The City of Miami Beach will host a hurricane planning exercise focused on evacuation procedures on Tuesday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m. with representatives from Miami-Dade County as well as nearby communities, including Bal Harbour, Surfside, Key Biscayne, Sunny Isles Beach, Hollywood, City of Miami, Coral Gables among others as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway.

“Last year Hurricane Ian proved to be the deadliest Florida hurricane in nearly a century with 149 souls lost,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “We have to learn every possible lesson from that tragedy because barrier islands need to be especially prepared. I appreciate the efforts of Miami-Dade County Mayor Danielle Levine Cava and her emergency management team for working with our cities so that we may all be hurricane ready.”

The Miami Beach exercise will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center in room 105, which is located at 1901 Convention Center Drive. The event will include all Miami Beach department heads as well as nearby mayors and emergency personnel.

Media is invited to observe the following training modules with interview opportunities:

Module 1 at 10 a.m.: “Blue Skies” will address actions to be taken before the storm

Module 2 at 11 a.m.: “Hurricane Watch” will focus on the actions taken once a watch is issued.
Module 3 at 12 p.m.: “Hurricane Warning” will deal with scenarios of when a Hurricane Warning is issued.

Hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted there could be 12 to 17 named storms during the 2023 season with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, five to nine could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher and one to four could become major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. NOAA has 70% confidence in its prediction.

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The City of Miami Beach will light up orange on Friday, June 2 to commemorate Moms Demand Action’s National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend. Miami Beach City Hall will be bathed in orange lights starting at sundown.

“It is unimaginable that 40,000 mothers, fathers, sons and daughters will be lost this year because of gun violence and that another 85,000 people will be shot and wounded,” said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “Unfortunately, there has been a total abdication of responsibility by most elected bodies even in the face of this unthinkable carnage.”

The lighting of Miami Beach City Hall comes at the start of Wear Orange Weekend, in which thousands of people in the United States will wear orange to honor the survivors of gun violence. Orange represents the color hunters wear to protect themselves and others in the woods.

WHAT: Miami Beach Lights Up Orange

WHEN: June 2, 2023 at sundown

WHERE: 1700 Convention Center Drive

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The City of Miami Beach will honor the memory of U.S. service members who gave their lives for their country during a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony and salute. In partnership with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars 3559 Miami Beach Post, the event will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at the War Memorial Cenotaph in front of the Miami Beach Police Department.

“These are the real heroes of the American dream,” Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak asserted. “To honor their legacy, is to honor freedom.”

Girl Scout Troop 1239 will distribute VFW Buddy Poppies at the event and share the story behind the artificial red flowers, which are assembled each year by veterans who are disabled or in need.

Eleven-year-old Luna Daniela Florez will sing “America the Beautiful” accompanied by her older sister, Melanie, on the saxophone at the closing of the ceremony. A family member of the sisters suffered a traumatic brain injury in combat while serving in Iraq.

As in previous years, 16-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador Penelope Heller will recite “In Flanders Field,” as part of the Miami Beach Memorial Day ceremony.

WHAT: Wreath-laying ceremony and salute

WHEN: Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Outside the Miami Beach Police Department, 1100 Washington Ave.

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To mark the start of the 2023 Hyundai Air & Sea Show over Memorial Day weekend, the City of Miami Beach plans to return the U.S. government’s rent money — including inflationary adjustments — that was paid out during the World War II war effort when the glamorous coastal city served as one of the largest military training grounds in America.

“Couldn’t be prouder to return $420 in the inflated-adjusted rent that Miami Beach charged for housing and training thousands of troops in WWII,” said Mayor Dan Gelber. “It was our greatest honor to do our part for so many that served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms.”

Gelber’s late father and former Miami Beach Mayor Seymour Gelber, was one of those who trained during the war in Miami Beach when he served in the Army Air Corps.

