#ThankYouMiami Rounds Up This Week in Miami

Since the holidays we've been jet-setting so frequently we've started to feel slightly disconnected with Miami. Alas we spent the past week without travel seriously reconnecting with our beautiful hometown by skateboarding, biking or walking everywhere, hanging out with friends, and accepting every invitation under the sun. We were excited to see that Miami's state of affairs is as awesome in 2016 as it was at the end of 2015. In fact we were blown away by the caliber of events that our community has been throwing recently, particularly those of this past week. If you weren't in town, here's what you missed:

1. Rutte Distillery hosts Half Shell Hideaway at Sweet Liberty

On Sunday, February 21 Rutte Distillery hosted over 100 local influencers and industry leaders—including our social media friends Kevin Coster and his beautiful fiancée Victoria Sampaio—at their second Half Shell Hideaway brunch. The brunch, which was held at new Collins Park hangout Sweet Liberty is part of an on-going series of culinary and cocktail gatherings planned for this year. At the event, guests were treated to specialty Rutte cocktails, such as the "Salt & Sea" (Rutte's "Best of Show" Award Winning Celery Gin, Tío Pepe Fino Sherry, lemon juice, celery juice, simple syrup, basil leaf, egg white), paired with oysters and other brunch offerings. We can't wait for the next one!

2. Basement Miami Celebrates One Year of Jelly Wednesdays

On Wednesday, February 24 Basement Miami at The Miami Beach EDITION celebrated the one-year anniversary party of their renown Wednesday night party, Jelly, with bowling, skating, slushies, and old school hiphop. The already perfect night was made all the better by a special live performance from Miami's very own 2 Live Crew (the ones behind 1996's "Shake A Lil' Somethin'"). What a refreshing "So Miami" throwback.

3. NR Investment Fêtes Canvas Miami's Groundbreaking

Also on Wednesday NR Investments threw a killer party to celebrate the groundbreaking of Canvas Miami, the former site of some of the Arts + Entertainment District's best events including Yoga Soundscape and the Miami Flea series. In true A+E District style, the celebration centered around creating culture and community with a "Wishes Tree", a paper lantern release, and performances by Miami musicians Yoli Mayor and Xperimento. We've been following the A+E District since Day 1 so we're excited to see them through yet another incredible milestone. Congrats, guys!

Did you attend any awesome events this past week? Which? What did you enjoy most about them? The coming month is one of the busiest months of the year in Miami. What events are you most looking forward to attending? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

Images via World Red Eye

#ThankYouMiami for the A+E District

Can you believe Miami's Arts and Entertainment District is turning one? When we first introduced you to the A+E District in March, we called it Miami's new up-and-coming cultural epicenter. In the months since our claim, NR Investments, the District's developer, has delivered on their commitment to not only construct buildings, but also spur a community in the area. They have transformed the emerging neighborhood between Downtown and Wynwood into a Miami hotspot and earned their programming a permanent spot on our social calendars.

The first event we attended at the A+E District—although we didn't know it at the time—was the launch of NR Investment's collaboration with SHFT Studio at the Filling Station Lofts. You may also remember this momentous occasion as the time we got to interview Adrian Grenier for Société Perrier. During this very early interaction, we learned two things about the team behind the A+E District: 1) they know how to throw awesome events; and, 2) like us, they're all about local love. After all, they had PALO! perform live on an outdoor terrace overlooking the Miami skyline. Can you say, #winning?

The past year has built on the social traction they gathered in their early days, while staying true to their focus on promoting local. They have hosted everything from live art competitions showcasing local artists to yoga classes taught by locals for locals to flea markets featuring local vendors. Through their killer programming, they are giving Miami's creatives a platform to launch their talents, as well as fostering a sense of community that for many of us had previously been lacking. Judging by the exponential increase in participation at A+E District events (some of them, like the yoga soundscape, sell out within minutes), it is safe to Miami is a fan.

"We have been humbled by the overwhelming support for the Arts + Entertainment District in the past year," says Ron Gottesmann, Principal of NR Investments and one of the visionaries of the A+E District. "Our events have truly brought the community together in a celebration of music, culture, the arts, and all that Miami has to offer. The A+E District has created a niche in Miami that didn't exist before, and we are excited to continue our programming and grow the neighborhood into a place where locals live, work, and play."

