#ThankYouMiami How-To: Super Bowl-ing Like A South Beach Local

We are not sports people. For us, Super Bowl Sunday means relaxing all day on the beach. Nevertheless, every year around 6:30 p.m. we realize all our friends are otherwise engaged with the big game and that there is nothing else to do so, at the very last minute, we begin frantically searching for a place to join the screaming crowds. Whether you are like us or you are a die-hard football fan who needs help finding those "SO Miami" places to watch the big game - we have you covered. Here are five spots for Super Bowl-ing like a South Beach local. You're welcome, Miami.

1. Burger and Beer Joint

1766 Bay Road, Miami Beach

This favorite Miami Beach bar is a go-to for the local sport aficionado's go-to thanks to their 360-degree views of flat screen TVs in their upstairs bar. Plus, their incredible burger, wing, and beer selection are the perfect accompaniment to the action. Whether you want to celebrate your team or eat your feelings, signature dishes like the Wagyu Beef Burger and the Duck Fat Fries are there for you.

2. Yard House

1681 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach

Yard House is the perfect place for both serious football fans and people like us that just want in on the action. The bar grants prime access to a series of flat screen TVs as well as the extensive beer selection for which Yard House is known. If the game gets boring, challenge your friends to select what they want to eat from their incredibly varied menu. Have fun watching them frantically try to decide between asian, burgers, pizza or tacos.

3. Playwright Irish Pub

1265 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach

We like Playwright because it is one of the few Irish pubs in South Beach. It is a great option for watching the Super Bowl because they have three HD projection screens and 20-plus flat screen TVs. And, if you get hungry, you can go the traditional route with buffalo wings or talk football strategy over mussels and clams hot pot.

4. HaVen Gastro-Lounge

1237 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

HaVen is known for its digital screens that wrap around the inside walls of the venue. If that does not make them the ideal place to watch any major sports game, then we do not know what is. Stop by starting at 4 p.m. for the full HD-live broadcast and stay for the gastropub menu. What is more South Beach than drinking a lychee jalapeño martini and noshing on tater tots covered in goat cheese, sriracha, and balsamic?

5. Ted's Hideaway

124 2nd Street, Miami Beach

This hole-in-the-wall is a local favorite regardless of what is going on. If you are looking to share your Super Bowl experience with an eclectic South Beach crowd, Ted's is the place. Their TVs are small, but they make up for them with their interesting ambiance. If all else fails, they are a stone's throw away from Big Pink where you will find that $11 bucket of buffalo wings you have been craving.

Where do you watch the Super Bowl? Where is your favorite South Beach spot to watch the Super Bowl? If you are not a football fan, what do you do during the Super Bowl? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - 100-Percent Miami

This week's #ThankYouMiami for Fashion column is 100-percent Miami for three reasons: (1) it capitalizes on the Northeast's weather misery by showing off how sunny it is down here; (2) the backdrop for the photos is "SO Miami" with its vibrant colors and classic Florida architecture; and, (3) it features two Miami-based brands: Lyfe Brand and Razön. Read the excerpt below and click on the image for the full feature.

What does your favorite "SO Miami" t-shirt say? What is your favorite "SO Miami" saying? What about your favorite Florida weather meme? How do you wear your "winter whites"? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fairchild Festivals - Chocolate Festival 2015

We spent most of this weekend indoors recovering from almost having, but never getting the flu. Nevertheless, on Saturday we pushed ourselves out of bed and over the bridge (gasp!) to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's 9th Annual Chocolate Festival because chocolate. This was our second year in a row at the chocolate festival so we stormed through the place with a confidence reserved only for Dr. Fairchild. Despite our familiarity with the event's programming, we learned a lot during our visit and discovered some great new additions to this year's offerings that we shared with Soul of Miami.

Read the excerpt below and click on the photo for the full feature. Believe us, you will want to click through - if not for the informative tidbits, then for the photo of us happily scarfing down a roasted corn on the cob!

Have you been to Fairchild's Chocolate Festival before? What was the best part of your visit? What other Fairchild festivals have you attended? Which one is your favorite? What is one must-see feature of the Garden? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#TYMSpiceCrawl: South Beach's Eight Spiciest Cocktails

Last weekend we embarked on a dangerous yet exciting mission: #TYMSpiceCrawl. It was one part bar crawl, one part cocktail try-outs, and 100-percent spicy! The quest began when Société Perrier asked us to round-up the spiciest cocktails in Miami. We heeded their call, researched restaurant and bar menus throughout Miami, and prepared an itinerary that puts tour groups to shame. 

We started in South Beach with the intention of taste testing a minimum of 10 cocktails then re-starting the process in two other Miami neighborhoods. Alas, the #ThankYouMiami team had other plans. Two of our members disappeared to take a nap sometime after the second or third drink on our list. We were able to rally them for a second and a third day to complete our South Beach search. And, lucky for them, we were satisfied that eight of the 10 cocktails we tried were worthy of being named South Beach's spiciest cocktails.

