Aston Martin Residences’ Grand Opening Sets The Stage For The Formula One Miami Grand Prix Week

What better way to kick off Miami Race Week and the Miami Grand Prix than with a monumental car-themed luxury tower opening! After almost a decade of planning and construction, Aston Martin Residences in Downtown Miami has officially begun handing the keys to its new residents.

With 391 ultra-luxury residences, the 66-story tower is the first Aston Martin-branded residential building in the world. Aston Martin Residences is in good company in South Florida, where auto-themed residences are very much a thing. The super-tower will join Porsche Design Tower and Bentley Residences in Sunny Isles as well as the newly-launched Mercedes Benz Places in Brickell’s Financial District.

Aston Martin Residences Miami Terrace

Aston Martin Residences Miami Terrace

Pre-sales of the tower were a resounding success, with 99% of the residences selling prior to completion of Aston Martin Residences. The pre-sales represented over $1 Billion in new residences changing hands this week according to the developer.

The last available residence is the crown jewel penthouse, called “Unique.” The sleek three-story estate-sized residence spans nearly 20,000 square feet of interior living space and an additional 7,000 square feet of outdoor terraces. Offered at $59 million USD, Unique is filled with amenities designed for luxurious and simplistic living. It holds seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a private pool, gym, spa and a custom climate-controlled garage.

Populating this private penthouse garage is the last remaining Aston Martin Vulcan, one of only 24 ever constructed. The 7.0-litre V12 820bhp, all-carbon fiber supercar is valued at $3.2 million and is engineered for track driving only.

While Unique is the last remaining pre-sale opportunity, we do expect a certain number of purchase opportunities to present themselves on the resale market soon. This is a common occurrence and to be expected with collector-grade residences in ultra high-demand projects.

Aston Martin Residences Miami Triplex Penthouse "Unique"

Aston Martin Residences Miami Triplex Penthouse “Unique”

Aston Martin Residences Downtown Miami Penthouse Vulcan

Aston Martin Residences Downtown Miami Penthouse Vulcan

“We are delighted to have extended our expertise in design and craftmanship into a project of this stature. Such ventures enable us to further grow our creative experience and expertise and expand Aston Martin into new aspects of the ultra-luxury world that appeal to both our existing and future customers,” Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin said in a release. “Melding a captivating design aesthetic with one of the city’s most idyllic locations, one of the last parcels of the Miami waterfront, the ultra-luxury Aston Martin Residence adds further distinction to the already expressive skyline. We think this project firmly sets the mark for luxury residential design around the world.”

Aston Martin Residences Miami Marina View

Aston Martin Residences Miami Marina View

Aston Martin Residences Miami White Living Room

Aston Martin Residences Miami White Living Room

A true landmark building, Aston Martin rose 817-feet into the Downtown Miami skyline on a build site that left many in disbelief. Utilizing the most cutting edge construction and design innovations, the team was able to bring the project to fruition while staying true to the Aston Martin brand in every sense.

The level of luxury and sophistication is palatable at every turn, from the white glove butler service at the mega-yacht marina to the Aston Martin number plate identifying your residence.

Rodolfo Miani, Principal Partner of Bodas Miani Anger (BMA) Architects said of the project, “Since this idea started with the first draft, everything has taken on a form of majesty. Working together with the Aston Martin and G&G teams has expanded our vision to create an architectural masterpiece that will enhance the beauty of the city. This collaboration between the architectural and automotive world was a true alliance that brings an elevated symphony of design and detail to every aspect of the building.”

If you are interested in a private presentation of Unique or would like to discuss resale opportunities at Aston Martin Residences Miami, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.

Image Credit: Aston Martin Residences Miami

Happy Easter From The Light Group! Here Are Some Of Our Favorite Coconut Grove Easter Brunch Locations

Happy Easter from The Light Group! Whether you are religious or not, Easter is a lovely season that represents rebirth and joy. It ushers in the springtime brightness and what better way to bask in the springtime sunshine than with a decadent brunch.

Here in Coconut Grove, we have the good fortune of such a rich culinary environment with gorgeous and award-winning restaurants from practically type of cuisine. Here is a list of some of the best spots in Coconut Grove to enjoy your Easter Brunch.

Level 6 Miami – 3480 Main Highway, 6th Floor

For a brunch with a view, you’ll find an Easter egg on the rooftop of the boutique office building at 3480 Main Highway. With impeccable scenery and an inspired menu, guests will enjoy an elevated brunch experience with perfected cocktails and Spanish fusion dishes.

Some of the standout dishes for Easter Brunch include yellow gazpacho, caviar eggs benedict and dulce de leche custard. There is also a range of traditional Spanish tortillas with ham, smoked salmon or meatless options.

The Key Club – 3015 Grand Avenue

Groot Hospitality’s The Key Club is no stranger to our list of suggested places in Coconut Grove, having made their debut in the Spring of 2022. With a cozy terrace or inviting indoor space, The Key Club is key to celebrations of togetherness and culinary prowess.

