#ThankYouMiami for Distinctively Different Neighborhoods - Brickell

Welcome to Part 3 of our series, "#ThankYouMiami for Distinctively Different Neighborhoods", where Miami locals take us on a journey of their respective neighborhoods and tell us what they love about it, what they hate about it, and why their neighborhood makes them say #ThankYouMiami. Access the rest of the series here.

In this feature, Miami resident Mariamely Leoni explores her Brickell neighborhood. Mariamely was born in Venezuela, but has been living in South Florida for the last 15 years. Recently, Mariamely decided to leverage her knowledge of South Florida and Miami's various neighborhoods to create Local Genie. Local Genie is a pass that gives users access to benefits at local businesses that are part of the Local Genie network. Through this program, Local Genie strives to engage locals to explore their community and to give visitors a taste of the "real Miami". The Local Genie pass is available for purchase through their website starting this month!

1. What distinguishes Brickell from other Miami neighborhoods?
Brickell is the perfect mix of other Miami neighborhoods' best assets. It is not too touristy, but it is in close proximity to popular tourist destinations. It is not too loud, but it is never boring with its wide selection of restaurants and bars, like my go-tos Suviche and Baru Urbano. Other neighborhood notables are the great bay views and the local community, which is composed primarily of health-conscious business professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Brickell's assets include fantastic views of Biscayne Bay. Photo credit: Mariamely Leoni

2. What makes Brickell "SO Miami"?
There is nothing more Miami than local landmark Tobacco Road, which recently celebrated its 101st anniversary! The range of cultures represented in Brickell's residents and businesses is also typical of Miami. For example, local restaurants in the area offer cuisine from a wide range of countries including Japan, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and France.

Venezuela native Mariamely represents one of the countries that makes Brickell a melting pot of cultures. Photo credit: Mariamely Leoni

3. What do you like least about Brickell?
The construction and limited parking...enough said!

Despite her gripe with the construction, Mariamely and her dog enjoy Miami's beautiful and growing skyline during their boat trips in Biscayne Bay. Photo credit: Mariamely Leoni

4. What is the strangest thing you have seen in Brickell?
The hoards of people exercising on Brickell Avenue around 7 p.m., like the hundreds of runners that participate in the weekly Brickell Run Club, remind me of the Walking Dead zombie mobs. I have to fight to get past them to get into my building. And, once I make it inside, the experience is enough of a guilt trip to get me immediately into my workout outfit!

Hundreds of Miami runners gather every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 1300 Brickell Avenue to "run Miami" and enjoy the neighborhood's scenery together. Photo credit: Run Club Network

5. What about Brickell makes you say #ThankYouMiami?
#ThankYouMiami for the best sunsets, for the surrounding ocean and blue skies, and for the amazing people  whose great ideas have made Brickell such a unique neighborhood.

Mariamely is grateful for Miami's awe-inspiring sunsets. I'm with you, Mariamely, and the views definitely do not suck either... Photo credit: Mariamely Leoni

Are you an expert on your neighborhood? Share with Miami what makes your neighborhood distinctively different! Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami. You could be featured in an upcoming segment of this feature.

#ThankYouMiami for Distinctively Different Neighborhoods – Downtown Miami

Welcome to Part 2 of our series, “#ThankYouMiami for Distinctively Different Neighborhoods", where Miami locals take us on a journey of their respective neighborhoods and tell us what they love about it, what they hate about it, and why their neighborhood makes them say #ThankYouMiami. Access the rest of the series here.

In this feature, Miami style blogger and fashion ambassador Maya King explores her neighborhood of Downtown Miami. Maya moved to Miami six years ago and loves living here. Her blog, ALaModeMaya, features Miami shopping and fashion events, as well as her personal style (think Halle Berry, Olivia Palermo, Sophia Loren). 

1. What distinguishes Downtown Miami from other Miami neighborhoods? 
Downtown Miami is distinctively different because it is minutes away from anywhere you would want to go in Miami and there is a lot to do close by. Bayfront Park, for example, hosts concerts and events almost every week. Best of all, I never have to drive or fight to park to enjoy a Miami Heat game because I live a few blocks from the American Airlines Arena. And, did I mention that my neighborhood has been the backdrop in music videos for artists like Drake, P. Diddy, Rick Ross, and Pitbull?

