Celebrate The Holidays With Exciting Events At Zoo Miami

This holiday season Zoo Miami is hosting a myriad of exciting and fun activities for everyone. Enjoy a Holiday Hoedown, eight nights of Zoo Lights, Dinner with Santa, and watch the animals open their special holiday gifts!


Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami. General zoo admission is $15.95/adult and $11.95/child (3 -12) plus tax. Children under 3, Zoo members and parking are free. Zoo Miami’s regular hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; ticket booths close at 4 p.m.


The Holiday Hoedown, Zoo Lights, Dinner with Santa are special events with separate admission prices. To save time, buy tickets online at www.zoomiami.org.  

Holiday Hoedown

Alligator Ron's Holiday Hoedown is a fundraiser for Zoo Miami’s up-coming exhibit, Florida: Mission Everglades, set to open in 2014. It will take place on Dec. 3 at Green Glades Ranch (21111 SW 16 St., Weston) from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.


There will be live music from the country band Shadow Creek, an open bar, and great BBQ all to benefit the Florida: Mission Everglades. Since it is a hoedown in December, the attire requested is Holiday Western Wear. Light up cowboy boot mugs will be sold for a $20 donation.


Main event tickets are $150 each and VIP tickets are $250 each. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.holidayhoedown.com. 

The lighted giraffes at Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights

At Zoo Miami, guests can enjoy beautiful animal-shaped lights as they stroll zoo walkways during the 8 nights of Zoo Lights, have Dinner with Santa, and watch the animals open their specially-prepared gifts during Holiday Gifts for the Animals.


The zoo’s glorious grounds come to light for eight brilliant nights during Zoo Lights, Dec. 16-23 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. (ticket booths close at 9:30 p.m.). Guests can enjoy dozens of bright animal-shaped lights along our walkways, listen to wonderful holiday music, sip hot chocolate, munch on delicious cookies, and take a ride on a camel, the wildlife carrousel or the hippo slide (the world’s largest inflatable slide). Included with admission is a pair of 3-D glasses, which will make the Zoo Lights experience even more engaging and amusing. 


General admission is only $5 per person plus tax. Food, beverages, camel rides, carrousel and hippo slide are all available at additional costs.

Dinner With Santa

Dinner with Santa will take place on Dec. 17, from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Bring the kids to meet him before he has to rush back to the North Pole!  Enjoy a delicious holiday dinner with the family, photos with Santa, a holiday plush gift and holiday craft-making for the little ones! 

Dinner with Santa admission includes parking, entry to Zoo Lights from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. and a classic holiday menu of fresh roasted turkey with homemade gravy, baked ham, candied sweet potatoes with melting marshmallows, herbed buttery carrots, homemade cranberry sauce, dinner rolls with butter, homemade seasonal pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing, strawberry-infused lemonade, and cranberry mint-infused water.


General admission is $39.95 per adult and $33.95 per child ages 3-12. Zoo members are $36.95 per adult and $30.95 per child ages 3-12. Children ages 2 and under are free. To make a reservation, please call 305-251-0400, Ext. 84941.

Gifts for the Animals

Another fun family activity is Holiday Gifts for the Animals!  Every weekend in December, including Christmas Day, watch the animals joyfully open holiday gifts prepared by zookeepers and volunteers. The animals enjoy opening up their enriching gifts and visitors will be entertained watching them! See schedule below for details.


Saturday December 3
10:30 a.m.: Great Indian hornbills at Wings of Asia will receive papier maché ornaments filled with meaty treats.
1:30 p.m.: Pygmy hippo will eat giant red and green popsicles.

Sunday December 4
10 a.m.: Jaguars will get their own holiday tree – an Australian pine tree with all of the trimmings including catnip!
2 p.m.: Asian bear will receive a gift box filled with treats.

Saturday December 10
10:30 a.m.
Great Indian hornbills at Wings of Asia will receive papier maché ornaments filled with meaty treats.
11:30 a.m.: Lions will get red and green ice treats.
3 p.m.: African elephants will get giant candy canes.

Sunday December 11
10:30 a.m.: Tigers will cool off with their holiday ice treats.
2 p.m.: Gorilla will receive their own holiday popsicles.

Saturday December 17
11:30 a.m.: Santa will deliver sacks filled with treats for the Orangutans.
1 p.m.: Asian elephants will get a giant holiday ribbon.

