After years of landing on the same winter weekend as the popular St. Sophia’s Greek Festival, the annual Asian Culture Festival has answered our prayers and moved the event to this coming Saturday & Sunday at a new, closer venue (Tropical Park instead of Homestead’s Fruit & Spice Park).

This year’s fest features an expanded lineup of regional showcases, including anime, K-beauty, gaming, and JDM motorsports (had to look that one up), alongside it’s legendary “Eat Street” food market and cultural performances. I’d plan to get there early (and hungry) because this event is going to be huge.

Also this week, we have a packed roster of art events before those slow summer months begin, starting with a celebration of National Paper Airplane Day at Bakehouse Art Complex on Tuesday night (you get to make your own) and ending with a special start-of-summer Progressive Art Brunch through Little Haiti and Allapattah on Sunday.

On the restaurant scene, the newly resurrected Delano has imported two international hot spots from Paris and Dubai: Gigi Rigolatto (think “rosé afternoon on the French Riviera”) and Mimi Kakushi (“smoky jazz night in 1920’s Osaka”). The catch is that Mimi, like far too many spaces in Miami these days, is for members only. And unlike at the other private clubs sprouting all over town, the food at this one is supposed to be amazing. So I’m officially annoyed.

But I can’t stay annoyed for too long, because Buccán has finally opened in Coral Gables, after ruling the foodie corners of Instagram with their sandwich ventanita during construction. And since it’s practically summer, we can probably all get a table - no membership required!

Let’s get planning…

Jump to: Music, Theater, Dance, Indie Cinema, Art Events, or Planning Ahead

To celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, PAMM is mounting a special exhibit entitled This is America, curated from its archives. The opening reception includes a meet and greet with PAMM curator Maritza Lacayo and featured artists Eddie Arroyo, Sandra Ramos, and Gonzalo Hernandez. Engage Miami will be on hand for voter registration, because what’s more American than making your voice heard?

Thursday, May 28th, 6-8pm, PAMM, Free

Neighborhood: Downtown Arts & Entertainment District

Nearby Eats: Verde at PAMM, Vice Versa, Yamashiro | Drinks: Verde, Vice Versa

The Progressive Art Brunch is one of my favorite art events in town: part bar crawl, part art crash course, part scavenger hunt. You have five hours (11am-4pm) to see the current exhibits at twelve local galleries sprinkled throughout Allapattah, Little River and Little Haiti. Typically, some type of sparkling wine is available at each stop, which can get a bit messy if you don’t take time to stop for lunch. Galleries usually aren’t open on the weekends, and the PAB isn’t a monthly event (it comes around when the galleries decide it’s time), so you don’t want to miss it.

Sunday, May 31st, 11am-4pm, Various Galleries, Free

Neighborhoods: Allapattah, Little River, Little Haiti

Nearby Eats: Hometown BBQ (Allapattah), the Citadel (Little River), Bar Bucce (Little River) | Drinks: Imperial Moto (Coffee), No Seasons (Beer)

More Art Events:

Coral Gables Art Cinema presents a red carpet opening night screening of Forge, a slick art caper film set in Miami, about two siblings selling forgeries to high-end clients. When their paths cross with a disgraced millionaire, the three take the forgery business to the next level, with the FBI hot on their trail. Director Jing Ai Ng will attend for a Q&A after the film.

Friday, May 29th, 6:30pm, Coral Gables Art Cinema, $22

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Luca Osteria, Zitz Sum, Dojo Izakaya | Drinks: Cebada Rooftop, Books & Books Café

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the American Black Film Festival is taking over Miami Beach for five days of screenings, panels, parties, and networking. Full access for the festival will cost you a cool $630, but you can enjoy their annual Community Day at Overtown’s Historic Lyric Theater for free. This year’s event features the HBO Short Film Award Showcase and the world premiere of of Girl Dad, a new feature film with Marsai Martin and Courtney B. Vance, followed by a Q&A with the cast and filmmakers.

Sunday, May 31st, 12-5pm, Historic Lyric Theater, Free!

Neighborhood: Overtown

Nearby Eats: Red Rooster Overtown, Jackson Soul Food (for brunch beforehand), ViceVersa | Drinks: Red Rooster Overtown, ViceVersa

More Indie Cinema:

The Miami City Ballet Orchestra proudly makes its debut at Sanctuary of the Arts for a concert of ballet classics, including selections from Tchaikovsky’s glorious Romeo & Juliet and Sleeping Beauty. Special performances by Miami City Ballet dancer Rui Cruz and longtime principal dancer Nathalia Arja will bring the music to life.