Did your favorite spicy cocktail in South Beach make our list? Read the excerpt below and click on the photo for the full feature.

As Mexicans and fans of all things spicy, we have been preparing for this assignment our entire lives. Now that it's over, we can't wait to do it again in another Miami neighborhood. Where should we go next? Who's with us - albeit, with a less ambitious itinerary? Is there a spicy cocktail in South Beach we did not name, but need to try? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami Stories: Marc Randazzo

Through our #ThankYouMiami lens, we are writing a chapter of our community's story. Starting today, that narrative will be punctuated with personal stories from our community's movers and shakers. After all, communities are only as good as the people from which they are comprised and Miami has some amazing people with exciting stories to tell.

Our new series, #ThankYouMiami Stories, will introduce you to locals who are making magic in Miami and give you a taste of what brought them here, how Miami plays a part in their past, and how Miami will contribute to their future. Who better for the first rendition of this series than the owner of Miami staple Randazzo's Little Italy, Marc Randazzo? In December, we joined the Foodie Firm for generous helpings of Marc's homemade Italian dishes during which we discussed his connection with Miami.

What brought you to Miami after growing up in Chicago?

My trainer Angelo Dundee moved down here so I had to come down to train with him. The weather was always so beautiful and I couldn't get enough of it so I decided to move down. I haven't left since.

What convinced you to stay and open up a restaurant here?

I loved the weather and culture of Miami. After I became a heavy weight champion, I stopped fighting so I needed to find a way to support my family. I never went to college so I didn't have a degree, but I did know how to cook. My friend Jim loved my food and knew I could cook. He helped me open up Randazzo's about 11 years ago with a menu of my mother and grandmother's recipes that we have stuck with since. If you don't like my food, you can call them up!

Why did you choose Coral Gables for your restaurant out of all of Miami's neighborhoods?

I live in Coral Gables, which is ideal because I am usually at the restaurant around 7 a.m. to prep for the day and make gravy. I also like the families who come out to my restaurant - a lot of the people around the area are loyal customers.  The Gables seems to be less touristy from other neighborhoods and there's less of a "fly by night" crowd.

What is your favorite aspect of living and owning a business in Miami?

Growing up, I was usually around a lot of Italians so it's nice to live in an area that's so diverse with cultures too.

As a business owner, I'm not perfect but I treat my staff the way I wanted to be treated. I put my heart and soul into everything I cook and my regulars know that so they keep coming back. By no means are we a corporate restaurant and we never will be, but that's the way my loyal customers and I like it.  

What is one aspect of Miami you would change to make it a better place to live and work?

They should start giving people licenses before allowing them to get on the road - ha ha! Honestly? I wish people treated each other with more respect. I see people get taken advantage a lot in this town.

Did you resonate with Marc's #ThankYouMiami story? Have you tried his incredibly delicious food? What Miami local would you like to be featured in this series? What other questions would you like us to ask? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Spray Tanning Like A Local

In Miami, we get by with a little help from our friends and, when it comes to looking perfect year-round, those friends include spray tanning professionals. Even though Miami is known for its sunshine, sometimes us locals don't have time to go outside or we've been vacationing in less sunny pastures. Whatever the excuse, spray tanning is a Miami local's best friend. There is nothing worse than saying you're from Miami and getting a "but I thought people from Miami are supposed to be tan!?"

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Eating Like A Local

At the end of the year, Tastemade launched #TastemadeMIA by engaging local tastemakers to create recs of our city's top 400 restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and the like. The #ThankYouMiami team heeded their call and created our very own appisodes featuring old favorites and some new finds. We released our first four appisodes featuring dinner and nightlife favorites Ball and Chain, Bar Crudo, Brio Tuscan Grill, and Scotty's Landing in a previous post. 

In the past two weeks, we tackled and released appisodes on our favorite South Beach breakfast and lunch spots so you could learn to eat like a local. Check them out below and make sure to follow @ThankYouMiami on Tastemade for more recommendations soon to come!

Pura Vida

Spris
 
Go-Go Fresh Food Cafe
 
Taurus
 
Daily Melt
 

Which restaurant are you most excited to try? Is there a Miami venue you would like us to feature in an upcoming appisode? What would you like to learn about that location? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Going Out Like A Local - Localeur

Miami is an amazing city. But, with so much to offer, it can be an overwhelming city for visitors who are unfamiliar with the area. Enter Localeur, an Austin-based company whose mission is to help travelers get the inside scooop of where to eat, drink, and play on their website and app. Last year Localeur tapped #ThankYouMiami to share our local expertise with their audience. In our latest recommendation, we share the five must-visit bars and lounges where you can catch us unwinding after the end of a long work week. Click on the image below to discover Miami local's favorite hangouts and make sure to keep an eye on the #ThankYouMiami Localeur page for future recommendations!

