Royal Caribbean PortMiami expansion scheduled for late fall of 2018. Royal Caribbean, the world's 2nd largest cruise company, plans to build, finance and operate new terminal in the northeast section of PortMiami. Royal will invest more than $100 million dollars in the construction of this new project that will double annual passengers at PortMiami to roughly 1.5 Million cruisers once the terminal is completed. The new cruise terminal, which would be called Terminal A would provide easy passenger boarding and departure. For more information visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com

Carnival Vista (December 2016) Designed to connect guests to the ocean with sweeping views and plenty to do both outdoors and in, Carnival Vista will take cruising to new heights and introduce an exciting array of groundbreaking new features, 12 different indoor/outdoor culinary and bar concepts, from a classic American steakhouse called Fahrenheit 555 to the RedFrog Pub featuring the line's first on-board brewery and the Cherry On Top sweets store featuring a new mixed-to-order ice cream venue. In addition to: SkyRide, a breakthrough suspended open-air cycling experience; the world's first IMAX theatre on a ship; an expanded water park featuring the colorful Kaleid-O-Slide, the line's first raft-riding water tube slide; Seafood shake, a delectable New England-inspired eater; RedFrog Pub, including the line's first onboard brewery, and other enhanced dining, bar and entertainment options; as well as new scenic and family-friendly accommodation types.  Carnival Vista will offer a wide variety of well-appointed, beautifully designed staterooms and suites including two new accommodation classes. Tropics-inspired Havana Cabanas feature accommodations with private outdoor patios – complete with lounge chairs and hammock – that face the expanded Lanai ocean-air outdoor promenade and offer magnificent sea views in addition to easy access to the Havana Bar and Pool. For more information visit www.Carinval.com/CarnivalVista

Virgin Cruises (2020) Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, announced that Virgin Cruises has selected PortMiami as the home port for its first cruise ship that will set sail in 2020. Virgin Cruises' three new mid-size ships, of about 110,000 gross tons each, are slated for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each ship will feature 1,430 guest cabins to host more than 2,800 guests. There also will be 1,150 crew on board to deliver the famed Virgin customer service. Embarking from PortMiami, Virgin Cruises plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with a Sunday sail date. For more information visit www.VirginCruises.com

MSC Seaside (December 2017) With a gross tonnage of 154,000 tons and the ability to accommodate up to 4,140 guests at double occupancy, MSC Seaside will be the largest cruise ship ever built by Fincantieri shipyards. The ship will offer a vast range of popular itineraries from Miami to the Caribbean. MSC Cruises will provide North American guests with a 'Mediterranean Style Cruise' experience that no other line is able to offer, and guests from around the world a unique setting as it sails to the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean. As part of a first look at what MSC Seaside will offer on board, the company also unveiled that the ship will boast the most interactive and originally-designed aqua park at sea with five water slides and attractions for all ages. The park is being built by WhiteWater West Industries of Canada, the award-winning designer and manufacturer of waterpark attractions globally. Highlights of the multi-story aqua park will include: Slideboarding™, Duelling High-Speed AquaTubes™, AquaPlay™& AquaSpray™, and Adventure Trail. For more information visit http://bit.ly/MSC-Seaside

AIRLINES

Debuted 2015:

• American Airlines – Austin, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, San Antonio
• American Airlines – Frankfurt, Germany; Monterrey, Mexico; Barranquilla, Colombia
• Frontier – Atlanta
• Aeromexico – Monterrey, Mexico
• Thomas Cook – Manchester, United Kingdom
• Aruba Airlines – Oranjestad, Aruba
• Aerolineas Argentinas – Cordoba, Argentina
• Austrian Airlines – Vienna, Austria
• Turkish Airlines – Istanbul, Turkey

 Debuting 2016/17:

• Aruba Airlines – Orangestad, Aruba – July 3
• Aerolineas Argentinas – Cordoba, Argentina – July 4
• Eurowings - Cologne, Germany – September 1, 2016
• Silver Airways – Bimini, Bahamas – September 1, 2016
• SAS - Copenhagen, Denmark & Oslo, Norway – September 28, 2016
• Austrian Airlines – Vienna, Austria – October 16
• Turkish Airlines – Istanbul, Turkey – October 25
• KLM - Amsterdam (seasonal service) begins Oct 30, 2016-March 23, 2017
• VivaColombia – Medellin & Bogota, Colombia – December 2 & 16, 2016
• WOW air – London, UK (via Reykjavik, Iceland) – April 2017

