Apparently they are building a new building, to be open late December/ early January, so entrance…read morewas a bit tricky but this free memorial to the Holocaust is beautiful, moving, and disturbing all at once. With names, too many of them, of some who perished. Factual information/ photos of prewar Jewish life in Eastern Europe and the progression of Nazi hatred that led to the systematic destruction of the Jews. Succinct and powerful. A tunnel that leads out to the main sculpture has names of some of the extermination camos. The sculpture is very impactful and hopefully a wake up call to the US, humanity and the world regarding the evil of Hamas. A MUST SEE FOR EVERYONE. May their memories be a blessing.

Yesterday my daughter and I visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum. We had wanted to see it for…read moresometime but kept putting it off. It is so heartbreaking, upsetting and unforgettable. You have to get yourself mentally prepared to go and see a beautiful and haunting memorial built specifically to honor the 6 million Jewish people that the Nazis inhumanely murdered in many different countries between 1933-1945. It is unimaginable to me and so many others. It doesn't matter what race, religion, gender, nationality or age you are, you will be affected by visiting this place or any others like it. But we need to remind ourselves that it could happen again to another group of people if we are not careful. There are several parking lots nearby that are inexpensive. Street parking also if you can find it. There is no entry fee to visit. Donations are accepted.

Nestled in the heart of South Beach is a street filled with European charm. The idea of a Spanish…read moreVillage was conceived by NBT Romney and William Whitman in 1925. It's a two block corridor between Washington and Pennsylvania Avenues designed to look like the Mediterranean villages of Spain and France. In the 1920's Espanola Way was where the wealthy went to dine and dance. It was also a gathering place for the gangsters of the time. Al Capone used known to have used the Clay hotel for gambling. By the 1970's Espanola Way had become dilapidated like all of the South Beach Art Deco district surrounding it. In the 1980's Linda Polanski purchased the south side of Espanola Way. Her restoration efforts of the area along with the Clay Hotel attracted the attention of the producer of the T.V. show Miami Vice who filmed 12 episodes of the show on Espanola Way, including the first and last. Music videos, advertisements, and movies like the Bird Cage would go on to be filmed there. Today Espanola Way is lined with restaurant with outdoor seating, art galleries, and shops. Popular restaurants include Havana 1957 serving Cuban cuisine and Mare Mio Restaurant, an Italian eatery. As you walk down the street the waiters and hostesses call out aggressively for your business. Hey lady, come back! With so many choices it was a bit overwhelming. We were also looking for a Happy Hour with food, not just drink specials. In retrospect we should have just ordered some small plates. With everyone pushing so hard to get your attention it was hard to look over the menus. I fell in love with the street and plan to go back when it's cooler and I can study the restaurants a bit online. The main problem with this area is the lack of parking. We were able to snag a spot in summer in late afternoon. That is not the case on the weekends and I am sure not when it is in season. It will be worth the extra effort to come though as this a very unique and charming area of Miami.

Cant miss the flamingo pink Welcome to Miami Beach placard with four pink pillars that resemble…read morepalm trees which are naitive to Miami. Every tourist must get excited by the sight of the sign knowing they are finally here. My daughter snapped a pic of the sign so that I would not cause an accident on the Julia Tuttle Causeway. As we drove by, the sign made me instantly think of the 1997 song "Welcome to Miami" by Will Smith. Its basically located in the median surrounded by heavy traffic, and there is no place to pull over and take a selfie.

"Party in the city where the heat is on. All night, on the…read morebeach till the break of dawn. Welcome to Miami Bievenidos a Miami" Will Smith Miami Since 1997 the Welcome to Miami sign has been on the Julia Tuttle Causeway greeting all of those who arrive by vehicle to Miami Beach. At night the sign is lit up and the palm trees wear neon color changing halos that makes them look like something out of the Jetsons. In 2007 the lights were updated with LED technology by Jim Morrison, an artist and lighting designer so that their colors can be coordinated for holidays and events. I especially like seeing the sign at night. In 2019 Morrison wanted to add a large rectangular LED display board on top of the Welcome to Miami lettering. The LED sign could be programmed to welcome events like Art Basel and Pride but some people thought the idea would be tacky and not in keeping with the art deco design of the area. So far changes have been slow to come to the iconic sign. I think it is perfect the way it is.

I always love discovering a bit of history and this marker is Hollywood magic right here in Miami…read more On Ocean Drive in South Beach is a plaque honoring that the building appeared in the movie Scarface. It used to be an apartment building but it is now a CVS that still has much of its original architecture. The rooms that were used for filming during the movie are now part of the pharmacy. Scarface is a 1983 film based on a 1929 novel and a 1932 movie. It tells the story of a mobster based on real life criminal Al Capone. In the movie Cuban refuge Tony Montana played by Al Pacino comes to Miami during the Marial boatlift in 1980 when Cuba released jail inmates and mental hospital patients who then fled the island for Florida. The film charts Tony Montana's humble arrival in Miami to his transformation as a wealthy murdering drug lord. Other people who appeared in the movie were Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michelle Pfeiffer in her first dramatic role. The movie marker is at the entrance of the staircase used during the filming of the chain saw scene. Look for it to the right of the stairs and to the left of the main entry to the building. You might think the city of Miami was pleased to be depicted in a Hollywood film but it was not. They were concerned about the movie's portrayal of Cuban Americans so civic leaders pushed to get filming moved out of Florida. Very little was actually filmed in South Beach and the filmmakers continued production in New York and California. If you are in the area its a great place to stop for a selfie.

