Miami Real Estate

WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI ON THE WEEKEND? 

A GREAT BIKE RIDE  FROM CORAL GABLES TAKES YOU DOWN SOUTH AS FAR AS BLACK POINT MARINA… NEAR BISCAYNE BAY. 

LOCALS GET THERE  BY BOAT -  MOORING VESSELS  UP TO 55 FEET AT THE MARINA. 

BIKING THERE IS ANOTHER OPTION, DOWN OLD CUTLER ROAD or SW 87th AVENUE, VIA BIKE PATHS.   AND ONCE YOU GET THER THERE ARE JOGGING PATHS… BIKEWAYS.  Read the rest of this entry »

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North Pinecrest is home to a well-known fish market and local restaurant, Captain’s Tavern, on South Dixie Highway and SW 98th Street. 

Captain’s Tavern occupies what used to be the site of a post office:   Kendall’s Post Office.  But as the name  “Kendall”  might imply Read the rest of this entry »

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The place is  always…  brimming … late afternoons, and evenings.  My Yogurt Bliss in Coral Gables… Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt…. Self-Serve Toppings.   

Depending on the hour of the day (or night) you go, you’ll hobnob  those (like me) who prefer frozen yogurt to a ‘real’ lunch any time Miami temperatures classify as summer-ish  (which is often enough).  In the afternoon, it’s  the after-school crowd,  ballet attired,  or the gymnasts and cheerleaders with moms in tow.  In the evening, right around the witching hour… or dinner time as it’s known in most places… the  squeezky clean, self-serve yogurt place is  jam packed with college students, kids, parents,  clusters of friends …  It’s quickly becoming THE popular neighborhood place for local  Gables and South Miami residents,  and a trendy date spot… all rolled into one.  

Bubbly staff… it’s open till 1am … midnight on an ‘early’ night.  There are always  plenty of smiles … lots of laughter.    

The University of Miami is literally just across the road.  

10 flavors. 40 toppings.  Serve it… top it off … weigh it!   Mix and match…  Recipe for success ! (Which is why we published  it as a ”must know” on MiamiRealEstateCafe.com!) …  My Yogurt Bliss is in the Riviera Plaza,  in what I refer to as the SWEET section of the Gables.   Francesca Fernandez opened  the frozen yogurt place six months ago: My Yogurt Bliss –  1554 South Dixie Highway in Coral Gables (Miami)  Florida 33146.   ( Adjacent to it, in the same strip mall is  Misha’s Cupcakes … another Miami sweet spot … that opened and  literally took off in popularity.)     

Realtors know the sweet spots!     Send  us (the Restivo’s ) a note … Share your favorite  local spots in Miami  with  MiamiRealEstateCafe Blog Readers !   Miami would love to hear about your favorite local gems!   It’s a pleasure to see  LOCAL  NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES THRIVING!      Looking for a top local Realtor?   … The Restivo Team.     EWM Realtors, International.  We look forward to hearing from you!

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Take a look at  ”Buying versus Renting” …    In the midst of  South Florida’s current real estate market,  Miami is certainly a great place to buy … (and better than most!).

Real estate,  historically, has been a solid financial investment – especially long term.  Investing now, in this current market, if  you have liquidity to put down, stands to put you in good stead.  Read the rest of this entry »

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While Starbucks may be the “end-all” or  ”be-all”  for many of us coffee-enthusiasts,  Miami has a hand-full of  ’secret’ competitors.  If you have a hankering  for Espresso,  Latte , Cappuccino (or Miami’s  famed  ” Cafe Cubano” – Cuban Coffee!)  here’s a sampling of a number of some of our local coffee hot spots  (alternatives to Starbucks)… Read the rest of this entry »

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Restaurants come and go, in Miami as elsewhere.  Few thrive.   Nino Pernetti’s  Caffe Abbracci has ranked among the top restaurants in Coral Gables for over two decades now… attracting an international jet set crowd,  an entourage of locals,  and the A-List of Miami’s ‘who’s who’.  Nino Pernetti knows them all  (Miami’s A-List and seemingly every guest that enters his doors) …  their names and  their faces Read the rest of this entry »

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Jam packed on weekends, Chocolate Fashion, at 249  Andalusia Avenue in downtown Coral Gables, has sidewalk dining and an interior reminiscent of a European cafe.  I prefer it during off-hours … when you aren’t  jostled by staff, trying to squeeze through a crowded patisserie,  ferrying  trays of delicacies (and hot beverages).  Exquisite pastries (miniature … or otherwise)… homemade…. sandwiches… breakfast….pate’… truffles…Lavazza Caffe… and fresh breads.  (Couldn’t resist ordering for New Year’s Eve!)

Chocolate Fashion is immediately south of Miracle Mile … on Andalusia,  just off Ponce De Leon… and is a charming addition to the  pallate of Coral Gables .   It’s nice  to see a new generation of small, independent restaurants and businesses thriving in Coral Gables… Here’s hoping that this particular one will continue to succeed and flourish!   Another delicious reason to visit… or live in the Gables!

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Make dinner  fun!   The price of your dinner in a handful of Miami restaurants depends on what time you place your order!  Order  between 5-7 pm and your meal costs the same as the time the order was placed!  Order at 5:37pm  and that dinner is $5.37.   Wait until after 7:00pm  though, and you’ll pay the regular price of $12 -$15.  Drawing customers in before the rush is key… and smart marketing. An empty table is lost revenue, so why not capitalize on  unconventional dining times?   Offering  incentives between 5pm -7pm,  specialty items  are rung-up at the cash register according to the time the order was placed.  

