Category: Coconut Grove

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Brickell/Downtown Miami Coconut Grove Coral Gables Miami Beach Restaurants

Best Waterfront Restaurants In Miami

Smith and Wollensky Restaurant at South Pointe Park

Whether you are in town for Miami Art Week 2012 or just visiting Miami to enjoy our beautiful city, you will want to visit one of these restaurants.  Although Miami is surrounded by water, there aren’t that many waterfront restaurants.  In my opinion, these are, in my opinion, the best waterfront restaurants in Miami.

Smith and Wollensky at South Pointe Park,  Miami Beach

Il Gabian0 at Met One

Azul at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key

Crazy About You at the Mark

Gibraltar at the Grove Isle Hotel and Spa

Red Fish Grill in Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Gables

 

 

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Coconut Grove Coral Gables Florida Life Miami Beach Pinecrest Restaurants Things To Do

Best Sunday Brunch Spots In Miami

Biltmore Brunch

There are a lot of great breakfast spots in Miami, from Wagon’s West in Pinecrest;  Greenstreet and Peacock Garden Cafe in Coconut Grove,  and one of my favorites, The Big Pink on South of Fifth.  But for Sunday Brunch, I want something a little more extravagant.  Here are some of my top brunch spots from Coral Gables to Miami Beach:

  1. Biltmore Champagne Brunch Coral Gables – Whether you enter through the grandiose lobby or by their gorgeous pool, the setting for the Biltmore’s Sunday Brunch reminds me of the Great Gatsby era and I love the history of the place.
  2. Gibraltar at Grove Isle Coconut Grove – This restaurant has one of the most gorgeous views in Miami.
  3. The National Hotel Miami Beach – Though not as decadent on the food end as the others on this list, the fact that it is so reasonably priced and comes with complimentary access to the hotel’s beach and pool
  4. Terrazza at the Shore Club Miami Beach – the outside open porch over looking the pool is so relaxing.
  5. Sunday Jazz Brunch at the Setai Miami Beach – It is the Setai, need I say more?
  6. The Forge Miami Beach – Fresh, seasonal ingredients make for a varied menu and great food.

The SouthFloridaGourmet.com has a much more extensive list of  locales serving brunch in Miami

 

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Brickell/Downtown Miami Buying Coconut Grove Coral Gables Foreclosures Investment Real Estate Pinecrest Selling

Black Friday Buyers Are In Miami To Shop For Investment Real Estate

Black Friday brings out buyers looking for bargains and buyers looking for Miami real estate investment properties are here in droves.  While most people are enjoying time with family and friends, Realtors are busy selling properties.  Driven by news reports of increasing prices, decreased inventories, and increasing rents both local and foreign buyers continue to purchase Miami real estate for investment.

The top places where my buyers are looking, not in any particular order:

  1. Brickell:  Currently there are 526 condos for sale in the Brickell area.  They range from $146, 900 for 580 square feet to $16.8 million for 9080 square feet.
  2. Downtown Miami:  There are 567 condos for sale in Dowtown Miami.  Prices start at $124,900 for 400 square feet up to $4.4 million for 5650 square feet.
  3. Midtown, Wynwood:  The new “in” place to be does not have a lot of residential units.  There are currently 112 condos for sale in the Midtown/Wynwood area ranging in price from $82,000 for 872 square feet to $2.4 million for 3988 square feet.
  4. Downtown Dadeland:  There are 30 condos for sale in Downtown Dadeland with prices starting at $177,000 for 700 square feet and going up to $400,000 for 1,429 square feet.
  5. Coconut Grove:  Coconut Grove does not have a lot of condos and few were built during the boom.  There are currently 120 condos for sale in Coconut Grove that are either condos are town homes.  They range in price from $60,000 for 409 square feet up to $14.5 million for a 9110 square foot unit at the Grovenor House.
  6. Coral Gables:  There are only 100 condos for sale in Coral Gables.  They range in price from $91, 500 for a 994 square foot foreclosure with extensive fire damage to another foreclosure at $7.9 million for 11,402 square feet at the Gables Club.
  7. Pinecrest:  There are very few condos and town houses in Pinecrest, an area mostly comprised of single family homes, so it is not surprising that there are 13 condos for sale in Pinecrest.  The lowest price is $99,900 for a 574 square foot short sale at Monterey Gardens to a 2, 226 square foot unit at the Reserve at Pinecrest for $599,000.