“The reality is that many of these service members who experienced our City, later returned to start families, buy houses and open businesses, which led to one of the largest expansions in our community’s history,” added Mayor Gelber.

The city’s check will be payable to the U.S. Treasury to honor the thousands of service members who passed through what some later referred to as the “most beautiful boot camp in America” on their way to far-flung corners of the world to fight for freedom between 1942 and 1945. Mayor Gelber will present the check during a press conference between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26 at the United States Coast Guard Air Station Miami. The station is located at the Miami Opa-locka Executive Airport, 14750 NW 44th Court, Opa-locka, Florida.

Miami Beach served as a base for training headquarters of the then Army Air Forces Technical Training Command, with many municipal properties and hotels repurposed for the war effort.

“Our records show that Uncle Sam paid out a total of about $6 per year between 1942 and 1945,” Gelber said. “Fortunately, our room rates are considerably higher today.”

When the U.S. Air Corps Training School in Miami Beach opened in February of 1942, it was one of the largest training centers and officer candidate schools anywhere in the U.S. Up to a quarter of the officers and a fifth of all enlisted men of the entire Army Air Forces were trained in Miami Beach.

After the war, some 2,000 service members who were released from Japan’s prison camps, spent two weeks of their 90-day furloughs resting and relaxing on the city’s beaches.

The roar of military aircraft returns this weekend to honor the sacrifice of America’s military personnel. The Hyundai Air & Sea Show begins on Saturday, May 27 and continues through Sunday, May 28 with sea demonstrations by professional jet skiers, ThunderCats boat racing exhibition and the Cigarette Offshore Powerboat Racing Demonstration. After the sea portion, residents and visitors can look to the sky for our country’s state-of-the-art military technology, including parachute teams, jet demonstrations, air and sea search and rescue exercises followed by evening activities that include concerts and fireworks.

For more information on the Hyundai Air and Sea Show, click here.

Memorial Day weekend jets into Miami Beach this year with the return of the popular Hyundai Air & Sea Show on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, 2023. Thousands are expected to head to the city’s famous beaches, hotels and restaurants over the holiday weekend as the city once again implements a comprehensive and coordinated major events plan to ensure the safety and enjoyment of residents and visitors.

’The Hyundai Air & Sea Show is one of my favorite events not only because it honors the sacrifice of the brave men and women who served our great country, but because it reminds us of the important role Miami Beach played during World War II in hosting nearly half a million service members in what has been described as the ‘most beautiful boot camp in America,’” shared Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak.

The holiday weekend event lineup is as follows:

Friday, May 26

Smorgasburg at Lincoln Road | 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. | 1100 block of Lincoln Road

Presented by the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District, enjoy the last day of the Miami Beach Smorgasburg market featuring a lineup of best-in-class food trucks and tent vendors. Lincoln Road will also host their regular weekend wellness program and Sunday farmers’ market.

www.lincolnroad.com

Saturday, May 27

Hyundai Air & Sea Show

Ticketed LiquorSplit Beach Club & U.S. Army Salute Fest | 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | East of Lummus Park between 10 to 15 streets.
Free and open to the public FPL Display Village | 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Ocean Drive between 10 and 15 streets. www.usasalute.com

U.S. Army SaluteFest at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show’s Concert & Fireworks Display
U.S. Army SaluteFest Concert | 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.; 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.; and 6:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Features four A-list musical acts, including social media sensations Lele Pons and JVKE, as well as Country Music singers Chris Janson and Breland. The concert also includes performances by the U.S. Army Band, an interactive display village, a drone show, and a fireworks display.
www.usasalute.com

City of Miami Beach Kids Fun Zone

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Ocean Drive and Lummus Park between 12 and 13 streets

Children and their parents can participate in themed arts and crafts, lawn games, an Imagination Playground and the opportunity to write letters to our service members

City of Miami Beach K.I.D.S. (Kid ID Station)

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Lummus Park at 8, 10 and 12 streets

Miami Beach Police personnel will host a wristband ID program for children of all ages and/or adults with special needs. This free program aims to give parents, guardians and caretakers greater peace of mind. Children and adults with special needs will receive a free ID wristband with their name, guardian’s name and contact information. The stations will be located in City of Miami Beach tents staffed by Goodwill Ambassadors. Look for portable signs in front of the tents. The Goodwill Ambassadors will maintain a spreadsheet with the names of each child or adult who registers. The K.I.D.S. program is open to both visitors and residents.