Sunday December 18
12:30 p.m.: Meerkats will receive a gift box filled with bugs!
2:30 p.m.: Great Indian hornbills at Wings of Asia will receive papier maché ornaments filled with meaty treats.

December 24, Saturday
10:30 a.m.: Great Indian hornbills at Wings of Asia will receive papier maché ornaments filled with meaty treats.
1 p.m.: Asian elephants will get edible holiday ornaments.
2 p.m.: A holiday tree with all of the trimmings will be delivered to Amazon & Beyond for the agouti, chestnut-mandibled toucan, great curassows and black-throated magpie jays.

Sunday December 25
1:45 p.m.: Chimpanzees will receive a holiday surprise!
3 p.m.: African elephants will receive their own giant holiday tree!

Saturday December 31
11:30 a.m.: New Guinea singing dogs will receive New Year’s ball treat dispensers.
1:30 p.m.: Warthogs will get New Year’s decorated treat boxes.

Sunday January 1
2 p.m.: Sun bear will receive treat boxes for the New Year.
3 p.m.: African elephants will get papier maché animals.


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Don't Miss the Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk This Saturday, Dec. 17

Enjoy strolling the quaint, tree-lined sidewalks of historic Downtown Hollywood while being serenaded by the sounds of a jazz saxophone, or the soft strings of a violin or harp. Take a moment to look over the shoulder of an artist painting and visit the art galleries and businesses showcasing local, regional and international artwork.


The ArtWalk takes place the third Saturday of every month, from 7pm-10pm. Please park in one of the Municipal Garages from 6am-10pm. The first two hours are FREE, and the cost is $1 per hour thereafter. Garages locations: 20th Avenue Municipal Garage (between Harrison Street and Van Buren Street), or 19th Avenue Municipal Garage (between Tyler Street & Polk Street).


Please download an event map to locate the garages and to help navigate the ArtWalk. A complete list of ArtWalk participants is below.

The Shade Post
2028 Harrison St., #102 
954-920-0029
www.ArtOfShade.com
A fashion lab and showroom for the Art of Shade, a recycled, redesigned one-of-a-kind label by designer Kayce Armstrong. Fashions from bikinis to couture gowns!


ANSU Gallery
Fine Arts | Collectibles | Gifts 
2028 Harrison St., #104
954-454-5632
www.AnsuGallery.com
Local artists show and sell their fine art. One-of-a-kind hand-painted porcelain collectibles and papier mâché sculptures. Hand-painted murals on tiles, magnets & more.


D'Art Vine
2000 Harrison St., #4
954-455-5594
www.DArtVine.com
Art gallery and custom framing.


Armando Perez Creations
Fine Artist | Jewelry Designer | Wax and Metal Sculptor
2029 Harrison St., #5
954-241-0081
www.ArmandoPerezCreations.com
Original oil paintings and jewelry designs by artist Armando Perez. Custom made jewelry and commissioned artwork.


ArtsPark Visual Arts Pavilion Gallery
One Young Circle
954-921-3500
www.HollywoodFL.org/artspark
In the Visual Arts Pavilion, visitors can enjoy demonstrations of glass blowing, jewelry making & sculpting, view rotating exhibitions and purchase original artwork.

And don't forget to stop by these amazing

Downtown Hollywood eateries & local businesses:

Cuenca's Montecristo Lounge of Hollywood
1928A Harrison St.
954-364-7660
www.facebook.com/Montecristo.Lounge
The Montecristo Lounge is a classic, relaxing and cozy members only cigar club that hosts a public "Art and Cigars" exhibition each month that attracts cigar aficionados and art lovers alike.


Niki's Café
2028 Harrison St., #103
954-920-7878
A fusion of European & Caribbean flavors ("Eurobbean") where you can enjoy the highest quality in imported cheeses and wines or a delicious plate of Latin food and ice cold beer.


Café Volare
2033 Harrison St.
954-655-5432 
Gourmet International food, fresh baked items, homemade pastas and desserts. Everything is fresh and made on the premises.


Megabite Chillout Lounge
1910B Hollywood Blvd.
954-237-2888
www.MegabiteCyberCafe.com
Chic internet lounge with live music, fanciful and exquisite food. Beer is served at 23°F and there are 20 flavors of bubble tea.


Alexandria Mediterranean Restaurant
2050 Hollywood Blvd.
954-925-4521
www.Alexandria-Restaurant.com
Offering our guests a full liquor bar, a hookah lounge, the best belly dance show every night, special VIP events and much more, all while enjoying the best Mediterranean seafood in town.