TRANSPORTATION
Water Taxi Miami offers Floridians and visitors fast, fun connections between some of Miami and Miami Beach top touring destinations. Colorful yellow, white and black taxis operate on different routes between Bayside Marketplace, Miami River, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach South Beach. For more information, visit www.WaterTaxiMiami.com

MiamiCentral construction is moving along! MiamiCentral is the home of the new Brightline train service that is launching in mid-2017. MiamiCentral encompasses nearly three million square feet and spans two sites; a nine-acre transportation hub in downtown Miami just east of Miami-Dade County Hall, and a two-acre site in Historic Overtown. The transportation hub will include mixed-use development with residential, office, commercial, and a retail concourse, while serving as a connector between Brightline's passengers and Miami's existing public transport systems. The Overtown site will also be a mixed-use development with retail, commercial and parking to support and enhance the transportation hub. More than 250 workers are on the 11-acre Downtown site each day and they are making progress. Many of the train structure columns have gone up, along with installation of the steel for building walls. The Brightline tracks and columns will be elevated 50 feet to align with existing public transportation systems. Stay tuned for forthcoming announcements about exciting food and beverage offerings as well as office tenants. For more information visit www.GoBrightline.com

HOTEL HAPPENINGS

The Washington Park Hotel opened in March 2016 after an extensive renovation. The boutique Washington Park Hotel is a collection of four Art Deco buildings completely reimagined with modern design sensibility and inspired by the creative life. Located in the heart of South Beach on the west side of Washington Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets, the beachy-chic hotel is just two blocks from the beach and seven blocks from Lincoln Road and the SoFi District. A social hub for its neighborhood, the 181-guest room Washington Park Hotel features an outdoor pool deck, a play lawn and lush landscaping. The property's historic Coral Rock House will house the world-renowned food and beverage concept, Employees Only, which is opening later this winter. To book, guests should visit the website or call 305.421.6265. Washington Park Hotel South Beach, owned by Witkoff and The Carlyle Group, is managed by Highgate, a premier hospitality investment and management company whose growing portfolio includes more than 100 properties in gateway cities worldwide. Additionally, famed New York City Cocktail Bar, Employees Only -- widely recognized as one of the top cocktail bars in the world and largely credited with the revival of prohibition era cocktails -- is slated to open in the historic Coral House at Washington Park Hotel in Winter 2016. The new outpost is part of a domestic and international brand expansion plan and is a close replica of the original in design and culture including nightly psychic readings, burlesque dancers and complimentary chicken soup at closing time. The design will closely resemble the warm and inviting setting of the original establishment, modified to complement the existing architectural elements of the historic Art Deco building. Employees Only will be open 7 days a week from 5 p.m. – 4 a.m., serving dinner from 6 p.m. – midnight and offering a late night menu until 3:30 a.m. For more information on Employees Only, please visit www.EmployeesOnlyNYC.com. For more information on the hotel, please visit www.WPHSouthBeach.com

The Betsy South Beach is the only Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond rated boutique hotel in Greater Miami. Located in the heart of the Art Deco District on Ocean Drive, The Betsy's unique hospitality model champions the power of community through its dedicated PACE (Philanthropy, Arts, Culture, Education) program by weaving those brand pillars into the guest experience. Currently, the property boasts an elegant yet tropical vibe with 61 rooms and suites, the city's only open-air rooftop spa and an expansive Roof Deck, among other amenities, and is in the process of a groundbreaking expansion, led by architect Allan T. Shulman and designers Diamante Perdersoli and Carmelina Santoro, to merge with the historic Carlton Hotel and become a single unified property. By fall 2016, the redesigned Betsy will reveal 130 guest rooms, three food and beverage outlets, including Laurent Tourondel's new LT Steak and Seafood, a 3,000 square foot rooftop pool, luxurious skyline bungalows, suites, and terraces, a new board room, an expanded fitness center and spa, and a library - totaling 80,000 square feet with 10,000 square feet of event space to scale its celebrated PACE program. Escribe Aqui, an Iberoamerican Literature and Culture Festival honoring the diversity of writing in various languages takes place through October 15, 2016. The 22nd Annual Jewish American & Holocaust Literature (JAHLIT) Symposium, November 13 – 15, 2016, celebrates the heritage of The Betsy's owners, Jonathan Plutzik and his wife Lesley Goldwasser. The Betsy will offer a series of public programs including salons, readings, and cultural celebrations with 50+ scholars in attendance - all in association with The Betsy Writer's Room.  The Betsy's A Cappella Festival, November 18-20, 2016, brings contemporary a cappella to Miami Beach. During this festival on the beach, participants are given the opportunity to masterclass with world-class musicians, sing with new voices in various workshops and choir, participate in pop ups in public spaces, and perform in a feature showcase. . For more information visit www.TheBetsyHotel.com

