AQUA SEPTEMEBER 2026
MIAMI
THE SPICE OF LIFE
GASTROPUB RISHTEDAR 305
STORIES OF SURVIVAL AUTHOR JASMINE NGUYEN-SANDOVAL
Business With A Mission OSCAR MOREJON’S
JOHN BELL CONSTRUCTION
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THE RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, NAPLES ARE NOT OWNED, SOLD OR DEVELOPED BY THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY, L.L.C. OR ITS AFFILIATES (“THE RITZ-CARLTON”). STOCK RESIDENCES, USES THE RITZ-CARLTON MARKS UNDER A LICENSE FROM THE RITZ-CARLTON, WHICH HAS NOT CONFIRMED THE ACCURACY OF ANY OF THE STATEMENTS OR REPRESENTATIONS MADE HEREIN. ORAL REPRESENTATION CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY THE DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. ALL RENDERINGS AND PLANS ARE PROPOSED CONCEPTS SHOWN ONLY FOR MARKETING PURPOSES AND ARE BASED ON THE DEVELOPER’S CURRENT PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN DEVELOPER’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE. NOTHING HEREIN OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SHALL BE DEEMED TO OBLIGATE THE DEVELOPER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF DEVELOPER, TO CONSTRUCT THE PROJECT OR OFFER ANY OF THE PROJECT FOR SALE, AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED A GUARANTY OF ANY KIND. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SALE OR SOLICITATIONS OF OFFERS TO BUY.
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Artist’s Conceptual Rendering
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ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. THIS OFFERING IS MADE ONLY BY THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS FOR THE CONDOMINIUM AND NO STATEMENT SHOULD BE RELIED UPON IF NOT MADE IN THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS. THIS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL, OR SOLICITATION OF OFFERS TO BUY, THE CONDOMINIUM UNITS IN STATES WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION CANNOT BE MADE. PRICES, PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
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MichaelMartinezrealtor1 @ michaelmartinezrealtor Michael J. Martinez
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CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2026
24 32
F E AT UR E S
24
Built on Faith
At only 36 years old, Oscar Morejon heads one of the fastest-growing general contracting and construction management firms in Miami. And he’s just getting started. 30
The Spice of Life
Rishtedar revolutionized South Asian cuisine in Miami. Now, with Rishtedar 305, it sets its sights on Indian street for Bollywood vibes. 32
18
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Stories of Resilience and Survival
An author and publisher pulls from her experiences as a registered nurse and former combat medic to write therapeutic, affecting fiction.
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CO LUM N S
30
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EDITOR’S NOTE Falling Forward
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WANDERLUST Happy Trails!
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HOME FRONT Feel-Good Fall Fashion
38
PEOPLE WE KNOW Soul in Motion
39
GATHERINGS In the Air Tonight
40
PHOTO OP Calle Ocho Close-Up
COVER
Oscar Morejon
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Advertising Director Daisy Abreu daisy.abreu@wainscotmedia.com
S
FALLING FORWARD “SEPTEMBER TRIES its best,” the English philosopher Bernard Williams once notes, “to have us forget summer.” Of course, in Miami the first month of fall has its work cut out for it, going up against a summer that—if not exactly endless—is decidedly persistent. And while as a transplant from New England I can certainly attest to the grandeur, beauty, and sneaky profundity of the turning leaves and distinct demarcations between seasons, there is also something comforting and inspiring about having a more sprawling canvas across which to paint our lives.
Could we use a few more metaphorical reminders about the circle of life? Probably! And if the pace (not to mention cost!) of living could embrace a new “pump the breaks” era, I think we’d all let loose a sigh of relief. But if life teaches you anything, it’s that all beautiful and worthwhile things come with a price. That’s the only contrast we have to imbue that with purpose, value, and love. So, fly north if you need to peep some leaves or enjoy that sweater weather. When you arrive back in the MIA, though, remember it’s still a gift to live in a city where fall whispers in your ear, “Go on: Keep planting, keep growing, keep rising. There’s time left yet.” We’ll be here documenting it this month and beyond. As always, send me your ideas and tips for what we should cover next.
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Editor Shawn Macomber shawn.macomber@wainscotmedia.com Contributor Gerry Barker WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden SVP, Group Publisher Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle Art Director Rosemary O’Connell Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden
Shawn Macomber Editor @aqua_miami_mag aquamiamimag.com
Have a story idea? 16 / AQUA MIAMI
Creative Director Kijoo Kim
Email the editor: Shawn.Macomber@wainscotmedia.com
AQUA Miami magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pinecrest and surrounding areas of South Florida, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
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www.sanctuaryofthearts.org @sanctuaryofthearts
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WANDERLUST The Painted Desert
Our intrepid travel correspondent gets his kicks on Route 66 and beyond. BY GERRY BARKER
WHILE MY WIFE Pam and I enjoy all modes of travel, one unique tradition is particularly close to our hearts: The Great American Road Trip. It’s the only way to truly experience the country up close and personal. Plus, it’s great for uncovering those hidden gems you won’t find on maps. Over the years, we have crisscrossed the country time and again. Few of our itineraries, however, have been as ambitious as our recent drive from the Palm Beaches to Palm Springs, California, and back—over 6,500 miles round trip—coasting along the old Route 66 as well as the Arizona highway that replaced it, Interstate 40. Our initial destination was Sedona, where we met up with some dear friends eager to showcase all that Arizona has to offer. As we discovered, there’s a lot more to see than just the Grand Canyon.
