/blues/torch-song spectrum usually. Her most recent album, 2009s Whatever It Takes, saw her pulling a Paul Simon and getting in touch with African sounds and issues. Still, her between-songs commentary and comedy riffs can be, er, colorful, so be forewarned of a choking hazard if you opt for a $110 dinner-show ticket. For the windpipe-timid, theres also a show-only option for $55.
Jan. 28-29, 8 p.m., 2011