Author Archives: timallen

Get a Taste of the Mediterranean in Miami Beach

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While many of us dream of being able to travel the world and sample different cuisines, Miami Beach at least makes it a little easier to try foreign foods without having to hop on a plane. Byblos Miami Beach is nestled quietly on the second floor of the Shorecrest Hotel and has received tons of acclaim.

Byblos features a fusion of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with plenty of local and traditional ingredients. The chef is known for his use of time tested cooking techniques with a dash of modernism to create a broad palate of menu items. These items include influences from Persia, Israel, and plenty of other countries in and around the Mediterranean.

Guests of Byblos can dine on foods like Fresh Crispy Squid and Chraime Snapper, or they can choose more familiar foods like the Mediterranean Falafel Salad. To reinforce the Mediterranean experience, the restaurant features copious use of bright colors and hues that emulate the sapphire glow of the ocean.

Byblos is open seven days a week exclusively for dinner beginning at 6:00 pm. Reservations are strongly recommended. Its address is 1545 Collins Avenue.

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.

Dine at Forte dei Marmi This Weekend

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Forte dei Marmi is one of the latest restaurant openings on Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive. The people behind the eatery call the cuisine and the ambiance “sophisticated simplicity”, which sound intriguing. Equally as intriguing, however, is the story behind its chef Antonio Melino.

Born in Argentina, Melino was raised in an Italian culture and has been working in the restaurant business for over forty years. Forte dei Marmi is the latest project he’s been involved in, and he’s also been an integral part of launching various concepts around the world, including Italy’s Quattro Passi which received the two-Michelin-star. The Michelin stars are given by Michelin Guides, a series of French guidebooks known for their strong influence in determining the success of a restaurant. Two stars is considered “excellent cooking”.

In case you’re wondering where the name of the restaurant comes from, Forte dei Marmi is named after a seaside town in Italy located north of Tuscany. The town is known for its relaxed and always fresh food.

Besides the restaurant, there is also the Forte dei Marmi Arts Club located on the second floor. Guests will find a bar and large entertainment space intended for art viewings and other events focused on culture.

Forte dei Marmi’s address is 150 Ocean Drive.

Exciting Events for the Last Weekend of January

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It’s Friday! What will you be doing to celebrate the last weekend of the month? If you’ve spent any time in Miami, you know something is going on any day of the week and this weekend is no exception. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Do you like to listen to music while enjoying great food? You may want to head to North Beach Bandshell on Collins Avenue starting tomorrow to check out the F+M Festival. The best in culinary combines with various musical genres to create a unique experience. Musical acts like Los Amigos Invisibles, Amtrac, Hot Chip, Ghostface Killah and plenty more will be making an appearance. The festival begins at 2 pm and tickets cost $45 for a one-day ticket.

The “World’s Largest Paint Party” will be celebrating its tenth anniversary tomorrow beginning at 2 pm at Mana Wynwood and the RC Cola Plant in the Design District. Gallons upon gallons of Day-Glo paint will create a kaleidoscope of colors along with music by electronic artists like Marshmello, Diplo, and many more.

For something a little more relaxed, the Miami-Dade County Auditorium will be hosting a free concert featuring an orchestra performing the works of Mendelssohn and Sibelius, Dvořák, and more. Although there is no cost to attend the event, tickets are still required.

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

Art Deco and More This Weekend

artDecoWeekend-2 Is money a bit tight after the holidays? You may still be in the mood to go out and do something, and thankfully the various events we’ll be discussing today are either free to attend or cost very little to enjoy! Let’s get started.

We’ll begin with what is arguably the most notable event going on in Miami Beach: Art Deco Weekend. Celebrating the history of the city and the Art Deco style, the annual event kicks off today and there are numerous events going on. Check out the various classic cars or some street fair art, attend the antiques or dog show, the festivities continue all weekend long.

For fans of William Shakespeare, his classic play The Merchant of Venice will be performed in Coconut Grove at Barnacle Historical State Park throughout the weekend. If you can’t make it this weekend, the play will be moving over to Pinecrest Gardens next week. Attendance is free, but a $2 donation is encouraged.

If you like to listen to jazz, visit the New World School of the Arts where Brazilian jazz group Trio Da Paz will be performing during the South Motors Gen-Next Jazz concert on Sunday. The attendance fee is only $5 and not only will you enjoy live music, you’ll also get to see musicians mentoring the students.

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

New Year Celebrations in Miami Beach

fireworksmb We will soon be saying hello to a new beginning as we welcome the arrival of 2017. One of the best ways to do so is with a huge celebration, and Miami definitely knows how to celebrate. Let’s take a look at some of the places where you can celebrate the New Year with some bombastic displays of fireworks.

The Gale Hotel on Collins Avenue will be hosting a party on its rooftop. For $139 you’ll enjoy an open bar available for five hours plus an extravagant dinner buffet. As you’re enjoying the food and drink, DJ JASE will be spinning tunes as the sky illuminates with the display of fireworks.

The City of Miami Beach itself will launch a gorgeous fireworks display to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. Come early, bring a towel or beach chair, find a spot on the sand, and get ready to see the sky dazzle in an array of colors.

Other notable places in South Beach where you can see the fireworks include the Mondrian on West Avenue and the Setai. The former will have an open bar and music by various DJs while the latter will offer food and drink at Jaya.

