Things started heating up in April, but that was really just a test run for the marvelous month of May when everything comes into full bloom. It starts with Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day (don’t mess it up!), and ends with Memorial Day, the unofficial start of all of our glorious summer exploits. In between, we’ve got some major goings on in our world: Frieze New York; the opening of The Plaza (ahem, Piazza) at The Standard, High Line; Poliça at the Top of The Standard; artist Lisa Solberg’s mysterious happening at The Standard, Downtown LA; and to top things off, it’s meditation month at The Standard Spa. Got it? OK, now go.
NEW YORK
The Standard Plaza
Our Italian piazza, a.k.a. The Standard Plaza, is now open at The Standard, High Line. Sip cocktails and dine al fresco while basking in everything the city has to offer.
The Standard, High Line
Crystals 101
If you were looking for a sign to learn about crystals, this is it. Check out Maha Rose's many other workshops, too.
May 14 | Maha Rose Center for Healing
The Annie O Music Series
HONNE, Jean-Michel Jarre, Okyeame Kwame, and Esmé Patterson come to The Standard, East Village's airy Penthouse. Don't miss it. Free with an RSVP to AOhayon@standardhotels.com.
May 12, 17, 19 | The Standard, East Village Penthouse
Mercury Rising
Join us and The Numinous for a day of astrology, tarot, breathwork, lunar calendars, drinks, and more. Click to RSVP.
May 7 | The Standard, High Line
ICFF
The International Contemporary Furniture Fair comes to NY this month. See the future of design.
May 14-17 | The Javits Center
NYC x DESIGN
Celebrate all disciplines of design at New York Design Week all across the city.
May 3-17
Sight Unseen OFFSITE
Coinciding with ICFF and NYCxDESIGN, Sight Unseen OFFSITE showcases the best of both independent and major design brands.
May 13-16 | The Grace Building, 15th Floor
Standard Sounds Presents: Poliça
The synthpop gale from Minnesota blows into The Top of The Standard. Come feel the winds of their new album, "United Crushers." Photo by Jonathan Weiner.
May 12 | The Top of The Standard at The Standard, High Line
Frieze New York
World-class, international contemporary and modern galleries showcase their works. Also, don't miss Frieze Projects, a.k.a. site specific commissions by contemporary artists, including the return of Maurizio Cattelan.
May 5-8 | Randall's Island Park
Peter Bjorn and John + Okay Kaya
After a five-year hiatus, the Swedes are back to celebrate their new album set for release on June 10th. Don't miss their opening act Okay Kaya. For LA fans, they're also playing The Echo on May 5th.
May 2, Rough Trade | May 3, Baby's All Right
Black Lips
The Georgia garage rock misfits are coming to Brooklyn for two nights. Get ready.
May 8, Bowery Ballroom | May 9, Music Hall of Williamsburg
Amanda Valdez + Caris Reid's "Time and Tide"
This two-person exhibition explores symmetry, duality, and lunar cycles.
Ends May 15 | The Denny Gallery
Andy Warhol: Little Electric Chairs
This exhibition features 18 paintings from "Death and Disaster," one of Warhol’s series of the '60s that explores graphic imagery in mainstream media.
Opens May 2 | VENUS
MAKERS & BROTHERS
Makers & Brothers returns to The Standard, East Village's serene garden for NYCxDESIGN. There will be shop items for sale, a live stool making demonstration by James Carroll, and springtime cocktails by Max Lamb.
May 11-15 | The Standard, East Village
RXART Presents: José Parlá
For Frieze New York, RxArt presents a new large-scale diptych painting by José Parlá. Parlá will be at the booth from 11am-1pm on May 4 if you wish to meet the man himself.
May 5-8 | Frieze New York at Randall's Island Park
Visionaire 65 FREE NYC
As an alternative to the art fairs, Visionaire will release free prints from 12 contributors at various kiosks and trucks throughout the city. Contributors include John Baldessari (above), Gigi Hadid, and Yoko Ono. All locations are open from 11am-8pm.
May 5-8, TIMES SQUARE (Broadway btw. 43rd and 44th St. | MAY 6, UNION SQUARE (Union Square West between 15th and 16th St.) | MAY 7, MEATPACKING 14th St. btw. Washington & 10th Ave. | MAY 8, SOHO (Lafayette Street btw. Spring and Broome)
LOS ANGELES
24HR Free 4 All
Every three hours, 24HR PSYCHIC brings a new experience to a mystery room at The Standard, Downtown LA. We don't want to give anything away, but trust us when we say, you don't want to miss it. Check-in at the lobby to be a part of it.
May 20 + 21, 11pm-11pm | The Standard, Downtown LA
Cinco de Mayo with Mast Brothers Chocolate
Join us and Mast Brothers this Cinco de Mayo for a chocolate tasting event par excellence. We've prepared a special menu using solely Mast Brothers chocolate including moles, chocolate beer, cocktails, and more. RSVP: downtownlarsvp@standardhotels.com.
