Features

The stately and historic Casa del Ensuenos in Palm Beach, designed by that narrow strip of money's most iconic architect, Addison Mizner, is on the market asking a generous $32.5 million. Curbed wrote something about it last week. Apparently the name probably means 'house of the dreams,' but more importantly, it's a Mizner! A good Mizner is worth its weight in Manolo Blahniks, and this one's a real gem.

The Fairwind Hotel, which upon completion will be a collection of restored art deco, postwar modern, and contemporary buildings clustered around an open central court, and which has been in the works for, like, over ten years, is finally nearing completion in South Beach.

Over the last 53 years, The Bass has received generous funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Most recently, we received grants totaling $140,000 to fund Temporary Contemporary, a public art program for temporary outdoor projects, and to fund Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui. Support from the NEA made these exhibitions and projects possible, while furthering the museum’s ability to leverage other major grants and donations.

Miami Beach's quaint Espanola Way has been under renovation to become a permanently pedestrian street since significantly earlier than when I last wrote about it–October last year, "Espanola Way to be Permanently Pedestrianized"–and from the looks of things pretty much zero progress has been made since then. So, what's going on here?

Well kablooie. Aria on the Bay, a condominium project which I once called the Melo Group's least hideous tower yet, is very close to being topped off at its full 52 story height, as we can see in new construction photos by Miami's premiere street architecture photographer Phillip Pessar. I'm happy to say my initial impression of the Arquitectonica-designed tower is proving to be very true.

Urban planner and activist Donald Shockey's car was firebombed early Saturday morning, in front of his home just outside of the Design District. Mr. Shockey claims the blaze was in retaliation for some activism he's been doing lately to improve his neighborhood. Shockey posted the following on Facebook:

A temporary sign tacked above the front door of the former L'Epoca Department Store, an historic streamline moderne art deco building that originally held a Walgreens Drug Store, reads in big bold letters 'CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT.'

FENDI Casa, the furniture and interiors branch of the iconic Fendi Italian fashion house, is presenting their 2017 campaign in a sun-filled modernist living room with a Miami backdrop of palm trees, pools, and skyscrapers. The press release gushes about how fabulous everything is. But does the furniture live up to its setting, or is it just a little too minimal?

Last night I had the honor of moderating a panel on social media and marketing for real estate brokers at the model unit and sales center for the Residences by Armani Casa in Sunny Isles Beach. It was a fun talk and I'll share the video over social media later, but meanwhile posted some of interior shots at the ultra luxury project on social media the other day, and many of my friends had mixed reactions to the design.

Nightlife legend Susanne Bartsch has a monthly super gay cabaret extravaganza at Brickell's El Tucàn called Susanne Bartsch Presents the Bareback Follies, and having already come in December and January, it's back for its February incarnation on the 28th. Last month's show was an absolute ball (I got on the stage twice!), but each month is a little different.