For Easter this year, The Key Club is offering not only a brunch, but a dinner service as well. Easter Brunch runs from 11am-4pm with Easter Dinner from 4pm until late. Some of the standout dishes include Bourbon Sticky Buns with candied pecans, lobster benedicts, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch french toast. For refreshment, The Key Club has put a spin on the traditional brunch cocktails with Watermelon Spritz and Jah-Mama Mary.

The Watermelon Spritz is a mixture of Aperol, watermelon, orange and prosecco with the Jah-Mama Mary mixing Grey Goose, Miso and celery. Groups can also try pitchers of Lychee Sangria or Rosé Sangria.

Reservations are available for either on the Key Club website.

Bellini Coconut Grove – 2988 McFarlane Road

Brought to you by the Cipriani Family, a name that is synonymous with Italian sophistication and elegance, Bellini is perched atop the iconic Mr. C Hotel at 2988 McFarlane. With expansive views of the Biscayne Bay and exquisite dishes, this is the perfect spot for an elevated brunch in a casual yet sophisticated setting.

The Bellini Easter Brunch menu is full of traditional Italian favorites with modern surprises, twists and locally-sourced ingredients. The Italian Charcuterie and Cheese is a great way to start the celebration off with Piadina Bread and a selection of cured Italian meats and cheeses. This pairs well with the selection of Crudo options. These include dressed lobster, langoustine carpaccio or smoked salmon to enjoy while choosing from a full list of elegant benedicts and traditional brunch options.

After enjoying the level of service and opulence at Bellini, you may also want to explore the idea of embracing the lifestyle on a full-time basis as the Cipriani group is expanding their brand into residences. You will find their style and service at both Mr. C Residences in Coconut Grove as well as Cipriani Residences that will soon rise in the nearby Brickell neighborhood. Both of these towers have elegant culinary concepts blended throughout, making Cipriani a true lifestyle.

Jaguar Restaurant – 3067 Grand Avenue

If you have lived or visited Coconut Grove anytime in the last 20 years, you have likely become acquainted with Jaguar Restaurant. This is a lively Latin American experience that offers fun and flavors in a vibrant setting.

For Easter Brunch, Chef Oscar is preparing his traditional Jaguar favorites that include the spicy Huevos Rancheros and Migas con Huevo. The Huevos Rancheros include fried eggs covered in salsa ranchera and tortillas with black beans and the Migas con Huevo is another traditional Mexican dish that offers crispy tortilla bits and soft scrambled eggs.

Those who have a sweet tooth will want to choose the Cachapancakes that are made of sweet corn cachapas with maple syrup and bananas or the Pan con Maduros that are exactly as described. They are crispy custard-soaked toast with leche quemada, cream and sweet maduros.

If you are thirsty, the bottomless Tropical Sangria is the perfect touch for this laid-back Easter brunch to bring in the Coconut Grove spring vibes.

Amal Miami – 3480 Main Highway, Suite 100

If you find joy in elegant Lebanese cuisine, you should not miss the Easter Brunch at Amal Miami. Located on the ground level of 3480 Main Highway, Amal Miami is another restaurant concept that makes frequent appearances on our “best of ___” lists for Coconut Grove. With over 20 hospitality venues in operation, Amal Miami came to Coconut Grove in the spring of 2022 and has been celebrated for style, service and cuisine.

The cuisine at Amal offers a new perspective on long held traditions, where you can find the vibrancy of spring in the elegance of high Lebanese cuisine. The exquisite cocktail program offers the finest ingredients including orange blossom water, rosewater, citrus and the highest quality spirits. Dishes at Amal are perfect for family-style dining with shareable options that include decadent varieties of hummus, flatbreads, meats and a list of egg options.

Red Farm NYC – 3131 Commodore Plaza

Red Farm NYC is one of the newer additions to our list, and what an entrance they are making! Kicking off their new Dim Sum Brunch, they are rolling out a special Easter-themed menu complete with carrot-shaped sweet custard buns and Easter Bunny-inspired shrimp dumplings (pictured above).

The fun creations are going to be available for Easter Brunch seatings on both Saturday and Sunday in addition to their comprehensive Modern Chinese menu designed by Chef Joe Ng and food expert Ed Schoenfeld.

Sadelle’s Coconut Grove – 3321 Mary Street

Beginning in SoHo in 2016, Major Food Group’s Sadelle’s brings a modern twist to New York’s tradition of all-day dining. Now that this concept has expanded into Coconut Grove, diners are able to show up for Easter Brunch starting at 9am.

In addition to local accolades, Sadelle’s has earned such honors as Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan Magazines’ lists of Essential Brunch Destinations and the sticky buns were ranked as one of the New York Times’ Best Dishes of 2015.

