Miami’s thrift shop scene ls becoming a popular hobby, and there’s a new pop-up market called Magic City Flea in what is already a hip happening area. Exciting news for music lovers—there’s a new exhibit that pays tribute to the most revered woman in Latin Music—Celia Cruiz Forever. One of Miami’s best-known restaurants, Joe’s Stone Crab, has just been named one of the top 150 most legendary restaurants in the world! If you’re looking for a casual dining place on the beach, I have just the place.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Miamians are Flocking to Flea Markets

I never thought I would ever be interested in secondhand clothes, jewelry, handbags, or any item that was used before. After all, I had worked all my life so I could buy almost anything I wanted. Then came Paris.  Eliot and I were on tour with friends we met in an art organization. Many of them decided they wanted to scout the famous Parisian flea market officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.  It’s the largest antique market in the world, attracting 120,000 to 180,000 visitors each weekend.

I wasn’t thrilled about it, but we all went along. I watched a few of the size two women try on slightly used designer clothes. They squealed in delight when something fit. The other girls applauded. I thought to myself, “This is why I work.  If I had to spend time shopping all the time with my lady friends, I would eventually go mad.”

Then one of the ladies said there was a jewelry shop next door, so I made a beeline for it. It turned out to be what they now call “previously loved jewelry.” I didn’t care what they called it because I was surrounded by necklaces that had the Hermes and Chanel look for about $200 each. I was hooked. I left the store with five pieces.  I now rotate wearing them all the time because they look good, and I know if I ever lost them, I could easily get new ones because they didn’t cost thousands of dollars.

Apparently, many Miamians feel the same way.  Every other Sunday, an increasing number of people shop the Lincoln Road Antique and Flea market. People from all over the country travel here to sell their goods. It must be going well because more vendors show up all the time.

Now everyone is talking about a new exciting market in Wynwood. A young couple, Courtney Bower and Kyle Hazlewood, have decided to create the Magic City Flea, a pop-up market in what is already a hip happening area. The couple discovered, during the pandemic, that more and more people were attending Miami flea markets because it was a great way to spend time outdoors and look for bargains at the same time.  They claim the momentum has continued. Miamians love spending time at markets because they get to walk a lot and meet new and interesting people.

Their pop up concept has proven to be right on. They now have 12,000 followers, dozens of vendors and a team of five. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to find out exact future locations. Hazlewood has every intention of building on their experience to create even more activations around the city, from food concepts to festivals and beyond. This is going to be a lot of fun.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Celia Cruz Forever Exhibition

This is a very exciting time for everyone in Miami who loves music. They get to pay tribute and learn more about the most revered woman in Latin music.  The “Celia Cruz Forever” exhibit explores the life and impressive career of legendary Cuban-born singer Celia Cruz (1925-2003). The exhibit is located at the Tower Theater, 1508 Southwest 8th Street, Miami.

Celia Cruz’s career spanned six decades. She had a truly recognizable, powerful voice coupled with a type A personality that made her everyone’s favorite. The Celia Cruz show will highlight the important moments in her life and career. Everyone will get to see photographs, personal documents, costumes, and her joyous music.

The Celia Cruz Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose main commitment is to preserve, proliferate and promote the legacy of the late Cuban singer and “Queen of Salsa”, Celia Cruz, and help students in music education. GET THE EXHIBIT DETAILS.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joe’s Stone Crab Named One of  The World’s ‘Most Legendary’ Restaurants

Woohoo! For many years Joe’s Stone Crab has been one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country.  Some years it was number one.

It’s located at: 11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 673-0365

The restaurant just found out that it was named on the “Taste Atlas’ Top 150 Most Legendary Restaurants list in the World. ” Congratulations  Miami’s beloved seafood restaurant.

TasteAtlas is an experiential travel online guide for traditional food that collates authentic recipes, food critic reviews, and research articles about popular ingredients and dishes.

Describing itself as “a world atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants” it features an interactive global food with dish icons shown in their respective regions and purportedly contains nearly 10,000 dishes, drinks, and ingredients, as well as 9,000 restaurants.

The list includes everything from family-run eateries to Michelin-starred establishments.

________________________________________________

The Lifeguard Cafe and Restaurant

People who visit Miami are always asking me, “Give me the name of a casual restaurant on the beach that doesn’t break the bank.”  Here’s a new one, “The Lifeguard Cafe and Restaurant” at 1423 Washington Avenue, right in the heart of South Beach. It was created by Edwar Sumil, a photographer.

Yes, all of the photographs around the cafe are Sumil’s, unless he sneaks in a few other photo snapping folks who have taken great shots of iconic landmarks.

This is the perfect place for comfort food. It’s a nice touch considering most other restaurants are gourmet-like and pricey. The menu is very diverse with lots of breakfast and lunch selections. Open from 7ama to 3 pm. Get the details.