Category Archives: Business

Business, Cars, Maintenance

How to Find a Good Mechanic

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Finding a good mechanic is a problem for many people who are desperate for professional repairs on their vehicle. In most cases, people find the nearest mechanic shop which is not necessarily the least expensive or best choice to make. It is more important to save time, and more importantly a good bit of money, by taking the time to research and find the best mechanic you can.

The first step in finding a good mechanic is asking family and friends if they have a good recommendation for one they might have used. People are relatively honest most of the time, and they may offer insight on mechanics they have experience with in order to save you from a bad experience or lead you to a good experience. If you are new in town and not familiar with the area, ask some people in your neighborhood who they have used, mentioned Harry that runs an auto repair center in Miami or check with some friends at work to see if they have a referral. If you work in a large office environment, you are likely to find someone who has used a good mechanic. car mechanic talking to costumerChoosing a mechanic who has experience working on your type of vehicle is necessary. Being familiar with knowing how the parts in your car work and fit together properly is a must. When you call a mechanic, ask about which type of cars they work on the majority of the time.

The Better Business Bureau can search for any complaints filed on the mechanic you are considering. If they do find the mechanic has complaints, there is a pretty good chance you will experience problems too, and you would be better off going elsewhere.

One of the first things you want to find out when you walk into the shop is if the mechanic is certified through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. If so, you can feel confident that the shop operates with high standards. Ask what type of warranty available on the repairs performed on your vehicle. A good mechanic shop will warranty their work for at least 90 days. When someone offers a 30 day only warranty, you should feel skeptical. The 30 day time limit will only be enough to make sure you are not having major problems. Make certain the warranty covers the labor and parts.

Find out from the mechanic what the shop hours are, if you get a loaner car until your car is ready and if the shop is close to a train or bus station for transportation needs. Are the prices displayed where customers can view them? A good mechanic shop will have this information out for viewing so that the customers will not be confused. If you do not see this, be wary! Check with the mechanic to see if you can watch while they perform the repairs on your vehicle. If there is nothing to hide, there is no reason you should not stick around and assess how the mechanics work.

Once you gather all this information, you should feel pretty confident about making a decision on which mechanic is best for you. Take your time and find someone you can trust and rely on at all times.

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Business, Business Applications

How to Become an Independent Used Car Dealer in Miami, Florida

Becoming a used car dealer presents a wealth of opportunity for a small business. This opportunity can give an individual the independence to sell cars a source of income. According to the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, used cars represent the bulk of retail car sales in recent years. In order to make a living as an independent used car dealer, it is important to obtain a dealer license. Any person who hopes to sell three or more cars within a 12-month period must apply for a dealer license under Florida state law. Once you have successfully completed the application process, you will receive an independent dealer license and have the foundation in place to run a successful used car dealership.

License Types

In order to sell motor vehicles in Florida, one must obtain a current Florida State Auto Dealers License. Because there are different types of motor vehicle licenses, you must decide early what type of motor dealer license you wish to obtain. Each type of motor vehicle dealer has a separate license to ensure that they comply with local and state guidelines. In Florida, there are four different motor vehicle license types:

Independent dealer (retail and wholesale)

Franchise dealer (new cars from manufacture and used cars)

wholesale dealer (buy and sell  to other licensed dealers)

Auctions (sell through bidding)

In order to sell used cars to the public in Miami, Florida, you should apply for an independent dealer license. As an independent dealer, you will be licensed to sell used cars to the public. As an independent car dealer, you will be able to sell used cars through both retail and wholesale transactions. Any person who wants to obtain the license will need to complete the full application process for a used car dealer’s license in the respective regional location. In Miami, Florida, dealer’s license requirements are designed to verify that you are compliant with Florida auto dealership laws. There are several steps that you must take before starting and submitting an independent license application.

Zoning and Dealership Requirements

Individuals must first visit the office of their regional compliance officer at their local Florida Division of Motor Services office. At the compliance office, individuals must obtain a copy of the guidelines and inspection checklist for choosing the right car sale dealership location lot. The state of Florida requires that a business owner has an approved dealership location site before applying for the license. This is to ensure that serious individuals have taken the steps to begin a viable used car dealership.

