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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Caliga on September 08, 2012, 05:32:23 PM

Title: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 08, 2012, 05:32:23 PM
So my brother is getting married in mid-November in Turks and Caicos, and the way our flight ended up working out I'll be flying from Louisville to Miami and then to Providenciales, and the same on the way back.  However, the flight itinerary I ended up getting for the way back has an 18 hour "layover" in Miami, so I'm thinking of spending the night in Miami Beach. :cool:

Tell me what to do, where to go, where to not go, etc.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Admiral Yi on September 08, 2012, 05:37:02 PM
Too bad for you the Fighting Jew is sleeping it off in a transport plane.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 08, 2012, 05:43:51 PM
No worries... he ignores all of my posts anyway. :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: katmai on September 08, 2012, 06:00:12 PM
My mother was born there, beyond that don't know nutthin.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Admiral Yi on September 08, 2012, 06:01:17 PM
Well if I were you Cal I would go eyeball the supermodels at South Beach then wander around Little Havana.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Eddie Teach on September 08, 2012, 07:33:34 PM
Go around singing this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRhoB5V_fA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRhoB5V_fA)
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: derspiess on September 08, 2012, 08:35:09 PM
Miami Beach is probably my favorite vacation destination in the US.  The Art Deco district has lots of cool boutique hotels, good restaurants, and bars.  I'll post my specific recommendations later when I'm at a computer.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 08, 2012, 08:42:04 PM
Quote from: derspiess on September 08, 2012, 08:35:09 PM
Miami Beach is probably my favorite vacation destination in the US.  The Art Deco district has lots of cool boutique hotels, good restaurants, and bars.  I'll post my specific recommendations later when I'm at a computer.
Cool. :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: derspiess on September 10, 2012, 09:43:38 AM
So this is the first time I'm back at a PC.  Blame my kids for keeping me busy all weekend.  Kinda surprised you didn't already get a bunch of replies on this.

Anywho, if you have any way to arrange to stay an extra day or two there I would suggest you do so.  But with 18 hours I wouldn't bother doing anything in downtown Miami.  It has some nice areas but Miami Beach (particularly South Beach) is so much nicer.

Stay in one of the boutique hotels in South Beach.  The only one I've stayed in is The Kent (we've stayed there 3 times so obviously we like it), but there are several nice ones to choose from. 

For any night activity, just walk along Ocean Drive and you'll find a nice bar (I like the Clevelander) or place to eat (Caffe Milano has decent Italian food, and one place, I think Avalon, has good seafood.  Their paella was great).  There is a really good gelato place called Lecca-Lecca.

There is plenty to do & see a little further up in central/North Miami Beach as well, but it's more spread out.  North Miami Beach/Bal Harbour is more upscale.

We always naturally gravitate towards "Little B.A." (Buenos Aires) up around 73rd Street, where they have some nice little Argie steakhouses, a couple really nice Argie bakeries, and *the* place for Argie pizza/comfort food: Manolo (which is most famous for its churros).  New Campo Argentino has good steaks.

That's about all I can think of for now. 
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 12:53:26 PM
Thanks. :cool:

Unfortunately Princesca can't really take more time off from work so can't do an extra day... but if we seem to like the area enough I'm sure we will be back at some point.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 03:05:40 PM
I checked out your hotel, spiess, and while it looks cute Princesca won't agree to it because it has multiple entries on some bedbug registry site and she's terrified of getting bedbugs for some odd reason. :Embarrass:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: garbon on September 10, 2012, 03:08:58 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 03:05:40 PM
I checked out your hotel, spiess, and while it looks cute Princesca won't agree to it because it has multiple entries on some bedbug registry site and she's terrified of getting bedbugs for some odd reason. :Embarrass:

Bedbugs are pretty terrible to get.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 03:13:37 PM
I think her fear is because my brother got them once after he came back from a business trip to Las Vegas.  He tried multiple times to get rid of them and finally just gave up and literally moved to a different apartment (for a couple of other reasons, too, but mainly for that reason).

I travel a fair bit and have never gotten them, but I keep my clothes in a zipped-up bag away from the bed and immediately put dirty laundry into said bag in a different compartment.  My understanding is that they don't live on you like lice, so it seems as long as you keep your luggage away from where they live, you're clear... right? :hmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: garbon on September 10, 2012, 03:15:42 PM
Sure but bed bugs can get be found on all types of furniture - including in wood.

Actually quick search says it isn't uncommon to find them in carpet during the day.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: derspiess on September 10, 2012, 03:18:59 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 03:05:40 PM
I checked out your hotel, spiess, and while it looks cute Princesca won't agree to it because it has multiple entries on some bedbug registry site and she's terrified of getting bedbugs for some odd reason. :Embarrass:

Ick.  Better to be safe than sorry.  You do not want to bring those fuckers back with you.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: derspiess on September 10, 2012, 03:22:42 PM
Quote from: garbon on September 10, 2012, 03:15:42 PM
Sure but bed bugs can get be found on all types of furniture - including in wood.

Actually quick search says it isn't uncommon to find them in carpet during the day.

