Miami loves its glam and now more than ever after having been day and night in athleisure wear or PJs. Team that up with inventive and delicious cuisine and it’s no surprise that handsome new restaurant MILA Miami was jumping the Saturday night we went. Unlike other restaurants here that have the let’s-dress-up-and-go-out vibe which evoke a St Tropez or Ibiza setting, MILA Miami’s décor has a very attractive contemporary, artisanal aesthetic that’s serene and warm. It’s a fusion of Japan’s Wabi Sabi philosophy and Cycladic islands design. Even the staff are attractive, looking like they came out of a modeling agency. And the Mediterranean and Asian inspired dishes are creative and different.
New “It Spot”, MILA Miami
Things to Do in Miami Dec. ’20
New Vizcaya farmers market, live culture, return of bowling and ice skating as nightlife, rent a movie theater, free Nicky Jam concert, a wonderful day, and more this month in Things to Do in Miami in December.
Miami Art Week 2020, Events and Happenings
Lamenting not getting your “art fix” from Art Basel 2020 and Design Miami? Never fear, this year to the rescue is Miami Art Week, a series of art and design events from November 27 through the first week in December. There are also some new places to grab a stylish and delicious bite. Want to continue the art party? Enter the tourism promotion body, The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) with the return of Miami Arts, Culture and Heritage Months, a program that celebrates the vibrancy and history of Greater Miami’s diverse neighborhoods and people. The two-month long initiative begins December 1 and runs through January 31. Check out what’s happening on all fronts.
1400 Museum Stores’ Shopping Day: Nov. 29 🎁
Hands down some of the best gift items around can be found at museum shops worldwide. That has been the case for awhile but, with the dire need for funds with so many museums closed, they have stepped up their game in their shops, an important source of revenue. How about doing your holiday gift shopping or just pamper yourself and help museums. The perfect time, too, is this Sunday, November 29, more than 1,400 museum stores representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 23 countries, and five continents will offer inspired shopping at museums and cultural institutions during the fourth annual Museum Store Sunday. In South Florida I have some museum shop favorites and also, here’s a list by the Huff Post of the top ten for online shopping in the USA.
Must Have Gadget for COVID Safety
My recent discovery, a must have gadget for COVID-19 safety that’s easy to use, light, and cheap. The scoop:
Updated: Thanksgiving Dinner Picks Miami 2020
Whether you want to skip the cooking and eat a top notch Thanksgiving dinner at home or eat out and be served, crave a beautiful view or live entertainment, there are some great options for Miami restaurants for Thanksgiving and one for Fort Lauderdale, too. And then there’s an over the top holiday milkshake offered for the month of November.
Eating News in Miami – Nov. ’20
A not to be missed popup at Brickell City Center, lunch and dinner deals, a new private chef just in time for the holidays, restaurant openings and closings and a foodie popup at Brickell City Center, all kinds of foodie goodies in Eating News for November.
Lil’ Laos, Delicious and Cheap Eats
Laotian cuisine doesn’t get its due in my book, just as the country is underrated as a tourism destination. Some of the best eating I’ve had in my travels has been in Laos, a country wedged among Myanmar, Vietnam,Thailand, China and Cambodia. Laotian food is often compared with Thai , but to me it’s more complex in flavor— a blend of salty, sour, sweet, herbaceous, fermented and most importantly spicy and more like Vietnamese cuisine. I attribute this to its 60 years of history as a French protectorate. Now you can see for yourself what Laotian food in Miami is like thanks to the new addition to The Citadel — Lil’ Laos. The food is delicious and qualifies as cheap eats as well.
Ornos Estiatorio, Star Chef Michael Mina’s Latest
There’s a welcome new addition to Greek restaurants in Miami. Star chef and successful restaurateur Michael Mina has been best known in Miami for his popular steakhouses Bourbon Steak and Stripsteak. But now he has turned his talents here to seafood and his first Greek concept in the new Ornos Estiatorio Greek restaurant inspired by his visit to a fishing village in Mykonos. As with all he does, it’s already a success judging by the healthy crowd Thursday night. He brought in the Athens born Chef Nikolaos Georgousis whose pedigree includes Milos. Here he’s working his magic of traditional Greek favorites with a light touch and original outakes.