May 5, 5pm | The Standard, Downtown LA
Lucius
Come out and watch Lucius showcase their incredible new album "Good Grief."
May 5 | Fonda Theater
Japanese Prints and Photographs: Paths through Modernity
See Japanese prints and photographs from 1917 to the present.
Opens May 21 | LACMA
Barbara Kasten: Stages
Experience the artist's abstractions of light and architecture.
Opens May 28 | MOCA Pacific Design Center
2732: BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL: EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF KWAME BRATHWAITE, 1962-1975
In his first West Coast solo exhibition, American photographer Kwame Brathwaite explores black representation, history, and culture in his work from the '60s and '70s.
Opens May 21 | Cherry and Martin
Martin Creed: What You Find
Experience Martin Creed's new body work in every medium imaginable.
Opens May 22 | Hauser & Wirth Somerset
MORRISSEY’S 57TH UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Celebrate Morrisey's unhappy birthday with the Morrisey/Smiths tribute band Sweet and Tender Hooligans.
May 22 | Fonda Theater
Liquid Cool with Nite Jewel
Join us every Tuesday evening for Nite Jewel's DJ set inside one of LA's best restaurants. Savor Alma's delicious Southern California-inspired menu while basking in the sounds of now.
Tuesdays, 6-9pm | Alma at The Standard, Hollywood
Subb-an on The Rooftop
The Standard, Downtown LA and Magnetic Magazine host DJs Subb-an, Maheras, and Tahl K for a day in the sun.
May 7 | The Standard, Downtown LA
Callings Out of Context: Junglepussy and Dan Deacon
The Broad pairs interesting artists from opposite music genres to create something entirely new. Don't miss Junglepussy and Dan Deacon's collaboration.
May 12 | Teragram Ballroom
Robert Mappelthorpe: Dark and Light
See one of the great masters of light and dark explore the full spectrum of black and white.
Opens May 21 | Moran Bondaroff
MIAMI
Meditation Month
May is mediation month at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. Click to see the full schedule.
The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
Florence and The Machine
Don't miss the siren's How Beautiful tour.
May 13 | American Airlines Arena
Promising Paradise: Cuban Allure, American Seduction
Things may have changed, but fill in the backstory with this exhibition on Cuban-American relations between the 1920s and 1950s.
Opens May 6 | Wolfsonian FIU
Marlow Rosado
Catch the two-time Grammy winner play with the Tucán band.
May 7, 26, 27, 28 | El Tucán
Suddenly Last Summer
Three artists were asked to create art inspired by the The Motels song "Suddenly Last Summer." The result is a exhibition of nostalgia and longing.
Opens May 14 | Frost Art Museum at FIU
Stan Douglas: Luanda-Kinshasa
In this incredible 6-hour experimental film, experience a fictional 1970s band recording at the historic CBS studios in all its period-perfect glory. Do not miss.
Opens May 26 | PAMM
Listening Club: Eyes for Sound (On Film)
Miami's Charles Recher, a filmmaker with over 100 films under his belt, shares scenes from films that possess a special relationship between sound and image.
May 15 | Audiotheque
EXPLODING ASIA: NEW DIRECTIONS IN ASIAN MUSIC
Host and producer of radio program "SoundPrint Asia," Joseph Celli, explores the new wave of music exploding all over Asia.
May 4 | Audiotheque
Coyo Taco's Cinco de Mayo Block Party
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in this buzzy Wynwood Mexican restaurant and venue. Expect mariachi bands, DJs, luchador matches, and amazing Mexican food.
May 5 | Coyo Taco
The Southernmost Soul Party
On the last Saturday of every month, Gramps hosts what they dub "Miami's only Rock n' Soul dance party." Don't miss them spin rare Rock, Latin, and RnB vinyl from '50s and '60s.
May 28 | Gramps
Miami Rail's 2016 FUN-raiser Prom
Join Miami Rail for their annual fund/fun-raiser by redoing prom the way it should have been.
May 11 | Miami Design District Palm Court
MAISON&OBJET AMERICAS
With over 300 brands in this 3-day event, MAISON&OBJET brings its Parisian interior design fair to Miami. Not to be biased, but their pick for designer of the year is Rafael de Cardenas, who designed The Shop at The Standard Spa.
May 10-13 | Miami Beach Convention Center
Design Pub
Happening in tandem with MAISON&OBJECT, Design Pub brings together designers for a 4-day summit of exhibitions and workshops.
May 9-13 | Miami Design District Palm Court
Sip + Sketch
Shinola and Snyder present a night of drawing and drinking with artist Christina Patterson.
May 4 | Shinola Wynwood
Standard Sounds Presents: Jazz Lounge
Standard Sounds presents live jazz in The Lido Lounge. This month brings in Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Brian Lynch.
May 26, 8-11pm | The Standard Spa, Miami Beach