Off-topic: Suggestions for a nice way to spend a Sunday in Miami/FLL area, tomorrow, November 14?
Nov 13th, 2004, 12:44 PM
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Off-topic: Suggestions for a nice way to spend a Sunday in Miami/FLL area, tomorrow, November 14?
Hi,
I am a (prolific) regular here, but I have a short-notice question for any Florida experts here - - since you all "know" me here.
I hope this will not be perceived as "abuse" of the Europe forum, but friends here have offered me US advice here before. And I <i>have</i> posted this on the US forum also.
My wife and I are in Key Biscayne for one extra day, and we are curious for suggestions on how to spend tomorrow, Sunday, November 14. We have all day (flight is early am, Monday). We have been to the area many times, and I am not sure we want outdoor activities (for one thing, it might rain tomorrow). We have been to Vizcaya; we know "the Grove"; tonight, we are going to the season opener of Florida Grand Opera (Madama Butterfly), and then to La Dorada for dinner (late) afterwards.
There is a performance of "Noche Flamenco" which is on our maybe list for tomorrow night - - but we can't seem to find much info about it.
What other suggestions would you make? Shopping, at a mall, or going to a movie - - or just hanging out somewhere - - those wouldn't be the worst fate, but it seems like we ought to be able to do better than that.
Thanks in advance for all input.
Best wishes,
Rex Bickers
Floyds Knobs, Indiana
I am a (prolific) regular here, but I have a short-notice question for any Florida experts here - - since you all "know" me here.
I hope this will not be perceived as "abuse" of the Europe forum, but friends here have offered me US advice here before. And I <i>have</i> posted this on the US forum also.
My wife and I are in Key Biscayne for one extra day, and we are curious for suggestions on how to spend tomorrow, Sunday, November 14. We have all day (flight is early am, Monday). We have been to the area many times, and I am not sure we want outdoor activities (for one thing, it might rain tomorrow). We have been to Vizcaya; we know "the Grove"; tonight, we are going to the season opener of Florida Grand Opera (Madama Butterfly), and then to La Dorada for dinner (late) afterwards.
There is a performance of "Noche Flamenco" which is on our maybe list for tomorrow night - - but we can't seem to find much info about it.
What other suggestions would you make? Shopping, at a mall, or going to a movie - - or just hanging out somewhere - - those wouldn't be the worst fate, but it seems like we ought to be able to do better than that.
Thanks in advance for all input.
Best wishes,
Rex Bickers
Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Nov 13th, 2004, 12:53 PM
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Hi, Rex. I don't know if you and your wife were ever fans of the late Princess Diana, but the Museum of Art in Ft. Lauderdale is now having a special exhibit that you might find interesting. It is from the Althorp exhibit in England and is in this country for a few months.
The exhibit shows a lot of personal family photos, memorabilia, family jewelry, and other items from the Spencer family history.
The main part of the exhibit is the wedding dress and a collection of outfits that you may recognize from news photos.
For more information, you can check the museum website: www.moafl.org
Enjoy your stay. Sounds like you made great plans. Let me know if you liked La Dorada.
The exhibit shows a lot of personal family photos, memorabilia, family jewelry, and other items from the Spencer family history.
The main part of the exhibit is the wedding dress and a collection of outfits that you may recognize from news photos.
For more information, you can check the museum website: www.moafl.org
Enjoy your stay. Sounds like you made great plans. Let me know if you liked La Dorada.
Nov 13th, 2004, 12:59 PM
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Rex, I was visiting friends in Delray Beach a couple of weeks ago. We all really enjoyed the airboat ride in the Everglades. We went to a place in Boca Rato. (20 min. north of Ft. Lauderdale?) If it rains they whip out ponchos to keep you dry. It was not the least bit hokey. Our naturalist guide was very informative. Alternatively you can rent a motor boat and motor up or down the intercoastal and gawk at the amazing homes (and boats). There are loads of fun restaurants and bars to stop at along the way.
