Miami Beach, Florida, USA – Aug 5, 2023: Aerial of Eden Roc and Fontainebleau hotels in Mid-Beach.

You may have read those stories that tall buildings and condos in Miami are sinking. Friends from the north have asked me if I’m moving. The answer: No — and here’s why. I’m so excited that the famous Delano Hotel is set to reopen in 2025. I have great memories of the old Delano and want to find the thrill again! On a sad note, Lulu, the famous weekend brunch restaurant in Coconut Grove has closed its doors forever. And last, no matter what you’re celebrating, Eliot and I are celebrating with you. Happy Holidays

Sinking Buildings Vs Unknown Drones—Your Choice 

My cell phone was constantly ringing the last few days from family and friends from the north asking me if we had any plans to move because they heard about an article in the Miami Herald saying tall condo buildings and hotels are sinking into the ground. The University of Miami reported that dozens of luxury beachfront condos and hotels in Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles are sinking into the ground at rates that were “unexpected,” with nearly 70 percent of the buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles affected. The study identified a total of 35 buildings that have sunk by as much as three inches between 2016 and 2023, including the iconic Surf Club Towers and Faena Hotel, the Porsche Design Tower, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III and Trump International Beach Resorts. Together, the high rises accommodate tens of thousands of residents and tourists. Some have more than 300 units, including penthouses that cost millions of dollars.

I’m not sure any of the answers my callers were waiting to hear but if they think we regret our permanent move to Miami eight years ago, then they haven’t been paying attention. We love it more and more each day. The sunny weather, the Palm trees, the view of the ocean and the bay, and the beaches, make this city an absolute paradise.

There are so many other factors than the ones I just listed that make a world of difference in your life as you get older. My girlfriend Sara, a die hard Manhattanite who is 10 years younger than me, used to say she would never put a foot in Florida when we asked her to visit us. “It’s too hot and humid.”

Then one day out of nowhere, when she found out that her family was going to move to Boca Raton and Miami, she decided to check it out. Within weeks she sold her upscale Manhattan Coop, found a beautiful home on a golf course with a pool in Boca, and gave away most of of her winter clothes. She recently told me that she is living her best life.

No one loved Manhattan more than I did. Owning a PR agency on 58th and Sixth gave us the high life for decades. Eliot recently told me that as a couple, we completely took advantage of the city. He was right. We lived large.

Then one day when we came to Miami to vacation at the Delano we saw another side of life. We equally said we want this for ourselves. We are here full time for nine years even though we bought our condo 23 years ago.

So now we hear that living on the beach has consequences. We knew that. I’m sure every building is being inspected or will be inspected. Our condo has been under construction for a year and a half. Ever since the Champlain Towers condo building collapsed a few years ago, the state government is forcing every high rise to make many safety adjustments. Even this inconvenience can’t take away the beauty of Miami.

No one knows what tomorrow brings for anyone. I am not trying to be a big shot. I consider myself a realist. I wouldn’t be too happy if I had drones over my head that the government were clueless about, or wildfires were a mile away from my home, or broken dams flooding the streets, or even an earthquake that rattled for 30 seconds.

My big fear is possible hurricanes in the future. However, they seem to be going everywhere these days. We live in a very different world today. I pray for all of us. I just want to do it in the warm weather.

Back to the Future With The Delano 

Everyone knows the saying “You can’t go home again.” I hope that’s not the case with the Delano Hotel that made Miami Beach so famous. We just got word that the hotel should be open again in late 2025. I’m not sure the new updated Delano will have the same glory it had when it was renovated by Ian Schrager, former co-founder of Studio 54 and designer Philippe Starck in 1995. Schrager and Starck wanted Delano to feel like a home; to that end, Starck created a series of discrete “living spaces,” with mismatched furniture.

The entire hotel felt like you were walking into the future. It was hidden behind a tall row of hedges right on Collins and 17th Street.  The Delano’s backyard and pool were an extension of the lobby’s “living room,” and that’s why a table and two chairs sat in a shallow section of the pool, and why the hotel’s veranda featured the kind of comfortable furniture usually found inside a building, rather than outside it. In the rooms, guests had oversized marble bathtubs, said to be a favorite among NBA players because of their seven-foot length, along with Malin + Goetz toiletries.

The place was simply gorgeous and it attracted a steady stream of celebrities that frequently hung out at the pool.  I read about Delano in WWD and desperately wanted to vacation there. We used to fly down from Manhattan for long weekends, school breaks and special occasions. If we got lucky, we got to see Madonna, Calvin Klein, Barry Diller, Cher, Don Johnson, and a host of sports figures. Every guest felt so special while in residence. There was something about the vibe that just put everyone in a good mood.

After a few years of staying at the hotel we decided to rent an apartment nearby because it was way less expensive. We just loved being a part of the South Beach crowd. The Delano closed its doors during the pandemic, leaving so many loyal guests and design lovers heartbroken. Now, under the direction of Ennismore and Cain International, the Delano is set to reemerge with a fresh vision while honoring its storied past. The revitalized property will feature 171 redesigned rooms, upgraded wellness spaces, and new dining concepts, all tied together by a lighter, earthy aesthetic.

All I can say is that I hope the Delano has a great restaurant so we can visit the establishment often. Just thinking about it gives me the chills. I want to get that special feeling again 25 years later.

Lulu Quietly Closes After 13 Years

It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend. I have been so sad since I heard that Lulu, the famous weekend brunch restaurant along Main Highway in Coconut Grove, has closed its doors forever.

Just like New York and Los Angeles, many restaurants come and go in Miami. This one hurts because for years it was a great hangout.  We would meet friends every weekend on the corner of Commodore Plaza and Main Highway.  We would hang out for two hours plus catching up on our weekly events.

Lulu’s is just across the street from its big sister restaurant Greenstreet Cafe. We would always take turns on which restaurant we were going to each week. While the food at each one was always delectable, the ambiance was sunshine-beautiful. Everyone sat outside watching the busy world of Coconut Grove roll by.

The Miami New Times reported that a few of their reporters felt huge waves of nostalgia — like remembering a boozy brunch with an old friend and their dog who has since died, or memories of a first date that — although didn’t go too well — the waffles being “solid.” “Restaurants that evoke feelings like this are hard to come by.”

The newspapers also reminded us, “At one point between 2011 and 2017, before the recent renaissance of the Coconut Grove we know today, Lulu and Greenstreet Cafe were two of the only solid spots in the area, and both seemed to keep the stagnant CocoWalk area afloat, which for years was only notable for its movie theater and Starbucks shop. For those who attended school nearby at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart or Ransom Everglades Upper School, Lulu was the go-to spot for skipping class (sorry, parents) or for an afterschool snack.”

More upscale spots like Jaguar, Le Bouchon du Grove, and Sapore di Mare are three of the last remaining old-time spots in the area.

We will miss you Lulu!

Happy Holidays

From our house to yours.