There are important considerations to keep in mind while choosing the location of your state-compliant car dealership business. The first step in choosing the location is to contact the Zoning and Permits Department in your area to find the most current zoning requirements for your zip code. These zoning and permit requirements may change each year, so it is important to obtain the most current information directly from the office. The next step is to scout out property that is zoned for business use according to regulations. It is important to make sure that your property is appropriate as a retail or dealership location in your area. Any location in which you sell cars must meet the state Used Car Dealer Retail License Lot Zoning requirements, as outlined by the zoning and permits office.

Once you have located the property, the next step is to take pictures of the property in which you plan to run your auto dealership. These pictures are required with your application for licensing. Be sure to include photos of the landscape and property, office buildings, and client space, as well as any other related real estate documents you may have. Once you have the proper location, documentation, and related materials, you may submit your documents and processing fees to the Regional Compliance Officer for examination. The Regional Compliance Officer will then schedule a time for inspecting the dealership location in which you intend to run your business. Once the dealership location site has been approved, you are ready to begin your application for the independent dealer’s license.

Licensing and Application Requirements

Once the Regional Compliance Officer has approved your business location, you may proceed with the application process. You may obtain an application form online from the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website, or you may visit the state regional office to obtain a printed form. You will also need to locate a state-approved car dealership training school and sign up for required dealer training. The state of Florida requires that independent dealer license applicants complete 16 hours of dealer training prior to selling used cars in Florida. You may obtain a list of approved dealer training schools from the Florida DMV website or the regional office. Once you have attended your training sessions, you should obtain a certificate of completion in order to submit your final application.

You will also need to meet certain monetary requirements before completing your application. Each applicant must have an application fee of $300 per dealership location, a processing fee for fingerprints, and a background check. You can obtain standard fingerprint cards from the DMV office and complete fingerprints at a Florida police station. In order to begin the business, each applicant must also obtain an original surety bond from a bonding company or the equivalent letter of credit from a Florida-based bank. Each bond or letter of credit must be signed along with the cover sheet you can obtain from the DMV regional office or website. The vehicle dealer bonds are meant to ensure that you are financially prepared to take on the scale of a car dealership business.

There are also important legal requirements that you must fulfill in order to submit your application for an independent dealer’s license. In order to run a used car business in Florida, you must register your car dealership with the Florida Divisions of Corporations as either a Limited Liability Company, Corporation, or Partnership. You may check with the Florida Department of State website to help determine which type of business entity you need. You must also register a DBA or fictitious business name along with your business information. All registration fees for the business entity you choose must be paid to the Florida Department of State. You must then save copies of your registration in order to submit your final dealer application.

In compliance with tax requirements, each applicant must obtain a federal employer identification number (EIN) and a Florida state sales tax ID number. You may visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website or call the toll-free number to obtain a free federal EIN. You can obtain the free Florida state sales-tax ID number by visiting the Federal Department of Revenue website and applying online. Save copies of both number confirmations in order to submit with your final application.

The state of Florida also requires applicants to have proof of business insurance before submitting the car dealer license application. In order to sell used cars, an independent car dealer must have garage liability insurance, a bond, or a letter of credit.

Application Submission and License Renewal

Once you have fulfilled all requirements and have obtained documentation, you may fill out the required application form. You can obtain the form online from the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles website or your regional office. Submit the completed application, fees, and supporting materials to the address provided. While the application process may seem thorough and time-consuming, it is important to meet all license requirements before attempting to sell used cars. Failure to obtain a license before starting your dealership can result in a second-degree misdemeanor charge. Unlicensed sellers may also be found liable under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and receive fines for violation along with circuit court injunctions. It is better to complete the application process the first time and sign up for the required annual renewal. When renewing your license, include the yearly renewal fee and proof of eight hours of annual dealer training from a state-approved training school.

Restaurants

3 Reasons To Try A Miami Food Tour

No.1 – Know where the best local restaurants is!

One of the best ways to explore Miami is to go on a Miami Food Tour, it would be much more enjoyable if you know where you can enjoy good food in Miami, no matter it is Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner!

“Awesome experience”

This was my first trip to South Beach so on my first day I decided to do the South Beach dinner tour. Tour guide – Lani – was very friendly and had a vast knowledge of the South Beach area and it’s various cuisines and history. We stopped at several locations that I would not have known about without this tour. We left promptly at 6:00 pm and each location was ready with our food or drinks. This seems to be a very well-run and organized tour company. I will definitely recommend this tour to my friends, family and coworkers!!

No.2 – Learn About The Good Food & Culinary History

There’s often a lot of things we don’t know about the food we eat and how it becomes food on the table, Food Tours will enrich your knowledge about its local food culture as well as getting to know it’s significant history of the past.

Really great architectural/food tour of Miami Beach, awesome way to get introduced to the history and culture of Miami Beach and I highly recommend you start a trip to South Beach here to get the lay of the land. As a part-time local, wanted to take a friend who was down here working cause he wasn’t a beach guy and didn’t want to just sit and drink all day.

I learned a whole lot of things about the history and development of the city that I had no idea about, and the selection of restaurants on the tour was a perfect representation of what (in my experience) locals eat every day.

It was a fun mix of people on our tour , ranging from a woman who’s friend was taking her out for her 50th Bday, to a cool family with a daughter in a local culinary school- and everyone, across the board, had a great time.

No.3 – Enjoy The Good Food with Your Family!

Food is something that brings comfort and joy! You get to enjoy good food with your family or loved one. Miami food tours are not just going around and eating food as you go, it’s about the great taste of Miami!

“Tasty and Fun, All in One!”

This is definitely something anyone who is visiting Miami should try. During a solo trip to Miami, I went on a tour June 16, 2012 with tour guide Leilani. We ventured into a lot of places I had never noticed or would not bother to try while in town. The tour guide also had ALOT of knowledge, not just on Miami but a lot of the food we tried. She knew history, taste, recipes, you name it. She also brought us to a few spots that, even this being my second trip to Miami, I had no clue were so important to pop or American culture. A lot of the food was tasty; there were few (maybe two out of maybe ten spots visited) that were awful. Tour guide also made me feel very welcome being I was the only person in the group without a friend. Be aware, it’s a lot of walking in the hot sun so if you can’t do that, please second guess this tour. Otherwise, I would definitely recommend it. It was well worth it.

Miami food tours are offered with very affordable rates, just in case you are coming to Miami, be sure to check out the local Miami Food Tour packages. You’ll be amazed by what you will learn in the tour! Be Adventurous to try out what’s the best in Miami! Enjoy!

Business, Community, Events, Miami, News and Society

New Art Lounge Event Space in Downtown

McCormick Place, one of Downtown Miami’s original buildings, is opening its doors as an art lounge event space. The 1924 building, once a United States Customs Warehouse, will now be the central hub for art in Downtown, serving as gallery, event and studio space. The venue features indoor and outdoor space for cocktail receptions, parties, live shows, performances and more, managed by the team of Influence Communications.IC - Front

The grand opening event, which takes place during Downtown Development Authority’s DWNTWN Art Days in partnership with the Miami City Ballet, will feature art, live music, DJ Pabel Lima, performances by Circ X, Life is Art, food trucks, specialty lighting by Redefined and exotic vehicles such as the Gamson inspired Fisker car. With an expected attendance of 400-500 guests, the September 7th event promises to kick-off Miami’s event season with an artistic explosion.

The venue features exterior murals by established South Florida artists Stephen Gamson and Eleazar Delgado as well as a classic mural by students at Miami International University of Art & Design, who collectively contributed over 100 hours, creating  a piece that showcases Miami’s attractions and night life.

Known for his bold colors and iconic symbols, Gamson’s piece, At the Table with a Flower, prominently hangs on the south façade of the building, visible from major expressways and streets. Eleazar Delgado, whose work pays homage to Miami’s history, created a rooftop centerpiece for the structure, highlighting and complimenting McCormick Place and the Miami skyline.

What: Grand opening of McCormick Place / Miami City Ballet Season Opening Party

When: September 7th, 2012, 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Where: McCormick Place

111 SW 3rd Street

Miami, FL 33130

Who: Art & Culture Enthusiasts

About McCormick Place

The original building, constructed in 1924, was first a US Customs Warehouse serving as storage of confiscated goods and look-out post for the nefarious characters coming into Miami via the Biscayne Bay and the Miami River. The property was purchased in 1970 by Edward J McCormick, Sr. and dedicated to his father, Dr. James McCormick. Now, three generations later, Sean McCormick is not only reviving this venue but the Downtown area, creating the epicenter for the cultural crossroads of Miami. McCormick Place is a vibrant production based event space featuring various well known artists

Business

Let a Business Coach Help You Get Started Right

It seems that the current economic situation has discouraged many people from taking the first steps to starting a new business. Don’t let yourself fall into that category. There is still plenty of opportunity out there. If you have a good idea for a new business and you have the drive and motivation to make it happen then don’t waste valuable time waiting for an ideal time to begin. The best time to start a small business is right now.

Perhaps you have heard statistics about failed start-ups that make you a little wary to wade into the entrepreneurial waters. It has been said that successfully starting a new business requires three things: a good idea, motivation, and business know-how. Many people let doubts or concerns with one or all of these three things prevent them from starting their dream business and enjoying the career they truly want. It is normal to have doubts but that shouldn’t stop you because any or all of these concerns can be quelled with the help of a business coach. Whether you’re looking for a business coach in Seattle, Miami, New York or anywhere in between, chances are good that you can find the help you need to make your business successful. If you haven’t previously considered the help of a business coach for your new business, here are some things to keep in mind.

Idea

Success with a new business all starts with a good idea and a business coach can provide invaluable assistance in helping you polish and sharpen your idea. It is helpful to get the reaction from a professional with business experience because it often provides more realistic feedback than the kindly response you will likely get from friends and family. A business coach will provide constructive criticism right from the beginning. It is much easier to keep things on track if you start on track in the first place.

Motivation

Starting a business is not easy work. That isn’t a secret but even if you acknowledge that from the outset it is likely that you will become discouraged at some point in the process. It is extremely helpful to have a business coach at your side to help you move through the bumps and bruises as quickly as possible. A business coach will have experienced many of the same things first hand so they will understand the challenges you are going through. It is also important to have the support of someone else who is as committed to your success as you are. As a business coach, it is their job to help you see the success you seek.

Business Expertise

The best way to learn how to do something is to do it. A business coach will have experience in a process that is probably a new one for you. They know the steps and the potential pitfalls because they’ve seen them before. A good business coach works hard to be informed on the current business landscape so they will be able to guide you through your specific industry with more insight than you could possibly have on your won. In addition, one of the biggest advantages of hiring a business coach is access to their vast business network. They have likely spent most of their lives working with start-ups or creating their own so they will probably know people in many career fields. So even if they don’t know the answer to one of your specific problems, they probably know someone that does.

Curtis Jeffs is a freelance writer for Noomii.com specializes in coaching of all types; including business, career, and life.

Business, Hotels

The Top Boutique Hotels and Sites of Interest in Miami

With its tropical flair, vibrant Caribbean culture and world-class beaches, Miami is one of the world’s best destinations for a leisurely and fun holiday. Holidaymakers have a bevy of choices when it comes to boutique hotels in this city. From chic to luxurious, Miami’s boutique hotels offer something for everyone. In addition, many of these hotels offer close proximity to the city’s wide variety of museums, galleries, parks, beaches and other attractions.

Delano Hotel

One of the top boutique hotels Miami has to offer is the Delano Hotel. Renowned for its relaxing atmosphere and prime location on the beautiful South Beach, the Delano Hotel boasts luxurious rooms and world-class guest service alongside easy access to some of the world’s greatest beaches and seaside views. For holidaymakers looking for leisure and luxury, the Delano Hotel is just the place to be.

Beacon Hotel South Beach

Stylish and sophisticated, the Beacon Hotel South Beach affords 75 comfortable guests rooms as well as top-notch service. Amenities include excellent restaurants, a 24-hour front desk and several meeting rooms. Located just steps from the beautiful Lummus Park and South Florida’s gorgeous beaches, the Beacon Hotel South Beach enjoys one of the best locations in the city.