I heard one 'expert' (he was an executive at an extermination company so I guess he qualifies) say on the radio that if there's any doubt at whatever hotel he's staying at, he leaves his luggage in the bath tub during the day.  Bedbugs can get just about anywhere else in the room, but they can't climb porcelain.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 10, 2012, 09:42:26 PM
That's a good idea.  I just figured that if all of my clothes are in my zipped up travel bag, I should be ok.  Also, I kind of quarantine them when I get home, keeping them in the bag till I do laundry, at which point I dump them directly into the washer.  I guess the little fuckers may not necessarily drown, though. :hmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: garbon on September 10, 2012, 10:49:55 PM
Another option - don't go to ghetto motels? :hmm:

:P
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 04:54:04 AM
I don't. :sleep:

But apparently even nice places have bedbugs sometimes.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: MadImmortalMan on September 11, 2012, 12:46:53 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 04:54:04 AM
I don't. :sleep:

But apparently even nice places have bedbugs sometimes.


Nobody is immune. New York's Waldorf-Astoria had a lawsuit a couple years ago over having them.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Syt on September 11, 2012, 12:55:05 PM
I know a guy who's worked as head accountant for one of Vienna's bigger hotels. He said that there's little you can do against bugs. You can clean out the affected rooms as best you can, but the next guests could unknowingly bring more of the same in their luggage.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Rasputin on September 11, 2012, 02:35:41 PM
Although its 15 to 20 blocks north of "south beach" you simply cannot beat the remodeled fountainbleau hotel for ambience or old school style. If you go ask for a room high up in the south tower with a south east exposure -- youll almost be able to see the turks and caicos to the east and definitely will see all of miami to the south

skip joes stone crab...its an overpriced tourist trap

instead go to porcao for dinner...its the best brazillian steak house in north america and it has the best (quantitatively and qualitatively) latin beaver in miami
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Rasputin on September 11, 2012, 02:36:19 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on September 11, 2012, 12:46:53 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 04:54:04 AM
I don't. :sleep:

But apparently even nice places have bedbugs sometimes.


Nobody is immune. New York's Waldorf-Astoria had a lawsuit a couple years ago over having them.

except for the bar the waldorf has become a dump
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 06:49:24 PM
Quote from: Rasputin on September 11, 2012, 02:35:41 PM
Although its 15 to 20 blocks north of "south beach" you simply cannot beat the remodeled fountainbleau hotel for ambience or old school style. If you go ask for a room high up in the south tower with a south east exposure -- youll almost be able to see the turks and caicos to the east and definitely will see all of miami to the south
That hotel looks awesome but it's maybe $50 more than I want to spend... only going to be there one night remember.  If I was going for a week I'd definitely consider it though.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Eddie Teach on September 11, 2012, 06:55:25 PM
Quote from: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 06:49:24 PM
Quote from: Rasputin on September 11, 2012, 02:35:41 PM
Although its 15 to 20 blocks north of "south beach" you simply cannot beat the remodeled fountainbleau hotel for ambience or old school style. If you go ask for a room high up in the south tower with a south east exposure -- youll almost be able to see the turks and caicos to the east and definitely will see all of miami to the south
That hotel looks awesome but it's maybe $50 more than I want to spend... only going to be there one night remember.  If I was going for a week I'd definitely consider it though.

Wouldn't it then be $350 more than you want to spend?  :huh:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on September 11, 2012, 07:14:09 PM
My point is that I'm only going to be there a single night, so I'm not as concerned with a high quality hotel as I would be if I had to endure it for an entire week. :sleep:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 02, 2012, 07:10:58 AM
So I'm going to be in Miami next week. :cool:

spiess, help a nigga out: good Cuban restaurants in Miami Beach?
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: derspiess on November 02, 2012, 08:50:41 AM
Quote from: Caliga on November 02, 2012, 07:10:58 AM
So I'm going to be in Miami next week. :cool:

spiess, help a nigga out: good Cuban restaurants in Miami Beach?

Cuban restaurants aren't my forte, sorry.  I'm all about the Argie restaurants when I'm down there.  I should probably branch out.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 02, 2012, 03:41:43 PM
We actually have an Argentine restaurant here in Louisville.  It is delicious. :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Scipio on November 02, 2012, 09:13:31 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 02, 2012, 03:41:43 PM
We actually have an Argentine restaurant here in Louisville.  It is delicious. :cool:
Caliga knows, cause when he goes there he nibbles on the furnishings and licks the wall hangings.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 07, 2012, 01:28:56 PM
My half-Ecuadoran muchacho at work told me that while at MIA, Versailles and La Carreta are both worth a visit for some Cuban grub.

On a related note, my brother's flight from Philly to Miami got cancelled tomorrow due to yet another storm. :lmfao:

This gave me another opportunity to mock him for living in an uninhabitable part of the country.  I relish such opportunities. :)
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Ed Anger on November 07, 2012, 05:50:45 PM
Would you please stop taunting Gaia? When she Smacks you, the rest of us in the ohio valley get it too.

