According to economist Ted C. Jones, US retail sales and the demand for goods resulted in the freight rates for 20 foot containers from Shanghai to the US to increase approximately 125% in the past 12 months. Another economist, Elliott Eisenberg PhD, also states that retail sales are terrific and that though we are buying […]

It may sound strange, but there are several things that resulted from the pandemic that I am grateful for. One of the ones that I hope will stick around is the increase in street narrowing or closing to allow for more outdoor dining. It always struck me as strange that South Florida doesn’t have a […]

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I had a socially distance dinner with our neighbors on their back patio. Dinner was delicious and when I raved about the meat, they raved about Wild Fork Foods, which had recently opened their Pinecrest location. I had heard about Wild Fork before, from a foodie friend […]

Back in May, the National Association of Realtors released “Case Studies of Repurposing Vacant Malls.” Although none of them were in Florida, the case studies, and Morgan Stanley’s warning that 30-35% of U.S. shopping malls could close permanently, got me to thinking about what some of our local shopping malls have done to not close […]

Yes, you heard that correctly…some small businesses are expanding during the pandemic. Aria Rose Boutique in Coral Gables is just one example. Owned and curated by Lauren Patao, this boutique started out in a bedroom, grew to a small store front and, in the middle of a pandemic, expanded to it’s beautiful new location. I […]

Quick Disclaimer:  I rarely eat doughnuts and when I do, it is usually only a jelly doughnut.  A long time ago, a very non-nutritious friend of mine told me that the jelly doughnut was the most perfectly balanced food because it contained all of the 5 basic food groups.  When I asked her how she […]

I drove by  The Underline’s Brickell Backyard, the first phase of  9 phases, and am excited to see that construction has started.   This ambitious project will  convert 10 miles and 120 acres of unused space under the existing MetroRail into a vibrant linear park.  In the process, it will transform the real estate along the […]

In case you hadn’t noticed, summer in South Florida is in full swing and the dog days of summer, the hottest time of year, starts today! The rich smells of mangoes, mixed with the briny smell of the ocean, flowering jasmine, and bug spray are held in the humid air that surrounds us.  School has […]

Renovation is nothing new to investors who look for value-add properties. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint, new fixtures, or an exterior update are all that is needed for a new owner to be able to boost rents. I have read several articles lately about re-purposing buildings, and there is a great example of one […]

With cooler weather and Miami’s “in” season almost here, I thought it might be appropriate to give us all a jump start on Miami Art Week, by listing some places where we can see art.  Year round.  In our own back yard.  Without crowds. For FREE! Other than the obvious Wynwood, there are so many […]