Celeb-ration in Miami!

Miami has been listed as one of the Top Ten Glamorous A-list Destinations in the world, according to the Lonely Planet. This week, we’ll take a look at why!

The Miami of the Miami Vice era in the 1980s was a mixture of retirement homes and an abundance of sleaze, drugs and crime. However, in the early 1990’s Miami cleaned itself up and became a destination for fashion houses and model agencies, attracted by the superb location backdrops for fashion shoots provided by the beautiful beaches, Art Deco architecture and bright sunshine. Soon Miami became super-hip and an abundance of hotels, bars and restaurants were revamped or opened up to cater to the incoming elite. There were plenty of places to park yachts, such as in Bal Harbour in North Miami Beach and eventually, there came the super glamorous hotels such as the Fountainebleau in Mid Beach.

Miami Beach is experiencing a celebrity boom right now, with numerous American sports stars and media stars choosing to buy homes here. Just this week, there are reports in the Miami New Times that the New York Yankees’ star A-Rod has bought a $24m home in Miami to share with his girlfriend, superstar Cameron Diaz. The Celebrity King and Queen of Miami is probably still Emilio and Gloria Estefan, who have invested heavily in local art, businesses and charity projects.
If you fancy grabbing a piece of Miami Glamour for yourself, why not check out Kelly’s website for the finest selection of luxury real-estate.

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

South Beach Wine and Food Festival

This week, The Food Network launched its new website to promote the 2012 South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Now in its 11^th year, the festival brings together some of the most tasty bites and decadent wines at venues across South Beach, including a series of giant marquees right on South Beach itself. In the past, the event has attracted top chefs from all around the world, including Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, Al Roker, Martha Stewart and Guy Fieri. The event will follow the huge success of the 2011 festival, which attracted over 50,000 visitors with discerning palates.

The festival will take place from Feb 23-26 2012. According to the Miami New Times, the hottest events are likely to be the Best of the Best, Paula’s Sunday Brunch, the Farm-To-Table Brunch with Michael Schwartz, The Flavors of Flay and BBQ & The Blues, which features performances of a selection of Blues favourites. However, there are many other attractive options such as browsing the Grand Tasting Village and a variety of themed parties based on cuisines from around the world. Believe us, Miami knows how to throw a good party.

Tickets will go onsale on Oct 24, with the opportunity for American Express cardholders to get pre-release tickets before then.

If you are interested in owning a piece of South Beach, why not check out Kelly’s website for the very best of beach property!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

A Beginners’ Guide to Miami Beach: Part 4 - A Totally Tropical Place

Miami is famous for its white sand and summer sun, but is that how it is all year round? This week, we’ll discover more about the climate in Miami.

Right now, in September, it’s the middle of low season in Miami. It is not uncommon for hurricanes to come along...which can be a bit off-putting for visitors or immigrants from countries that don’t tend to experience them, such as the UK or Canada. However, ask any expat, even from these countries, and they’ll tell you that you get used to how to prepare for them and find a way of getting on with your life regardless. The main financial impact of the hurricane season tends to be on obtaining the correct insurance on your property to give yourself peace of mind. In fact, there can even be something romantic about sitting on the beach watching the palm trees bend...

In contrast, the tourist high season in Miami starts in November and goes on until around June, hitting its peak at around February and March, when the big festivals such as the Winter Music Conference and dozens of others hit the town and the temperatures are pleasantly in the high 20’s or low 30’s Celsius (80-85 Fahrenheit). The tourists come for the entertainment and the wonderful climate to escape the chilly Northern winters.

However, this year, it seems that the gaps between low and high season are levelling out, according to a recent article in the nytimes. It seems that more people are coming to Miami to sip classy cocktails in the swimming pool to keep cool in the sweltering Miami heat of July and August.