Thank you.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 07, 2012, 07:21:53 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 07, 2012, 05:50:45 PM
Would you please stop taunting Gaia?
Magical thinking, eh?  Must be a Baptist :hug:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Ed Anger on November 07, 2012, 07:47:02 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 07, 2012, 07:21:53 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 07, 2012, 05:50:45 PM
Would you please stop taunting Gaia?
Magical thinking, eh?  Must be a Baptist :hug:

Agnostic libertine actually.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 08, 2012, 10:17:17 AM
K THX BAI
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 09, 2012, 12:22:31 AM
I approve of this banana republic so far.

Also, I got a Cuban sammich at La Carreta in Miami airport.  Muy delicioso  :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 09, 2012, 09:45:21 PM
So last night I discovered a local drink called 'rum punch' that's totally kickass.  In the past 24 hours I've had approximately 20 of them. :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: katmai on November 09, 2012, 09:49:22 PM
:rolleyes:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: garbon on November 10, 2012, 09:28:53 AM
Quote from: katmai on November 09, 2012, 09:49:22 PM
:rolleyes:

:D
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 11, 2012, 07:46:45 AM
I got tired of them by yesterday, so I switched to gin and tonics at the wedding reception... except I think they forgot the 'tonic' part of that drink.  My brother was wise enough to prevent me from making a toast in that condition. :cool:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 11, 2012, 08:57:50 PM
For dinner I had conch curry, rice, and plantain fries.  Princesca had cracked conch and conch fritters with peas and rice.  :mmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 12, 2012, 08:48:40 PM
A nice French-Canadian couple gave us a ride to a Moroccan restaurant earlier tonight.  I think this is the first time I have met nice French-Canadians. :)
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 08:53:30 PM
Miami Beach is FAB-U-LOUS!

I had dinner at Havana 1957.  Fried yuca and masas de puerco washed down with two Cruzan Gold mojitos.  :cool:

I think we're the only people here who aren't Latino, gay, or German. :hmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 08:54:55 PM
Also, this week I managed to complete the Canuck trifecta by meeting one couple from Vancouver, one from Toronto, and one from Montreal. :bowler:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Eddie Teach on November 14, 2012, 09:01:27 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 08:54:55 PM
Also, this week I managed to complete the Canuck trifecta by meeting one couple from Vancouver, one from Toronto, and one from Montreal. :bowler:

Do you actually enjoy striking up conversations with complete strangers who you'll never see again?  :hmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 09:06:54 PM
I think in every case the Canadians initiated the conversation.  I am ruggedly handsome and charismatic and people are drawn to me like moths to a flame.  :showoff:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on November 14, 2012, 09:17:54 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 09:06:54 PM
I think in every case the Canadians initiated the conversation.  I am ruggedly handsome and charismatic and people are drawn to me like moths to a flame.  :showoff:

No, the Canucklehead tourists are just that friendly.  Well, except the Quebecois. :P
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 15, 2012, 06:45:17 AM
I like my explanation better.  :sleep:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Grey Fox on November 15, 2012, 07:50:34 AM
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on November 14, 2012, 09:17:54 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 14, 2012, 09:06:54 PM
I think in every case the Canadians initiated the conversation.  I am ruggedly handsome and charismatic and people are drawn to me like moths to a flame.  :showoff:

No, the Canucklehead tourists are just that friendly.  Well, except the Quebecois. :P

We're also nice, we just can't communicate  ;)
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 15, 2012, 04:40:25 PM
I had no problem communicating with the French-Canadian couple. :hmm:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Syt on November 15, 2012, 04:52:01 PM
I have a Quebecois co-worker, and there's no language barrier.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Barrister on November 15, 2012, 05:06:34 PM
You have to remember that the Quebecois you encounter outside of Quebec are far more likely to speak english than the ones you find in Quebec. :contract:
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 15, 2012, 05:45:08 PM
I didn't talk to these folks about their jobs, etc. but the restaurant was in a gated community of condos and such, so I suspect they may have owned one of those.  Probably gives you a hint about their financial status at least.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on November 15, 2012, 09:51:30 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on November 15, 2012, 07:50:34 AM
We're also nice, we just can't communicate  ;)

Yeah, its more a reaction from having to deal with them in a retail capacity. :P
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on November 15, 2012, 09:53:08 PM
Quote from: Caliga on November 15, 2012, 05:45:08 PM
I didn't talk to these folks about their jobs, etc. but the restaurant was in a gated community of condos and such, so I suspect they may have owned one of those.  Probably gives you a hint about their financial status at least.

Which community?

Whichever it is, I suspect its a timeshare.
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 16, 2012, 06:04:42 AM
http://www.turksandcaicosproperty.com/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,14/Itemid,36/ (http://www.turksandcaicosproperty.com/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,14/Itemid,36/)
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on November 16, 2012, 07:05:07 AM
I thought we were still in South Florida. :P
Title: Re: anyone ever been to Miami Beach? Advice PLZ
Post by: Caliga on November 16, 2012, 07:37:31 AM
Oh, hehe.  Nope, didn't meet any Canadians there at all.