The Pérez Art Museum Miami opened it’s doors in South Florida this past December, 7 months ago. And although they have already reached over 75% of their visitor goal this year, plenty of people have yet to visit this gorgeous museum and all it has to offer. Here are the top 7 reasons to visit the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM).
Fantastic Art
Well, hello. That’s really the point, right? But even if you’re not super artsy-fartsy, so many of the pieces at PAMM are so interesting. From threads on nails to chandeliers, quotes, and hanging boats, there’s something for everyone. The only thing you won’t like here (as in every other museum), is not being able to touch the art as the works almost reach out to you. Having my two little boys (2 & 4 yr olds) in tow was perfect. Not only because they also got to experience this phenomenal culture in Miami but also because repeating “don’t touch” our entire visit reminded me to keep my hands behind my back too.
Wake and Wonder by Adrián Esparza at PAMM: created wrapped threads of a serape blanket around nails hammered into the gallery wall
Edouard Duval-Carrié Chandeliers caraibes at PAMM made of resin & aluminum surrounded by his Imagined Landscapes exhibition in black and silver glitter.
Which of these ring true to you? Though I’d like to say it’s the “party” one, most days as a Mom I relate most to the “groceries” quote.
For Those in Peril on the Sea by Hew Locke at PAMM, dozens of scaled down ship replica’s in the museums lobby upon entrance.
The Architecture & Design
As if the art wasn’t inspiring enough, the building itself which was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron will make you want to demo your house and start from scratch. Shaded verandas and plazas have been created in an effort to bring the surrounding park into the museum. Tons of windows also bring natural light indoors though the lawn chairs and benches along the east facade staircase overlooking Biscayne Bay may make you grab a seat and stay put outside for a while. Not to mention, you’ve got an amazing view when you look up. Patrick Blanc designed incredible Vertical Gardens that hang three stories long. I’m still figuring out how to replicate those in my backyard. But be sure to check out the impressive grand staircase inside that also doubles as an auditorium.
A day at the gorgeous Pérez Art Museum Miami.
Verde, the Restaurant
For all you foodies in town, Verde is not to be missed. For brunch, they serve up a wide variety including salads, sandwiches, pancakes, pizza, omelettes, pastas, and cocktails too…not to mention, a glorious view of PortMiami. They also have a coffee bar for those looking to grab a bite and go. Next visit, I’ll be grabbing a cocktail and sitting my tush on a lawn chair facing the Bay to check out that work of art for a while.
Delicious tomato/mozzarella salad, the chicken club, and pancakes that were quickly consumed at our table at Verde at PAMM.
Free Second Saturdays by Target
For the budget-conscious (and listen, in this town we all have to be at one point or another), the Pérez Art Museum Miami invites guests to enjoy the museum for free during their Free Second Saturdays presented by Target which is every second Saturday of the month. On this day, you’ll find hands-on activities for both kids and adults and occasionally guest artists and performers appear at PAMM. I suggest bringing the kids for their first museum visit on a second Saturday. This way, if they have a total random meltdown and you have leave immediately, you won’t lose the admission fee which is free for kids 6 and under, $8 for kids 7-18, $12 for adults, and $8 for seniors. One tip though? Come early. Saturdays the museum opens at 10 a.m. We arrived by 11 a.m. and there were no crowds. However, by the time we left at about 3 p.m.? Mobbed.
Kid Entertainment
If you ask my kids what they’d like to do this weekend, they’d probably say go to the playground or the zoo. But help me if I have to do that one more time. So, this past weekend we headed to PAMM, which I knew the kids would enjoy. But I was shocked at just how much. Upon entrance, my 4 year old was counting the boats overhead and my 2 year old was shouting “Bus! Bus!” at the yellow truck piece in the front room. Then we found a piece by Edouard Duval-Carrié with Mickey Mouse in it. They were loving it and so was I. There were arts & crafts outside thanks to Free Second Saturdays and we were able to count cruise ships in Biscayne Bay. It was a wonderfully different experience with my kids and we will be back for more. Maybe for PAMM Art Storytime which is for 3-5 year olds every fourth Saturday.
