International Ballet Festivalof Miami, in its 13th edition this August, will bring to our city two complete weeks the best dancers from around the globe.
Due to the high level of performances every year, this upcoming event in Miamiis highly anticipated by many as one of the best ballet events in Miami Florida and the world.
The recipient of this year’s “A Life for Dance” Lifetime Achievement Award is the famous Russian prima ballerina assoluta, Maya Plisetskaya.
Participating companies will represent Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, Miami, Houston, San Francisco and more.
Enjoy a preview of what you can expect of the International Ballet Festival of Miami:
Miami Beach Home & Remodeling Show displays products, represented by high caliber retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers, which are committed to showcasing the best in the home furnishings business.
Show exhibitors have reported record sales at the semi annual Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach events. Along with record sales, the shows have delivered record attendance. The success of the Home Design & Remodeling Shows reflect the impressive growth nationally, in the home improvement and furnishings industry.
The Florida Turnpike, originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway, is a toll road that runs approximately 312 miles (497 km) down the Florida peninsula through 11 counties, from US 1 in Florida City to Interstate 75 at Wildwood. It parallels I-95 through West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, often literally right next to it, separated by a wall. The Turnpikes mainline goes from Miami to I-75 north of Orlando.
The Turnpike is a primary evacuation route. Tolls on the turnpike cost an average of 7.5 cents per mile for two-axle vehicles but the state may suspend tolls on the Turnpike (as well as other roads in the system) during an emergency evacuation.
I-95 Express Florida
New I-95 Express lanes and Bus Rapid Transit service are being introduced in the hopes to reduce traffic on I-95 from I-395 in Downtown Miami to Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes will be separated from regular traffic lanes and drivers can choose to use them when they feel their time is more valuable than a toll price. Toll prices will fluctuate so keep an eye on overhead signage.
The goal is to keep traffic moving at a speed of approximately 50 miles per hour, while offering transit riders a seamless connection between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties on 95 Express buses. Even drivers not using 95 Express are expected to see improved traffic conditions in the general purpose lanes. Vehicles can use 95 Express by paying a toll with SunPass. The amount will be clearly posted on overhead signs. Adjusting to these new express lanes can be confusing and stressful, so I have added some tips below in order to help you get familiarized.
Vehicles that can use the express lanes without paying a toll:
Emergency vehicles
Registered vanpools
Registered carpools of 3 or more passengers
Registered hybrid vehicles
Several different types of buses
Motorcycles
Restricted vehicles:
Trucks will not be allowed to use the express lanes
Express lane tips:
Once you enter the new Express Lanes
You cannot exit until the end
You cannot cut through the lane markers to break out before Golden Glades.
If you find yourself in the Express Lanes by accident, continue onto the Golden Glades Interchange.
Drivers weaving in and out of the Express Lanes could cause accidents and will be subject to fines and incur points on their licenses.
Be alert and pay attention to all advisories, signage, pavement markings and posted speed limits.
Tolling on the Express Lanes will begin soon.
If you are involved in an accident or experience a car breakdown in the Express Lanes, pull to the left shoulder if you are able and dial *FHP (*347) on your cellphone. Wait in your vehicle with the doors locked. Do not stand behind your car or next to the lane of moving traffic.
For more information about the purpose of the new 95 Express program and how it works call 1-877-95X-FDOT or 1-877-959 -3368.
Miami Florida has always attracted celebrities. Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, the Bee Gees have been Miami’s residents for decades. Most Miami homes that belongs to celebrities or media personalities are located in the exclusives Star Island, North Bay Road, and Indian Creek.
Nowadays, celebrities living in Miami usually are for all regions of the world including, of course, the U.S. and Latin American. Besides, there is not a specific type of celebrity. For instance, musicians, actors, TV hosts, and more love the sunny city of Miami. Among celebrities that owned Miami waterfront homes and Miami houses: Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony. In Star Island, you will Shaquille O’Neal, Rosie O’Donnell, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, while Andy Garcia calls Key Biscayne home. Other celebrities that call Miami their home are Matt Damon and Nicolas Cage.
During a time of sky-rocketing food and oil prices and global warming, pressure is leaving households on a budget. However, despite the trend in the economy, international tourism actually grew year-on-year by about 5% by April of 2008 according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. UNWTO is releasing a prediction in their bi-annual World Tourism Barometer next week that the withstanding growth will continue to increase through 2008. A weakened economy and built-up desire left over since the 9/11 security increase seems to have converted into a travel boom
All tourist destinations have profited from the tourism increase in 2008, although it happened faster for North America due to the weaker dollar. On the other hand, everything evolved more slowly in Europe because of a stronger euro. The top three travel destinations benefited rank in the following order:
1. Middle East
2. Asia
3. Latin America
Egypt, Morocco, China, South Korea, Cambodia, Nepal, El Salvador, Peru, Sweden, Latvia, Montenegro and Israel all underwent double digit growth rates.
