Miami Real Estate

South Beach is a priviledged destination, affectionately referred to as SoBe by the locals.   Occupying the southern-most 23 blocks of Miami Beach… from  1st Street ….  extending up as far as 23rd Street…. South Beach is a major tourist destination, with beautiful white sandy beaches, world class dining, nightclubs , oceanfront hotels, and a resort life “style”.  A  playground for anyone wanting  a  tropical, warm weather,  acquamarine-water beach-get-away,  Miami is home to an ever-changing international crowd Read the rest of this entry »

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Miami Beach is famous for its pristine beaches and popular nightlife. 

Noted for its Art Deco Historic District, Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, Miami Beach welcomes tourists and locals alike. Lincoln Road is notorious not only for its shopping and dining, but it’s also a great place to people watch. The Miami Beach nightlife is just as popular and every so often, you may rub elbows with celebrities. With so much to offer, Miami Beach is the ultimate destination hot spot.

Miami Beach began as a plantation tract for coconuts when Henry and Charles Lum, two entrepreneurs, purchased 160 acres of what today is known as South Beach. Their architectural plans failed and the land was passed onto John Collins, a Quaker from New Jersey who planted the first grooves in Florida. In the nineteenth century, much of the land was a marshy waste but today the cypress swamps are restricted to the Everglades National Park. The Army Corps of Engineers, followed by Carl Fischer dredged the thick mangroves to create Miami Beach.

In the 1900’s, Miami, just across Biscayne Bay, was already booming and many entrepreneurs recognized great potential in Miami Beach. In 1912, the Lumnus brothers found the Ocean Beach Realty Company in Miami Beach and so began the first wave of construction. The years following saw rapid development with the construction of the Collins Bridge (”the longest wagon bridge in the world”) and the opening of many oceanfront restaurants, including Joe’s Stone Crab-a Miami Beach icon. In 1914, the first hotel in Miami Beach, the W.J. Brown, opened its doors.

In 1996, the city of Miami Beach celebrated one hundred years of existence as an independent, self sustaining paradise. In that time, the city has seen two world wars, the elegance of the nation’s Golden Age (the 1920’s and the Great Depression). Today, the Art Deco National Historic District, Lincoln Road and Espanola Way are just some of the places that maintain Miami Beach’s history and attract visitors and locals alike.

Lincoln Road features restaurants with outdoor seating ideal for people watching. Locals and tourists alike may catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two as they stroll through or enjoy one of the many cafes.Stop in and admire local artist Romero Britto’s art gallery and perhaps leave with a souvenir.

Originally covered by a forest of mangroves, the site was cleared by Carl Fisher in 1912 and it became the town’s social center. In the 60’s, Morris Lapidus- a Miami Beach architect who designed the Fountainbleu and Eden Rock Hotels, was commissioned to redesign Lincoln Road. Lapidus’ design featured fountains and an amphitheater, reflecting Miami’s Modern Architechture (MiMo) style that he pioneered in the 1950’s.

The road was closed to vehicular traffic and became of of the first pedestrian malls in the nation. Today Lincoln Road features a concert hall for the New World Symphony Orchestra, a state of the art multiplex cinema, fine restaurants and bars. Lincoln Road is also home to many galleries of emerging artists as well as the Colony Theater, which was newly restored. It remains a popular stomping ground for tourists and locals alike.

Buying or selling  real estate  in Miami?  Please give us a call at (305) 793-1365 or (305) 632-0164  or send us a note here.

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Everyone has their own personal  “favorite”  beach get-a-ways  in Miami.    ( I have two!)   One is on Miami Beach.  One is on Key Biscayne.

On Miami Beach,  my top choice is the beach at The Palms Hotel and Spa at 30th and Collins…  where,   for some reason, we  always,  always,  always  run into Italian guests, visiting from overseas…     “vacanza” a Miami…    oppure cercando   “CASA   A  MIAMI!”  How Italy discovered The Palms Hotel,  I have no idea!  We’ve lived in Miami for two decades now, and  we only recently discovered  The Palms.   The beach there looks like it was hand-painted for the cover of a tropical beach resort brochure! It’s charming and romantic … and relatively uncrowded.