Where do you hang out on the weekends? What is your favorite Miami bar or lounge? What do you love about it? What is your go-to cocktail, wine or beer there? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Calling All Miami Mermaids

Being a Miami mermaid means feeling good and looking good. And, per usual, looking good takes the right essentials. In this week's #ThankYouMiami for Fashion column, we tell you what marine-inspired accessory is at the top of our must-have list and should be on the top of yours. We'll give you three hints: (1) it's pre-historic; (2) it's found at the bottom of the sea floor; and, (3) it's dipped in 18-carat gold. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo to learn more about why FIN is what you want!

What are your Miami mermaid essentials? What is your must-have accessory of the moment? Do you love the ocean? What is your favorite marine animal? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiamiGoesToNicaragua - Chapter 3 Release!

In June 2014, the #ThankYouMiami team traveled to Rivas, Nicaragua to work on a special video project. The video, filmed around Rivas and at Nicaragua365's Fort Walker rental home, showcases Miami surfers in their element, as well as how Miami brands like B.O.A.T. Attire, Cameri Jewelry, and Razön make travel comfortable and fashionable. Chapter 3 of the full video, which was filmed as we explored Nicaragua, is available on our new YouTube channel and below. In case you missed it, you can still view the first trailer and the second trailer. Enjoy! 

En junio del año pasado el equipo de #ThankYouMiami viajó a Rivas, Nicaragua para trabajar en un proyecto especial. El video, que fue filmado alrededor de Rivas y en la propiedad de renta Fort Walker, muestra a varios surfeadores y marcas de Miami. El tercer capítulo de la película, que fue filmado mientras que exploramos diferentes partes del país, ya está disponible en nuestro nuevo canal de YouTube y debajo. Si te lo perdiste, todavía puedes el primer corto y el segundo corto. ¡Disfrútalos!

#ThankYouMiamiGoesToNewYork - Our Windham Story

We apologize for not blogging much in the past few days. We spent the holidays in Windham, New York relaxing, skiing, and enjoying time with family. Now that we are back in the groove of Miami life, we are coming at you full force starting with a new story about our latest travels.

Those of you who have been following us for a while on Instagram have noticed that we go to the Town of Windham a lot and that we love it. Over time you have also caught a glimpse of the reasons why we love it - the fishing, the skiing, and the great outdoors. However, we have never shared much else. Today we want to tell you about our connection to the "Gem of the Catskills" and how it has taught us to deal with change.

Our family's Windham story began in 1989 when my in-laws purchased a cabin-like house in the adjacent town of Ashland. Over the years my husband and his family traveled frequently to the area, sometimes every weekend, to escape suburban life and enjoy the opportunities afforded only by mountain life. As a result, everyone grew closer, gained a deeper appreciation for nature, and became experienced skiiers and snowboarders (thanks to Windham Mountain Resort).

My husband and his three brothers grew up as much in the Catskills as they did in the New York suburbs. For most of their life, Windham has been their second home. When I met my husband, I quickly recognized and adopted our family's close relationship with Windham. 

While the four brothers still visit a few times a year with their families, they have grown up, have their own lives, and consequently visit less often. For this and other reasons, our family is thinking of selling our beloved mountain home. In response to this news, my husband and I used our most recent trip to Windham to reflect on what this house means to us. We spent our visit savoring our favorite traditions and revisiting special memories. The process was cathartic, but it was also extremely overwhelming, especially because it uncovered the changes through which the house, the town, and our favorite haunts have undergone in the past 26 years and in the short time I have known them.

The most concrete examples have been captured over the past two years and documented on our Instagram feed. We are talking about changes like the house's paved asphalt driveway that as recently as two years ago was unpaved. We are also referring to the changes in the landscape visible in a photo of me jumping that we take every trip in the same location. If you look below at the compilation of this photo over time, you will notice a new pathway appears in the background of the Fall 2014 photo.

For better or for worse, life brings changes. Some of them, like the house's newly paved driveway, we learned to accept because they happened slowly and gave us time to adjust. Some of them, like the house being listed for sale, are larger changes that happen all at once and are more difficult to stomach by nature. While we are holding hope that our family's Windham story is just transitioning chapters, this is our opportunity to learn to roll with the punches because change may be causing us to lose something good but it may bring us something better.

Fall 2013

Winter 2013

Fall 2014

Winter 2014

Do you remember a moment when you had to deal with change? How did you adapt? What suggestions do you have for someone going through big changes? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Frozen But Chic

Yesterday we rang in the new year in colder climates, but we made sure to represent our hometown well by celebrating it in full Miami style. We picked up the boho-inspired pieces from our NYE outfit at PacSun while we were doing our holiday shopping at The Falls. After all, we deserve a little something-something for our noble holiday shopping efforts.

The resulting look was super chic, although arguably ill-equipped for New York weather. But what's a little suffering for the sake of fashion? Read the excerpt from our latest #ThankYouMiami for Fashion column below and click on the photo for the full feature and photos!
 

Where did you celebrate NYE? What did you wear? If you were somewhere cold, how did you keep warm and in style? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!