Arts & Crafts at PAMM
Counting Cruise Ships at PAMM
Every Third Thursday: DJs and Musicians
For those who love music and the nightlife, every third Thursday you’ll find an outdoor music series in the evening featuring DJs, musicians, and cocktails from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. I have yet to get to one of these evenings but it’s definitely on my to-do list on another visit to PAMM minus the kiddos and plus a few friends.
The PAMM Shop
You’ll happily exit through this gift shop at PAMM as it has a little something for everyone. The wooden xylophone caught my son’s eye while the natural rope bowls and Harry Allen metallic piggy banks caught mine. Make sure to take a few minutes to shop this store. There are plenty of unique treasures to find for your home or as gifts for someone else’s.
The wooden xylophone caught my son’s eye at The PAMM Shop
The PAMM Shop’s colorful treasures
Flippin’ Out.
All I want to wear this week is flip flops. Swim Week, Miami’s biggest Fashion Week is days away here in South Florida. So, of course, with all of this talk of bathing suits, I’m in the resort-ready frame of mind…as if I’m ever not. Even if you’re not headed to SwimWeek or Miami anytime soon, you can never have enough flip flops this time of year, no matter your destination. Here are some cute flips I found recently that will keep you traveling in style whether you’re poolside, cruising, or just heading across town to a friend’s barbecue this summer.
Viceroy Miami, Florida
Whether you’re a Miamian looking for a fun staycation spot or an out-of-towner vacationing in the Florida sun, here are 5 Reasons to Check-In at Viceroy Miami:
Two Words: Kelly Wearstler
The incredible East Asian decor at Viceroy Miami is truly refreshing and inspiring. Beginning with the abstract shaped columns at the hotel’s entrance, you know immediately you’re in for more than just your typical hotel stay. But it’s renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler‘s organic yet classically elegant (and definitely fabulous) decor in the guest rooms that will make you want to stay for good…especially since your home all of the sudden feels a bit less than. Every piece in the room seems perfectly chosen, from the sectioned sliding doors (hiding the fully equipped kitchenette), to the checkered desk, and right down to the emerald green, white, and onyx marble beneath your toes. Kelly Wearstler clearly has the magic touch and has also partnered with Viceroy Anguilla, Viceroy Palm Springs, and Viceroy Santa Monica…which are now all on my itinerary.
Kelly Wearstler designed Guest Room at Viceroy Miami
Marble Floors at Viceroy Miami
Florida’s longest infinity pool
The pool at Viceroy Miami, Florida’s longest infinity pool, is 300-feet long on a two-acre pool terrace which seems to drop right off the edge of the building on the 15th floor into Biscayne Bay. The views are stunning and you almost feel as if you’re in a private pool because of it’s length. Endless day beds, cocktail service, and complimentary frozen grapes poolside don’t disappoint either.
Splashin’ in the longest infinity pool in Florida at Viceroy Miami
All smiles poolside at Viceroy Miami
Frozen Grapes should be mandatory at every hotel pool.
No-schlep Entertainment
The options are endless when it comes to choosing entertainment hot spots in Miami when visiting. But staying in a hotel that has all the entertainment you really need for a weekend is a true luxury. Call me high maintenance but when in vacation mode, I want convenient entertainment…little to no-schlep, or hassle, involved. Viceroy Miami has Fifty Miami Ultra Lounge on their 50th floor rooftop for late nights out and a DJ poolside on the weekend for daytime fun. Entertainment? Check.
Dancing in the Moonlight at Fifty Miami Ultra Lounge
Fifty Miami Ultra Lounge…the aftermath. We can’t get to La Sandwicherie fast enough.