On Key Biscayne,  I love the beach by the Ritz Carlton … and I also like the beach that’s literally a stone’s throw south of that  (just in front of the “former”  Sonesta Beach Hotel).

I don’t care if it’s a chaise lounge at the Ritz (as a guest of the hotel) or ’roughing it’ …  schlepping folding chairs and an umbrella and hoofing it down to what I STILL call “Sonesta Beach” … The beaches on the “hotel side ” of Key Biscayne are sprinkled with sea turtle nests …  and sea weed that washes up on shore. Those beaches tend to be more serene and less crowded than the beaches at Crandon Park… and make me  feel as though I’m far from the madding crowds, and very much “on vacation”.

I’ve been getting “summer special”  brochures from The Palms, and thought they were worth sharing. Click here to view.   Looking for delightful beach spots, or weekend retreats?  …  The Palms and The Ritz are two of my favorites…. (and I’m sure the Ritz has summer specials too).  One of the perks of living and working in Miami:   from anywhere you happen to be, the beach is  not much more than a hop, skip and a jump away… and waterfront dining makes eating fun!  (Makes selling real estate fun too!… There’s water everywhere!)  Love to hear which are your favorite beaches, so feel free to share!   If you are wanting to buy or sell propery in Miami, please call me at 305-793-1365 or send me a note here.

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Recycling bins  delivered curbside  months ago may be too small or too large for some of us.    If you’d like a  size other than the standard 65 gallon bin provided to you by the county,   call 3-1-1  and they’ll deliver one that works better for you.    They will substitute either a larger (95 gallon) or  smaller (35 gallon)  bin for your existing one,  within 1- 10 days of your call.   In order to receive your new container,  you’ll need to leave the old one at at the curb for them to exchange.   Recyclables are collected every two weeks.   Miami areas serviced by the new recycling program include Miami-Dade County, Aventura, Cutler Bay, Doral, Florida City, Medley, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miami Lakes, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, Opa-locka, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Sunny Isles, Surtside, Sweetwater, West Miami and Virginia Gardens.

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For Sale ! 

MIAMI BEACH  MANSION… 

UP IN FLAMES! 

Firefighters have been battling a fire in Miami Beach since 8:30 this morning. Fire has literally engulfed this Miami Beach mansion, located on

4462 North Bay Road

… reducing it to rubble.    

Listed for SALE at $6,900,000.00 (a HUGE price drop from it’s $11,750,000.00 asking price of last summer) … the property will be worth land value now .    Built in 1925, and in need of renovation/restoration, the property was literally a castle.  The waterfront mansion was a 10 bedroom 7.5 bath paradise, with dock ,  stunning water views, city views, indoor and outdoor pools, home theater, and a separate gym.

With the Miami Real Estate Market taking such a hit over the past couple of years, questions as to the cause of the fire loomed high this morning.  Story is being covered in depth by CNN, and by  Jim Berry  on CBS4.

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Miami is full of activities year round, and Fourth of July is no exception. There are many places celebrating with fireworks throughout the city. Here are just a few :

Fourth of July at Bayfront Park

This celebration has fireworks, children’s activites, food and drinks. Come out and enjoy the evening !

Time: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., Downtown Miami

Key Biscayne 4th of July Parade – 50th Anniversary!

Up and down Crandon Boulevar, floats, marching bands and street performers show off their skills in this small town celebration.

Time: 11:00 am – 12 noon
Location: Village Green, Key Biscayne

Old Fashioned July Fourth Picnic

This old fashioned picnic takes place on the grounds of a 19th century pioneer home site. The Barnacle Society hosts it and features kite making and lawn games, plus many other activities. Pack your a blanket and a picnic lunch and enjoy a fun filled day at the Barnacle.

Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove
Cost: $5 for adults, $2 for kids age 6-12, kids under 6 are free

An American Celebration – July 4th on Miami Beach

Miami Beach presents fireworks and music by DJ Irie. It’s open to the public and free of charge. Bring towels and chairs, but no coolers or bottles, as they are not allowed on the beach.

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: 8th Street and Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

Be sure to take advantage of these great events – Happy Fourth of July!!