Miami New Drama: Create Dangerously

Performances available from Thursday, May 25 through Sunday, May 28

Join Miami New Drama for the last weekend of Create Dangerously, a world premiere play written by Lileana Blain-Cruz. Experience a riveting journey of courage, art, and resilience, a theatrical adaptation of Edwidge Danticat’s critically acclaimed book. Directed by the visionary Lileana Blain-Cruz, this captivating play will ignite your imagination and stir your soul as it explores the power of creativity in the face of adversity. Witness a transformative story that transcends borders and boundaries, celebrating the indomitable spirit of the human heart.

Create Dangerously – Miami New Drama

Sunday, May 28

Hyundai Air & Sea Show

Ticketed LiquorSplit Beach Club | 12 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. | East of Lummus Park between 10 to 15 streets
Free and open to the public FPL Display Village | 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Ocean Drive between 10 and 15 streets. www.usasalute.com

Music Explosion presented by Hyundai at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show
Music Explosion begins at 6:30 p.m. and features Country Music duo Big & Rich and performances by various U.S. Military Bands, concluding with a Veterans Florida Fireworks Extravaganza. www.usasalute.com

City of Miami Beach Kids Fun Zone

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Ocean Drive and Lummus Park between 12 and 13 streets

Children and their parents can participate in themed arts and crafts, lawn games, an Imagination Playground and the opportunity to write letters to our service members.

City of Miami Beach K.I.D.S. (Kid ID Station)

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Lummus Park at 8, 10 and 12 streets

Miami Beach Police personnel will host a wristband ID program for children of all ages and/or adults with special needs. This free program aims to give parents, guardians and caretakers greater peace of mind. Children and adults with special needs will receive a free ID wristband with their name, guardian’s name and contact information. The stations will be located in City of Miami Beach tents staffed by Goodwill Ambassadors. Look for portable signs in front of the tents. The Goodwill Ambassadors will maintain a spreadsheet with the names of each child or adult who registers. The K.I.D.S. program is open to both visitors and residents.

Family Day at The Bass: Phraseology

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. | The Bass, 2100 Collins Avenue

Enjoy free admission to The Bass and check out the Phraseology exhibition before it’s gone! In the Creativity Center, make your own text-based masterpieces.

www.thebass.org/event/family-day-phraseology 

Global Arts Project Presents Artscape: Magela Herrera at Collins Park 

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Collins Park, 2100 Collins Avenue
Magela Herrera is an Afro-Cuban flautist, vocalist and composer. She holds a nomination for best flute solo in Latin Jazz 2010, for her flute improvisation on Mezcla’s CD “I’ll see you in Cuba” by the prestigious New York based magazine Jazz Corner: Latin Jazz magazine.

www.globalartsproject.org/05-28-23-magela-herrera-collins-park 

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

6 p.m. | Lummus Park, Ocean Drive between 14 Street and 14 Place

Join the Ocean Drive Association for a performance by Lisanne Lyons Swing Quartet. Don’t forget to bring your blankets and folding chairs!

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day Commemoration at Miami Beach Police Headquarters
10 a.m. | Miami Beach Police Headquarters, 1100 Washington Avenue

The City of Miami Beach, in partnership with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars 3559 Miami Beach Post, pays tribute to the memory of the men and women who fought and died for freedom with a wreath-laying ceremony and 21-gun salute this Memorial Day. The ceremony will take place at the War Memorial Cenotaph in front of Miami Beach Police Headquarters.

