Other Fun Stuff

Lesley Goldwasser in Conversation with Artists Dahlia Dreszer and Ray Tenorio Join us for an inspiring evening at The Betsy Hotel, as owner and curator Lesley Goldwasser welcomes acclaimed artists Dahlia Dreszer and Ray Tenorio for an intimate conversation in the Hohauser Wing galleries. This special event offers guests a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about the creative journeys, influences, and artistic practices of two dynamic voices in contemporary art. About the Artists: Dahlia Dreszer (Panama) is a photo-based artist living and working in Miami, Florida. A graduate of Emory University, Dahlia explores identity, memory, and cultural heritage through large-format photography and immersive installations that blur the boundaries between reality and artifice. Rooted in her Latin American and Jewish heritage, her work weaves personal narratives with broader cultural histories, often using still-life arrangements. Her recent projects include “Bringing the Outside In,” and explorations at the intersection of technology, art, and nature—most notably through her AI-generated alter ego, Clone Dahlia, featured in TIME magazine. Dahlia also curates public dialogues centering on collaboration, technology, and cross-cultural exchange. Ray Tenorio Viera was born in Havana, Cuba, and is now based in Miami. With a background in Social Communication from the Universidad de La Habana, and further studies in Graphic and Commercial Arts at Miami Dade College and Illustration Design in Berlin, Ray draws inspiration from Surrealism, Expressionism, mythology, and Latin American and African folklore. His vivid, emotional artworks—crafted with bold colors, confident lines, and rhythmic forms—invite viewers into a world of psychedelic dreams and hidden narratives. Each piece emerges intuitively, encouraging a soul-deep dialogue between artwork and audience. Surrounded by The Betsy’s renowned collection, guests will explore the intersection of art, community, and cultural storytelling. The evening includes time for audience Q&A, light refreshments, and the chance to connect with fellow art lovers in one of South Beach’s most iconic settings. RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

Hosted by Lesley Goldwasser, Hotel Owner & Curator In Conversation with Jonathan Henery Manager, Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Studio; Treasur Join us for a special evening at The Betsy Hotel as owner and curator Lesley Goldwasser sits down with Jonathan Henery, Manager of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Studio and Treasurer and Secretary of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation. This conversation will offer an inside look into the creative partnership and monumental legacy of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, renowned for their transformative environmental installations around the world. Doors open 6: 00 PM | Program starts 6:30 PM About the Speaker: Jonathan Henery works at the heart of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s artistic legacy, managing their studio and serving as Treasurer and Secretary of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation. He is intimately involved in stewarding the artists’ archives, advancing educational initiatives, and supporting new scholarship and exhibitions that keep their vision alive for new generations. About the Christo & Jeanne-Claude Foundation: The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation is dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the work and legacy of the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Foundation supports scholarly research, educational programming, and exhibitions that explore the impact of their large-scale, site-specific installations—iconic projects like “The Gates” in Central Park, “Wrapped Reichstag” in Berlin, and “The Floating Piers” in Italy. Through its work, the Foundation ensures that the duo’s spirit of innovation, collaboration, and environmental engagement continues to inspire artists and audiences worldwide. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the art and ideas that shaped Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s career, engage in a lively Q&A, and connect with fellow art enthusiasts in The Betsy’s vibrant gallery setting. RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

Hosted by Lesley Goldwasser, Hotel Owner & Curator Hosted by Lesley Goldwasser, Hotel Owner & Curator In Conversation with Artists Ira Wagner. Experience another inspiring evening in The Betsy’s celebrated art series as owner and curator Lesley Goldwasser welcomes acclaimed artists Ira Wagner and Lianne Jedeikin Goldsmith for a lively, in-depth conversation in the Hohauser Wing galleries. This event invites guests to explore the creative journeys, influences, and unique perspectives of two celebrated voices in contemporary art. Doors open 6: 00 PM | Program starts 6:30 PM About the Artists: Ira Wagner began studying photography in 2008, following a 25-year career on Wall Street. With a keen interest in urban history, architecture, and design, Ira’s work documents the evolving urban landscape. He holds an MFA from Hartford Art School and currently teaches photography at Monmouth University in New Jersey. His projects include an acclaimed series on the Bronx, the book “Houseraising” (documenting Jersey Shore homes post-Hurricane Sandy), and ongoing explorations of cityscapes from Philadelphia to New Mexico. Ira’s work has been featured in The New Republic, National Geographic, and in a photobook by Daylight Books. He is a recipient of a New Jersey State Council on the Arts grant and continues to capture the changing face of the American city. Lianne Jedeikin Goldsmith lives in Los Angeles, California. Born in Zimbabwe, she studied in Cape Town, South Africa before immigrating to the United States, where she founded Accentrix Design Studio. Her multicultural background and design expertise inform her creative practice, bringing a global perspective to her work. Surrounded by The Betsy’s renowned collection, guests will explore the intersection of art, community, and cultural storytelling. The evening includes audience Q&A, light refreshments, and a chance to connect with fellow art lovers in one of South Beach’s most iconic settings. RSVP: Recommended, as space is limited.