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With tickets at over $200 a pop (for a single day at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival) the truth bubbled to surface as to where  South Florida  is headed.    Reporting it’s best turn-out ever, this weekend marked  eight years of imbibing and nibbling  and cooking up a storm on Miami’s  sandy South Beach at the Sobe Wine &  Food Fest…. in the midst of February.  Why the over-the-top turn-out?  Surely our tepid “winter”  was a get-away draw for some.   SoBe enthusiasts seemed to hone-in on the importance of hearth and home (…and on the endless choices of ‘wines’ and ‘delicacies’ too)… Those of us who live in Miami seem dead-set on making food, wine, and friends the focal point of our lives, especially  in this current economic environment. 

Paula Dean  of the Food Network demonstrated her soon-to-be-available  (in local supermarkets) “crab cakes” … Bobby Flay taking center stage with her as she introduced her family (never missing a beat as she smiled and joked through a ‘wardrobe malfunction’… dropping her pants … on camera). She spoke to a packed tent, with standing room only,  and onlookers  waiting in the wings.

Ingrid Hoffmann of Simply Delicioso… vivacious and sassy…  infused her afternoon demo with flirtatious fun…  focusing on mood, memories  and family.  Sparkling as she mentioned her grandma… and a  high-school honey under the bleachers …   the thread was food,  and the memories that smells, sounds and flavors evoke.  With simple, straightforward recipes, requiring few steps, but with tons of texture and flavor, the Miami culinary dynamo tauts her 20 Latin country influences and teases that she’s a minute faster than Rachael Ray, offering 29 Minute, rather that  30 Minute Meals.   Her perky demeanor is contagious.

Sunny Anderson fried up a storm,  sharing her secrets for dredging oysters with flour and cornmeal (using a paper bag), and using Old Spice as flavor enhancer. The recurring theme, again:    family, memories from childhood, and her origins.  Her love of New Orleans and fried foods … Her military background …  She is down-to-earth, amiable, and easy-going. 

Tyler Florence auctioned off his cooking expertise for big bucks… raising  $40,000 for the Wine and Food Festival as he shared recipes and insights in his standing-room-only tent. His confident manner and good sense of fun  added  a spark to  the event.

Michael Symon, Iron Chef winner,  was an absolute blast!   Cool, with shoot-from-the-hip humor, he shared his stories,  and secrets  (”Use organic chicken.  If chicken  costs 40  cents a pound there is a reason.  Choose quality products, and you’ll have a quality meal.”) .  Imparting  ’simple tricks’ ranging from how to handle delicate herbs like basil and parsley (slicing through them only once) to preserve oils and flavor, pressing garlic by smashing the peeled clove with a chefs’ knife rather than using his abhored garlic press (my indispensable kitchen tool!), and tucking lemon slices between the  chicken flesh and skin ( for moisture) , and allowing meat  to “rest”  for 20 minutes after cooking  -  before slicing  (… holding the juices).  

With the economy what it is, home and hearth  take center court.  Not only is there comfort in food and wine, but many of us are returning to basics… our lives centering around what matters most… friends, family and food.    Having ‘raised’ my kids (summers!) in Europe,   15-20  of us would cook together and share meals  on the terrace or gardens every night … We’d return  ’home’ to Miami at the end of each summer with memories to last a lifetime.  Simple memories… unprocessed foods, fresh ingredients, laughter, local wines …. time spent together with family, friends.    The South Beach Wine and Food Festival showcased  pricey $200 plus entry tickets  to the festival itself.   Bigger, and more importantly,   the  picture it painted of our current economic situation was ‘yummy’… to sum it up!  The ramifications for our “Miami” lifestyle  boil down to  Friends,  Family, and Food … center stage…  savoring what truly matters:  ”Each Other”.  