3^rd Miamibloco Memorial Day Saideira Social! at The Miami Beach Bandshell

6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Avenue

Get ready to immerse yourself in an unforgettable musical journey with the 3rd edition of The Miamibloco Saideira Social at The Miami Beach Bandshell. The all-night extravaganza features over 40 percussionists from the 305 Global Afro Diaspora, Brazil, and North Africa, as your taken on a rhythmic adventure from the vibrant streets of Hialeah to the sun-kissed beaches of Rio and Bahia. To purchase tickets, visit:

www.miamibeachbandshell.com/event/3rd-memorial-day-miamibloco-saideira-social/

Traffic Information

An evening traffic mitigation plan will be implemented on Thursday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 30 beginning at 6 p.m. Traffic will only be allowed to enter Ocean Drive through 13 Street and exit through 5 Street, with no access to any other entry/exit points. Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue will flow north and southbound, with no east or westbound access except for 5 Street and 16 Street.

Protected residential zones for the Flamingo Park and South of Fifth neighborhoods will be in place each evening from 6 p.m. through 5 a.m. starting on Thursday, May 25 through Tuesday, May 30 with barricades in place to restrict cut-through traffic in these residential areas. Flamingo Park and South of Fifth residents are encouraged to use Alton Road to enter and exit their neighborhood. There will be enhanced police presence in other surrounding neighborhoods.

During hours when the traffic mitigation plan is in place, the Miami Beach trolley service and Miami-Dade County bus service will operate normally. The city’s trolley tracker “Rider Alert” feature will be updated as needed to reflect service changes and important updates.

Beginning Friday through Sunday evenings, a traffic mitigation plan will be in place along the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. To safely coordinate this effort, there will be a single-lane reduction on both causeways. In addition, the Police Department will utilize fixed and mobile License Plate Readers (LPRs) throughout the city.

Parking Information
Effective Friday, May 26 at 7 a.m. through Tuesday, May 30 at 6 a.m., a flat parking rate of $20 per vehicle will be imposed at all city parking garages in the Entertainment District except for access card holders and residents. This includes parking garages at 7 Street and Collins Avenue, 12 Street and Washington Avenue, 13 Street and Collins Avenue as well as the Anchor Garage on 16 Street. Entrance to these garages will be limited to access card holders only after 10 p.m.

On-street parking will be prohibited along Collins Avenue between 5 Street and Española Way commencing on Thursday, May 25 at 6 p.m. through Tuesday, May 30 at 6 a.m. Additionally, the 100 and 200 blocks between 6 Street and 16 Streets will be restricted to Residential Zone 5 permit holders only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The parking lot on the northwest corner of 10 Street and Washington Avenue (P13) will be unavailable from Thursday evening starting at 6 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m.

There are numerous ways to get around Miami Beach on public transportation once you arrive, including free Miami Beach trolleys and Citi Bike.

Free Parking Shuttles
The city will provide free shuttle service to and from four designated event parking garage locations. Please look for the special parking shuttle identification signs prior to boarding and use the Miami Beach e-Gov app to track shuttle service in real-time under Trolley tracker. Parking shuttles will operate on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at intervals of approximately 15 minutes.

Designated shuttle pickup and drop-off locations are as follows:

• 42 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #219 at Sheridan Avenue and 41 Street.
• 23 Street garage: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #194 at 23 Street and Liberty Avenue.
• 17 Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and the City Hall garages: shuttle bus will serve trolley stop #200 at 17 Street and Convention Center Drive.
• 5 Street garage: Freebee shuttle will serve trolley stop #113 at 6 Street and Lenox Avenue.

All passengers using the free shuttle service will be dropped off at trolley stop #106 located at Washington Avenue and 11 Street. Passengers should use this stop for their ride back to garages. Alternatively, passengers can use the free citywide trolley service.