Nov 13th, 2004, 01:08 PM
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Rex: A few more suggestions....Closer to Key Biscayne...check out the website for the University of Miami in Coral Gables...www.miami.edu....see if they have any special events scheduled for tomorrow...concerts, plays, etc. Also, on campus is the Lowe Art Museum. You can check out their current exhibits.
Do you like botanical gardens? Have you been to Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables? Very beautiful.
Have you seen the new Village at Merrick Park in Coral Gables? It's an "upscale" outdoor mall...similar to Bal Harbour. The anchor stores are Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom's. If you go there, you might enjoy lunch at Chispa...a new restaurant..Latin cooking. It is across the street from the main "mall".
Have you ever visited the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables? An interesting and historical structure. Nice restaurants there too. It is in the older section of Coral Gables which you might find interesting to drive through. Beautiful, stately homes.
You might enjoy a visit to "Little Havana" on SW 8th Street. (Calle Ocho). You could sample the Cuban food at Versaille (which doesn't sound Cuban, but it is a local landmark.)
Let me know if I can provide any other information.
Do you like botanical gardens? Have you been to Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables? Very beautiful.
Have you seen the new Village at Merrick Park in Coral Gables? It's an "upscale" outdoor mall...similar to Bal Harbour. The anchor stores are Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom's. If you go there, you might enjoy lunch at Chispa...a new restaurant..Latin cooking. It is across the street from the main "mall".
Have you ever visited the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables? An interesting and historical structure. Nice restaurants there too. It is in the older section of Coral Gables which you might find interesting to drive through. Beautiful, stately homes.
You might enjoy a visit to "Little Havana" on SW 8th Street. (Calle Ocho). You could sample the Cuban food at Versaille (which doesn't sound Cuban, but it is a local landmark.)
Let me know if I can provide any other information.
Nov 13th, 2004, 02:35 PM
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Hi Rex - I always thought you were European for some reason...anyway I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and though I haven't really lived there in over a decade, think it is a lovely place, worth the trip up from Miami. Drive north on I-95, get off at Broward Blvd, drive east about 3 miles til you get to downtown, from there ask how to get to Las Olas Blvd (I forget exact directions), a lovely place to walk around (but perhaps too much like Coconut Grove). Since I've left, they've built something called Riverwalk which is near that area downtown which is nice too. Best of all, you should take a water taxi around the canals of Ft. Lauderdale, to see the gorgeous mansions and the sparkling waterways. It would be about an hours drive north for you, but worth it, as I think Ft. Laud is much better than Miami. Have fun! Julie
Nov 13th, 2004, 06:58 PM
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If you like the Art Deco period you can go to the Bass Musuem in South Beach. They have a nice exhibition on Art Deco Art & Furniture. I saw it last weekend when I was in Miami. It will kill an hour. You could also go have lunch at Joe's stone crab which should take another 2 hours.
Nov 14th, 2004, 12:11 AM
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Agree with prior poster. You didn't meniton south beach in your listing of where you have beeen int he area. Could make it a full day from among Bass/Wolfsonian/Jewish Museums, Linclon Road Mall, checking out hotels and other architeture, etc. All within walking distance of each other. BTW, weather is 30 percent chance of scattered showers, so that should not be much of a hindrance to your plans.
Nov 15th, 2004, 02:44 PM
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The first suggestion seemed very good, and we had plenty of other ideas, so that I never got back online after the opera Saturday night to see more of these suggestions.
La Dorada was good. I am very jaded, and it does not make my top ten dining experiences, but like I said - - I am jaded, and it is increasingly difficult to make it on my top ten list.
I remain moderately unimpressed with opera. I guess it was competently performed. I don't know how opera EVER caught on, before projections of what they're singing became avaialable. I'm sure that I am in a minority who might like to see both the Italian and English translation words projected.