Blue Moon Hotel

A haven for leisure and relaxation, the Blue Moon Hotel is one of the best Miami has to offer. With its spacious rooms and distinct Mediterranean flair, the Blue Moon Hotels seamlessly blends luxury, elegance and professional guest services. Amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, laundry service and on-site spa services.

 

Winter Haven Hotel

The historic Winter Haven hotel offers a mix of luxury and tranquillity alongside its own unique charm. Mere steps from Lummus Park and Miami’s famed beaches, the hotel’s 71 nautical-themed rooms offer wireless Internet access, air conditioning and premium bedding. Its rooftop sundeck, the perfect place to relax, boasts incredible oceanfront views as well.

Setai

Modern and luxurious, the Setai boasts comfortable rooms and top-notch amenities. With three pools, a world-class restaurant and a cutting-edge spa, the Setai is among the most posh and sophisticated in the Miami region.

Miami’s wealth of boutique hotels offer close proximity to its wide range of attractions and sites of interest. The city offers everything from fascinating galleries to unique neighbourhoods to stunning beaches to discover.

The city is best known for its gorgeous beaches, all of which offer excellent recreational and leisure opportunities like swimming, sunbathing, surfing, water sports, fishing, boating and much, much more. Miami also boasts a fantastic cultural scene complete with great museums and galleries like the Lowe Art Museum, the Frost Art Museum and the beautiful Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Zoo Miami and the Miami Seaquarium are two other must-see destinations in the city. Elsewhere in Miami, holidaymakers will find leading attractions like Jungle Island, Oleta River State Recreation Park and the lively neighbourhood of Little Havana.

More information on the finest Boutique hotels Miami has to offer.

Business, Events, Miami

Book a Banquet Hall in Miami for Your Next Celebration

Miami is famed for many things, the beaches, the people, the culture and the nightlife. The city is so lively and exhilarating that just being inside can make you feel alive and ready to party all night long. Is it any wonder therefore, why booking a banquet hall here will give you the best parties ever?

The Works

Banquet halls are supposed to be the ultimate examples of luxury and grandeur when it comes to presentation, ambiance, services, food and the over-all feel that the place inspires in the guests. Plenty of banquet halls in Miami provide all of these and more, making sure that every guest who enters the establishment are never left wanting for anything.

From the drapes on the walls, to the utensils on the tables, the best banquet halls in Miami will make sure that everything will fit perfectly with your desired outcome. Every kind of event will also be accommodated and you will not be limited to any particular theme that you would want. Of course if you prefer, there can even be that special Miami spin while keeping true to your original plans.

The Atmosphere

While Miami is pretty much blanketed by the sun during the day, the night also retains that heat and passion that permeates throughout the city with the bustling population. Everywhere you look there is life, there is energy and there is zeal which tends to make any party that much more exciting.

This leaves no worries if you are picking a very dull location since even the banquet halls in the quietest spots in the city are surrounded by music and laughter. Of course, this does not mean that Miami banquet halls cannot accommodate those who a desire a more sober atmosphere for their parties. But no matter how rustic, how restrained or how temperate the feel might be the guests will still feel that tingle of energy that will make them feel good.

The Music

Miami is a city that breathes music and culture from the extremely diverse set of people and the history that is attached to it. This translates quite well to any performance that you might want which can give it a distinctive Miami taste. Even if you feel no love towards up-beat drums and fiery guitar strumming, a nice complement between Miami music and your kind of music is quite achievable.

These are just a few of the reasons why booking a banquet hall in Miami can turn your next event, into an experience.

Grand Salon Reception Hall is one of the top banquet halls in Miami, and they would like to share their experiences with hosting parties, corporate events, and wedding receptions in the Magic City.

Business, Restaurants

Nice Dining in Miami

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Throughout the U.S, Miami is a renowned sub-tropical place that has a distinctive climate. Miami is the perfect and an alluring resort for you if you want to get rid of weariness of your work and want to enjoy the sunbeams near sandy beaches. Miami provides you joie de vivre and satisfaction in a perfect way.

Miami also offers delicious cuisine and local favorites. As the 4th biggest urbanized region in the U.S., Miami is replete with cuisines that are as zingy as the local beaches.

