How an Ancient Spanish Monastery Ended Up in North Miami
The structure was actually built in northern Spain and existed there nearly eight centuries until 1925. That’s when publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst acquired the cloisters and the monastery’s outbuildings, had them disassembled stone by stone and shipped to the U.S.
The crates sat in a Brooklyn warehouse until after Hearst’s death in 1952 when two entrepreneurs decided to purchase the monastery and have it reassembled as a South Florida tourist attraction.
Today, the property is owned by the Episcopal Church, which holds weekly services on-site. The cloisters, gardens and chapel are open to the public for a small donation.
Here’s Your License to Chill at Hollywood’s Margaritaville Resort
Florida’s number one chill ambassador Jimmy Buffett added to his growing business empire in late 2015 with the opening of Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. The 17-story, $150-million hotel strikes the perfect balance of coastal luxury and the laid-back lifestyle Buffett is known for around the world.
It features 349 guest rooms/suites (including the 2,834-square-foot Jimmy Buffett Presidential Suite that can cost up to $5,000 a night), full-service spa, eight bars and restaurants, multiple pools, surf simulator, kid’s club, and beach and resort shops that stock exclusive Margaritaville merchandise.
Here are 8 reasons why we think the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is beyond cool.
Blown Out Flip Flop
Walking in the front door of the hotel, you immediately notice a 14-foot-tall electric blue flip flop sculpture with a pop top nearby. The sign at its base reads: “Blown Out Flip Flop. The acclaimed artist, whose more contemplative works appear in museum collections around the world (often featuring his signature sun baked canvases covered in oil), has gone to the beach this season. He prefers to remain anonymous, allowing his first work in the emerging genre of POP-top-ART to speak for itself.” It’s almost mandatory that everyone who visits has to take a selfie with this unique piece of art.
Inviting Colorful Lobby
Without a doubt, this has to be the most creatively designed, eye-catching hotel lobby we’ve ever seen. Every element in this comfortable space is designed to provoke conversation and encourage guests to linger. (We seriously didn’t want to leave!) You could easily roll up on one of the large modern sofas and take a long nap. Suspended with ropes from the ceiling are oversized porch swings, possibly a first for any hotel lobby. Hanging in the middle of the room is a lighting structure made entirely of margarita glasses that give the space an unpretentious hint of sophistication. Antique wooden surf boards hang on the walls and parrots in flight are everywhere you look. Lining a walkway to some of the rooms are three indoor cabanas adorned with the lyrics from Buffett’s signature song Margaritaville: “Strumming my six-string, Nibblin’ on sponge cake, Watchin’ the sun bake.”
So Many Places to Eat & Drink
In addition to the on-site Margaritaville Restaurant, the resort has enough food and bar options to make you never want to leave the property. Adjacent to the lobby is JWB (James William Buffett) Prime Steak & Seafood, a new upscale restaurant concept that’s only open for dinner. The Landshark Bar & Grill offers panoramic views of the Atlantic on the oceanfront deck while Floridays provides quick food truck fare out of a vintage airstream trailer parked on the Broadwalk. There’s also a rooftop bar on the 11th floor that’s exclusive to guests and the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill across A1A overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Catch a Wave
Adventurous types can attempt to surf on the resort’s FlowRider Double, a surfing simulator directly on the Broadwalk that’s open to the public and guests. While we weren’t brave enough to try it ourselves, we spent more than an hour having fun laughing at all those who did and ended up wiping out instead. Next time, we conquer it!
Spa Day
The spas of South Beach can’t top the resort’s St. Somewhere Spa, a serene 11,000 square-foot getaway with eleven treatment rooms (two designed specifically for couples), steam rooms, scrub room, and rainfall showers. There’s also a co-ed wet lounge featuring a hot tub and relaxation benches.
Minimalist-Tropical Rooms & Suites
Influenced by the colors of the sea, sand and sky, the resort’s guestrooms and suites boast teak-finished furnishings accompanied by subtle maritime accents. On the sea-colored wall above the bed is a series of strategically-placed window shutters which provide texture and depth and give the space plenty of character. The bathroom has a spacious walk-in shower with sea glass colored tile. Every element in the room is designed to transport the guest to the Caribbean paradise they’ve always imagined.
