Thursday, May 5
As traffic grows progressively worse, Miamians are (finally) getting serious about alternative transportation. Because May is National Bike Month, the occasion is bringing citywide attention to two-wheeled travel. To commemorate the month, Pérez Art Museum Miami is offering free admission to any visitor arriving on a bike. In addition, the downtown museum is hosting the fiesta Cycle de Mayo. "Biking and PAMM go hand-in-hand," says the museum's deputy director for external affairs, Leann Standish. "Working in harmony with the natural environment to create a world-class model for sustainability was at the heart of the design concept for Pérez Art Museum Miami." To redeem the free admission, riders can post a photo of their bike to PAMM on social media with the hashtag #BikeToPAMM and tag @PAMM (Twitter) or @PAMMpics (Instagram). The museum prides itself on its green standards, and bike advocacy is part of its sustainability effort. Cycle de Mayo takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at PAMM (1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami). National Bike Month runs through May 31. Visit pamm.org.
In the States, Cinco de Mayo is a semi-authentic Mexican holiday. Why not celebrate it with some semi-authentic artisanal cuisine? The annual festivity is in remembrance of the Mexican militia's unlikely victory over the French army in 1862 — not Mexican Independence Day, as you've surely slurred between cervezas at one time or another. More appropriately, it's a time for revelers to come together, eat, drink, and be merry. This Thursday is sure to be another rage of the ages, and JEY Hospitality Group in South Miami invites you to take part in its Cinco de Mayo Block Party. It's hosted and supplied with bites by Rok:Bgr (5800 SW 73rd St., South Miami) and the soon-to-come TacoCraft, an import of successful Mexican flavors from the Himmarshee district in Fort Lauderdale. There will be conceptual burgers, hand-crafted tacos, tangy tequilas, chilled margaritas, ice-cold beers, a live DJ, and probably a sombrero or two. Participating area bars will provide the drink specials, and you'll provide the rowdy, jovial atmosphere. The block party begins at 5 p.m. It's free to attend, but the noms and bevvies come à la carte. Call 305-663-6099 or visit facebook.com/RokbrgrMiami.
A Special Day is definitively a multicultural production. The play is based on an Italian text, performed by Mexican actors, and spoken in English. Two stage companies — New York's the Play Company and Mexico City's Por Piedad Teatro — copresent the work. It's set to take place in Miami Beach, one of the most frequented international tourist destinations. The story itself, adapted from Ettore Scola's 1977 Oscar-winning film Una Giornata Particolare, features two characters who find an unlikely kinship in the face of fascism. Set during Mussolini's dictatorship in pre-World War II Italy, the story follows Antonietta, a housewife with a fascist husband, six kids, and a lost bird. Her neighbor, Gabriel, is a gay man who cannot reveal his true identity in such a tyrannical culture. Yet Antonietta runs first to Gabriel when her dear pet goes missing. Their banter and antics from the misadventure help the duo develop an alliance strong enough to survive the times. A Special Day uses few props and minimal furniture, which forces audiences to suspend disbelief. "It shows how the stage is a place of infinite imagination and possibilities," says Michel Hausmann, artistic director and cofounder of Miami New Drama. The play opens Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) and runs through Saturday. Tickets cost $39. Visit miaminewdrama.org.
The city’s most notorious real estate tycoons will take center stage with their successors to usher in the new era of leaders shaping the South Florida skyline. On Thursday, May 5th, World Red Eye (WRE) – a multi-media digital agency, helmed by famed ‘Lensman of South Beach’ Seth Browarnik, that captures the country’s pre-eminent celebrities, brands, nightlife venues, Miami milestone and events – along with Perrier-Jouët and Tequila Avión, will present the second edition of the World Red Eye Cultural Exchanges Series, entitled “The Next Genesis of Miami Real Estate.” Browarnik has curated a prestigious panel of real estate moguls, who will be joined by the next generation of their family’s industry visionaries, to narrate their path to success and discuss how they will drive the city’s future. Panelists include: Related Group’s Jorge Pérez and son Jon Paul Pérez; Dezer Development’s Michael Dezer and son Gil Dezer; and Crescent Heights’ Russell Galbut and nephew Keith Menin of Menin Hospitality. The event will take place at El Tucán (1111 SW 1st Ave., Miami), with a cocktail hour hosted by Perrier-Jouët and Tequila Avión from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by an hour-long, Q&A panel discussion. The WRE Cultural Exchanges Series is invitation only and press credentials are required. You can still join in on the live stream at 8 p.m. on Thursday at WorldRedEye.com.
