Author Archives: timallen

Owning an Iconic Piece of Miami Beach

Several things that have become synonymous with Miami Beach: South Beach, the Art Deco style, Ocean Drive, and the recognizable red and yellow lifeguard towers. If you’ve ever wanted to own an iconic piece of the barrier island, the chance presented itself last week. The city is auctioned off two of the lifeguard towers, with prices individually going for around $500 to $2,500+ a piece when they went up for sale.

In the case of these towers, they were painted to celebrate Super Bowl LIV which was held right here in South Florida. One tower has the San Francisco 49ers logo while the other one boasts the name of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Super Bowl champions.

This isn’t the first time Miami Beach has sold its lifeguard towers. It did the same thing for six of them that had been used since the 1980s, fetching well over $2,000.

While the 2020 auction for the lifeguard towers has since ended, the city is bound to auction off more of the towers to make way for newer ones. Do keep in mind, however, that if you were to become the winning bidder, it is your responsibility to lug the tower(s) to wherever it is they’ll ultimately be going.

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 Murano Grande for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Getting Around Miami Beach During Super Bowl LIV

Though Miami Beach isn’t hosting Super Bowl LIV, the barrier island is bustling with activity thanks to the Super Bowl Experience being held at the Miami Beach Convention Center and other events like the eagerly anticipated Gronk Beach. To deal with the crowds, there are several streets that will be closed or are already closed.

You may have noticed the street closures near the Miami Beach Convention Center already that are closed to through traffic, like 18 Street to Dade Boulevard for instance. Many of these streets will close until February 5^th, so it’s something to keep in mind if you frequently travel through that area.

Several streets around the Faena Forum are expected to close like 34 Street from Indian Creek Drive to Collins Avenue. Ocean Drive will also see closures. In fact, starting this Friday, it will be closed to all vehicular traffic so that pedestrians can roam safely. The popular thoroughfare will reopen on Monday, February 3^rd at 7 am.

If you’re going to be spending time in Miami Beach, strongly consider using public transportation or ridesharing to ease the process of getting around. There are options like the free Miami Beach trolley that operates six days a week from 6 am to midnight.

The Nest Is a Quirky Change of Pace

Lincoln Eatery is a great place to eat if you can’t seem to make up your mind on what Lincoln Road restaurants appeal to you. If you’re looking for a drink, it’s also where you’ll find the secret entrance to a rooftop bar called the Nest.

True to its name, the Nest has birdcages complemented by a décor that could best be described as funky. With antique lanterns, pillows, candles, string lights, and murals painted by local artists, it’s a relaxing and certainly intriguing experience. The 3,300+ square foot space is designed to make locals feel as if they’re sipping on cocktails while lounging in their yard. This is further enhanced by the use of greenery and lounge furniture.

Yet another unusual feature of the Nest is its so-called “spontaneous activations” where performers such as contortionists will make an appearance. Then again, you may your server wearing roller skates as they bring you some shots to throw back. There are also plans to have a wellness night each week as well as movie nights and sports broadcasts.Drink options at the Nest include creative names like the tequila and passionfruit liquor Bird in the Hand as well as classics like the Nest Gin and Tonic.

The Nest is located at 723 Lincoln Lane and is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm to midnight.
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 Murano Grande for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.

Al Fresco Dining and Partying at The Garden

How do dinner and a party sound? That’s about the experience you can look forward to at Miami Beach’s latest eatery, dubbed The Garden. Located in the Boulan South Beach’s hotel courtyard, guests are welcome to dine on Mediterranean food while the ambiance is complemented by appropriate mood lighting, elegant palm trees, and the Miami Beach breeze.

When visiting The Garden, you can start off with appetizers like tuna and salmon tartare or oysters from the eastern and western coast. Once you whet your appetite, you can move on to one of the dinner menu options like grass-fed steak, branzino, or Chilean sea bass. If you’re feeling adventurous, end the meal with a 24-karat coconut dessert featuring pineapple marmalade, cinnamon crumble, and more.

Once the clock strikes nine, The Garden transforms into a celebratory experience featuring performance art and musicians. At eleven o’clock, it undergoes another metamorphosis of sorts into an al fresco club featuring a dance floor, DJ booth, and more.

Besides the food, guests can also expect a variety of drinks featuring intriguing names like the Wild Thing, Jungle Julip, and The Amazonian.

The Garden is open from 6 pm to 11 pm on Thursdays and from 6 pm to 1 am on Friday and Saturday.

Getting Around During Art Basel

Art Basel is returning this week and that means traffic in Miami Beach is probably going to be unpleasant, to say the least. If you’re planning on attending the annual art extravaganza, there are ways to get around that may help with making the experience easier to navigate.

Art Basel is once again being held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. With the larger size, there should be plenty of public parking available but you can also make use of valet if you’re willing to pay. Then again, you can make use of Miami Beach’s free shuttle that’ll take you to and from certain satellite fairs like PULSE Miami Beach, for example. The shuttle will start running on Saturday, December 7^th and will cease on Sunday.

Don’t want to take the special Art Week Shuttle? You can always use the complimentary Miami Beach trolley to get around. There are four different loops available and at least one of them will visit one of the art fairs, including Art Basel at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Other options you may wish to consider include the CitiBike which starts at $4.50 for thirty minutes. Ridesharing like Uber or Lyft can also save you headaches on trying to find parking.

The Country’s Highest Grossing Indie Restaurant Is in Miami Beach

We all know Miami Beach is one of the best cities in the southeastern United States to find a great variety of food. The sheer assortment of cuisine means there is practically something for everyone no matter how obscure or fickle the palate may be. To further reinforce, just how great dining in Miami Beach is, consider that one of its famous restaurants was recently named the highest-grossing independent restaurant in the United States.