Fun Activities for All Ages
This island-inspired paradise features three unique pools — two on the beach level and one incredible rooftop pool on the 11th floor. The beach is just a few steps away from the hotel’s back door while across the street on the Intracoastal, guests can paddleboard or take part in other water activities. For the younger set, there’s the Parakeet Kids Club with tons of games and crafts supervised by trained counselors.
Live Entertainment
What would a resort by a legendary singer and songwriter be without live music? You’ll find plenty at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. On any given night, guests can enjoy performances from some of South Florida’s hottest local musicians who play at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill and Landshark Bar & Grill. MHBR has also taken over the iconic Hollywood Bandshell, allowing the resort to put on almost nightly concerts for everyone on the Hollywood Broadwalk. It’s truly a party atmosphere you have to experience.
Visiting the Shell Factory, One of Florida’s Original Tourist Traps
“Tourist trap” doesn’t have a negative connotation when used in relation to the World’s Largest Shell Factory and Nature Park in Fort Myers. This behemoth gift shop (68-thousand square feet, to be exact) has been peddling in Florida kitsch since the early days of the state’s tourism industry.
The Shell Factory name is a little misleading. Sure, there are lots of varieties of shells for purchase here. But it’s not your run-of-the-mill shell shop.
Anyone who attempts to describe this place always falls short. That’s because it’s impossible.
Inside, you’ll find the normal tacky t-shirts and souvenirs available at every beach gift shop in the state. But as you move down the aisles, it becomes clear this place has a bigger mission to entertain and even educate.
There are mini-museums on everything from pirates and fossils to exhibits about the military, the JFK assassination and exotic animals. One room called the Museum of Natural History contains nearly 200 taxidermied animals, a collection valued at $6 million.
On the grounds outside is a Nature Park with live animals like zebras, camels and lemurs. There’s also a dinosaur exhibit, reptile exhibit, walk-thru aviary, petting farm and eco lab.
It’s almost like a miniature Busch Gardens, minus the big coasters! Kids of all ages can ride the bumper boats, paddle boats and zip line or play a round of miniature golf.
Food options run the gamut from a full-service restaurant to homemade fudge and even a Subway.
The owners say the Shell Factory is always evolving; that changes will never be complete. It’s hard to imagine what the place will look like in 5 or 10 years. But I’m excited to return!
This Savannah Streamliner Is Home To Amazing Barbecue
When you get a hankering for good barbecue while visiting Savannah, Georgia, let your nose guide you to a vintage Streamliner in the city’s Victorian District. The winged pig on a tall neon sign will let you know you’ve arrived at Sandfly BBQ.
Let’s start with the location. You’re likely to see a lot of college-age students hanging around. It’s across the street from an elegant 1892 Queen Anne Revival style building known as Eckburg Hall. While it started out as an elementary school, today it’s used by the Savannah College of Art and Design — or SCAD, as everyone refers to it here.
The college originally purchased the 1938 Streamliner in Massachussetts and brought it to Savannah in 1990. For years, it served primarily students and faculty wanting a quick meal between classes.
After sitting empty for a while, it was purchased by Sandfly’s Keith Latture, who had been operating a successful location outside the city’s historic district since 2007.
Latture cut his culinary teeth in Memphis, one of a handful of American cities synonymous with barbecue. He likes to describe Sandfly’s take “Savannah-style,” noting that it fits right in with the eclectic tastes of the Lowcountry.
Eating inside this cozy space is a real treat. The vibe of the restaurant is laid-back and unpretentious. Sit on a stool at the counter or grab one of the original mahogany booths where you can people-watch out the large windows. It seems students are always running to class (probably late) with a project in-hand.
The Sandfly’s menu gets the job done! Try the “World Famous” Brunswick Stew in a cup or in a bowl, a Sandfly sandwich (pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, smoked sausage) or, if you haven’t had a decent meal in days, the Hog Wild Platter, which includes pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, smoked sausage, 2 ribs, 2 sides and Texas Toast.
