Author Archives: timallen

South Beach Welcomes “Tarjay”

There are the people that like shopping at Walmart and then there are the ones that prefer to shop at Target, often referred to as “Tarjay”. The retail giant recently opened its doors in South Beach but unlike its other stores, this one takes a slightly different approach.

The new South Beach Target located at BLVD at Lenox is a much more compact store than the sprawling Target you may be accustomed to seeing. This smaller store is a mere 33,000 square feet versus the typical Target which varies anywhere from 120,000 to as large as 200,000 square feet. Customers can rest assured that they will find all of the basic essentials like batteries, groceries, wine, beer, clothing, and more. Customers will also notice souvenirs (this is “SoBe” after all), Starbucks to grab that on the go espresso shot, and even a CVS pharmacy.

With this latest “micro” Target, the retailer now operates about 100 of them, which are intended to attract younger shoppers. The store has its own parking garage with great rooftop vistas and it recently held its grand opening this past Sunday.

Should you wish to visit new Target in South Beach, its address is 1045 Fifth Street.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach.If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum North Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on current sales and rentals.

Where in Miami Beach Were Your Favorite Shows and Movies Filmed?

It’s well-known Miami Beach is frequently used as a backdrop for numerous films and television shows. Have you ever been curious as to where exactly certain scenes, movies, or series were shot in the barrier island? If so, the city’s interactive “Filmed on the Beach” digital tour will be right up your alley.

The “Filmed on the Beach” tour is comprised of a trio of digital maps broken down into the three city “sections”: North Beach, Mid Beach, and South Beach. These maps are littered with purple icons that each provide the location plus the production that is being or was filmed there. Not surprisingly, the largest number of icons are found in the South Beach area and you’ll find icons throughout the entire city for the popular television 1980s crime drama series “Miami Vice”.

Some notable spots and productions you’ll notice include South Pointe Park which served as the scene for the conclusion of “2 Fast 2 Furious” released back in 2003. History buffs may remember the Corsair Hotel which was featured in the 1967 film “Tony Rome” starring Frank Sinatra. More recently, the late Gianni Versace’s home Casa Casuarina was prominently featured in last year’s Emmy Award-winning limited series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum South Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

The Legend of Jet Pilot Comes to Miami Beach

Take a minute or two to read about the story of Sam, a fabled jet pilot who brazenly the Pacific Islands and did so while bopping his head to tunes by Harry Belafonte. He was so entertained he didn’t realize he was flying into the smoke of a volcano! Sam lived through the ordeal and despite the wreckage, he emerged with a bottle of rum intact. Sam’s story would be passed on to generations and today, the story continues at the appropriately named Jet Pilot.

All joking aside, there may not be much truth to Sam’s story except for the fact that Jet Pilot does exist. The pop-up tiki bar will soon welcome patrons at the Kimpton Angler’s Hotel and it will “pop up” there every Friday starting this week on August 16. The Sixth Street side of the hotel will be transformed into a tempting tiki oasis featuring flamingos, bamboo umbrellas, torches, and so much more. Should you decide to visit, make sure to give the Jet Pilot cocktail made with ingredients like grapefruit juice, absinthe, and cinnamon a shot.

Jet Pilot’s tiki bar experience will remain in Miami Beach until Thanksgiving before Sam the jet pilot’s story goes down in history to make way for the arrival of Sippin’ Santa, just in time for the holidays.

If you’re interested in visiting Jet Pilot at Kimpton Angler’s Hotel, its address is 660 Washington Avenue.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum South Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

A Miami Beach Summer

Summer is still in full swing and Miami Beach is one of those cities where you may wish to consider spending a couple of days before the season is over. If you need some guidance as to what to do or where to stay, here are a few suggestions.

We’ll kick things off with the Art Deco Walking Tour. This tour will explore Miami Beach’s Art Deco district which is on the National Register of Historic Places. You won’t find more Art Deco edifices in the world than you will during this tour, and it’s a great way to get a glimpse into the rich past of the barrier island.

When you want to stay in Miami Beach, consider the recently revamped Marriott Stanton South Beach. It has the distinction of being one of the few Ocean Drive resorts where guests have direct beach access.

For dining, look no further than Azabu Miami Beach and its Japanese-inspired cuisine. Try the Wagyu Sirloin or go for the Robata-grilled Yakitori. There is also sushi but you’re required to ask to be seated over at the sushi counter.

This list is only a primer on where to go and what to do. Do you have any suggestions on notable places in Miami Beach?

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Are You Ready for Miami Spice?

In just a couple of days, Miami will turn into one massive buffet of various food choices ready to welcome visitors looking to discover new dishes without spending a ton of money. The event is better known as Miami Spice, a longtime tradition where prix-fixe deals are offered at some of the best restaurants in the Magic City and beyond for just $23 for lunch and brunch or $39 for dinner, excluding taxes and the tip.

The 2019 Miami Spice will also serve as the event’s 18th birthday and it will continue until the end of September. It serves as a way for locals and tourists to discover some of the restaurants they may not have tried before while enjoying discounted three-course meals. It also helps many South Florida restaurants remain afloat during the summer where there are typically fewer diners flocking to the restaurants.

This year’s Miami Spice boasts well over 210 participating restaurants, located in Miami as well as Coal Gables, Sunny Isles Beach, South Miami, and of course, Miami Beach. Several restaurants are making their Miami Spice debut including La Cerveceria de Barrio and The Jim and Neesie.