Just in time for Art Basel, the iconic W South Beach is unveiling its newly renovated two-story Penthouse this fall, boasting unrivaled views of the Miami cityscape and Biscayne Bay, top-notch furnishings styled by Busta Design Studio, exclusive art collection curated by famed art collector Aby Rosen, rooftop pool and entertainment terrace, state-of-the-art entertainment system by Bang & Olufsen, and much more. Rates starting at $25,000 per night. For more information, please visit www.WSouthBeach.com

Aloft Miami Dadeland (7600 N. Kendall Drive) enters the marketplace this Fall as the fourth Aloft brand in the greater Miami area. After an extensive renovation project, the Aloft Miami Dadeland will welcome guests to experience 120 spacious, loft-like rooms, accessible technologies and live music at W XYZ® Bar. Aloft Miami Dadeland will also feature SPG Keyless – Starwood's industry-first keyless entry system that enables guests to use their smartphone or Apple watch as a room key – and fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. The hotel will offer 383 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor Splash pool, a Re:chargeSM fitness center and Re:fuelSM by Aloft – a one-stop gourmet grab & go food and beverage area. In addition, guests will enjoy live, local music at the brand's signature W XYZ Bar as part of the signature Live At Aloft Hotels music series. For more information, please visit www.ALoftMiamiDadeland.com

In fall 2016, Nobu Hotel Miami Beach will arrive at Eden Roc Miami Beach, following an extensive multi-million dollar renovation and landmark restoration spearheaded by architect David Rockwell that will relaunch the iconic Morris Lapidus property. The hotel's opening is part of Eden Roc Miami Beach's transformation into a luxury experience that will feature a Nobu Hotel and already houses Nobu Miami, the beloved Miami outpost of Nobu Restaurants' global empire. Renowned chef Nobu, legendary actor Robert De Niro, Hollywood producer Meir Teper and Australian business tycoon James Packer are the masterminds behind Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, which will feature 206 guest rooms with 163 King and Double Queen Rooms, 36 Junior Suites and 4 One-Bedroom Suites with Ocean/Pool and intracoastal views, 3 Penthouse Suites and 4 Penthouse Event spaces; Nobu Miami and Bar Nobu; 24-hour in-room dining by Nobu Miami; 22,000 square feet of state-of-the-art spa and fitness facilities; more than 70,000 square feet of stylish meeting and event space; innovative banquet and catering menus; four luxurious pools including an exclusive Nobu Hotel Miami Beach pool; and an acclaimed farm-to-fork restaurant concept, Malibu Farm, which will be unveiled in November 2016. For more information visit www.NobuEdenRoc.com

The Biltmore Miami – Coral Gables will hold an electrifying night filled with illusions and indulgence at their annual Biltmore Halloween Party, Friday, October 28, 2016 (8 p.m. – midnight). Enjoy a costume contest with great prizes for most creative (must be handmade), spookiest and best couple. Must be 21+ to attend. Open Bar, Buffet dinner and entertainment included. RSVP at 888.985.8251. For more information visit www.BiltmoreHotel.com/Halloween

Fontainebleau Miami Beach invites guests to ring in 2017 with the year's hottest musical acts poolside and at premier nightclubs. Pop sensation Justin Bieber will kick off the night with a poolside performance to ring in the New Year. The party will continue all night long with Grammy Award winning producer Skrillex at world famous LIV inside Fontainebleau. Bieber will heat up Fontainebleau's iconic poolscape, with an unforgettable performance set to include his greatest hits. With a lineup of ultra-exclusive packages, including stage-side tables and cabanas, guests will have a chance to party alongside Bieber. Ticket prices start at $500 for one (1) general admission ticket, and range up to $40,000 for a stage-side private space for up to 30 guests. All packages include premium open bar from 9 p.m. until midnight. Tickets and packages can be purchased online at www.Fontainebleau.com/NYE

