Miami news, Miami local news

Winter looks better for tourism this year.
As Art Basel Miami Beach heralds the unofficial launch of the “high” tourism season this week, demand has finally begun to rise for South Beach hotels and Miami Beach vacation properties. That could signal a turning point for a hotel market besieged by discounted rates and weak demand, trends that have pushed some of the region’s flashiest hotels to the brink of foreclosure.
Severe cutbacks in travel spending haven’t stopped art buyers from driving up hotel rates in Miami Beach this week. The cheapest rooms at the Delano are $825 a night this weekend and $345 next weekend.
After the country’s largest contemporary art show turns off the lights at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Sunday the real test begins.
Peter Sahora, general manager of the Z Ocean Hotel in South Beach says, “It looks like the slide is either slowing down or reversing. We’ll see what happens in January and February.”

A column by Daniel Shoer Roth was published in El Nuevo Herald on November 4th criticizing transit officials for not offering a bus route from Miami International Airport to South Beach. Shortly after that, Miami-Dade Transit chief Harpal Kapoor announced that such a route, which will be called the Airport-Beach Flyer route, will exist starting December 13th. Kapoor assures that the new route has been in the works for some time and was not prompted by Roth’s column. The much-needed and heavily-traveled bus route from Miami International Airport to South Beach will follow State Road 112 and make one stop at the Earlington Heights Metrorail station along the way for those wishing to reach Downtown Miami. The bus trip will cost $2.34 and takes about 30 minutes.

If you are a traveler from somewhere else, keep up-to-date on Miami travel tips to make your Miami vacation as smooth as possible.

The Clevelander is the party hotel of Miami Beach. They know exactly who they are and they are damn proud of it. The Clevelander’s most recent $40 million renovation made the rooms party-proof so that the aftermath of its typical guests wouldn’t cost them an extra penny anymore. The more durable Clevelander reopened to guests after the Clevelander Hotel renovation at the end of April.

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The Coral Gables Venetian Pool, which started off as just a rock pit when they were planning to build Coral Gables in the 1920s, underwent a six-month, $730,000 renovation that was completed just before summer of 2009. The Saturday following the Friday grand reopening welcomed 471 guests. The Venetian Pool renovation included new and improved bathrooms, walkways, fountains, roof tiles, concession area, patio furniture and wrought-iron gate.

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The first Nikki Beach resort, which is located in Turks and Caicos, recently closed after its developer Leeward Resort LTD entered receivership.

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Miami International Airport came in as number one of the busiest U.S. airport for international travelers during the first 6 months of 2009. From January to June 2009, Miami International Airport received 2.4 million international passengers.

Miami International Airport was the busiest U.S. airport for international travelers in June with 441,000 international passenger boardings. Still, it is down 2.7 percent from the 2.5 million last year. Completing the top three busiest U.S. airport for international travelers were New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Meanwhile, Miami International Airport was not named among the top 10 U.S. airports for domestic travel.

There are so many things to do in Miami Florida. One of the many things to do in Miami Florida includes shopping. Miami has a broad range of shopping stores from budget shopping stores to high-end retail. So many people visit Miami just to enjoy the shopping opportunities.

There are plenty of things to do in Miami Florida when it comes to shopping. For example, you can find commercial shopping malls, outdoor shopping malls, individual stores and outlets malls. Some malls are better than other as far as quality is concerned.

We have culminated a list of the Top 10 Shopping Spots in Miami. You will definitely want to look into the Top 10 Shopping Spots in Miami list if you plan to get any good shopping done while you are here. Put time aside in advance to contribute to your time visiting the Top 10 Shopping Spots in Miami.

Top 10 Shopping Spots in Miami

1. Lincoln Road Mall - Miami Beach
2. Collins Avenue Shopping District - Miami Beach
3. Dolphin Mall (Outlet) -  West Miami
4. The Falls - South Miami
5. Sawgrass Mills  (Outlet) - Sunrise Florida
6. CocoWalk - Coconut Grove Miami
7. Bal Harbour Shops - City of Bal Harbour
8. Bayside Marketplace - Downtown Miami
9. Aventura Mall - City of Aventura
10. Miracle Mile - Coral Gables Miami

Miami constantly welcomes tourists from all over the world thanks to its beauty and endless list of things to do in Miami.