This year’s Easter Brunch in Coconut Grove will bring a theme of Easter Blooms in the Heart. Diners will enjoy traditional New York-style fare such as Easter Egg Bagels with a variety of fish on tiered stands with fresh, zesty toppings, Sweet Bunny Buns and Fluffy Challah French Toast.

Major Food Group has established itself as a new Miami staple over recent months/years with several different restaurant concepts throughout the Downtown Miami/Miami Beach/Coconut Grove area. The hospitality group is even rolling out a residential condo tower dedicated to culinary enthusiasts called Villa Miami in the Edgewater district of Miami.

Greenstreet Cafe – 3468 Main Highway

When it comes to brunch in Coconut Grove, you cannot be considered a true Groveite until you have brunched at Greenstreet. These are the rules. It is the go-to spot for locals, their visitors and even their furry friends to visit the patio, enjoy an inspired menu of traditional gourmet dishes and to bask in the ambiance that Coconut Grove offers.

Of course, these are not the only amazing restaurant choices in Coconut Grove. We have been blessed with such a boundless culinary scene. Make sure to try out these restaurants, but also stay tuned as we make additional suggestions from our experience as Coconut Grove residents and real estate specialists.

Featured Image Credit: Red Farm NYC

For 305 Day, Let’s Discuss Miami Truth And Miami Hype

Today is 305 Day. Miami’s official hype day. For those who are new to The 305, this is the unofficial Miami Day named after our signature area code. Miami actually became The 305 back in 1947 along with the rest of Florida, but over the years it became a Miami thing as population grew. Those were the days.

As Miamians, we love finding reasons to celebrate, even if we are celebrating an area code. As proof, there are endless ways to celebrate 305 Day. Budget-friendly travelers can purchase flights from Miami International for $30.50. Axios Miami embraces things we love about our city (and things that annoy us too). If you do not find a 305 Cafecito at 3:05 on 3/05, I really don’t know what to tell you. Your loyalty to the city will be in question. We are our own best hype men (and women).

Kenneth Griffin’s Gift

One of the newer Miami hype men in town, Citadel’s Kenneth Griffin, made a very generous $50 million gift to the University of Miami. The funds will go toward research and cancer treatments for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the gift is among the 10 largest health-related philanthropic gifts over the last decade in Florida, according to UM.

During the 305 Day ceremony Griffin said, “I was born in Florida, I will die in Florida. This will be my home. I will do everything I can to help make this truly one of the greatest cities in the world.”

He also expressed pride in having a 305 phone number and politely declined the offer to be named Mr. 305. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava bestowed the honor to him, however he stated that Puerto Rican rapper Pitbull will always be Mr. 305.

Ken Griffin Miami

Ken Griffin Miami

How Is Miami Really Doing?

The fanfare for 305 Day is indeed fun, but there have been some very real concerns voiced recently when the topic of the Magic City is brought up. Is there truth behind our hype, with regard to our luxury real estate market? Let’s have a look at the truth behind the comments from some of our critics.

Miami Is Overpriced.

This comment has been around since the beginning of time, but the fact of the matter is very simple. The market determines the price. Developers do not determine pricing from thin air. The properties are priced at the amount they will sell for. Since our market is thriving, inventory is being absorbed quickly, that is a clear indicator that the inventory is priced correctly.

Granted, there are some listings that lag on the market. These are the listings that are either priced incorrectly or they need a specific type of buyer (i.e. a buyer who is willing to take the time and effort to renovate). Turnkey properties that are well priced are being absorbed incredibly quickly.

Miami is Not Affordable. 

I will not argue with some folks who have been around Miami for many years that prices have increased substantially. There was a time not so long ago where it was unheard of to charge $500/square foot in Brickell. According to the 2024 Douglas Elliman | Knight Frank Wealth Report, which is released tomorrow, the average price in Miami is currently over $1,500 per square foot. Prices rose 6.5% in the last year alone, with no sign of retreat and no matter what happens with interest rates.

While this is a steep jump, it is also a realistic one. Both the neighborhoods and the real estate products that are offered today are far more elevated compared to what was offered 15 years ago. Once COVID cleared and people were no longer tied geographically to particular areas, a mass migration began and has not stopped. Miami simply offers the climate, culture, financial climate, and lifestyle to attract the global elite. Despite the increases, Miami is still far more affordable than leading global cities.

How Much Real Estate Does $1 Million Buy In Miami

Miami is in a bubble. 

I can see where skeptics would claim that we are in a bubble, except that this rapid and dramatic growth is sustainable. The Citadel effect is market-changing from an evolutionary standpoint. Their company motto is Citadel – Identifying the Highest and Best Uses of Capital. Their move was highly calculated and they are laying deep roots in the community.

Citadel founder Ken Griffin even said as stated above, “I was born in Florida, I will die in Florida. This will be my home. I will do everything I can to help make this truly one of the greatest cities in the world.”

