Author Archives: timallen

New Changes for the NMB Trolley

The next time you ride North Miami Beach’s (NMB) trolley system, you may notice a few welcome surprises. The NMB Line unveiled several changes last weekend. These new changes include complimentary service on the city’s B-line and a connection with the shuttle and trolley services of Sunny Isles Beach and North Miami. Perhaps most notably, the trolley is modernizing itself by offering free Wi-Fi.

The NMB Line makes stops at several locations, including but not limited to the North Miami Beach Library, 163^rd Street Mall, Intracoastal Mall, North Miami Beach Senior High, and City Hall. Its new routes officially went into effect on Monday.

Don’t forget that you also have the option of using the Miami Beach trolley, which is also free. The trolleys run every five to ten minutes and they operate from 6 am to midnight Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, operating hours are from 8 am to midnight. There is also an Alton-West Loop with slightly different operating hours throughout the entire week: from 8 am to midnight. In addition to the Alton-West Loop, the trolley also includes the Middle Beach Loop, Collins Link, and North Beach Loop.

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in ICON South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the ICON South Beach condos for sale one of the other luxurious South Beach condos, call 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Miami Beach’s Best Music Week Pool Parties

Miami Music Week is in full swing, culminating with the arrival of the ultra popular Ultra Music Festival. To help you get in the mood and enjoy all of the tunes, there are plenty of pool parties going on, and we’re here to tell you about some of the best ones.

The Axtone Miami Pool Party kicks off tomorrow at the Delano in Miami Beach. The party will feature a host of famous DJs including Benny Benassi, Bob Sinclar, and many more. There are also rumors that electronic music supergroup Swedish House Mafia may reunite at the party. Mainstream audiences might recognize them from their Grammy nominated 2012 hit “Don’t You Worry Child”. Tickets cost $48.

Over at the Nautilus, the Heartfeldt Pool Party begins at noon on Friday. Names like Hook N Sling and Jonas Blue will be spinning “palm tree house music” as partygoers sip on piña coladas while listening to singers like Emily Warren. Tickets cost $43.

If you didn’t snag tickets to Ultra, you can always listen to DJ Erick Morillo at the National Hotel on Collins Avenue this Sunday. The DJ is known for being very energetic and he will be joined by names like Junolarc, Cocodrills, and more. Tickets to 20 Years of Subliminal with Erick Morillo cost $23 and the party begins at noon.

Visiting Miami Beach for the First Time

Are you planning on visiting Miami Beach for the first time during the spring? Its overabundance of things to see, places to go, and activities to enjoy may seem overwhelming, but it’s all a matter of picking and choosing some of the best ones. Here are a few suggestions.

For lodging, the Eden Roc Resort is a fine choice. It has a gorgeous oceanfront setting, a quartet of pools (including one exclusively for adults), even a casino is available if you’re the type that likes to try their luck. You probably won’t need to deal with the large spring break crowds as the resort has closed access to the beach. A fitness center, beauty salon, spa, the resort spares no expense.

The spring weather is perfect for some exercise. Play some golf, spend an afternoon at one of the lush parks, or participate in a yoga class by the beach as the sun sets. There are countless places for a hearty run, a fun bike ride, or a leisurely stroll.

Speaking of activities, you can go canoeing, kayaking, you can rent a jet ski and cruise around Biscayne Bay, go sailing, the options are endless. You can find deep discounts on many of these activities by checking websites like Groupon.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtors representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in ICON South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the ICON South Beach condos for sale one of the luxurious South Beach condos, call 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Stay Fit in Miami Beach

With its top-notch amenities and one of a kind experience, Miami Beach is integral for the health and fitness industry. With its various fitness centers, community wellness activities available at no charge, and various running routes, it’s an ideal destination for anyone looking to remain active.

The Miami Marathon will be taking place in Miami Beach soon and if you’re looking to prepare, the city has got you covered. The Spartan Gym located over at the 1 Hotel South Beach will be offering exercises centered around obstacles to get participants ready for the physically demanding event.

If obstacle based exercise isn’t up your alley but you still want something intense, check out Reebok CrossFit in South Beach. Every day brings a different workout and challenge as members are pushed to their limits doing squats, sit-ups, and more.

If you have no intention of participating in the marathon or find CrossFit to be just a little out of your fitness comfort zone, Miami Beach is ideal for those seeking relaxation. In fact, you can participate in a class of yoga at no charge every day of the week by heading to 3rd Street Beach Yoga. You don’t necessarily need to bring a yoga mat as a natural one is already provided for you.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtors representing Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Icon South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Icon condos for sale one of the luxurious South Beach condos, call 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Miami Remains Investor Friendly

Any stakeholder and investor knows that it’s vital to keep close tabs on how the Miami luxury real estate market is performing. Activity fluctuates on a practically daily basis and when these changes happen it’s often necessary to make some tweaks. Last year, sales softened in Miami, but that was also the case in most of the country. Despite this, more and more Miami condos are being built, which indicates that investors still see plenty of worthwhile opportunities in the market.

A few years ago, the Miami market saw heavy foreign influence, and although this has cooled the city retains a strong appeal among international investors and buyers. Despite the high rents, buying still remains a better prospect than renting, and the time is ripe to purchase luxury homes, condos, and pre-construction projects. Developers continue to build highly regarded projects that are intended to sell out and it appears that so far these projects remain successful.

Should you have any questions on where to buy in the Miami luxury real estate market, we would be happy to talk to you and help you find a lucrative opportunity, whether you intend to purchase or invest in a pre-construction development in a city like Miami Beach.