One of the popular things to do in Miami is sample the different restaurants. There are some really good restaurants to scope out while you are in town. Avoid wasting your time at a disappointing restaurant when you can be enjoying one of the Top 10 Dining Spots in Miami.

Make sure to look into the Top 10 Dining Spots in Miami if you plan on dining out among other things to do in Miami. You can get the gist of what Miami has to offer in regards to restaurants by visiting the Top 10 Dining Spots in Miami.

Recommended Dining Spots in Miami:

1. Barton G. Miami Beach Restaurant

1427 West Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 672-8881
www.bartong.com

2. Chef Allen’s Miami Restaurant

19088 NE 29th Ave
Miami, FL 33180
(305) 935-2900
www.chefallens.com

3. Emeril’s Miami Beach Restaurant

1601 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 695-4550
www.emerils.com

4. Joe’s Stone Crab Miami Beach Restaurant

11 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-0365
www.joesstonecrab.com

5. Ortanique on the Mile

278 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 446-7710
www.cindyhutsoncuisine.com

6. Prime 112 South Beach Restaurant

112 Ocean Dr
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-8112
www.prime112.com

7.- Romeo’s Café Miami Restaurant

2257 SW 22nd Street (Coral Way)
Miami, FL. 33145
305-859-2228
www.RomeosCafe.com

8.- Azul Miami Restaurant

Mandarin Oriental Hotela
500 Brickell Key Drive
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 913 8358
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/miami/dining/azul/

9. - Nobu Miami Beach Restaurant

1901 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33139

Tel. 305 695 3232
Mon–Thu 7PM to 12AM
Fri-Sat 7PM to 1AM, Sun 7PM to 11PM
Reservations for 6 or more only

Nobu Lounge:
Mon–Thu 6PM to 12AM
Fri-Sat 6PM to 2AM, Sun 6PM to 11PM

10. - Pascal on Ponce Miami Beach Restaurant

2611 Ponce De Leon Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(305) 444-2024
www.pascalmiami.com

Miami International Airport Miami - Airport Passenger Reviews

Skytrax has added a site in which travelers and prospective travelers may find guidance pertaining to Miami International Airport. Basically, the site is a forum where previous travelers who have visited Miami International Airport can write Miami Airport Passenger Reviews about their experience as well as rating the airport on a 5-star system. You can find information such as airport ranking for Miami International Airport, as well. The site is filled with travelers’ opinions in Miami Airport Passenger Reviews as well as tips in hopes that other travelers may benefit.

Of course, the site is also one in which you may post your own Miami Airport Passenger Reviews so that other travelers may be well-informed. You can find this informative Miami Airport Passenger Reviews site at airlinequality.com/Airports/Airport_forum/mia.htm

The latest buzz on South Beach is regarding a local celebrity chicken named Mr. Clucky. South Beach residents are very familiar with Mr. Clucky as are many, if not most, visitors who have walked along Lincoln Road. He is a white chicken that is always perched upon his owner’s shoulder or bike handlebars while he bicycles his way through South Beach all day, every day. People also always easily spot Mark Buckley, Mr. Clucky’s owner, with his trademark jean overalls and a beanie hat.

Word is, someone complained about Mr. Clucky and, thus, began the feud. The City of Miami Beach is now saying that Mr. Clucky gets the boot! City code enforcement says that farm animals are not allowed to live in Miami Beach and that Buckley and Mr. Clucky must move out of their Jefferson Avenue studio apartment and get out of town.

Buckley is arguing that his long-time resident of Miami Beach has brought smiles to children’s faces for years and has become more like an ambassador of the city. In the past few months, Buckley has collected signed affidavits from neighbors promising that the rooster does not make any noise or act as a nuisance. People have gathered on Lincoln Road to show their support and protest with signs. On Wednesday night, July 29th, a news conference and candlelight vigil was held for Mr. Clucky. Mr. Clucky went into Miami Beach City Hall this Thursday morning at 9:00AM to learn his fate. Will he be evicted or accepted?

UPDATE: “A special hearing officer ordered Buckley on Thursday to pay a $50 fine and gave city code officers the authority to remove Mr. Clucky and his publicity-shy hen girlfriend, Wallflower, from Buckley’s first-floor condo on Jefferson Avenue.” Miami Herald / 07.30.2009