Friday, May 6
Bookstores are magical places. They're home to stories both fictional and true; full of new and yet-to-be-discovered characters; and smell like vintage comfort. But then again, get some local beer flowing, and bookstores become the greatest places on Earth. Books & Books does just that with its Concrete Beach Brewing Night. The Wynwood-based brewery, which opened its physical location in 2014, will offer free beer samples, as well as bottles of its Stiltsville pilsner and Rica wheat IPA. The brewery will also serve its Concrete Common amber pilsner and Tropic of Passion passionfruit wheat on draft. The event also features a food pairing that matches Concrete Beach brews with items from the Café at Books & Books menu. Finally, the Concrete Beach Brewing Night includes a raffle (each purchased beer yields a ticket), live Latin fusion music by Pino Grillo, games, and giveaways. Concrete Beach Brewing Night takes place at Books & Books (265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables) Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for the pairings menu and $16 for food only. Call 305-442-4408 or visit booksandbooks.com.
Saturday, May 7
Break out the beer goggles and silly hats, because it's time to party with the animals at New Times' seventh-annual Brew at the Zoo. Miami's largest beer festival (and the only one that features guest appearances by zoo creatures) offers unlimited samplings of more than 100 of the best local and international beers. More than 4,000 beer lovers from across South Florida are expected to attend the festivities, which run from 8 to 11 p.m. This year, Arrested Development will take the stage to entertain. Since 1991, this two-time Grammy-winning group has given the world hits like "Mr. Wendal," "Tennessee," and "People Everyday." If you're hungry, there will be great eats to buy, including burgers from Shake Shack and Greek fare from C&R Foods. Classics such as lamb gyros, chicken oregano on a pita, Greek feta salad, souvlaki, and chicken, beef, or veggie hot dogs will tame even the hungriest beast. New Times' Brew at the Zoo takes place at Zoo Miami (12400 SW 152nd St., Miami) this Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. for VIP and Brewmaster ticketholders. Tickets cost $90 for VIP, $80 for Brewmaster, and $50 for general admission at the gate. Visit newtimesbrewatthezoo.com.
If you're an actor, you go to Los Angeles. If you want a job in tech, head to Silicon Valley. But if you're a writer searching for inspiration, there's no better place than South Florida. From wide-reaching tales of crime and corruption to wacky "Florida Man" mishaps, greater stories can't be found anyplace else. That's what makes Lip Service, Miami's long-running live storytelling event now hosted by Miami Book Fair International, different from similar performances in other cities. In the past, locals have shared tales about the perils of giving oneself a manicure while driving — typical Miami behavior — and the struggles of trying to save a rooster that served as a mascot for a local biker club. The stories in this Saturday's lineup, cohosted by Esther Martinez and Nicholas Garnett, range from laugh-out-loud funny to somber and poignant. Topics include an African exorcism, excessive body hair, teenage motherhood, and even the Fonz. Lip Service takes place at the Miracle Theatre (280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables). The show runs from 7 to 9 p.m., and tickets cost $15. Call 305-444-9293 or visit lipservicestories.com.