Find Somewhere to Eat with the Miami Beach Information App

Have you ever had that moment where you’re really hungry, yet you can’t figure out what or where to eat despite the array of options available? Launched back in November of last year, the Miami Beach Information app might be one of the most useful apps you download to your phone this year.

Free to download, the Miami Beach Information app presents a complete list of the numerous dining options available across the entire barrier island. You’ll find names Cecconi’s Miami Beach, Hakkasan, and many more. Besides the listings of restaurants, the app also provides useful door to door directions and deals available to use locally. A collaborative effort between web experience platform Solodev and the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, the app is surprisingly the first of its kind for any city in the entire country.

Despite the breadth of information, restaurants within the Miami Beach Information app are categorized in useful ways so as not to become overwhelming, including by distance, alphabetically, and they can also be found by keyword. The app has already has close to 10,000 downloads. If you’d like to learn more about the app or find download links, visit http://www.miamibeachapi.com/. It is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Where Will You Spend New Year’s Eve?

Any New Year’s Eve plans? If you’re still trying to figure out what to do or where to go, Miami is packed with various events and musical acts that will be welcoming 2017 in the Magic City. Let’s explore some of the highlights.

You may already know that Justin Bieber is going to be performing at the Fontainebleau, but we can’t forget about what will arguably be the biggest bash of them all: Mr. 305 himself, Pitbull. The rapper will once again headline the Bayfront Park celebrations that will include other musical guests like hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa, rappers Coolio and Tone Lōc, and many more. Just like last year, the festivities will be streamed live on the Fox network.

Will you be near the Gale Hotel? If so, you may want to purchase to the Rec Room, where DJ Spinderella will be spinning tunes alongside Furbzz and Iron Lyon. Coincidentally, DJ Spinderella is also a member of Salt-N-Pepa.

If you’d rather stay away from the sure to be gargantuan crowds and try something new, Bitter Truth recently opened in Midtown Miami. Located at Northeast First Avenue, the new spot features cocktails and live music. For New Year’s Eve, the musical act SunGhosts will be performing.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in Icon South Beach. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Continuum condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Celebrities at Art Basel

The 2016 version of Art Basel is over, but Miami’s art scene arguably remains more vibrant than ever. If you missed out on the event, there were many major highlights as well as a colorful cast of celebrities that made an appearance.

Perhaps most notable of these events was the one involving venerable entertainer Madonna. Making a late night appearance at the Faena Forum, the singer managed to raise more than $7 million during an intimate concert/auction. All proceeds went towards her Raising Malawi foundation, which seeks to assist orphans in the African country. Singer Ariana Grande, Academy Award winners Sean Penn and Leonardo DiCaprio, and entertainment mogul Sean Combs were among the attendees.

Singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi also performed at the Faena while rappers Rick Ross and Nas were seen performing over at South Beach’s Rockwell Also spotted at Rockwell were celebrities like tennis pro Venus Williams, Kendall Jenner, and media personality Michael Strahan.

Other celebrities that were seen attending the various Art Basel events include actresses Katie Holmes and Sarah Jessica Parker, popular late night talk show host James Corden, model Tyson Beckford, and even lifestyle maven Martha Stewart.

If you attended Art Basel, did you happen to catch a glimpse of a familiar face?

Art Basel’s Satellite Events

Art Basel is literally just a couple of days away. While the main event is typically held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, there are numerous Art Basel satellite events that also take place in Miami. If you’d like to know about some of the other art-related events going on, we’ve got you covered.

This Sunday, Northwest 20th to Northwest 23rd Street will be shut down in Wynwood to make way for Auto Promenade Wynwood. Over sixty unique “Road Art” vehicles will be showcased beginning at 10:30 am and ending at 4:30 pm. You’ll find vintage cars, supercars, classic cars, and more at this event that is free and open to the public.

Are you a fan of the work of David Lynch? The Parisian club SILENCIO designed by the multi-talented artist himself will be returning for a fifth time to the Miami Design District for just one night this Friday, December 2nd at 11 pm. You’ll be able to check out various artwork, enjoy musical performances, and much more.

The Locust Projects on North Miami Avenue remains the city’s longest running not for profit space. This week, you can check out a trio of exhibitions by artists like Katie Bell and Alexis Gideon and opening reception kicks off tonight beginning at 7 pm where Gideon will also be performing.

Take a Trip Aboard the Miami Beach Trolley

mbtrolley

Miami Beach may be known for its strong contemporary vibe, but city officials are taking a trip back into the past with its latest unveiling. Today, the city is debuting a trolley service intended to bring a bit of relief to holiday travelers that could use a break while also providing snowbirds a convenient means of getting around the barrier island.

Officially called the Middle Beach Loop, the trolley service—which is complimentary—connects the Mid-Beach route to the North Beach Trolley and Alton-West Loop, considerably simplifying getting around for residents and tourists that need to reach North Shore and South Pointe. The Middle Beach Loop extends from the northern part of 17th Street to 44th Street. Some of its stops include Collins Park, the Miami Beach Convention Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, City Hall and several other points of interest. The official ribbon cutting ceremony and inaugural ride happened earlier today at 22nd Street and Liberty Avenue.

The Middle Beach Loop can carry up to 25 passengers at a time and there are also accommodations for disabled passengers. Despite being free to travel, the trolley is ultra modern, boasting complimentary Wi-Fi, security cameras, tracking in real time, and more.

Will you be taking a trip on the trolley this holiday season?