COOL CUISINE AND NIGHT LIFE

This fall, zuma Miami will unveil its renovated PDR that will expand the size, build out a new terrace exclusive only to the PDR and will feature a unique sake component (either a wall or vault; details are TBD). From an overall design perspective, the Zuma aesthetic was created by Tokyo-based Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Studio Glitt, (formerly of the renowned Super Potato design house). As with every Zuma across the globe, Muramatsu preserves the concept behind the brand's interiors, while incorporating natural products/textures present in each specific location. For more information and reservations, visit www.ZumaRestaurants.com

Celebrated chef Justin Smillie and renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr are excited to introduce Upland to Miami Beach fall 2016. The second outpost of the popular NYC restaurant brings Smillie's signature California inspired cuisine to Miami Beach's chic South of Fifth Neighborhood in a charming setting designed by Roman and Williams with whom Starr has collaborated for Upland NYC and Le Coucou. Affectionately named for Smillie's hometown in Southern California, Upland New York has received critical acclaim since its 2014 opening for Smillie's culinary prowess and universal appeal. Fans of the restaurant include Pete Wells of the New York Times who urged readers to visit and described Smillie as a “pasta savant” and “vegetable sage.” Upland is Starr's fifth active project in South Florida following the successes of Steak 954, Makoto, The Continental and Le Zoo. For more information, please visit www.starr-restaurant.com.    

Inconspicuously placed within a strip mall, BBar Tapas and Grill offers a brunch menu with exquisite options like Wild Salmon Gravlax Toast, French Crouqet 'Cuban' Madame and Elephant Torrejas, a dinner menu which includes Truffle Potato Octopus, Prime B Burger, Japanese Eggplant and Sashimi Grade Truffle Tuna & Green Apple Tacos, and a Miami Spice menu with servings of Fresh Ceviche, Black Seafood Risotto, Lamb Sheppard Pie, and White Chocolate Bread Pudding, to name a very few. The tapas bar features a broad selection of handcrafted cocktails, wines and craft beers, with weekly specials like Happy hour from 5-8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday and late night happy hour 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Ladies Night: Every Thursday, featuring live music, free specialty cocktails for ladies from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. and $50 Veuve Clicquot bottles. Brunch: Every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring bottomless Mimosas, house made Sangria and Bloody Mary's plus one entrée item for $27.99. Break out of your routine restaurants and bars or risk missing out on great secret venues.  For more information visit www.bbartapas.com

Tanuki, a brand known internationally for Pan-Asian cuisine with more than 60 locations worldwide, has introduced an upscale version with its United States debut in Miami Beach.  Recently opened on South Beach's bustling Alton Road at the corner of 11th Street, Tanuki offers high-quality Asian fare based on traditional Japanese recipes and authentic flavors. The concept was inspired by the mythical Japanese talisman of good fortune. Tanuki's extensive menu, spanning faithful renditions of Imperial favorites, will feature 150 items including classics such as Sushi, Sashimi, Specialty Rolls, Dim Sum and Signature Entrees including Tanuki's take on Peking Duck. Tanuki's cocktail menu highlights Asian ingredients with traditional libations. For more information visit www.Tanuki-Miami.com

Grove Bay Hospitality Group Announces Two Brickell City Centre Concepts - Grove Bay Hospitality Group, the Coconut Grove based restaurant and development firm behind the acclaimed Glass & Wine restaurant and the highly anticipated Stiltsville Fish Bar is unveiling two new Brickell City Centre concepts.  Big Easy Winebar and Grill will be a casual yet sophisticated grill room hailing from the Western Cape region of South Africa.  Adjacent to Big Easy Winebar & Grill will be American Harvest, satisfying South Florida's demand for farm fresh, fast-casual dining. For additional information, visit www.GroveBayGroup.com.

Miami's beloved James Beard Award-winning Chef and Restaurateur brings his straightforward approach to ingredient-driven Italian cuisine from the hearth with Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz now open at the SLS Brickell Hotel & Residences at South Miami Avenue and 13th Street.  Chef's first Italian concept draws on a way of cooking that has informed his approach in the kitchen since his first days on the line back in Philly.  Fi'lia features honest Italian food highlighting fresh ingredients from the hearth and the simplicity of handmade artisanal breads and pasta.  At Fi'lia (a play on the Italian word “figlia” which means daughter), a meal will begin with a crusty loaf, presented with olive oil and oregano snipped at the table. Rustic pizzas from the wood oven showcase beautiful produce in season in special combinations. Caesar salad is tossed tableside in a shower of shaved parmigiana from a roaming cart, with the smell of toasted garlic croutons reminding you of how satisfying and memorable the classics can be. Cocktails are refreshingly uncomplicated – less about complex recipes and technique, and more about how unpretentiously perfect a spritz is on a July or December afternoon. The cocktails will balance a focused wine list that appeals to the knowledgeable diner of Brickell, celebrating Italian regional varietals and American wines with an old world sensibility.  Fi'lia will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner when the hotel opens this fall.  For more information visit www.sbe.com/restaurants/brands/filia/ or www.thegenuinekitchen.com.