Sides include: baked beans, coleslaw, collard greens, mac & cheese, hand-cut french fries and potato salad. Wash it all down with an iced tea or bottled Mexican soda.
But the real fun happens when applying Sandfly’s special sauces. The flavors are out-of-this-world good. According to the restaurant’s website, the sauces are a reflection of their regional travels. There’s a Memphis-style sweet sauce, a zesty, mustard-based Savannah sauce, and a spicy, vinegar-based Western North Carolina sauce. The sauces only enchance the flavor of the meats, which are traditionally seasoned and smoked over a combination of pecan and hickory.
There’s never a rush on the bill. But when the server brings it, the ticket will probably be in a vintage tin cup of some sort. Neat touch!
Most menu items range in price from $6.50 to $13 for some of the plates. If the Hog Wild Platter is calling your name, you’ll pay $23. Not bad for all the food you get.
The downtown location of the Sandfly is at 1220 Barnard Street. Hours are Monday-Saturday 11am until they run out.
A Town Built on Fried Green Tomatoes
Well off the beaten path near Macon, Georgia is the small town of Juliette. To movie goers, this unincorporated community is perhaps best known as Whistle Stop, Alabama — the fictional town where the 1991 film Fried Green Tomatoes is set.
Evelyn Couch is having trouble in her marriage, and no one seems to take her seriously. While in a nursing home visiting relatives, she meets Ninny Threadgoode, an outgoing old woman, who tells her the story of Idgie Threadgoode, a young woman in 1920’s Alabama. Through Idgie’s inspiring life, Evelyn learns to be more assertive and builds a lasting friendship of her own with Ninny.
The film’s producers chose Juliette because, at the time, it was almost completely abandoned, giving them the look and feel they wanted for the Depression-era story. They transformed a building that had been used as a general merchandise store into the famous Whistle Stop Cafe. A horseshoe counter was built inside to allow for easy camera movement.
After the film’s success at the box office, Juliette suddenly found itself a hot spot on the map. Folks started to open up antique and gift shops with merchandise geared toward fans of the movie.
Locals kept the Whistle Stop Cafe a homestyle eatery that serves authentic southern cuisine like fried chicken, country fried steak, pork chops, sandwiches and salads, peach cobbler and pound cake. Of course the star of the menu will forever be fried green tomatoes.
5 Fun Places to Visit in Downtown Orlando
It’s no secret Orlando sometimes gets an undeserved reputation for being all about the Mouse House, Shamu and Harry Potter. The general thinking is there’s not much to do in downtown Orlando. But the City Beautiful is a nice place to spend a few hours soaking up local culture and taking in the arts scene. What’s even better, there are plenty of free (or really inexpensive) things to do in the downtown area, if you know where to look.
Take a Stroll Around Lake Eola
Smack-dab in the middle of downtown Orlando is the city’s most famous body of water — Lake Eola. The lake and its iconic fountain are used to advertise the city near and far, and the park that encircles the water is a popular spot for festivals, a weekly farmer’s market, holiday fireworks shows, concerts and other special events. Runners and walkers love the .9-mile sidewalk. Kids love seeing all the ducks. And couples enjoy leisurely trips inside the giant, swan paddle boats, which can be rented for $15 per half hour.
Tour the Orange County Regional History Center
Housed in a restored 1927 courthouse, the Orange County Regional History Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian and the best place to learn about the area’s past. Four floors of permanent exhibits immerse you in 12,000 years of Central Florida history. Admission to the museum is $8 for adults and $6 for children (prices effective September 5, 2015). The first full weekend of every month, the History Center offers free admission to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.
Check Out Exhibits at CityArts Factory
Look for the giant half Mona Lisa on the building at the corner of Pine Street and Orange Avenue and walk inside. Since opening in 2006, the CityArts Factory has been one of the best places in Central Florida to see art from local and international creatives. The collection is rotated on a monthly basis and the facility regularly hosts special events. Best of all, admission is free!
