More like 4.5 stars. I like Little Havana. I really don't come here very often. In fact, I have…read morebeen more on the west side of 8th Street compared to Little Havana. I find the Little Havana area to be charming. There are some nice restaurants in this area. I got to eat at Ciao Havana and was happy eating there. There is Old's Sandwich near there. That looked really good. I would like.to.eat there at some point. I like this area because of the history. I walked by a barber shop and saw how busy it was and how the barbershop seemed to be taking pride in their work. That is so nice to see. I look forward to coming back to this area. It is a nice break from Broward where I live.

Review #1,000 The…read morefinale to our Miami tour, booked to kill time before heading to the airport. This was the day that we disembarked from our Caribbean cruise. After Cuba's fall to Fidel Castro, Miami received an influx of Cuban migrants, some 150,000 at the time. And this community became their hub. We were tantalized by our tour bus guide's verbal preparations of his Cuban heritage found here, especially the Cuban coffee. Lunch at the popular Cuban restaurant La Esquina de La Fama, our first stop, delivered on the Cuban coffee hype. As did the mojitos for some, which they're probably most famous for. Then other than the guide's walking tour option to the nearby Cuban cigar factory which we passed on; we had toured a similar hand rolled cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. So we were now free to explore on our own. Colorful murals, especially in what is known as Art Park, surround you. Nearby Domino Park is open to the public, but playing dominoes there is reserved only for the local elderly. But feel free to stroll around the various games going on. There is also a very popular ice cream parlor that came highly recommended but we passed on it. And per the guides strong protest to please avoid/tongue-in-cheek, the McDonald's smack dab in the midst of it all, that advice went unheeded by more than a few lol. My wife crossed the street to check out a small strip mall, joining another group of tourists headed that way. While I remained in a cool shaded spot to avoid the encroaching Miami humidity. Oh, and if you feel a need for a bit more positivity in your life, try rubbing one of the large chickens, you can't miss them, for "good luck" they say. Little Havana, a nice way to kill some time when in town.

George Merrick is the founder of the City of Coral Gables. His family came to Miami from PA two…read moreyears after Henry Flagler brought the railroad to Florida. It was the dawn of the development of Florida. George Merrick attended Rollins College in Winter Park and in 1922 he meticulously planned Coral Gables. The houses were so well made that they survived hurricanes before there were building codes and his architecture was so charming that Coral gables is called the city beautiful. He also created the University of Miami. At first he wanted his buildings to be strictly Spanish and later Mediterranean style. Eventually he expanded his vision to include seven unique villages inspired by different international influences. The villages were built during the land boom years in the 1920's. It was a joint venture between Merrick, The American Building Company and former Ohio Governor Myers Cooper. The original plan was for more 1,000 residences in a series of villages based on architecture from around the world. The plan was never fully realized when the housing boom crashed from two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. In the end only seven villages were built including this French Normandy Village. By 1928 George Merrick was forced out of the city he founded and ended up in the Keys. He returned to the city two years before he died to serve as postmaster. You can learn more about George Merrick by taking a tour of his family home in Coral Gables. The French Normandy village is based on a 15th century French Village. It is one of three of Merrick's villages that showcases different periods of French architecture. Architects John and Coulton Skinner built the eleven townhouses that make up this village between 1926 and 1927. The townhouses are characterized by hollow tile, poured concrete, and white stucco are crisscrossed with half timbering and topped by flat, shingled, gabled roofs. The grounds have traditional kitchen gardens, enclosed courtyards, and open-air porches. The village is bounded by LeJeune Road, Viscaya Court, Viscaya Avenue, and Alesio Avenue. In 1935 all of the French Normandy townhouses were purchased by the University of Miami to use as men's dormitories. During World War II, they were used as barracks for soldiers. Today they are all privately owned. The homes in the villages are some of the most sought after residences in the Gables. They rarely go up for sale and are always in high demand. Today there are 80 homes left. Expect to pay close to a million for a French Normandy residence. Once you see these beautiful homes you can easily understand why they are so coveted.