Those are not the words of a company chief who is relocating just for a tax break, only to relocate again when the political climate changes. Their temporary office space is not even complete and the entire tri-county area is waiting for renderings of their new $1B waterfront headquarters that will soon be built at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive in the Financial District. Citadel is here to stay along with their ancillary companies and all of the brilliant minds that keep that machine going.

The only aspect of the new market that is showing signs of strain is the infrastructure Miami is working with at the moment. We were not equipped for such an influx of luxury buyers. Private schools are at capacity for instance, creating a highly competitive arena and causing some moves to be delayed. This is getting rectified as quickly as possible, but it is a small growing pain that we are experiencing.

Miami has an oversupply of new luxury condo developments.

I do agree that there is a lot of product to choose from, and it can be overwhelming to the untrained eye. There are so many beautiful projects with exclusive amenities, but to those of us who live and breathe Miami condos, there are distinct differences. We can help you to sort through the projects to identify the view you have in mind as well as the layout and amenity mix that fits your expection.

While there is a lot of supply, that does not mean oversupply. The projects are selling quickly and people are migrating from all over. The city is still very affordable compared to other elite cities and so remains very much in demand. With the finance and tech sectors booming, we will continue to see our population increase.

Rendering of Bentley Residences Dezervator Sunny Isles Miami

Rendering of Bentley Residences Dezervator Sunny Isles Miami | Image Courtesy of Dezer Properties

Gil Dezer, the developer behind super-luxury towers in Sunny Isles Beach, addresses these issues specifically with The Real Deal. Even Californians are relocating to Miami. Dezer is behind such towers as Porsche Design Tower, Bentley Residences Sunny Isles and Armani/Casa. Bentley Residences broke ground last week. It is currently over 50% sold with prices starting in the $5 million range. He expects delivery in 2027.

Truth or Hype?

Miamians love hype. We love to hype our city. 305 till we die!

While you will never be at a loss for hype in Miami, this time there is a mountain of truth behind the hype.

Happy 305 Day! Dale!

If you, or someone you know, would like to purchase or sell real estate in Miami or Miami Beach, please contact me, Michael Light, Founder/Owner of the Light Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate. I am a resident of Coconut Grove and have direct knowledge of the local real estate market including insider/unreleased tips.  You may reach me directly at my CocoWalk office at 305-350-9842, on my cell phone at 786-566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.

Miami Beach Introduces New Security Measures To Encourage Peaceful Celebrations

March is historically a wild month in Miami Beach, where barrages of young folks descend upon the magic city and party hard for Spring Break. While we are fully aware of our city’s footloose reputation, things have gotten out of hand in recent years and this year’s partygoers are going to experience a new, grown-up version of South Beach.

In an effort to quell the lawless behavior, preparations are being made by law enforcement and city officials for the 2024 Spring Break season. The changes are in effect during the entire month of March, with special restrictions being introduced on “high impact” weekends (March 7-10 and March 14-17).

New Miami Beach Spring Break Regulations – March

On Thursdays through Fridays during the entirety of March, visitors will notice increased staffing of Miami Beach Police, Fire Rescue, Ocean Rescue, Code Compliance, Park Rangers, Parking and Sanitation as well as “Goodwill Ambassadors” to assist visitors. The “Goodwill Ambassadors” are not unlike the Downtown Miami “Outstanding Angels,”  who stroll the streets of Downtown Miami, offering directions and other advice to visitors who may have lost their way.

  • Parking rates will be increased to $30 for visitors in all city parking garages and surface lots in the Entertainment District. These new rates do not apply to Miami Beach Residents, access card holders or authorized employees.
  • The non-resident towing rate is increased to $516. This is roughly twice the normal rate, so please be mindful of your parking space or be prepared to meet the local celebrities/fine residents at South Beach Tow (spoiler alert: they are not fun to deal with at the regular rate, so watch your parking).
  • Liquor stores in the Entertainment District will close at 8pm.
  • Beach entrances along Ocean Drive will be limited to 5th, 10th and 12th Streets. At those locations, expect security checkpoints to ensure prohibited items are not brought onto the sand. Prohibited items include but are not limited to coolers, rafts/inflatables, tables and tents, firearms, fireworks and glass. The beach is also an alcohol and smoke-free environment.
  • The beach entrances will close at 6pm sharp.
  • Amplified music is prohibited without a city-issued permit.
Miami Beach Spring Break Map

Miami Beach Spring Break Map

High Impact Weekends (March 7-10 and March 14-17)