It turned out the "Noche Flamenco" was nto really an option (at least not one that fit with our plans, as there was only a matinee performance on Sunday.
We were lazy bums for a good part of the morning, and rain DID influence our plans. The Sonesta Key Biscayne offers a variety of Segway experiences which might have started our morning off, but they said it was too wet. And it made a short jet ski venture unappealing also.
So, our only morning "thing" - - <i>on</i> Key Biscayne was a trip to a little store - - barely larger than a 7-11, called the Farmer's Market, which had WAY too many carry-out choices. Who knew there was a market for caviar at a convenience store.
Anyhow - - a combination of guava-cheese empanadas, a pain chocolat, mango juice and <i>serious</i> (really <i>good</i
Cuban coffees - - from the neighboring Oasis Cafe got us off and rolling up I-95 to Palm Beach, where we made a visit to Whitehall, (the Henry Morrison Flagler museum) before the extravagance of brunch at the Breakers.
Then we drove back to FLL to the www.moafl.org for the Diana exhibit. I must say I was a little bit put off by the price: $19.50 <i>without</i> the audio guide per person - - but still, I <b>do</b> believe in supporting museums. One has to think that the Spencer family (and brother Charles, in particular) has something to do with the high price of admission, though I do not know this for a fact. It's a pleasant enough reverie - - and having just celebrated the wedding of our first daughter, it was interesting to see the "bridal gown of the century", with its <i>twenty-five foot</i> train! (and a price tag, amazingly enough of only 1000 GBP (yes, that's right, not TEN thousand!)
And that included the bridesmaid dress (which - - another memory lapse for me - - I certainly didn't remember that the sole bridesmaid was about 8 years old).
We called it an early night since we had a 5:20 am flight to catch (<i>this</i> morning) - - and I <b>almost</b> missed it (would have, if USAir had been allowed to leave on time, but there was something about the runway not in order) - - dad-gum TSA!
The terrorists really DID win...
Thanks to suntravlr for the Diana suggestion...
La Dorada was good. I am very jaded, and it does not make my top ten dining experiences, but like I said - - I am jaded, and it is increasingly difficult to make it on my top ten list.
I remain moderately unimpressed with opera. I guess it was competently performed. I don't know how opera EVER caught on, before projections of what they're singing became avaialable. I'm sure that I am in a minority who might like to see both the Italian and English translation words projected.
It turned out the "Noche Flamenco" was nto really an option (at least not one that fit with our plans, as there was only a matinee performance on Sunday.
We were lazy bums for a good part of the morning, and rain DID influence our plans. The Sonesta Key Biscayne offers a variety of Segway experiences which might have started our morning off, but they said it was too wet. And it made a short jet ski venture unappealing also.
So, our only morning "thing" - - <i>on</i> Key Biscayne was a trip to a little store - - barely larger than a 7-11, called the Farmer's Market, which had WAY too many carry-out choices. Who knew there was a market for caviar at a convenience store.
Anyhow - - a combination of guava-cheese empanadas, a pain chocolat, mango juice and <i>serious</i> (really <i>good</i
Cuban coffees - - from the neighboring Oasis Cafe got us off and rolling up I-95 to Palm Beach, where we made a visit to Whitehall, (the Henry Morrison Flagler museum) before the extravagance of brunch at the Breakers.Then we drove back to FLL to the www.moafl.org for the Diana exhibit. I must say I was a little bit put off by the price: $19.50 <i>without</i> the audio guide per person - - but still, I <b>do</b> believe in supporting museums. One has to think that the Spencer family (and brother Charles, in particular) has something to do with the high price of admission, though I do not know this for a fact. It's a pleasant enough reverie - - and having just celebrated the wedding of our first daughter, it was interesting to see the "bridal gown of the century", with its <i>twenty-five foot</i> train! (and a price tag, amazingly enough of only 1000 GBP (yes, that's right, not TEN thousand!)
And that included the bridesmaid dress (which - - another memory lapse for me - - I certainly didn't remember that the sole bridesmaid was about 8 years old).
We called it an early night since we had a 5:20 am flight to catch (<i>this</i> morning) - - and I <b>almost</b> missed it (would have, if USAir had been allowed to leave on time, but there was something about the runway not in order) - - dad-gum TSA!
The terrorists really DID win...
Thanks to suntravlr for the Diana suggestion...
Nov 15th, 2004, 02:46 PM
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Oh - - and one last thing - - see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34541011
Got essentially no useful answers from the US forum! What a hoot!
Got essentially no useful answers from the US forum! What a hoot!
Nov 15th, 2004, 04:07 PM
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Rex I'm sorry I didn't see your question in time. It's obviously too late for you to catch Noche Flamenca now, but if they come to your area I'd highly recommend their show. I've seen them several times in NY - they usually play in relatively small venues - and they put on a fabulous show. They have singers and guitarists, as well as flamenco dancers. The main female dancer's name is Soledad Barrio, and her dancing is truly thrilling.
Nov 16th, 2004, 11:05 AM
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Rex: I'm glad my suggestion about the Diana exhibit was helpful to you.
And I was delighted that I was able to reciprocate for all YOUR excellent advice from which I've benefited many, many times.
Yes, the price of admission for the exhibit at the museum is a bit of a shock. But this is the regular practice of the museum for their MAJOR exhibits. Every year in the fall the museum has some MAJOR exhibit for which they always charge $19.50. Last year's special exhibit was from the Vatican museum. I guess it pays off for them because they keep doing it. And people keep lining up. They've had no shortage of customers.
As for restaurants, I agree with you...it is getting harder and harder to give out my own personal "4 stars."
But it sounds like you had a feast at the little grocery on Key Biscayne. I love guava-cheese empanadas.
Most important...glad you arrived home safely.
Suntravler
And I was delighted that I was able to reciprocate for all YOUR excellent advice from which I've benefited many, many times.
Yes, the price of admission for the exhibit at the museum is a bit of a shock. But this is the regular practice of the museum for their MAJOR exhibits. Every year in the fall the museum has some MAJOR exhibit for which they always charge $19.50. Last year's special exhibit was from the Vatican museum. I guess it pays off for them because they keep doing it. And people keep lining up. They've had no shortage of customers.
As for restaurants, I agree with you...it is getting harder and harder to give out my own personal "4 stars."
But it sounds like you had a feast at the little grocery on Key Biscayne. I love guava-cheese empanadas.
Most important...glad you arrived home safely.
Suntravler
Nov 16th, 2004, 12:02 PM
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The price is evidently NOT a deterrent for throngs to show up - - or so the staff told us; we arrived at the last hour of the day and had the place to ourselves. I think I might have been all the more miffed at the high price if it had seemed uncomfortably crowded.
But as I said - - I "made my bed" long ago - - to support museums, so I will keep my grumble at low volume.
One other little plug I had meant to mention - - I am not one to get into the interminable arguments over "best gelato in all of Italy" - - but for those who need a fix and can get to Coconut Grove, well then Bacio is a pretty good approximation of some of the finest in what passes for Italian gelato in this country.
Once again, over-priced ($3.95 for a "small" - - which can include two different flavors, and $4.95 for a large), but a whole lot cheaper than a plane ticket!
But as I said - - I "made my bed" long ago - - to support museums, so I will keep my grumble at low volume.
One other little plug I had meant to mention - - I am not one to get into the interminable arguments over "best gelato in all of Italy" - - but for those who need a fix and can get to Coconut Grove, well then Bacio is a pretty good approximation of some of the finest in what passes for Italian gelato in this country.
Once again, over-priced ($3.95 for a "small" - - which can include two different flavors, and $4.95 for a large), but a whole lot cheaper than a plane ticket!
