Free Miami Beach culture crawl

On the third Thursday of the month, the City of Miami Beach hosts its monthly “Culture Crawl” aiming to get residents and visitors exploring and becoming re-acquainted with Miami Beach and the plethora of cultural offerings. Several of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, cultural centers and arts organizations will offer complimentary admission from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.— opening their doors for a lively night of special programming, open studios and galleries, outdoor films, live music, exclusive tours, night gardens and more.

Events take place on South Beach as well as Mid and North Beach locations.

Free trolley service, with opera singers and professional tour guides on board, will take and entertain attendees to and from each of the destinations throughout the evening.

January’s participating organizations are as follows:

New World Symphony 500 17^th Street, Miami Beach, visit the symphony’s New World Center performance hall and learn about the group www.nws.edu

Jewish Museum of Florida- FIU 301 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, sample kosher wine and view their three new exhibitions and always popular permanent display www.jmof.fiu.edu

Miami Beach Botanical Gardens 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, enjoy Garden After Dark eclectic music by Jose Conde blending Cuban, funk and world tradition sounds www.mbgarden.org

The Bass 2100 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, enjoy the various current exhibitions as well as docent-led tours www.thebass.org

The Betsy Hotel 1440 Ocean Drive, listen to live jazz music in the lobby and enjoy photography throughout the hotel plus poetry projections by O, Miami on the Orb in the alley that connects the two buildings www.thebetsyhotel.com

The Wolfsonian-FIU 1001 Washington Avenue, sit for a free sketch by a caricature artist inspired by the current exhibition and enjoy 2-for-1 drinks in the cafe www.wolfsonian.org

Holocaust Memorial – 1933 Meridian Ave. artist Sylvio Frydman will be present to discuss his current exhibition The Will to Survive and Live www.holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org

Miami Beach Urban Studios – 420 Lincoln Rd., attend the opening reception of Common Spaces in Housing Units – Rozana Montiel Recent Practices

Miami Beach Regional Library – 227 22 St., enjoy a conceptual project by Liz n Bow featuring Miami’s own reggaetonera Nina with music, dancing, cake and Cuban pastries.

O Cinema South Beach –  1130 Washington Ave., see the curated window display collection of alternative movie posters from artists around the world.

Washington Ave. BID – 1234 Washington Ave., enjoy the live music series at 15 locations between fifth and 17th streets.

The Confidante Miami Beach – 4041 Collins Ave., see a mix of paintings, photography and large-scale murals by Miami artist Lebo and enjoy half off cocktails at the Bird & Bone lobby bar.

Soundscape Cinema Series – 400 17 St., bring a blanket and picnic and enjoy a screening of the classic film My Fair Lady at 8 p.m.

Collins Park – 2100 Collins Ave., watch The Chase by Jen Clay, a 10-minute performance where a group of people are slowly chased by two ambiguous forms in a figure-eight shape while Richard Vergez creates a live soundscape of dissonant noise. Performances at 7 and 8 p.m.

Lincoln Road – between Alton Rd. and Washington Ave., stroll and view 14 monumental bronze sculptures by Colombian artist Fernando Botero.

For additional information, visit www.mbartsandculture.org.