Okay, I know rating a plaque 5 stars is a little over the top BUT Scarface is one of my all time…read morefavorite movies and I HAD to check this place out. Oddly we were looking for a drug store, so it was a win/win when we found out the old Sun Ray Hotel, the Scarface scene of the coke deal with Colombians and chainsaw body mutilation were one and the same! Super cool to just envision the whole thing, then go in and get some water, snacks and toiletries at the CVS!

We walked into the Wolfsonian FIU Museum, which is free to Florida residents. We left our bags in…read morelockers. The museum is 2 blocks from Ocean Drive in a grand Art Deco building that's now home to a Florida International University-affiliated museum, library, and research center dedicated to the importance of art and design throughout history. Since 1985, the Wolfsonian collection has showcased the entire modern age of design, from the Industrial Revolution to the end of World War II. With over 200,000 pieces in the museum's collection are paintings, textiles, furniture, industrial design objects, rare books & magazines. There's was a lot to take in, so the museum categorizes it into a half-dozen or more exhibitions at any given time. The Geneva Window filled the 2nd floor with Harry Clarke's stained-glass masterpiece. In 1926, Irish artist, Clarke was commissioned by the newly independent Irish Free State to create a window as a gift to the League of Nations in Geneva. The completed window was, considered too provocative and "unrepresentative" of the Irish people. This installation told the stories behind the window & consequences of cultural censorship. Modern Design Across Borders exhibit examined the cross-cultural connections among people, ideas & movements that made modern design's remarkable reach and lasting impact possible. Five spotlight subjects were presented; transportation, 1925 Paris Expo, tea & coffee, plywood, and cocktail culture. Designers such as Norman Bel Geddes, Josef Hoffmann, Alvar Aalto, and Charles and Ray Eames innovations presented geometry, clean lines, functionality that defined modern life & continue to shape design today. We enjoyed all of the Miami Beach memorabilia from them motorcycle and sidecar, so all of the cocktail shakers. The posters & furniture on 5 were from the Wolfsonian's sister institution in Genoa, Italy. This ancient port city has a distinct character & is nown as "La Superba" (the superb). Mitchell "Micky" Wolfson, Jr., the museum founder gave us a picture of Genoa as a mercantile & financial center in the start of the 20th century. The hand painted secretary, posters & books represent the era beautifully. The Wolfsonian Design Store & coffee bar was almost an exhibition on its own, with its century-old Snead & Co. Iron Works shelving system presented a variety of books, games, toys, kitchenware, jewelry & tchotchkes that echo the museum's "good design is everything" theme. A smattering of tables makes this the perfect place to cool off & rest or some taking out a laptop to do some work with a fabulous iced latte.

The Wolfsonian - FIU (Florida International University) is a Museum, Library & Research Ctr. In the…read moreArt Deco District in Miami Beach, Fl. Wolfsonian Museum Founder / Author / Philanthropist / Businessman Mitchell "Mickey" Wolfson was inspired by the integration of art & design, established this museum space & donated lots of art that is on display for patrons to enjoy. Art at The Wolfsonian is from the 1850 - 1950 period. We visited during their "Free Fridays", which is from 6pm-9pm. When we walked inside, we admired the lobby for a bit before going into the elevator. Exhibits - Harry Clarke + The Geneva Window (5th Fl.) & The Big World: Alternative Landscapes in the Modern Era (6th Fl.) showcased gorgeous masterpieces. One of my favorites was a furniture piece entitled "Chest" by Josef Hoffman. We were in awe of the various paintings, & other art installations. The Wolfsonian has such a cool Giftshop! Staff & Security were present to provide information if needed. Bathrooms were clean, neat & organized. Wolfsonian.org @wolfsonian Open Wed., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. - 10am - 6pm & Fridays 10am - 9pm Access to the Reading Room only via Appt. Free Admission to select groups if your are visiting outside of Free Friday hours - Check their website for more information. Guided Tours are available upon request.

900 Collins Avenue is a historic coral rock house in the heart of South Beach. It looks like a…read moresandcastle in the middle of the Art Deco buildings of Collins Avenue. The house is known as the Avery/Coral Rock house. It was built in 1916 by Avery Smith who lived in the home with his family until 1931. Smith ran the ferry service from the mainland to the beaches before the causeways were built which allowed for the first tourists to get to the beach. Avery Smith sold the home to Isadore Roth whose son Dr. Edward Roth, was the first physician practicing in Miami Beach. He ran his practice in the house until the 1970's. After that it was always used as a home until 1990 when it was turned into a fishing club. In 2007 a developer purchased the property and allowed it to deteriorate for the next four years. He bribed three city officials with money and goods to allow him to bulldoze the property which he started to do. The three city officials were arrested for taking bribes in connection with the destruction of the home. By 2011 all that remained was a shell of the house. Preservationists fought to have the house restored. The Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board approved a design and the house was reconstructed using the original coral but this time it was linked to a retail store that is leased. Located only one block from the beaches and Ocean Drive the house is currently for sale and being advertised as a restaurant location. The exterior of the house has been rebuilt but the interior is still under construction. There is a historic marker on the front of the house.