Stop By Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe
A new rad hangout is Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe at 703 North Orange Avenue. This place is so much more than just a record store. It’s a community gathering spot that Orlando has desperately needed for some time. Uncle Tony’s carries a nicely-curated selection of rare vinyl, old-school boom boxes, vintage record players, and hip hop fashions from BBoy.
View Artwork at the Grand Bohemian Hotel
If you’ve ever stayed at or visited a Grand Bohemian Hotel, you know the owners have impeccable taste. And that’s reflected in the hotel’s very own art gallery. The gallery at the Orlando location showcases over 100 works of art by local, regional and internationally recognized artists. Glass, ceramics, jewelry, contemporary paintings and sculptures are on display. There’s no charge to look around the gallery.
Miami Hot Dogs: Nathan Has Nothing on Edgar
Some rituals never get old. Such was the case when I lived in North Miami a few years ago and would pay a visit to La Perrada de Edgar almost every Friday night.
Nestled in a row of shops along Collins Avenue just south of 71st Street, Edgar Gomez’s hot dog shop is a little bitty place famous for putting a new twist on an American classic. He elevates the hot dog to an art form like the vendors in his native Colombia.
I paid a visit to my favorite South Florida eatery on a recent visit to the area and everything is just as I remembered. The red, white and yellow interior screams “hot dog shop.” A red tile bar with metal stools runs the entire length of the store on one wall, while behind the high counter on the other side is where all the magic happens. This is where Edgar and his team create Colombian hot dogs.
In Colombia perros calientes are sold in street stands with ketchup, mustard, salsa rosada, mayonnaise, pineapple sauce, cheese and crumbled potato chips. Some add a cooked quail’s egg on top. In the coast, it’s common to also add some finely shredded lettuce to the bun, giving it a refreshing touch for the coast’s hot weather. There is also a version called “perra”, it usually has the same other toppings but it’s made of chopped bacon and barbecue onions instead of a sausage.
– from Wikipedia
Pictures of menu items dominate both walls as well as images of Edgar posing with his celebrity friends, including television star Anthony Bourdain who once profiled the restaurant on the Travel Channel.
By now, you’re probably asking, “What makes this hot dog place so special?”
Maybe the best answer is Edgar’s imagination. You won’t find a boring hot dog on the menu. Instead, Edgar adds a little bite to each dog, piling them with a smorgasbord of unique toppings and sauces from all over the world.
“From bacon and chorizo to salad, onions, peppers, pineapples, potatoes, and even eggs. Suddenly ketchup and mustard seem so passé,” Edgar writes on his website.
I was happy to see they still served my all-time favorite, the Italian Hot Dog. The plump, juicy sausage is put in a bun and topped with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, bacon, Edgar’s special blend of Italian sauces, cheese, ketchup, potato sticks.
These things can be a little messy to eat. When I tried to eat my hot dog with a knife and fork (a big no-no), Edgar came to the table and showed me how to eat it properly using just the foil wrapper, just as he did when he caught me trying to use utensils years ago.
The menu of hot dog varieties at La Perrada de Edgar is endless. There’s a Venezuelan Hot Dog, Mexican Hot Dog, Argentinian Hot Dog, French Hot Dog, Roman Hot Dog, Greek Hot Dog, Spanish Hot Dog, Chilean Hot Dog, Brazilian Hot Dog, and several American Hot Dogs with his own special touch.
In recent years, he’s added a number of Asian-inspired hot dogs to the menu. Topped with ingredients like rice, sesame seeds, zucchini, wasabi, and even teriyaki chicken, the countries of Japan, China, Thailand and the Philippines are well represented here.
And the menu isn’t limited to just hot dogs. There’s quesadillas, burritos, arepas, personal-sized pizzas, tamales, smoothies and desserts.
The hardest part about eating at La Perrada de Edgar is making a decision on what to order. If you want to do it like the Colombians, order the Edgar Special Hot Dog. The sausage is topped with mozzarella cheese, pineapple, blackberry, plum, sauces and whipped cream. Might sound a little off-putting, but it’s oh so good!