Although they can not perform any miracles for Global Warming, UNTWO believes that tourism can help the economies current financial state as it balances payments and promotes the work of farmers, fishers, handcrafters and those in the hospitality industry.
Miami Carnival in its 24th annual edition brings live bands and calypsonians from the Caribbean Islands to Miami. This upcoming Miami event will be in Downtown Miami’s Bicentennial Park on October 12th.
The 2008 Miami Carnival grew from a small neighborhood festival to an international event within the first two years after its first edition in 1984. Nowadays, the 2008 Miami Carnival is North America’s most popular Carnival and the highest profit-generating festival in South Florida.
Guests book airfare and hotel accommodations as early as the November the year before each event. If you do not have your reservations yet, check out this selection of Miami Beach vacation rentals. Tickets run at $20 per person and anyone under the age of 12 gets in free.
Art Basel Miami (Art Fair Weekend) will be hosting some new fairs in the schedule and as reported by some experts in the matter around 25 art fairs will take place in the land of exiles, sun, sand and mojitos.
Everglades City is a tiny fishing village on the northwest border of Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the lower forty eight, after Death Valley and Yellowstone, as well as the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the continental United States.
In Everglades City, you can stay at the Ivey House Bead & Breakfast, the first places in Collier County designed by the state as green lodging, for its reductions in waste and power and water use.
There are several dining options in Everglades City, mainly fish restaurants, you will find there the Oyster House, Everglades Seafood Depot, and Camilla Street Grill. Even though Everglades City is quite small, you can be sure there are many things to do there. The ideal way to take a tour of Everglades National Park from Everglades City is by boat. It is highly recommended to take a tour that will be mainly centered on the water. This way your whole experience is going to be more environmental-friendly. Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about air boats! Apart from airboat operators, you can also find other less invasive water operator tours providing kayak excursions, among other kinds of watercraft excursions.
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Most of the tours provide a visit to Everglades National Park. At the Park, the four visitor’s centers and ranger stations ar open 365 day a year. However, their hours can vary by season, opening between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Everglades National Park boat tours depart daily numerous times from 9:00 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m. from the park’s Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City. The Ten Thousand Island Tour lasts 90 minutes and costs $26.50; half a price for children. While the Man-grove Wilderness Tour, which lasts and hour and 45 minutes, costs $35, and half of that for kids under 12 years old.
Among the top eco-friendly tour operators in Everglades City, Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures provides day and overnight guided tours, as well as equipment rental and shut5tle services from October through April.
Everglades National Park www.nps.gov/ever
Ivey House 239-695-3299 www.iveyhouse.com
Everglades National Park Boat Tours 239-695-2591
Gulf Coast Visitor’s Center 239-695-3311
Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures 239-695-3299 www.evergladesadventures.com
Miami Spice Restaurant Month presents remarkable dining experiences to locals and visitors for fixed prices. Fixed-price lunches for $23 and dinners for $36 at some of the best Miami restaurants are what you can expect from this event in Miami!
The $36 dinner includes an appetizer, entree and dessert, offering discounts of 25-60% off the restaurant’s standard prices.
Currently, a sneak preview of Miami Spice Month is taking place at nearly 40 of the 50th restaurants participating in this Miami event this year. Until June 30th, you will be able to find $23 lunches and $36 dinners in order to have a little taste of Miami Restaurant Month.
To name some of the restaurants being part of the preview, Chef Allen’,s Escoppazzo, La Cofradia, Michy’s, OLA, Pascal’s on Ponce, and Prime Blue Grill.
The popular South Beach restaurant Kobe Club Miami, located on 404 Washington Avenue, has just joined the list of Miami Spice Month participating restaurants. Kobe Club Miami is a new high-end restaurant offering an outstanding menu. Miami Spice Month offers the ideal opportunity for all people living in a budget to try out this South Beach restaurant.
Miami Spice Month is sponsored by Greater Miami Visitors’ Bureau. The sneak peak will be running until June 30th, yet the event will start on August 1st and run till September the 30th.
This Miami event provides great deals during the months of August and September at some of the best Miami restaurants.
