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5 Reasons To Visit The Miami Design District

If you haven’t been to the Miami Design District lately and still need a 2018 New Year’s resolution, here is an easy one.  Go visit the Miami Design District.  It is so Miami!  In case you need more reasons than that, here are 5:

  1. Interesting architecture – Okay, between Miami Beach’s art deco district and an abundance of starchitect buildings Miami is full of interesting architecture.  However, in the Miami Design District just about every single building is interesting.  Some have textured exteriors, others vivid colors or geometric designs.  No two buildings are alike and unlike some areas of South Florida that crave and even demand uniformity, the Miami Design District is definitely outside of that box.
    Christian Louboutin– Miami Design District
  2. Plenty of public art – If the architecture isn’t enough to keep you entertained as you explore, there are public art installations sprinkled throughout the district.
    Carole Feuerman Sculpture – photo credit: House & Hive
  3. Unique stores, shops, and restaurants in addition to the luxury brand names.  If small, local, independent shops appeal to you, don’t let the concentration of luxury, brand name designer shops fool you.  There are plenty of small delightful stores and restaurants with a variety of products that you won’t find elsewhere.  The spaces themselves are inviting and the people that I met manning them were helpful, charming and friendly.
    Roses et Pivoines
  4. Institute of Contemporary Art It is free! A generous gift to Miami’s entire community by Miami Design District Associates, who donated the majority of the land, and Norman and Irma Braman, ICA is a bright, open space with installations sure to get you thinking and an outside sculpture garden perfect for selfies.
    The art starts on the outside of ICA MIAMI
  5. Great public spaces to sit and chat, people watch, or enjoy our beautiful weather – the sculpture garden at ICA, the walls around the various planters and water fountains and the meeting bowls are just a few places to grab a seat.  If sitting around is not active enough for you, come up with creative videos to post on #MeetingBowls.  For inspiration, click on the link below.
    Meeting Bowls – A Public Art Project (and meeting space!) by mmmm

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Florida Life Neighborhood News Palmetto Bay Pinecrest

Happy National Mango Day!

Mango, Mango, Mango

Mangos, delicious as they are or mixed in drinks, salsas, breads, desserts, or just about anything else you can dream up, are also extremely healthy.  Driving around the Villages of Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, you will see mango stands manned by hot, summering students eager to earn extra money or unmanned stands that work on the trust system with a money box.  Once you purchase your mangos, stop by Pinecrest Wayside Market for a mango milkshake.  Enjoy the season while it lasts, it will be over way too soon!

 

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Florida Life Things To Do

My Favorite Painting At PAMM

Island (See-escape) 2010

 

This painting by Cuban artist Yoan Capote is mesmerizing and my iPhone photo does not due it justice.  It is extremely large and is the first object I saw when I walked in the room at PAMM where it was being exhibited.  I stared at it from a distance for quite a while, looking at the details of the waves, and relaxing with the color of the sky.  A friend and I approached to get a closer look and agreed that it was our favorite piece in the current exhibit.  We strolled around the rest of the room and the one next door and then came back to this one for a second look.  This time, I approached it from the side and was dumbfounded.

Island – Oil, nails & fishhooks on jute mounted on canvas…

The “painting” is mainly fishhooks!  Genius…also a great reminder that things aren’t always as they appear.  By far one of my favorite works of art.

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Florida Life Things To Do

Thank You Local Merchants For Making 2015 Holiday Season Stress-free!

Sailboat sunsetI am blessed to live in Miami, but it inevitably means lots of entertaining friends and family from out of town over the holidays.  I had people arrive 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and the last of them leave back to colder climates tomorrow.  This year, I decided to go way out of my comfort zone, not cook, and cater all except for Thanksgiving.

I would like to thank the following local merchants for making this Christmas and New Years stress free!

