December 2008

My last day in SoBe and it’s a winner!

7AM Yoga on the beach…. sure sounded like a good idea until that alarm goes off bright and early. Just like the days of raising Katie, I have to make sure the dogs are walked and fed, get myself dressed and then walk-quickly- the 5 blocks to the beach to meet Susan for Yoga. All before the sun has risen. I need to remember to tell my friends still raising children how much I admire how hard they work…. However once there- paradise! The sun is rising over the ocean right in front of us, there is a cool breeze blowing, the ocean is sparkling, the beach is wide and clean, we’re right in front of those really cool art deco brightly painted lifeguard stations. The Yoga teacher varies each morning and most of the class is extremely experienced, however in true yoga form, the teacher never makes us less experienced people feel bad, she came around and helped all of us improve our form. Boy did it feel good!!! After a hour of yoga and stretching, Susan and I head off to meet her husband and his brother for breakfast at the News Cafe right on Ocean Drive in the art of the Art Deco Section. http://www.newscafe.com/ This is the place where Gianni Versace eat breakfast every day when he was in South Beach before he was murdered…. Lovely meal, interesting conversation and then off to the day!

I walked 12 blocks down to Lincoln Road to become newly blond at “Some like it Hot”/Browne and Company , then walked back down Washington Ave to my little vacation home. Lunch was a new find- a little streetside cafe called the Half Moon which only serves empanadas which are little pies full meat or chicken or veggies- all sorts of yummy things. A great lunch for $1.99 plus tax! Then off to Tootsie’s for my annual new pair of havainas. These are the world’s best flip flops, made in Brazil. This little pedicure place started to sell these and they are the place in Miami Beach where people come and buy dozens of pairs. For $22.00 a pair, they are a fashion statement. When I was there, there was a lady from South Africa literally buying 12 pairs, a couple from Costa Rica buying 4 or 5 pairs and people just coming in and out. Just amazing!!! http://www.havaianas.com/ is their official website.

Then off to my friend Karyn’s condo which was built in 1958 by Morris Lapidus the architect of so many Miami Beach landmarks including the Fountainbleu ( which has just been completely restored to it’s original glory ( and includes an adult only European pool…). Karyn’s condo overlooks Biscayne Bay and looks over to downtown Miami. What a glorious site day or night! We’re here making potato latkes for her company’s holiday party tom morrow night…. 10 lbs worth! By hand! I just read Martha Stewart’s Blog and she was lucky enough to attend the grand re opening of the Fountainbleau and also blogged about the increidble work of Morris Lapidus. He truly changed the face of the look of Miami Beach.

Back to reality ( if you can call Tybee Island reality!) It’s been a week plus of great adventures!

My last day in SoBe and it’s a winner! Read More »

Another day of adventure- SoBe style!

We headed to the local “green market” to support some local businesses . The Downtown and Midtown areas of Biscayne Blvd are going through a major re gentrification and small businesses are coming in right and left. The Green Market features great produce ( we bought mango’s, oranges, lemons and limes) Olive Oil, local honey ( mangrove was the type I purchased), delicious bread, even dog biscuits! The dogs biscuits were outstanding – according to Danny and Max. You can order them from Ana- she’s very proud of them and personally makes them ,www.pawsanddogs.com and you can learn more about the Green Market www.themarketcompany.org

Met up with more friends at yet another small local restaurant and had such an interesting sighting! This gentleman had his little dog at lunch with him and since it was quite cold for Miami, the little dog was wearing her poncho….. And happily posed for her pictures.

I never cease to be surprised at how quickly people are posing for me – especially when I say it’s for my blog. The Internet is making everyone a star for at least one blog entry! Wrapping up the Miami adventures, but still a few more stories and pictures to share!

Another day of adventure- SoBe style! Read More »

My favorite building in my SoFi neighborhood

There is a building we walk by three times a day about 2 blocks from our little vacation rental. The building is called “Cyclone” and we never, ever see anyone coming in or out. Not at 7AM or midnight. Ever. We’ve seen two dogs one afternoon and we see lights on but never humans.

