South Florida Welcomes the 69th Miss Universe Pageant at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
The last time the Miss Universe Pageant was in South Florida was 2015 at the Florida International University. This year the pageant will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on May 16 and we can’t wait to see what this year’s pageant has in store!
Miss Universe was last held on December 8, 2019 at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi was crowned. Because of the pandemic, the 2020 pageant was cancelled.
The President of the Miss Universe Organization, Paula Schugart, stated that the event will follow CDC guidelines and that they have spent the past year working on ways to make the pageant as safe as possible including masks mandates, Plexiglass separating contestants and judges. Schugart also stated that “Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions.”
It is unclear who the host will be for the 2021 pageant. The pageant will be available for viewing on the Telemundo Network. We will continuously update this article as we learn more information on the Miss Universe Pageant 2021.
Phase 1 of Miami’s ‘The Underline,’ 10-Mile Long Park is Now Open
Miami’s Metrorail has opened its doors and space for the newest 10-mile long park called ‘The Underline.’ It is located on the underside of the Miami Metrorail. Once it is complete, it will begin in Downtown Miami stretching 10-miles all the way to South Miami.
The spaces will be filed with a bike/walking path, exercise areas, butterfly gardens, dog parks, performance areas and even horticultural designs by Fairchild Tropical Garden.
This city has just finished phase 1 of this park with phases continuing through 2025. The first half-mile from Brickell Station to Vizcaya Station is now open for exploration.
According to theUnderline.org, the 10-mile park will be separated into 4 separate areas, with each area having its’ own special purpose and features.
River Room
Separated walking and biking paths
Dog friendly with dog bowls, clean up bags, and play space
Native vegetation
Urban Gym
Strengthening and stretching station
Half-court basketball or soccer field
Running track
Promenade
Sound stage
Gaming station
Outdoor dining area
Oolite Room
20 butterfly gardens along the 10-mile park
The designers are hoping it’ll serve as a space to improve the safety and healthy lifestyles of Miami residents as well as visitors. Phase 2 is set to begin soon and will start at Vizcaya Station.
Heineken Opens Cervecería La Tropical Brewery in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District
Photo Credit: Cerveceria La Tropical
The new Miami brewery Cervecería La Tropical, named after the historic Cuban brewery, Cervecería, was first opened in 1888 in Havana but was seized by the Cuban government in the 1960’s. Located at 42 N.E. 25th Street in the Wynwood Arts District, this brewery will feature an on-site brewing operation with tour, taproom, restaurant, and outdoor botanical garden.
This state of the art brewery has an annual brewing capacity of 32,000 hectoliters per year and can house up to 800 craft beers. According to Brewbound, the brewery will be led by Brew Master Matt Weintraub, who is a graduate and award winner of the Florida International University Brewing Program.
According to the South Florida Business Journal, Cervecería occupies 28,000 square feet, which includes a Latin and Caribbean cuisine restaurant from Chef Cindy Hutson, owner of Zest Miami. It can seat 800 guests and a 10,000 square foot botanical garden, with additional outdoor seating.
Their menu will include 20 handcrafted beers ranging from lagers, IPAs, sours, barrel-aged, and ales infused with local ingredients. They will feature their La Original Ambar Lager, which is inspired by the original recipe from 1888.
“More than a century after La Tropical was originally founded, I am proud and excited to be creating a new cerveza, food and cultural destination that unites La Tropical’s Cuban soul with Miami’s diverse and unique culture that has made the city the gateway of the Americas” states owner, Manny Portuondo.
Their grand opening is tonight, February 19th, 2021 at Cerveceria La Tropical, 42 NE 25th St. Wynwood, Miami, FL 33137 from 9:00pm to 11:00pm with live band Xperimento!
Is Miami Going to Become the Next Silicon Valley? If it’s up to Mayor Francis Suarez, it Will Be.
Since the infamous tweet from Miami’s own Mayor Francis Suarez in early December of 2020, he has become very creative in his attempts at recruitment of relocating big tech and financial companies to Miami.
According to CNBC, the “How can I help?” tweet generated more that 2.3 million organic impressions. “It gave me the impetus and energy and incentive to keep tweeting and connecting at a very high rate,” Suarez said. From December 2020 alone, he has had more than 27 million impressions on his account and he hasn’t stopped there.
In his latest marketing efforts, commuters in San Francisco were greeted by their usual sign but this one had a different message. “Thinking about moving to Miami? DM me,” was sprawled across the billboard that resembled a tweet.
This particular signage is right above the 9th Street exit off westbound I-80 that leads to Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters. The only information we do know is that Twitter employees are currently working remotely until the end of summer 2021.
His campaign seems to be working with a few known tech giants and companies committing to relocating to Miami. Keith Rabois, former executive of Square and Paypal, David Blumber-Manager of Blumberg, and Scott Absher- CEO of ShiftPixy are just a few.