Fantastic Food
After a late night at Fifty Lounge, it doesn’t hurt to have La Sandwicherie within walking distance. If you haven’t had one of their sandwiches, drive there now…from wherever you are. I’m pretty confident these are the best sandwiches in Miami. On property at Viceroy Miami, 15th & Vine Kitchen and Bar has both views and a menu to drool over, including a Cheese & Charcuterie Bar, Angus Burgers, Savory Flatbreads, and a divine “Morning Rush Sandwich” of Fried Egg, Bacon, Avocado, Tomato, Sourdough that I treated myself to…oh, and those endless Bloody Marys. But there’s even something for those “Watching the Carbs” on vacation, if you’re that type of girl. Nearby the Viceroy Miami, you’ll find outstanding top Miami restaurants such as Il Gabbiano, Area 31, and La Mar.
Your late night snack near Viceroy Miami and the best damn sandwich in Miami courtesy of La Sandwicherie.
A view (and menu) to drool over at 15th & Vine at Viceroy Miami
The Morning Rush Sandwich at 15th & Vine Restaurant and Bar at Viceroy Miami
It’s not on South Beach
Viceroy Miami is located in Brickell which is actually a fantastic choice of locale when visiting Miami. Headed to a business meeting downtown, museum for the day, jumping aboard a cruise ship, or heading to American Airlines Arena or Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts? Then this is a much more convenient location for you than all the way out on South Beach. You’re in the center of everything here at Viceroy Miami. Many great restaurant options are within walking distance. Plus in fifteen minutes, you can get to Wynwood, the Design District, or South Beach for the day or dinner and then escape the scene (or most of it) when you’ve had enough. And if you’re just looking for a staycation spot in Miami? We don’t have to tell you that a break from the crowds on South Beach is always welcoming.
Viceroy Miami on the map
Still deciding where to vacation this Summer? Well, get excited because your summer vacation countdown begins now! This Saturday, June 21, 2014, the first day of Summer, is Cyber Summer, the second annual one-day travel flash sale for 22 hotels & resorts from Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America at CyberSummerTravel.com. This incredible one-day travel sale, compared to CyberMonday, includes deals at four-diamond resorts starting at $99/night and five-star hotels offering 50% savings, free nights, and much more. Clearly, this is how we should all be booking our summer vacation each year. There are plenty of fantastic travels deals available, but here are 3 in particular that caught my eye:
1. 50% off Beachfront Junior Suites at the amazing 5-star CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla. This glamorous resort with world-class spa, fine cuisine, and Greg Norman golf course is offering these suites for $300/night.
50% off Beach Front Junior Suites at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla for Cyber Summer
2. Buy 4 & get 3 nights free at St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino. This golden sand beach resort also spoils guests with a championship golf course, the largest Vegas-style casino in the Caribbean, several lounges, 8 restaurants, 3 pools, and a spa. Rates start at $189/night and include a $50 resort credit per day up to $200 per stay.
Book 4 nights and receive 3 nights free at St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino during Cyber Summer
3. W Fort Lauderdale is offering nightly rates starting at just $169/night for a sophisticated beach escape in South Florida. At the hotel you’ll find a rooftop pool deck, restaurant Steak 954, 2 lounges, a Bliss Spa, and a ted gibson salon.
W Fort Lauderdale, rates starting at $169/night at CyberSummer.com
Reservations on all Cyber Summer travel deals, of course, are subject to availability and black out dates but offers are valid for travel throughout the summer and for some properties even through the end of the year. So, my suggestion? Book something for the entire family, then another escape for you & the Mr. sans kids, and maybe even a final night away for a girlfriends getaway. I know that’s my plan.
So, in case the stunning pictures above didn’t sell you already, let me be clear. This Saturday, at the top of the to-do list? Wake up and book yourself a beach vacation…or two. After all, who’s ever regretted that? Mark your calendar, set a smart phone reminder, tie a string on your finger…You don’t want to miss this one. Cyber Summer is one day only, this Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 12:00 a.m. EST to 11:59 p.m. EST! Happy Travels!
Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge in Pinecrest, Florida
Often times when we are traveling, it’s for an event. Whether business, we’re meeting that mega client and trying to win over the biggest piece of biz yet, or pleasure, our anniversary trip or friend’s wedding or baby shower, let’s face it, we all want to look our best. But if your hair is a mess, it’s over. So here’s a tip on where to get a fantastic blowout when traveling in South Florida. Miami loves Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge.