If you are interested in owning a piece of the Miami heat, why not check out Kelly’s website for the very best of beach property.

www.britishmiamirealtor.com

Miami Werewolves at the Downtown Full Moon Party

Miami is famous for glamour and parties. With top class bars and clubs attracting the world’s best DJs, Miami is definitely a place where you can find your groove. Miami is also a place to develop the body beautiful. Every day South Beach becomes a catwalk of fitness as beautiful people rush by on rollerblades or in designer trainers. South Beach also offers the opportunity to embrace your spiritual side, with yoga classes being offered twice a day for $5 on the 3rd St beach.

The regular Downtown Full Moon Party at the Miami Arts Space is the perfect opportunity to combine hedonism with health and spiritual well-being. For the party people, the event offers live bands and DJ sets and a drinks bar offering Chakra Cocktails among your favourite tipples. The beautiful people include the fire dance performers who demonstrate their skills for the partygoers. Finally, for the spiritual seekers, the event offers free yoga classes and also there is a massage therapist on site to unknot your tensions away. For a more hippy vibe check out the full moon drum circles held between 79th & 86th Streets on Miami Beach.

If you’re interested in living the Miami lifestyle, why not check out Kelly’s website to find your dream home.

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

For EverGlades

One of the most popular day trips out of Miami is to check out the world-famous Everglades National Park. The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the US and has been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and Wetland of International Importance. Its swampy wetland environment provides the ideal habitat for numerous species of birds and animals, with its most notorious residents being the King of the Everglades, the American Alligator.

The most popular way to see the Everglades is to take a tour out on an airboat. Many operators run half day tours from Miami, such as Everglades Eco Adventure or Everglades Tours. However, if you are a nature fanatic, why not check out the full day eco tours by Everglades Day Safari. Or if you want a tour led by the indigenous Seminole people, check out Seminole Tours.

One thing’s for sure, the future of the Everglades as a pristine natural environment is looking a little more secure. This week, the federal government has confirmed that a $100m investment is to be made to permanently protect an additional 24,000 acres of land around the National Park’s Lake Okeechobee from development. So it looks like there’ll be a home for the Kings of the Everglades for some time to come!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

A Beginner’s Guide to Miami Beach: Part Three – Skinny Dipping and Luxury Shopping in North Beach

North Beach is the area north of around 63rd Street on Miami Beach. The beaches in this part of town are a little wilder and generally quieter than those in Mid or South Beach. Haulover Beach is one of the most famous “clothing-optional” beaches in the US and has pristine white sands and areas suitable for both surfing and swimming. If nudism is not your thing, then there are plenty of other areas in Haulover Beach where you rest your beach towel down for a beautiful day.

North Beach was originally planned as a “perfect city” in 1917 and still has its original street layout and boasts historical churches and parks, such as Greynolds Park.

North Beach is also home to Bal Harbour, an exclusive part of town with its designer shopping mall and ample mooring for your luxury yacht! Luxury apartment buildings in the area include One Bal Harbour and the much anticipated, exclusive St Regis, due to open January 2012.

If you’re interested in finding out more about buying a piece of North Beach, contact Kelly, the Best British Miami Realtor!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com

What’s Going On in the Biscayne Corridor?

The roads are up, the cranes are stretching into the sky and scaffolding covers buildings all around the area heading out of Downtown Miami on Biscayne Boulevard. Enjoying wonderful views across Biscayne Bay across to Miami Beach and the Atlantic Ocean beyond, the Biscayne Corridor is becoming hot stuff as far as property is concerned.

A $726m project has been approved to develop the area around Omni station at 1700 Biscayne Boulevard. Recently reported in The Miami Herald, the project includes 672 residential apartments, 505 hotel rooms and commercial and retail space. Construction is due to start next year and be complete by 2015.

Almost right next door at 1777 Biscayne Boulevard, 98% of the commercial development 18 Biscayne has now been let, according to the Herald. The brand new development included a 49,200 sq ft Publix grocery store and multiple retail units.

The Omni centre is the locus for proposed infrastructure developments also. Plans are currently being considered to develop a trolley car or a light rail service from the area, to supplement the existing Metromover and local bus services that already serve the area.

If you are interested in finding out more about what’s going on at Biscayne Boulevard and for some great property deals, why not contact Kelly!

www.BritishMiamiRealtor.com