Goddess Store & Studio
2017 Harrison St.
954-929-2369
www.GoddessStore.com
Experience a variety of dance forms and yoga at our unique studio. An easy and fun way to maintain and improve your health and wellness. FREE Monthly Dance, Poetry and Art Events.


Kerry's Papery
2029 Hollywood Blvd.
954-547-3165
www.KerrysPapery.com
Invitation and stationery studio.


Comfort Zone Studio & Spa
2028 Harrison St., #101
954-923-2030
www.ComfortZoneSpa.com
Specializing in romantic couples treatments and spa parties. Customized facials, LED facial rejuvenation, a variety of massages, European waxing, natural nail services and more!


Paul Miller Hair Studio
2019 Hollywood Blvd.
954-922-9710
www.PaulMillerHair.com
Paul Miller Hair Studio features an upbeat and trendy atmosphere influenced by some of the most talented and professional hair stylists in Florida. Local and regional artists' work on display during ArtWalk (in December only).


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Magical Snowfall Returns for its 9th Year at Dolphin Mall

Dolphin Mall Rings in the Holiday Season with a Winter Wonderland in South Florida.

Dolphin Mall invites everyone to experience the ninth annual Magical Snowfall. The free winter festivities in Miami begin at Dolphin Mall at the Ramblas Plaza on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and continue into the New Year. There will be a snowfall at 7 p.m. daily, with an additional snowfall at 9 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.


Beginning Monday, December 19 there will be a 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. snowfall every day until Monday, January 2, 2012. There will be no snow on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), or New Year’s Day (January 1, 2012).


In true Dolphin Mall holiday tradition, magical wands will be distributed every night to children under 12 years of age, when their parents sign up to receive the Dolphin Mall e-bulletin.

At the strikes of 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., the children will wave their wands in the air and magically the snow will return to the mall while illuminating the sky with a warm holiday glow. Youngsters can pick up their wands 30 minutes before each show. 


Dolphin Mall is an enclosed value retail/entertainment/dining destination with 240 retailers, restaurants and entertainment options. It is located just five miles west of Miami International Airport, where the Dolphin Expressway and the Florida Turnpike intersect. Shoppers can access the mall by taking Exit 27 off the Florida Turnpike. The address is 11401 NW 12 St., Miami. For information please call 305-DOLPHIN (365-7446).


Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours in the Ramblas Plaza entertainment area.


For a complete list of stores, dining and entertainment options at Dolphin Mall, please visit www.shopdolphinmall.com.


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Aventura Mall Hosts 7th Annual Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale

Aventura Mall will "bake a difference" when it hosts the 7th Annual Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, a culinary benefit to end childhood hunger in America. The event takes place  Sunday, May 22, from noon-4pm at Aventura Mall's Center Court.
                                    
Local bakeries, restaurants, marketplaces, and hotels will offer samples of sweet treats for $2 to $5. Tickets for all bake sale items will be on sale at the event for $1 each or $10 for 13 tickets - a baker's dozen. Proceeds will be distributed to local organizations that feed children and assure them access to good nutrition.

The 2010 bake sale

Participating vendors include: Grand Lux Café, Nordstrom Café Bistro, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Ocean Prime, Alisa’s Painted Bistro, Turnberry Ocean Colony, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Spa, Chef Allen's, Florida International University, Edda’s Cake Design, Hot Cookies, Cookies by Shar, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Caramel Swirls, Chocolate 4 Charity, Forever Sweet Cakes By Design, Jennifer's Homemade, Joe's Stone Crab, Nestle Waters, and Whole Foods Market.

The event will also include raffles for great prizes, a cupcake decorating station for kids and several pastry demonstrations.

One in almost four children in America goes to bed hungry each night – that’s 17 million nationwide and more than 637,000 kids in Florida alone. Proceeds from Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale will be distributed to local organizations that feed children and assure them access to good nutrition; past recipients have included Feeding South Florida, Florida Impact and FLIPANY.

Chef Allen Susser of Chef Allen's

Event Chairman is Chef Allen Susser of Chef Allen's Restaurant and Co-Chairwoman is Jennifer Behar, of Jennifer’s Homemade.