“My job is… to make sure people understand this is not a moment. This is a movement,” he said. “We’re going to continue to do everything we can to attract the entrepreneurial and intellectual class of our country to Miami to create high-paying jobs in a city like ours that wants to continue to grow,” says Mayor Suarez.
The Hottest Miami Restaurants to Book this Valentine’s Day, 2021
Novikov
Novikov is a Chinese-Japanese fusion restaurant located in downtown Miami with remarkable Biscayne Bay views. With its’ interactive dining experience and stunning décor, it is a must-see destination. The menu features wok dishes, sushi selections, robata grill, and caviar options.
Menu Options Include:
Sashimi
Maki
Dim Sums
Bao Buns
Duck
And if dinner is not an option for Valentine’s Day, do not forget their unlimited brunch menu:
Yuzu Mimosa
Soto Sake
Fleurs de Prairie Rose
Cucumber Tataki
Spicy Salmon
Spring Roll Maki
Sashimi and Nigiri Selection
Zuma
Zuma is a traditional Japanese Izakaya style co-founded by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney in 2002. They are globally located in 11 venues and 5 seasonal locations.
Featuring a more modern touch on Japanese Izakaya, there is a variety of options from its 3 different kitchens; sushi counter, robata grill, and the main kitchen.
Menu Options Include:
Oysters with Caviar
Age Watarigani
Maki rolls
Okakese
Nigiri Sushi/Sashimi
MILA Miami
MILA Miami is a restaurant, rooftop lounge, and mixology bar all wrapped into one. Mixing flavors of the Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, creating a one of a kind mediterrAsian experience. They offer bar programs, brunches, and classes!
Menu Options Include:
MediterrAsian Raw Bar
Robata Grill Options
Oysters
Tataki
Seafood Platters
Sushi
Carbone
Carbone is one of Miami’s best Italian restaurants, founded by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick. They are known for mixing new and old-world Italian recipes.
Menu Options Include:
Calamari Marco
Minestrone
Lobster Ravioli
Veal Marsala
Dover Piccata
Artichoke Hearts
La Petite Maison
Located in the Brickell neighborhood of downtown Miami, La Petite Maison is an upscale French eatery with locations in Dubai, London, Hong Kong, and Miami. Available space includes a terrace for up to 25, an informal bar entrance with seating for 100 guests, and a covered dining terrace for 53.
Menu Options Include:
Tapenade
Ratatouille ET Feta
Tartare De Thon
Escargots
Calamars Frits
Beignets
Saumon Finemen Tranche
COTE
COTE is the newest Michelin-starred restaurant in downtown Miami. This Korean Steakhouse will merge the flavors of Korean barbeque with the style of a classic American steakhouse.
Menu Options Include:
East/West Coast Oysters
Maine Lobster
Caviar Service
Steak Tartare
Korean Bacon
Tuna Tartare
Ban Chan
USDA Prime
American Wagyu Beef
Miami Welcomes Gale Miami as the Up and Coming Urban Luxury Home-Sharing Residences
Mixing hotel luxuries with all the amenities a condominium has to offer, Miami was then born. Designed and curated by the firm, Urban Robot, they have created a one-of-a-kind luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere perfect for downtown Miami.
Natiivo (now called Gale Miami Hotel & Residences) is the newest and first Condo/Hospitality residential tower located in the heart of downtown Miami with close proximity to the Miami World Center, Frost Museum of Science, Miami Airlines Arena, and Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts. This development is projected to be a 51-story condominium with views of the city as well as Biscayne Bay.
Designed for home sharing, Natiivo Miami offers its owners the ability to rent out their condos as short-term or long-term rentals. The most important factor is that the owner can choose to manage their own rental, hire their own management company, or hire Natiivo Miami to manage the unit.
Units are finished and fully furnished with 16 types of available floor plans ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom suites. Square footage ranges from 492 to 1,633 square feet with available options of downtown views, Biscayne Bay views, balcony, and/or interior.
Not only are there multiple options available for residences and guests but the building itself offers 3 floors with 70’000 square feet of curated amenities.
Natiivo Miami ‘The Work on 8th’ features 10,000 square feet of co-working space with an amphitheater presentation area.
Work Amenities:
Co-working spaces
Private offices
Flexible office arrangements
Video-capable conference rooms
Quiet rooms
Phone booths
Cutting-edge technology and connectivity
Office host
Coffee and juice bar
Amphitheater
Meeting/presentation rooms
The ‘Social on 9th’ offers 24,000 square feet of food, beverage, and entertainment offerings with a range of local and international options.
Social Amenities:
Specialty restaurant and bar
Dining terrace
Social area with full-service cafe and cocktail bar
Drink and dine lounge areas
Media lounge
Live show and events lounge
The porch
Speakeasy
DJ and live performances
Programmed events
The ‘Splash on 9th’ boats 16,000 square foot of poolside bliss featuring a resort-style pool and cabanas.
