Author Archives: timallen

Have Some Fun on Española Way

Have you been to Española Way recently? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on what is arguably Miami Beach’s finest destination for tourists and locals alike, Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road notwithstanding. The pedestrian-only street now has a series of events held for free every week which makes it even more appealing. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.

For those that stick to a diet without meat, definitely, check out Meatless Mondays. Restaurants like Numero 28, Moshi Moshi, and A la Folie Cafe all offer dishes free of meat including wood-fired Neapolitan cheese pizzas and vegetable soba bowls.

On Tuesdays, Española Way turns into a canvas of sorts between the hours of four o’clock to nine o’clock. The Arts & Crafts Market has lots of handmade merchandise including jewelry, soap, candles, and much more, all by local artisans as well artists from around the country. It’s a great way to support someone’s passion and discover something new.

Slip on your dancing shoes on Thursday as the Washington Avenue side of Española Way becomes a street party featuring fun salsa music! Dance the night away (until 8:30 pm) as a live band performs music to get your body moving.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Miami Beach’s Best Kept Dining Secrets

Miami Beach is packed to the brim with best-kept secrets when it comes to great places to dine, drink, and admire the views. Thankfully, you can always check out some of the blog posts like this one to learn more about them. Let’s get started.

Tamara’s Bistro over at the National Hotel is well known for its live musical performances held almost every night of the week. The bar recently unveiled an all-new lobby bar menu which includes a cocktail program. Sip on the new Purple Rain made of balsamic shrub, Remy 1738, lemon juice, and beetroot puree while you admire the views from the terrace overlooking the pool. Tamara’s Bistro is located at 1677 Collins Avenue.

If you haven’t checked out much-hyped Azabu Miami Beach on Ocean Drive yet, you’re missing out. This new South of Fifth eatery features nori-seasoned fish cakes, lobster tempura, and of course the hidden sushi room called The Den. Feeling adventurous? Try one of the forty varieties of Japanese whiskey.

In terms of views, they don’t get much more spectacular than those enjoyed by patrons of Juvia on Lincoln Road. The ambiance feels more like dining at someone’s upscale penthouse apartment versus a traditional restaurant.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Enjoy These Free Miami Beach Events

Valentine’s Day is this Wednesday and with another week on the horizon, there is once again a lot of free or low-cost events going on in and around Miami Beach. Let’s see what’s happening this week!

Molto is a pizzeria located in South Beach. This week, it will be kicking off the first of its monthly parties aimed at women, called Periodically. Ladies will get to enjoy $20 beer buckets, whiskey shots for $7, and cocktail pitchers for $15. The party begins on Thursday at 8 pm. Molto is located on Lincoln Road.

For something the whole family can enjoy, check out the Kite Days Festival at Haulover Park. Anyone is welcome to come and turn the Miami Beach skies into a kaleidoscope of various shapes and colors by flying their kite. Definitely keep an eye out for the classic 150-foot rainbow or the massive 100-foot squid kite. The festival begins at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Yoga has been proven to be an effective way to stay in shape and relieve stress. This Saturday, get up early and head over to the New World Center at 9 am to participate in NWS Yoga Mornings. The exercises will be accompanied by classical music to enhance the relaxing mood.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Musical Events to Get You Super Bowl Ready

It’s the last week before the arrival of Super Bowl Sunday! If you can’t seem to figure out what to do with yourself before Game Day and Justin Timberlake’s halftime performance, these free or low cost events should keep you entertained as the week progresses.

Perhaps the biggest event this week is the one happening this Friday down in the Design District’s Palm Court. Eduardo Marturet of the Miami Symphony Orchestra, The Knight Foundation, and producer Emilio Estefan are joining forces to bring none other than the Wailers to Miami. In case you’re unfamiliar with them, the Wailers are the former bandmates of legendary Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley. The show begins at 6 pm and though it is free to attend, RSVP is required. Make sure to arrive early as the show is practically guaranteed to be in high demand.

Continuing with the theme of music, former physicist turned folk musician Keith Johns is a local sensation and he is currently in the middle of his First Fridays residency over at the Wynwood Yard where he is supporting his album Grateful Fool released in 2016. Each month Johns is joined by a different guest. This Friday’s guest will be live looping artist Oigo.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Museum of Ice Cream Decides to Stick Around Longer

Have you had a chance to visit Miami Beach’s wildly popular Museum of Ice Cream? If you were concerned about the looming closing date of January 31, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. The museum has extended its stay and will be sticking around until February 26.

Located at 3400 Collins Avenue in the Faena District, the four-story Museum of Ice Cream has quickly become a must visit, welcoming well over 100,000 people since it opened its doors last month during Art Basel. The museum is a showcase of anything and everything that deals with frozen treats and goodies, from bananas inside candy-colored rooms to gummy bears and huge pink bonbons. The major highlight appears to be the sprinkle pool which has become a popular fixture on social media as people “swim” in the pool’s 100 million plastic dots and snap selfies to share.

The Museum of Ice Cream is open Wednesdays through Mondays. Children under the age of three can visit for free while admission for everyone else costs $38. If you want an idea of what to expect, a quick perusal through Instagram should reveal plenty of pictures to get you acquainted.

Miami Beach Seeks to Stop Shady Sidewalk Cafe Tactics

As popular as Ocean Drive is, it may not always be the friendliest to tourists, or even locals for that matter. A problem has emerged within its restaurant scene where patrons find themselves facing hefty bills due to astronomically priced food specials or drinks. In many cases the prices for these items are not listed on the menu. To address the situation, Miami Beach is looking to crack down on the deception.