South Florida's number one shopping destination among locals and international visitors, Aventura Mall ranks as one of the top five highest grossing malls in the country in sales per square foot. Anchored by Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Macy’s, Aventura Mall boasts 300 specialty stores, ranging from chic, internationally renowned names such as Herve Leger by MaxAzria, Burberry, Faconnable, Henri Bendel, Michael Kors and Hugo Boss to many of the most popular and recognized retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Apple, Calvin Klein, Forever XXI, True Religion and Diesel. Aventura Mall is also home to 10 full-service restaurants and an exclusive contemporary art collection featuring 10 installations positioned throughout the shopping center. 

Located at 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, the mall is open Monday through Saturday, 10am-9:30pm, and Sunday, noon-8pm. For more information call 305-935-1110, visit online at www.aventuramall.com, Facebook and Twitter.   


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Seminole Casino Hollywood Collects 6,214 Pairs of Shoes, Donates Them to the Soles4Souls Charity

Marilyn Orr, left, of Miami donates at the Soles4Souls

charity drive at Seminole Casino Hollywood.

By offering $10 in free play, the Seminole Casino Hollywood's Player’s Club staff was able to collect 6,214 “gently worn” shoes for people in need during April.  The casino, located at 4150 North State Road 7, across the street from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, collected the shoes to donate to Soles4Shoes, who ships them to victims of natural disasters or to people living in extreme poverty.

“We were astounded by the public’s response,” said Robert Dearstine, Seminole Casino Hollywood director of marketing. He estimated the monetary value to be more than $90,000, given a low estimate of $15 per pair of mostly unused shoes. ”We did have to reject many pairs because they really have to be practically new shoes,” he explained.

 

It’s estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes in their closets. Every seven seconds, Soles4Souls gives away another pair of shoes to someone in need. The charity has earned glowing endorsements from Hollywood stars and professional athletes, but the people that truly make the non-profit organization effective are those who clean out their closets to personally drop off their ‘gently worn’ shoes at a participating location, said founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Wayne Elsey. 

 

If you missed the free play for donated shoes effort at Seminole Casino Hollywood, you or your company can always donate by visiting the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org. 

 

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away more than 5.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes--currently donating one pair every nine seconds. The shoes have been distributed to people in more than 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the U.S. For more information, visit www.giveshoes.org.

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Fall-ing for the Everglades

Big Cypress Marsh

In most places across the country, the fall season heralds a time of transition.  It's palpable. It is seen and felt in the weather, the foliage, the attitudes of people and their work ethic. Subtle as it might seem in South Florida, there is a period of transition in the Everglades as well, most notably in the form of cooler temperatures and an increase in the number of avian and human visitors. It's exactly the time of year that interest in visiting and learning about America's Everglades heats up.Encompassing more than 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park is the third largest national park in the lower 48 states, behind only Yellowstone and Death Valley in size. The total land area occupied by the Everglades was once 8 million acres; drainage and development have reduced that, but is still HUGE! 


Everglades National Park provides the best way to see the Everglades up close; there are lots of boardwalks and trails for hiking and biking, allowing visitors to see a myriad of birds, fish and reptiles, as well as exotic plants - the Everglades is home to 67 endangered or threatened species! The Anhinga Trail, named for the birds that flock to that area, is also a great place to see Florida alligators in the wild. 

Cypress Prairie

Why is the Everglades so important to South Florida? The massive slow-moving river - 100 miles long by 60 miles wide - allows water to filter through to the aquifer that provides most of South Florida's drinking water, for one thing. Commercial and recreational fishing are part of life in South Florida and the Everglades provides plenty of opportunities for both, as well as an ecosystem with a variety of life seen nowhere else!  Fall and winter, when the water is lower, are the BEST time to see the Everglades. For more information about the "River of Grass," its importance to the planet and efforts to restore and save it, visit the Everglades Foundation online. The National Park Service website about Everglades National Park has all the info needed to plan a fun trip to the Everglades, as well as maps and camping information. 


In the meantime, check out these fun facts about the Everglades, courtesy of the Everglades Foundation. 

