Miami for the Low Season Written by Wendy R. Williams Photographed by Krisztina Fazekas (Opposite Photo: Former Versace Mansion Now Casa Casuarina Club - 1114 Ocean Drive)

Nothing could be hotter than South Beach in the summer. The temperature is rising and so is the surf, shopping and clubbing. And it’s cheap. Summer is low season in Miami and flights can be as low as $150 roundtrip (American Airlines is currently advertising a $129 roundtrip netsaver fare between LaGuardia and Miami). All the hotels are running specials, below $100 for the low end (check the campy fun Aqua Hotel and the elegant Blue Moon) to $312 to stay in a high end hotel like The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.

Miami is a walking city. You can take a taxi from the airport to one of the Art Deco South Beach hotels on Ocean Avenue or Collins and from then on you do not need a car. There is loads of shopping; all the New York shops have South Beach outlets: Kenneth Cole; American Apparel; Ralph Lauren; Armani Exchange. And there are the cool Miami based shops such as Barucci; Venissac; Oyuki; and Leo (see our August 2006 review of these shops).

And there are the restaurants and bars, ranging from elegant watering holes like David Bouley’s Evolution at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach (Lincoln Road and the beach) to Mango’s at 900 Ocean Drive (with its top-of-the-bar dancing bartenders) and eateries from the famous and expensive Joe's Stone Crab to the campy inexpensive fun of Big Pink, Jerry's Famous Deli and Johnny Rocket. And not to be missed are the trendy hotels (with their equally trendy bars and restaurants) clustered around Lincoln Road and the beach: the Delano South Beach Hotel; the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach; the Setai; the Standard; the Sagamore; and the Shore Club.

And there is the architecture, the beaches and the people. Miami may be in the United States but it sure doesn't look it; the place is simply cool. It is one of America's magical cities, in the same class as New Orleans, San Francisco, San Antonio and Taos. But you can see for yourself by looking at the photos Krisztina took in Miami from May 19-23, 2007. Enjoy!

Streetscape
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Top of the Kenneth Cole Store - 190 8th St @ Collins
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

American Apparel 840 Ocean Dr. @ 8th St. Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas	Kenneth Cole Store - 190 8th St @ Collins Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas
Chesterfield Hotel 855 Collins @ 8th Street Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas	Ralph Lauren Store 740 Collins Avenue Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Prive Nightclub - 136 Collins Ave
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas


Armani Exchange - 760 Collins Avenue
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

The Hotel - 801 Collins Avenue @ 8th Street
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Blue Moon Hotel - 944 Collins @ 9th St.
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Jerry's Famous Deli - 1450 Collins Avenue @ Espanola Way
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Joe's Stone Crab - 227 Biscayne Street at Collins
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Johnny Rocket - 728 Ocean Drive
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas


Big Pink - 157 Collins Avenue @ 2nd. Street
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Surgically Enhanced Manequins Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas	Another Surgically Enhanced Manequin Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Miami Beach
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas

Miami Beach Body Builders
Photo Credit Krisztina Fazekas