Though most associated with boating, barbecues and beach time here in Florida, Memorial Day weekend is also when locals have a minute to really enjoy something that they haven’t had a chance to get around to during season. Here are some interesting cultural experiences and exhibits to visit, most of which have the added bonus of staying cool in the air-conditioning. It’s all about the mix this holiday.
The Lightner’s Diamond Anniversary
Housed in the former Victorian-era Hotel Alcazar, the Lightner Museum celebrates its 75th diamond anniversary with ongoing exhibits and events. Founder Otto Lightner’s legacy lives on in its permanent venue and collection, from which a curated assortment is displayed in “75 for 75” through September. Raisin Cake Orchestra plays during “Jazz in the Garden” on May 25.
lightnermuseum.org
In 1565, Spanish explorers established the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the U.S. Known as the Ancient City or the Old City, St. Augustine charms residents and visitors to this day with its historic architecture, over 42 miles of barrier coastline and thriving hospitality scene. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following link.
St. Augustine
Haitian Art Exhibits
NSU Art Museum honors Haitian Heritage Month with “Cosmic Mirrors: Haitian Art Highlights from the Collection.” The group show, which opens May 26, features 160 20th- and 21st-century works that reveal the Caribbean country’s African heritage, political history, tropical landscape and cultural and spiritual traditions like vodou. Closing May 28, Frost Art Museum’s “Everything, Earth and Sky” also focuses on Haitian art.
nsuartmuseum.org | frost.fiu.edu
Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America, is a boater’s and beachgoer’s paradise. But it’s also home to a burgeoning art scene that spills over into art-centric neighborhoods and annual events. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
Las Olas Isles | Las Olas | Victoria Park
Florida’s Iconic Highwaymen
Listed by The New York Times as one of spring/summer’s must-see museum shows, “The Highwaymen: From the Street Corner to the Smithsonian” is on view at the Elliott Museum through July 14. The apt title follows the progress of self-taught Black artists who painted scenery and sold artworks along Florida roadsides during Jim Crow to being shown in major museums.
hsmc-fl.com
Part of the Treasure Coast that encompasses Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties, Stuart is associated with top-notch fishing. Pastel-painted historic buildings and breathtaking waterways make it a favorite destination, too. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following link.
Stuart
Mummy Magic Revealed
Frost Museum of Science’s new show reveals the science and stories behind how ancient Egyptians, Europeans and South Americans preserved the dead and life circumstances of the deceased. “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition” uses CT scanning, DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating to learn about the mummified remains of 40 real people and animals. Visit May 27-September 4.
frostscience.org
Known as the gateway to Latin America, the dynamic city of Miami is constantly evolving with the influx of new residents, visitors, businesses and brands from all over the world. There’s always something new and exciting to try, whether a starchitect-designed space, museum exhibit or hot restaurant. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
Old Cutler Bay | Upper East Side | Brickell
Mosaic in May
Palm Beach County’s cultural institutions invite the public to partake in Mosaic throughout May. The widespread initiative touches on creative disciplines from dance to drama with discounts at venues such as the Kravis Center, Arts Garage, Cox Science Center & Aquarium, Mounts Botanical Garden, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum and Boca Museum of Art, whose current Oswaldo Vigas exhibit’s work is pictured.
palmbeachculture.com
Though most famous for Palm Beach, Palm Beach County’s mainland municipalities from Jupiter to Palm Beach Gardens to Boca Raton are also thriving. More people are choosing to live year-round after finding everything they need from top private schools to hip eats. Fancy living here? Discover more local details and property listings with the following links.
Boca Raton | West Palm Beach | Tequesta
Floral Flamingos
Begonias burst from five-foot-tall flamingo topiaries displayed around the grounds of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens through June 25. The 50 plant-sprouting, steel mesh works in “Flamboyance! A Topiary Menagerie” not only nod to Florida’s famed native bird and America’s favorite kitschy lawn ornament but mark the institution’s inaugural outdoor exhibit. Enjoy them at Friday Night Picnic on May 26.
cummermuseum.org
Jacksonville, the largest city geographically in the contiguous U.S., boasts an incredible variety of green spaces and beaches, as well as prime waterfront from the Atlantic Ocean to St. Johns River with its iconic bridges. The city’s vast network of neighborhoods and islands further invites nonstop adventure.