Here is a list of Restaurants Miami which have the finest Cuban food, Latin American cuisine, Italian and Spanish foods and much more that create a hum:

Eleventh Street Diner:

Eleventh Street Diner is one of the most popular South Florida restaurants. This Restaurant Miami offers pork BBQ sandwiches; toasted Croque Monsieur and roast beef French dip hoagies which provide the enormous satisfaction. With friendly waiter and delicious foods, 11th Street Diner is one of the most popular hang outs on South Beach!

Las Vacas Gordas Parrillada:

Las Vacas Gordas Parrillada offers plenty of dishes, reasonable prices, and a zingy Brazilian atmosphere. The dainty Churrasco is a must for steak lovers. If you have a big appetite and want to taste different grilled meats, try the Parrillada Argentina. Sausages, chicken, and fresh-grilled vegetables are the other very tasty dishes. Here is a recommendation to share meal to save room for the delicious dessert special, a fired crepe filled with sweet Dulce de Leche. Families gather for a big time and wine flows freely.

Joe’s Stone Crab:

Joe’s Stone Crab is a very famous restaurant in Miami. The restaurant offers tasty stone crabs, hashed browns, seafood, chicken, spinach, coleslaw, grilled tomatoes, salad and much more. If you want to enjoy the taste of this Restaurant Miami but live far away, Joe’s ships are available for you.

The Forge:

The Forge is a wonderful eatery, which offers good food in a cozy atmosphere with excellent service. The recipes offered by this restaurant are chicken livers wrapped in bacon, langostine cocktail, spicy empanadas, mushroom & bacon pil and much more. If you are looking for the delicious taste, The Forge is recommended.

Zuma:

Zuma is the best and most sophisticated Japanese restaurant. It’s been a big draw for sports and entertainment lovers, including local girls. Some of the favorite dishes of this Japanese restaurant are hot & fresh rice with wild mushrooms; miso-marinated cod wrapped in hoba leaf; and fried crabs with mayonnaise.

Bill Gillespie is a freelance food and travel writer. He writes extensively on Miami Restaurants.

Entertainment, Miami, Restaurants, Shopping

Have a Mojito in Miami

Miami is really the American version of Rio de Janeiro, equally beachy, even more posh and with similar sunny weather to boot! Florida is a quite spectacular and tropical part of the world, with orange sunsets, picturesque Everglades (do go on an airboat ride the first chance you get and look out for gators) and a very interesting cultural mix, with a large Cuban expat community spicing things up in many ways, especially when it comes to the local cuisine. Your first night out in Miami should involve a mojito and amazing live music and dancing in Little Havana. During the day, you’ll love the neighbourhood’s art galleries and funky souvenir shops.

cc flickr licenced photo by fabiomiami

The other number one Miami thing to do, of course, is to get yourself a pair of rollerblades, and skate away along the beach boulevard: a toned and oiled body in a most minimal state of dress is obligatory. If you are not the type, people watching while indulging in chocolate sorbet is fun too (I know I belong in the latter group myself!).

What I found lovely around Miami as well, is so many people increasingly interested in a healthy lifestyle: there are plenty of eateries serving fresh, organic food, smoothies galore, and even raw food cafés springing up everywhere.

For architecture buffs Miami has some real gems to look at. Make time to stroll around Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, which has almost a thousand listed and well-preserved hotels and residential buildings  to ogle! For those with a celebrity bent, you’ll also find Gianni Versace’s mansion here, now revamped as a posh boutique hotel. If you’re on the artsy side, drop by the  Wolfsonian-FIU located in the district, which houses a library and an impressive museum dedicated to art and design, with collections of fabulous items spanning between 1885 to 1945.

Another great place to visit is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, leisurely sprawled on Biscayne Bay in Miami’s Coconut Grove district, one of the city’s oldest and full of fantastic looking homes of the rich and famous. It is lovely to finish off your day here on a sunset dinner cruise around the bay.