The Painted Desert. Located along I-40 within the Petrified Forest National Park, some 50 miles west of New Mexico, we stop here to admire Nature’s color handiwork. Created over millions of years of erosion from Triassic sandstone, it’s a vivid landscape of multi-hued colors in every shade of red, orange, pink, and lavender. While you’re here, plan to drop by The Painted Desert Inn. Originally built using petrified wood as the Stone Tree House in 1924, it’s now a National Historic Landmark serving as a museum. Sedona. This New Age mecca is internationally famous for its wellness retreats, shopping, recreation, and spectacular scenery. As I-40 dipped south of Flagstaff to join I-77, our friends wisely advised us to take State Route 89A into Sedona. Designated an official National Scenic Byway, around every hairpin turn is a new, stunning vista, including Oak
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GERRY BARKER
Happy Trails!
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Mogollon Rim Elk
Sedona Red Rocks
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GERRY BARKER
Restaurant in Jerome.
Creek Canyon and Slide Rock State Park. Sedona itself is surrounded by picturesque red rock canyons, buttes, and pine forests, with a bustling downtown featuring art galleries, New Age shops, and restaurants. People travel from the world over to marvel at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the red rock cliffs, as well as the famous Cathedral Rock, a sandstone monolith. We hiked one of the area’s 200 trails, as well as took a Pink Jeep tour into the backcountry. Also known as “Little Hollywood,” the red rock canyons have served as the setting of more than 300 movies. Jerome. Built on a steep mountainside at 5,000 feet elevation, 25 miles southwest of Sedona is the historic mining town of Jerome. Originally a copper camp, it was named after Eugene Jerome, who backed the United Verde Copper Company. Once known as “The Wickedest Town in the West,” it’s now a
thriving arts community of 500 residents, hosting nearly 100,000 tourists a year. We had lunch at the Jerome Grand Hotel, a former hospital famous for its paranormal activity and ghost tours. Pack good walking shoes to traverse the near-vertical streets. In the 1930s, mining blasts caused the town’s jail to slide 200 feet downhill, where it still rests today. Mogollon Rim. Take SR-260 East out of Payson, and you’ll find what is sometimes called Arizona’s “Alpine Region.” An escarpment that rises 8,000 feet, it defines the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau. With cliffs of sandstone and limestone, the Mogollon Rim Country offers spectacular views of Ponderosa pine forests and features a number of pristine mountain lakes—as well as thriving herds of elk, which happily posed for
Verde Valley Winery
photos. The name Mogollon comes from Don Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollón, the Spanish Governor of New Mexico from 1712 to 1715 Verde Valley. Near Sedona is the Verde Valley, a premier destination for wine lovers. Here the high desert’s hot and dry climate mimics the Rhone Valley in France. We visited a number of wineries where red varietals are the star of the show, made from syrah and grenache grapes. Here you’ll also find the Verde Canyon Railroad, where we boarded a train in the historic town of Clarkdale for an almost five-hour, roundtrip excursion to Perkinsville, a ghost town featured in the movie, How the West Was Won. The railroad also
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WANDERLUST
features wine excursions, which offer the best of both worlds. Wilcox. In the Southeastern part of the state, you’ll find the town of Wilcox—aka, the Wine Capital of Arizona, where nearly three-quarters of the state’s wine grapes originate. Back in the 1930s, it also had the title “Cattle Capital of the World,” given that it was the largest shipping point for range cattle in the United States. Along with doing a winery tour, we stopped by the Rex Allen Museum, which traces the life and times of the Gene Autry-esque “singing cowboy” who gained fame as the star of such classic 1950’s westerns as The Arizona Cowboy, narrated the classic 1963 Disney film The Incredible Journey and HannaBarbera’s 1973 feature-length interpretation of Charlotte’s Web, and recorded popular albums such as Under Western Skies and Boney Kneed Hairy Legged Cowboy Songs. Nature lovers will marvel at the hoodoo rock formations in nearby Chiricahua National Monument. This “Wonderland of Rocks” is a tapestry of gravity-defying rock spires. We wrapped up our time here with a visit to Apple Annie’s Orchard, a pick-your-own-fruit farm famous for its homemade fudge, fruit pies, and apple cider donuts. Regarding the latter—we’ll take a dozen, please, for the road. Tombstone. It just doesn’t get more touristy than Tombstone, the site of the Wild West’s most famous shootout at the O.K. Corral. A quick refresher: On Oct. 26, 1881, Doc Holliday, the three Earp brothers—Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan—squared off against the ClantonMcLaury gang. We arrived there just in time to join a rousing re-enactment. Founded in 1877, its rich silver deposits ignited a boom that ballooned the population to 10,000 by the mid-1880s and funded a grand opera house, four churches, an ice cream parlor and over 100 saloons/ bordellos, as well as over 100 silver mines. The “Town too Tough to Die” survived two major fires before groundwater flooding put the mines out of business for good in the late 1880s. Then tourism saved the day. Include a stop at the Bird Cage Theatre, with its 140 bullet holes in the walls and ceilings, as well as guided tours of two silver mines, the “Good Enough Mine” and the “Toughnut Mine.” And no visit is complete without browsing the tombstones at Boot Hill Cemetery. Among the famous epitaphs are the words written on Wells Fargo station agent Lester Moore’s tombstone: “Here lies Lester Moore, Four slugs from a .44, No Les, No more.”
Chiricahua National Monument
Tombstone
Boot Hill Graveyard
Tombstone Bird Cage Theatre
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HOME FRONT
FeelGood Fall Fashion Local actress, reiki master, and personal stylist Cristina Menendez is empowering aspiring fashionistas one lifeaffirming outfit at a time. BY SHAWN MACOMBER
FROM PUTTING ON runway shows on South Beach as a marketing director for Saks Fifth Avenue to providing luxury styling to VICs (Very Important Clients) at Burberry, native Miamian Cristina Menendez is no stranger to haute couture. Now, after years of working as an artist, actress, certified reiki master, sound bowl player, meditation coach, and more—many tricks in this bag, there are—Menendez is accepting styling clients again, both in-person and virtually, on a mission to merge self-actualization coaching practices with an approach to fashion that is accessible, holistic, and, ultimately, uplifting. “For too many people, putting together outfits and getting dressed often feels like a chore, not a choice,” Menendez tells AQUA
Miami. “Which is a huge roadblock to allowing themselves to embrace a personal style that will bring them joy and empower them to walk through the world with confidence. So, I encourage people not to dread the process, but to have fun with it and experiment. Make fashion a part of the art of your life—style is the palette; you are the canvas. To me, fashion isn’t about impressing others but finding fun ways to let your true essence reveal itself.” Menendez recently took time out of her busy schedule preparing for her upcoming role as the prosecutor in the immersive, experiential play The Jury Experience on Sept. 27 at the Manuel Artime Theater to give AQUA Miami a primer in fall fashion success.
