Category: Business
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The vibrant atmosphere of Miami Beach is enhanced by the timeless allure of its Art Deco architecture. Pastel hues and avant-garde shapes give the city a unique and iconic character. This month marks the 42nd anniversary of the Miami Beach Architectural District’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Often referred to as the Art Deco District, this area was recognized as the nation’s first urban 20th-century Historic District, which marked a pivotal moment in our city’s preservation efforts.
Buildings constructed in the 1920s were designed in the Mediterranean Revival Style with bell towers, archways, awnings, and balconies among their standout attributes. On the other hand, those budlings constructed in the 1930s were designed in more traditional Art Deco fashion, with curved edges and corners, neon lighting, round porthole windows, and other distinctive quirks.
Led by passionate advocate Barbara Baer Capitman, the district’s historic recognition faced substantial opposition. Despite all of it, on May 14th, 1979, over 800 buildings were listed, affirming our area’s national significance. This milestone was not merely symbolic, providing tangible benefits for property owners, including tax advantages and low-interest loans for restoration work down the line.
As we reflect on this historic occasion, let’s remember the dedication of those who fought for preservation. Let’s honor their legacy by continuing to cherish and protect the Miami Beach Art Deco District for generations to come. The maintenance of Art Deco is not solely the outcome of government efforts through zoning regulations, but also stems from individuals’ commitments within the community to preserve the area’s authenticity.
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Be Kind to Animals Month takes place in May. Animal cruelty comes in many forms and disguises. Some examples include factory farming and lab testing, as well as a pet owner’s utter disregard for his or her animal companion. What Be Kind to Animals Month is all about is recognizing the need of treating all animals with respect, regardless of their appearance. Its goal is to raise public awareness about the importance of treating animals with respect and safeguarding their natural habitats and environments. This month and always, let’s show compassion to all creatures great and little. In honor of Be Kind to Animals Month, we are featuring the Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center.
Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center stands as a beacon of compassionate care for our beloved pets. Founded by Dr. Robert Prosek, a dedicated veterinarian with a passion for cardiology, this boutique veterinary clinic embodies a commitment to excellence in pet healthcare.
Dr. Robert Prosek, the visionary owner of Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center, is Miami-Dade’s only animal cardiologist. Dr. Prosek leads a superb cardiology team that visits the office twice monthly, ensuring pets receive specialized care tailored to their cardiac needs.
Dr. Heidi Foster is another valued member of the clinic’s veterinary team. Raised in Fort Lauderdale by a family of medical professionals, Dr. Foster’s journey to veterinary medicine was inspired by a childhood surrounded by the power of healing each other – not just humans. Dr Foster attended the prestigious University of Florida Veterinary School after completing her undergraduate studies at Cornell University. She has been a valued member of the South Florida community since 2006.
What sets Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center apart is its unwavering dedication to fostering personal connections with both clients and their furry companions.
“What I value most about operating a small business in Miami Beach is the opportunity to foster a personal connection with clients and pets, which is reminiscent of a family environment, ” emphasizes Dr. Heidi.
In addition to providing exceptional care within the clinic walls, Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center extends its reach to the community during the quieter summer months. House calls become a staple offering, ensuring that pets receive the care they need in the comfort of their own homes. Additionally, the clinic provides compassionate end-of-life and hospice care year-round, offering solace to families facing difficult decisions.
The business now announces their expansion plans to include a 24-hour Emergency hospital focused on cardiology in South Miami. Spearheaded by Dr. Prosek, this expansion signifies the clinic’s commitment to advancing pet healthcare in the region.
As summer approaches, Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center shares valuable tips to ensure the well-being of our furry friends:
- Heat Stroke Awareness: With soaring temperatures, pets are susceptible to heat stroke. Recognize symptoms such as excess panting, restlessness, and pale gums. Preventative measures include providing shade and adequate hydration.
- Beach Visits: Supervise pets during beach outings to prevent sand impaction and jellyfish bites. Beware of toxicities from spoiled food and excessive saltwater intake.