Life imitating art. Much like in the music videos filmed here, flocks of mirrored Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces frequent Maya's neighborhood. Photo credit: Maya King

2. What makes Downtown Miami "SO Miami"? 
Definitely the skyline! I still get a special feeling every time I come home and see that beautiful skyline in which I live. Whenever I pick up visitors at the airport and they see it, they say in shock: “Wow! You live here?!"

Maya and her visitors love Miami's mesmerizing skyline. Photo credit: RolloFilm, LLC

3. What do you like least about Downtown Miami? 
I am blessed to live here so my only gripe is actually a humble brag. Downtown Miami’s main thoroughfare, Biscayne Boulevard, is a popular location for parades, races, and other events. So, when I’m pulling out of my garage in a hurry, street closures and traffic resulting from these events are not my favorite.

Traffic trade-off. Special events, like last year's Miami Heat parade along Biscayne Boulevard, make it difficult for Maya to drive through Downtown Miami. I say "if you can't beat them, join them"!
Photo credit: Maya King

4. What is the strangest thing you've seen in Downtown Miami? 
I think the metro mover is a Petri dish for strangeness. It is not uncommon to find affluent people in haute couture and business professionals sharing a car with a homeless drug addict that is shouting expletives. Later in the evening, a drunk or three are added to that mix. I'm still waiting for a flash mob to make an appearance...

Where does Miami fit among the Metro Mover stereotypes? Maya is that well put-together professional whose style shows her commitment to success and her career. Photo Credit: Jennifer Sotolongo

5. What about Downtown Miami makes you say #ThankYouMiami? 
#ThankYouMiami for allowing me to regularly walk out of my front door to enjoy free yoga at Bayfront Park; quality time with friends at the oasis by the man-made beach nearby; or a good production at the Olympia Theater two blocks away. No cab needed!

An urban oasis. Nearby favorites like Bayfront Park keep Maya entertained, cultured, and overall happy as a Miami resident. Photo credit: Maya King

Are you an expert on your neighborhood? Share with Miami what makes your neighborhood distinctively different! Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami. You could be featured in an upcoming segment of this feature.

#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene - Part 4: David Notik

David Notik, Founder of Woven and Creator of #MiamiTech

Welcome to Part 4 of my 4-part series, “#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene", where I recount my conversations with Miami entrepreneurs about what Miami is doing right for its entrepreneurial movement, where there is room for improvement, and why they each say #ThankYouMiami. Today, I share with you a summary of my interview with David Notik from Woven and #MiamiTech. Access the rest of the series here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

The Start-Up

David Notik is the Founder of Woven, an online platform that makes it easier for individuals to access and get involved in the communities that interest them. Woven organizes all of a community's news, messages, events, resources, etc. in real-time on one page so users can efficiently find, search for, and filter this information to best meet their needs. Simultaneously, it strategically connects the businesses, organizations, and members in each community to their target audience.

You can see the Woven platform in action at MiamiTech.org, the page for Miami's tech and start-up community. Additionally, Woven recently debuted its new live event activity support feature at Social Media Club South Florida's 5th Anniversary Meetup event.

 

Miami entrepreneur David Notik says Miami is "an intimate community that makes it accessible for locals to form relationships that empower them to make an impact".

The Miami Benefits and Challenges

Miami chose David. He met his wife, Rebecca, here while visiting with his family and decided to make the move from New York City 4 years ago.  When he first arrived, David saw Miami as a relative desert for tech and start-up, particularly in contrast to NYC and Seattle where he previously lived. However, he wanted to surround himself with like-minded people so he began attending Refresh Miami meet-ups in hopes of tapping into the local entrepreneurial and tech communities.

In the past two years, David has observed a blossoming of those communities. He is currently working out of The LAB Miami, an "entrepreneurial campus" powered by the Knight Foundation and one of the co-working spaces mentioned in Part 1 of this series.

David mentions that Miami's welcoming nature, as well as its young pioneering community are its greatest strengths. These qualities, combined with a lower cost of living, make Miami an accessible area for growing a business. At the same time, he stresses that the ability to make money, rather than spend less, is critical for drawing talent to the area.

