11 May 29 - June 4, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | from chef Richard Sandoval. Throughout June, guests can order the Love is Love cocktail, a delicious mix of peach vodka, el- derflower liqueur, lychee and lemon purees, egg white, and peach bitters, topped with a rainbow gummy for a playful finish. Priced at $15, a portion of the proceeds benefit TransSocial, a nonprofit organization sup- porting South Florida’s trans community. Sunday, June 1, through Sunday, June 29, at Toro Toro, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; 305- 372-4710; torotoromiami.com. Hard Rock Drag Show Benefiting the Pride Center As long as you’re tipping your queens, drag brunch is always a great idea. But your dollar will stretch a bit farther at the Hard Rock Drag Show, a celebratory event benefitting Wilton Manors’ Pride Center, which provides essen- tial resources including health and wellness programs, educational workshops, and sup- port groups for the local LGBTQ+ commu- nity. Special guests include Nadine Smith, cofounder and CEO of Equality Florida, and Ana Navarro of The View and CNN. Drag stars Aaliyah Jae, Erika Norell, Daisy Deadpetals, Christopher Peterson, Velvet Lenore, and Mi- chael Dean will perform. 1 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at Seminole Hard Rock, 1 Seminole Way, Da- vie; 866-502-7529. Tickets cost $150 via casino. hardrock.com. Noche de Arte With Jacqueline Bermudez InterContinental Miami’s weekly art resi- dency spotlights local talent with a Pride Month twist. Every Monday in June, artist Jacqueline Bermudez will showcase works re- flecting the Magic City’s LGBTQ+ spirit. On Monday, June 9, the series hosts a special Pride edition in partnership with the Arts & Business Council of Miami, featuring live art, Love is Love cocktails, and festive surprises. Mondays, June 2 through June 30, at Inter- Continental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; 305-577-1000; icmiamihotel.com. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com. Vizcaya Late: Pride Edition Vizcaya Museum and Gardens invites guests of all ages to enjoy an evening of creativity and self-expression. Set against the backdrop of the estate’s lush waterfront gardens, Vizcaya Late: Pride Edition features hands-on art activities, guided tours, and interactive experiences designed to honor and uplift the LGBTQ+ community in a welcoming and inclusive space. Parking is free, as is admission for veterans and SNAP/ WIC recipients. 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami; 305- 250-9133; vizcaya.org. Admission costs $15 for adults; $5 for kids 6 to 12; and admission is free for children ages 5 and under via eventbrite.com. CommuniTea Dance at the Adrienne Arsht Center Celebrate Pride on the main stage at CommuniTea Dance 2025, the Adrienne Arsht Center’s an- nual Pride party. Among the showstoppers who will take over the Ziff Ballet Opera House stage are headliner Vincint, Ariesela, Sagittae, and Dominick Trixx. Guests can also check out the Pride Marketplace and food and drinks from Constellation Culi- nary. 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722. Admission is free with RSVP via arshtcenter.org. Lincoln Road Pride Month Kick-Off Lincoln Road celebrates Pride Month with this free outdoor event bringing together LGBTQ+ allies, artists, and local leaders. Highlights include a historical exhibit hon- oring LGBTQ+ resilience and an opportu- nity to meet Facundo Yebne, the artist behind the area’s popular Unity ALL ABOARD! The Bad Habits Bus connects queer nightlife in Miami and Wilton Manors. BY CAROLINE VAL M ost points between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are less than an hour away from each other, but with expensive Ubers, limited late-night trains, and death-defying drives on I-95, the chasm separating you from a fun night out in the next county can feel much wider. That’s where the Bad Habits Bus — a rolling, rhinestone rebellion against boring commutes and segregated nightlife — comes in. Launched by real-life partners Alexander Puga and Santiago Diaz Giral, Bad Habits is part shuttle, part social experiment, and all about building a safer and more connected queer scene across South Florida. “Bad Habits came to Santiago and me after a year of talking about visiting Wilton Drive but never actually doing it,” Puga tells New Times. “When we finally committed to going one night, we had an incredible experience...but we realized how hard it was to make it happen.” The duo decided to do what Miami queers do best: turn a logistical mess into a party. “The name ‘Bad Habits’ was born from the idea that nightlife should be indulgent, fun, and a little mischievous — without compromising safety or inclusivity,” Puga says. “We spoke to other friends who shared similar struggles, whether it was bad ride-share experi- ences, the cost of transportation, issues with taking the train, or even dangerous situations involving drinking and driving. That got our gears turning. We started asking ourselves: How can we make this easier, not just for us, but for all our friends and the community at large?” Their solution: A neon-lit bus that rolls between Wynwood and Wilton Manors, scoop- ing up anyone and everyone interested in enjoying queer nightlife. Whether you’re headed to happy hour or hitting the dance floor until the sun comes up, there’s a time slot and a seat ready and waiting for you. But the Bad Habits Bus isn’t just about convenience. It’s also about connecting two South Florida queer communities that often feel worlds apart. Wilton’s old-guard gay bars and Miami’s experimental queer nights are separated by more than just distance — they’re split among generational, cultural, and even racial lines. Bad Habits seeks to undo that di- vide, one shuttle ride at a time. “The vision is to create a more united and connected queer scene for South Florida,” adds Puga. “If we can help people experience the full spectrum of what the queer com- munity has to offer here, then we’re doing our job.” Bad Habits partners with queer-friendly hubs like Willy’s in Wynwood for pick-ups and drop-offs, prioritizing safety from both discriminatory environments and drunk driving. But don’t mistake “safe” for “boring” — for the shuttle’s soft launch, patrons hit up Wilton Drive for some good old-fashioned bar hopping and ended in Miami Beach’s legendary gay bar, Twist. “Friends from all different stages of my life came to support, and by the end of the ride, everyone was laughing, sharing stories, and bonding,” Puga recalls. “New friendships were made. The energy was completely effortless and electric — exactly the vibe we hoped to create.” Bad Habits Bus. Starting at 10 p.m. Fridays and 8 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets cost $19.50 each way via badhabitsbus.com. The bus connects Wilton Manors’ old-guard gay bars to Miami’s experimental queer scene. >> p12 Floatarama Floatarama photo Pride Guide from p8 Photo by Stephanie Sequera