1. The Everglades comprise the largest wetlands located in the lower 48 states in the U.S.A.
2. While it is often described as a swamp or forested wetland, the Everglades is actually a very slow-moving river.
3. Once spread out over 8 million acres, the Everglades ecosystem reaches from the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee where waters from the lake slowly moved south toward Florida Bay completing the Everglades ecosystem.
4. Native Americans living in and around the river called it Pahayokee (pah-HIGH-oh-geh), the "grassy waters."
5. Birds were so plentiful in the Everglades that it was said they “darkened the sky” when they took flight.
6. America’s Everglades are home to 67 threatened or endangered species.
7. Just months after Florida became a state in 1845, the legislature took the first steps that would lead to draining the Everglades.
8. Periphyton, the mossy golden-brown substance that is found floating in bodies of water throughout the Everglades, is the dominant life form in the River of Grass ecosystem.
9. The Everglades is the only place in the world where the American Alligator and the American Crocodile co-exist in the wild.
10. Mosquitoes play a vitally important link in the Everglades food chain. The larvae of grown mosquitoes provide food for a variety of native fish that are critical to the diet of wading birds.
11. The Everglades is a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
12. The ubiquitous grassy plants known as sawgrass (a sedge), feature serrated, razor-edged blades of grass that are so sharp, they have been known to cut through clothing. 

Photos courtesy of The Everglades Foundation. 

Miami Seaquarium Announces Special in Honor of Lolita's 40th Anniversary

It's a "whale" of a celebration - Lolita's 40th Anniversary at Miami Seaquarium - and what better way to celebrate this momentous occasion in park history than to give back to wildlife charities.  In honor of Lolita's 40th Anniversary, Miami Seaquarium has created the Give $4 - Save 40% program. All summer long, for a $4 donation to help save wildlife affected by the BP Oil Spill, the park will offer a 40% discount on admission. The Give $4 - Save 40% promotion will benefit the following charities: the Audubon Nature Institute, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Sea to Shore Alliance and Sea Turtle Conservancy.  Guests will be given the opportunity to choose which charity will receive their donation.  The offer, which runs until October 21, is only available with a donation form that can be found on www.miamiseaquarium.com.


Guests may choose from the following four charities:


Audubon Nature Institute
The Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program (LMMSTRP), coordinated by Audubon Aquarium of the Americas since 1993, has been designated as the primary responder for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of all marine mammals (dolphins, whales and manatees) and sea turtles along the Louisiana coast.  Audubon is working closely with many other organizations including Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, NOAA, and the U.S. Coast Guard to monitor the situation and respond to stranded and injured marine wildlife in the Gulf. More information is available at http://www.auduboninstitute.org/gulf-oil-spill-resources.


National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) works to preserve and restore the nation's native wildlife species and habitats. NFWF directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private funds. The  foundation works with a full complement of individuals, foundations, government agencies,
nonprofits and corporations to identify and fund the nation's most intractable conservation challenges.


Sea to Shore Alliance
Sea to Shore Alliance (Sea2Shore) brings expertise, passion, and vision to help reverse the destruction of aquatic environments and the loss of species diversity.  Sea2Shore specialists use science and education to reduce threats to endangered aquatic species, such as manatees and sea turtles.  Sea2Shore is working with the oil response team and flying along the northern gulf coast to search for manatees that are threatened or injured by the BP oil spill. Sea2Shore partners with the Miami Seaquarium and other members of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick and injured manatees. 


Sea Turtle Conservancy
The Sea Turtle Conservancy, formerly known as the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, is the world's oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. An international nonprofit, Sea Turtle Conservancy was founded to save sea turtles from eminent extinction through rigorous science-based conservation. Headquartered in Florida, the organization carries out worldwide programs to conserve and recover sea turtle populations through research,  education, advocacy and protection of the natural habitats. 


About Miami Seaquarium
Miami Seaquarium, South Florida's most popular tourist attraction, is a family-oriented marine-life park open to the public 365 days a year. The park provides visitors with a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life exhibits. General admission to Miami Seaquarium is $37.95 and $27.95 for children (ages 3-9).  More information on Miami Seaquarium is available at www.miamiseaquarium.com.

7th Annual Greynolds Park Love-In

The Greynolds Park Love-In is a celebration of the 1960s with music, vintage clothing and memorabilia. Once a hangout of the "flower child," Greynolds Park during the 1960s was the site in Miami for jam sessions, poetry   readings and peaceful demonstrations. That spirit is captured in the annual Love-In, when approximately 5,000 groovy guys and gals turn out for the one-day event which features a live concert with a national act from the '60s and activities for the entire family. This year, rock music legend "The Grass Roots" starring original lead singer Rob Grill headlines in concert with famous hits such as  "Midnight Confessions," "Let's Live For Today" and "I'd Wait A Million Years." Also performing are Rewind, The Fit, Been There Done That, and Blackstar. Previous national artists have included Mitch Ryder, The Spencer Davis Group; Joey Molland's Bad Finger; The Classic Rock All Stars; The Guess Who; Chuck Negron; and Richie Havens. The family will enjoy a host of activities and exhibits which include a 60s costume contest, 60s-style vendors,  a fun Kids Zone, food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, Hula-Hoop contest, Frisbee throwing contest, tie-dying tee-shirts, hippie photo opportunities and idewalk chalk drawing for children.  Greynolds Park 17530 W. Dixie Highway, N. Miami Beach Entrance at 22 Avenue and NE 186 Street 305-945-3425 Click here to view a map. Greynolds Park Love In Sunday, May 16, 2010 11 am- 6:30 pmFree Admission $10/vehicle parking fee.  Coolers are not allowed.

Guide to Miami's Native Plant Life

Miami is in the tropics. While this information isn't exactly shocking, it is important to understand that the plant life here is different than anywhere else in the US. We have tropical temps, high humidity and high levels of sunshine that some plants, such as many varieties of roses, just cannot handle outdoors.

Plants here are hardy and can stand up to the heat and sun and thrive on them. Some native species, and others which are "newcomers" but have flourished include those below.

Mangroves: The word refers to both individual trees and the forest of them (to non-scientists anyway). Mangroves like salty water, so they are plentiful along the shorelines and estuaries of Miami-Dade County. Their amazing networks of roots and branches offer safe harbor for many species of fish, birds and other animals. Everglades National Park has many acres of mangroves.

Mangos: Although mangos hail from India and surrounding areas, they have been in Florida so long they seem native! A mango tree with flowers is shown to the left. Besides being delicious and beautiful, mangoes have another characteristic: they go splat. A lot. "Mango poop" is so common in South Florida that homegrown humorist Dave Barry has written about it. (Not to worry; it comes off easily in a car wash.) Mangoes are nutritious and are seen in many foods in Florida including shakes and smoothies, salsa, BBQ sauce and salads.

Sawgrass: It's not really a grass, but the saw part is close! These plants grow any where from 3 to 9 feet tall and have little flowers on them, as well as sharp, sometimes serrated edges. Sawgrass is distantly related to papyrus, which was used in ancient Egypt to make paper. The Everglades is covered in sawgrass, hence its nickname, "the River of Grass."

Palm or Palmetto Trees: Yes, they are everywhere. Many varieties are not native but they adapt well to the soil and climate of South Florida. The Sabal Palm is the state tree of both Florida and South Carolina and it is native to the southeastern US, as well as to the Caribbean. They grow very well in sandy soil and photos of them make lovely postcards!

Gumbo-Limbo: It's not just fun to say! These small trees can grow to be quite tall but don't get very thick in the trunk. The Gumbo-limbo used to be called the "Tourist Tree" because the tree's bark is red and peeling, like the skin of sunburned tourists, who flock to the areas where it grows well. They also make great air fresheners.

Satin Leaf Tree: Native to South Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and a number of Carribean islands, the Satin Leaf tree has beautiful golden leaves, so although it produces edible fruit (called damson plums), it is usually used as just an ornamental plant.

Orchids: Orchids are the largest group of flowering plants, boasting more than 22,000 species. While some kinds, especially the ones that are more common in the US, can grow in pots and gardens, a lot of the more tropical varieties live on other plants and trees. An odd looking cluster of plastic rings attached to the side of a tree in South Florida generally means someone is cultivating orchids.

Boom to Bust! Great Deals on Miami Area Real Estate

Miami was one of the first real estate boom areas to start to bust, but that downturn is also bringing good news to potential investors in South Florida real estate. Prices in all areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties have significantly dropped since the top of the real estate boom in 2006, through the second quarter of 2009.

At the same time that prices have dropped, foreign investments have helped to create some market stability not seen in other areas of the US. "While many factors have contributed to the decline in home sales in Florida, an increase in foreign home buyers has helped to decrease the amount of damage. Foreign buyers recognize U.S. real estate as a desirable, profitable and secure investment. Also, the weak U.S. dollar has made U.S., and particularly Florida, real estate investments even more attractive," according to Pensacola realtor Howard Liggett.

Liggett said that the National Association of Realtors, in cooperation with the Florida Association of Realtors, conducted a survey in August, 2008, of Florida Realtors, asking about their experiences in working with international clients. "More than one quarter of the Realtors had one property sale to an international client, while 15% reported two transactions within the past 12 months.... One-third of Florida Realtor respondents also noted an increasing share of their business coming from international buyers over the past two years."

The cliche "every problem is an opportunity" has never been more true! Will these prices go lower? Most likely not, based on the increasing pace of sales and declining inventory, coupled with continued local job growth as reported in local media. Today is a great time to buy your dream home in Florida!

Primer for South Florida Cuisine

The food of South Florida is like nowhere else. It is a wonderful mix of the foreign and the familiar, the magical and the mundane. Known as Floribbean, this flavorful combination of Cuban, Southern American, Spanish and other Caribbean flavors, characterized by lots of seafood, tropical fruits and spices, was fusion long before FoodTV! The lists below give some information about the unique ingredients that go into the food here and give it that unique Miami spice!

There are as many kinds of empanadas, little turnovers, as there are islands in the Caribbean. Chicken, beef, veggie, spicy or mild, there are dozens. Try them from a street vendor - just like a hot dog or pretzel in New York. Visiting Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami, be sure to stop by Latin American Cafe for some of their always-ready empanadas. They also have great Cuban sandwiches, which are made with roast pork, ham, pickles and Swiss cheese, all pressed together in hot crispy Cuban bread. 

Whether it is white rice or yellow rice (which gets its color from saffron, the world's most expensive spice), rice is a staple in Floribbean cooking. It is frequently served with black beans (Cuban), pigeon peas (Jamaican) or red beans (Cajun, other Caribbean). Together, rice and beans are a complete protein - and a delicious one from the stock, onions, garlic and chiles usually simmered into the beans.

Native to the waters around Florida, stone crabs are a delicacy only available from November to May. Fishermen remove one claw from the crab and return it to the water. The claw will regenerate to full size in about a year. Claws are usually served chilled, often with a mustard sauce. Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach is the first restaurant to ever serve stone crab claws.

Mangos are everywhere in South Florida! There is even an International Mango Festival here. Originally from India, mangos have spread all over the world's tropics. Besides eaten fresh, mangos have found their way into chutneys, salsas, salads and even barbecue sauces.

Another popular Florida street and fair food are arepas - they are even sold at sporting events here! Arepas are corn cakes with melted mild cheese between them, sort of a Caribbean grilled cheese.

Grouper and snapper are native fish that are essential to true South Florida cuisine. Depending on the restaurant, they are fried, broiled, baked, grilled or sauteed, but they appear on a multitude of menus.

Plantains are a banana variety that is not sweet when it is still green. Green plantains are often served deep-fried as chips or fritters and served as a side (tostones), while sweet ripe plantains are pan-fried to carmelize them (maduros) and eaten as a dessert, side or snack.

It's not Flipper! Also known as mahi mahi or dorado, dolphin are a beautiful fish that also taste wonderful. Many area restaurants have adapted and changed the name for visitors, but there are holdouts which still list mahi mahi as dolphin. (Flipper and his cousins are really porpoises, not dolphins!)

Citrus fruits, including Key limes, oranges, tangerines, lemons and others, show up across South Florida in salads, sauces, marinades and more. Mojo Criollo, an essential Cuban marinade, is made from a zesty blend of garlic, onion and citrus.

Yuca is a fibrous root vegetable is often served battered and fried, like a thick French fry or in cubes, or boiled and doused with garlic sauce.

Native Florida avocados are much larger than their California cousins, called Hass avocados, and have smooth skins instead of pebbled ones. They also stay bright green when ripe. They have a much higher water content than Hass avocados and are therefore lower in fat. They are wonderful raw on sandwiches and in salads, but do not make great guacamole! Florida avocadoes are also known as alligator pears.

Very important to pastry, guava features in a lot of South Florida desserts! Many Cuban and Caribbean bakeries carry pastillitos, little pastries, filled with guava, sometimes guava and cream cheese together. It is VERY sweet with a sharp fruity flavor.

A creamy Spanish custard that is all over in South Florida, flan was originally a caramel flavor, but now flan is available in vanilla, chocolate and even fruity varieties. Tres leches, a dessert made with sponge cake soaked in evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream, sometimes topped with whipped cream, is another popular Cuban dessert widely available in South Florida. Mojito's, a Cuban restaurant at the Dolphin Mall, offers traditional caramel flan and tres leches on its menu, as well as flan made with cream cheese, cream cheese and guava or chocolate! 

Floribbean food is much more than what is above. Enjoy and experiment! There's nothing else like it in the world.