Staffing & Preparations

Miami Beach Police will be working 13-hour shifts with an Alpha/Bravo staffing configuration. Several local, state and federal law enforcement partners will be assisting MBPD with public safety, including the Miami-Dade County Police Department. Miami Beach Fire, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Parking and Sanitation will have significantly enhanced staffing throughout the weekend.

More than 100 Goodwill Ambassadors wearing branded “Take Care of Our City” pink t-shirts will be deployed throughout the Art Deco Cultural District to answer visitor questions, provide directions and give tips on how to enjoy the city.

The following special measures, many of which are in City Code, will be in effect at 7 a.m. Friday, May 26 through 7 a.m. Monday, May 29, 2023 along the public beach; the MXE mixed used entertainment district (excluding that portion of the MXE district between 73 and 75 streets) and that portion of the CD-2 commercial, medium-intensity district between Pennsylvania Avenue and Collins Court from 5 to 16 streets:

• All direct or indirect consumption of alcohol will be prohibited on public beaches unless specifically authorized by a special event permit or a concession agreement.
• Local access restrictions will be enforced on some city streets to limit traffic and improve mobility for residents and business patrons.
• LPR police details will be focused on eastbound traffic lanes on the 5 Street corridor.
• The issuance of a business tax receipt to promoters for any dance or entertainment events to be held at an alcoholic beverage establishment located in the MXE and CD-2 districts will be suspended.
• The suspension and closure of business entities renting or leasing certain vehicles — including golf carts, low-speed vehicles, autocycles, motorized scooters, mopeds, motorcycles powered by motors of 50cc or less and motorized bicycles.

The following additional measures may be imposed as necessary:

• Limitations may be placed on live or amplified music.
• The citywide suspension and closure of all or part of sidewalk café operations located in the MXE and CD-2 districts each night (including the removal of any sidewalk café furniture).
• Coolers, inflatable devices, tents, tables and similar objects may be prohibited from public beaches.

Community Meeting

The city will host a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, May 24 at 6 p.m. to discuss preparations for the holiday weekend. Click here for the Zoom webinar.

For updated information on Memorial Day weekend, visit www.ourcitymb.com.

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To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreters (5-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 (voice), select 1 (English) or 2 (Spanish) and press Option 6 to leave a message with your request. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service). You can also make requests online at www.miamibeachfl.gov/ada by selecting ADA request.

The City of Miami Beach will light up green starting tonight through Saturday, May 20 to commemorate May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Miami Beach City Hall will be bathed in green lights starting at sundown.

“Mental illness doesn’t have to be a barrier to a long and productive life, nor do people need to suffer alone,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Laura Dominguez. “There are free services available in Miami-Dade County for anyone who needs them.”

The public is invited to show their support of mental health awareness by participating in a 5K walk organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Miami-Dade from 9:30-11 a.m. on May 20 at LoanDepot Park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami.

To register for the NAMIWalks Miami-Dade event or to make a donation, visit www.NAMIWalks.org/Miami. For more information on NAMI’s free mental health programs in Miami-Dade County, call 305.665.2540 or send an email to info@NAMIMiami.org.

WHAT: Miami Beach Lights Up Green

WHEN: May 16-20, 2023 at sundown

WHERE: 1700 Convention Center Drive

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In response to numerous complaints from residents of the city’s South of Fifth neighborhood in South Beach, the Miami Beach City Commission voted unanimously at the April 28 Commission meeting to roll back the hours of operation for commercial charter boats operating out of the city-owned Miami Beach Marina and any other public marine facility in the city.

“Quality of life issues are a top priority for me, and that’s why I sponsored this measure to address problems with late-night charters,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Steven Meiner. “This measure will go a long way to eliminate the significant disruptions to residents’ quality of life caused by excessive noise and unruly charter guests arriving in the middle of the night.”

The change in hours requires all commercial charter boat operators to wrap up their charters by 9 p.m. Charters can resume again at 7 a.m. the next day.