Have a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

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

Miami Beach Cracks Down on Short Term Rentals

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Do you have any plans to rent your condo on popular short term rental services like Airbnb? If so, the city of Miami Beach would like to have a word with you. City laws allow residents to rent out their properties on a short term basis in specific areas around the city, with the exception of single family homes which cannot participate regardless of where they’re located.

Miami Beach has been actively taking control of stopping illegal rentals, in some cases fining violators as much as $20,000 per violation. Residents have often complained that services like Airbnb result in an increased level of noise due to noisy renters. The hotel industry has also taken issue with the fact that hosts are not forced to pay local resort taxes, resulting in unfair competition.

City commissioners recently voted to make regulations on short term rentals stricter. Any homeowner that wishes to advertise their unit on a service like Airbnb must submit an affidavit to the city that affirms their property is located within in area that has been approved for renting on a short term basis. They must also obtain a resort tax account as well as a business tax receipt. Furthermore, the homeowner will be required to show proof that their association allows short term rentals. The fines for a violation will be at least $1,000.

New Yorkers Love Miami

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Here’s a fun, if perhaps not all that surprising fact: New Yorkers love Miami Beach. In fact, Miami takes the top spot when it comes to preferred travel destinations among New Yorkers during the holiday season. Considering how frigid the temperatures can dip in New York, it’s no surprise the cooler climate of the Magic City remains a top favorite.

This holiday season, close to twenty percent of New Yorkers will be spending the holidays in the 305 and neighboring cities like Miami Beach. With temperatures generally hovering near the mid to upper seventies lately, the weather is perfect for spending a day enjoying the ocean breeze, doing some shopping on Lincoln Road, checking out Art Basel, or having an al fresco meal on Ocean Drive.

While Miami came in at number one, it wasn’t the only city in Florida to earn a spot among the preferred holiday travel destinations by New York residents. Orlando also made the list, probably due to the climate and its many theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

What are some of your favorite cities to visit during the holidays? Do you like to stay in sunny South Florida or do you prefer to visit a city with more of a winter vibe?

Try a New Speakeasy in Miami Beach

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Have you been looking for a nice speakeasy to visit somewhere in South Florida? If you happen to live in or near Miami Beach, your desires have been answered. Commonwealth Miami is a “modern” speakeasy that fuses a restaurant and bar. Patrons will find over 100 unique types of scotches, whiskey, and bourbon as well as more than fifty unique beer varieties, both on tap and bottled.

For those that may wish to dine at Commonwealth Miami, executive chef Daniel Roy’s menu consists of items like pan seared red snapper, bacon marmalade topped burgers, duck fat fries, and several other dishes that are focused on “cravability”. Roy has previously worked with and fine-tuned his culinary knowledge with contestants from the reality show Top Chef as well as the chef from The Edition Hotel.

Commonwealth Miami is 2,300 square feet in size and is located right on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. Despite being a modern speakeasy, the décor uses items such as whiskey barrel walls and rustic wood. There is also a semi-private abbey room and there are plans to provide outdoor seating starting early next year.

If you’d like to see what it’s all about, Commonwealth Miami is open every day from 6pm to 5am. Its address is 1216 Washington Avenue.

Miami Beach Seeks to Go Smoke Free

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The next time you’re strolling through Miami Beach, you may come across a “Thank You for Not Smoking” sign. The City of Miami Beach is looking to turn at least parts of the barrier island into voluntary smoke-free zones, and one of these zones is Lummus Park at Fifth Street plus 86th Street. Should you choose to drop by, you’ll notice the clearly designated signs encouraging tourists and locals not to smoke.

According to the Miami Beach Director of Environment & Sustainability, the efforts are part of a pilot program aimed at reducing the effects of secondhand smoke, which presents a health risk to anyone who happens to be nearby and inhales the tobacco smoked by others. The program is also directed at addressing litter, as discarded cigarette butts can wreak havoc on the beaches, waterways, and wildlife. In fact, cigarette butts are considered a major pollutant on the sands, and they are not exactly biodegradable. It can take anywhere from five to ten years for a cigarette filter to fully biodegrade.

While the smoke-free zones in Miami Beach are voluntary, other cities around the country have taken steps to fully ban it. Los Angeles and New York do not allow smoking in public areas or parks because of the harm it causes to wildlife.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Murano Grande. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos, call Murano Grande sales expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Revised Plans for the South Beach Light Rail

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The ambitious $360 million plan to construct a light-rail loop has run into a bit of trouble, forcing cut downs due to its high costs and community pushback. Miami Beach administration also failed to meet its deadline to come up with an “interim agreement”, which would have determined the process and timeline for the real contract negotiations.

The revised plans for the light rail loop will see construction costs reduced to $244 million. The cost reduction is centered around scaling back on a full loop that would have been built in the heart of South Beach into a track intended to run along Fifth Street through Washington Avenue to Miami Beach Senior High School. A tentative second loop piece would see tracks running along Dade Boulevard and Alton Road, continuing in the southern direction until it meets Fifth Street.

Besides the money issues, business owners also opposed the project, especially after the drainage improvement construction that proved to be disruptive and lasted for over a year. There are also questions as to what plan will be in place to provide project funding.

The light rail track, or “modern streetcar” is part of a broader rail connection intended to be built across Biscayne Bay that would connect to the downtown area of Miami.