Indeed, the honor of the country’s highest-grossing independent restaurant as determined by Restaurant Business Magazine is being bestowed on none other than Joe’s Stone Crab, a longtime Miami Beach mainstay. The perennial local favorite grossed just over a whopping $38 million, setting a new record for itself. It also served well over 320,000 customers.

While Joe’s Stone Crab earned the top spot, another Miami Beach hotspot ranked high on the list: Prime 112. The well-regarded steakhouse earned 11^th place, grossing a handsome $23.6 million. Also making the list were Komodo in the Brickell area, Virginia Key’s The Rusty Pelican, and Makoto in the affluent village of Bal Harbour.

To see the full list of restaurants, visit https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/top-100-independents-2019?year=2019#data-table. If you haven’t yet tried Joe’s Stone Crab, make sure you do so before it closes for the season.

Celebrities Plus Soccer This Weekend

Are you a soccer fan? Would you love watching Miami Beach celebrities? If so, this weekend you might want to visit the sand-bowl of North Beach Bandshell. The second annual Celebrity Soccer Match will be played on Saturday, November 23rd, promoting social responsibility, diversity in sports, and the integration of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The program will act as a means of raising awareness of the outstanding work done by Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization.

Some of the celebrities who will be attending or participating in the 2019 Celebrity Soccer Match include various names from several major sports leagues. To provide a few, former American football player Rashad Jennings, former Venezuelan soccer player Juan Arango, and former American wide receiver Santana Moss are among the sports starts hanging with Sports Illustrated models and plenty more notable individuals.

The Celebrity Soccer Match will also include photo shoots, discussion boards, an after party and more besides the soccer game. There are no charges for attending the event. The address is 7251 Collins Avenue for those of you interested in attending. Get out there, enjoy the soccer, and most important of all, support a great cause. You may have the chance to snap a selfie with a famous name!

TripAdvisor Recommends Miami Beach Restaurants

Many people have come to rely on the numerous reviews and recommendations found on TripAdvisor. The American travel and restaurant website has become something of a source when it comes to recommendations.

One of TripAdvisor’s latest lists is ranking the top restaurants in the United States. If it’s to be believed, a number of those restaurants are right here in Florida, including several in Miami Beach. Eight different Florida restaurants made an appearance, with five of them in the barrier island. The restaurant categories include fine dining, fast casual, and everyday dining.

For everyday dining, the Italian-themed Pane & Vino came in first place. Just a couple of places lower in fourth place is 11th Street Diner, known for its Art Deco design. As for fine dining, the sole South Florida eatery coming in tenth place to earn that distinction is The Bazaar by José Andrés, a highly regarded Spanish restaurant nestled in the trendy SLS South Beach. And when it comes to fast casual dining, head on over to Shake Shack, which earned second place in the category.

Have you been to any of these places mentioned in TripAdvisor’s list? What are some of your favorite Miami Beach or South Beach places to eat?

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 Murano Grande for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.
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South Beach Debuts Another Seafood Spot

Joe’s Stone Crab is generating all of the food headlines as people flock to the restaurant for its latest seasonal opening. However, if you know anything about Joe’s Stone Crab then you probably know that it does not accept reservations, resulting in potentially long waits. If you’re craving seafood but don’t want to deal with having to wait hours, you may wish to check out Seawell Fish N’ Oyster, which recently opened in the North of Fifth area of South Beach.

Seawell Fish N’ Oyster is by the same people that brought Minnow Bar to Miami Beach. The restaurant is located in a retro Art Deco building with a 1930s design. Visitors can look forward to fresh fish and shellfish plus a raw bar and, of course, craft cocktails. As for menu items, expect to see plenty of classic dishes plus original items like the shellfish pot, a fusion of lobster, shrimp, clams and mussels.

Are you in the mood to enjoy your seafood outdoors? That can be done at Seawell Fish N’ Oyster by taking a seat at the Mermaid Lounge, able to accommodate up to 36 people in what’s called a “secret garden” area.

Interested in visiting Seawell Fish N’ Oyster? Its address is 660 Washington Avenue and it is open from 6 pm to 10 pm Sunday through Thursdays and from 6 pm to 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Brunch is served on weekends from 7 am to 3 pm.

Pope-Blessed Pizza Is Arriving in Miami Beach

Few will argue one of life’s many delights is a great pizza. Not all pizza is created equal, though, and you’ve probably figured out which pizza tastes better to you than another. Miami Beach has no lack of high ratings pizza places, but they may soon be eclipsed by the best pizza in the world.

Gino Sorbillo is a celebrity in Naples, Italy. His pizza is often considered the best in the country, and it seems that it is so great, Pope Francis himself bestowed the pizza with his blessing! Despite the immense acclaim, to make his highly regarded pies, Sorbillo prefers a straightforward approach.

If you’re curious to see if Gino Sorbillo’s high praise is real, you’ll be able to try it out for yourself when Sorbillo opens for business on Wednesday, October 30 in Miami Beach. A variety of Neapolitan-style pizza in traditional and seasonal variations plus items such as spaghetti, calzones will be on the restaurant menu. Per the tradition of the other outlets in Tokyo, New York, Naples, and Milan, you’ll be served Sorbillo’s pizza on a first-come, first-serve basis, with prices ranging from $16 to $28 and quantities limited to 300 per day. Other items on the menu will be served throughout the day.

The address for Sorbillo will be 100 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 for sale, call one of the Murano Grande sales experts at 305-588-2451 for information on buying opportunities and rentals.