Sunday, May 8
As U.S. travel reopens to Cuba after half a century, increasing numbers of Americans are planning trips to the island. But you don't need a passport to experience Cuban culture — especially locally. From the storefronts of Little Havana to the streets of Hialeah, Cuba casts its colorful, rhythmic, highly caffeinated shadow across all of Miami-Dade. And now the Wolfsonian (1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) is partnering with Miami Beach Cinematheque (1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach) to celebrate that cultural crossover. The Havana Nights Film Series, kicking off Sunday, aims to show off the best in film and art inspired by Cuba. The evening begins with a guided tour of the Wolf's new exhibit, "Promising Paradise: Cuban Allure, American Seduction." After a survey of photos, posters, and items of propaganda depicting Cuba as a tropical paradise, creating a flood of American tourists to the island from the 1920s to 1950s, the experience continues to the Cinematheque across the street. There, Week-End in Havana, a 1941 musical romance starring Carmen Miranda, will screen. The evening begins with the tour at 5 p.m., followed by the film screening at 6. Admission costs $11 for general admission and $9 for seniors and students; members of the Wolfsonian or the Miami Beach Cinematheque get in free. Call 305-531-1001 or visit wolfsonian.org.
You know who gets too much credit? Kate Middleton. Sure, she's pretty. Of course she's poised and smart. And yeah, she struggled through some Category 5 morning sickness to produce two supercute kids. But Princess Kate ain't got nothing on your mom, who rocks platform heels, makes the meanest Cuban coffee, and somehow wrangled you and your hermanos into semi-upstanding citizens here in the wilds of Miami — all without the help of any highly vetted British supernannies. If anyone deserves to be treated like a princess this Mother's Day, it's your mom. So book a table at Madi's Tea Garden Tea Room (4009 SW 152nd Ave., Miami) for this Sunday's Mother's Day High Tea. The traditional tea room offers a special menu of roast turkey and summer squash casserole alongside high-tea staples such as scones and finger sandwiches. Plus, each guest will enjoy two specially selected loose teas. And it all takes place in a room with ladies' hats hung on the wall, where the tables have tablecloths and doilies. You know, fancy stuff. Tickets to Mother's Day High Tea at Madi's cost $39.99 and must be purchased in advance. Call 786-801-0668 or visit madisteagarden.com.
So, you're still freaking out over Beyoncé's surprise masterpiece "Lemonade," but you don't know what else to consume. You need more, but you couldn't get into her Miami concert — or maybe you did and it only made the craving worse. Good thing the Ibeyi twins are coming to cast magic spells at the North Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) this Sunday. Pronounced "ee-bay-ee," these actual twinsies are conjuring musical madness at the interstellar intersection of organic history and futuristic funk. The sisters draw from a myriad of influences, reaching into their colorful roots to merge English, French, and Yoruban (that means "of the people" in southwestern Nigeria) sounds, rhythms, instrumentations, and stylings. Throw in a modern tinge of electronic drum machines and lush, romantic vocals, and you've got yourself a hit band. It's a compelling and mysterious sound. The show begins at 7 p.m. Sunday with an opening set from local band Afrobeta. Tickets cost $25.26 to $30.53. Call 305-672-5202 or visit rhythmfoundation.com/nbs.
Wednesday, May 11
There's nothing as exciting as women supporting women. And throwing a party in support of women who love women sounds like exactly the kind of celebration everyone should get behind. That's where Aqua Girl comes in, offering "the largest charity event in the world for women who love women," as the Aqua Girl website boldly states. In 2000, the weeklong conference was born after Alison Burgos and the popular store Shescape gathered a committee of women to produce a charity event. The goal was to organize a fundraising weekend that celebrated women and the issues that affect them. Sixteen years later, the party is still going. Although Aqua Girl takes place at various spots throughout South Beach, the Raleigh Hotel (1775 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) is its main headquarters. The festivities begin Wednesday and continue through Sunday, May 15. Events include speed dating, pool parties, dance parties, and karaoke. Prices for individual events range from free to $100, plus there are packages for women looking to experience most of what the weekend has to offer. There is the Player 1 pass for $95, Player 2 weekend pass for $249, and the Player 3 VIP pass for $369. Don't feel bad about dropping dollars on these events, because 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Aqua Foundation for Women, a nonprofit that's a funding catalyst for lesbian, bisexual, and transgender wellness and equality in South Florida. Visit aquagirl.org.