We dined at Carbone Miami last week, and the food was good as usual, and…the doo wop music was fantastic! If you really want the true taste of Miami, go to where the Latinos go.  It’s a place called Mango’s and you learn salsa and sip mojitos. If you have any inkling of buying a condo or private home in Miami, do it now. The prices are entering the world of insane. Exciting news! My husband Eliot’s children’s book, Fearless Flying Fannie, is available for pre-sale, and he’ll be signing books at Books & Books, next month and you’re invited.

Food at Doo Wop Music at the Carbone

I have never been to a restaurant where I ever thought about the music being played over the audio/video system. Last Friday night was the exception. I don’t know when and why Carbone Miami decided to play doo wop music while the crowd was dining on some of the best pasta and Pollo alla Cacciatora you ever tasted, but they did.

The other couple we were with, Marcia and Richie Grand, come from the Bronx and Brooklyn respectively, so doo wop is in their blood. They met in the Catskills when they were teenagers and have been together ever since. They romanced on The Capris, The Skyliners, Thr Moonglows, The Del Vikings, The Dupress, etc. It’s only natural that through the years the two of them played the oldies all the time.

You can’t imagine how happy they were when each song was aired throughout the restaurant. They actually stopped eating and sang along with all of the body movements that the music groups used to do. If you think I am kidding, click on the YouTube below. They always break out in a song if one of them starts humming. This took place in my kitchen 10 years ago. Of course, I recorded it immediately.

The four of us, Marcia, Richie, Eliot and me  know each other for 50 years. We used to work together.  They live in Whitestone, Queens in the warm weather and Hallendale, Florida in the winter. We are lucky that we get to see each other a lot.

Getting a reservation for Carbone’s Miami is not an easy task. They are booked up months in advance. We live a block away and we have difficulty getting in. It’s one of the hottest restaurants in South Beach. Richie is the one who scored the reservation . He has a friend who is well connected (wink wink) and within a half a day we were on the reservation list.

The place is gorgeous, and the patrons look like they could easily be in a fashion magazine.  Of course it’s a young crowd with enough seniors to make us comfortable. More importantly, the staff was very welcoming. I do have to warn you that the restaurant is very pricey, at least $250 a couple, probably more. Of course if you dine out a lot, you know that restaurant prices are insane everywhere. The redeeming quality about Carbone’s is that the food is excellent, the decor is dramatic and the vibe is high energy. Oh yes, the music will make you feel like you are 18 again.

That brings up an interesting point. There is no way that any of these young folks know these doo woo groups. I have no idea why Carbone’s Miami plays that genre all night long. My only guess is that it does put people in the mood.

Salsa Lessons, Mojitos & Appetizers

If you really want the true taste of Miami, go to where the Latinos go.  It’s a place called Mango’s on Ocean Drive. The crowd will show you the true meaning of having a good time.  While the rest of the world sits around a dining table chatting like the Capote’s Swans, the Hispanic folks get up and dance the salsa. Young and old, they move their bodies in the most rhythmic way. I sit and stare wishing I could dance like that.

All I would have to do is take a few lessons. It looks rather easy. I must put it on my “to do” list like the hundreds of other things I want to get done. The truth is dancing is a way of life. From the time I was 16 to my mid 20’s I went dancing three times a week. It was a great way to socialize and exercise. Then grownup stuff got in the way. That was a weak excuse, but I can’t change that now.

If you want to go to Mango’s let me know. We can take salsa lessons there too. It’s one of the oldest dance clubs in Miami. Warning: the women dress exotically and are in great shape. There are plenty of plump people too but when they dance they look totally fit.

At Mango’s you drink, dine and celebrate life with your favorite champagne. They offer premium bottles or Mango’s signature tropical cocktails. Everyone is super friendly, and you feel you are among the happiest people in the world.

900 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, +1 (305) 703-2899

MON-THURS 12PM – 5AM | FRI-SUN 11AM – 5AM | DINNER & SHOW Daily 8PM

Miami Condo Prices Are Soaring 

If you have any inkling of buying a condo or private home in Miami do it now. Miami has become New York and Los Angeles. The prices are entering the world of insane. The penthouse in the @shoreclubsouthbeach is reportedly selling for over $120 million. When the deal is signed, it will set a new record for the most expensive condominium ever sold in the Miami area. That means it beats the previous record of $60 million set in 2015 by hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin. The oceanfront penthouse, spanning approximately 10,500 square feet, is part of the Shore Club redevelopment project.

The development, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in collaboration with @kobikarp, involves the transformation of two landmark hotels: The Shore Club hotel from the 1940s and the Cromwell Hotel, a 1930s Art Deco building. The project, comprising 49 private residences split between the original Cromwell Hotel and a new 200-foot tower, is expected to be completed in 2026.

Promotional material say, “The development includes a stand-alone mansion facing the beach and a five-star resort operated by @aubergeresorts, while the penthouse features around 7,500 square feet of terraces and boasts a private rooftop pool.

“Sales for the Shore Club redevelopment began in early 2023, with prices ranging from approximately $6 million to about $40 million, excluding the penthouse.”

April 21. Join Us for Eliot Hess’s Book Signing

You know me, I want to know you.  I want to invite everyone who reads Miami Life, in The Three Tomatoes newsletter, to the book signing party for the children’s book, “Fearless Flying Fannie” written by my husband Eliot Hess at Books & Books, Coral Cables at 11 am.  It’s all about girl power so try to bring along a little girl who needs to understand that she can be anything she wants to be or do anything she wants to do. Or just come alone,  or with friends.  The parties at Books & Books are always a great networking session. Meet new friends. Pre Order Please.

Here is the official press release :

Fearless Flying Fannie Gives Female Pre-Teens Confidence So They Can Realize Their Own Dreams

Miami Beach, FL – Fearless Flying Fannie teaches young girls that they can make their dreams come true by helping others. Fannie is a great role model because she shows through attitude, kindness, friendship and trust, any young girl can be strong and powerful at a moment’s notice.

The story begins when Fannie rescues a young bird named Phoebe who accidentally lands on her high-rise terrace and becomes trapped while learning to fly. The next day, Fannie receives a visit from a very different bird and her adventure begins.

Eliot Hess, author, wrote Fearless Flying Fannie during the COVID19 pandemic based on a young bird he rescued that had landed on his terrace and struggled to fly away. He felt the inspiration to write this story for young girls because fantasies and adventures are not just for boys.

Jayda Knight, (aka Flying Knight) a visual street artist, brought life to Fannie with her whimsical fashion sense, playful aesthetic style and an exceptional imagination.