Happy Friday Morning on US1

Happy Holidays from 305 Misadventures!

To all of our readers, happy (belated) Chanukah, Solstice, Kwanzaa and Christmas!
I will be headed up to NC to visit with family, but wanted to leave you all with these photos I took at the Santa Park in Coral Gables!

A stroll around the Gables

As you may have heard around the blogosphere, last week was the great storm of Miami. Seriously, it was ridiculous and I ended up with major cabin fever. So when it finally cleared up, El Hombre and I decided to go for a walk around the Coral Gables Golf Course right before sunset. Despite the thick humid air and mosquitos, it was fantastic to get out and stretch our legs. There were lots of other people biking, running, walking and hanging with their families. We saw kids chasing lightning bugs and groups gathered, talking with neighbors. Clearly everyone else was eager to get outside too.

The golf course itself is not that exciting, and has to be kind of boring to play because it's very flat (especially compared to the places in North Carolina) but it has tons of these massive Banyans that have to be a bitch of a trap:


I love Banyans because I think the sheer size of the canopy is really really cool and there's nothing like seeing all those roots hanging down. The first time I saw one of these I was fascinated.

We also found this historic site, which we explored but never found the fig tree:



This is a nice walk and there are lots of really nice houses to scope out. But next time I will wear repellant.

Cupcakes

The other day I met up with my friend Rose to enjoy Buttercream Cupcakes and Coffee. See, it all started over a Facebook debate over whether Mishi's has the best cupcakes. I disagreed with her, claiming that Buttercream had the best. So in order for her to make an informed decision, she joined me in South Miami.

I would like to point out that El Hombre gets very excited when he sees this box:


Because it usually means that he will find something like this inside:

(Vanilla, Triple Chocolate, Oreo, Orange)

Or:

(Triple Chocolate, Guava, Vanilla, Oreo)

One reason why I advocate for Buttercream, other than how fantastic their cupcakes are, is that you can sit outside and enjoy your beverage and cupcake, in cute pink chairs and tables. It's on the prettier side of Sunset, between the circle and Sunset Place.

And of course, I had to give Rose the 305Misadventures tour of South Miami/Coral Gables, since she had never been in the area. So we toured up Sunset to the circle, down Old Cutler to Red Road, wound around Sunset Place, through to Coral Gables where we saw the backroads of the neighborhoods, starting from the Biltmore and ending by the ruins. The ruins, by the way, are under construction so I will have to stop by again in the next few months to see what's going on over there.

I would like to say that showing off my side of the city on a breezy dusky evening, with windows rolled down is quite a fun way to spend time with friends. Especially after cupcakes :-)

Carnaval on the Mile

This is super late, I realize that. But sadly, this is the first time I have had the time and energy to sit down in front of my computer for any reason other than work for the past two weeks. I had been waffling over creating a post about COTM because it's been so late, but ultimately I decided better late than never. And the main deciding factor was because the two days I went, I was super relaxed. Maybe writing about that stage will bring some bliss into my life, right?

Anyway. So we went on the Friday kickoff event/Coral Gables Art Walk to see Conjunto Progresso, who were fantastic, as usual. The crowd had been milling around the stage for the previous band, but when Conjunto started, they gathered close to the stage, people played maracas and danced salsa with their loved ones. It was awesome.



It's hard to see in this light, but the band had as much fun playing as people did listening to them. They were an eclectic crew, most of which played several instruments and the younger guys liked to dance in sync. It was really fun.

As you walked around, there were the standard artists in the circles, as well as cigar rollers:

To me, the whole event of the Coral Gables Art Walk is a homage to the Cuban culture, with art galleries that happen to be open. And speaking of galleries, you tend to find some sort of vintage car outside at least one. But this one was unique:


During the actual Carnaval on the Mile, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, there were street vendors, food, art (most of it generic, but some good things in between) and bands. Lots of bands. With a lineup of Suenalo, Afrobeta, Locos por Juana, ArtOfficial, Brendan O'Hare and Conjunto Progresso, you cannot go wrong.

This was Brendan O'Hare. Super awesome sound.




And here are some scenes from COTM:




(Another example of art that is a homage to Latin culture... And one of my favorite things, Coffee)


There were lots of dogs. I kept pointing out the ones I liked as examples to El Hombre



Lebo Car!

I think my favorite thing was the fact that I was in my comfy bathing suite and BoHo gear, walking around in the sun, largely by myself at first, just exploring. After I got a free 5 minute massage from BlueCross BlueShield, I grabbed a coffee and a little table off the walkway, and soaked in the sun, listened to the bands in the distance and just relaxed, watching people with their families run past, looking at the street performers, games, giveaways and wares.

