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Florida Life Miami Beach Things To Do

5 Reasons to Take Advantage of Miami Spa Month Before August 31

Tierra Santa Spa – Faena Hotel- Miami Beach

 

Okay, do you really need any reason to take advantage of discounts on some of Miami’s best spas other than the discounts themselves?  Probably not but, since lists are in, here are my top 5:

  • Kids are back in school
  • It has been a long, hot summer, especially if you have school age children
  • You deserve pampering
  • Miami’s high season is just around the corner so it will be harder to make an appointment
  • Bonding with spouse or friends through experience vs technology is important and more enjoyable.
  • Miami spa month ends August 31 and then you will be paying regular price

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Florida Life

Should Port Miami Keep Their Cranes Or Make Them Flamingos?

Flamingos or Cranes?

Port Miami is the world’s busiest cruise port, surpassing 5.3 million passengers in fiscal year 2016-2017, and a major cargo port.  As such, the port has 260 foot gantry cranes to load and unload ships.  I see the cranes towering over Government Cut every time I drive to and from Miami Beach.  In his book All About Them, branding expert Bruce Turkel states that he made a recommendation to the mayor and County Commission to paint all of the cranes pink and black, thereby creating a flock of 260 foot flamingos.  I love the idea.  I think it would make for yet more photo ops of Miami.  What do you think, cranes or flamingos?

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Restaurants

Tongue & Cheek Restaurant In SoFi District of Miami Beach

Chilled Oysters With Carbonated Cucumber Mignonette
Chilled Oysters With Carbonated Cucumber Mignonette

Unlike Wikipedia’s definition for Tongue-in-cheek, “a figure of speech used to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value”, Tongue & Cheek‘s food and service is seriously good.  Some friends and I popped in for happy hour and worked our way through most of the happy hour menu.  We had the Beef Cheek sliders, Braised Short Rib Quesadilla, Korean Chicken Wings, and the Chilled Oysters, pictured above with a mini Tabasco Sauce.  Everything was delicious we went back for thirds (!) on the sliders and oysters.  Their drinks were also very good and so reasonably priced, by South Beach standards.  I am looking forward to going back and trying their other menus.

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Florida Life Miami Beach Restaurants Things To Do

Eat, Drink and Be Merry! Miami Spice Runs Through September 30

Sorry, I forgot to give you a head’s up that Miami Spice was starting on August 1!  I was so busy planning my eating schedule, that I neglected to post, but you are not too late, it runs through the end of September.

I started my Miami Spice circuit by visiting a restaurant that I love for their great happy hours, The Forge on Miami Beach.  Since I wanted an appetizer, main dish, and dessert, I did go for the Miami Spice Menu, which is a bit limited.  If you want to skip the appetizer or dessert, you can still get a great meal for $39 from the main menu, without the wine of course!

I had the Chilled Shrimp Gazpacho appetizer,  the Oak Grilled Hanger Steak, and the Turron Nougat Cheesecake.  Everything was delicious and the Gazpacho and Cheesecake are not on the regular Forge Menu.  The beautiful interior and amazing chandeliers round out the dining experience.

 

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Miami Beach Restaurants

What Do All Of These Restaurants Have In Common?

Prime One Twelve

What do Prime One Twelve, Prime Italian, Nemo, Shoji Sushi, The Big Pink, and Prime Hotel and Lounge have in common?  They have great food,  are great for spotting celebrities, are some of the trendiest spots on South Beach, and in case the word “Prime” in three of their names didn’t give it away, they are all part of the Myles Restaurant Group which is owned by Myles Chefetz

 

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Brickell/Downtown Miami Coconut Grove Florida Life Miami Beach Neighborhood News Pinecrest Restaurants Things To Do

Miami Spice Is Back – Two Months of Great Restaurants

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.

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Miami Beach Restaurants Selling

Pubbelly Sushi On Miami Beach – Unique and Delicious!

 

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!

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Florida Life Where's JWo?

Flagler Monument Island – Last Week’s Where’s JWo Answer

With boating season coming up, though it would be fun to post some spots that are close to marinas and different from going to the sand bars and Elliot Key.  Flagler Monument Island is right off of the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach.  There are a few picnic tables, and the sculpture designed by H.P. Peterson, with four individual statues, is unique and offers an interesting piece of history.

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Florida Life Where's JWo?

Flagler Monument Island – Last Week's Where's JWo Answer

With boating season coming up, though it would be fun to post some spots that are close to marinas and different from going to the sand bars and Elliot Key.  Flagler Monument Island is right off of the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach.  There are a few picnic tables, and the sculpture designed by H.P. Peterson, with four individual statues, is unique and offers an interesting piece of history.

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Freebies Things To Do

Free Things To Do In Miami: New World Symphony Wallcast

Tomorrow night at 8:00, the New World Symphony Wallcast presents its last wallcast of the season. Bring a blanket and picnic dinner to watch The Mahler Legacy: 9, broadcasted on the wall of this beautiful building, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry.