June 2010 www.miamiandbeaches.com
OUT AND ABOUT IN MIAMI
Thank you for your continued support of Miami! The new issue of the monthly Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Relation’s e-newsletter is filled with story leads you can develop, including exciting news and events. Enjoy!
COCONUT GROVE HOSTS GROVE DAY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 5: While many of Miami’s cultural centers are winding down for the summer months, Coconut Grove is just kicking into high gear. On Saturday, June 5 from 10 am to 10 pm, the village known for its vacation and “stay-cation” appeal will host Grove Day, a cultural bash presented by the Coconut Grove Business Improvement (BID). At the heart of Grove Day is the opening of the Paragon Grove 13 luxury 1,500 seat movie theatre – the only all high-definition digital projection in Miami with valet parking and deluxe concessions and full bar service. Yet, Grove Day isn’t just about what’s new in the Grove. The day’s activities will also focus on celebrating one of Miami’s cherished historical communities. Visitors and residents alike will have a rare opportunity to discover the Grove’s unique frontier history on a walking tour with one of South Florida’s finest raconteurs, Dr. Paul George. Narrating the challenges faced by early Grove pioneers, the Grove Day tour will stop at sites including the former Peacock Inn and Millionaire’s Row. Outdoor events including the historical tour and evening’s gallery walk are free and open to the public. Grove Day is sponsored jointly by Paragon Grove 13, the Consul General of the Bahamas and by the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (BID). For more information, visit www.coconutgrove.com or call 305-461-5506 305-461-5506.
DINO ISLAND OPENS AT MIAMI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Dino Island will make its exciting debut at the Miami Children’s Museum (MCM) starting June 5, 2010. MCM and Kokoro, the originators and innovators of museum-quality robotic dinosaurs, have collaborated to transform the Museum’s What’s New? Gallery into a prehistoric adventureland for the entire family. Visitors young and old can journey back 230 million years into the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to explore 2,500 square feet of custom sets that are home for nine lifelike, robotic creatures, including a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Apatosaurus, Triceratops mother and baby, Maiasaura family, and a suspended Pteradon. See them walking, feeding, roaring, fighting, hatching and caring for their young, all acting and interacting with captivating realism. Beware the volcano that erupts periodically with sound, lights and smoke, experience a murky swamp with bubbling water, and relax in a cave with a “fireside” reading nook area and much, much more! Entrance to the exhibit which runs until January 2nd, 2011 is included in each regular admission to the Museum. Admission is $15 for adults and children, $12 for Florida Residents, free for children under 1 year and admission for Members is complimentary. For more information contact the Museum at 305.373.KIDS (5437) or visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org.
FISHER ISLAND CLUB WELCOMES VISITORS AFTER $60 MILLION RENOVATIONS: If you’ve ever wondered how Oprah lives on the weekends travel to this exclusive island hideaway 10 minutes from Miami Beach and its swanky new beach club and villas, ready to welcome you with about $60 million of recent renovations. The tony enclave (at one time the wealthiest ZIP code in America) is limited to residents, their guests and hotel guests. And the only way you can enter the island is via helicopter, yacht or the 24-hour ferry. To get there, you’ll first drive your car onto the ferry for the seven-minute ride across the bay. Then, while sipping your welcome glass of Perrier-Jouët champagne at check-in, you’ll toss your keys to the valet and pick up keys to your own golf cart (each hotel room comes with one). There’s plenty to do while you’re here-play the nine-hole golf course, tinker with your backhand on the grass and clay tennis courts or take in the unobstructed views of downtown Miami (poolside, of course). But you and your islandmate will probably spend most of your time in one of the renovated villa bungalows, a small cottage with its own secluded back patio and hot tub. For more information, visit www.fisherislandclub.com.
Calendar of Events:
MIAMI/BAHAMAS GOOMBAY June 5 www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com
MANGO MADNESS June 12 www.fruitandspicepark.org
REDLAND SUMMER FRUIT FESTIVAL June 19-29 www.fruitandspice.org
FREE CARTOONING WORKSHOP AT THE WOLFSONIAN-FIU: The Digital Wolf Lab @ The Wolfsonian-FIU will be offering Comic Kraze, a two-week summer workshop for teens aged 14-17 on the art of comics and graphic novels. The free course will take place June 21-July 2, 2010 from 9-5pm; and will be taught by the well-known comic artists Jessica Abel and Caiphus Moore at The Wolfsonian, 1001 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139. For additional information, please email Claudia Sullivan at comickraze@thewolf.fiu.edu or call 305.535.2684 305.535.2684.
