After a successful pilot program that received a positive response, Miami Beach has decided to expand and extend Slow Streets. The program is aimed at making the barrier island’s residential streets a little safer for people such as pedestrians and cyclists by reinforcing a driving speed of about 20 miles per hour and reducing the amount of through traffic.

Slow Streets originally debuted in Flamingo Park but it has since been expanded into Pennsylvania Avenue and beyond. The pilot program is analyzed based on criteria such as traffic results, statistics on public safety, and polls on neighborhood satisfaction. The first poll received 70 percent support from the community, and a number of locals also took it upon themselves every day to ride or walk multiple parts of the pilot to assist with signage maintenance.

Due to Miami Beach’s infrastructure, the city only has a limited capacity for vehicles occupying the roads, making Slow Streets one way to tackle the issue. Furthermore, it encourages a more environmentally friendly way of traveling while also catering to Miami Beach residents that may not own a vehicle and prefer to get around via bike.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

Already known for its plentiful assortment of varied restaurants, Miami Beach is getting even more of taste of The Big Apple as new names will soon arrive in the barrier island. Major Food Group recently inked leases for a quartet of restaurants set to debut in Miami Beach, the first of these being Carbone, which will open its doors where the since-closed Upland once stood. The restaurant will enjoy a prime location near South Beach mainstays Prime 112 and perennial favorite Joe’s Stone Crab.

Carbone—already a hit in Manhattan—will introduce an Italian-American menu with a variety of “red sauce” dishes. It will stand out by allowing guests to take special requests with portions intended for sharing. These include monster veal Parmesan and spicy rigatoni, to name a few. The vibe of the restaurant aims to be the middle ground between a mom and pop experience as well as a nightclub.

Major Food Group is also working on launching new eateries in the Miami Design District, taking over the spaces that were once occupied by Ember and Kaido, a pair of restaurants by acclaimed Miami chef Brad Kilgore that sadly did not succeed as a result of the pandemic.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

The end of the year is quickly approaching and while you’re busy doing last-minute holiday shopping, you may be eager to take a load off and enjoy some holiday brunch. If so, the following spots are worth exploring as we wind down and get ready to say goodbye to 2020.

If your brunch stop includes multiple individuals that each has varying tastes and can’t seem to agree on a single spot, The Lincoln Eatery in Miami Beach is a food hall that just recently introduced Sunday brunches. Options now include croissant sandwiches, fried chicken and coconut waffles, breakfast crepes, and more. For just $19, you can pair your brunch with some bottomless rose, Prosecco, and more. Brunch is available at The Lincoln Eatery from noon to 4 pm.

Not far from The Lincoln Eatery is MILA Restaurant, Rooftop Lounge & Mixology Bar which also recently debuted Sunday brunch. Guests receive a selection of cold and hot appetizers like spicy tuna rolls, eggs in a jar, French toast, and more. Brunch is available at The Lincoln Eatery from 11:30 am to 4 pm

Even longtime Miami Beach favorite Pubbelly Sushi has gotten in on the Sunday brunch action. If sushi isn’t your thing, you’ll have options like breakfast bao buns, chicken and waffles, and more. Pubbelly also debuted new drink options like the Drunken Cafe con Leche and Sangria flight.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

Should you hear the name Bulgari (typically styled as BVLGARI), you presumably have a degree of understanding of its goods. For its watches, fragrances, and shoes, to name a few, the Italian luxury brand is renowned.

Bulgari partnered with Marriott International back in 2001 to launch its hotel chain, properly bestowed the name Bulgari Hotels & Resorts. Nowadays, hotels are located in many resort destinations throughout the globe, and in 2024, Miami Beach will have the honor of joining the cities that already boast the BVLGARI name.

Indeed the forever popular South Beach area will have the distinction of becoming the first place in the United States to tout a luxurious Bulgari hotel on 21st Street. Crafted by architect Albert Anis, the 100-room hotel will feature a “modernist” style that elicits the swanky feel of the 1950s. The Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel firm will take charge of the design in line with Bulgari’s emphasis on glamour.

Most of the rooms at the hotel in Bulgari will consist of suites and there will be a big outdoor swimming pool and a salon, plus a fitness center. However, the extensive food and wine offerings may be the big highlight. The hotel is going to have a restaurant serving Italian chef Niko Romito’s cuisine, who won three Michelin stars.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

Because of reasons that virtually everyone is well aware of, this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach is going interactive, as are most of the Art Week satellite fairs. Although you’ll have to venture online to see the works featured as part of Art Basel, in Miami Beach and beyond, some art-related events are still happening on a much smaller scale.

For instance, during Art Week The Sagamore will display different works around the property, and part of the sales received from the art sales will be used to help The Bass in purchasing art from local artists located in Miami.

The Oolite Arts’ Pop-Up Exhibition “MATERIALIZE” launched last week can be found on Lincoln Road until December 6. All of the artwork at the pop-up can be purchased and all proceeds will go directly to the artistic minds behind the pieces. There is more than plenty to pick from, and prices start as low as a whopping $1 or $1,000 depending on the piece. With social isolation in mind, the in-person art for sale can be navigated and admired safely. MATERIALIZE opens its doors at noon and closes at 8 pm.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

This Thanksgiving holiday season will be significantly different from those of the past. While you’re busy enjoying socially distanced meals with friends and loved ones and making cherished memories, those that have a long weekend in store may be wondering where they can go and what activities they can enjoy.