May 29th-31st, 7:30pm Friday & Saturday, 4pm Sunday, Sanctuary of the Arts, $58-$73

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Buccan (new!), Sra. Martinez, Luca Osteria | Drinks: Cebada Rooftop, Armstrong Jazz House

The Mainly Mozart Festival continues with an intimate performance by acclaimed pianist and arranger Vyacheslav Gryaznov. The author of over 40 major concert arrangements, Gryaznov will be tackling George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, alongside his own innovative G-Phil Virtual Orchestra, bringing the experience of a full symphony orchestra into a chamber setting.

Saturday, May 30th, 4pm, The Betsy Hotel, $13

Neighborhood: South Beach

Nearby Eats: Tropezón, The Drexel, Gigi Rigolatto (new!) | Drinks: Swizzle Rum Bar, The Piano Bar at The Betsy

As part of its 8th annual Jazz Series, Faena Theater presents an evening with Brazilian virtuoso mandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, known for revolutionizing the choro style with infusions of jazz and samba. Seating at the Faena is mostly two-by-two, and tables can be upgraded with fancy bottle service, so this is definitely a date-night booking.

Wednesday, June 3rd, 8pm, Faena Theater, $70-$225

Neighborhood: Mid Beach

Nearby Eats & Drinks: Make it an all-Faena night, with dinner at Pao or Los Fuegos and drinks at Living Room or The Saxony Bar.

More Upcoming Music Events:

Gablestage closes out their 2025-26 season with a play I’ve been looking forward to all year. Eureka Day, the Tony Award-winning play by Jonathan Spector, is a hilarious send-up of superwoke parent culture that got rave reviews for its Broadway run last year. The action follows the hyper-polite and painfully correct school board of an elite Berkeley, CA private school, trying to keep the peace when a mumps outbreak triggers all-out parent war.

Through June 14th, 7pm evenings, 2pm matinees, Gablestage at the Biltmore, $40-$60

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Zitz Sum, Rò Steakhouse, Zucca | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Armstrong Jazz House

Actors’ Playhouse presents a new adaptation of noir classic Dial M for Murder, updated by playwright Jeffrey Hatcher to include a few new twists. The plot opens on an unhappy couple and goes on to deliver all the betrayal, greed, illicit romance, and yes, murder, a discerning noir enthusiast could ask for.

Through June 7th, 8pm evenings, 3pm matinees, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, $50-$95

Neighborhood: Coral Gables

Nearby Eats: Buccan (new!), Pastor at Pascal, Salumeria 104 | Drinks: Sospiro Wine Bar, Maíz y Agave

Afro-Diaspora Soul Dance takes the stage with Peter London Dance Company for an evening of new contemporary dance works. The program includes Women’s Choreographic Voices, a showcase of works by PLGDG’s women dancers; Jamar Roberts’ A Folk’s Tale, and Peter London’s Caribbean Suite.

Thursday, May 28th, 7:30pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, $38

Neighborhood: North Beach

Nearby Eats: Marc’s Artisanal Pizza, Double Luck, Taquiza | Drinks: Conventillo, Lido Champagne Bar

With summer coming, nothing’s going to sell out and tables are blessedly easy to book at even our buzziest restaurants, but there’s always an argument for planning ahead…

The Rhythm Foundation, in partnership with Deuterman Productions, presents one night in Havana with Orquesta Akokán, a Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban big band that has been lighting up stages worldwide since they burst onto the scene in 2018 with a reenergized, 21st century take on Cuban mambo. This official video for their hit Con Licencia, gorgeously shot in Havana, gives you a taste.

7pm, Miami Beach Bandshell, $47 (or $532 for a 6 person VIP cabana!)

Neighborhood: North Beach

Nearby Eats: Marc’s Artisanal Pizza, Double Luck, Taquiza | Drinks: Conventillo, Lido Champagne Bar

No city goes mango crazy like Miami, and for over thirty years, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has given us a safe space to show our love with its annual Mango Festival. The fest is partly educational, with over 400 varieties of mangos on display, but mostly about eating and drinking mangos every which way, with chefs on hand for demonstrations and tastings. The annual brunch ($135), which always sells out, features chefs from Sunny’s, Phuc Yea, and Zak the Baker this year. So if you’re interested, I’d get those tickets now.

10am-5pm both days, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, $28 (kids are $15)

Neighborhood: South Gables

Nearby Eats: You’ll find all the (mango-related) food you can possibly eat on site | Drinks: Ditto (try the “Mango Cocktail Flight”)

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