There’s so much going on the first half of May that I got a jump on my monthly Things to Do in Miami post to get it out right away. Many of the picks are happening the first week of May, so I’ve listed them first. Get going!!!
Not to be missed – Even if you’re not usually a ballet goer, this could be for you! It’s fun, fresh and unconventional, !Vamos! to the Beach from the Miami City Ballet. Check out the video. Twyla Tharp’s iconic Deuce Coupe brings Beach Boys energy to the stage, while Durante Verzola’s Grand Glittering Gershwin delivers bold, jazz-infused glamour. The program closes with Paul Taylor’s Company B, a swing-filled celebration set to the harmonies of The Andrews Sisters.
May 1–3, 2026
Adrienne Arsht Center | Miami
May 9–10, 2026
Broward Center for the Performing Arts | Fort Lauderdale
Here’s a link for tickets
https://www.miamicityballet.org/tickets-and-events/202526-season/spring-2/
You have until May 4 to see this special art exhibit “Light of the World” with works by 56 artists in varied mediums from all over the world curated by the talented Carol Damian and Adriana Herrera. The subject, Jesus,is treated in everything from textiles and collage to oils, resin, wood and photography. Also find Byzantine and Russian icons. The exhibit is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 6 pm and by appointment at the art gallery of Belen Preparatory School. For more information, click here.
Hadn’t been to the Rubell Museum in awhile and really enjoyed the return visit with fave artists like Cecily Brown, Anselm Kiefer, Kerry Marshall, Kusama and a new fave, Yoshitomo nara,. Check out my sweatshirt from their expanded shop with what I’m calling my “don’t mess with me” image by Nara 🤣. After the visit I took advantage of being in the neighborhood and picked up some fresh fish at my favorite fish market, Plaza Seafood Market.
For my tastes the best “food court” in Miami is the Pinecrest Farmers’ Market on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. The large number of cars parked at or near Pinecrest Gardens where it’s held tells it all: the exciting number and variety of vendors of prepared foods and the quality you get. You name it, it’s there: from Korean bulgogi sandwiches, Lobster rolls, homemade lasagnas and BBQ to Middle Eastern, Mexican, American favorites, desserts and more. People go to get lunch, take out or to pick up some fresh produce (though not a lot of actual farmers here), plants and flowers, or buy small gift items. No big international brands here, everything is house made. And then there are GG’s cookies which I just added to my list of the best desserts in Miami. The owner/baker makes them fresh the same day or night before, lots of varieties ranging from nutella marshmallow and Reese’s to chocolate chip oatmeal, a gluten free and vegan option and more. They’re 3 cookies for $10. Make sure though you come early as by after Noon few varieties are left. They’re also in other markets and in Fort Lauderdale.
Love this one. You’ve heard of omakase before, but the Japanese kind. Now Level 6, the rooftop restaurant above Amal in Coconut Grove is offering a ten course Spanish omakase on May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Ten diners will enjoy this take on modern Spanish cuisine. There’s also an optional wine pairing. For more information click here.
“Modern Cuban Painters from Havana to New York Revisited” debuts at the Frost Art Museum May 2, running until October 18.Curated by Elizabeth T. Goizueta and Cristina Figueroa Vives, this exhibition revisits a pivotal moment in 1944, when Cuban modern art entered the U.S. cultural landscape through the Museum of Modern Art’s first exhibition dedicated to Cuban painting. The exhibition reexamines the role of New York, Alfred H. Barr Jr. (MoMA’s founding director), and the surrounding galleries in promoting Cuban modernism during the 1940s, and brings together paintings, drawings, archival materials, and historical documents that reflect the movement at its peak. Featured artists include Mariano Rodríguez, Mario Carreño, Carlos Enriquez, Roberto Diago, Cundo Bermúdez, René Portocarrero, Wifredo Lam, Fidelio Ponce, and Amelia Peláez—key figures of Cuban modernism whose work helped shape the island’s modern artistic identity and expand its international visibility during the mid-twentieth century.
Fairchild Tropical Garden has a terrific lineup of arts and crafts classes throughout the month of May. Check these out: bonsoi, ikebana, frame pressed flowers, floral arrangement, sketch book, painting in soft pastel, essentials of beekeeping and more! For more information click here