Splash Amenities:
Sun deck
Poolside beverage and food service
Native tropical landscaping
Cabana bar
Pool towel services
‘The Fit on 10th’ features 16,000 square feet of health and fitness options.
Fit Amenities:
Juice bar
Yoga and pilates studio
Boxing ring with punching bags
Peloton equipment
Weight station
Cross-training/Crossfit
Spa/treatment rooms
Sauna/steam rooms
Locker rooms
Outdoor terrace/training
The Fit Boutique
The construction has started but once the development is complete, Natiivo Miami will be one of the 25 tallest buildings in Miami. If you or someone you know has an interest in purchasing a Natiivo Miami Unit, please contact Lucas Lechuga via email at [email protected] or by phone at 786-247-6332.
Miami Commissioners Vote to Regulate Shared Bikes (and Whatever Happened to the Scooters?)
It was just over one year ago in June of 2017 that Lime (the California startup formerly known as LimeBike) rolled out its dockless bike-sharing services in Key Biscayne as the company’s first U.S. city launch.It wasn’t long before the program expanded to cities all over the country and further across Miami, including suburban neighborhoods as far as Kendall and Miami Lakes.Competitors like Ofo and Spin surfaced soon after as the concept gained popularity. The idea was simple – download an app, find a nearby bike using location services, input your payment info, and pay as you go.Whereas Citibikes requires riders to return their bicycle to a docking station upon finishing their ride, Lime and Oto allow riders to leave them anywhere.
The convenience offered by the dockless programs is a huge hit with riders, but with that convenience also comes the dangers of abandoned bikes all over the city.Stray bicycles have been seen blocking access to public ways, along busy sidewalks, in the front yards of private homes, and in some rare cases, dumped in the ocean or hanging from trees.With Miami traffic being amongst the worse in the country, the demand for the program is clear, but lawmakers in many cities have struggled to regulate it.The difficulty lies in protecting public safety without stripping away the programs’ key feature.
Last Tuesday, July 10th, Miami city commissioners voted in favor of 3 different resolutions aimed at regulating the bike-sharing programs.The resolutions include $100 fines for unattended bikes left in county rights of way, with removal by the Department of Transportation and Public Works.The county was also asked to prepare studies that will help determine the needs of future regulation, and whether or not to create designated parking areas for the dockless bikes.
As for the dockless electric scooters, which appeared to have taken over Brickell almost overnight and then were suddenly gone only weeks later – the two providers (Bird and Lime) temporarily pulled out after receiving cease and desist letters from the city, citing violations of Florida statute.A spokesperson for Lime shared that over 10,000 residents and visitors of Miami made nearly 30,000 scooter trips between April and June.Lime general manager for Miami, Jed Fluxman, said in a statement, “With such strong ridership, we are committed to serving the community for the long-term and will temporarily pause operations in order to work with the City of Miami on fair, sensible regulations that cement Lime’s place in the Miami community for years to come.”While the timing is uncertain, it appears this won’t be the last of seeing Brickell bankers and professionals donning suit and ties aboard electric scooters, nor is there any end to dockless bike programs in sight.
Alex Rodriguez Visits Midtown Miami for Possible Second Site of UFC Gym
Yesterday afternoon, along with business associate Jason Figorski, Alex Rodgriguez toured a commercial space at Eve at the District in Midtown Miami in search of a site to open his second UFC gym in Miami-Dade County. The former MLB All-Star’s first UFC gym opened last August in Kendall.
The above photo was shared on Alex Rodriguez Instagram account as a story. Jason Figorski later shared the following post on his Instagram account with the following caption and hashtags:
Brightline is Bringing Premium Hospitality to South Florida’s Passenger Rail Service
Beginning this Saturday, Brightline will take passenger train travel to a whole new level with introductory service running between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. For a one-way ticket aboard their 66-seat Smart Coach, fares will start at $10. For an extra $5, you can hop aboard their Select Coach, which is basically their equivalent of a first-class cabin. Kids up to the age of 12 will receive a 50% discount while senior citizens and veterans will get a 10% discount. The introductory service will include ten daily round trips throughout the week and nine on the weekends, each with travel times averaging between 30 to 35 minutes. Trains will depart between 6am and 11pm, with schedules varying between weekdays and weekends.
Once full service begins, there will be 16 daily round trips. As of now, the train will only travel to and from Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. In the coming months, once construction on Miami Central Station is completed, service will extend to and from Miami with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Miami Central Station is located in Downtown Miami, right off NW 1st Ave and between NW 3rd St and NW 8th St.
Phase two construction, which will extend the route all the way to Orlando, is expected to begin in the first quarter of this year with completion projected for 2021. Great news for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando, as it connects Central and South Florida in a much needed way!