David offers a unique perspective to the funding and talent acquisition question carried throughout this series. Will, featured in Part 2, and Brad, featured in Part 3, started by first thinking about local solutions to these challenges. Conversely, David primarily took a global approach.

For example, Woven's one full-time employee, Kai Sellgren, lives and works from Finland. And, while David is open to hiring local talent, he does not think it is necessary to limit his search to his backyard. He takes full advantage of existing technology, like Skype, which allows him to hire and work with someone who meets his needs anywhere in the world.

David has a similar outlook regarding future investments. He is cultivating relationships with local investors, but will not limit himself to local sources of funding. David is confident in the strength of his business and believes it to be a more important factor in getting funded than the location of his potential investors.

Despite his more global outlook, David's investment in the local community is evident through his involvement in Miami's start-up and tech community. Not only does he regularly participate in community events, but, through #MiamiTech, he has also given this community an innovative tool through which all its members can get on the same page.

The #ThankYouMiami Statement

So what is this hard-working visionary most grateful for? David said "#ThankYouMiami for keeping it real - for being accessible, supporting and  ambitious as a community".

Are you a part of the Miami entrepreneurial movement? What do you think Miami is doing right to support its future growth? Where do you see room for improvement? Which local entrepreneurs would you like to see give their opinion on this subject? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene - Part 3: Brad Liff

Brad Liff, CEO and Founder of Fitting Room Social

Welcome to Part 3 of my 4-part series, “#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene", where I recount my conversations with Miami entrepreneurs about what Miami is doing right for its entrepreneurial movement, where there is room for improvement, and why they each say #ThankYouMiami. Today, I share with you a summary of my interview with Brad Liff from Fitting Room Social. Access the rest of the series here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 4.

The Start-Up

Brad Liff is the CEO and Founder of Fitting Room Social, a social shopping platform intended to give women the confidence to shop online knowing the item they are purchasing will fit them well. Users begin by creating a profile with their personal information and clothing measurements (don't worry, girls - you can keep your measurements private!). They then upload photos of their personal style and rate each garment photo as a "Great Fit", "Good Fit", "Fair Fit", or "Poor Fit". Fitting Room Social sorts the user-populated information to connect women with garments that match their individual fits and style per their profiles.

Miami entrepreneur Brad Liff calls Miami a city with "a real business community of talented, smart, and dedicated people".

The Miami Benefits and Challenges

Brad came to Miami almost 5 years ago from Long Island, New York for a job in private equity. In Miami, he caught the entrepreneurial bug, decided to put his private equity career on hold, and started Fitting Room Social.

When I asked Brad why he chose to start Fitting Room Social in Miami, he firmly stated that Miami is his home and that it is important for him to build his business in his own community. He would like to see Miami grow as a tech center and wants to show we have all the resources, including capital and talent, to build a company locally.

Acquiring initial funding for Fitting Room Social was not a challenge. Its current operations are funded through capital Brad received from a group of investors last year. When asked about future funding, Brad responds with confidence that the challenge will not be a consequence of building Fitting Room Social in Miami. In his opinion, institutional investors are becoming more comfortable with investing in cities like Miami and are less concerned with relocating business investments closer to them. Additionally, he thinks the community is doing a better job of educating and accessing local sources of capital.

Brad's views on talent acquisition in Miami are just as positive. Unlike the other entrepreneurs featured in this series, Brad has limited technical knowledge so, for him, finding outside technical experts was a critical first step to launching Fitting Room Social. He began building the platform's prototype using off-shore developers, but quickly realized he needed local talent to realize his vision. He found the high-quality development talent he needed in Rokk3r Labs on Lincoln Road. The support he has received from Rokk3r Labs has been instrumental in helping Brad make his entrepreneurial dreams a reality.

The #ThankYouMiami Statement

Brad met and married his wife, Marjorie, in Miami and recently had his first child, daughter Ruby, here. So what is this passionate new father most grateful for? Brad said "#ThankYouMiami for introducing me to my wife".

Check back tomorrow for Part 4 of this 4-part series where I share with you my interview with David Notik, Founder of Woven and Creator of #MiamiTech.