CHANGE UP YOUR COLOR PALETTE
Just because the weather didn’t get the “Hey, it’s fall!” memo doesn’t mean you have to keep playing by summer rules. “The first thing that you can do to help it feel more like fall when it’s still 500 degrees outside in South Florida is to trade in all the light beiges and whites for autumn colors,” Menendez says. “Reach for those emerald greens, the burgundies, the burnt oranges, the marigolds. By simply adding those colors back into your wardrobe, you can begin to conjure that fall vibe.” A Menendez pro tip: Navy, black, and espresso brown are fashion-forward choices this season.
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CRISTINA MENENDEZ
LAYERING LAYUP
Layering in Miami may be a bit more complicated thanks to the aforementioned heat—wool and suede are never likely to be big sellers in the Magic City—but it’s still an important tool in your style toolkit. “To me, a tank top as a first layer is always a good idea—just so you have a very light foundation,” Menendez says. “From there, switching up from, say, linen as a second layer to a slightly heavier cropped jean top can change the entire tone of an outfit.” Most denim companies now make featherweight tops and bottoms, expanding the possibilities (and seasons) in which those pieces can be used. “You can also play with proportions. If you are layering up top, consider wearing shorts on the bottom rather than pants.”
EMBRACE MAGIC CITY MAGIC
Fall is a very active time in Miami. The always amazing Arsht Center season gets underway. A massive number of satellite events leading up to Art Basel begin the weekend of Thanksgiving. “Halloween is also huge here,” Menendez says with a laugh, “because people can go out naked and they’re not going to freeze.” All of
an emerald green or a sapphire. “Just stay in that fall color palette,” she adds, “and the possibilities are endless.”
which is to say, people flock from around the world to Miami in the fall and winter just to enjoy the bikini weather we are blessed with year-round. “We’ve been blessed with this amazing climate and beautiful surroundings, so make the most of it,” Menendez says. “Gratitude is key.”
ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE
When it comes to fall accessorizing, Menendez first suggests a chic scarf. “Nothing heavy like cashmere or wool, obviously, but a silk or satin scarf is a fun piece that can both look great and actually cool you down,” she says, adding that as far as jewelry goes: “Mixing metals is very in,” she says. “Silver is making a huge comeback. For fall, my advice would be to keep the jewel and the tone in the same family. So, if you’re wearing a burgundy top, add a garnet or ruby jewel tone.” If you want to mix things up even more, Menendez says, offset by selecting another jewel tone with
LET IT GO
As with manifestation, style often flows from an intentional positive emotional state. “People can get very shy and anxious about showing you their closet or trying clothes on,” Menendez says. “But to really put an outfit together properly, I need you to put it on. Let me see where everything is falling, and then I can make you 50 outfits in ten minutes. To get there takes some warming up and trust-building.” To get the vibe where it needs to be, she’ll often play inspiring, rousing music, letting the process unfold in a natural way. “I’ll just start throwing outfits on the bed in a kind of casual way sometimes, chatting,” Menendez says. “And usually once there’s five or six things laid out, and the mood is relaxed, you’ll see them get more engaged and excited. It’ll all about communicating to a client, ‘This is fun, this is play.’” For more information, follow Cristina Menendez on Instagram at @cristyhappyplace.
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Built on Faith
(Left to right) Vice President of Pre-Construction Jazz Machin, President and Founder Oscar Morejon, and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Albert Faz.
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At only 36 years old, Oscar Morejon heads one of the fastest-growing general contracting and construction management firms in Miami. And he’s just getting started. BY SHAWN MACOMBER
S
Morejon on-site at the Coconut Grove Playhouse.
SOMETIMES THE builder of souls is not content to subtly whisper a life’s calling into one’s heart; sometimes providence goes further, deeper, seemingly writing the foreshadowing of destiny directly into our genetic code. How else to explain the photographs of John Bell Construction Founder and President Oscar Morejon as a child as young as four or five, cheerfully holding a hammer, a paintbrush, landscaping tools, following his father around the yard to lend a hand to paint a fence, build a deck, or assemble a piece of furniture? “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this inclination toward working with my hands—toward building, creating,” Morejon tells AQUA Miami. “The seed was always there.” Of course, even a seed planted by fate
needs metaphorical water to grow. At age 15 Morejon asked his parents for a car to shuttle back and forth from baseball practice, his father instead gave him a pressure cleaner. “My dad told me if I pressure-cleaned enough houses and driveways, I could afford whatever kind of car I wanted, including a Ferrari.” Morejon chuckles as he recalls this decidedly anti-silver-spoon moment. Before long, he had a thriving handyman side hustle that not only put cash in his pocket but would prove to be the first step on a wildly successful entrepreneurial journey that continues to this day. “I have never known what a handout is—and I’m grateful not to know, honestly. Everything I’ve accomplished has been through hard work, perseverance, and the favor of the Lord.”