  • The Miami Beach Police Department will implement a License Plate Reader (LPR) on the eastbound lanes of the MacArthur Causeway and the Julia Tuttle Causeway starting at 5pm. This will reduce the number of lanes available for use, so expect delays. These License Plate Readers will identify the vehicles in the event of any serious or violent offenders and assist with the recovery of stolen vehicles. The License Plate Readers will also be implemented on March 22-24th along 5th Street.
  • Parking rates will be raised to $100 for city parking garages and surface lots in the Entertainment District (see map). The entry to these garages will be restricted from 6pm until 7am and Miami Beach Police Department officers will be posted at each city-owned garage all weekend. These rates and closures do not affect residents, access card holders or authorized employees.
  • All sidewalk seating on Ocean Drive will be closed during these weekends. This also affects sidewalk cafes along the main drag.
  • DUI sobriety checkpoints are to be introduced.
  • There will be no use of golf carts, low-speed vehicles, slingshots, motorized scooters, mopeds, small motorcycles or motorized bicycles during this time.
  • Barricades will be added to Ocean Drive in order to reduce pedestrians coming into contact with vehicles. Ocean Drive will be accessible only via 13th Street as an entry and 5th Street as an exit. There is no parking on Ocean Drive.

Parking

In order to reduce the impact of Miami Beach and South Beach residents during this time, enhanced parking enforcement and towing are to be expected. Be sure to check the signage for your parking spot if you find one and remember: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. South Beach Tow does not play.

Miami Beach Trolley Service

To help visitors get around despite the new regulations, the Miami Beach citywide trolley service will be available for augmented hours. They will have additional trolleys for the South Beach Loops A and B as well as two additional trolleys for the Collins Avenue Express route. These services are available free of charge from 8am to 1am.

Additional information can be found on the City of Miami Beach’s “Break Up with Spring Break” page.

While we understand that these regulations are not fun at all, they will help to alleviate some of the past problems that Spring Break has brought. In 2023 alone, there were two fatal shootings and almost 500 arrests. We hope that Miami Beach’s visitors have a lovely time this year with our city and please party responsibly.

Image Credit: World RedEye

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2024 Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary

Presidents’ Weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Coconut Grove. For the last 60 years, this is the weekend of the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the three-day festival that celebrates world class art.

Over the years, it has expanded to recognize culinary displays, live performances and other forms of art that add additional color and flavor to South Florida.

This year’s celebration kicks off on Friday, February 17th and runs through Monday, the 19th throughout our charming waterfront village. Here is a summary of what to expect…

The Annual Commemorative Poster

One of the top traditions with the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is the annual choosing of the commemorative poster. Each year, a contest is held for the design of the official poster with the winner typically paying homage to something in Coconut Grove’s rich history. This year is no different. Signe & Genna Grushovenko’s entry was chosen, with its midcentury-based feel and honoring the original location of Monty’s, which is an institution here in The Grove.

Coconut Grove Art Festival 60th Anniversary 2024

Coconut Grove Art Festival 60th Anniversary Commemorative Poster 2024

The Festival’s Art

What started as a small community event is now heralded as one of the nation’s premier art festivals. Over 280 jury-selected artists that are internationally recognized will display their works along the Biscayne Bay waterfront with special events and culinary experiences peppered throughout for the whole family.

Booths are set up along the streets throughout the waterfront parks in Coconut Grove, making for a leisurely stroll as you peruse a variety of types of art. You are able to interact with the artists themselves and choose pieces to purchase.

A list of the chosen artists can be found here, along with their chosen media. You can also find links to their websites in order to preview the offerings.

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Map

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Map

Additional Experiences

In addition to the art, the festival offers many other immersive opportunities for patrons to enjoy themselves. This year, the Arts and Drafts Beer Garden is being brought to you by La Rubia Pale Ale. You can visit this area to enjoy a craft beer while watching local artists create live works of art inside Peacock Park.

For those with an empty stomach, Flavors of the Grove is convening 10 top-tier restaurants to present a signature dish. Guests will cast a vote based upon taste, creativity, presentation and overall appeal, ultimately choosing the standout dish of the festival.

Immersive experiences are not limited to adults either. The interactive Inner Artists Space encourages kids of all ages to unleash their creativity through a host of events. They will have giveaways, coloring, and Color Boom’s face painting.

For future artists and collectors, there is the Young Collector’s Club. For $5, your child can choose their first work of art to begin their own collection. A rainbow of supplies will be on hand for young artists to experiment with the core principles of art in the Creative Corner.

Coconut Grove Art Festival Young Collectors Club 2024

Coconut Grove Art Festival Young Collectors Club 2024

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Creative Corner

Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Creative Corner

Tickets can be purchased online at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival’s website, or at the entry. They start at $25 for general admission (ages 13+) up to $165 for VIP admission. VIP tickets include a commemorative poster as well as an open bar with hors d’oeuvres, private lounge with air conditioning and restrooms, lounge seating and a VIP collectable badge. Kids under 12 receive complimentary entry.

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is produced by the nonprofit, Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association. Proceeds help fund year-round arts programs. Since 1963, the association has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students who attend fine arts programs in local schools. 