First, a huge thank you to Bikram Hot Yoga 305 for helping me heal after a back injury and keeping me healthy and relaxed during the holidays.

hot yoga 305

To Malanga Cafe for providing a delicious pernil, yuca, plantain, and rice and bean dinner for Christmas Eve.  It was my easiest Christmas ever and wave reviews.  P.S fed way more than the 18-20 people the menu advertised.

malanga pernil

And finally, to the Bottega La Dolce Vita for the most delicious beef lasagna, cannelloni and meatballs for New Years Eve!  The food was amazing!

bottegaladolcevita lasagna

 

 

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Florida Life Things To Do

Fairchild Spring Garden Festival & Plant Sale This Weekend, April 11 & 12

Plant Sale at Fairchild Tropical Garden
Plant Sale at Fairchild Tropical Garden

 

Spring is here and brings with it Spring cleaning and gardening.  If you are looking for a fun way to incorporate plant buying into a whole day and family event, head over to Fairchild Tropical Gardens this weekend for their Spring Garden Festival.

In addition to their 36th Annual Plant Sale, you can shop for  locally-grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at the garden marketplace, sample crisp and refreshing brews at the Beer Tasting Garden presented by New Belgium Brewing, enjoy live music, and  view Dale Chihuly‘s most comprehensive garden exhibition.

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Florida Life Palmetto Bay Things To Do

Deering Seafood Festival This Weekend, Sunday March 29

Bahamian Junkanoo Revue
Bahamian Junkanoo Revue

Whether you are visiting South Florida for Spring Break or are a local, head to the Deering Seafood Festival weekend at the beautiful historic Deering Estate.  The setting alone is worth the visit, but throw in local seafood, music, Junkanoo, and gorgeous weather (high of 77 and low of 63 forecasted) and it will be the perfect way to wrap up another busy South Florida Weekend!

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Florida Life Things To Do

Fairchild Mango Festival Is Next Weekend

Mango Madness at Fairchild
Mango Madness at Fairchild

One of my favorite things about summer in South Florida is that it is mango season! The smell of ripe mangoes permeates the air and children set up mango stands throughout the Village of Pinecrest and other neighborhoods. There are so many different of mangoes that it is a bit difficult to know which stand will have your favorite. Some mangoes are large and stringy, others taste like ice cream. If you want to learn more about mangoes, head over Fairchild’s 22 Annual Mango Festival this weekend.

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Restaurants Things To Do

Calling All Orchid Lovers: International Orchid Festival At Fairchild Garden Is This Weekend

SONY DSC

The 12th annual international orchid festival takes place at Fairchild Garden from March 7-9. Stroll through the gardens and browse the 10,000 plants that will be on sale from international vendors, stop by and have lunch at the Orchid Tea Room, Glasshouse Cafe, or Lakesaide Cafe, then continue enjoying all the garden has to offer including: interactive gardening workshops, Wings of the Tropics butterfly conservatory, Tropical Fruit Pavilion, and Rainforest. During your strolling, you are sure to see 16 intricate design pieces by Brazilian designer Hugo França, who uses reclaimed wood to make functional, natural pieces like chaise lounges and tall benches.

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Florida Life Things To Do

March Madness Miami Style

Okay, so you survived February’s packed art, boat and food calendar and now it is time for March Madness Miami Style. There is so much to do that you will not have time to do everything, so I am picking some of my favorite March activities to highlight here. Whether you are into sports, dancing, film or food, there is something to do this month!

Carnaval On The Mile March 1-2 – FREE

Winter Party Festival March 5-10

World Golf Championship March 6-9

Shayna Batya - 2014 Miami International Film Festival Poster Artist
Shayna Batya – 2014 Miami International Film Festival Poster Artist

Miami International Film Festival March 7-16

Calle Ocho Street Party March 9 – FREE

Miami_Dade County Fair and Expo March 13-30

Sony Open Tennis March 17-30

Winter Music Conference March 21-30

Ultra Music Festival March 28-30

Deering Estate Seafood Festival March 30

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Miami Beach Things To Do

South Beach Wine And Food Festival Is This Weekend

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Wow! I barely survived President’s Day Weekend, between Art Miami, the Miami International Boat Show, and Coconut Grove Art Festival, and it is time for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, which starts on Thursday.