As locals who have witnessed the A+E District's vision at work, we are excited to continue supporting its growth and being a part of its movement. We are also psyched to see what events it has in store for us this year, starting with it one year anniversary celebration this Saturday, November 28. While we won't be able to attend (ICYMI, we're in Panama for the week), we hope you will join other locals in toasting a successful first year and kicking off what promises to be a fruitful and fun second year!

Have you been to the A+E District? What event(s) did you attend? Which one was your favorite? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami Talks This Week In Miami - August 28, 2015

Today we're talking about the recently released Miami news and event announcements that, as a Miami-an, you need to know to stay current. As always, we've got a little bit of food, a little bit of fashion and it's all "So Miami". Let's get to it:

1. Storm Watch: Erika. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know there is a tropical storm in the Caribbean whose worst effects, either directly or indirectly, we're anticipating to feel on Sunday and Monday. If you're a jaded local, you've probably spent the last three days talking animatedly about throwing a hurricane party. If you're new to the area (or have lived here during our 10-year hurricane-free streak), you've probably been in a panic as we prepare for what may come. Irregardless, we're of the opinion that you can never be too prepared so we put together a post on how to to prepare for a tropical storm. We hope that jaded or not you will check it out and heed every precaution.

2. Better Days One-Year Anniversary. If you're prepared for the storm, then it's time to party and Better Days in Brickell has the perfect excuse: its anniversary! The chic boutique bar is celebrating one year since it established itself as a Miami hotspot behind its vintage and thrift shop-inspired storefront. Tonight, starting at 9 p.m., join Better Days for complimentary cocktails by Casamigos tequila, Jagermeister, Occulto, and Jameson until they're gone. This is one occasion where arriving on Miami time doesn't pay off.

3. A+Eats: The Search for Miami's Next Great Restaurant Concept. Since it launched, the Arts + Entertainment District (A+E District) has been heavily involved in making Miami a better community. Their latest initiative in collaboration with The New Tropic, A+Eats, is a testament to their continued commitment to this mission. On August 10, the A+E District put out a call for submission of exciting new restaurant concepts. The winning entry, a concept oozing originality while reflecting the A+E District's character, will receive one year of rent-free restaurant space to help offset this startup cost and transform the concept into a reality. Think your idea has what it takes? Check out the A+E District blog for the full rundown of the A+Eats contest. But hurry, the last day to submit is next Monday, August 31 at 5 p.m. at which time we, the people of Miami, can vote on and support our favorite submissions. UPDATE: Due to (thanks to) Tropical Storm Erika, the deadline for submissions has been extended until Tuesday, September 8 at 5 p.m.

4. Roast and Toast Brunch Series ft. FINKA Table and Tap. The Roast and Toast Brunch Series is a culinary event during which Coral Gables' The Local Craft Food and Drink hosts and collaborates with local partners from the Miami food scene. For the upcoming Sunday, September 6 installment, The Local's Chef Phil Bryant will alternate with Chef Eileen Andrade of FINKA Table and Tap in preparing the dishes for a five-course brunch. For the first time in Roast and Toast history, each course will be paired with a craft cocktail from each Chef's respective bartenders. "Our FINKA fans have been begging us for brunch," said Chef Eileen. "We can finally give them a taste of what is hopefully to come in the future." Tickets for this 21+ event are $95 and will be on sale until September 5.

5. Miami Dade College (MDC) Live Arts: Conscience Under Fire. Miami-raised theater artist, Teo Castellanos, directs this spoken word piece at MDC's Teatro Prometeo on Friday, September 11 and Saturday September 12 at 8 p.m. In it, four local Dade and Broward County-based vets of the Iraq War will share their stories of living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "These four men have traveled to the bowels of hell, physically and mentally," says Teo. "They come back with the determination to heal not only themselves, but the rest of us as well. Through their text they speak of a human condition. Foreign as war may be to most of us, we are all subject to suffering and healing." The event is free, but requires a ticket.

Which Miami news did you find most interesting? Will you be attending any of these events? Are there any news-worthy events we missed? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Buying and Selling Local - #MiamiFlea

@curanderaremedies

This summer in Miami has been unbearably hot and yesterday was no different. Nevertheless, in a testament to our growing sense of community, hundreds of Miami-ans seized an otherwise perfect Sunday to shop local at the Arts and Entertainment District's first ever Miami Flea. Like past A+E District events, the market activated the currently unused site of a future Canvas Miami project. This time, the space welcomed 30+ of our neighbors as vendors, including our friend Tiffany Zadi of Heist, and gave them a place to feature their handmade and vintage repurposed goods.