Image Credit: Coconut Grove Arts Festival

Nick Jonas Brings Rooftop Tequila Bar To Downtown’s Miami Worldcenter

Calling all Miami tequila aficionados! Jonas Brothers superstar Nick Jonas has teamed up with menswear designer John Varvatos to announce Villa One Tequila Gardens, a chic speakeasy-style tequila bar that is set to open on the rooftop of the Miami Worldcenter Jewel Box at 150 NE 8th Street in Downtown Miami.

Villa One Tequila Gardens restaurant and bar is designed by Mexico City-based KOM Studios and pays homage to the rich culture of Mexico. Throughout the 13,000 square foot indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar guests will find vibrant colors, Mexican textures and materials that are reminiscent of top destinations in Mexico such as Tulum, with views of the beautiful Downtown Miami skyline.

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter

Inside the main dining room, the duo has planned a raw bar and tequila tasting room that offers more than 160 tequilas and mezcals curated by a tequila sommelier. The menu will embraces the colorful Baja-stye cuisine and cocktails. Some offerings such as the old fashioned, carajillo and canarito are prepared tableside.

The Villa One brand was formed in 2019 when Nick Jonas and John Varvatos introduced their successful tequila concept with Stoli Distillers. Since then, they have expanded the brand to include a fully-immersive experience with the Tequila Gardens outposts.  This will be the brand’s fourth location alongside Las Vegas, San Diego, and Los Angeles (opening soon).

“Villa One Tequila Gardens will create a unique entertainment destination within Miami Worldcenter with a special rooftop experience unlike anything else in downtown,” says Nitin Motwani, managing partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates. “Fusing Mexican-inspired cocktails and cuisine with modern Miami sophistication, guests will be transported to an exotic destination within Downtown’s dynamic urban core.”

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Lounge

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Lounge

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Evening

About Miami Worldcenter

Opening in 2025, Villa One Tequila Gardens will join an ever-growing list of retailers and entertainment establishments at Miami Worldcenter such as Container Store, Savage X Fenty, Lululemon, Sephora, and Ray-Ban as well as Juvia, Starbucks, Chicago’s Maple & Ash, Serafina, Sweet Paris Creperie & Café, Earls Kitchen + Bar, Sixty Vines, Brasserie Laurel, Chug’s Express, El Vecino Cigar & Cocktail Bar, Bowlero, and a dual-concept location for BurgerFi/Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings.

The $6 Billion Miami Worldcenter development is redefining Downtown Miami with 27 acres of retail, entertainment and residential space. There are currently three completed residential towers that include Paramount Miami Worldcenter condos as well as multifamily buildings Caoba and Bezel Miami. Over 2,000 additional residences and three more residential towers are currently in the planning phase and will be delivered within the coming years.

More than 93% of the developments 300,000 square feet of retail space has currently been leased.

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Jewel Box Rooftop

Rendering of Villa One Bar Miami Worldcenter Jewel Box Rooftop

Image Credit: KOM Studio

Discover Boating’s 2024 Miami International Boat Show Kicks Off This Week

Kicking off Miami’s thriving Spring event season is this week’s Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show.

With four marinas full of boats on display and two dry-ground exhibit centers, the annual boat show is one of the largest events of the season. For the last 55 years, mariners from around the world flock to the Magic City to shop for new vessels, explore new developments in the nautical world and network in the sunshine every year on Valentine’s Day week/President’s Day weekend.

Miami International Boat Show Banner 2024

Miami International Boat Show Banner 2024

Over 100,000 attendees can browse everything from kayaks to super yachts at Herald Plaza, the Venetian Marina, Museum Park Marina and Superyacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami. There are over 1,000 vessels anticipated to be on display for the 2024 show, which is considered to be the largest boat and yacht event in the world.

For those shopping for marine accessories and taking part in pop-up activations, additional event centers will be located at the Miami Beach Convention Center and Pride Park with convenient water taxi services tying the locations together.

Paul Flannery, COO of the International Yacht Brokers Association told the NY Post, “The show offers something for everyone whether it is a new pair of boat shoes or a 300-plus-foot yacht. Each year the producers of the show, along with the support of the entire boating industry, strive to bring a better consumer experience to the boating public.”

Miami International Boat Show 2024 Windward VIP Club

Miami International Boat Show 2024 Windward VIP Club

Windward VIP Club

Speaking of 300-foot yachts, the Windward VIP Club and Superyacht Miami offers the exclusive opportunity to climb aboard a superyacht and meet with some of the world-renowned yacht builders who can design your next vessel.

The Windward VIP Club is an exclusive VIP retreat within the larger show, offering premium open bars, gourmet food, private restrooms and complimentary golf cart transportation between events.

Tickets

Please keep in mind that there is no box office for the Miami International Boat Show. Digital tickets are available on the Discover Boating website.

Tickets are $43 per adult for general admission, $16.50 for children 6-12 years old. Superyacht Miami tickets are $135 per day and Windward VIP tickets are $350 per day per tent, or $550 per day for all-access.