These neighborhoods are all located near public transportation, restaurants, entertainment and shopping, and all of them are in demand with people looking to rent.

View Of Brickell From Coconut Grove

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Coconut Grove Restaurants

Peacock Cafe: Answer to Where's J Wo

Outdoor dining at Peacock Cafe

The Peacock Garden Cafe in Coconut Grove is the answer to Where’s J Wo September 29 outing.  The whimsical decor and beautiful gardens make it feel like you are eating at a friend’s house instead of at a restaurant.  It is the perfect place for outdoor dining, especially when our cooler weather arrives!

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Coconut Grove Restaurants

Peacock Cafe: Answer to Where’s J Wo

Outdoor dining at Peacock Cafe

The Peacock Garden Cafe in Coconut Grove is the answer to Where’s J Wo September 29 outing.  The whimsical decor and beautiful gardens make it feel like you are eating at a friend’s house instead of at a restaurant.  It is the perfect place for outdoor dining, especially when our cooler weather arrives!

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Brickell/Downtown Miami Coconut Grove Coral Gables Neighborhood News Palmetto Bay Pinecrest South Miami

Green Corridor Extends From Cutler Bay to Miami Shores

Ygrene Energy Fund

A green corridor comprised of Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, South Miami, Coral Gables, Miami and Miami Shores has been formed to assist in financing energy related improvements to property.  Formaly named The Property Assessed Clean Energy District (PACE), this new corridor will enable businesses and residents to finance energy related improvements to their properties through a special assessment on their property.  This program is strictly voluntary and provides a list of contractors as well as energy efficiency assessments.   If you can save money on your electric bill, would you take advantage of this program?

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Buying Coconut Grove

Two Coconut Grove Homes Both Listed For $1,699,000

Pool & Patio at 3301 Crystal Ct

I saw two great homes during a Coconut Grove open house.  The one above, listed by Carole Smith and Ken Tate of EWM, is a two-story Old Spanish built in 1924.  It is beautifully restored with a spacious, modern kitchen.

The one below is a modern home,  built in 2008 with wonderful open spaces.  It is listed by Javier Gonzalez with ReMax Advance Realty.  Both homes are approximately the same size, 3,817 and 3,678 square feet respectively, with very nice outdoor entertaining spaces.  Which one would you choose?  The Old Spanish or the modern home?

3801 Crawford Ave

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Coconut Grove Neighborhood News

Ransom Everglades Middle School – Answer to “Where’s J Wo”

Since schools start today, I thought it only appropriate that my answer to my August 10 “Where’s JWo” was school related. This pirate is located on Ransom Everglades’ Middle School Campus, one of the top private schools in Miami-Dade County.  In addition to high educational standards, the middle school campus boasts some of the most amazing waterfront property in Coconut Grove.

According to the school’s website, the middle school campus also houses two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places:  The Pagoda, built in 1903, and the Paul Ransom Cottage, built in 1909.

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Coconut Grove Neighborhood News

Ransom Everglades Middle School – Answer to "Where's J Wo"

Since schools start today, I thought it only appropriate that my answer to my August 10 “Where’s JWo” was school related. This pirate is located on Ransom Everglades’ Middle School Campus, one of the top private schools in Miami-Dade County.  In addition to high educational standards, the middle school campus boasts some of the most amazing waterfront property in Coconut Grove.

According to the school’s website, the middle school campus also houses two buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places:  The Pagoda, built in 1903, and the Paul Ransom Cottage, built in 1909.

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Buying Coconut Grove Neighborhood News

Grove At Grand Bay Latest Addition To Coconut Grove

Rotating Design

A new condo project, Grove at Grand Bay, is coming to the center Grove.  Overlooking Sailboat Bay and the Coconut Grove Marina, the stunning architecture will be a nice addition to the Miami skyline.  There have been very few new condos built in the Grove;   there are currently only 49 listed for sale that were built after 2000.

These two towers will have 94 residences, each with spectacular terraces and outdoor kitchens.  The pre-construction pricing starts in the high $800,000s.