Another great excursion during your staycation or if you're visiting something other than the…read morebeach! This "village" was built in 1926-1927, and was designed by architects John and Coulton Skinner. They are supposed to resemble a 15th century French village. It's difficult to see much beyond the white stuccoed walls as you walk around the block. However, the profusion of flowers is amazing with wisteria and bougainvillea. The connected houses were not always privately owned. In 1935, the Village was sold to nearby University of Miami and served as homes to five fraternities. Next, during World War II like most of the iconic Art Deco hotels in South Beach, they were used to house soldiers here for training.

Coral Gables is known for it's numerous plazas, entrances, and fountains from 1920's. That's why I…read morefind it so interesting to see what current works of art are being added. Anything new needs to harmonize with the beautiful features that George Merrick added in when he created the city. In 2014 the city approved two sculptures to be installed at the traffic circles along Segovia Street. They were designed by New York-based artist and sculptor Alice Aycock. The two installations are the first public art pieces to be added since George Merrick was alive. The sculptures are inspired by the passion flower and are constructed of more than 4,000 pieces of metal. The two sculptures are different. The sculpture on Biltmore is larger and has two flower designs. The Coral Way sculpture is designed to mimic a flower flowing in the breeze. More than 180 submissions were judged before a panel selected Aycock's design. The flowers have received mixed reviews from the community. Many feel that the modern art is not in keeping with the look of the city. A group of residents tried to have the sculptured removed but did not muster enough signatures for the ballot. Some of the complaints are that the sculptures are not Mediterranean and that accidents have increased at the traffic circles since the sculptures were installed. Others complain bitterly that they are not even able to choose a paint color for their house yet the city has moved away from the Mediterranean look of the city without consulting them. The city has decided to keep the sculptures despite the protest of some people who do not care for the look of modern art in their 1920's Mediterranean Revival city.

Interesting new metal art located near the golf course and situated on two roundabouts. There are…read moretwo pieces one on each roundabout - They are passions flowers. Other people here have told the history about them so I will leave it at that. However what I did read about on the net and thought was amusing - was some local residents were not very happy with them, thinking they did not represent Coral Gables mediterranean image, so they started a petition to get them remove. They did get over a thousand signatures but no where near enough to make an impact and get them removed. Looks like they are here to stay. I was not too keen when I first saw them and had a little chuckle to myself as the largest one is situated in front of a plastic surgery office (HE HE)...(apt? - you decide). However after walking around and actually really looking at them, the location, the area, they started to grow on me!...Let me know what you think - when you go for a look!

Moon Over the Gables in Ponce De Leon Circle is a cultural event surrounding the public art piece,…read moreMuseum of the Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram. Museum of the Moon is a replica of the moon that is lit from within and measures seven meters in diameter. The surface of this moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. Each centimeter of the sculpture equals 5km of the moon's surface. Museum of the Moon has been on tour around the world and will also be displayed in Spain, Chile, and Germany. Several moons have been made and they are touring simultaneously. A number of museums throughout the country have also purchased replicas of this piece for their collections. The City of Coral Gables hosted different events around the base of the artwork during several evenings in March. Events included story time, arts and crafts, yoga, and on the night I visited live music and food trucks.

Wynwood Art Walk Tours isn't just walking past murals. It's walking with someone who knows which…read morewalls have stories attached, which artists took risks, which pieces cost the neighborhood something. The murals themselves are massive and they're professional, but scale alone doesn't make art work. Context does. Shepard Fairey's augmented reality layer is the differentiator here. It's not a gimmick. When you scan a mural with your phone, the piece opens up into layers and motion. It's the artist's way of saying "there's more here than what you see." It works because it's restrained, not constantly pulling you into your screen. You're still in the neighborhood. You're just seeing deeper. The guide we had knew the economics of gentrification in Wynwood. Knew which artists have been here for years and which are new money. Knew the politics of murals, why some walls get painted and others get buffed, why some artists collaborate and some don't. That knowledge cost something to build. You're paying for it. We took three teenagers, ages 14-17. Not a group naturally inclined to stand still for street art. They asked questions about technique, about why certain artists choose certain walls, about whether the AR experience changes how you see the piece or adds distraction. They engaged. That's not about impressive art alone, that's about the tour structure creating room for actual thinking instead of passive consumption. The neighborhood is dense and chaotic and intentional all at once. You'll see pieces that are technically flawless next to pieces that are deliberately rough. Some murals are massive, some are character-scale. Some artists are making statements about politics, some about beauty, some about ownership. The variation is what keeps it alive. A sanitized art walk would kill this. Walking it yourself is free and worth doing once. Walking it with the tour is $29 and worth doing if you want to understand why these walls matter to the city and why some artists chose to paint them. The difference is context. Context costs something, but you leave with more than photos. The sun hits different at 4 PM than at 11 AM, so timing matters if photography is part of your thing. The neighborhood gets foot traffic but it's not overwhelming. You're in a real place, not a theme park. That texture is part of why this works.