The show is expected to have a $1.34 billion economic impact and compliments Art Wynwood as well as the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which take place consecutively on this beautiful and busy week.

Image Credit: FB/Miami International Boat Show

Preparing For Art Basel 2023

 

The time is almost upon us. Now that spooky season has wrapped, the biggest unofficial Miami Holiday is drawing near. Art Basel 2023 will kick off December 8-10, with preview days on December 6-7.

The Exhibitors

In order to prepare for the festivities, a list of 277 galleries has been released. These are exhibitors who are invited to participate in the main gallery area of the Miami Beach Convention Center. There are additional exhibitions of Art Miami, Spectrum Miami, Red Dot Miami and others that are offshoots of the main fair.

Spectrum Miami and Red Dot Miami are expected to take up residency in Mana Wynwood again this year, and this typically coincides with a birthday bash for developer and Miami activist, Moishe Mana. There are no changes expected to this yearly soiree.

In the main exhibition hall at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the artists will focus on Latin American and Caribbean diasporic scenes with galleries from Egypt, Iceland, Philippines and Poland. Megagalleries David Zwirner, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and Pace are all returning to the main section, where three of the twenty-four galleries participating in the exhibition for the first time will debut. These are the Paris-based Galerie Minsky, New York’s Ortuzar Projects, and San Francisco’s Weinstein Gallery.

“Our offering this year demonstrates yet again the strength of our show as an engine of the world of art in the Americas and globally, and as an utterly transformative cross-cultural experience—made possible by our premier exhibitors, our world-renowned cultural partners and collaborators in Miami Beach and South Florida, and our exceptional team,” Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz said in a statement.

Art Basel Miami Beach DIrector Bridget Finn

Art Basel Miami Beach DIrector Bridget Finn | Image Credit: Nick Hagen

A New Director

In other large news for the premiere art week in Miami, Art Basel has tapped a new director with Bridget Finn.

She hails from Detroit, where she is a partner in her gallery ‘Reyes’. Before starting her gallery, Ms Finn led the contemporary art program at Mitchell-Innes & Nash in New York and working with Anton Kern Gallery in various roles.

Prior to this, she was the director of strategic planning and projects at Independent Curators International, helped to found collaborative curatorial project space called Cleopatra’s in New York and expanded it to Berlin. She is immensely qualified to bring Art Basel to a new era.

“We are thrilled with Bridget’s appointment and could not have found a better fit to lead our Miami Beach fair,” said Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz in a statement. “She is deeply committed to Art Basel’s mission and strategic direction, and to our contributions in shaping and promoting the health and vibrancy of the artworld ecosystem and local art scenes in Miami Beach and beyond. She has vision, ambition, and the requisite skillset in spades to drive forward our team and our many new and longtime partners in Miami Beach. I am immensely proud to welcome her to the Art Basel family.”

We are so grateful to have Bridget on board. She will be present this year as she becomes comfortable with the ontaking, and next year will hold the reins. It is very exciting indeed.

As the launch date draws nearer, we will share additional details for VIP events and showrooms, surely including the Douglas Elliman gallery with a collection of bespoke condos and homes that are a perfect spot to display the works of art you find at Art Basel. 

For this year’s fair, here is a list of the exhibitors that are invited to the main hall.