Blu’ Pizza e Cucina in Mary Brickell Village offers this … every single  day (both in the restaurant and on delivery!).  Blu’ Pizzeria  in South Miami offers the same 5-7pm pricing incentives for dining in.   Spris on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach  has also jumped on the band wagon!  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember  ‘early bird specials’. .. though I don’t recall ever taking advantage of them.   This new pricing module just kicks it up a notch!  Racing to place your order, and have $5.23 on the bill as opposed to $6.56  is just plain entertaining … and dinner should be fun!   Wait five minutes longer and you’ll see $15.00 on your bill instead!  (Still, $15 isn’t  a bad price even at full price … and each of these restaurants are, in my opinion,  well worth every penny of their full price menu!).  Outdoor dining spots are trendy, especially in Miami.  Each of these three restaurants offer outdoor tables and umbrellas,  and some interesting people watching.  The ”piazza”  (courtyard plaza)  in Mary Brickell Village is charming.

We stumbled across this  5-7 pm special  a couple of weekends back, at Blu’ in Mary Brickell Village… by shear chance… stopping  for a late lunch with our kids.  We LOVE outdoor dining spots… even in August (in Miami!).  Had we eaten at 8pm, we all would have ordered a single meal.  But because of the ‘intrigue’  with the special offers, the boys each ordered multiple meals.  A tasting extravaganza… to say the least!  Buon appetito!  MiamiRealEstateCafe … for  Miami Restaurant and Dining Experiences… and for All Your Real Estate Needs…  Selling Miami Better, Faster, Smarter! … Contact The Restivo Team:  EWM Realtors…  Vicki and Alexandra Restivo  305 793-1365

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The Miami  Restaurant, Puntino Downtown, in the heart of Downtown, caters to a local business crowd during business hours  and serves up traditional Italian fare  in a lively atmosphere until 11pm…. drawing  patrons from as far away as Palm Beach and Pinecrest!  Downtown  Miami seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, with new restaurants opening up and flourishing!  

Jazz  performer Leo Casino spiced up Prosecco Night at PUNTINO last night. 

Reality show participants from Italy, touring the entirety of Florida in a camper (their Florida adventures filmed and taped for TV syndication in Italy “FriendsTour“) were there,  sipping Berlucchi… invited by the Italian Chamber of Commerce.  They were on their last leg of a month long trek. From New Orleans, they had travelled the perimeter of Florida’s two coasts… literally…  from Tallahassee to Key West and up the other side. Not surprisingly, Florida was the location chosen for FriendsTour’s  month-long ‘coast to coast’  scheduled to air on Italian Cable TV’s “SKY” Reality Show. Why Florida? Florida… is the number one state …enticing Italian vacationers and second home buyers to the United States!   

Between the jazz music and the buzz of excitement over the Reality Show “FriendsTour”  I felt  as though I were somewhere between New Orleans and Italy!  Miami is quite the melting pot of diversity and culture!  Oysters, caviar, cheeses, prosciutto , stuffed pizza …  the hors’doervres  and Berlucchi certainly add to the mix.

Puntino Downtown serves both lunch and dinner ( somewhat of a novelty in Downtown Miami). The  lunch menu offers reasonably priced antipasti, insalate, panini, and pizza & pasta ($5-$10 for the most part).  Yes, they deliver!Downtown Miami is on it’s way to becoming a mini New York (with restaurant deliveries  to your doorstep!)   The dinner  menu is more varied but similarly priced …  with a nice array of appetizers, and freshly made specialties, meat, fish, cheese selections, dolci, espresso…. and Italian wines.  Neighborhood feel… nice atmosphere… warm service… Worth trying!  For dining reservations in Miami:  http://www.opentable.com

MiamiRealEstateCafe… your source for  Miami Restaurants, Local Happenings, and of course Real Estate …  everything and anything Real Estate in Miami!  Looking to buy, sell or visit ?  We Sell Miami  – Better, Faster, Smarter!  Vicki Restivo and Alexandra Restivo EWM Realtors … Miami   – Call us at 305-7931365

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EWM’s Blog has a wealth of information on not only  Miami Real Estate Market trends, but specific listings, statistics, market trends and conditions, neighborhood information, community insight, restaurant reviews, and “Just for Fun!” As reported  by MiamiRealEstateCafe.com through EWM’s Blog, Mary Brickell Village has opened a WHOLE  SLEW of absolutely lovely dining spots…  Oceanaire (elegant surroundings and scrumptious  fresh fish) …  Rosa Mexicano (to-die-for frozen-margaritas  with pomegranate juice…   heavenly guacamole concocted table side!)…  Blu’  Pizza e Cucina (umbrella-covered outdoor courtyard setting with Mediterranean fare and thin,crusty wood-burning  pizza:  ”two-for-one” each Tuesday).   Read more  in an article published by Miami.com about Blu‘! And if you want to search for restaurants, or make reservations online,  I just  stumbled across  an online service for reserving tables at fabulous  restaurants  throughout Miami:  It may be old news to some of you, but  it’s worth sharing:  OpenTable.com Which are  your favorite dining spots in Miami ?  (Brickell  restaurants … or elsewhere in Miami! )  We’d love to uncover more!

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