Miami news, Miami local news

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

(more…)

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 is a recent development in Miami news, particularly for its Cuban population, that is very interesting to follow:  a Ferry service from Miami to Cuba could very well become a reality. Amando Ruiz is making Miami news as he waits for approval from the Obama Administration, who recently, in an effort to increase contact with the island, granted Cuban-Americans the right to make the trip to the Island without restrictions and allowed money and gifts to be sent in greater quantities as well. Ruiz suggests that this project would go a long way in helping the Cuban people.

(more…)

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

June 2009 brought an 18 percent drop in Miami-Dade hotel taxes. This drop resembles that of the 16.8 percent decline in the 12 months following the 2001 terrorist attacks.

This drop in hotel taxes further complicates the county’s efforts to finance a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins. The county is securing future hotel taxes for the nearly $400 million of construction debt they plan to incur. The steep hotel tax decline has forced county officials to rewrite the stadium’s financing plan. The stadium’s future is dependent on the hotel market’s success over the next two years.

If you are planning a trip to Miami, check out the different lodging options from Miami hotels to Miami vacation rentals.

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

Miami-Dade County welcomes its very first Miami casino. Churchill Downs and Calder Race Course broke ground on Wednesday, June 3rd on a 104,000 square-foot facility.

The gambling facility will feature 1,225 slot machines, three restaurants and valet parking. The  Miami casino will open next year right before the Super Bowl which will be played in the nearby LandShark Stadium. Miami-Dade will now join its neighboring Broward County which already features slot machines at tracks and Seminole Indian Miami casinos.

The Art Photo Expo art gallery in Miami on Lincoln Road is perhaps best known for its retrospective of Naomi Campbell, a collection of photographs by renowned, leading photographers, capturing the model’s elegance and glamour over the years. The retrospective was featured in South Florida’s second annual In Fashion Photo exhibition. The photo gallery in Miami opened in December 2008 after the world-famous Art Basel event in Miami. The art gallery in Miami kept up with the major competition with over 250 contemporary photographs for sale by more than 35 of the world’s leading fashion photographers.

The photo gallery in Miami features works by leading international photographers such as Chen Man, Miles Aldridge, Michael Thompson and Arthur Elgort. Viewers are stirred by the whimsical images that seem like life-size photos right out of a fashion magazine. The art gallery in Miami is located at 910 Lincoln Road. For more information, call 305-672-0055 or email info@artphotoexpo.com.