Information on real estate, schools, events and establishments in your area
Traffic around Miami was heavier this week since some private schools started classes and public school employees were reporting to work. Miami-Dade Public Schools and local universities will start classes on Monday, so please be patient and considerate, allow more travel time to get to and from where ever you are going, remember school speed zones, and please stop for pedestrians; it is state law.
Taking full advantage of Miami Spice‘s first month, some friends, my husband and I visited Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House on Brickell. It was a perfect evening! We walked from the Jade condominium, a few blocks away, and even though we are in August, there was a pleasant breeze.
Although they had a great Miami Spice Menu, we opted to order from their main menu. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal and the Miso Glazed Seabass was absolutely amazing. For dessert, we shared a piece of chocolate cake so large it is served with a knife and cake server!
Taking full advantage of Miami Spice‘s first month, some friends, my husband and I visited Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House on Brickell. It was a perfect evening! We walked from the Jade condominium, a few blocks away, and even though we are in August, there was a pleasant breeze.
Although they had a great Miami Spice Menu, we opted to order from their main menu. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal and the Miso Glazed Seabass was absolutely amazing. For dessert, we shared a piece of chocolate cake so large it is served with a knife and cake server!
There are several gated communities in the Village of Pinecrest. Most of them consist of only a handful of houses. I will be featuring these communities over the next two months.
The first one is Red Oaks. Located off of Red Road, Red Oaks is walking distance to Hirni’s Wayside Garden Florist, Pinecrest Wayside Market, Pinecrest Elementary School, Pinecrest Gardens, Pinecrest Library and Community Center.
Built between 1999 and 2002, Red Oaks consists of 5 single family homes that are approximately 5,500 square feet and sit on 15,000-20,000 square foot lots. There has only been one sale in Red Oaks in 2012. It sold for $1,550,000, which was $284 per square foot. Maintenance fees are $800 per quarter and include lawn maintenance.
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.
The moment you drive onto the Venetian Causeway, you know you are somewhere special. Stress melts away as the blue waters of the bay and intracoastal invite you to relax. Belle Isle is just steps away from all of the restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and beaches of Miami Beach. Overlooking Belle Isle park and bay, Island Terrace Condo is a Morris Lapidus building located right on the water.
5 Island Ave., 8B is an updated 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath unit, just listed for $260,000. Come live the south Florida lifestyle!
Miami Spice is worth staying in, or visiting, Miami during the hot months of August and September. In addition to the daily lunch and dinner specials offered at many of our best restaurants, some of the participants are offering happy hour specials.
There are so many participating restaurants this year, it is going to be hard to choose. If you live here, be adventurous and try a new restaurant, maybe even outside of your immediate neighborhood. If you are visiting, try Pubbelly and Barceloneta Bistro on Miami Beach; Atrio, Zuma and db Bistro Moderne in Downtown/Brickell; Ortanique and Graziano’s in the Gables; and one of my absolute favorites, Two Chefs in Pinecrest. Their desert souffles alone are worth the visit.
I have been spending too much time South of 5th! The area around Purdy Ave. is enjoying a mini restaurant boom. I “found” Pubbelly Sushi today, even though it has been open for a while. A friend and I were looking for a place to have lunch within walking distance of Belle Isle. He had suggested Pubbelly, the original restaurant next door, but they are closed for lunch. Lucky me! Very different sushi, but delicious. We shared the Octopus Ceviche Roll, Rockshrimp Roll, and Yellowtail Roll and were pleasantly surprised by the nontraditional presentations and combinations. Pubbelly’s menu is also not traditional for a sushi place as they have Tostones as appetizers and Pan Con Bistec on their limited sandwich menu.
Although I think I will skip those two items and focus on the sushi and sashimi, I will definitely be back. There is an item on the Snacks menu that I just have to try!