Miami Beach’s City Commissioners are spearheading an ordinance that would encourage the city to revoke the sidewalk cafe table permits of restaurants that don’t clearly advertise prices or display consumer protection laws on information cards found on the tables. In fact, the ordinance could go as far as allowing Miami Beach to take away a business license entirely.

Before Miami Beach can begin throwing down the gauntlet, there are some items that need to be worked out. Commissioners need to study how to go about requiring these sidewalk cafes to have these protection laws displayed on the table without the information coming across in a negative or scary tone.

Have you ever had to deal with shady sidewalk cafe tactics? You can learn more by checking out the Miami Herald article:http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article195298799.html.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Music, Film, and History Happening This Week

What is there to do this week in Miami Beach and beyond? As always, there is plenty. Let’s get started with this week’s events that will cost you little to nothing to attend.

Singer, songwriter, and actor David Bowie was known for his pioneering artistic contributions. He was born and he also died during the month of January, and Churchill’s Pub in Miami will be honoring his work tomorrow. Night of a Thousand Bowies begins at 8 pm and it will consist of karaoke, trivia, a costume contest, and plenty of tribute covers celebrating the legacy of the Thin White Duke.

On Thursday, Miami’s Filling Station Lofts will serve as the host for the first Rooftop Sessions of 2018. Musical act Remyz will perform fusion-funk live beginning at 6:30 pm. The group achieved fame after winning Miami’s Hard Rock Rising competition. Admission is free but RSVP is required due to limited space.

Miami is rich in history, but few people know much about it. Historian Paul George is extremely well-versed in all things Miami and Florida, and he will be joining forces with HistoryMiami and the CubaOne Foundation to narrate a walking history tour of Miami’s Calle Ocho in Little Havana. The tour begins at 7:30 pm on Thursday at the Tower Theater. Admission is free but RSVP is required due to limited space.

Sci-fi fans may want to check out the Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival happening at the Wolfsonian in Miami Beach as tonight is the last day of the event. Passes are only $45.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Free Post New Year’s Events in Miami

The week after New Year’s can often prove tricky. You’re still recovering from your holiday gift shopping, the parties, and you may still be recovering from a nasty hangover. Thankfully, there are still plenty of free events happening in Miami that won’t cost you a dime.

Are you a fan of Elvis Presley or the modern, moody musical stylings of Lana Del Rey? Singer and songwriter Derik Fein is a contemporary fusion of both artists and his retro look adds just the right tinge to his classic image. Fein will be performing on Thursday at Wynwood Yard at 8 pm and you won’t have to pay a dime to see him.

Film buffs and environmental enthusiasts may want to head over to the Miami Dade Public Library’s Main Branch on Thursday at 3 pm to check out the short films ThuleTuvalu and La Maison en Petits Cubes. Both films are part of the library’s Portable Memories in Rising Seas project which is centered around climate change and how it affects people around the world.

Does beach polo sound like a fun time? The W South Beach will host the Miami Beach Polo World Cup on Friday at 11:30 am and the admission to check out some of the world’s finest players is entirely free.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Murano Grande South Beach. If you are interested in Murano Grande condos for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Celebrate the New Year in Miami

It’s the last week of 2017! Have you made your New Year’s Eve plans yet? Here are a few suggestions you may want to consider if you’re still on the fence about what to do or where to go.

We’ll kick things off right here in Miami Beach with the City of Miami Beach New Year’s Eve Celebration. Visit Ninth Street and Ocean Drive, find a comfy spot and admire the display of fireworks as the barrier island rings in 2018 with an illuminating spectacle at the stroke of midnight.

Over at Bayfront Park, Mr. 305 himself Pitbull will once again headline another New Year’s Eve party as part of his Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution. Pitbull will be joined by his friends and if previous parties are any indication, it will certainly be a memorable one! The festivities begin early at 8 pm on Sunday and you won’t have to pay a dime to attend.

Miami Beach’s Kill Your Idol on Española Way will host its own New Year’s Eve party featuring performances by Chase the Jaguar plus music by DJs Retro Kidd and Culture Prophet. The party begins at 9 pm but make sure to save that complimentary glass of champagne for when the clock strikes twelve!

Discover a Taste of Key West in South Beach

Will you be trying out any new eateries this holiday? If you’d like to change up the menu and discover something new, you may want to check out the new Key West by Nikki Beach on Ocean Drive. The restaurant serves a fusion of seafood skewed dishes boasting flavors from the Caribbean, Latin America, and of course, Florida. Key West by Nikki Beach is only the second restaurant of its kind to emerge, the first one located in the city of Dubai.

Diners at Key West by Nikki Beach will find a host of fish selections to try, from Alaskan king crab legs to octopus, ceviche, snapper wrapped in banana leaf, and more. As for the drinks, they are inspired by a famous name in 20^th-century fiction: American novelist and Key West resident Ernest Hemingway. The appropriately citrus-centric cocktails can be enjoyed at just about any time of day including the restaurant’s nightly Happy Hour.

Key West by Nikki Beach is owned by Jack Penrod, a native of the Florida Keys. Besides bringing the Keys to South Beach, the restaurant is also working with local Key West artists to sell their artwork. These funds are being donated to the Key West High School’s culinary department, which has provided lunch to victims of this year’s Hurricane Irma.

Key West by Nikki Beach is open Monday to Thursday from 5 pm to midnight and Friday and Saturday until 1 am.