"What makes Miami Flea especially unique is that it's the first one ever to be carefully curated in a way that incorporates all kinds of local Miami talent and vendors," said Isabella Acker, the A+E District's culture curator, to the Miami New Times.

Yes, we don't do lines and yes, there was a line wrapping around the block when we arrived at Miami Flea but the #ThankYouMiami team was on a mission. We were on a triple-threat quest to: (1) buy unique "thank you" gifts for our friends; (2) find "SO Miami" décor for our new office; and (3) find new vendors to support through our blog. Our patience was handsomely rewarded. For our friends, we bought two ceramic octopus tentacle necklaces from The Clay Cache and two handmade "thank you" cards from Scissor & Spool. For our office, we bought a succulent garden in a Japanese tea pot from La Succulenta and a Miami print from Two Palms Art Bazaar. In them, and in all of the other vendors we met, we found friendly, talented people who we can't wait to watch grow their business and support along the way. All in all, yesterday's Miami Flea was a very productive (and surprisingly inexpensive) day!

@theclaycache

#ThankYouMiami Talks 5 Upcoming Local Events You Can't Miss

Per usual, programming greatness has flooded our inbox and, because we have a vested interest in helping you get the most out of your Miami experience, we're eager to share. Whether you're in Wynwood, Brickell or even Kendall, the next couple of days are loaded with can't-miss adventure. Here are the five events that need to be on your radar:

1. Free Uber Rides in Kendall

As part of their new Passport to Summer initiative, Uber is giving their riders free rides in South Florida's great neighborhoods. This weekend they have picked Kendall as their chosen destination. For those of you that, like us, rarely visit this southern suburban neighborhood, you have no excuse not to go. Enter promo code "FREEKEN" in your account and take advantage of your three free rides (up to $25) to explore Kendall's shopping, dining, and attractions. The offer is valid from Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. to Sunday, June 14 at midnight.

2. RED Digital Cinema Grand Opening in Wynwood

On Saturday, June 13, RED Digital Cinema will be unleashing its greatness amidst the colorful walls of Wynwood with a grand opening celebration at their new 72 NW 25 Street location. Come check out the camera that began a revolution in 2006 and has since been used to film your favorite shows and movies (House of Cards, anyone?). Their third retail location in the U.S., and their first store in Miami, will feature hands-on product demonstrations and showcase the latest RED camera innovations. It will also serve as a gallery for works shot on RED so don't forget to stop by during Art Walk.

3. Game of Thrones Dinner in Coconut Grove

Also on Saturday, June 13, The Bookstore in the Grove, will be hosting a Game of Thrones-themed feast from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Our favorite Coconut Grove bookstore steals our hearts by recreating the Seven Kingdoms of our TV show obsession and will be serving foods inspired by Westeros, The North, The South, and The Wall. If you're looking for a place to eat your feelings about the impending season finale, this event is your big chance!

4. Wedding Salon Bridal Event in Downtown

On Monday, June 15, Wedding Salon will be hosting a high end bridal event at the Epic Hotel from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Whether you're engaged or day-dreaming about your perfect wedding, this is your opportunity to interact with the best of Miami's wedding vendors, including Miami cake guru Ana Paz Cakes. There will also be beauty and spa treatments, food samples, music, and goodie bags so it's the perfect girl's night out. You need a ticket to enter, but one ticket admits two adults.

5. Yoga Soundscape in the A&E District

On Tuesday, June 16, the Arts and Entertainment District will host its second Yoga Soundscape event at 7 p.m. You've heard us talk about our experience at the first-ever rendition of this event so we'll let our recap speak for itself. Unfortunately this month's event is sold out so keep an eye out for future announcements and RSVP the minute you can.

Which Miami neighborhood(s) will you be visiting this weekend? What are your plans? Is there an awesome event that you will be attending? Which? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami Talks Last Week In Miami: 6/1/2015

Photo credit: Jason Koerner

Last week was an unnaturally busy one. Even pro multi-taskers like ourselves had a hard time keeping up with all the amazing events and the exciting news that unleashed in but seven days. Fortunately, we kept our eye on the ball. Here are five things you may have missed, but need to know:

1. American Express' Centurion Lounge is finally open at Miami International Airport. As Amex cardholders and frequent travelers, this was the best news we received all week. The new lounge has the basics (WiFi and luggage lockers) and the not-so-basics (spa services, showers, a family room). And guess what? To round out the lounge's "SO Miami" ambiance, Amex engaged Chef Michy Bernstein to serve up Miami-inspired food. Bravo, Amex!

