Life House Hotel is Little Havana’s first boutique hotel, and it’s not just for travelers. It’s for locals who want to live like they travel here. The courtyard feels more like a backyard with its plants, hammock, and edible garden.

The cafe, Parcela, offers a modern take on Latin cuisine—inspired by the neighborhood—with vegan and vegetarian options and, of course, a “ventanita.” It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the rooftop bar and restaurant will be up and running later this year.

QUOTABLE: “It’s beautiful to be part of the future that is remembering the roots of a beautiful community with so much history.” —Francisco Viñas, Parcela’s chef de cuisine

Hear more from Francisco in our video profile.

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Churromania of Little Havana is bringing tasty goodness to Calle Ocho on May 29. But if you don’t want to wait, you can get an early taste test of some delicious churros at our Living in Little Havana event. Get your ticket now and join us on May 15 for churros, chocolate, small bites, arts & culture, and more!

MADE POSSIBLE BY GREATER MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

The 2019 legislative session wrapped over the weekend, and several bills will have a big impact on the local level. We’ve spent the past few weeks touching on some big items, like the two bills that are creating hurdles in the rollout of Amendment 4 and creating a “sanctuary city” ban.

But there were plenty of other significant (and slightly random) pieces of legislation that were either approved or denied amid all the other big-name drama, and debates over the $91.1 billion budget.

Just a few examples: A bill that would’ve required parental notice and consent for abortions was dropped, and a plan to prevent bundling of constitutional amendments (see: oil drilling and vaping) was also unsuccessful.

And as far as some of those controversial items that were approved? Groups like the League of Women Voters are appealing directly to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him not to sign them into law.

In other news…

It’s well documented that climate change has put our planet in a dire situation, but a new United Nations report shows that the problem is even more severe than many scientists and experts feared. More than 1 million species of plants and animals face a heightened threat of extinction due to pollution caused by humans. (Associated Press)

And speaking of reports … the Connect Capital Miami report on our city’s affordable housing crisis shows that about 60 percent of renters in Miami are cost-burdened — meaning that they spend more than 30 percent of their income on their rent. But the report has some good news, too: It identifies solutions for creating 12,000 new affordable housing units by 2024. (Miami Herald)

The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is celebrating its launch here in the 305 — but not with a fashion show or a photo shoot. Instead models, magazine staff, and industry insiders will be participating in a panel discussion on female empowerment, diversity, and inclusion. We’ll let you judge if that gets them enough points on the wokeness scale. (Miami New Times)

If you’re worried about getting caught in the rain tonight, then maybe consider staying in to watch a local teacher compete in the “Jeopardy” Teachers Tournament.

Matthew Bunch, a teacher at AcadeMir Charter School Middle, wrote about his experience on the show (no spoilers though!), and his appearance airs tonight.

And this is the day we’ll see you in your inbox again: What is tomorrow? 🤓

– The New Tropic