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SCALING UP
Morejon grew up in West Miami, the last of four, born a full ten years after his closest sibling. His father is a jeweler, his mother, a teacher—immigrants who placed a high value on hard-work and gratitude. Both of his parents had come to the United States from Cuba as unaccompanied minors in the early 1960s as part of Operación Pedro Pan—the program between the U.S. State Department and Catholic Charities of Miami that secured a special visa waiver to more than 14,000 children between the ages of four and sixteen to flee Castro’s regime without their parents or other adult family members. Both had lived in foster homes, had to learn a new language, and, after meeting in Miami, built a life from scratch. One day by chance—if such a thing truly exists—his father passed a jewelry store seeking someone to clean the shop and made the most of the opportunity, becoming a master jeweler. “60 years later, he’s still sitting in that chair, making these custom, one-of-a-kind pieces by hand,” Morejon says. “What my dad does is truly remarkable. He has an incredible eye for detail and the steadiest hand you’ve ever seen. He could’ve been an amazing architect, engineer, doctor, anything. I respect him so much.” Still, Morejon’s father kept a little bit of separation between his son and the jewelry business. “I think he wanted to be sure I went to school and chose my own path freely rather than just slide into a family business, you know? But I still learned so much from him about being a forever student of your craft— about how you can’t cut corners striving for excellence.” Eventually, father and son alike will construct beautiful things. The difference, foundationally, a mere matter of scale.
Top: (Left to right) Foreman Mauricio Bernal, Superintendent Enrique Estopinan, and Superintendent Brayan Sanchez. Left: A childhood photograph of Morejon.
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Pediatric Gastroenterology and Associates.
THE PATH
After high school, Morejon enrolled at Miami Dade College to study engineering and architecture. He earned decent grades but was feeling something less than inspired. “I had to study for hours and hours to get Bs and Cs,” Morejon says. “I would have to read the same chapter in the textbook three or four times to get it.” Luckily, a mentor of his, Pedro Rebodero, pulled him aside for a timely heartto-heart. “Before he died, he told me, bluntly, ‘I don’t know why you’re wasting your time with architecture and engineering. What you should do is study construction management.’” Morejon took the advice, switching his concentration to construction management technology—and quickly regained his enthusiasm for learning. His grades soon skyrocketed into easy A territory. “All of a sudden, I was really understanding and appreciating what I was studying,” he says. “I almost couldn’t believe this was an actual career. Instead of resistance and resignation, I just felt so much peace—I instinctively knew I had found the path to doing something I love for the rest of my life.”
Morejon continued his education at Florida International University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in construction management. (Somewhere Rebodero surely smiled.) At a FIU career fair, however, he hit an unexpected roadblock in attempting to secure the all-important college internship. After five or six unsuccessful interviews, struggling to project what he thought a given company wanted him to be, Morejon decided to approach his interview with Suffolk Construction from a place of radical honesty: “Look, we both know I have no experience,” he told the recruiter. “But I love this stuff, and I can promise you no one is going to outwork me, period.” He landed the internship and was pleasantly surprised to discover it was paid. “My dream work and a paycheck? It seemed almost too good to be true.” The company immediately tossed Morejon into the deep end, working on the complex, now beloved mixed-use Met 3, a project comprised of two high-rises—one 32 stories, the other 28—with a bottom-level Whole Foods in the heart of downtown Miami and a 12-story parking garage with a basement,
not uncommon in SFLA. “I had incredible bosses and mentors on those projects,” Morejon says of Suffolk’s now-Vice President of Operations Armando Diaz and then-general superintendent Jerry Snell. “They taught me everything I know about construction and leadership. I was like a sponge, soaking it all up.” The internship was extended. In fact, the company wanted to hire him outright as an assistant superintendent in the fall. The only problem? He wasn’t scheduled to graduate until the spring, and the company didn’t offer full-time positions to candidates without a bachelor’s degree. The situation seemed impossible—in fact, the school’s dean and Morejon’s academic advisor said as much—but Morejon was determined to prove that where there is a will, there are straight As. He loaded up on summer courses, taking six or seven classes even as he worked nearly 80 hours a week, pouring concrete in the morning and evening, attending classes during the day, burning the midnight oil writing papers and completing assignments in the dead of night. “I was told over and over again it couldn’t be done,” Morejon says. “I was like, ‘Do you really
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think I haven’t heard that before?!’” Morejon graduated in the fall and accepted the Suffolk position. In these post-recession years, construction budgets were still tight and Morejon had an expansive purview and an wild amount of responsibility for a 28-yearold recent grad—which he, of course, ate up eagerly, learning the ins and outs of technical skills such as waterproofing, how to read blueprints, and maintain schedules as well as interpersonal skills of getting out in front of
conflicts, managing different personalities, and nurturing harmony on the site. Morejon built a reputation as an active supervisor, always willing to grab a shovel or a broom. “If you want to be a good and effective leader who truly understands what is needed on a project and has the respect of your employees, you have to work alongside your people,” Morejon says. “There is no other way.” Morejon also met and married his future wife, Isabella, during this time. (Like his sister and cousin’s wedding rings, Morejon’s father handcrafted his and Isabella’s symbols of lifetime commitment…) Which is how it came to pass that in early 2016, as Suffolk debated where to move Morejon internally after the completion of Met-3, the newlywed turned to his beloved bride and said: “Babe, I know this is going to sound crazy…but I think we should start our own company.”
