Standout art glass exhibit from Venice; a valuable resource for all kinds of outdoor activities in Miami, the Everglades, and Naples; the festival for all orchid lovers with a dog bazaar; first look at Phase 1 of the Underline now open; all kinds of live outdoor performances at the Arsht Center,  and more, all in Things to Do in March.

An extraordinary exhibit called GlassStress 2021 features work by some of the world’s leading contemporary artists who were invited to breathe new life into centuries old glass making in Venice. The result is at the Boca Raton Museum of Art from now through September 5 .

Among the the 34 artists are Ai Weiwei, Fred Wilson, Joyce J. Scott, Jimmie Durham, Ugo Rondinone, Fiona Banner, Vik Muniz, Monica Bonvicini, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Laure Prouvost, Renate Bertlmann, Thomas Schütte, Loris Gréaud, and Erwin Wurm. Three years in the making, most of these works have never been seen anywhere else.

The artists were invited by Adriano Berengo to work alongside his master glass artisans at the Berengo Studio on the island of Murano in the Veneto lagoon.

“There is every reason this year to have a world view,” says Irvin Lippman, the Executive Director of the Boca Raton Museum of Art. “With 2020 being such a challenging year to coordinate an international exhibition of this size and scope, the effort serves as an important reassurance that art is an essential and enduring part of humanity.”

The exhibition presents 34 new works that explore some of today’s pressing subjects, including human rights, climate change, racial justice, and more. The Museum will feature online initiative for virtual viewing with interviews with some of the artists.

The Boca Raton Museum of Art has dedicated more than 6,500 square feet of exhibition space to this collection. A fully illustrated catalogue is also available. Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real (Mizner Park), Boca Raton.

Craft, vibrant colors, whimsy and fun — the current exhibit by renowned Haitian contemporary artist Raul de Nieves will delight all ages. It’s on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 770 N.E. 125th Street in North Miami. Find incredible beaded sculptures and a highlight, a traditional working carousel that’s filled with beaded animals. On view until March 21.

From culture to the outdoors

Now this is special, a great new resource, especially for out of town visitors: a cool new site of outdoor activities everywhere from the Everglades and Naples to our very own Miami. Some of the activities you can find are a family boating, shelling, fishing and swimming tour in the Everglades led by a naturalist and a four hour fishing tour of some of the remote spots of the 10,000 islands in the Everglades (each $475 for four hours). With 11 varieties of fish including several species of shark, it’s said to be the best wintertime fishing in North America. In Miami find everything from flightseeing tours to party boats. For more information go to:  https://evergladesactivities.com/

The popular Orchid Festival at Fairchild Tropical Gardens is back this month! Called ‘Orchids in Bloom’ it will span over ten-days, offering a number of live plant demos, educational lectures, and live music, March 12-21, 2021 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..  Thousands of orchids in all shapes have been planted on trees and palms throughout the Tropical Orchid Rainforest featuring award-winning hybrids, popular varieties, and extra topical species.

After ogling the iconic, tropical flower, groove to the tunes by the Brian Tate Quartet on March 12 from 7-30 – 9PM and enjoy a jazzy evening under the stars with your favorite snacks & beverages. Another special activity on March 18 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. is the spring edition of the Dog Bazaar. Spoil your pup with a walk in the garden and then meet up with South Florida’s best and brightest vendors at the Canine Marketplace. 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables.Admission is $24.95 for adults, $11.95 for children 6+, and free for Fairchild members. For more HERE.

We went with friends to our first live outdoor cultural performance, improv comedy Zoetic Schmoetic at The Arsht Center and felt totally comfortable with all of the safety protocols in place. The Arsht has no fewer than eight live outdoor performances this month for all tastes — besides comedy, jazz, hip hop, theater shorts, and more. To check them out, click here.

Next time you’re in the Brickell area be sure to visit the Underline which just opened Phase 1  stretching from the Miami River to 13th Street right across from Publix. It’s well planned and landscaped with native plants, clean, and user friendly. There are well marked bike trails, picnic tables, bicycle racks, an area for exercise classes and outdoor performances, and a basketball court that doubles for soccer.  Not only is it a pleasant walk but also, it will give you a sense of civic pride that Miami pulled this off. Opening in phases through 2025, The Underline is transforming the land below Miami’s Metrorail into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and public art destination.

Once completed, The Underline will span an estimated 120 acres from downtown to South Miami and will feature butterfly gardens, dog parks, exercise equipment, basketball courts, mini-soccer pitch, performance areas, bioswales, and temporary and permanent art. To serve visitors of all ages, there will also be numerous health and wellness, cultural, educational, and environmental programs.