We were in the area and decided to take my teenager to this unique art experience…read more I remember visiting years ago when admission was free, so I was surprised to see there is now an $8 entrance fee plus additional service fees. The murals are absolutely stunning, each one is vibrant, creative, and a true work of art. The space is filled with colorful masterpieces that make for a fun and immersive visit. They also have a small gallery featuring an inspiring collection of artwork, which was a nice addition to the experience. The gift shop was another highlight. It offers a fantastic selection of gifts, accessories, and unique souvenirs, making it hard to leave empty-handed. Overall, it's a fun stop for art lovers and anyone looking for a colorful, photo-worthy experience. While I miss the days of free admission, the murals and gift shop still make it worth a visit.

You know there has to be at least one local flavor / tongue in cheek review right ?…read more Flagami is the Miami neighborhood just south of Miami's International Airport. It's a healthy mix of low rise residential buildings, some newer hotels, a dash of mom and pop restaurants and office buildings. It also has a smattering of mallard ducks. Since the geography of the neighborhood includes the Tamiami Canal (a tributary of the Miami River), the Blue Lagoon and a few other lakes) they probably migrated from Miami Springs or other areas north. But since this is a tongue -in-cheek, Local Flavor review it is not my space to speculate on this. Anyway, you can see the duckies walking between buildings or in the aforementioned bodies of water. Sometimes when there's localized street flooding they stop to drink or even float in the runoff. It's always nice seeing wildlife in the city!

You could easily pass this wooden art man and not take notice of it. I was taking a stroll along…read moreBiscayne Bay from Bayshore Landing and on my way back I finally noticed him and that he had a name, Hurricane Man. Hurricane Man made his debut at the Miami International Boat Show in 2018. He was constructed by Harry Hogan, founder of Shake A Leg Miami, from the remains of the sailing dock that was destroyed by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017. Shake a Leg is the largest community watersports program in South Florida. It offers sailing, boating, and kayaking programs for children, adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. Hurricane Man was created to symbolize recovery and growth. Maybe he is a good luck talisman too. Since he has been standing watch at Biscayne Bay, South Florida has not been hit by any major hurricanes.

An unusual sculpture entitled "Hurricane Man" was originally on display at the Miami International…read moreBoat Show. The figure is made from the wreckage of the docks of Shake A Leg Miami, which were destroyed when Hurricane Irma plowed through Florida on September 10, 2017. Designed by Harry Horgan, founder of Shake-A-Leg Miami, Hurricane Man is a poignant symbol of recovery and new possibilities in the aftermath of the terrible storm. You will find this little fellow on display more or less opposite Montys - a cool spot to take a picture of and show your kids. (https://communitynewspapers.com/biscayne-bay/hurricane-man-sculpture-on-display-at-miami-international-boat-show/)

Our next family food adventure take us to Pummarola Coral Glades Pizza Napoletana located in in…read morethe center downtown Miracle Mile, with a category of 4.5 and more than 1,387 reviews this small restaurant make the different from who looking a good pasta and pizza. My experience was perfect but accidentally misunderstood the menu: I ordered a pizza, but when it arrived, it wasn't the one I wanted--I had actually wanted the one with anchovies (though the menu didn't list specific names). However, the pizza they brought me was absolutely delicious and exquisite; the entire order was so good that it definitely warrants a return visit. I recommend this place if you looking for the italian cuisine and you visit Coral Gables.

Although not the best pizza I've had but still good pizza for Miami standards. This is a charming…read morerestaurant where tradition is carried on. There's limited seating but good for takeout. The service was pretty speedy. The story behind the restaurant is cute too. Pizza crust was delicious and pizza sauce not so much. However, would return. The other thing is also that the pricing is reasonable.