2. NBC Universo's Larrymania Season 4 will premiere Sunday, June 14. On Thursday, Miami's latino entertainment media gathered at the Soho Beach House for a private screening and Q&A of the popular reality TV show that follows Mexican Regional singer and composer Larry Hernandez. The new season will follow Larry as he continues to explore the balance between work and family life, especially with a growing brood and a new fiancée, Kenia Ontiveros. In Season 4, we're excited to see how Larry handles the pressure to divorce his ex-wife and the gang's trip through Europe, peppered with his infamous "no filter" commentary.

3. The Arts & Entertainment District hosted Miami's first-ever Miami Soul Train. Also on Thursday, the A&E District took their event planning talents to Miami-Dade Public Transit in a (successful) effort to expose locals to the MetroMover. During the event, locals rode the MetroMover while wearing wireless LED headphones as part of a giant "silent" dance party. If you missed it, search #MiamiSoulTrain on Instagram for a ton of great videos that capture the vibes of the night. Our favorite was a video captured by our friend Jomary (@JomaryJimenez) of everyone jamming not so silently to "Hey Ya!". We hope to see you at the A&E District's June events!

4. Uber celebrates one year in Miami with "You Ride - We Give". Can you believe we have been relying on Uber for our transportation for only one year? Neither can we. To celebrate their first 365 days in our beautiful city, Uber Miami is giving back to our favorite local and national causes for every ride you take this week. Just enter the promo code to the organization of your choice in your Uber app and they will donate $1 for every ride you take. It's that simple! 

5. Zagat announces Miami's 27 Most Anticipated Openings for Summer. If you've been following us on Twitter and Instagram, you know we're can't-ing at the rate in which South Beach's restaurants have been closing. We were particularly sour at the closing of Café Mistral, our favorite neighborhood café. Zagat's announcement makes that pill easier to swallow as they announce the upcoming opening of restaurants we are highly anticipating, such as Bachour's Bakery and Bistro in Brickell, Wapo Taco! in Coral Gables, Phuc Yea!'s brick-and-mortar in MiMo, and NaiYaRa in Sunset Harbour. And so goes the Miami food scene's circle of life...

What news from last week were you most excited to receive? Do you have any news from last week we missed that you want to share? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Free Things To Do

Everybody loves free things. And, in a pricey city like Miami, finding free and fun activities is like finding a needle in a haystack. This week, we used our infamous Miami savvy to compile the best complimentary community events, like the killer programming at the Arts & Entertainment District you've heard us rave about before. Whether you're a local or a visitor, our latest piece for Hometown Tourist has something for you. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo for the full feature.

Are you a resident or a visitor? What are your favorite free activities in Miami? What other fun things do you like to do here? How did you find out about them? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami Rounds Up This Week in Miami

On Monday we told you to expect a new blog post every day this week. And, probably because we made that promise, the week turned out to be a hectic one. This week in Miami was characterized by a new slew of grand openings, unique events, and other important Miami news but, worry not, because we kept track of the most note-worthy happenings in the midst of our calendar chaos. Here's what you need to know:

1. On Monday, the new kid to Miami's "Brewers' Row", Concrete Beach Brewery, announced that they have begun brewing operations at their NW 24th Street HQ. On-going production includes two of its year-round draft beers, the wheat ale Rica IPA and the Miami-style pilsner Stiltsville Pilsner. We're excited to have another Miami ambassador spreading the word about our beautiful city through quality beer and can't wait for the brewery's indoor/outdoor bar, Social Hall, to open so we can add another hangout to our roster. "The energy and culture of this city drives everything we do, and we look forward to sharing our love of craft beer with the rest of Miami," shares Jesse Morris, Concrete Beach Social Hall Manager.

2. STK Miami, the modern steakhouse and lounge, is back in business after a very South Beach grand re-opening party. On Tuesday, we joined approximately 500 VIPs, ladies in bandage dresses, and dapper men in suits at their new home at the 1 Hotel to mingle and sample their reincarnated menu. The event engaged the who's who of Miami with signature cocktails, bites (the lil' BRGs with truffle were bomb), a pop-up tattoo parlor, a photo booth, and a flask engraving station because...South Beach. For us, STK Miami was about good vibes and good food so we're happy to see that they have successfully brought both back to Miami.