KIMPTON’S EPIC HOTEL’S ART APPRECIATION SERIES HEATS UP SUMMER WITH DYNAMIC LINE UP: From storytelling to interior design, Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami features an “art-filled” summer with a diverse line-up of special guests and topics on skillful endeavors and experiences as part of EPIC’s hosted daily wine hour. Held on the hotel’s 16th floor pool deck overlooking the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay, the EPIC Hotel embraces Miami’s thriving arts and culture scene with the continuation of its popular “EPIC Wine Hour Presents: Art Of” series. The EPIC Hotel “Art Of” calendar for early summer includes the following: “Art of Style” with Cravings South Florida Magazine; “Art of Wellness” with Mind Body expert Julie Wiseman; “Art of Cigars” with cigar specialist Carlos Escalona of Miami-based Camacho Cigars, one of the leading makers of premium cigars; and “Art of Miami” – Inspired by Miami Art Museum’s new exhibit New Work Miami 2010 set to open in July. “Art Of” events in the categories of beauty, film, music, food, literature, dance, wine, cigars, travel, tattooing and other artful endeavors are also planned. Moreover, EPIC offers a vast array of special rates and packages throughout the “Summer Playground” season. For more information on these and a variety of exclusive events, please visit www.epichotel.com.
ZUMA OPENS FIRST U.S. RESTAURANT IN MIAMI: Zuma, a contemporary Japanese dining concept created by German chef Rainer Becker, opens its fifth restaurant — the first in this country — on the ground floor of the Epic Hotel in Miami. Becker developed his “authentic, nontraditional Japanese cuisine” during six years in Tokyo, according to an announcement that lists Lady Gaga, Tony Blair, Antonio Banderas and Keith Richards among Zuma’s fans. Its honors include Restaurant of the Year in Britain’s Tatler Awards. Accessible by boat via Epic’s private dock, the Miami restaurant is modeled after the London original, with a lounge bar featuring 40 types of sake, a sushi counter and open-fire robata grill. For more information, visit www.zumarestaurant.com or caqll 305-577-0277 305-577-0277.
CHILDREN’S SUMMER FUN BEGINS AT THE BILTMORE: This summer the Biltmore Hotel is offering fun programs and activities where children will discover new interests, learn valuable skills, and most importantly make new friends! Plan your summer family vacation by adding one of the following summer programs to the hotel’s Family Fun Package: Biltmore Culinary Academy Summer Camp; Biltmore Golf Summer Camp; Biltmore Spa Beauty Camp; Smash & Splash Tennis Camp; Biltmore Kids Aquatics Classes and Biltmore Culinary Academy – Cooking Buddies Class. A Family Fun Package includes deluxe room accommodations, daily breakfast for two adults (free for children 12 and under), and signature children’s amenities. Guests receive discounts on local area attractions as well as 20% savings on summer programs for children and spa and golf reservations for parents. Package is priced from $185 per night with a two-night minimum. Tax and resort fee not included. For more information, please call 305-445-1926 305-445-1926 or visit www.biltmorehotel.com.
NEW ANIMALS, SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS AT JUNGLE ISLAND: Jungle Island will be welcoming a family of prairie dogs, a baby camel, a baby zebra and last but not least, a family of marmosets (the smallest primates in the world)! Returning for the summer will be Jungle Island’s private beach, La Playa, which will have activities for the whole family including water slides, contests and many more activities. For just $5 children can climb inside the life-size, see-through Floating Beach Balls and literally walk on the water of a crystal clear pool located in the Garden Outpost. For no additional charge, guests can put their climbing skills to the test on a towering rock wall and bounce the day away on one of the many bounces houses! And finally, Jungle Island is refreshing its signature shows, with the introduction of an all new show and new animals with “Dr. Wasabi’s Wild Adventures.” For additional information on the Power of 10 Pass or any of the new activities on Jungle Island, please visit www.jungleisland.com.