Whether she was wowing diners in Miami Beach, or dazzling the ultimate kitchen taskmaster, Gordon Ramsey on Hell's Kitchen – Chef Paula DaSilva has remained one of the region's foremost culinary darlings. The winter 2016 opening of Artisan Beach House in Bal Harbour will signal DaSilva's return to the South Florida culinary scene, ensuring diners will have something to savor in the new year. Located at The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami, Artisan Beach House will be DaSilva's second collaboration with restaurant and nightlife impresario Seth Greenberg. After taking some well-deserved time away and launching a successful restaurant consulting company, DaSilva will serve as the restaurant's executive chef while simultaneously overseeing all food & beverage operations for the property. When Artisan Beach House opens later this year, it will feature indoor and outdoor dining and lounge space, as well as several unique special event venues. Boasting sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Haulover Cut, Artisan Beach House is slated to be one of the most sought after event spaces – from private dinners and wedding receptions to corporate parties, with something for every occasion. “If Artisan Beach House has to have a slogan it would be, 'Globally inspired. Locally grown. Distinctively crafted' – says DaSilva. For more information visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/miami/bal-harbour  

Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina, the savory summer pop-up from nationally acclaimed star chef Michael Mina that took over Michael Mina 74 in June, will now have a permanent home at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The affordable and approachable concept inspired by Michael Mina's own backyard kitchen has been a huge success with guests and locals alike and as a result, will continue to operate beyond its originally slated closing date. Whether it's a friendly get-together, family dinner or after-work libations, Pizza & Burger is the perfect spot to kick-back and relax. Tables are adorned with games, a lively atmosphere and upbeat music, making guests feel like they are at a casual backyard bash with a menu to match the vibe. Newly appointed Chef de Cuisine, Timothy Elmore brings a fresh approach to Pizza & Burger's kitchen. Helming from Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak at Turnberry Isle Resort, the chef brings passion and 10 years of restaurant experience to Pizza & Burger's menu of made from scratch, farm-fresh, multi-ingredient pizzas, burgers and large plates. Diners can also design their own salads from a checklist of fresh ingredients and choose from an array of crave-able snacks. Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina is located at 4441 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, Miami, FL 33140 inside Fontainebleau Miami Beach, located right off the main lobby in the space formerly occupied by Michael Mina 74. For more information, visit www.fontainebleau.com/dining/pizza-burgers.

The National Food & Beverage Foundation (NatFAB) announced that Robert is Here, the popular fruit stand and farm located in Homestead, Florida, is the next listing on their National Culinary Heritage Register. Since 1959 Robert has been selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road leading to the Everglades National Park, and the stand has expanded to offer rare and exotic tropical fruits as well as fresh fruit milkshakes. NatFAB's National Culinary Heritage Register is a list of culinary products, processes, inventions, traditions, and establishments that are at least fifty years old and that have contributed significantly to the development of American foodways. The first and only register of its kind, the National Culinary Heritage Register is an initiative designed to explore and preserve the complex history of food and beverage in America. For more information visit www.natfab.org/national-culinary-heritage-register.

ATTRACTION ACTION AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The Bass, Miami Beach's contemporary art museum, announces the launch of a ten-year initiative to add international contemporary art to its permanent collection with inaugural acquisitions by Swiss artists Ugo Rondinone and Sylvie Fleury. The Bass' newly formed collections committee, chaired by Hubert Bush, will acquire a major work of contemporary art every year to be presented to the public each fall. The Bass announces the committee's latest commission and most significant acquisition in the history of the museum, Miami Mountain by Ugo Rondinone, to be installed on the southeastern corner of Collins Park.
The committee also announces the acquisition of Sylvie Fleury's site-specific work titled, Eternity Now. Originally commissioned for the historic Art-Deco façade of the museum in December 2015 as a temporary installation, this glowing neon will now remain as a permanent fixture within the museum's contemporary collection. For more information, please visit www.thebass.org