KEEP THE FAITH
Admittedly, the plan had a few wrinkles. Morejon had no office or general contractor license, for starters. Also, Isabella was still in nursing school and not earning money. The couple had a grand total of a thousand bucks in the bank. (Their rent at the time was $1450.) A faithful servant, Morejon prayed on it: God, if this is the wrong choice, close every single door towards it, make your will obvious to us. Yet, rather than doors closing, he only felt greater certainty opening in his heart and mind. “If God has called us to do this,” Morejon told Isabella, “I think we need to be obedient and do it.” And then the bottom fell out. Or so it seemed. Morejon planned to resign on a Friday. That Wednesday he took the exam for his general contracting license…and failed. “I didn’t understand how this could be happening,” Morejon said. “But I still felt convicted. I felt as if God was saying, ‘So, how much do you truly want this? How much do you believe in this? What are you willing to sacrifice?’ I decided to keep the faith and resign anyway.” He would sell mangoes and pressure-clean houses and
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Venetian Pool, Town of Golden Beach Wellness Center, El Jardin Inn.
driveways while he studied to take the test again, he told himself. “Everybody thought I was nuts,” he says. “Some people still think I’m kind of crazy. But I felt favor from above.” Shades of Abraham and Issac on Mount Moriah, the following Tuesday, Morejon received a call from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Turns out the wrong machine had been used to scan his exam. He had actually passed his general contracting exam with a score in the high nineties. “That was the exact moment I knew that we were going to be a successful company,” Morejon says. Rejuvenated and consecrated, Morejon went to work. He named his company John Bell—a combination of the “jon” from Morejon and the “bell” from Isabella—and went about building the client base in the same oldfashioned way he learned from his pressure cleaning days: knocking on doors, cold calling. Small jobs started to trickle in—a window reseal here, an air conditioning unit change-out there—and taught himself as he went. Soon he graduated to a bathroom renovation, then a kitchen, then an entire house. Isabella, then as
now, was critical to the success. “My wife might not work day-to-day at John Bell, but she knows pretty much everything that’s happening on every job and has been beyond instrumental in our success,” Morejon says. “She’s an incredible wife and mother, and I would not be where I am today without here.” By July, Morejon hired his first employee—a good friend and one of the employees from the pressure cleaning and odd jobs business, in a lovely twist. To this day, John Bell Construction continues to grow organically, the mighty oak rising from the modest acorn. “I still strongly feel that when we land a job, it’s a job that God wants for us,” Morejon says. “When we don’t, it’s protection by God or part of a larger plan that it isn’t our place to know. It’s not always easy to set doubt aside and truly live by faith and not by sight, but working as hard as we can to do so is a massive part of my life and our company.”
SET APART
John Bell is built around four core values: Strive to be set apart. (Through the charitable John Bell Foundation, the company also seeks
to fund “positive change through educational initiatives and community development programs.”). Excellence is what is expected. Teamwork is the key to success. Take pride in everything you do. A few years ago, the company shifted from residential work to commercial, government, and healthcare projects. In the decade since founding the company, not only have the projects steadily rolled in, but so have the accolades—General Contractor of the Year from the American Institute of Architects; Best Place to Work from South Florida Business Journal. Morejon has also received the key to the city from both Coral Gables and his hometown of West Miami. But all that pales in comparison to an honor Morejon received recently after touring a job site with his father. He didn’t say much about it to his son in the moment—he is a man of few words, Morejon says. Later, Morejon asked his mother if his father had mentioned anything to her about the visit. “Oh, he has not stopped talking since he got back about how impressed he is with everything you’re doing, all that you’ve accomplished,” she told him. “He says he sees in you everything he wished for his own life.” “I had never heard anything like that from him—and it means more to me than anything else ever could,” Morejon says. “It reminded me that what we do with this company is bigger than year-end numbers or accolades. Don’t get me wrong, that’s all important and a blessing, too. But I want that to flow from us staying true to our core values, our faith, and from being a company that has a good reputation, a strong team—one that every single employee and their families can be proud of. The numbers and opportunities will come. I think that when you stop chasing the money and start chasing the dream, you have a lot more peace and a lot more success.” For more information, visit johnbellconstruction.com.
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The Spice of Life Wynwood mainstay Rishtedar revolutionized South Asian cuisine in Miami. Now with sister gastropub Rishtedar 305, it sets its sights on Indian street for Bollywood vibes.
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BY SHAWN MACOMBER
FROM THE MOMENT Rishtedar opened its doors in August 2022, the exquisite, innovative menu of this upscale Indian cuisine by way of Chile not only completely redefined and elevated the perception of what is possible in South Asian fare but also demonstrated that a marriage of ancient tradition and modernity could thrive in the hustle and bustle of ultrachic Wynwood. Earlier this year, the proprietors changed the game once again. Rishtedar 305, a sister gastropub situated directly next door to its flagship restaurant, merges a magical, immersive, ambience—think major exuberant, kaleidoscopic Bollywood vibes, often complete with whirling belly dancers and DJs—with a crazy delectable Indian street food menu (crispy paneer, sheek kabab, crispy eggplant, and butter chicken sandwiches; Mumbai hot dogs; masala and murgh tikka fries) and Indian inspired cocktails and mocktails blessed with aromatic spices (spicy mango margarita; masala mule, hurto hindu). It is, in short,
experiential dining at its best. AQUA Miami recently spoke with Rishtedar owner Vikram Thadani about his journey from a restaurateur in Santiago—he was born in Chile to Indian parents; rishtedar is a Hindi word that roughly translates to “kin” or “family”—to building an enduring institution in a Miami neighborhood infamous for churn and ephemerality. Rishtedar 305 is such an amazing space! How long did it take the concept to evolve? The restaurant itself was an adaptation of a concept we had already refined in Chile over many years—but the bar was built completely from scratch. When we took over the space, it was literally raw sand. We had to install everything, including a grease trap system, structural reinforcements, and full bar infrastructure. It was a true ground-up build, which took time. We signed the lease and began developing Rishtedar 305 back in 2023.