Are you a part of the Miami entrepreneurial movement? What do you think Miami is doing right to support its future growth? Where do you see room for improvement? Which local entrepreneurs would you like to see give their opinion on this subject? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene - Part 2: Will Weinraub

Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of LiveNinja

Welcome to Part 2 of my 4-part series, “#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene", where I recount my conversations with Miami entrepreneurs about what Miami is doing right for its entrepreneurial movement, where there is room for improvement, and why they each say #ThankYouMiami. Today, I share with you a summary of my interview with Will Weinraub from LiveNinja. Access the rest of the series here: Part 1, Part 3, and Part 4.

Miami entrepreneur Will Weinraub calls his hometown "a diverse, quickly-evolving city that keeps me on my toes and keeps me innovative".

The Start-Up

Will Weinraub is the CEO and co-founder of LiveNinja, a video chat marketplace where users can find and book chat sessions with experts ("ninjas") on a variety of subjects ranging from career counseling to video editing to yoga. Simultaneously, the LiveNinja platform gives individuals the necessary online tools to monetize their skills and connects them to potential customers.

LiveNinja has been widely recognized for its successful execution of an innovative concept. In December 2012, LiveNinja closed a seed round of $500,000 in funding through angel investors from Miami, New York, and South America.

The Miami Benefits
Will was born and raised in Miami and, from our conversation, is a big fan of the area. When I asked him why he decided to start LiveNinja in Miami, he quickly responded by asking: "Why not Miami?". He credits the following qualities for making Miami a valuable place for entrepreneurial endeavors:

1. Access to funding - When Will decided to start LiveNinja, he was pleased to find that there was a funding framework to facilitate its creation and growth locally. He saw possibilities for capital from both local angel investors, as well as foreign funding sources.

2. Community diversity - The range of demographics in Miami give start-ups, like LiveNinja, access to different audiences on which to test ideas and from which to get feedback.

3. Geographic location - Miami's proximity to Latin America and its connection to the international community facilitate access to foreign funding sources and to the option of easily expanding outside of the United States for companies like LiveNinja.

4. Industry transformation - Miami is rapidly evolving from a tourist destination to a thriving urban environment that supports locals, like Will, in their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The Miami Challenges

There are two challenges start-ups commonly face regardless of where they are located: acquiring funding and acquiring talent. I was curious to know whether these challenges were amplified or lessened by Miami's unique qualities so I asked Will whether LiveNinja has encountered any obstacles that may be Miami-specific.

In terms of funding, LiveNinja achieved a tremendous milestone when it received seed funding at the end of last year. However, Will believes Miami can attract additional funding opportunities for its early stage businesses through continued support of innovation and entrepreneurship. He stated that the ability to draw capital for local entrepreneurial undertakings is also dependent on the willingness of local entrepreneurs to work hard to bring it here.

Will found that identifying the local technical talent necessary to develop LiveNinja was slightly more challenging. In his eyes, there is technical talent in Miami, but it is much more scarce than marketing, sales, and management talent. He is confident that Miami's low cost of living, lifestyle opportunities, and weather will make it easy for companies to attract technical talent to the area into the future as long as they produce projects worthy of their attention.

The #ThankYouMiami Statement

So what is this talented Miami-native most grateful for? Will said "#ThankYouMiami for being enticing and exciting, for spurring my professional and personal growth, and for giving me both a family and a tech career".

Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of this 4-part series where I share with you my interview with Brad Liff, CEO and Founder of Fitting Room Social.

Are you a part of the Miami entrepreneurial movement? What do you think Miami is doing right to support its future growth? Where do you see room for improvement? Which local entrepreneurs would you like to see give their opinion on this subject? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene - A 4-Part Series

Welcome to Part 1 of my 4-part series, “#ThankYouMiami for Our Growing Start-Up Scene", where I recount my conversations with Miami entrepreneurs about what Miami is doing right for its entrepreneurial movement, where there is room for improvement, and why they each say #ThankYouMiami. Access the rest of the series here: Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Miami is buzzing with entrepreneurial activity. In the past few years, I’ve observed more and more incubators and co-working spaces open their doors, including The Launch Pad, Incubate Miami, Rokk3r Labs, the LAB Miami, Pipeline, and most recently Venture Hive. From civic engagement events to hack-a-thons, the local entrepreneurial movement is alive and kicking.