In collaboration with the Jewish Book Council’s Nu Reads initiative, Miami Book Fair presents Stories We Share: A Nu Reads Celebration. Our first event, on Wednesday, March 18th, will feature a conversation with leading voices in contemporary Jewish literature, Maya Arad, Allegra Goodman, Rachel Kadish, and Tova Mirvis, moderated by Stacey Mindich. The panel ends at 8, but don’t miss the after-party! We’re closing out the night with a Klezmer band, live vocals, noshes, and more. This first event in our series is presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council’s Nu Reads, a bi-monthly subscription box that delivers Jewish books straight to your door. Use the code NUMIAMI, for 15% off Nu Reads subscriptions. Books will be available for purchase from Books & Books.

From late 2021 through the end of 2024, an unprecedented 850,000 Cuban migrants arrived in the United States, where they confronted a more restrictive and uncertain immigration policy landscape than during past Cuban mass-migration events. Since January 2025, the Trump administration has further curtailed access to legal pathways, expanded detentions and deportations, and revoked status protections granted under the Biden presidency. “Unsettled Futures” brings together voices from journalism, advocacy, and the law to assess how these changes are impacting recent migrants and the evolving debate over federal immigration policy within the Cuban-American community. Panelists will also consider how developments in U.S.-Cuban affairs following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela may further shape the migration landscape. This conversation will be hosted in English and Spanish.

MAIACA is proud to support several incredible upcoming events featuring Indian artists. MAIACA HOLI 2026 Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Location: Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, Miami, FL A vibrant celebration with professional Bollywood DJs, traditional color throwing, delicious Indian street food, and dance performances. Special dry zone for those who want to avoid colors. Tickets: Grab Early Bird tickets here

Join MOAD at the Freedom Tower for an engaging edition of the Kislak Talks series, Becoming Mexico City: Early Maps of the Oldest Continuous Metropolis in the Americas featuring Dr. Delia Cosentino, Professor of History of Art and Architecture at DePaul University in Chicago. This talk features a series of maps made during the first 100 years of Spanish colonial rule to show how the capital city of Mexico has taken shape, both in terms of urban planning—and in the imagination. Cartography by both native and European artists demonstrates how the capital of the Aztec Empire, called Tenochtitlan, provided the literal foundations for the early modern Spanish capital that replaced it following the European invasion in the 1520s. The maps showcase Aztec migration and mythology, the incursion of Hispanic elements into native spaces, and other intriguing aspects of the oldest continuous metropolis in the Americas. Dr. Delia Cosentino is Professor of History of Art and Architecture at DePaul University in Chicago, specializing in the visual culture of Greater Mexico. She is currently a Mellon Foundation Long-Term Fellow at the Newberry Library (2025-2026), researching Aztec gladiators. Cosentino co-authored Resurrecting Tenochtitlan: Imagining the Aztec Capital in Modern Mexico City (UT Press, 2023) with Adriana Zavala (Tufts University) and wrote Las Joyas de Zinacantepec: Arte Colonial en el Monasterio de San Miguel (Colegio Mexiquense, Mexico, 2007). She also curated Ceramic Trees of Life from Mexico (Fowler Museum, UCLA, 2003), Reverence Renewed: Colonial Andean Art from the Thoma Collection (DePaul Art Museum [DPAM], 2009), and Nexo/Nexus: Latin American Connections in the Midwest (DPAM, 2016). Visitors to the Freedom Tower may park for free in the MDC garage at 500 NE Second Avenue, between NE Fifth and NE Sixth Streets (designated Building 7 on MDC's Wolfson Campus parking map). The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at MDC may document the event, including its attendees. By entering the area, and/or participating in the event, you consent to the recording and its use in any form. The programs at the Freedom Tower, operated by the Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at Miami Dade College (MDC), are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and the Board of County Commissioners. They are sponsored by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with collections, exhibition, and marketing support from ArtesMiami, Art Bridges Foundation, the Shepard Broad Foundation, the Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA), Henry Luce Foundation, Jay I. Kislak Foundation, Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation, and US Century Bank. Image: Hernán Cortés (c.1485–1547), Praeclara Ferdina[n]di Cortesii de noua maris oceani Hyspania narratio sacratissimo…,1524, Book. Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas, Exploration and Navigation, MDC PC 2018.1.12

How do we map the places we have left behind, and how do those places continue to shape who we are? Join the Cuban Heritage Collection for “The Geography of Memory: Stories From the Cuban Diaspora,” a book talk featuring memoirs by Ana Hebra Flaster and Elena Sheppard. In the memoirs “Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town” and “The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora,” Flaster and Sheppard offer intimate, powerful reflections on exile, political rupture, family history, and the emotional landscapes shaped by displacement. Together, these works illuminate how personal and collective memory travel across borders and generations. The conversation will be moderated by Mirta Ojito, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of “Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus.” Copies of their books will be available for purchase by Books & Books.