How do you see this complementing Rishtedar proper? Do you envision a synergy/flow between the two? Rishtedar 305 was designed to elevate the beverage experience to the same level as the cuisine. There is a deep cultural expectation of quality and abundance when it comes to alcohol service. Indian hospitality, especially at high-end celebrations, takes beverages very seriously—as you could see at events like the Ambani wedding. [Editor’s Note: The multi-nation, multimonth wedding celebrations of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani—son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in Asia—cost more than $600 million and featured performances by such American pop luminaries as Rihanna, Katy Perry, Pitbull, Justin Bieber, and others.] Our restaurants have always focused on refined portions and balance. We don’t believe in grotesque excess; we believe in elegance, flavor, and intention. The addition of the large central bar expanded that philosophy into the drink program. It allowed us to curate a serious
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selection and craft an experience that matches the culinary journey. And that seems to extend to all other areas of the guest experience, right? Yes. Rishtedar is not just a place to dine; it is a place to stay. With the bar, the show continues. Guests can transition from dinner to cocktails seamlessly, increasing both capacity and flow. For some, the restaurant and bar are distinct destinations. For others, they are two chapters of the same story—one immersive evening.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TK
Wynwood always feels in a state of flux, but more and more Rishtedar feels like a fixture/anchor of the neighborhood. What do you believe these two symbiotic establishments bring to the current Wynwood ecosystem? Wynwood is a roller coaster—one day you’re at the peak, the next you realize the landscape has shifted. It’s dynamic, creative, and constantly evolving. What excites me is that Rishtedar is beginning to feel like a fixture—almost a classic in the neighborhood. We see guests coming from far away, including many from the Indian community who travel specifically to experience it. That means a lot. What we contribute is art, culture, and a full
sensory experience. Very few Indian restaurants in the U.S. approach the cuisine this way—as an immersive cultural expression rather than just food service. Coming from Chile, we developed a particular expertise in how to transmit Indian culture authentically but accessibly. We understand how to translate it for diverse audiences without losing its soul. And Wynwood—with its art-driven identity—is the perfect stage for that expression. Rishtedar has incredible offerings for omnivores of all stripes, but as a plant-based eater myself, I have to say you have one of the best vegetarian menus in all of South Florida. How did that develop? Rishtedar believes deeply in balance. A spiritual teacher once told me, “Perfection lives in equilibrium.” That philosophy guides us. The ideal example is a couple where one guest is vegetarian and the other is not—both leaving equally satisfied. That harmony is what we aim for. But, yes, Indian cuisine has deep Vedic and Ayurvedic roots, many of which are inherently vegetarian. At one point, we felt the need to return to that origin—to the purpose behind the food. Our philosophy is simple: We are what we eat. When we revisited the Ayurvedic foundation of Indian cooking, strengthening our vegetarian offerings
became a natural step. It wasn’t about trend—it was about returning to something ancestral. In many ways, it felt less like innovation and more like remembering who we are. We’ve noticed that Rishtedar attracts a very conscious audience—guests who care about what they put into their bodies. They’re not just coming for flavor; they’re coming for an experience aligned with their lifestyle and values. For us, the challenge was to elevate vegetarian cuisine beyond “substitute” status. We focused on creating nutritionally complete dishes—incorporating essential amino acids— while still delivering rich, traditional flavors. Is there a personal connection behind the vegetarian emphasis? Yes, very much so. I have personally followed an Ayurvedic, mostly vegetarian approach for many years. At times, I struggled internally with serving meat. But I came to understand that balance is essential—especially in hospitality. My wife is Chilean and loves a traditional barbecue; I lean toward vegetarianism. That dynamic actually mirrors Rishtedar itself— tradition and modernity, indulgence and awareness, meat and plant-based, coexisting. The emphasis on vegetarian dishes is not about exclusion. It’s about consciousness, respect, and harmony. For more information or reservations, visit rishtedar.com and rishtedar305. com.
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Author and publisher Jasmine NguyễnSandoval draws from her experiences as a registered nurse and former combat medic to write therapeutic, affecting fiction.
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF JASMINE NGUYỄN-SANDOVAL
BY SHAWN MACOMBER
THOUGH HER LOVE of reading may have started early with The Baby-Sitters Club, it was the darker works of R.L. Stine and, especially, V.C. Andrews that truly captured the imagination of future novelist and anthologist Jasmine Nguyễn-Sandoval. “[Andrews’] Flowers in the Attic hooked me completely,” she tells AQUA Miami. “I was drawn to the psychological suspense woven through layers of generational family drama. In hindsight, I was probably much too young for it. My Má certainly thought so after asking what the book was about and receiving a synopsis that left her visibly concerned! But as the daughter of South Vietnamese refugees who fled their homeland on a small wooden boat, the themes of grief, trauma, betrayal, resilience, and survival resonated deeply.”
In eighth grade, Nguyễn-Sandoval won a writing contest and realized she had what she describes as a knack for storytelling. “I leaned into it in my own way, writing speeches and representing my classmates as part of the student body throughout middle school, high school, and even college,” she says. “Looking back at my old diary now, I have to laugh—I was truly dramatic. What I didn’t realize then was that all that drama, all that storytelling energy, could one day find its way back onto the page and into a book of my own.” Destiny does not always draw in a straight line, however, and at 18, Nguyễn-Sandoval joined the U.S. Army. “It was part rebellion, part patriotism,” she says. “My own way of going against my parents’ wishes to enroll in college and part giving back to the country that accepted my family when we escaped
from a war-torn country.” She trained as a combat medic. “That’s where my love for the medical profession took root,” NguyễnSandoval continues. “The Army taught me resilience, grit, and the very useful fact that I can push through just about any mental and physical barrier thrown my way.” A few years later, Nguyễn-Sandoval “traded my military uniforms for diaper bags” and became a stay-at-home mom to my two kids while taking classes to become a nurse. “As an Army wife, I knew nursing would give me the flexibility I needed when Uncle Sam decided it was time for my husband to relocate duty stations,” she says. “What I didn’t expect was how much I’d fall in love with nursing itself and how much joy I’d get from making even the smallest impact every single day.”
