Inspiring Women. Graceful Living.
SPRING 2018
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Meet me in
Miami By Angela Caraway-Carlton
While most tourists flock directly to showy South Beach, locals know the real action is on the mainland. Over the last few years, Miami has quickly matured into a nucleus of world-class art, high-end fashion, chef-driven restaurants, and luxury hotels. Here’s a local’s guide to experiencing the sunny city by neighborhood — plus, why February is the best time to be there. (Hint: it involves brunch with Southern darling Trisha Yearwood.)
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Aerial view of the spectacular Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club.
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An aerial view of Wynwood Walls Garden as guests wander through the murals. Photo by: Will Graham Roasted cauliflower with creamy goat cheese and a shishito herb vinaigrette served up at Wynwood’s KYU restaurant. Photo by: Juan Fernando Ayora Frozen desserts at Cielito Artisan Pops can be dipped in chocolate and adorned with endless toppings from torched marshmallows to sprinkles.
WYNWOOD ARTS DISTRICT While the premier art show Art Basel only takes place once a year in Miami, Wynwood is bursting with mind-blowing art all year round. Plus, with some of the best food spots in the city and enough breweries for a day-long craft beer crawl, the neighborhood is worthy of several stops during vacation.
MUST SEE/DO: With 50-city blocks packed with vivid street art and sky-high murals by renowned and emerging artists from around the world, you can spend hours wandering the streets and snapping Instagramworthy photos. Start your tour at the neighborhood’s backbone, Wynwood Walls, a maze of eclectic walls that are always evolving, then peruse art galleries and locally owned shops such as lifestyle boutique Frangipani and funky clothing shop Nomad Tribe. You can also join the massive crowds for Art Walk, a huge block party that happens every second Saturday. wynwoodmiami.com; frangipanimiami.com; nomadtribeshop.com
MUST EAT/DRINK: Fuel your morning with a cold brew at neighborhood institution Panther Coffee, where you’ll sit outside on their shaded patio for endless people watching. A must-stop for lunch or dinner is buzzy Asian-barbeque restaurant KYU (Time magazine recently named it “Best Restaurant in Florida”), where standouts include soft shell crab steamed buns, a head of roasted cauliflower that’s meant to mingle with creamy goat cheese and a shishito herb vinaigrette, and Korean fried chicken that’s fried twice for extra crispiness. panthercoffee.com; kyumiami.com 10
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Miami has joined the nationwide doughnut craze, and Wynwood boasts two tasty contenders. Brave the lines at Salty Donut for artisanal doughnuts in addictive flavors like maple bacon or guava and cream cheese; or pop-in nearby Federal Doughnuts, the first location outside Philly, which shines with hot cinnamon brown sugar doughnuts and a fried chicken sandwich with a strong following. Since it’s always hot in Miami, visit Cielito Artisan Pops for cold treats that can be dipped in Venezuelan chocolate and adorned with anything from torched marshmallows to edible rose petals. saltydonut. com; federaldonuts.com; cielitoartisanpops.com Craft beer lovers can bounce between four different breweries like J. Wakefield Brewing; or for creative cocktails and a bird’s-eye view of the artsy ‘hood, find the private entrance to Wynwood’s first and only rooftop lounge, No. 3 Social. jwakefieldbrewing.com; no3social.com
MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT Located just a few minutes north of Wynwood — so you can visit both neighborhoods in a day — the Miami Design District is an 18-block creative hub of art, design, architecture, high fashion, and fine dining that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
MUST SEE/DO: Fashionistas will set their credit cards on fire at more than 60 luxury fashion boutiques such as Gucci, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Louboutin, Prada, and perfume house Creed — all of which have unique facades to match the cutting-edge neighborhood. (Don’t miss taking a “selfie” in front of the vivid orange walls of Fendi.)
“Fly’s Eye Dome” by architect Buckminster Fuller is a must-see public installation in the center of Palm Court.
Delicious authentic Cuban bites at Estefan Kitchen.
The bright orange walls of Fendi are one of the most photographed spots in the District. Photo by: Robin Hill A giant mural of birds in a lush forest by artist Robin Hill in Jungle Plaza Mural in Miami Design District’s Jungle. Visitors can find shelter under “Nuage,” a steel, cloud-like canopy designed by French brothers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec.
Since the District has attracted the world’s most desirable artists and architects, the neighborhood is dotted with can’t-miss public installations like “Fly’s Eye Dome,” a larger-than-life dome by architect Buckminster Fuller; a bronze sculpture of a skeleton at a “Bus Stop” fashioned by Urs Fischer; and “Nuage,” a steel cloud-like canopy designed by French brothers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, who were recently commissioned to modernize the new fountains on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Even parking garages are extraordinary — with real cars that dangle off the wall to a black Japanese manga, French Baroque, and Renaissance-inspired façade, the new Museum Garage will make you stop and stare. miamidesigndistrict.net
To further immerse yourself in grand art, check out the shiny new location of Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) — you can roam their exhibition galleries and sculpture garden for free. Every Friday evening, catch a free outdoor concert in the neighborhood’s centerpiece, Palm Court, produced by music legend Emilio Estefan. icamiami.org
MUST EAT/DRINK: Fill your belly with handmade croquetas and lechón-topped flatbreads at Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s new upscale Cuban restaurant Estefan Kitchen. You’ll be “on your feet” thanks to nightly live music and waiters who belt out tunes. estefankitchen.com For a romantic dinner, reserve a table at Mandolin Aegean Bistro, an intimate 1940’s bungalow that serves Turkish and Greek Isles-inspired cuisine. Sit in the twinkling outdoor courtyard where you’ll dine on plates of kabobs, lamb chops, and grilled octopus while sipping rose-water sangria. mandolinmiami.com Still to come: The food game intensifies in the District later in 2018, with the opening of three concepts by French chef and restaurateur Joël Robuchon, who’s known for his Parisian stand-out L’Atelier; an outpost of New York-favorite ABC Kitchen by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; and a massive food hall concept from New Orleans’ iconic St. Roch Market. ELYSIAN
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