Last Minute Miami-Style Gift Ideas Posted on December 22, 2022December 22, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs It’s not too late!! Noche Buena is within hours with Christmas following right behind and neither will be arriving on Miami time. Given that Miamians are so prone to procrastination and tardiness that we are known for it, let’s review some last-minute Miami-style gift ideas for your loved ones, regardless of your budget. Dinner and drinks at one of Miami’s best restaurants If you have a foodie on your list, tickle their taste buds at one of these top-rated Miami restaurants with a gift card or surprise night out. We were very impressed with this compilation as it represents amazing options from an array of cuisines, locations in our area as well as price points. The only constant is amazing food and our amazing city. Two of our favorites are Amara at Paraiso in Edgewater’s Paraiso district, as well as Thomas Keller’s Surf Club restaurant in The Surf Club Four Seasons in Surfside. Both options demonstrate that you can be swanky and stylish without being stuffy, so the question is whether you would prefer to dine by the bay or by the beach? The choice is a win/win. Go celeb hunting with gift certificates to these hotspots If your loved one is into celebrity lifestyles and celebrity sightings, gift cards to these restaurants are going to be right up their alley. Some of the eateries that made the list are well-known celebrity haunts, and some are new. Casa Tua has long been one of the most coveted memberships in town, and is even expanding to offer residences in Brickell in the new year. Zuma, the chic asian-inspired hotspot at Epic Hotel and Residences is no stranger to celebrity sightings with the Kardashian-Jenners, David and Victoria Beckham, Roger Federer and a host of others. A staycation in one of Miami’s best new hotels Given that Miami’s economy has long been driven by hospitality and tourism, the hotel industry is a bloodsport in the Magic City. There is always pressure to stand above the pack, and Miamians are obsessed with things that are new, be it restaurants, cars, condo developments, hotspots or hotels. The New York Post was nice enough to compile a list of the hottest new hotels for 2022 in Miami. You can gift your loved one a fabulous staycation at the Elser Hotel and Residences in Downtown Miami, walk to a Miami Heat game or concert at the FTX arena, or enjoy a night out at E11even. Alternatively, you could take a more intimate route and spend time at the storied Mayfair House in Coconut Grove which reopened this summer following a major renovation. With serene views from the rooftop bar and restaurant to lush gardens to extensively redesigned suites that each have private terraces and separate bedrooms, Mayfair House is an amazing choice for a romantic weekend away without going far at all. Unique Miami-themed gifts There really is no place like Miami, so if you have a Miamian at heart who doesn’t necessarily call the 305 home, you can at least give them a hint of home through these unique gifts, compiled by Timeout.com. You could surprise your loved one with a rum cake from Vicky’s Bakery, a coquito set (Puerto Rico’s egg nog), fresh flower delivery services and even candles that smell like E11even! For the car enthusiast who is also a Miami enthusiast and a very good boy or girl… Reward your loved one with tickets to the second-annual Miami Race Week & Miami Grand Prix! Tickets and packages went on sale earlier this year after the overwhelming success of the debut Miami Race Week in 2022 and a few are still available. The packages available for Christmas range from $2,000-$14,000 per person, depending upon what is included and are selling at a steady pace. Since the race actually occurs in early May, you are able to let your anticipation build before the checkered flag comes out, and payment plans are available. No matter which gifts you choose or which holidays you celebrate, we at The Light Group hope that you all have a very happy holiday season and a prosperous start to 2023!
World’s Tallest Menorah Lights Up Miami Skyline In Celebration Of Hanukkah Posted on December 17, 2022December 18, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs The Jewish festival of lights is especially festive this year in Downtown Miami. The World’s Tallest Electric Menorah is casting its sparkly LED glow over the Magic City from Paramount Miami Worldcenter, which rises 700 feet over Downtown Miami. “The world’s tallest electronic menorah is a shining beacon of celebration,” says T.J. Sabo, Chief Design Officer of the Royal Palm Companies real estate firm – developer of the Paramount Miami Worldcenter. Sabo continues, “The menorah signifies the triumph of light over darkness and is a symbol of truth and justice and the belief in a higher being. It is also a gleaming signal of solidarity with all oppressed people around the world.” The building, which was completed in 2019, features the world’s most technologically-advanced LED animation system. The customizable lighting panels span the center column of the development vertically, expanding across the 300-foot-wide rooftop crown. This height is the equivalent of two and a half football fields stacked vertically. Miami Hanukkah LED Paramount Combined, the panels have 16,000 LED’s embedded in 10,000 panes of impact-resistant glass, which also protects the building and its residents in the event of hurricane winds. With a cost of $3 million, the animation lighting system can create a combination of 16.2 million colors! It took a team of 12 technicians three years to install the system, and their efforts are certainly paying off today! For this display, the words “Happy Hanukkah” run the vertical length of the building with the lustrous image of the menorah and eight flickering candles across the rooftop crown, transitioning into a mosaic of digital dreidels streaking across the sky and then morphing into a brilliant burst of six-pointed Stars of David dancing on the building. Video footage can be found here. Beginning Sunday, December 18 and continuing for the eight nights of Hanukkah, viewers can witness the display every morning before dawn and from sunset through midnight at Paramount Miami Worldcenter 851 NE First Avenue in Downtown Miami. For those who wish to take their own photos, the best angle is to be found at NE 8th Street and North Miami Avenue or from the top of the Bayfront Parking Garage. Daytime View of Paramount Miami Worldcenter Paramount Miami Worldcenter is no stranger to making a splash. It is considered to be the most heavily-amenitized residential tower in the United States with multiple amenity decks containing an outdoor soccer field, two tennis courts, bungalows, gardens, a rooftop observatory, resort-style pools, walking paths, a game room, an indoor basketball court, a boxing studio, a golf simulator, 26 pool-side cabanas, and a “skyport”, a landing area for flying cars. Prices in the building currently range from the mid $500,000’s up to $11 million, or $2,800 to $32,000/month as rentals. If you are interested in a private tour of Paramount Miami Worldcenter, 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.