“Such prohibition shall include, but not be limited to, operating a commercial vessel, the queueing of passengers, the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers and the loading or unloading of any food, goods, equipment, fuel or supplies,” the ordinance states.

The measure exempts non-commercial vessels, commercial fishing vessels, commercial diving vessels and educational or nature tours that are properly registered with the marina operator. The Miami Beach Marina is operated by Suntex Marinas on behalf of the city.

Initial violations carry a civil fine of $500 while the second violation in a six-month period carries a $1,000 fine. Subsequent violations within that same period carry a $2,000 fine. The ordinance took effect on May 8, 2023.

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Members of the media and the public are invited to join Miami Beach officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m. to mark the completion of the $2.8 million Brittany Bay Park Living Shoreline project as well as extensive park upgrades.

The linear park project was made possible by the Miami Beach General Obligation Bond Program (G.O.) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the support of Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) through its charitable arm, the NextEra Energy Foundation.

“Living shorelines help manage coastal flooding by combining nature-based protection such as mangroves and restored wetlands with effective manmade solutions like concrete seawalls,” explained Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “This is one of the most eco-friendly tools we have for managing the threats associated with rising sea levels.”

The project marks the second green-grey infrastructure collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. FPL contributed $150,000 to the project.

“It is always so rewarding to literally roll up our sleeves and work together with the City of Miami Beach and the Nature Conservancy – especially on such a great project that creates a resilient yet interactive living shoreline at Brittany Bay Park,” said FPL Vice President of Environmental Services Kate MacGregor. “FPL is proud to be a part of lasting improvements that will allow residents and visitors to enjoy Brittany Bay Park for many years to come.”

Living shorelines in combination with seawalls not only protect the local community from sea level rise and the impacts of severe weather conditions, but also restore and enhance natural habitats for birds, fish and other marine life, and provide important accessibility to nature for people.

“Implementing nature-based solutions like living shorelines and collaborating closely with partners and communities is critical to strengthening climate resilience,” added James Byrne, Director of Strategy, The Nature Conservancy in Florida. “We are thrilled to see the completion of this impactful project. Together, we can move forward on climate adaptation while also addressing the underlying drivers of climate change to support a resilient future.”

The Brittany Bay Park Living Shoreline is hydraulically connected to Indian Creek with an ADA-accessible scenic overlook that allows park visitors to walk from the park to the seawall. In addition to new trees, shrubs and ground cover, all of the exercise equipment in the park was replaced with new equipment.

New walkways and lighting have also been installed along with new furnishings, benches and trash/recycle receptacles. Brittany Bay Park is located at the southernmost entrance of North Beach near the 63 Street drawbridge.

Miami Beach has approximately 55 miles of shoreline, of which about 91% falls on private property. The city’s G.O. Bond has committed $10 million toward resilient seawalls and living shorelines on public property. Work on the Brittany Bay Park Living Shoreline Project was performed by Florida Construction & Engineering, Inc.

Expanding nature-based infrastructure is a key action in the Resilient305 Strategy, a unique partnership between the City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and the City of Miami. The Brittany Bay project demonstrates how green infrastructure can be integrated into a dense urban environment and is another example of our city’s commitment to implementing Biscayne Bay Task Force Report and Recommendations.

WHAT: Brittany Bay Park Ribbon-Cutting

WHEN: Friday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 70 Indian Creek Drive

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The City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places Program is proud to present My Home, Mi Hogar, a public art project developed in collaboration between multidisciplinary Madrid-based artist collective Boa Mistura and poetry nonprofit O, Miami at Miami Beach Senior High School, located at the corner of Prairie Avenue and Dade Boulevard.

To be unveiled on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m., the project will feature murals and poetry permanently installed on the water tanks adjacent to Miami Beach Senior High. The featured poetry and finalized mural designs are the work of 201 students who have participated in workshops with O, Miami and Boa Mistura since the fall of 2022.