If you want to start figuring out where to eat, the Miami New Times website has a full list of participating Miami Spice restaurants.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Continuum South Beach.If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum North Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on current sales and rentals.

Changes in Store for Miami Beach Cafes

Next year, taking a stroll through one of the Miami Beach thoroughfares like Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road, things may look a little different. City officials have passed new ordinances aimed at regulating the many cafes that are found on the sidewalk.

With the new ordinance, those special boards that stand just outside the cafe showing some of the food and drink specials will no longer be allowed as part of Miami Beach’s new Sidewalk Cafe Code of Conduct. The new ban applies to sidewalk cafes citywide except for the ones situated to the north of 63rd Street.

Special boards are considered different from a cafe’s menu board. These are the ones that typically advertise any deals or promotions the cafe may have going on. These boards have been blamed for causing overcrowding and pedestrian access interference. The regular cafe menu boards will not be affected by the new ordinance.

The Sidewalk Cafe Code of Conduct also has rules in place specifically aimed at cafes located on Ocean Drive between Fifth Street and 15th Street operators will not be allowed to solicit pedestrians unless those people show an interest. Furthermore, printed advertisements cannot be distributed unless they are requested nor can they be held or displayed in a manner that hinders pedestrian access.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum South Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Bal Harbour Shops Sets Its Sights on Expansion

One of the most exciting and upscale places to shop in South Florida is at the Bal Harbour Shops, the open-air shopping mall located in the affluent village of the same name. It’s here where you’ll find several shops and boutiques by some of the world’s most famous names in fashion like Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and more.

After many years of calls to expand Bal Harbour Shops, it’s finally happening. According to the Miami Beach Times, the mall will be adding more than 300,000 square feet of additional retail space, bringing its total square footage to 763,114 square feet. Among the additions expected, Bal Harbour Shops will welcome its first Barneys New York, a well-known luxury department store. This new Barneys will be connected to a promenade comprising three stories.

Bal Harbour Shops opened its doors in 1965 as the country’s first all-luxury fashion shopping center. Founded by the late Stanley Whitman, The Shops have consistently maintained 100 occupancy for decades. Upscale stores like Tiffany & Co.,Valentino, and Chanel are among the other tenants found in the shopping mall.

Are you excited to see all of the new additions to the Bal Harbour Shops and the upcoming arrival of Barneys New York?

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum South Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Ten Dollar Pasta and More This Week

So you enjoyed a delicious barbecue last week with friends and family during the Fourth of July festivities but you’re still craving some bites this week. No worries! There are lots going on this week to indulge your inner foodie, and one of the major highlights happens to be right here in Miami Beach.

What is this highlight? It’s the $10 pasta over Macchialina on Alton Road. The much-beloved restaurant by James Beard Award semifinalist Michael Pirolo serving Italian cuisine will be offering discounted pasta dishes all day until Thursday. Try something like the cacio e pepe with pecorino and fresh pepper or go for the short rib and taleggio accented lasagna.

Have you ever thought about learning how to cook…with plants? You can do just that by participating in one of the two cooking classes being held at Plant Miami’s culinary academy. Today, you’ll be able to learn how to prepare raw vegan soups. Tomorrow, the focus shifts to pasta, including turnip ravioli. Tickets for the classes range from $65 to $125.

Speaking of Wednesdays, Ms. Cheezious over on Biscayne Boulevard is offering all you can eat fried chicken for $30 a person tomorrow. The price also includes unlimited sides.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

All Systems Go for the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel

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After a long journey, the firm of Arquitectonica which has worked on several buildings throughout South Florida has had its design plans for the $362 million Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel approved. The decision was unanimous and will now proceed to the stage where details such as privacy barriers and the look of balcony railings will be ironed out.

With the Arquitectonica approval, the road is largely, if not entirely clear for the 800-room Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel which will all be a part of the experience which includes the massively revamped convention center. The hotel has been in the works for some time but there were setbacks, including those by Miami Beach voters who did not agree to a pair of previous proposals which included a 288-foot-tall hotel.

Once the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel is built and operational, it will include a number of features include more than 300 valet spaces, a bridge that will connect the hotel to the convention center, a parking garage, and over 20,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. As for the size of the hotel rooms, they are expected to range from 370 to 1,319 square feet.

To read more, please visit https://therealdeal.com/miami/2019/07/02/miami-beach-convention-center-hotel-wins-approval/.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Celebrate the Fourth of July in South Florida

Fewer than three weeks remain before the country celebrates one of the most important days in its history: Independence Day. South Florida is definitely among the most exciting places to enjoy the glorious displays of fireworks as they light up the skies. Should you wish to start figuring out what you’d like to on July 4th, here are a couple of suggestions of some notable places where you may have lots of fun celebrating the Fourth of July.

We’ll start right here in Miami Beach where there are sure to be plenty of festivities going on. While event plans haven’t been announced just yet, North Beach Bandshell Park located on 73rd Street and Collins Avenue will have lots of excitement going on for people of all ages. No matter how the event transpires, you can expect the day to end colorfully with a brilliant fireworks showcase. If you’re thinking about visiting, consider using a ridesharing service or the free Miami Beach trolley to avoid the potential traffic headaches.

In neighboring Miami, America’s Birthday Bash is taking place in downtown area at popular Bayfront Park. In 2019r, expect to see attractions such as the kids’ zone, lots of beverages and food, and what may end up being the biggest fireworks display in all of South Florida. Do keep in mind that bottles, cans, coolers or personal fireworks are not allowed during the event.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Continuum in South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum South Tower for sale, call the Continuum experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.