- Travel Precautions: Prepare pets for travel with up-to-date vaccinations and necessary tests. Visit the USDA website for travel requirements and guidelines.
- Ectoparasite Prevention: Protect pets from mosquitos, fleas, and ticks with preventive measures to avoid diseases like heartworm and dermatitis.
Together, let’s ensure our furry companions enjoy a safe and joyful summer season. With Miami Beach Animal Wellness and Specialty Center, pet owners can rest assured that their beloved companions are in capable and caring hands. For additional information, please visit: https://miamibeachpetdoctors.com/
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An engineering feat transformed our island paradise, bridging the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, just north of Bal Harbour. The inlet reshaped Miami Beach into the mesmerizing destination we know and love today, facilitating seamless maritime navigation and enhancing Miami Beach’s appeal.
The name “Baker’s Haulover” is shrouded in mystery. Folklore suggests it is named after a man named Baker who crossed from the bay to the ocean and back at a point that was shallow enough to “haul over” his boat.
Carved in 1925, the inlet stands as the only passage between Government Cut and Port Everglades. This crucial waterway, notorious for its challenging conditions due to shoaling and strong currents, highlights the importance of adept seamanship and local knowledge for safe passage.
Beyond its role in maritime navigation, Haulover Cut has become a focal point for community and culture. The adjacent jetty offers a scenic vista, where visitors can marvel at the vastness of the Atlantic and observe the bustling activity of marine vessels. Beneath the waves, the Haulover Inlet sandbar emerges as a coveted spot, attracting both tourists and locals alike to anchor.
As we mark the anniversary of this landmark’s opening during April 1925, we celebrate the transformation it brought to Miami Beach, the adventurous spirit it embodies and cherish the rich heritage and allure of Haulover Cut, a testament to the island’s dynamic evolution and its connection to the seamanship.
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As we celebrate Earth Day and embrace the spirit of sustainability throughout April, it is important to cherish the profound impact of small, individual actions. In the U.S., food is the single most common material sent to landfills, comprising a substantial amount of municipal solid waste.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the total municipal solid waste landfilled in 2018 was alarmingly high, underscoring the urgency for sustainable solutions (“EPA Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: 2018 Fact Sheet”).
Compost for Life, a Miami-based compost community initiative, spearheaded by Francisco Torres, shares this sentiment. The initiative aims to unite residents of Miami Beach and beyond in a shared mission of living a life that supports efforts to maintain and enhance a healthy planet. Serving Miami-Dade County and Broward County, this innovative business simplifies nature’s way of recycling and offers one of the most powerful actions we can take to reduce trash in landfills, address climate change, and build healthy soil in an easy and accessible manner.
Participating residents simply deposit their food scraps in a Compost for Life pink bucket, and they handle all the rest. Every six (6) months, a portion of the collected decomposed food scraps and yard trimmings are returned as nutrient and carbon-rich soil to the community for individual use or for donation to local farmers and community gardens to improve soil quality, support plant growth, and build resilience in our local ecosystems.
Speaking at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Conference in March, Francisco emphasized the transformative potential of composting: “Food scraps should not be seen as waste; food scraps can transform and regenerate our planet’s soil.”
“At Compost for Life, we believe composting food scraps is one of the best things we can do for our planet,” says Francisco Torres. “Through our daily habits, we decide if we make food scraps waste or if we compost it by putting it in the pink. Our community impact, through composting, is directly linked to the volume; imagine how much change can be made if composting was a county-wide initiative,” explained Francisco. He further highlighted the astounding biodiversity fostered by composting: “In one handful of finished compost, there is an estimate of 50 billion microorganisms; there is more life in a handful than human beings on our planet.”
Additionally, Compost for Life has established partnerships with renowned establishments such as 1 Hotel, Miami Beach Convention Center, Milam’s Market, Julias & Henry, The Continuum, and The Frost Museum. These collaborations strengthen the initiative’s reach and impact in promoting sustainable practices. Glass for Life, the sister organization, repurposes old glass bottles into new materials, providing a sustainable solution that reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Currently, Compost for Life serves a diverse clientele, including residents, businesses, and commercial buildings committed to embracing eco-friendly practices. Join a community making a positive environmental impact that fosters a sustainable future for our community and beyond by visiting the Compost For Life website.