Hard Rock Stadium has been transformed into a vibrant, monumental public art experience thanks to a major project in partnership with Goldman Global Arts (GGA). Highlighting 18 artists from 10 countries, the mural project is curated by GGA Co-Founders, artist Peter Tunney and Jessica Goldman Srebnick, the powerhouse behind Wynwood Walls, the world-renowned outdoor street art museum recognized as a major force in the global street art movement and the revitalization of the Wynwood neighborhood. It was the Wynwood Walls that served as inspiration for the project. After a visit to the street art mecca, Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, was struck by the scale and ambition of the artwork and knew he wanted to incorporate this energetic and engaging medium into the stadium. For more information, visit www.HardRockStadium.com/ArtUnexpected

After five incredible years at Bal Harbour Shops, Gee Beauty is thrilled to announce the opening of its new location in Sunset Harbour. A curated mix of beauty-lifestyle and wellness components will make up the new Gee Beauty layout, integrating perfectly within their new health-centric neighborhood. Adding to Gee Beauty's signature range of result-driven facials, brow shaping and modern makeup will be Brow Stroking, lash extensions and high-tech treatments like the HydraFacial, LED light therapy, and the collagen-stimulating Age/Less facial featuring Micro Needling. Manicures, pedicures, waxing and sunless tanning will complete the full beauty experience. Gee Beauty's very own lifestyle-driven cosmetics line will continue to be available; perfect for the gym or a night out, it is formulated to withstand the high Miami temperatures while illuminating the skin with a light, luminous glow that features top-notch SPF protection. Within the new location, Gee Beauty will be able to expand upon the beauty lifestyle-mix - reflective of 6 By Gee Beauty – one of the company's Toronto locations, which retails an edit of style essentials, apparel, travel-inspired accessories, fragrances like Le Labo and jewelry. Other featured brands will include modern, natural beauty lines like Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop, Tata Harper, Sunday Riley; medical-grade skincare SkinCeuticals and Dr. Sebagh; wellness brands like Elle MacPherson's Beauty Elixir and S'well water bottles; hair-care essentials from Oribe and Sacha Juan; tan essentials from James Read Tan and natural line Vita Liberata, as well as high-tech devices like the Ziip Beauty nano-current facial device and the Foreo facial device. For more information visit www.GeeBeauty.com

The Faena Arts District in Miami Beach opened on November 27, 2016 with a wild, only-in-Miami parade. The 'Tide by Side,' as the event was called featured an exuberant mix of Caribbean carnival and high-concept art. The party inaugurated Argentine developer Alan Faena's four-block-long Faena district and the spectacular Faena Forum cultural center on Collins Avenue in mid-Miami Beach. Faena and partner Ximena Caminos promise it will deliver innovative, community-oriented programming to balance the area's uber-luxurious hotel, shopping and condo components. The crowds packing the sidewalks along Collins Avenue and the various parade groups offered a cross-section of only-in-Miami culture. Organizers said that “Tide by Side” was meant to be not just a celebration, but a ritual, a way to open the district to Miami. As the parade wound down, excited clumps of people filling the street, it seemed to have worked. For more information, visit http://www.FaenaArt.org/.  

CITY OF MIAMI BEACH DEBUTS MID-BEACH TROLLEY – A new trolley route called the Middle Beach loop connects the Lincoln Road area to 41st Street and Mount Sinai Medical Center. The new route is one of two new routes that will soon connect North Beach to South Beach via city-run trolleys.  In December, the city will debut a Collins Link route, which will connect Middle Beach with an existing North Beach loop, making it possible to travel from the city's north shore down to South Beach using local circulator trolleys. All city trolleys are free for everyone. The City of Miami Beach has been slowly getting into the business of mass transit since February 2014, when it started its first trolley around Alton and West Avenue to help locals get around the torn-up street while Alton Road was under construction. Since then, a more popular North Beach route has been added. The city might expand the South Beach route but could require the elimination of the South Beach Local, Miami-Dade's bus, in order to avoid redundancy.

After four years of construction, the Brickell City Centre finally opened its doors to the public on November 3rd, 2016.  The open air space, cooled by a climate ribbon to harness the bay breeze, was well received by visitors. The $1 billion dollar building was built to keep Miami's downtown area booming with business. Rapper Pitbull performed at the Centre's VIP opening. The building holds more than just stores. Also inside are restaurants, condos and hotels.  Days before the opening, stores like Sas Fifth Avenue also gave VIP tours. For more information, visit www.BrickellCityCentre.com.