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RETURNING TO HER ROOTS And yet, the storytelling bug never completely went away. Slowly, NguyễnSandoval began to realize there might be a way to weave together the professional and creative strands of her life. “Years as a clinician gave me a deep mental archive of stories from the bedside,” she explains. “There is so much that healthcare workers witness each day that the outside world rarely sees. That realization imbued my writing with a deeper purpose: to pull back the curtain on life inside the sterile walls of the hospital and reveal the resilience, tension, and human connection forged in moments of crisis. I began writing short stories, drawing on my firsthand experience as a registered nurse, hoping to illuminate the high-stakes world of medicine and the raw truths that often go unspoken.” Channeling these bedside experiences through the prism of writing proved therapeutic. “Whenever something lingered in my heart, I turned it into a story,” NguyễnSandoval says. “I took the moments that shaped me as a nurse and gave them a second life through fiction, giving voice to
the universal experiences of courage, grief, hope, and healing that define the human condition. Looking back, I think I was always drawn to stories about resilience and survival. Nursing simply gave me a front-row seat to those stories every day.” And there will be many stories ahead. Under her fantasy pen name Dina Yên, Nguyễn-Sandoval will release Betrayed by the Stars this fall, the first novel in a YA dystopianromantasy Celestine Court duology. “This project holds a special place in my heart because the protagonist is a healer whose magic system draws heavily from my nursing background,” she explains, “allowing me to blend medical knowledge with fantasy worldbuilding in a way that feels grounded in reality and enchantingly magical.” And then under the name J.C. Sang she has two completed novels—a medical drama and a psychological thriller—currently out seeking agented representation. Under her own name, she has published a guide to authentically writing about medical issues and trauma called The Writer’s Rx: Your Prescription for Visceral Writing that Bites—AKA “a crash cart for dead prose”(!)
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STORIES FROM CARE Nguyễn-Sandoval has also founded Code Blue Publishing to “give voice to the untold stories that unfold beyond the hospital walls and clinic corridors,” which has so far published the acclaimed anthology Tales from the Bedside—which features three fantastic, haunting shorts from Nguyễn-Sandoval: Withered, Battle Cry, and The Verb—and is currently accepting submissions for two others: Shadows from the Frontlines and Echoes from the Other Side. “The stories that emerge from healthcare are some of the most profound human stories we have, yet they are often reduced to fear-mongering headlines, statistics, diagnoses, or chart notes,” Nguyễn-Sandoval says. “What gets lost are the deeply personal experiences: the difficult decisions, ethical dilemmas, acts of compassion, moments of humor, and extraordinary resilience that unfold every
day…Healthcare is not just about medicine; it is about people navigating some of the most vulnerable, life-changing moments they will ever face. By bringing those experiences into fiction and narrative storytelling, we can help readers better understand the human side of healthcare while creating characters and stories that resonate far beyond the clinical setting. “Whether the story is a medical thriller, drama, memoir, fantasy, or literary fiction, the goal is to explore what it means to care for others and find meaning in the moments that shape our lives,” she adds. “Those themes are universal, which is why these stories can connect with readers whether they’ve ever set foot inside a hospital or not. Great stories have the power to make us feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. We’re simply creating a home for those stories and the voices bold enough to tell them.”
The approach is resonating. At a recent book event, a woman beelined her way to Nguyễn-Sandoval’s table and told her how excited she was to meet her. “I looked over my shoulder to make sure there wasn’t another author standing behind me,” Nguyễn-Sandoval says. “The interesting thing is, she wasn’t a nurse or healthcare worker. She was simply an avid reader who was fascinated by the idea of stories told from a nurse’s perspective. That was a lightbulb moment for me. Readers don’t have to share our profession to connect with our stories. They just have to recognize the humanity in them. The details of our lives may be different, but the emotions that shape us are remarkably similar. Great stories have a way of reminding us of that.” For more information, follow NguyễnSandoval on Instagram at @j.c.sang and @authordinayen.
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PARTNER CONTENT
Is Your Family Protected? The court process quietly consumes time, money, and privacy. Here’s how to ensure your family never has to endure it. BY ALINA F. NUÑEZ, ESQ., ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE ATTORNEY YOU HAVE BUILT a remarkable life. A beautiful home. Investment portfolios. A business, perhaps, and a family you would do anything to protect. But here is the question most high-net-worth families in South Florida never think to ask: What happens to all of it the moment you are gone? If the answer involves probate court, your family is in for a difficult journey, one that is entirely avoidable. Probate is the legal process by which a court validates your will and supervises the distribution of your estate. On the surface, it sounds routine. In practice, it is an ordeal. For estates of meaningful size, probate can drag on for one to three years, sometimes longer. During that time, your family cannot access frozen assets, your home cannot be sold or transferred, and investment accounts sit locked while lawyers and courts work through mountains of paperwork. And the costs? Attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and appraisals can consume anywhere from three to eight percent of your gross estate value. On a $10 million estate, that is up to $800,000 gone, not to your children, but to the process. “On a $10 million estate, probate costs alone can reach $800,000 — paid to courts and attorneys, not your family.” Many families assume that having a will is enough. It is not. A will does not avoid probate; it simply provides instructions for what happens inside of it. Every asset solely titled in your name, every account without a named beneficiary, flows through probate court regardless of what your will says. Beyond cost and delay, probate is devastatingly public. In Florida, probate records are open to anyone, meaning creditors, estranged relatives, and the simply curious can examine exactly what you owned, who gets it, and how much it is worth. For families who value discretion, this alone is reason enough to act. For those with blended families, young children, or parents requiring care, the risks compound. Courts may appoint guardians over minor children’s inheritances, dictating how and when funds are used, potentially overriding your own intentions. A parent’s estate can be tied up in proceedings just as an adult child faces the simultaneous
cost of eldercare. The timing is never convenient; the disruption is always significant. THE SOLUTION: PROACTIVE ESTATE PLANNING The good news is that probate is entirely preventable, but only if you act before the need arises. A comprehensive estate plan built around a revocable living trust is the cornerstone of probate avoidance. Assets held in trust transfer directly to your beneficiaries upon death, bypassing the court system entirely. No delays. No public record. No unnecessary fees. Equally important is ensuring all assets are properly titled and that beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and financial accounts are current and coordinated with your overall plan. Many estates unravel not from bad intentions, but from outdated paperwork. For families with minor children, a well-drafted trust allows you to specify exactly how and when assets are distributed, whether that means funding a college education, supporting a child with special needs, or ensuring a young heir does not receive a multi-million-dollar inheritance at eighteen. For those navigating the care of aging parents, the right plan can integrate Medicaid considerations, healthcare directives, and durable powers of attorney to protect both generations simultaneously. Estate planning is one of the few areas in life where procrastination has a guaranteed price. Every day without a proper plan is a day your family’s financial security rests on the assumption that nothing will change. Markets shift. Health is unpredictable. Families evolve. The families who emerge from loss with their wealth, relationships, and privacy intact are not those who had the most; they are those who planned ahead. Engaging a qualified estate planning attorney now, before a crisis forces your hand, is the single most powerful act of generosity you can offer the people you love most. The best time to protect your family was yesterday. The secondbest time is today. Alina F. Nuñez, Esq. is the principal attorney at Nunez Estate Law & Title, a Miami-based law firm devoted to helping families safeguard their wealth and smoothly transfer it to the next generation.
