To Do

Things To Do in May

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

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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

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ICFF

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair comes to NY this month. See the future of design.

May 14-17 | The Javits Center

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NYC x DESIGN

Celebrate all disciplines of design at New York Design Week all across the city.

May 3-17

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Barbara Kasten: Stages

Experience the artist's abstractions of light and architecture.

Opens May 28 | MOCA Pacific Design Center

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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

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Martin Creed: What You Find

Experience Martin Creed's new body work in every medium imaginable.

Opens May 22 | Hauser & Wirth Somerset

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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MIAMI

Meditation Month

May is mediation month at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. Click to see the full schedule.

The Standard Spa, Miami Beach

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Florence and The Machine

Don't miss the siren's How Beautiful tour.

May 13 | American Airlines Arena

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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

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Marlow Rosado

Catch the two-time Grammy winner play with the Tucán band.

May 7, 26, 27, 28 | El Tucán

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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