Other Fun Stuff

MANSION OF DREAMS is the crowning achievement of the award-winning master illusionist Rick Thomas. Stunning magic, hilarious comedy, exquisite dancers and an inspiring story are woven into one of the most amazing productions ever to be seen onstage and on television!

Join Cheryl Gowing from the University Libraries, in partnership with UThrift, for a hands-on opportunity to transform your used t-shirts into functional and fun carry-all totes. Bring a much-loved, but no longer worn t-shirt, a festival or concert tee you want to remember, something grandma brought you from her vacation, or take your pick from one of the t-shirts donated by UThrift. Leave with a tote bag, and save one more item of fast fashion from the landfill!

Join Johnny Lamb Jr., a maintenance mechanic at the University of Miami who earned a Certificate of Apprenticeship in Horticulture and Landscape from the United States Department of Labor, for an insightful presentation on bonsai trees. Discover the art, history, and science behind bonsai tree cultivation, including species selection, pruning, wiring, soil, and watering essentials. Learn strategies to tackle pests, prevent diseases, and ensure proper care. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, this session will inspire and guide your bonsai journey.

Craft vibrant and delicious fruit kabobs while exploring the nutritional perks of eating a rainbow on a budget! In this hands-on session led by Dr. Rhonda Trust, a lecturer in the University of Miami School of Communication, participants will assemble colorful, nutritious kabobs. Discover the health benefits of vibrant fruits and gain practical tips for preparing budget-friendly meals with ease. This interactive workshop combines a guided demonstration with creative kabob-making, sparking conversations about balanced diets, nutritional literacy, and culinary creativity. Health in the Hood will provide the fruits and kabob supplies.

Climate change is an existential threat, but Mary Benton of Bound by Beauty will show how you can fight back through gardening. By cultivating native plants, you can create a haven for wildlife, reduce your carbon footprint, conserve water, and protect essential pollinators. Discover the transformative power of butterflies to inspire community connections, nurture nature, and combat climate change—plus, enjoy the bonus of beautiful songbirds!

Join Dr. Christopher A. Searcy, professor and director of Graduate Studies, and Ph.D. candidate Aidan O’Brien, both from the Conservation Ecology Lab at the University of Miami, for an engaging presentation on the complex stressors that are contributing to the global decline of amphibians. The Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, a federally endangered species in California, is threatened by habitat loss, human activity, and rising sea levels. Despite federal protection, gaps in ecological knowledge persist. The Conservation Lab’s research focuses on larval habitats and post-metamorphic behavior, offering critical insights for effective conservation efforts.

Join us in celebrating Earth Day with a beach yoga session followed by a marine debris clean-up at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park! Amazing community organizations will be joining, and there will be food (provided by PLANTA), refreshments, music, and more!

Join us in the Kislak Center at the University of Miami for the inaugural presentation of the Kislak Talks series. The event will feature an engaging conversation with Dr. Miguel Valerio and Dr. Daniel Arbino about Valerio’s recent publication, “Sovereign Joy: Afro-Mexican Kings and Queens, 1539-1640.” “Sovereign Joy” explores the performance of festive Black kings and queens among Afro-Mexicans between 1539 and 1640. This fascinating study illustrates how the first African and Afro-Creole people in colonial Mexico transformed their ancestral culture into a shared Afro-Mexican identity. It particularly focuses on how participation in public festivals expressed their culture and subjectivities, while also redefining their colonial condition and social standing. By analyzing this previously understudied aspect of Afro-Mexican Catholic confraternities in both literary texts and visual culture, Dr. Valerio reveals the deeply ambivalent and contradictory meanings behind public processions and festivities, which often re-inscribed structures of race and hierarchy. Were these festivities markers of Catholic subjecthood, and what types of corporate structures did they create to project standing and respectability? “Sovereign Joy” examines many of these possibilities and, in the process, highlights the central role of Africans and their descendants in colonial culture. Through performance, Afro-Mexicans affirmed their existence: the sovereignty of joy and the joy of sovereignty. The presentation will conclude with a question and answer session with the audience. This event is presented in partnership with the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College.

Join Barry University's Institute for Immigration Studies for its 2nd Annual Conference, "South Florida: The Hub for Immigration Innovation and Integration" (April 9-10, 2025). Featuring keynote speakers David Lawrence Jr. and Chef Juan Chipoco, cultural performances, expert panels, and the exhibition "The Whole World is Churning" curated by Rosie Gordon Wallace. Continental breakfast and lunch provided. Free to attend with registration via bit.ly/IIS-2025 .

Come celebrate freedom, culture, and community at our Juneteenth Beach Bash! Enjoy a day of sun, fun, and fellowship at the beautiful Historic Virginia Key Beach Park as we honor history and embrace the joy of unity. Ready to relax, connect, and commemorate Juneteenth in a space filled with love, culture, and celebration. Free admission – RSVP now to secure your spot!