Schedule Your Consultation – “Protect your family today—your legacy depends on it” | 305-962-5929 | nunezlawfl.com
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PEOPLE WE KNOW
Soul in Motion Miami-based gypsy and belly dance evangelist Rubi Mendez shares four empowering pieces of ancient Arabic wisdom for embracing the dance of life. BY SHAWN MACOMBER
“ONE OF THE MOST beautiful things dance has given me is the chance to reconnect with myself,” Rubi Mendez tells AQUA Miami. “Every movement becomes a way to express emotions that words sometimes can’t. It’s a therapeutic space where I can breathe, slow down, embrace my feminine energy, and simply be present.” And now the Brazilian dancer is taking time out of her busy schedule of captivating, unique performances throughout the Magic City to help other women achieve a similar transcendence and self-actualization through private, group, and online belly dance classes that not only share her nearly two decades’ worth of professional dance experience but also reconnect students with their “feminine energy while discovering the cultural essence behind each movement.” Mendez recently shared with Aqua Miami four Arabic phrases she has found to be inspiring on her journey—and which she believes can inspire you as well. “When I’m dancing, I’m not trying to impress anyone,” she says. “I’m just telling a story with my body. I truly believe everyone deserves to experience that feeling at least once.”
1. HABBAH HABBAH Little by little “No masterpiece is created in one day,” Mendez cautions. “Every graceful arm… every elegant turn…every beautiful expression is simply the result of small, consistent efforts that no one else gets to see.” 2. AR-RAQS HIWAR BAYNA RUHIK WA JISMIK Dance is a conversation between your soul and your body “When you listen to your body, you move with truth,” Mendez says. “When you connect with your soul, you dance with purpose. When both are aligned, your dance becomes magic. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence, connection, and expressing who you truly are.”
3. FI AT-TA’ANNI AS-SALAMAH There is safety in taking your time “In today’s world, everyone wants quick results,” Mendez offers. “But true elegance cannot be rushed. The dancers who shine aren’t always the fastest learners. They’re the ones who never stop learning.” 4. AL-JAMAL ‘AYN AN-NAZIR Beauty is in the eye of the beholder “Your dance doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s,” Mendez says. “Your story, your personality, and your emotions are what make your movement unforgettable. Knowledge doesn’t just make you a better dancer. It makes you an authentic artist.” For more information, visit @rubigipsyandbellydance on Instagram.
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GATHERINGS
In the Air Tonight The spirit of Miami Vice lives on in the Magic City.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MIAMI VICE REUNION FESTIVAL
BY SHAWN MACOMBER FOUNDED IN 2024 by local actor and tireless Miami Vice advocate Derek Hedlund (Stranger Things, Severance, Blue Bloods) to mark the 40th anniversary of the landmark show’s debut, it would be criminal—see what we did there?—to label the Miami Vice Reunion Festival anything other than a smashing success. And it goes beyond simply three days of sellout crowds for both the 2024 and 2025 events, or the cast and crew on hand, including Edward James Olmos, the late Michael Madsen, Olivia Brown, Saundra Santiago, Pepe Serna, and more. The celebration of the television program that put South Beach squarely in the popular imagination became so undeniable and powerful that the Miami Beach Mayor officially proclaimed Sept. 16, 2024 as Miami Vice Day and there is now, thanks to the perseverance and careful curation of Hedlund, a permanent Miami Vice
Museum housed on the second floor of the World Erotic Art Museum (1205 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach). All good things must come to an end, however, and Hedlund and Co. are billing next year’s festival as “The Final Gathering.” To celebrate this upcoming end of an era, here are an assortment of pictures from the auditions for the Miami Vice Fashion Show, which AQUA Miami Editor Shawn Macomber was invited to sit in as a judge alongside Olivia Brown, who starred as Detective Trudy Joplin for more than a 100 episodes of Miami Vice and had notable roles in Streets of Fire, Throw Momma From the Train, 48 Hrs., and more. As you can see, the energy level was almost as luminous as the neon lights… The dress code? Miami Vice of course! For more information visit @miamivicereunion on Instagram.
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PHOTO OP
CALLE OCHO CLOSE-UP NEXT TO DOMINO PARK and across the street from the legendary jazz spot Ball & Chain, the famed Tower Theater—which first opened in 1926 and later served as an important community hub for refugees arriving from Cuba in the 1960s—shines like a beacon still.
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Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to shawn.macomber@ wainscotmedia.com
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