While Miami itself has plenty to offer, if your itinerary allows for it time-wise, do explore more of Florida if you can. Key West is a famous daytrip destination, where you can indulge in Caribbean pursuits of coral reef exploration, snorkelling, and parasailing. Another nearby attraction is the Kennedy Space Center, where you can have a look at shuttle launch pads and explore all things space-related.

Author Bio: Patricia Bieszk+ is a freelance writer and globe-trotting adventurer.So consider booking some cheap flights to the USA and visit Miami for your next holiday.

Business, Events, Miami

Miami Multicultural

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Make A Date With Multicultural Miami – Learn About The Cuban & Jewish Culture, Festivals, Architecture and Much More!

Miami is an iconic American city – a rich melting-pot of cultures and lifestyles. Here are the places to visit if you want to see some of the diverse cultures that make Miami the vibrant city that it is.

Cuban culture

When Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba, political refugees flooded into Miami seeking a new life. The cupola tower, originally built in 1925 in the style of the Giralda Tower in Seville, the building took on the office of a makeshift lighthouse over Miami Bay whilst housing the Miami News.

The newspaper went out of business in the mid-fifties and the tower lay vacant for a number of years. When Cuban refugees began arriving in Miami, the tower was reopened and served as a hub for processing refugees, offering advice and relief aid to those arriving in the US with nothing. It was then that the cupola tower was re-named Freedom Tower, and with good cause.

The prominent Cuban-American activist Jorge Mas Canosa raised the money to buy the tower in the 1990s after it had fallen into ruin for nearly 30 years. Today, the Freedom Tower is a museum and monument to the trials and tribulations of Cuban-Americans in America, their arrival in Florida and life pre- and post-Castro.

Having gotten a taste of Cuban-American at the Freedom Tower, bring yourself right up to date with a visit to Viernes Culturales. The last Friday of every month is Cultural Friday in Little Havana, and a large festival of art and culture takes over the streets in the heart of Calle Ocho. Music, art and Cuban cuisine spill onto the streets, while free walking tours departing at 7pm from the Tower Theatre my a famed local historian give you a full flavour of Cuba in Miami.

Jewish life in Florida – 250 years of immigration:

Second only to the Hispanic population of Miami is the Jewish community. The first synagogue on Miami Beach was built in 1929 on Washington Avenue, the location chosen for the fact that Jews were not at the time permitted to live north of Fifth Street.

The synagogue is now home to the Jewish Museum of Florida, which has a permanent collection that tells the story of universal immigration. The museum is also home to a number of visiting exhibits, including fine art by Jewish artists and collections of artifacts charting the history of particular parts of the Jewish immigrant community in Florida.

International festivals in Coconut Grove

The neighborhood of Coconut Grove is the oldest in Miami, with a hugely multicultural population. Hispanic, African-American and many other immigrant nations have made The Grove their home.

The Goombay Festival is staged in the month of June each year. This Caribbean Carnival is staged on Grand Avenue and celebrates the culture of immigrants from the Bahamas now naturalized in the USA. With Bahamian music, food and dancing on the streets, the tropical tree-lined avenues become a mini-Caribbean beyond the seas.

Outside of the festival, The Grove remains one of the most multicultural parts of the city. Enjoy the mixture of races and nationalities that converged in the neighborhood through your stomach – the area has Italian, Peruvian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Mediterranean, French, Italian, Argentine, Pan and good old fashioned American fare, all within a few blocks.

Distinctively Miami – MiMo architecture:

Popular since the 16th century, Biscayne Bay was the location where the Spanish galleons stopped to replenish their water tanks before crossing the Atlantic. More recently, the area around Biscayne Boulevard from 50th Terrace to 77th Street as become popular for Miami Modern Architecture – known as MiMo – a style of post-war buildings that grew up around the area.

Long-neglected and plagued by drugs and prostitution, the Boulevard was given a new lease of life in the mid 2000s  with the opening of a number of popular restaurants and bars.

Much of the original architecture has been preserved and restored. The New Yorker Boutique Hotel, for instance, has been built in the shell of a motel designed by the famed post-war architect Norman Giller.

Wherever you choose to spend your time in Miami, there’s no escaping its thriving multicultural heritage that makes the city beautiful. If you need good the best accommodation and car hire Miami has to offer there are plenty of deals online.