This was evident from the moment I stepped foot into this bustling blow bar in the heart of Pinecrest for my 3pm appointment last Friday. The adorable black and white zig-zagged beauty lounge floor was packed with Miami women, and a few teenagers, occupying almost 20 chairs in the salon and the waiting area too. All looking for luscious locks to start the weekend off in style. My kinda ladies.
The Blow-n-Dry Experience: shampoo by chandelier light, get glam with help from their master stylists, and even receive a friendly sendoff
Water? Coffee? Mimosa? Aaaah. The gracious women of Blow-n-Dry really know how to make you feel at home. Yanet, my stylist, whisked me off for a shampoo by chandelier light, told me about their endless Bumble & bumble products for every hair type imaginable, and then styled me in no time flat while I sipped my afternoon coffee. I was out in and out in an hour feeling renewed, refreshed, confident and gorgeous with my “South Beach” style.
The Blow-n-Dry Process: Wash, Blow, Amaze
Blow-n-Dry had been on my list to try out since they opened in December 2013. Before their arrival, blow dry bars in Miami were, strangely, unheard of south of Midtown. Thankfully, since many of us live south of Midtown or visit those who do, those days have come to an end with Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge, open 7 days a week from 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m, at US-1 and 115th. They offer 8 signature Miami-inspired Blow-n-Dry hairstyles starting at $35 including pin straight, glam pony, sexy curls, society updo, braids, vintage curls, waves, and volume. A tip though? Make an appointment. They can occasionally accommodate walk-ins, but their weekends tend to be booked solid.
A great hair day (and night) thanks to my stylist, Yanet, at Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge! Four hours after I left the salon, on the way to my event, and the curl wouldn’t quit, even in the Miami humidity.
For an additional $10, you can get extra deep conditioning and more complex braids. They also offer Coppola Keratin Smoothing Teratment, Morrocan Oil, Davines, make-up services, and (soon) extensions. I’ll definitely be back and maybe next time with a few friends for our own blow out party.
Blow-n-Dry Party Package & Mobile Services
Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge Parties: Birthdays (for you or your little princess), Girls Night Out, Break-Up Parties
Mobile Blow-n-Dry Services: Signature Blow-n-Dry Services starting from $45, Glam Squad Makeover including hair & make-up starting from $70, Wedding parties with trials in advance (contact for quotes), and (the ultimate Mommy gift) Labor and Delivery Room Glam Squad starting at $75.
Next time you’re traveling to South Florida and have an event (or even if you don’t) treat yourself to a fantastic blowout at Blow-n-Dry Beauty Lounge. They’re worth it…and so are you!
I recently put together a Disney World Packing List for Travel Fashion Girl as I seem to be frequenting the House of the Mouse often these days with two little kiddos and our home base in Miami, only a four hour drive away. Here are my top picks to keep you travel fashion ladies comfortable and stylish during your magical trip to Orlando. See the details on my top pics now at TravelFashionGirl.com!
1. Free People Breezy Tank at Shopbop, Monrow Vintage Shorts at Shopbop
2. Evian Facial Spray Trio at ArriveChic.com
3. Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars at Zappos.com
4. Juice Pack Helium by Mophie at Mophie.com
5. My Disney Experience App
6. Xhilaration Tortoise Sunglasses at Target.com
7. Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler and PORTER Magazine, April Issue
8. Help I’m Nauseous at 3floz.com
9. Purell travel sized
10. Supergoop! 3 oz. SPF 30 Antioxidant-Infused Sunscreen Mist with Vitamin C at ArriveChic.com
11. Preppy Nylon Backpack from Marc by Marc Jacobs at bloomingdales.com
12. Blurred Floral Short-Sleeve Rash Guard with UPF 50 by J.Crew
13. Rain Ponchos at the Dollar Store
See all the info on these picks at TravelFashionGirl.com!
Meet Ashley
Former NYC fashion industry girl, forever traveler, foodie at heart, and now Mom in Miami. My blog, Arrive Chic, covers the style I find in everyday life both on the road and at home, often with my two energetic little boys in tow.