303 Gallery
47 Canal
A Gentil Carioca
Miguel Abreu Gallery
Acquavella Galleries
Almeida e Dale Galeria de Arte
Altman Siegel
Antenna Space
Galeria Raquel Arnaud
Alfonso Artiaco
Balice Hertling
Barro
Nicelle Beauchene Gallery
galería elba benítez
Ruth Benzacar Galeria de Arte
Berggruen Gallery
Blum & Poe
Peter Blum Gallery
Marianne Boesky Gallery
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
Bortolami
Luciana Brito Galeria
Ben Brown Fine Arts
Galerie Buchholz
Canada
Cardi Gallery
Carlos/Ishikawa
Casa Triângulo
Casas Riegner
David Castillo
Chapter NY
Cheim & Read
Clearing
James Cohan Gallery
Sadie Coles HQ
Commonwealth and Council
Company Gallery
Galleria Continua
Paula Cooper Gallery
Corbett vs. Dempsey
Pilar Corrias
Galerie Crèvecœur
Cristea Roberts Gallery
Galerie Chantal Crousel
DAN Galeria
DC Moore Gallery
Tibor de Nagy
MASSIMODECARLO
Jeffrey Deitch
Anat Ebgi
Andrew Edlin Gallery
galerie frank elbaz
Derek Eller Gallery
Thomas Erben Gallery
Larkin Erdmann Gallery
Eric Firestone Gallery
Konrad Fischer Galerie
Fitzpatrick Gallery
Peter Freeman, Inc.
Stephen Friedman Gallery
Frith Street Gallery
James Fuentes
Gaga
Gagosian
Galerie Christophe Gaillard
Galerie 1900-2000
Gavlak
Gemini G.E.L.
François Ghebaly
Gladstone Gallery
Gomide & Co
Galería Elvira González
Goodman Gallery
Marian Goodman Gallery
Galerie Bärbel Grässlin
Gray
Garth Greenan Gallery
Greene Naftali
Galerie Karsten Greve
Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art
Hales Gallery
Hauser & Wirth
Galerie Max Hetzler
High Art
Hirschl & Adler Modern
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Edwynn Houk Gallery
Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
Xavier Hufkens
Gallery Hyundai
i8 Gallery
Ingleby Gallery
rodolphe janssen
Jenkins Johnson Gallery
Annely Juda Fine Art
Kalfayan Galleries
Casey Kaplan
Karma
Kasmin
kaufmann repetto
Sean Kelly
Kerlin Gallery
Anton Kern Gallery
Galerie Peter Kilchmann
Tina Kim Gallery
Kohn Gallery
David Kordansky Gallery
Andrew Kreps Gallery
KRINZINGER
Kukje Gallery
kurimanzutto
Labor
Lehmann Maupin
Tanya Leighton
Galerie Lelong & Co.
Lévy Gorvy Dayan
David Lewis
Josh Lilley
Lisson Gallery
Luhring Augustine
Mai 36 Galerie
Maisterravalbuena
Jorge Mara – La Ruche
Matthew Marks Gallery
Philip Martin Gallery
Barbara Mathes Gallery
Mayoral
Mazzoleni
Anthony Meier
Mendes Wood DM
Mennour
Meyer Riegger
Mignoni
Millan
Galerie Minsky
Victoria Miro
Mitchell-Innes & Nash
Mnuchin Gallery
The Modern Institute
moniquemeloche
mor charpentier
Morán Morán
Galerie nächst St. Stephan
Galerie Nagel Draxler
Edward Tyler Nahem
Helly Nahmad Gallery
Nanzuka
neugerriemschneider
Nicodim Gallery
Night Gallery
Carolina Nitsch
Galleria Franco Noero
David Nolan Gallery
Galerie Nordenhake
Galerie Nathalie Obadia
OMR
Galleria Lorcan O’Neill Roma
Ortuzar Projects
P.P.O.W
Pace Gallery
Pace Prints
Paragon
Parrasch Heijnen Gallery
Franklin Parrasch Gallery
Patron
Peres Projects
Perrotin
Petzel
Polígrafa Obra Gràfica
Galerie Eva Presenhuber
Proyectos Monclova
Almine Rech
Regen Projects
Roberts Projects
Nara Roesler
Thaddaeus Ropac
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
Lia Rumma
SCAI The Bathhouse
Esther Schipper
Schoelkopf Gallery
Galerie Thomas Schulte
Marc Selwyn Fine Art
Jack Shainman Gallery
Susan Sheehan Gallery
Sicardi Ayers Bacino
Sies + Höke
Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
Jessica Silverman
Simões de Assis
Skarstedt
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
Société
Sperone Westwater
Sprüth Magers
Galleria Christian Stein
STPI
Galeria Luisa Strina
Simone Subal Gallery
Galería Sur
Timothy Taylor
Templon
Galerie Barbara Thumm
Tornabuoni Art
Travesía Cuatro
Two Palms
ULAE
Van de Weghe
Van Doren Waxter
Nicola Vassell
Vedovi Gallery
Venus Over Manhattan
Vermelho
Vielmetter Los Angeles
Waddington Custot
Galleri Nicolai Wallner
Weinstein Gallery
Wentrup
Michael Werner Gallery
White Cube
Yares Art
David Zwirner

SURVEY

1 Mira Madrid
Piero Atchugarry Gallery
Bank
Freight+Volume
Klaus Von Nichtssagend Gallery
Paulo Kuczynski
Elizabeth Leach Gallery
Magenta Plains
Polka Galerie
Galeria Marilia Razuk
Rolf Art
Meredith Rosen
Ryan Lee
Vito Schnabel
Stars
Louis Stern Fine Arts
Duane Thomas Gallery

NOVA

Afriart Gallery
Arcadia Missa
Edel Assanti
80m2 Livia Benavides
Central Fine
Château Shatto
Luis De Jesus Los Angeles
Document
Emalin
Daniel Faria Gallery
Galería Agustina Ferreyra
Gypsum Gallery
Instituto de visión
Charlie James Gallery
Lyles & King
mother’s tankstation limited
Project Native Informant
Rele Gallery
Silverlens
Soft Opening
The Ranch
Welancora Gallery

POSITIONS

56 Henry
Helena Anrather
Bradley Ertaskiran
Matthew Brown
Deli Gallery
Galatea
Isla Flotante
Llano
Lomex
Mrs.
Kendra Jayne Patrick
Pequod Co.
Proyectos Ultravioleta
Galeria Dawid Radziszewski
Residency Art Gallery
Spinello Projects

 

Image Credit: Art Basel

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