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‘Be kind to your mind’ is the mantra this April. Earth Month is the annual celebration of the multifaceted power of sustainability and environmentally conscious living in our community. Nestled amidst the rambunctious and spirited energy of Collins Avenue, Blue Lavender Café & Market embraces this intonation and offers a nook of peace and serenity serving sustainably sourced food and products produced to limit negative impact on our health, environment, and future. The curated menu, décor, and ambience deviate from what most envision about Miami Beach.
Owners, Veronica and Juan D’Onofrio, are a married couple with deep roots in the city, which led to the creation of this recently launched business concept in January 2024. The D’Onofrios have owned and managed the adjacent hotel, Nassau Suites, since immigrating from Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2002. After raising kids and navigating the business landscape in Miami, the couple took a leap of faith, while redeveloping Nassau Suites, and transformed a parking garage into an inviting and open café.
Juan, an accomplished Miami Beach hotelier, humbly expressed how the couple diligently and intentionally visualized the Blue Lavender space. “We are brewing healthy emotions”, is painted on the walls of the café, setting the tone of the ambience and café character. The menu features an array of healthy and tasty options, including a majority of gluten free selections. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Juan is passionate about promoting nutrition and conscious healthy eating and appreciation for wholesome and delicious food. The D’Onofrios are proud to serve the community, whether it is residents or locals stumbling upon the café during errands or a walk or run, visitors looking for a light bite and respite, or tourist seeking something special that fits their dietary restrictions.
“The next generation is very health conscious, as are families”, Juan said. “Our kids eat everything on our menu; they could not tell the difference between a regular pasta and gluten free or vegan pasta. They just like yummy food.” We are ‘Happytarians’ – people who embrace healthy living, thinking and eating and appreciate and advocate for clean food for our family, neighbors and community – which no doubt inspires the Blue Lavender’s mission, vision and values.
Health and sustainability are inseparable. By providing a varied menu of healthy and clean culinary options, Blue Lavender offers a natural approach to nourish your mind and body without giving up taste. Specialty items include sugar free cookies with monk fruit. Popular all-day items include cold pressed juices, pastries, and scrumptious zucchini bread. Blue Lavender’s all day dining is robust with appetizing organic, natural and green choices, from proteins, salads, grains, teas, and spirited libations.
“The City of Miami Beach is thrilled to welcome and champion businesses with distinctive missions that distinguish them from the rest. Blue Lavender’s dedication to accommodating individuals with dietary restrictions is commendable. We take pride in being an inclusive city, offering something special for everyone,” says Rickelle Williams, Assistant City Manager.
The café brews healthy emotions with outdoor and indoor, seating that sets a light, airy and peaceful atmosphere that casts a warm and welcoming glow upon the curated space. In the heart café stands a living centerpiece, a striking tree with trunk, grounding the space and providing a visual ode to the ethos of sustainability. For delicious treats, nourishing food, and stellar service, visit Blue Lavender Café & Market located at 1414 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 where they are keeping it healthy, tasty and simple.
"Celebrate" From Pitch to Global Stage: eMerge Americas' Black History Month Event
The Miami Beach Economic Development Team attended eMerge Americas' "Celebrate" event, a part of their DEI series commemorating Black History Month. Proudly sponsored by the City of Miami Beach, the event highlighted the city's commitment to fostering inclusivity and innovation in the tech sector.
The event featured pitches by five black-owned startups, showcasing their entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas. Among these presentations was the winning pitch by JEM, a revolutionary social app focused on enhancing community engagement. JEM, short for Join, Engage, Meet, offers users a platform to connect with like-minded individuals, organize events, and foster meaningful interactions.
Notably, the winning startup secured the last spot in eMerge Americas' Global Startup Accelerator + Showcase during the April conference, further propelling their journey to success. Miami Beach's support for events like eMerge Americas underscores its role as a supportive and inclusive tech hub, championing diversity and innovation in the industry. Stay tuned for more updates as Miami Beach continues to empower startups and drive technological advancement forward.