3. On Tuesday, the Arts and Entertainment District and Miami's Independent Thinkers launched the "A+E Performance Pavilion", a series of one part circus and two parts burlesque performances from the cast of Vaudeville and other surprise acts. The event, which is free and open to the public, also gives you a chance to perform with the cast, if you're so inclined. You can catch this unique show next May 1, May 5 or May 12 if you RSVP.

4. Blue Harmony Spa at the Shelborne Wyndham Grand announced special prices on their popular Citrus Quench mani and pedi for this weekend in celebration of National Manicure and Pedicure Day. From April 24 through April 26, you can schedule the manicure for $25 and the pedicure for $40 by calling (305) 341-1366. You can also get 20% off all additional services scheduled during this time. We tried out Blue Harmony Spa's massages during Wednesday's Legging Lounge event and you need it. Trust. On our end, we're excited to have another excuse to pamper ourselves.

5. Seaspice Restaurant and Moët & Chandon rolled out a sunset cocktail hour that starts today. If you have been saving your visits to Seaspice for special occasions, this sunset cocktail hour is your excuse to go back more regularly. Every Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Seaspice offers special prices on raw bar items, bar bites, cocktails, wines and, of course, Moët & Chandon. We're talking $7 Pata Negra croquettes so you know it's good.

What did you do this last week in Miami? Do you have any news we did not cover? Is there an announcement that we missed? What can we do to make our weekly roundups more helpful? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Killer Programming - Yoga Soundscape

Picture this: You're in Miami and it's the Tuesday after Winter Music Conference, Spring Break, and the Miami Beach Centennial. If your hectic schedule last week didn't super charge your stress levels, the traffic definitely did. Plus, let's be honest, you probably went out more nights and a lot later than you're used to. No judgments - it was totally worth it! The only problem is that your body is currently a low-energy, high-stress environment and for a Miami-an that is a losing combination. So, how do you reboot your system?

The Miami community knows Miami life can be tough on your body, which is probably why they offer so many free yoga classes. To restart our bodies from last week's mayhem, we joined 200 of our neighbors last night for one of these classes at the Canvas Patio in the Arts and Entertainment District. But this was not just your average yoga class because we were wearing LED headphones during our practice and moving in tandem with the musical curation of Karri On. Wait - what?

You've heard us talk about Sound Off Experience's "silent disco" concept before. Well, yesterday's Yoga Soundscape event was exactly like that, except much more zen. For the first time in Miami, Canvas Miami, in partnership with Ansa Yoga, applied Sound Off Experience's innovative idea to a yoga class. The combination was pure magic. 

Sound Off Experience's headphones kept the background noise at a minimum and connected us more closely with the mind-clearing experience. We heard one girl say that listening to teacher Jennifer Pansa through the headphones helped to silence her normally racing thoughts. We heard another girl claim that she cried during one of the poses because it synced so perfectly with the music. And, us? We loved it. We hope it is the first of many more Yoga Soundscape events at the A&E District and Miami's other neighborhoods.

Did you experience the first ever Yoga Soundscape? Have you attended any of the A&E District's other events? Which one did you go to? What did you like about it? Dislike? What other types of programming would you like to see in Miami? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Supporting Local Talent - A Blank Canvas

Miami has a new up-and-coming cultural epicenter: the Miami Arts and Entertainment District or A&E District. Since its recent inception, the developing neighborhood has hit the ground running with a constant stream of arts, music, and nightlife programming that put our packed social calendars to shame. This past weekend, the A&E District hosted an event called "A Blank Canvas", a 90-minute art battle produced by Miami's Independent Thinkers (MIT). We stopped by in our Perrier capacity to cover the scene and snap some photos of Miami's killer style.

The event was fun, engaging, and made us proud to be Miami locals. On par with the A&E District and MIT's missions, "A Blank Canvas" promoted local artists and banded the Miami community together to choose the battle champion. And, Miami's artists really stepped up to the plate. Everyone from DJ Patrick Walsh and MC Komakozie to the four competing artists absolutely killed it. A special congratulations to Jenny Perez who the crowd crowned as the night's winning artist. Read the excerpt and click on the photo for the full Perrier feature.

Where you at "A Blank Canvas"? Who was your favorite artists? What other A&E District events have you attended? What did you like about those events? What other Miami neighborhoods do you like to frequent? What do you enjoy doing there? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet?