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Miami Winters: The Lush Life and Hip Things

Published

11 years ago

February 10, 2015

Oakland Post

A Viceroy Miami hotel view of Biscayne Bay in Miami, FL

By Dwight Brown
NNPA Travel Writer

MIAMI (NNPA) – The likely anecdote for winter melancholia is a trip to a warm climate. Miami comes to mind. And when we think of Miami, South Beach has traditionally been the tourist hub. But these days, it’s only one of the entrees Miami is serving. Downtown, Mid Beach, Miami Shores… If you go to Miami, the lush life and hip things to do are everywhere.

Downtown Thrives

During the recession, when a herd of condos were built and few could find buyers or renters, downtown Miami was like a skyscraper ghost town, where only financial office buildings and business hotels prospered. Post-recession, those empty apartments/condos are full; people are walking and jogging up and down the streets. Restaurants attract urban warriors, nightclubs jump and life keeps a beat among glistening buildings, pristine streets and waterways with passing yachts.

The 148-room Viceroy Miami is a chic, stylish 50-floor hotel set in the heart of the financial district on Brickell Avenue. The elevator hallway alone portends the boutique luxury to come: checkered floors with diagonal designs, gold-dusted walls and copper colored ceilings, Asian-looking statues with pointy lantern hats. Head upstairs and the rooms face the Miami River where yachts like Mark Cuban’s sleep.

At The Viceroy, that common area is the FIFTY Ultra Lounge on the rooftop in addition to the sun deck and pool area on the 15th floor. Walk on to the verandah and chairs surround an 80-person hot tub and Florida’s longest infinity pool. Catchy energetic music fills the air and a party atmosphere prevails. Keep walking past the first two pools, and you’ll see the third ultra long one that is perfect for swimming laps and is less crowded. At the end of that pool there is a quiet deck area and a drop off into a waterway with spectacular views of Biscayne Bay and the island of Key Biscayne.

Off the back pool, a door leads to an elevator, which takes you to the Philippe Starck-designed 28,000 integrated square foot Spa at Viceroy Miami. A 2,500-square-foot gym features trainers, integrated wellness classes, yoga, Pilates and a spinning studio. A 5,000-square-foot white marble water lounge has a floating library, a reflecting pond, hot and cold plunge pools and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. Ten spa treatment rooms feature various treatments or packages: Journey for Her includes Viceroy Miami Signature Massage, Viceroy Miami Signature Facial, Classic Manicure, 2.5 hours, $285. Journey for Him includes Gentlemen’s Massage, Gentlemen’s Hot Towel Facial, Gentlemen’s Manicure 2.5 hours, $285. Prepare to be treated like a king or queen by therapists like Chrissanthi, who prefers a more natural approach to massages, “Massages are like cooking. You throw in a bit of everything (Swedish, Sports, Deep, Thai Stretching) until it feels right.”

Next to the pool area, the popular restaurant 15 & Vine Kitchen and Bar is a perfect place to sample tapas all night long. Try the Grilled Flatbread (topped with roasted garlic, leek confit, manchego cheese and truffle); go for the main course entrée Thai Style Bouillabaisse (served with lobster tail, mussels and halibut in a lemongrass coconut broth). Desserts include a Guava Sammie with caramel cheesecake, guava jelly and vanilla wafer. Eat inside or outside.

The uber-classy Cipriani Downtown Miami is on the first floor of Icon Brickell next to the water with views of boats the size of houses. The swank blue and white nautical interior combined with the striped Venetian flooring and Murano chandeliers make you feel like you are in the captain’s room on a very fancy ocean-liner. Cozy up to the delicate Langoustine Scampi Tempura appetizer; the house specialty pasta course is the delicious Baked Green Tagliolini with Praga Ham; for your main course the Veal Chop Milanese is flattened thin as a dollar bill and melts in your mouth. Spoil your sweet tooth with the delicate Vanilla Meringue and add a lump of the homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. This is the best tasting Italian food you will ever have outside of Northern Italy.

North of downtown on Biscayne Blvd., the Pérez Art Museum Miami in Museum Park is the haute museum. PAMM is an indoor/outdoor 200,000 square feet concrete wonder dedicated to exhibiting 20th and 21st century international art like the Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome in the sculpture garden and Mexico City-based artist Mario García Torres’ multimedia exhibit.

Mid Miami Beach – Adults Only, Please

Leave Ocean Drive to the twentysomethings. Lincoln Road attracts a crowd of dense tourists like New York’s Times Square. If you want a vacation that’s calm, but near the hot spots, Mid Miami Beach fits the bill, especially, if you stay at the Carillion Hotel and Spa, at Collins Ave and 68th Street. Formerly the Canyon Ranch, this tranquil, health-conscious but lively place is the perfect stress reliever and a cure for winter depression. It sits on a less-traveled section of the beach. Walk into the vast lobby, and the 110-all-suite hotel invites you to relax the minute you step in the door with its soothing tan, brown and wood interior.

The one-bedroom suites come with kitchenettes, sleek living rooms, bedrooms and balconies. The bathrooms, with a taupe marble décor are big enough to host a party; a soaking tub and separate shower are a refuge within a refuge. When you head down to the oceanfront Carillon Grill for breakfast lunch or dinner, be aware that everything is fresh, as farm-to-table as possible, and there is a calorie count on each item on the menu.

Mornings, the place to be is on the beach catching the Eastern Sun. There is no noise. Cell phones are verboten; you hear gentle conversations and the water rushing in. No crowds. No loud radios or screaming babies. If you prefer swimming in a pool, a large one sits right by the entrance to the beach. There’s another on top of the Spa on the 5th floor for midday sun, and still another on the North Towers verandah for late afternoon sun and sunsets. You can sunbathe all day.

Four blocks north and two blocks east, North Shore Park Tennis Center flourishes with players in the middle of intense games, instructors giving adult clinics and teachers coaching children’s classes. At sunset, pick-up games of soccer abound on the adjacent fields. The same management company runs the courts at Miami Shores Tennis Complex at the Country Club, off Biscayne Blvd on 100th Street, which sits next to the club’s golf course. The tennis instructor Liburd “Burd” Germain oversees the six clay courts and three cushioned hard courts. A trip to these courts puts you in an up-and-coming neighborhood that is attracting couples from downtown and South Beach who want to buy an old house, refurbish it and start a family.

The Carillion’s magnificent, 70,000-square-foot Wellness Spa, the largest in Florida, is a scene-stealer. Lounge in a thermal suite, relax with spa treatments, swim laps on the roof top pool, and take a group fitness class. Adventurers can claw their way up the two-story climbing wall and headsets are provided at the Fitness Center. Exercise Physiologists like Oliver Medina can help you assess your body mass (fat, muscles, bone density), create a fitness and diet plan and regime that you can continue at home.

For dinner, head to the gourmet Villa Azur Restaurant & Lounge, next door to the Markowicz Fine Art Gallery and looks like the insides of a chateau. Homey-looking furniture is meticulously placed. The center room is in a courtyard with a lace-curtain ceiling under a transparent rainproof canopy embellished with white drapes and chandeliers. Feast on the French Mediterranean dishes prepared with an Italian twist. Start dinner with the Octopus with Traditional ‘Rouille” Sauce, which is sweet, savory. For pasta the Truffle French Ravioles are flavorful. The Dover sole a la Meuniere is magically filleted at your table. The Lemon Meringue Pie is tart and sweet at the same time.

South Beach Explodes With Hip Things to Do

No vacation in Miami could be complete without at least a trip to South Beach. It’s easy to get around; everything is within walking distance. Surfcomber Miami South Beach a Kimpton Hotel strikes the perfect balance between fun European bohemian living and quality service and food. The eclectic lobby with surfboards on the walls, eccentric furniture and statues of black sheep underline the playful atmosphere. The 186 cozy rooms are steps away from an expansive pool, an outdoor deck, large cabanas and a walkway with direct access to the beach.

The Surfcomber is within walking distance to the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall, shops, restaurants and nightclubs along Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue. Check out the: New World Symphony, a music academy/performing arts center for concerts and wall-cast film showings after dark. The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater has upcoming shows featuring Jessie J; Jackson Browne; Shawn Mendes and Ryan Adams. The Miami Beach Convention Center presents the International Boat Show, Miami Fashion Week and the South Florida International Auto Show.

To get an up-close look at the Miami Port, Fisher Island, Star Island, Downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay and the colorful Stiltsville Houses by boat, take a personalized tour with Ocean Force Adventures. Captain Mack, the tour guide, takes just six passengers aboard his intimate Zodiac RIB during the two-hour trips that focus on historical, cultural and marine life aspects. He’s full of stories, trivia and a bit of gossip (ask about Shaquille O’Neal’s old house).

The Surfcomber’s own lobby restaurant The Social Club is a nice place to dine. Sit outside and you can watch throngs of party people parade up Collins Avenue. The Crispy Alligator is such a unique Floridian appetizer you’ll call your friends back home to brag about it. The Caribbean Red Snapper (with pico de gallo, chorizo fried rice, black bean puree) is served twisted up like a feather on a church lady’s hat. Save room for the Maple Croissant Bread Pudding.

Oolite uses gluten-free ingredients and regional flavors in its cuisine. Don’t’ debate between the Green-Tomato Arepas (crunchy, fried green tomato & romescu Slow roasted duck & goat cheese) and the Wessel’s Barbecue Shrimp for appetizers. Eat both. The Creole Roasted Oxtail and the Lechon-Porksour orange & onions (a delicious cube of pork shoulder) top the entrée list. As you drink down the last drop of the Davis Bynum Russian River Chardonnay, look forward to the Florida Key Lime Pie.

Venture over to Bodega Taqueria y Tequila on 16th Street, it’s the new hot spot that combines Mexican street food and a clandestine bar. The front of the eatery looks like an innocuous storefront. Inside, on the left, is a faux Airstream taco truck façade with large windows where waitresses take orders for: Quesadilla Con Rajas with Mexican Chorizo, Pork, Chicken or Short Rib; Flame Broiled Pork Tacos with Red Onion & Cilantro; and other scrumptious Mexican soul food. By day the place looks like a spotlessly clean café. At night, as hordes of hipsters descend like locusts. You’ll notice a velvet rope on the right side of the room in front of a door marked “Baños.” That portal does not lead to the “bathroom,” but a cavernous bar room with couches, a pool table and an elaborate bar filled with enough liquor for 10 weddings and 10 Quinceañeras.

It’s your choice: Chasing pavements in the downtown quarter, luxuriating in the peace and quiet of Mid-Miami Beach or becoming a nightcrawler in South Beach. The Lush Life and Hip Things in Miami are a cure for what ails.

Visit NNPA travel writer Dwight Brown at www.DwightBrownInk.com.

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Ann Lowe: The Quiet Genius of American Couture

Lowe was born in Clayton, Alabama, into a family of gifted seamstresses. Her mother and grandmother were well-known dressmakers who created exquisite gowns for women in the area. By the time Lowe was a young girl, she was already showing extraordinary talent — cutting, sewing, and decorating fabric with a skill that far exceeded her age. When her mother died unexpectedly, Lowe – only 16 years old then – took over her mother’s sewing business, completing all the orders herself.

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of National Archives.

By Tamara Shiloh

Ann Cole Lowe, born Dec.14, 1898, was a pioneering American fashion designer whose extraordinary talent shaped some of the most widely recognized and celebrated gowns in U.S. history.

Although she designed dresses for society’s wealthiest families and created masterpieces worn at historic events, Lowe spent much of her life in the shadows — uncredited, underpaid, yet unmatched in skill. Today, she is celebrated as one of the first nationally recognized African American fashion designers and a true visionary in American couture.

In 1917, Lowe moved to New York City to study at the S.T. Taylor Design School. Although she was segregated from White students and forced to work separately, she, of course, excelled, graduating earlier than expected. Her instructors quickly recognized that her abilities were far above the typical student, especially her skill in hand-sewing, applique, and intricate floral embellishment – techniques that would become her signature.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, she designed gowns for high-society women in Florida and New York, operating boutiques and working for prestigious department stores. Her reputation for craftsmanship, originality, and elegance grew increasingly. She was known for creating gowns that moved beautifully, featured delicate hand-made flowers, and looked sculpted rather than sewn. Many wealthy clients specifically requested “an Ann Lowe gown” for weddings, balls, and galas.

Her most famous creation came in 1953: the wedding gown worn by Jacqueline Bouvier when she married Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy. The dress – crafted from ivory silk taffeta with dozens of tiny, pleated rosettes – became one of the most photographed bridal gowns in American history. Despite this achievement, Lowe received no public credit at the time. When a flood destroyed her completed gowns 10 days before the wedding, she and her seamstresses worked day and night to remake everything – at her own expense. Her dedication and perfectionism never wavered.

She eventually opened “Ann Lowe Originals,” her own salon on New York’s Madison Avenue. She served clients such as the Rockefellers, DuPonts, Vanderbilts, and actresses like Olivia de Havilland. Yet even with her wealthy clientele, she struggled financially, often undercharging because she wanted every dress to be perfect, even if it meant losing money.

Lowe’s contributions were finally recognized later in life. Today, her exquisite gowns are preserved in museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In the last five years of her life, Lowe lived with her daughter Ruth in Queens, N.Y. She died at her daughter’s home on Feb. 25, 1981, at the age of 82, after an extended illness.

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BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard Scores Top Honors for Affordable Housing Leadership

The Development Company of the Year honor represents a milestone for BRIDGE Housing, which received the Gold award—its top designation—in a category that included both affordable and market-rate developers. The recognition caps what has been one of the strongest growth periods in the organization’s 42-year history.

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. Courtesy of BRIDGE Housing.

By the Oakland Post Staff

San Francisco-based BRIDGE Housing and its president and CEO, Ken Lombard, have been named among the nation’s housing industry standouts, earning two of the top prizes at the 2025 Multi-Housing News Excellence Awards.

BRIDGE Housing was named Development Company of the Year, while Lombard received Executive of the Year, recognition that places the nonprofit affordable housing provider alongside leading national developers of both affordable and market-rate housing.

The awards were announced in New York for the accomplishments achieved during 2024.

Multi-Housing News is one of the industry’s most respected publications. Award winners are selected by a panel of housing professionals, including multifamily developers, architects, and owners.

“BRIDGE Housing is deeply honored to be recognized by Multi-Housing News and our industry peers,” Lombard said. “These awards are a testament to the high-impact, mission-driven work by BRIDGE’s exceptional team to deliver quality affordable housing and support services that empower residents to improve their lives.”

In 2024, BRIDGE significantly expanded its footprint across California, Oregon, and Washington. That momentum continued into 2025, with portfolio growth of 9%, including the addition of nine new communities and 1,187 new or acquired affordable housing units. The nonprofit also added three new projects to its development pipeline as it nears a portfolio of 16,000 units.

The growth reflects a broader strategy aimed at accelerating both acquisitions and ground-up development, supported by partnerships with major financial institutions and innovative capital markets strategies. BRIDGE has also emphasized high-quality design and deep community engagement as central elements of its approach.

BRIDGE became the first affordable housing developer to issue tax-exempt construction bonds for one of the largest affordable housing projects in Portland, Ore., leveraging its strong credit rating.

Earlier this year, the nonprofit launched the BRIDGE Housing Impact Fund, with a goal of investing $1 billion to preserve and create affordable housing. It also closed on $175 million in taxable general-obligation bonds after increasing the offering in response to strong investor demand.

The company’s performance also underscores the role of Lombard, who has led BRIDGE since 2021 and was honored individually for his leadership.

Under Lombard’s tenure, BRIDGE has built a new leadership team with experience drawn from both the nonprofit and private sectors, with a particular focus on what the organization describes as efforts to “break the status quo,” especially in affordable housing finance. Those initiatives have helped reduce capital and construction costs, strengthen relationships with institutional investors, and expand resident support services.

Today, BRIDGE Housing serves more than 33,000 residents across 139 communities on the West Coast.

“Ken has dedicated his career to innovative real estate solutions that improve the quality of life in underserved neighborhoods,” said Kenneth Novack, chair of BRIDGE Housing’s board of directors. “His visionary leadership and the work of our incredible team have positioned BRIDGE for long-term growth that will extend our impact throughout the West Coast.”

Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has helped create more than 23,000 affordable homes with a total development cost of $6 billion.

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Mayor Lee, City Leaders Announce $334 Million Bond Sale for Affordable Housing, Roads, Park Renovations, Libraries and Senior Centers

Saying “Oakland is on the move,” Mayor Barbara Lee announces results of Measure U bond sale, Dec. 9, at Oakland City Hall with city councilmembers and city staff among those present. Photo courtesy of the City of Oakland.

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Saying “Oakland is on the move,” Mayor Barbara Lee announces results of Measure U bond sale, Dec. 9, at Oakland City Hall with city councilmembers and city staff among those present. Photo courtesy of the City of Oakland.

By Post Staff

The City of Oakland announced this week that it is successfully moving forward on the sale of $334 million of General Obligation bonds, a milestone that will provide the city with capital funding for city departments to deliver paved roads, restored public facilities, and investments in affordable housing.

“Oakland is on the move and building momentum with this bond sale,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “We are reviving access to funding for paving our streets, restoring public facilities we all use and depend upon, and investing in affordable housing for our community, all while maintaining transparency and fiscal discipline.”

“These bonds represent our city’s continued commitment to sound financial management and responsible investment in Oakland’s future,” said Lee.

“Together, we are strengthening our foundation for generations to come,” she said. “I’m grateful to our partners in the City Council for their leadership and support, and to City Administrator Jestin Johnson for driving this process and ensuring we brought it home.”

According to the city, $285 million of the bonds will support new projects and $49 million of the bonds will refund existing bonds for debt service savings.

Oakland issued the Measure U bonds on Dec. 4 after two years of delays over concerns about the city’s financial outlook. They all sold in less than a week.

The new money bonds will pay for affordable housing, roadway safety and infrastructure improvements, and renovations to parks, libraries, senior centers, and other public facilities under the city’s Measure U Authorization.

Citywide paving and streetscape projects will create safer streets for Oaklanders. Additionally, critical facilities like the East Oakland Senior Center and San Antonio Park will receive much-needed renovations, according to the city.

Some of the projects:

$50.5 million – Citywide Street Resurfacing
$13 million – Complete Streets Capital Program
$9.5 million – Curb Ramps Program
$30 million – Acquisition & Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing
$33 million – District 3: Mandela Transit-Oriented Development
$28 million – District 6: Liberation Park Development
$3 million – District 5: Brookdale Recreation Center Capital Project
$1.5 million – District 1: Oakland Tool Lending Library (Temescal Branch Library)
$10 million – District 3: Oakland Ice Center

“I recognize that many naysayers said we couldn’t do it,” said Johnson. “Well, you know what? We’re here now. And we’re going to be here next year and the year after. The fact is we’re getting our fiscal house in order. We said we were going to do it — and we’re doing it.”

Investors placed $638 million in orders for the $334 million of bonds offered by the City. There was broad investor demand with 26 separate investment firms placing orders. The oversubscription ultimately allowed the city to lower the final interest rates offered to investors and reduce the city’s borrowing cost.

“The oversubscription ultimately allowed the City to lower the final interest rates offered to investors and reduce the City’s borrowing cost,” said Sean Maher, the city’s communications director.

“The Oakland City Council worked closely with the administration to both advance the bond issuance process and ensure that the community had a clear understanding of the City’s timeline and approach,” said Councilmember at-Large Rowena Brown.

“In September, the City Council took unanimous action to authorize the Administration to move forward with the bond sale because these funds are essential to delivering the very improvements our communities have long asked for – safer streets, restored public facilities, and expanded affordable housing,” she said.

Continuing, Brown said, “I want to extend my sincere thanks to City Administrator Jestin Johnson, Finance Director Bradley Johnson, and Mayor Barbara Lee for their leadership, diligence, and steady guidance throughout the City’s bond sale efforts.

“Navigating complex market conditions while keeping Oakland’s long-term infrastructure needs front and center is no small task, and this moment reflects tremendous professionalism and persistence,” she said.

Moody’s gave the city an AA2 rating on the bonds, its third-highest rating, which it gives to high-quality investment-grade securities.

There was both a tax-exempt portion and a taxable portion for the bond offering, reflecting the various uses of the bond proceeds, according to a statement released by the city.

The $143.5 million of tax-exempt bonds have a 30-year final maturity and received an all-in borrowing cost of 3.99%. The $191 million of taxable bonds have a 24-year final maturity and received an all-in borrowing cost of 5.55%.

The $49 million in tax-exempt bonds that refinance existing obligations of the City resulted in $5.6 million of debt service savings for taxpayers through 2039, or $4.7 million on a present value basis.

Mayor Lee said that, based on her experience serving on the House Financial Services Committee of the U.S. Congress for more than 10 years, city staff has done an exemplary job.

“I have witnessed many cities go to the bond market throughout the years,” she said. “I can tell you with certainty that Oakland’s team is remarkable, and our residents should be proud of their reputation, their competence, and their deep knowledge of this very sophisticated market.”

Looking ahead to the final sale of the bonds, according to the city press statement, pricing marks the point at which the City and investors locked in the final dollar amounts, interest rates, and other key terms of the bond sale. This stage is commonly referred to as the sale date. At pricing, no funds are exchanged. The actual delivery of bonds and receipt of monies occurs at closing, which is scheduled within the next two weeks.

Capital projects receiving this funding will proceed on individual timelines based on their individual conditions and needs. At the time of closing, funding will be immediately available to those projects.