For more information, or to attend the next eMerge DEI series event, click here.
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Over one century ago, on March 26, 1915, Miami Beach was originally incorporated as a town with only 33 registered voters. The humble beginnings of one of America’s most popular cities included plans for mass coconut and fruit farming in the late 1880s and early 1900s. The landscape eventually proved unsuitable for this task, leading investors to envision Miami Beach as a place of unbridled potential for seaside resorts, casinos, and other tourist attractions.
In 1912, Ocean Beach Realty Company was established by the Lummus Brothers, Avery Smith, and others. Located on the northeast corner of Ocean Drive and Biscayne Street, the Company’s wood-frame office became the location of Miami Beach’s incorporation as a town, in response to requests from majority landowners to formally recognize the area.
Miami Beach quickly outgrew township status and was re-incorporated as a city in 1917, but the original incorporation marked the beginning of its transformation into the vibrant, lively community we know today.
Four Countries & Twenty-Seven Years: Bella Cuba - Authentic Cuban Food for the Diverse Palate of Miami Beach.
This Women’s History Month, we highlight Larisa Jimenez, owner of Bella Cuba in South Beach, Miami Beach. Women’s History Month is an annual observance in March to recognize the accomplishments, contributions, and historical significance of women. This month-long celebration is an opportunity to highlight the achievements of women across various fields, from science and politics to arts and business, and to inspire future generations. Women’s History Month also encourages reflection on the progress made in gender equality while acknowledging the ongoing challenges women face worldwide.
Larisa Jimenez planned to be a doctor. When she applied to the Ukrainian University of Zaporizhzhia, pre-med program, the university suggested that she study pharmaceuticals until a position opened. However, after a few chemistry classes, Larisa took some business classes, switched her major to business, and her life changed. In 1985, Larisa met Carlos Jimenez, in one of her classes and fell in love. They married, moved to Cuba, and became restauranteurs. The couple then traveled the world (first Dublin, Ireland, and then Paris, France) improved their culinary skills, and opened the first Bella Cuba in 1996.
In 2001, while on vacation in Miami Beach, Larisa became so enamored by the City’s diversity, culture, and weather, they moved Bella Cuba to Miami Beach in 2005. Though the community had its fair share of Cuban restaurants, Larisa knew Bella Cuba would be well received. Nineteen years later, Bella Cuba continues to be a resident and tourist favorite, in South Beach, and is thriving more than ever.
“We are a traditional Cuban restaurant in the heart of Miami Beach, and a pleased neighbor of the world-famous Lincoln Road and Miami Beach Convention Center” says Larisa. “We proudly create delicious innovative recipes, with vibrant fresh flavors, and offer an unforgettable, authentic Cuban gastronomic experience.” Bella Cuba is best known for delicious roasted pork and chicken and rice signature dishes, which include tomatoes, avocados, and herbs, all grown on the Jimenez farm, in Homestead, Florida.
Bella Cuba is quaint, authentic, and greets local, regional, national, and international guests with exceptional cultural décor, art, photos, fabrics, and style that compliments the multiethnic cuisine. Larisa shared that they are pleased with the number of first-time and returning international visitors from France, Germany, and Brazil. Bella Cuba’s global approach has garnered industry accolades as well, including first-place award for the Best Traditional Cuban Sandwich at the Calle 8 Festival Cuban Sandwich Smackdown.
“Everything about Bella Cuba is special! Customer service, cocktails, design, and the variety of Cuban offerings. “Our server was courteous and attentive; our food was delicious; and we will be going back,” shares a guest from Atlanta. “If you want authentic Cuban food, [Bella Cuba] is the place to be."
Larisa, together with Carlos and her family, remain committed to Miami Beach and providing extraordinary and memorable Cuban culinary dining experiences. Bella Cuba offers catering and delivery.
For additional information, visit https://www.bellacubamiamibeach.com/