I get around....... Miami

Before I moved to this city, I visited several times. As a tourist, I hit up the main spots, meaning South Beach, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, but it wasn't until I moved here that I found some of my favorite places, like Old Cutler Road, The non-Coco Walk part of the grove and some others. You know this because these are many of the places I go with the intention of blogging about them, showing them to people who are visiting Miami, or who have lived here but never seen this side of our city.

This past Saturday, I got to be a tourist in my own city again. El Hombre and I took a tour of Miami with The Miami Tour Company. We took the city tour, which leaves from the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, and takes you on a three hour tour of Miami and South Beach. This was a narrated bus tour (closed buses, with AC.. thank God because it was warm outside) that runs on GPS.

I know what you may say, three hours is a long time to be on a bus. But the tour takes you from South Beach to Coconut Grove, down Old Cutler, through Coral Gables and Little Havana, and ending in Bay Side, where you can continue onto the Everglades, Boat Tour or head back to the beach. Also, as El Hombre pointed out, you got alot of information about Miami in a small amount of time (and there is a bit of dry humor here and there.) Plus it stopped in the grove for lunch, at the Biltmore (once again, my favorite hotel in Miami) and in Little Havana, so you could snap pictures, stretch your legs and chat with the tour guide.

It was nice having El Hombre along because he is a Miami native, and I could verify information with him. We both learned a few new things, for example, I would never have thought we had the third biggest skyline, nor would I have realized the cemetery in the Bahamian Village was the backdrop for Thriller (you better believe I YouTubed that as soon as I got home.) I also had never been in the Bahamian Village, so that was kinda cool.

Overall, I think my favorite thing was hearing people's reaction to Vizcaya and the backroads of the Grove. So many people come here and never see anything other than the beach, and the view from the interstate on the way to the keys. This tour is cool because it lets you see a more "local view" of Miami. I don't have pictures because my camera sort of hates life, but I felt like I was reading back through my blog and adding some history behind my posts.

The Biltmore

One of the best places to escape within Coral Gables without having to go too far is the Biltmore. You feel like you're on vacation and it's only minutes away from everything. The pool makes you wish you had your bathing suit and the food is fantastic. Definitely a great place to take visitors or to treat yourself for a nice peaceful lunch on the patio:

Coral Gables Adventures: Part Four - Venetian Pool

The Venetian Pool was the last leg of our journey through the Gables. Unfortunately we didn't have bathing suits on so we couldn't swim but I am dying to go back and spend an entire day there. It's amazing!







a.maz.ing

I can't wait.

Coral Gables Adventures: Part Tres

After the ruins we cruised around a little, hit up a yard sale and then headed over towards the Biltmore (my favorite hotel in Miami, hands-down, no questions asked.)

And for those of you who don't know, Miami is actually pretty religious. You can find all the churches here, from the Hare Krishna church in the grove, Scientologists in the Gables, and tons and tons of Catholic churches. El Hombre went to the Church of the Little Flower from the time he was young, and this is my first time being there. Its beautiful and it reminds me of the types of churches you see in Italy.


The fountain you see before you get to the Biltmore, Coral Gables Congregational, Church of the Little Flower and the Venetian Pools.



The Biltmore peeking above the trees.


Church of the Little Flower



The entire Church



Pretty Fountain



Lizard!!!!

Coral Gables Adventures: Part Dos

Because of the water tower discovery, El Hombre was inspired and gave me a tour of other landmarks in the Gables, and next we ended up at what I refer to as "the ruins."
















as you can see from here, alot of people come to shoot their quince pictures and wedding pictures. Two girls were there for their quinces this day.


El Hombre found an "artifact"

Coral Gables Adventures: The Alhambra Water Tower

This Saturday, El Hombre and I were on the search for something to do, when I spotted a tower. I made him pull the car over and find said tower (which, considering he grew up in the Gables, wasn't difficult.)

This lead us on an adventure through the Gables, looking at all sorts of landmarks.







local fauna.....


local flora....

Tastalicious Report: Gusto Fino

Today I left work early because I was "asked" to support a cause yesterday, and in the process I got sick. So on my way home to the Gables, I stopped at a little local boutique restaurant called Gusto Fino for some comfort food (I'm Italian America.)

I've been here several times before and have nothing but good things to say about it. It's tiny, embraces it's Italianness, and the food is always good (my favorite day to go is Wednesday because the soup of the day is Italian Wedding Soup.)

I always order a panini, which, while expensive, is totally worth the money. You get freshly-sliced meats and veggies on Ciabatta bread, friendly service and enough sandwich to fill you up for the rest of the day. yummmmm

Scenes around the Gables

I love living in the gables. It's beautiful and there are so many neat little details you never notice unless you keep your eyes up.

For example, this wall is awesome:



And another flamingo! awesome!



This whole city loves giant, ridiculously painted birds....