Now, I am only an entrepreneur by marriage so I have as in depth an understanding of entrepreneurship as my husband chooses to give me. But my common sense tells me that the growth of our entrepreneurial community shows Miami is moving in the right direction. How much? I leave it to the members of this growing community to tell you.

Each day this week, I will share with you an interview with a local entrepreneur about what Miami is doing right, where there is room for improvement, and why he says #ThankYouMiami. Check back daily as I recount my conversations with:

• Will Weinraub, CEO and Co-Founder of LiveNinja 
• David Notik, Founder of Woven and Creator of #MiamiTech 
• Brad Liff, CEO and Founder of Fitting Room Social

Are you a part of the Miami entrepreneurial movement? What do you think Miami is doing right to support its future growth? Where do you see room for improvement? Which local entrepreneurs would you like to see give their opinion on this subject? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Miami Spice – August 2013

Jury’s still out in our household on whether Miami Spice is as good a value as it was intended to be. Regardless, as the resident glutton and spender in our household, I am a huge proponent of going out to enjoy Miami Spice – good value or not. As long as the food and atmosphere is promising, I’m there…and, by association, so are my husband and friends.

This year our strategy was to visit our regular haunts during August and to put off the more exclusive venues for September because it is my birthday month. So how is it going so far? Although our pace has been slower than usual this year, we almost managed to average 1 Miami Spice outing per week in August, particularly thanks to the early Miami Spice previews in July. And, of the restaurants we've visited, so far we have no complaints.

660 at the Angler’s (660 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach)

I fell in love with 660 the first time I walked in – which is frustrating because I had a culinary haven a block away for almost a year before I even realized it was there. And, if you’ve ever been to South Beach and you’ve never heard of 660, I bet my piggy bank savings that you, like me, have either been too distracted by the lush wall of vegetation surrounding the Angler Hotel property or by the traffic on Washington Avenue to notice 660 is there. So next time you're in the area, stop by. The service is excellent, the food is delicious, and the ambiance is much more serene than what you'd expect in the heart of South Beach.



This year for Miami Spice Chef Carlos Torres is featuring the restaurant’s most consistently delicious dishes in a 3-course prix fixe menu, as well as a 3-mojitos-for-$10 special. My husband and I tried everything but the Cuban Wrapped Pork. I know, Miami sacrilege. Our favorites were the Crispy Gulf Shrimp, the 8-hour Braised Short Rib, and the 3 cilantro mojitos that I downed with my dinner.

If you've ever had 660's Jalea, their Crispy Gulf Shrimp is just as crunchy, just as sweet, and every bit as exquisite.

The 8-hour Braised Short Rib was the perfect entree served with a sweet potato mash, scallions, roasted garlic, gremolata, and demi glaze.

Seasons 52 (321 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables)

I inherited my love for Seasons 52 from my parents, who are huge fans of “chain restaurants” (a taboo phrase with my self-proclaimed foodie husband and friends). Growing up, my family lived, breathed, and ate nothing but Sysco-based food from chain restaurants. Then, one day, my parents discovered the one national chain I am proud to frequent: Seasons 52.

Seasons 52’s claim-to-fame is that their menu is seasonally-inspired and that all of their dishes are under 475 calories. The former makes me excited to visit year-round, the latter offers little dietary comfort because I eat at least 3 dishes every time I visit. The benefit of choosing Miami Spice this time of year is that it gives me an excuse to explore their menu beyond my usual choice of shrimp chipotle flatbread and tuna roll. During my visit, I opted for the Roasted Shrimp, Spinach, and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, the Vegetarian Tasting, and the Blueberry Cheesecake Mini Indulgence. While they were all satisfying, they did not compare to my normal selections.

The Roasted Shrimp, Spinach, and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms tasted like your run-of-the-mill stuffed mushrooms. Nothing to call home about, but good nonetheless.

If you like tofu and veggies, everything but the grain salad is worth choosing The Vegetarian Tasting.

