urban picks and events for April and May 2013

The weather is warming up and our Magic city is ending the high tourism season; nevertheless, there are an array of activities throughout the 305 for you to enjoy.

 

Below are our top picks and events for the month of April:

 

The Mercedes Benz Corporate run road and road closures

 

Taking place on Thursday, April 25th 2013
Street Closures and detours start at 2:00pm

20,000 participants are expected

Northbound Brickell Ave traffic will be sent West on SE 7 ST. Only traffic going to Hotel Intercontinental and One Miami will be allowed over the Brickell Bridge.

Brickell Ave should reopen by 7:30pm

 

For more information and details go to

www.mercedesbenzcorporaterun.com

 

CINCO DE MAYO 2013 May 4 & 5

The Second Annual Brickell Fest Cinco de Mayo returns for a TWO-DAY celebration and one crazy fiesta!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo the right way with 22,000 square feet of entertainment!
Enjoy a weekend of Mexican mayhem with music, margaritas, mariachis, mini-wrestlers, a mechanical bull, Mexican bites, & mucho mas!!!

 

www.brickellfestival.com

Events and Performances

 

 

 

 
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee (playoffs)

APR 21- 7 p.m. American Airlines Arena

For more information on playoff schedule go to

 

http://www.nba.com/heat/schedule/

 LA TRAVIATA

 

APR 20 to APR 27 Adrienne Arsht Center

 

For more information and/or to purchase tickets go to

https://www.arshtcenter.org/tickets/calendar/view.aspx?id=12118

 GO DUTCH! 2013 APRIL 26
 7pm - 11pm
FREE

 

 GO DUTCH! again this year at Miami’s largest Queen’s Day celebration with the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association, The Miami Bike Scene, and 

Grolsch Premium Lager at Grand Central Park in Downtown Miami on April 26th from 7 - 11pm. Everyone is highly encouraged to wear orange!

 

For more information go to

 

http://www.themiamibikescene.com/2013/04/2nd-annual-go-dutch-orange-bike-in.html

 ALEJANDRO SANZ 

MAY 19 American Airlines Arena

 

 

 

October - Miami Urban Events

Looking for things to do in Brickell and Coconut Grove

 

 

GROVETOBERFEST: The ultimate craft beer festival in Miami; with more than 130 beer selections available – at Peacock Park on October 13th, 2012. For more details and F.A.Q visit www.grovetoberfest.com

 

 

 

Brickell Beer Festival – Three days of beer, live music, DJ entertainment and food featuring local Brickell restaurants. On the weekend of October 5th, 6th and 7th, starting at 4pm. For further details, log on to www.brickellfestival.com

 

 

 

 

When was the last time that you enjoyed one of our local Miami attractions in the company of family and/or friends? Well, if you can’t remember, that means it is time to take advantage of Miami’s Attraction Month through all of October. Enjoy especial promotions in places such as The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, The Children’s Museum and more. Please visit this promotion’s website www.miamiattractionsmonth.com for more details on participants and special deals.

 

Festivals of Speed – Bringing to Miami a luxury lifestyle weekend featuring the world’s finest vintage and contemporary automobiles, motorcycles, watercraft, jewelry, fine art, exquisite dining experiences and more; at the Epic Hotel from October 12 – 14. Learn more at www.festivalsofspeed.com/miami

 

 

 

Hello Eric. Welcome to the Wonderland at Icon Brickell.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege to participate and bring my oldest son Luca (13)  to take your child to work day.  This event sparked an interest in my 6 year old son, Eric, who began inquiring about where I work and what I do.

Lobby in Tower 1 at Icon Brickell

I explained to him that Mommy helped people find homes in Miami and her office was in a really cool building.  I'm sure many of you can already predict his response. WHY? Why is it cool? Does Batman live there? Can I see it?


This past weekend Eric visited Icon Brickell and it was an unforgettable experience for both of us.  One of the great things about being a parent is being able to see through the eyes of your child.  In this case a 6 year old who transported us to the magical wonderland of Icon Brickell and interiors inspired by Phillipe Stark. 



His comments and expressions while staring the immense statutes all lined up at the multi-level entrance almost describe an Indiana Jones movie, "Mommy, it's so dark an shinny at the same time.  Are there Indians there?  Is there a treasure?  Can we look for the treasure?" 

Mail Room in Tower 2

Hallway leading to elevator bank - Tower 1

"Wow, how do you get to the top of the mailboxes?"

"Are the top one's for Peter Pan and other Superheroes?" 

to which I replied, they most certainly are.  

The top corner belongs to Aladdin. 

I have always found Icon Brickell to be a whimsical place for adults, but never realized what a wonderland it could be for children.  The vivid colors, bold patterns, simple yet, sleek larger than life design, entice children's creativity, playfulness and imagination.

 "Mommy the gigantic pool is like the ocean, only with trees, but without sand."

Chess Room in Tower 2

Card Room in Tower 1

Animals on black and white prints on hallway

In many regards, I was amazed to find a child's perspective and imagination so refreshing and would believe that many would even think it evokes the very feelings Stark had envisioned for Icon Brickell.  

To be able to see through the eyes of a child and appreciate the magic and sense of wonderment. To know that every last detail was noticed by a child, while with most adults go unnoticed. No questioning, no analyzing.  JUST PURE ENJOYMENT/FUN! 

Everglades - River of Grass

Location: 

Located 50 kilometers from Miami,  in the southeast portion of Florida and covers an area of around 734 sq miles.  

Fun, Facts & Figures: 

It is the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48 states.  Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and has been protected since 1947 due to its unique and fragile interdependent ecosystem, which consists of 

swamps, mangrove forest, tropical hammocks, 

vegetation, pine rockland, and wildlife. 

Designated a World Heritage Site and an international Biosphere Reserve, it sustains life to thirty-six of America's endangered or protected wildlife species, many of which have been pushed out of urban areas throughout Florida.

Although most of us generally equate the infinite swampy waterways to alligators, the Park is also home to more than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, 50 species of reptiles and 1,000 species of plants. 

It is the only place in the world where the American Alligator and the American Crocodile co-exist in the wild. 

Another way South Florida's

urban areas benefit from 

the Everglades is by its 

contribution to our water 

supply. The water supply 

in the Everglades is derived 

mostly from rainfall and functions 

as a flood control and provides 

a natural filtering system 

for all of southern Florida.

 
Activities: 


Tram tours, hiking trails, canoeing, kayaking, biking, eco-tours, photography workshop and airboat tours.


When to go:

Open 365 days a year, but hot climates and pesky mosquitoes make December - March the busiest season.  A good alternative for the summer months is the audio car tour.  While in the comfort of your air conditioned vehicle you can follow along an audio program downloadable to itunes or windows media player and tour the Park. Below is a link with more information on the Everglades by car audio tour.
Everglades Park Audio Car Tour link 


More information on Everglades National Park:
Planing Your Visit to Everlades National Park 


Other related sites of interest:
Everglades Restoration Plan