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Things To Do

Fairchild Mango Festival Is This Weekend

One of my favorite things about summer is that it is mango season.  This year, Fairchild’s Mango Festival features the mangoes of  Mexico.   I have no idea where the mangoes I buy from my neighborhood pop-up mango stands are from but they are all delicious.  When you are done at the Festival, drive through the streets of Pinecrest and stop by one of the stands.  They are Miami’s version of the kid’s summer lemonade stand up north and if you get more mangoes than you can eat,  freeze the overripe ones for making smoothies, deserts, and salsa, long after the season is over.

If you still have your Sunday, July 7 copy of the Miami Herald, there is $2 coupon for the Fairchild Festival on page 3M.IMG_1364

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do

Happy 4th of July!

Sketchpad

I will be spending the 4th of July at a friend’s house, celebrating her birthday.  If you don’t have plans for the day, here are some ideas on where to celebrate and watch fireworks:

On land (FREE)

The Biltmore Hotel  

Black Point Park & Marina 

Bayfront Park

At Sea:

Aboard SeaFair

South Beach Lady

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Things To Do

Miami Exotic Auto Car Racing: Great Fun For Wannabe Race Car Drivers

There are many exotic, fun, and expensive cars in Miami.  Audi R 8, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche, are all fairly common here.  If you do not own one and still want the heart pounding experience that driving one of these cars brings from the moment you hear the engine roar, consider the Miami Exotic Auto Car Racing experience at the Homestead Speedway.  You get to choose between the Audi R 8, Ferrari 430,  Lamborghini, or you can drive all three for the ultimate thrill.

My husband was skeptical when we gave him the gift certificate for Christmas, but was convinced it was the real deal when they hit 100 miles an hour in the Audi 4S during the “test” run with a driver showing him the course.

Makes for a great Father’s Day gift!

 

 

Categories
Neighborhood News Pinecrest Things To Do

Chocoholics to Converge at Pinecrest Gardens March 9-10

My Current Stash

I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate, so I am thrilled that the first ever Miami Fine Chocolate and Food Show is coming to Pinecrest Gardens this weekend.  One of my favorite chocolate stores, Romanicos on Coral Way, will be there as well as Valor chocolates from Spain.  Romanicos’ chocolates are pure artistry from their Tropical Collection, with painted  fish motiffs, to their Nostalgia Habanera, with chocolates filled with dulce de leche and guava paste.  My favorite from Valor is their 70% dark chocolate bar with banana. Pair any of these with red wine and…heaven!

I am looking forward to tasting chocolate from all of the chocolatiers that I don’t know yet and adding to my current stash.

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do

March Madness: Busy Event Season Continues in Miami

In case your activity calendar hasn’t been full enough with the boat show, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Art Wynwood, SoBe Wine and Food Festival, you can add to it with all of the events coming in March.

Tonight kicks off the 30th Annual Miami International Film Festival.  Over 100 films will be shown through March 10.

The Cadillac Golf Championship comes to Doral Golf Resort and Spa on March 6-10.

Two music events overlap when the Winter Music Conference, March 15-24, and the Ultra Music Festival, March 15-17 and 22-24, come to town.

March 18-31features the Sony Open Tennis on Key Biscayne.

All this is great for our local economy and our social calendars, but I am looking forward to the “lazy” days of summer!

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do

Happy Valentine’s Day

Okay, I have to admit that although I love my husband, family, friends, clients, south Florida, referrals, wine and dark chocolate, but am not a big fan of Valentine’s Day.  As my husband said early on in our dating, every day should be Valentine’s Day, not just a day where flower prices sky rocket, restaurant reservations are scarce, and Hallmark cashes in.  So instead of celebrating just one day, go out and celebrate all weekend!  There is so much to do between the boat show and Coconut Grove Art Festival that you will find plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, south Florida.

Categories
Florida Life Things To Do

Happy Valentine's Day

Okay, I have to admit that although I love my husband, family, friends, clients, south Florida, referrals, wine and dark chocolate, but am not a big fan of Valentine’s Day.  As my husband said early on in our dating, every day should be Valentine’s Day, not just a day where flower prices sky rocket, restaurant reservations are scarce, and Hallmark cashes in.  So instead of celebrating just one day, go out and celebrate all weekend!  There is so much to do between the boat show and Coconut Grove Art Festival that you will find plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, south Florida.

Categories
Things To Do

The 2012 Borscht Film Festival Starts Tomorrow

Art Week and Art Basel ended on Sunday so hopefully you have had enough time to rest and are ready for the Borscht Film Festival, which starts tomorrow.  This series of short movies, all filmed in Miami, will run through December 16 and are another example of the growing Miami cultural arts scene.

An article in this Sunday’s Miami Herald describes in detail the growing importance of the Borscht Film Festival in promoting Miami to filmmakers.

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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

 

 

Categories
Miami Beach Things To Do

Visiting Miami For Art Week? Check Out The James Royal Palm Hotel

Photo Courtesy of The James Royal Palm Hotel

The James Royal Palm Hotel is the perfect place to kick off  Miami Art Week 2012 before the opening with Art Miami on December 4.  The James Royal Palm not only features  “An Ocean Apart,” a carefully-curated art collection curated by Lauren Rottet, it also supports an Artist in Residence program for local emerging artists, and has a rich history.

Art@TheJames includes Alex Prager, Carrie Sieh, Gavin Perry, Gerry Stecca, Portia Munson, Stephanie Jaffe Werner and Troy Stanley.