Essensia at the Palms Hotel and Spa (3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach)
I have yet to try a single food item that I do not like from Essensia. Even worse, I suffer food envy every time I visit regardless of how much I am enjoying my meal. I love Essensia because they not only highlight fresh, seasonal food, but also focus on eco-friendly practices like using locally sourced ingredients. And, the result has thus far been consistent deliciousness.

Our entire party opted for the Miami Spice menu so I had the opportunity to try all of the menu items, except for the Fettuccini with Shrimp and Summer Vegetables. The Kale Caesar was my absolute favorite, but I love all things kale so I consider myself biased. The group favorite was the Thai Lemongrass Soup. I only had one spoonful, but I have craved that soup every rainy day since our dinner because the hot coconut milk and Thai spices made it the ideal comfort food. Our advice: skip the dessert, in my opinion, it was not worth the extra calories.

Whether I'm biased or not, this Kale Caesar was excellent. It was the perfect mixture of crunchy, creamy, and nourishing.

The Thai Lemongrass Soup is the perfect comfort food for a rainy day.

One month down. One to go. Which have been your favorite Miami Spice menus thus far? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for One-Of-A-Kind Weekends - July 2013

I love living in Miami because our weekends are one-of-a-kind. And as locals, we easily reap the benefits of having amazing venues close to home or of knowing that friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend that is our "in" to that exclusive party. Moreover, there is never a lack of great things to do - giving us a calendar full of weekend events to keep the foodie, fashionista, and Miami snob in us reeling all year.

Our July weekends looked a lot like this (and #ThankYouMiami for that):

Standard Hotel Spa & Pool Day

My husband is such a sweetheart. He is not a spa person, but for our one-year anniversary he booked us a couples massage at my favorite spa, the spa at The Standard. The highlights of our romantic stay-cation were meditating in the Hamam, enjoying tequila sodas and fresh food by the pool, and staring at the gorgeous view of Biscayne Bay.

Guilt-free pool side lunching. Chef Mark Zeitouni offers so many delicious, healthy options from which to choose, but I can never not get the Mediterranean Flatbread (pictured above).

Unparalleled vistas and lounging. There's nothing like lounging poolside with a tequila soda and this view of Miami's gorgeous mainstay, Biscayne Bay.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) Swim Week

In the summer, there's no hotter place than Miami Beach. We do summer year-round so we know how to do it right. That is why every year for the past 9 years we have welcomed locals and visitors at our hotels, beaches, and nightclubs for MBFW Swim Week to party and commiserate in our collective love for swim and resort wear fashion. It is also our biggest opportunity as locals to stock up on our beach bum wardrobe for the year at the amazing sample sales. Worst case scenario, you make a lot of awesome new friends, get pampered and drink free booze. This year, I had the chance to enjoy the Escape Miami Lounge at The Sagamore, the What Women Want event at Nikki Beach, the Don't Worry Baby pool party at Freehand, and the Lazy Sunday BBQ at The Standard - all enjoyable in their own right.

Bubbles, baubles, and bikinis. Enjoying free Zonin prosseco and Voli vodka cocktails with friends at the Sagamore Hotel during the Escape Miami Lounge event.

Whimsical details. The "Don't Worry Baby" pool party at Freehand Miami was one-of-a-kind thanks to the artsy decor and the kryogenifex machines that kept the crowds cool in the Miami heat.

WD555 Tuesday Tasting

Everywhere else Tuesdays count as a weekday, but in Miami our weekends are week-long. And, nothing screams "weekend" to a woman more than a free champagne tasting. If you're a local male, this is THE place and time to find Miami's single ladies and woo them with your knowledge of wine and culinary know-how. The featured wine is well-chosen and WD555's menu is a what's what of fancy french eats. Plus if you like any of the selections at the tasting, WD555 offers all of them at reasonable prices as part of their "Weekly Offer".

A single man's dream. A mostly female crowd congregates at WD555 for Tasting Tuesday to enjoy free champagne and chatter.

Excellent wine, excellent prices. WD555 offers the wines from their Tuesday Tasting at a reasonable cost in their "Weekly Offer".

Did you also enjoy one of these events this past month and have a different perspective to share? Did you have a fantastic one-of-a-kind weekend experience in July that also deserves a highlight? Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @ThankYouMiami!