Miami Holiday Events For Families And Kids Posted on December 4, 2022December 12, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs Now that the fall academic semester is coming to a close, the holidays are upon us! There aren’t many of us who adore and cherish the holidays quite like the kiddos, so here is a list of ideas for things to do with your brood during the festive season. Miami City Ballet – The Nutcracker While this does involve sitting quietly for extended amounts of time, it is also a holiday institution for millions of families for over a century. The Miami City Ballet’s reenactment of the classic work brings a vibrant and animated winter wonderland to life with the Sugarplum Fairy, toy soldiers, sneaky mice, iconic choreography and the timeless score by Tchaikovsky. To prepare for the crowds, this year will usher in performances in both Miami Dade and Broward counties. The Ziff Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Downtown Miami will host the ballet from December 16-24. Fr0m December 16-18, The Nutcracker will take place at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale as well. Tickets can be purchased here. Santa’s Enchanted Forest Speaking of holiday institutions, if you are a kid who has spent any time in Miami during the holidays, chances are you have been to Santa’s Enchanted Forest. It truly is an attraction like no other. With over 100 rides, games, shows and attractions, Santa’s Forest is a little bit fair, a little bit carnival, a little bit amusement park and all centered around the jolly one himself. Santa’s Enchanted Forest is open daily until January 6, 2023. More information & passes can be found here. Flamingo Gardens’ Garden of Lights Enjoy an evening of self-guided tours through the lush botanical gardens, that are trimmed with thousands of lights and decorations. Each evening until December 30 (with the exception of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day), visit Flamingo Gardens for live outdoor musical performances, visits with Santa and holiday treats and beverages. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for children and can be purchased here. Pinecrest Gardens’ Nights of Lights If you are looking to stroll through a decorated and illuminated botanical garden in Miami-Dade County, look no further than Pinecrest Gardens’ annual Nights of Lights event. Also offered is a magical story time, signature Pinecrest Gardens cocktails and visits from Santa. Tickets are available nightly from December 11-December 30. Adults are $20, children age 2-17 are $15. Discounts are available for members. Gulfstream Park Symphony of Lights Back up in Broward County, Gulfstream Park has programmed over 250,000 LED lights to the sounds of holiday favorites from the past as well as modern popular music. Enjoy the 10-minute show at the top of every hour from 6pm-11pm until New Years’ Eve 2022. The show is free, also inviting guests to enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment and visits with Santa in the village’s open-air setting. NightGarden: A Magical Light Experience – Fairchild Tropical Gardens Step into a magical wonderland at Miami’s annual smash hit NightGarden! Prepare to be left in awe as the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is brought to life with breathtaking illuminations, spectacular special effects, and unbelievable surprises! You can talk to the wise tree, interact with the light and sound experiences, and explore the FairyScope augmented reality app. Plus, there will be plenty of delicious food and drinks from some of Miami’s most popular food trucks. Get your tickets for NightGarden: A Magical Light Experience in Miami! NightGarden takes place Wednesday-Sunday nights each week until January 8, 2023. Get your tickets here. Homestead-Miami Speedway Magic of Lights With a short drive to Homestead, you are invited to meander through the Homestead-Miami Speedway at a leisurely pace, enjoying an elaborate holiday display of lights, digital animations, scenes from popular holiday stories and carols. In addition to the 200 foot Enchanted Tunnel of Lights, this year’s display also features Prehistoric Christmas, where dinosaurs celebrate the festive season. Book your car or party bus here. Winterland at the Farm – Pinto’s Farm With cool weather, what better way to warm up and get ready for the holidays with family and friends than with some Holiday Treats, hot chocolate & much more while you can meet Santa Claus, Nix the snowman & Sprinkle the Gingerbread cookie at a beautiful illuminated Forest. Come, join us this winter holiday season to have a great time in a family atmosphere! Admissions will include unlimited access to all of our rides and several photo opportunities to capture your memories at the Farm. Purchase tickets here.
