La Poubelle photo
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A century after it first graced North Beach as the Vendome Fountain, the Normandy Fountain is ready for its close-up. Originally unveiled in 1926, the landmark, now known simply as Normandy Fountain, turns 100 this year. From Thursday, February 19, through Sunday, February 22, the City of Miami Beach, in partnership with the Normandy Fountain Business Association, will mark the occasion with a four-day Centennial Weekend packed with live music, dance, poetry, and a salute to the neighborhood’s French roots.
“It’s the 100th anniversary of the fountain,” says David Sexton, president of the Normandy Fountain Business Association and a driving force behind the festivities. “When so much in the city has changed over the decades, it’s remarkable to have a landmark that has remained such a constant presence in the community.”
Designed by French developer Henri Levy and his wife, Rose, the fountain anchored a carefully imagined neighborhood inspired by the City Beautiful movement and Levy’s memories of France. The surrounding streets, lighting, sidewalks, and landscaped public spaces were conceived as a cohesive vision, one that still shapes the identity of Normandy Isles today.
In a city often defined by reinvention and rapid development, the fountain stands as a rare through line, a reminder that Miami Beach’s history runs deeper than the latest condo tower or nightlife trend.
Photo by David Sexton
The Centennial Weekend kicks off Thursday, February 19, during the city’s Culture Crawl. Hannah Baumgarten, co-founder of Dance Now Miami, will debut a special Normandy Fountain–inspired dance piece. The evening will also feature a commemorative poem from O, Miami, alongside music and additional live entertainment, setting a reflective and celebratory tone.
Friday’s programming shifts to a celebration of Latin culture, honoring the Argentine, Venezuelan, and Cuban communities that have helped define North Beach’s modern character. Expect music, dance, and traditions that reflect the area’s multicultural heartbeat.
Saturday, February 21, brings a more classical flourish. Michael Rossi, founding artistic director of the Miami Music Festival, will conduct the Symphony Festival Orchestra in a program designed to elevate the fountain’s centennial moment. The evening will also include a special appearance by former American Idol finalist and Billboard recording artist Kimberley Locke, who will perform three songs in tribute to the fountain’s 100th anniversary.
Locke’s connection to North Beach runs deeper than a guest appearance.
“The North Beach section of Miami Beach, particularly Normandy Fountain, is my home away from home,” she says. “The first place I go for a drink is BOB’s and the first place I go for delectable food is Silverlake Bistro.”
On Sunday, February 22, Locke will headline an exclusive performance at La Poubelle, the French-inspired speakeasy tucked just steps from the fountain. Recently named “Best New Performance Venue in Miami” by Time Out Magazine, the intimate cabaret has quickly become a cultural anchor of its own.
“La Poubelle made itself happen,” says owner Sandy Sanchez. “It was truly organic the way it came together.”
Before it became a cozy performance venue, the space was home to what Sanchez describes as a “super sketchy pawn shop.” Even today, visitors reach La Poubelle by walking through an alley lined with dumpsters, a detail that only heightens the sense of discovery.
The name, which translates to “the trash can” in French, is part wink, part statement. The magic lies in the juxtaposition: a hidden gem revealed after the grit of the alleyway.
Sanchez and Sexton met through a mutual friend, director and producer Richard Jay-Alexander, known for his collaborations with Barbra Streisand. Both self-described “proud theatre kids,” they bonded over a shared nostalgia for Miami’s vanished performance spaces.
“We miss the days when Magnum Piano Bar off the 79th Street Causeway was in full swing, as well as Van Dyke’s on Lincoln Road,” Sexton says. “Those were staples, but now they’re long gone. We want to bring some of that flavor back.”
“Remember Jazid on South Beach?” Sanchez adds with a smile. “That was a time in Miami that was iconic. We just want to bring a little of that feeling back.”
La Poubelle now hosts local talent and Broadway-caliber performers in a room small enough to see every raised eyebrow and held note. Sanchez isn’t shy about dreaming big. “I would lose my marbles if Lady Gaga would do a number or two,” she says, laughing.
For Locke, the intimacy is precisely the point.
“I absolutely love singing at La Poubelle because I get to see everyone’s faces,” she says. “Believe it or not, I much prefer intimate rooms like La Poubelle rather than large concert halls. There’s something uniquely special about the energy inside those quaint establishments.”
It’s a perspective shaped by two decades in the spotlight. Locke first entered the national consciousness on American Idol Season 2, a platform that catapulted her into fame nearly overnight.
“It’s been 20 years since American Idol brought fame to my doorstep,” she reflects. “The evolution process has been both arduous and rewarding. Fame isn’t for the faint of heart. At first, I didn’t know how to handle it, but then I started seeing the blessings in it. You can’t let the machine control you. To have a healthy relationship with the limelight, artists must do the work. You have to learn how to define your own life and journey.”
That journey now includes a deep affection for North Beach’s creative fabric.
“Small venues are where I really thrive; it’s how I connect with people,” Locke says. “That’s who Normandy and the North Beach area are about—community. It’s really special to me. It’s a treat performing at La Poubelle because I get to be part of that creative fabric that is continuously growing. Quite frankly, it’s electric.”
Back at the fountain on Sunday, the weekend concludes with a salute to the neighborhood’s French-inspired heritage, including an outdoor French market honoring the area’s themed streets and history.
Sexton, who may be modest in stature but not in ambition, sees the Centennial Weekend as more than a party. “In a town full of talkers, you have to learn how to not talk, and just do,” he says.
For one weekend in February, the Normandy Fountain won’t just be a picturesque backdrop. It will be a stage, a gathering place, and a reminder that even in a city obsessed with the new, history still flows — steady and sparkling — at the heart of North Beach.
Normandy Fountain activities from February 19 – February 22 are free, which include live performances and cultural programming. For the more information and full schedule visit www.normandyfountain.com
Kimberely Locke. Sunday, February 22, at La Poubelle, 1202 Maimonides Street, Miami Beach; Tickets are $30 for General Admission and $60 for VIP via Eventbrite.