The building could only exist here ( or prehaps you’d see this in Disney World – but no where else in the real world would a home like this be built…) The building is my favorite colors of sun washed yellow, blues and greens surrounded by tropical trees and flowers. It’s supposed to look like a cyclone had dropped in the sea and then the cyclone swopped and took the sea with it. Look at all these sea creatures on the walls. They are ceramic or something very durable. And look at the iron door! It’s a huge octupus! I can peak in the windows at night and see this huge disco ball and massive long white curtains that are easily two stories tall. Have no idea what this place is… so anyone who might know the building, please let me know.

Our SoFi Neighborhood

We’ve been corrected. We didin’t live this week in SoBe ( South Beach) , we liveed this week in SoFi which means South of Fifth. Which is even hipper and cooler ! Just what I thought I was- hip and cool! I have walked every square inch of this neigborhood, not only because the weather is so glorious, but because it’s just plain old fascinating. I’m up walking the dogs at 7AM, mid afternoon, sunset and then in the evening before we go to sleep.

We say good morning, afternoon or evening to everyone we see. That’s the Tybee way and it just carries over. We now have some people we see at the same time each day who at first were quite taken back by someone speaking to them, but now there’s a big smile and their face and a greeting back. All sorts of accents, all ages of people.

The cutest was the hip hop kids this morning who were not out walking their dogs or going to work. They were coming home from their night out. Big group of gang type attired young folks- of course the dogs went right up to them and this tough kids ( who really were just big kids) started to play with the dogs.

We also saw a group of kids who had just flown in from South America- heading towards the youth hostel right now the street. All excited about being in South Beach! Another is the young couple pushing their baby stroller. We see them every evening. We thought they were pushing their kids, but the dogs would go crazy every time they’d get close. Why- they weren’t pushing kids, they were pushing their pugs. These were not crazy old dog people, these were hip locals pushing their pugs.

The little boutique hotels in the neighborhood are also just great window shopping! The Hotel St Augustine is literally across the street from our building . They have a chocolate lab who is their “resident dog” who greets my dogs twice a day by barking non stop. The Anglers Resort http://www.theanglersresort.com/ is a few blocks away. An impossibly tropical old restored hotel that is now a 43 room very chic hotel. Enjoy the pictuers I took! Then when we walk down Ocean Drive or Collins Ave you walk past art deco hotel after art deco hotel one after another. Each one restored and painted the colors of sherbet ice cream. Or maybe gelato is the better comparison. I literally make the dogs walk for hours just because it’s such great sights to see!

Heaven is a lunch beachside served by a"Top Chef" star….

My dear friend James who I’ve known for almost his entire adult life and certainly his entire hotel career, is now working for the spectacular Ritz Carlton South Beach. We met for lunch at his hotel and he treated me to lunch at his beach side casual restaurant, the DiLido Beach Club. We decided to order a tapas style luncheon and the server brought out goodie after goodie. But the best goodie was still to come! James mentioned the hotel chef was a currently competing on the Bravo TV show “Top Chef.” I had to restrain myself because those of you who read my blog know I love reality TV and yes, Top Chef is one of them!!! James saw my expression and asked if I’d like to meet him. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chef Jeff came out and was delighted to tell us all about the food treats we had in front of us. Of course he couldn’t talk about the show or tell us how long he lasted, we have to wait for the finale like the rest of America. Visit the Top Chef website http://www.bravotv.com/ to see more info about Jeff and of course see The Ritz Carlton South Beach site http://www.ritzcarlton.com/ to see how gorgeous this resort really is.

Thank you James for such a delicious lunch – I’m very proud of you and all you’re accomplishing in your hotel career!

BTW- we finished our luncheon with dessert- something nice and light – 8 different mini scoops of homemade sorbet….. could this day have gotten any better? Coconut was by far my fav!!!

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My last day in SoBe and it’s a winner!

Another day of adventure- SoBe style!

My favorite building in my SoFi neighborhood

Our SoFi Neighborhood

Heaven is a lunch beachside served by a"Top Chef" star….

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