My Home, Mi Hogar uses a line from Miami Beach Senior High student Valentina’s poem to transform the water tanks, which are part of the daily landscape of attendees, into a colorful message about pride of place. The water tanks are understood as the representation of two close but separate locations which emphasize the proximity of what unites us and the nuances of what makes us unique.

On the water tanks, Valentina’s featured poetry reads, “finding my home in every voice that I hear (mi hogar está en cada voz que escucho)”, which speaks of how our identity travels within us like a seed we plant in the place where we live, creating new stories, new ties, and new coexistence environments. One tank will be painted with the English line, and one will be painted to display the same line, translated into Valentina’s native Spanish.

“The My Home, Mi Hogar mural project transforms our water tanks into a vibrant display of collaboration between O, Miami, Boa Mistura, Miami Beach Senior High School, and the City of Miami Beach,” said Miami Beach Vice Mayor Ricky Arriola. “Valentina’s captivating poem emphasizes the richness of our diverse community and the significance of inclusivity. This striking initiative not only elevates the visual appeal of the tanks, but also celebrates the voices of our young people and the shared human experience that transcends languages and borders.”

Known for their development of works in public spaces, Boa Mistura is dedicated to using artwork to transform cities and create links between people. O, Miami builds community around poetry in Miami, using language to invest in a new shared narrative for the city. Mi Home, Mi Hogar brings these missions together using color and language to cover two adjoining three-million-gallon water storage spaces. Keeping in mind the circular surface of the structures, the murals take on a repetition-based design that connects the beginning and the end, causing an infinite loop. In the spirit of Boa Mistura’s highly collaborative practice, sections of the mural will be painted by Miami Beach Senior High students themselves.

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About O, Miami

O, Miami builds community around the power of poetry. Through collaborations, projects, events, and publications, we create a platform for amplifying Miamians, investing in a new shared narrative of our city and a more equitable picture of its future. Since the Fall of 2022, O, Miami has been teaching poetry at Miami Beach Senior High School.

About Boa Mistura

Boa Mistura are a multidisciplinary team with roots in graffiti born at the end of 2001 in Madrid. Their work is mainly developed in public space. They understand their work as a tool to transform the city and create links between people and feel a responsibility towards the city and the time in which they live.

About the City of Miami Beach Art in Public Places Program

Art in Public Places is a city board responsible for the commission and purchase of artwork by contemporary artists in all media. The program allocates funds totaling 2% of hard costs for City projects and joint private/public projects. Funds from construction projects may be aggregated into the Art in Public Places Fund and allocated for artwork at public sites and for collection maintenance. The fund is administered by a City Commission-appointed citizen’s board of seven members, the Art in Public Places Committee.

Media Contact

For additional information, images and interview requests please contact: Chloe Pingeon at chloe@bluemedium.com.

The City of Miami Beach will light up red to support the nation’s 145 fallen firefighters who gave their lives last year in the line of duty. The event begins on Thursday, May 4 to coincide with International Firefighters Day and runs through Sunday May 7. Miami Beach City Hall and Fire Headquarters will be bathed in red light starting at sundown each day.

“This may seem like a small gesture, but I assure you that it means the world to every family that has experienced the loss of a loved one,” explained Miami Beach Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez. “Miami Beach is proud to be one of the cities that is recognizing our fallen brothers and sisters in commemorating the Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters.”

The national event is organized by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which was created by Congress to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the nonprofit foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes, provide resources to assist their families in rebuilding their lives and work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries.

The official national tribute to fallen firefighters takes place in Emmitsburg, Maryland on Saturday May 6 with a candlelight service and Sunday, May 7 with a memorial service. Participating landmarks around the nation include One World Trade Center in New York City, Reunion Tower in Dallas and the LAX Pylons in Los Angeles.

WHAT: Miami Beach lights up red

WHEN: Sundown, May 4-7

WHERE: City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive and Miami Beach Fire Headquarters, 2300 Pine Tree Drive

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