Miami Holiday Events For Adults Posted on December 4, 2022December 12, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs Just because we won’t see any natural snow in the Miami during the 2022 holiday season doesn’t mean we’ll be at a loss for something to do. There are so many options that we are going to have to break these suggestions down into a series of lists. Since the kids are still in school and pets cannot tell which day it is, let’s start with events for adults. These are the perfect spots for a romantic date night, pulled right out of a Hallmark movie, something to do on the off chance that you have a babysitter for the night, or elegant soirees that the kids would just not enjoy. Holiday Sip & Stroll – Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152nd St, South Miami This Holiday Cheers event will open the park from 7pm-10pm for attendees aged 21 and over only on December 8, 2022. A stroll through an intimate area of the zoo offers special lighting displays, live DJ, unlimited complimentary boat rides, a photo booth, animal appearances and plenty of refreshments to try. Bonus if you find Mr. & Mrs. Grinch along the way! Tickets are $25 and can be found here. Riverside Holiday Village at The Wharf Miami 114 SW North River Drive, Miami One of the more festive event spaces in The Magic City, The Wharf will bring Christmas magic to the 21+ crowd every Thursday through Sunday in December from 4:00pm until late. Enjoy holiday-themed cocktails, over 500,000 lights, holiday inflatables and decorated boats cruising past. No reservation is necessary, general admission is free. Visit their events page for a lineup of different holiday-themed weekends. Y100 Jingle Ball by Capital One 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise On December 18, 2022, the iHeartRadio Y100 Jingle Ball by Capital One will take place at the FLA Live arena in Sunrise. This year’s lineup includes Charlie Puth, Backstreet Boys, The Blackeyed Peas, Tate McRae, Anitta, Big Time Rush and more. Tickets can be found at Ticketmaster. Andrea Bocelli FTX Arena, Downtown Miami If you are feeling more classical and romantic on December 18th, consider attending Andrea Bocelli’s concert at FTX Arena in Downtown Miami. The world’s most beloved tenor will be presenting his Christmas concert on this day as well as a more intimate concert on December 16th in Aventura. We guarantee there will not be a dry eye in the house. Tickets can be found at Ticketmaster. “A Jazzy Holiday” Historic Holiday Decor Deering Estate -16701 SW 72nd Avenue, Miami During the month of December and carrying over until January 6, The Deering Estate is holding a special holiday display featuring holiday decorations from historic times in Miami. There are over a dozen holiday trees including the grand 17-foot tree in the Great Hall. This year is especially festive as the Deering Estate continues its celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Stone House, which was built in 1922. As an homage to the roaring 20’s and the cultural explosion of jazz and film from this era, the rooms of the Stone House and the Richmond Cottage will be designed and decorated as they would have been at the time On December 14th, the estate will remain open until 9:30pm for a special evening stroll amongst all of the decorations and lights. Admission is free for members, general admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children. Mistletoe & Martinis Deering Estate -16701 SW 72nd Avenue, Miami In a more formal event on December 9, The Deering Estate will honor the 100th anniversary of the Stone House with a roaring 20’s-themed soiree, Mistletoe and Martinis. From 7:30pm-11pm on this Friday, guests are encouraged to don their most festive Gatsby-era attire and join in for music, martinis and the magic of the holiday season. Tickets are $175/person for members and $200/person for non-members. All proceeds from this event will benefit The Deering Estate Foundation’s community, conservation and cultural programming. Vizcaya Late | Holiday Evening 3251 S Miami Avenue, Coconut Grove Also celebrating the 2022 holidays by honoring the design and decor from 100 years prior is Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Coconut Grove. On December 14 and 15, the museum & gardens will open from 6pm-9pm for a special celebration. Few know that the first time Vizcaya opened its doors as a private residence on Christmas Day was back in 1916. To celebrate this, the main house is decorated as it would have been 100 years ago. Guests are invited to make lanterns, learn more about the history of the estate and explore the illuminated formal gardens, hear Christmas carols, and participate in a gingerbread house competition. Tickets are $10.
Wishing You and Your Family a Very Happy Thanksgiving 2019! Posted on November 26, 2019 by Michael Light Thanksgiving is a time that reminds us to count our blessings, give thanks and express our gratitude to one another. The Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate would like to say thank you to all of our clients, and we would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Memorial Day 2019 Posted on May 26, 2019May 24, 2019 by Michael Light The Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate is eternally grateful to those men and women who have fought and sacrificed for our country. We are wishing you and your family a very happy, safe and peaceful Memorial Day. “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” – James Allen
Merry Christmas 2018 Posted on December 24, 2018 by Michael Light The Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate is wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas filled with much peace, love and joy!
Wishing You and Your Family a Very Happy Thanksgiving 2018! Posted on November 21, 2018 by Michael Light Thanksgiving is a time that reminds us to count our blessings, give thanks and express our gratitude to one another. The Miami Luxury Homes Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate would like to say thank you to all of our clients, and we would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! “I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson