Miami’s Debut Formula 1 Event Drew $350 Million Into The Local Economy Posted on September 14, 2022September 16, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs Talk about a formula for success! On top of drawing in even more celebrities and VIP’s than Miami is used to and hosting as many lavish parties as Art Basel, the first-ever Miami Grand Prix boosted the local economy by $350 million, according to a new report. In the first Economic Impact Report released by South Florida Motorsports, it was found that tourists contributed a total of $150 million during race week. In addition, 3,000 local jobs were created with workers being paid an excess of $100 million in the days leading up to and during the event. During the 3-day Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, 243,000 spectators enjoyed the Miami International Autodrome. Television viewership was up nearly 30% as 23 million viewers caught the live action from across the United States. “Our team worked selflessly to create a campus and experience that was unique to the international culture of Miami,” Richard Cregan, CEO of the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, said in a press release. “We look forward to growing the event and the positive impact it will continue to make here for years to come.” So it seems that although Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing walked away with the purse and trophy, Miami was the real winner of the event. Bravo! We can’t wait until May again!
Where To Pay Condolences To The Queen In Miami Posted on September 12, 2022September 16, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs The Queen has passed away, ushering in 10 days of mourning paired with pomp and circumstance. Even if you are not British, many people from around the world are looking to pay their respects and offer condolences. Where can you go in Miami if you would like to do so without booking a quick flight to the other side of the pond? The Official Book of Condolences If you would like to sign the official book of condolences in person, it will be available at the British Consulate at 1001 Brickell Bay Drive. The book will be open in the lobby between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm starting today and going through Friday. There is an online version that can be signed virtually on the royal website, but the Consulate is the place to go in order to put your physical John Hancock in the book. Enjoy Some Proper English Food & Drink Honor The Queen with high tea at The Tea Room at Cauley Square, just south of Pinecrest. This eatery’s elegant menu is available from 11:00 am-4:00 pm Tuesday-Friday and 9:00 am-5:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. They are closed on Mondays. If drowning your sorrows is more your cup of tea, then look no further than the infamous Churchill’s Pub in Little Haiti, just north of the Design District. Their food menu offers a handful of bar food items, along with the requisite fish and chips and as many pints as it takes to fix your heart. They are open from 5:00 pm until 3:00 am and do not listen to the rumors that they are permanently closed. They are open once again. Churchills Pub Miami Design District If you are looking for a proper complete breakfast while watching footage of the services, look no further than Balans in Mary Brickell Village. With ample seating both indoors and under a covered patio, plenty of televisions to view the services and a full breakfast on the menu from a London-based restaurant chain, Balans will be the place for you to go. For the end-all authentic Irish experience and are not afraid of a short road trip, you will find yourself at The Field Irish Pub and Eatery in Fort Lauderdale. This is where you’re going to get authentic bangers & mash, fish & chips, corned beef & cabbage, shepherd’s pie, all of this… and it was referred to us by our #1 British expat in Miami. How did The Queen affect Miami? Back in the early 90’s, when Miami was faced with an insurmountable amount of bad press, The Queen requested a visit to the Magic City. Her presence and glamour muted the noise from the racial tensions, cocaine cowboys and economic hardships that Miami was plagued with. Although the visit was brief, Her Majesty’s presence was felt long after her departure. May she rest in peace.