Your comments are welcomed!   www.MiamiRealEstateCafe.com

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Just listed is a fabulous apartment at the Murano Grande located at 400 Alton Road in Miami Beach. This 14th floor beauty features the utmost in style and elegance with 20×20 blue limestone floors and marble kitchen countertops, top of the line appliances. The master bathroom features alpine snow quartz vanity top and mayorca limestone floors and walls. Designer light fixtures and frameless shower doors complete the beautiful interior. With views to the ocean and easy access to the bay and marina, the unit is the ultimate chic place to live. The Murano Grande is one of a handful of uber chic, sought-after SoBe condo highrises in the area south of Fifth. Thirty eight stories high, with 270 units, The Murano Grande offers valet as well as self-parking,  tennis court, spa, massage rooms, fitness center,  bayfront swimming deck with a private cafe, views of the yachts and marina, an entertainment level, pool table,  personal 24 hour concierge service, and easy access to the pedestrian walkway that will take you around the point to the beach. One elevator per two units provides the ultimate in privacy. Unit 1405 is for sale at $850,000 and also available for lease at $3,500.

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Contact Alexandra Restivo at 305.632.0164 or Vicki Restivo at 305.793.1365 for further information on this property, or for any of your South Florida real estate needs.

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Best Priced Waterfront Condo on Ocean Drive Sold in 10 days (Contract to Closing!)

I knew THIS was the  steal of the century,  as a weekend get-away or as an investment, either one!

WATERFRONT, on OCEAN DRIVE!  It was listed for $288,000  in the BENTLEY HOTEL…  with views of the ocean from the balcony!

What a find!

I told you it would get scooped up fast… and it did!

It sold for cash in 10 days!  Contract to closing.  And the buyer got it for $265,000  (That’s $464.91 sq ft)

501 Ocean Drive #401 Miami Beach, Florida… home to the elegantly quaint Bentley Hotel.  In the art deco section of Miami Beach…. waterfront … and beautiful …  this one bedroom the classy Boutique Hotel, The Bentley,  at at Fifth and Ocean… went for  $265,000 – cash .  Worth that (and more!)
Truly a steal!    A buyer’s market, indeed … but only if you move with lightning speed when you see something you want.   The really good properties tend to move fast … and this one was an absolute gem, and priced right!   For fabulous finds on Miami Beach, EWM Realtors, Vicki and Alexandra Restivo can guide you to the cream of the crop!  www.MiamiRealEstateCafe.com

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Hidden from sight behind a thick hedge of ficus (with no signage to  indicate that it even exists) Casa Tua is a gem you could literally walk right past, never realizing it was was there.  Located on Miami Beach,  at 1700 James Avenue, Casa Tua was once a private home.  Now it’s a hide-away for elegant, secluded dining (and with five guest rooms … it’s also an uber-chic bed and breakfast/hotel).  Casa Tua reminds me of another restaurant I’ve loved for eternity: The Ivy in Los Angeles, California.

Casa Tua is owned by the Grenedene family.  Micky Grenedene opened the restaurant, members club, and boutique hotel in 2004. This beautiful Spanish Style Villa  has the feel and warmth of a private home, but on a grandiose scale.  

Casa Tua has indoor and outdoor dining, both… with the patio areas well-shaded and private… open for lunch and dinner.  Unique to Casa Tua is a large chefs table (reserved for single diners … as opposed to large parties!)  set within eyeshot of the open kitchen.   Photographs by Helmut Newton adorn the walls.

Wrought iron gates open to an outdoor brick terrace, and both the outdoor patio and the interior ambiance will make you swoon… Casa Tua is one of the most romantic restaurants around.  

On the second floor of Casa Tua (which has another lovely outdoor terrace as well)  is a private member’s lounge/ club and another terrace. 

Patrons and guests come from literally around the globe. How they find it,  I really don’t know… except that word of mouth spreads like wildfire… in Miami (as well as elsewhere!)  … and local concierges taut it highly.

Make a reservation. 

While the restaurant may appear to be 1/2 full when you get there,  they will not hurry you through your meal … so the table is yours, for as long as you choose. 

My favorite:

Pasta with creme fraisch and caviar (sinfully wonderful…  Just don’t be surprised when it arrives tepid, as that’s truly how it’s to be served) …  tuna tartare …  a wine list to admire …  desserts to make you melt.   Portions are small, and exquisite!

Among my top restaurant choices in Miami is Casa Tua!  

For more information:  www.casatualifestyle.com 

Please leave your comments on this restaurant, and your other favorites anywhere in Miami Beach or South Florida.

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