Miami Beach Pride invites you to our FREE Family Picnic with fun for the whole family, including your fur babies from 10 AM - 4 PM in Pride Park Miami Beach. Come enjoy multiple bounce houses, including an obstacle course, outdoor games, fun activities, face-painting and craft activities for all the family to enjoy. The Humane Society of Miami will be doing puppy adoptions from 11 am - 2 pm and a BRAND NEW Circus: Cirque Kikasse at 2 pm. Food and beverages will be available for sale at our Food Trucks. SCHEDULE 10 am – 4 pm – Bouncy Castle & Obstacle Course Activation 10 am – 2 pm – Kids’ Face Painting 11 am – 12 pm – Give the Easter Bunny a hand this year by decorating your own headband and joining in the fun. Just carefully color in your Bunny Headband and pose for photographs when the Easter Bunny arrives on site at noon. Headbands available on a first-come, first-served basis 12 pm – 2 pm – The Humane Society of Greater Miami presents Adoption & Meet and Greet. Looking for a fur companion? Fully vetted and up to date on all medical needs/shots, meet some dogs seeking a furever home. 12 pm - 2 pm – Join us for precious photo moments with Pride’s costumed character: Easter Bunny 12 pm – 1 pm – Clay-Making with Kidcreate Studio Miami: Unleash your child’s creativity through the art of clay! In this fun, hands-on workshop, kids ages 5–10 will discover the joy of shaping and molding while strengthening fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and focus. Guided by Kidcreate Studio’s expert instructors, children will bring their imagination to life—creating a one-of-a-kind project, “Spring Flower Garden”, they’ll be proud to take home as a keepsake. 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm – 3-D Assemblage Art with Dinorah de Jesús Rodriguez - Join renowned artist-educator Dinorah de Jesús Rodriguez for a hands-on workshop where creativity knows no bounds! Designed for children and adults ages 10+, this immersive experience invites participants to explore new ways of seeing everyday objects, and experiment with textures and forms. Best of all, each participant will leave with a one-of-a-kind art piece—a true reflection of their creativity. 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm - CIRQUE KIKASSE in partnership with Out in The Tropics/FUNDarte, Live Arts Miami and Miami Beach Pride presents SANTÉ! a dynamic circus show with high-level acrobatics, contagious energy and breathtaking balances … All on an extraordinary food-truck! 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm –The Miami Children’s Museum will offer two drop-in craft workshops that will run simultaneously for kids aged 5-17 years - Glimmering Galaxies - voyage through the galaxy and beyond to learn about the vastness of outer space. With vivid paints and oil create a vivid sci-fi adventure. - Friendship Bracelets - utilizing elastic strings and a variety of beads, children/teens will be encouraged to design and create their own Friendship Bracelet using unique patterns and/or words of affirmation to express who they are. When it’s complete, you can wear your Friendship Bracelet as a reminder to be proud of who you are or give it to a friend to help empower them. For children/teens and their families aged 10+ years Miami Beach Pride will also have 2 food trucks (Entree & Dessert), outdoor games, a bounce house and a bounce obstacle course onsite. The event is free to the public.

Join MOAD for a special yoga class in the Knight Skylight Gallery at the Freedom Tower. Romina (Romi) began practicing yoga back in 2017, the physical aspect of yoga served as a launch pad and she quickly fell in love with the practice and aimed to explore many different types of yoga. A practice that was a hobby quickly turned into a passion. Her love of yoga pushed Romina to pursue her 200-hr yoga teacher training in Orlando, FL and she now teaches in many different areas in Miami. Romina enjoys teaching vinyasa flow and gentle flows with creative transitions, focusing on strengths, stability and alignment. Whether you are a beginner or advance practitioner, using movement and breathwork, rest assured you'll leave feeling transformed in all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit. Admission to the Freedom Tower exhibitions and galleries following the class is included with your RSVP. Event attendees may park for free in the MDC garage at 500 NE Second Avenue, between NE Fifth and NE Sixth Streets. Please bring your own yoga mat. Yoga mats will not be available onsite. The Museum of Art and Design (MOAD) at MDC may document the event, including its attendees. By entering the area, and/or participating in the event, you consent to the recording and its use in any form.