What's New in...
MIAMI
by Jimmy Im
At 70 years old, Michael Aller—the
Mister Miami Beach for several decades now—has
the spirit of someone 40 years younger, and a passion
to tell Miami stories without hesitation. He's such
a cool guy, he knows everyone, and he still manages
Miami Beach Tourism's hotline 24/7, answered by Michael
himself on his cell phone. His biggest claim to fame?
"In 1991, I was the first openly gay member of
the City of Miami Beach administration. Now, I'm just
Michael Aller."
As an indication of an always growing
gay scene in Miami, we're in good hands. The city has
come a long way, and is constantly changing for the
gay community. In fact, Miami recently opened the Miami
LGBT Visitor Center (www.gogaymiami.com)
dedicated to welcoming the community to the city. Miami
is also finally coming around with gay pride. They launched
Miami Beach Pride two years ago (last year's
Pride saw attendance more than double), and they have
high expectations for their annual gay pride in April
2011.
In 2010, locals and visitors alike finally
welcomed the new speedy Skytrain at Miami International
Airport (in addition to two brand-new terminals into
which $6 billion was pumped). Additionally, you can
now get shuttle service direct from the airport (Terminal
E) to South Beach for $2.35 on the newly-launched, half-hour
shuttle, thanks to the Miami government. It’s great
for those on a budget.
Needless to say, those airport doors
are constantly swinging with both frugal and luxury
travelers: there was a 3.1% increase from last year.
Visitors, it seems, experience a whole new Miami with
every visit considering how fast the city shifts. It
wouldn't seem too far-fetched to think the city is beckoning
specifically to the gay traveler with the outcrop of
new, fancy hotels. In fact, there have been more than
30 new hotels opened since 2008, three of which are
landmark hotels that have reopened. The mother of all
revamped properties is the Fountaine-bleau (4441
Collins Ave, Tel: 800-548-8886. www.fountainebleau.com).
Reopened in November 2008 with a billion-dollar expansion,
it was the place for high society. Quietly removed from
the South Beach strip, it's a self-contained, 1,500-room
property with so many amenities—six pools, 11 restaurants,
a 40,000-square-foot spa, and world-renowned Liv nightclub—you
never really have to leave. They just opened a new,
buzzing lounge, ArKadia, giving more incentive to stay
up past Miami's bedtime (5 A.M.).
Another hotel that's back on the South
Beach scene, at a smaller scale, is the Betsy
(1440 Ocean Drive, Tel: 305-531-6100. www.thebetsyhotel.com).
This beautifully restored hotel right on Ocean Drive
(just a few blocks from the designated "gay"
beach) has just 61 rooms with contemporary colonial
design and Malin+Goetz toiletries (the gay-owned cosmetic
boutique brand). While there's a pool on the ground
floor, the deck is a quiet sanctuary with day beds and
fruity cocktails.
Meanwhile, Soho Beach House (4385
Collins Ave, Tel: 786-507-7900. www.sohobeachhouse.com)
is the fifth property opened by Soho House and another
recent luxury hotel opening that the gay community knows
well. It's a private members club, so the perks for
hotel guests include access to all amenities, like the
Beach Club, private dining rooms, and the scene-stealing,
100-foot-long pool.
Speaking of pool, Ritz-Carlton South
Beach (One Lincoln Road, Tel: 786-276-4000. www.ritzcarlton.com)
finally found a new tanning butler. After months of
absence (the guys keep getting plucked away by modeling
agencies), the resort hired a new butler who is easy
on the eyes. Equipped with a fannypack of SPF and oils,
20-year-old Miguel patrols the swimming pool in order
to give proper sun protection for guests who happily,
I might add, accept. Ritz-Carlton's famous spa also
received a new menu, which caters to a younger audience.
Expect more creative options like the Rhythm Massage,
a 50-minute treatment that combines the distinct flavor
and culture of Miami by using Latin-inspired music.
You can choose either Relaxation or Energizing. I opted
for the latter and thus began my journey of a fast-paced,
fun, deep, and effective massage that was freakishly
in sync with the beats of flamenco and salsa music.
It was like Dancing With the Stars on my body, and I
was more than energized for my night out.
 The
“belt” of South Beach was bursting at the
seams as it continued to develop over the years. Thus
the "downtown" scene became gentrified. Up
until five years ago, there was no good reason for a
tourist to visit but now it burgeons as a new destination
referred to as Mary Brickell Village, chock-full
of hot restaurants, attractions, and a crop of new luxury
hotels, including Kimpton's Epic, JW Marriott Marquis,
and the Philippe Starck-designed Viceroy. Opened two
years ago, the Viceroy (485 Brickell Ave, Tel:
305-503-4400. www.viceroymiami.com)
defined the new downtown scene, ensuring travelers that
there is life outside of South Beach. The rooftop continues
to buzz with a record-breaking, three-tier pool: main
pool (at 7,000 square feet, it's the longest in Florida;
hot tub (holding up to 80 people at a time, it's the
world's largest); and a reflection pool that features
submerged tables and chairs. Bistro E—the place
for a downtown power lunch—opened last fall, fronted
by Michelin-starred chef Michael Psilakis, who puts
a foreign spin on classic American dishes.
One of the newest hotels to emerge is
Tempo (1100 Biscayne Blvd, Tel:877-857-ROCK.
www.tempomiami.rockresorts.com),
which had a soft opening over the summer of 2010. It's
a member of RockResorts, and their first "urban"
property. The eco-friendly hotel spans the first fourteen
floors of the new Marquis Residences (just four stories
short of being the tallest building in Miami; the Four
Seasons continues to hold that spot). All rooms have
views of downtown or Biscayne Bay and best of all, it's
already a member of IGLTA.
Continued
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