Most attractions and dining establishments will be closed on Thanksgiving day and will reopen beginning on the 27^th. If you want to enrich the mind with some art, places like The Bass and Art Deco Museum will be open for regular business hours.

If you happen to be in or near Miami Beach and you have little ones, Jungle Island has revamped itself as an eco adventure park. Speaking of animals, over at Zoo Miami, the attraction will kick off its Zoo Lights event where millions of lights in animal shapes plus a massive Christmas tree will be illuminated. You can find more information on tickets by visiting the respective websites.

For those that want to enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend catching some rays at the beach, county beaches remain open.

We hope you have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving weekend!

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

In the ever-changing world of Miami Beach hotels, some big shakeups are occurring and this time around, the changes involve some highly familiar names in the barrier island.

The Sagamore, Ritz-Carlton South Beach, and the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, now have the distinction of being part of the same family and are equally owned by a multitude of companies, one of which includes the Miami-based Lionstone Group.

The new ownership is part of a larger strategy to potentially merge the Sagamore and Ritz-Carlton South Beach by the time 2024 has come around. There are no concrete proposals yet though, as to whether Sagamore will maintain its name or come under the umbrella of Ritz-Carlton. As for the site of the Bal Harbour hotel, there are proposals to make enhancements to the public spaces while also enhancing art activities.

Extensive renovations will also be made to The Sagamore, including improvements consisting of marble countertops. That would also reduce the number of rooms to turn existing ones into bigger suites. To best match those provided at the Ritz-Carlton, facilities are also anticipated to undergo improvements.

By visiting https:/www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article247103367.html you can read more regarding the various enhancements and improvements in store for the Miami Beach hotels.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

COVID-19 pandemic has not been kind to the restaurant industry in 2020, forcing businesses to close their doors or adopt changes to serve customers while taking into account social distancing and other measures. But according to the website Restaurant Business, some restaurants managed quite well last year. Among its list of the 100 most financially successful independent restaurants in 2019, several South Florida restaurants made the list, including one right here in Miami Beach.

Not only did a Miami Beach restaurant make the list, but it also earned the highest placement. That honor goes to Prime 112, the steakhouse known for its popularity among celebrities. The Ocean Drive eatery earned nearly $24 million last year and served over 200,000 meals, with the average bill hovering around $135.

A couple of places below Prime 112 is the Asian-themed Komodo in the Brickell area of Miami, which served over 250,000 meals and earned $22.5M. Other notable restaurants that made the list include the sushi restaurant Makoto in Bal Harbor, Key Biscayne’s The Rusty Pelican, and the trendy Swan in Miami.

To read more about the list of restaurants and their ranking, please visit https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/restaurants/article246832446.html.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

Alongside names like the Fontainebleau, the W South Beach is among Miami Beach’s most highly regarded hotspots. The five-star experience quickly earned tremendous popularity, welcoming names like Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, U2 frontman Bono, Grammy-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, and flutist Lizzo. The hotel recently went a $25+ million renovation that began in March, which has since completed its initial phase.

The new and improved W South Beach comes with a bunch of new upgrades, including a new 9,000 square foot spa dubbed Away, pool deck, plus tons of art curated by one of the owners of the hotel. The ambiance is all-new thanks to the efforts of Urban Robot Associates, which also oversaw the redesign of the hotel’s 400+ guest suites. Speaking of guests, they have the option of choosing from three different lighting options and they can further add to the mood by creating a playlist for the entire day.

Phase 2 of the W South Beach renovation is expected to kick off next year. Amenities such as Mr. Chow, RWSB, and the basketball/tennis courts are still accessible.

Are you excited about the new changes to W South Beach?

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with the access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.

Fans of clubbing, there is some news worth celebrating. This past weekend, the city manager of Miami Beach announced that the city will bo longer be enforcing Miami-Dade County’s curfew. The news should especially welcome for owners of clubs and those that have become accustomed to enjoying them until the later hours. With the suspension of enforcement, Miami Beach clubs are allowed to serve alcohol beyond 8 pm and they can remain open past midnight.

The original purpose of the curfew was to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. However, the limited hours have made life harder for businesses such as restaurants, bars, and yes, nightclubs. Now that the curfew limitations are gone, clubs such as Mynt Lounge, for example, can remain open until the wee hours of the morning.

Even though the curfew is gone, it is almost certain that clubs will be taking steps to ensure some degree of social distancing. Please remember to stay safe when you’re out enjoying yourself on the dance floor.

How do you feel about Miami Beach’s decision to no longer enforce curfew? You can read more about it by visiting the following link: https://miami.cbslocal.com/2020/10/18/miami-beach-curfew-lifted-bars-clubs/.

Blackstone International Realty, LLC provides buyers, sellers, and renters with access to exceptional properties – both on and off the market – in the Miami Beach luxury real estate market, and throughout South Florida. Each agent is thoroughly trained to provide clients with exceptional service, competency, and professionalism. For more information on the company or Continuum in South Beach call 305-588-2451.