Want To Ride In The Bentley Of All Commuter Trains? Behold, Miami’s The Brightline Posted on August 29, 2022August 30, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs Leave it to sunny & glitzy South Florida to introduce a super-luxury commuter train that will whisk you from Downtown Miami to Palm Beach in just 60 minutes (you can also stop in Downtown Ft Lauderdale in 30 minutes). Of course, The Brightline is not news to the locals, but there are oh-so-many newcomers to the area these days, we thought a refresher is in order. Even many locals have not thought to use it and they should certainly reconsider. What is so luxurious about this train? The train travels at a comfortable yet very fast rate of speed, and riders are at the height of comfort along the way. It really is. like being chauffeured in the back of a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. Sip on a warm cup of coffee (or iced coffee if that’s your jazz), delivered right to your seat by a smiling waitress. There is also champagne service and snacks, all of which is included in the Premium Class and available for purchase in Smart Class. The seats are soft hand-stitched leather and quite spacious with tables that seat either 2 or 4. The ride is smooth and silent and the lighting offers a perfect calming glow. Do you need to work during that hour? Whip open your laptop and get it done with complimentary high-speed internet. There are also charging ports in case you forgot to charge your phone. We’ve all done that. If you need to bring more than just a carry-on, luggage checking services are convenient for suitcases, bicycles or anything else you need to experience Palm Beach. Oh, and if you want to bring Fido, they’re also welcome. Luxury for the whole family! Brightline Train Interior How about The Brightline stations? Are they a mess of people the way the Subways in New York are? Absolutely not. There are other travelers, but the stations are designed by a team of architects from Rockwell Group and are designed to provide comfort for all. Plenty of cafes and restaurant/bars are available for travelers who arrive early. There are many escalators and elevators, and everything is clean and running smoothly. Premium Class ticket holders have access to a complimentary business center with ipads, scanner/printers and conference rooms (a value of $50/hr). Premium ticket holders also receive complimentary bites as you wait for departure and priority boarding. Once you reach your destination station, whether it is Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach, you can book a convenient ride through the Brightline app or through a kiosk in the station. Brightline Lobby Downtown Miami While the train currently travels to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, services are currently being added to Orlando with new stations in Aventura and Boca Raton. This is has been in the works for quite some time and is expected to begin service in 2023. If you are interested in trying The Brightline, you can make reservations or order tickets for business travel, personal travel or groups by following this link.
UNA Reaches 90% Sold Status As Vertical Construction Begins Posted on July 27, 2022July 30, 2022 by Sarah Elles Boggs Just as UNA in Brickell begins to go vertical (pictured above), OKO has announced that 90% of the residences have been sold. Only 13 of the 135 residences remain, spanning 47 floors on the Biscayne Bay waterfront. The developers expect the dramatically beautiful project to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. The prices of the remaining residences are between $3.5 million for a 3 bedroom/3.5 bath, up to $10 million for a 5 bedroom/6.5 bath residence that also has a den and housekeeper suite. Una Residences Brickell Located on the quiet southeastern tip of Brickell’s financial district, UNA will offer a luxurious and serene repose, but also has immediate access to the Rickenbacker Causeway for immediate access to I95 for those who need to go to the airport or commute to other areas of the city. The actual address is 175 SE 25th Road and the Vlad Doronin took design inspiration from a yacht, ready to set sail. What about the construction problems with UNA? One of the features of the tower is underground parking, something that has become a popular addition to new construction condos over recent years. Buildings such as Jade Signature in Sunny Isles, Aston Martin Residences in North Brickell/Downtown Miami (depending upon who you ask), and Brickell City Centre all boast underground parking. For whatever reason, UNA was targeted by a group of NIMBY’s (activists who live in older buildings nearby and do not want their views obstructed or additional traffic. NIMBY stands for Not In My Back Yard). They published photos of the construction site while the parking garage was being constructed, and it showed the garage to be flooded and construction coming to a halt. What they did not recognize is that all buildings flood during that phase of construction in South Florida. I have seen it personally in Brickell City Centre, Aston Martin, Brickell House, Millecento, SLS Brickell and Brickell Flatiron, among others. It is a completely normal stage of construction in South Florida. Thank god these people didn’t report ancient Roman ruins that were actually form pilings like they did with Centro in Downtown Miami in 2014. *eye roll* The fact of the matter is that UNA Residences is being built by Vlad Doronin, who an accomplished international investor and real estate developer focused on luxury residential, commercial and hospitality properties. They are responsible for Missoni Baia in Edgewater Miami as well as the new office tower, 830 Brickell. 830 Brickell is just east of SLS LUX and has recently inked a record-breaking lease with Law firm Sidley Austin. They are a firm from Chicago, who will join Ken Griffin’s Citadel transactions in relocating from the Windy City to the Magic City. In addition to these towers, OKO Group is known for Aman New York, at 730 5th Avenue in New York. They are a reputable firm and UNA is slated to be as luxurious and private as you can get near the center of an international city. If you are interested in a private presentation of the project, with specific pricing of the remaining 13 residences or possible resales, 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.