High season in Miami

Never a destination that stands still, Miami heads into high season with hundreds of new and refurbished guest rooms and suites, distinctive new restaurants, clubs and sites.

News highlights for the autumn 2008 include:

HOTEL HAPPENINGS

The Betsy is scheduled to open its doors in the autumn of 2008 after a complete $25 million renovation. The distinguished landmark on Ocean Drive, with its imposing colonial façade, is expected to be one of the freshest faces in Miami Beach. For more information, visit thebetsyhotel.com.

A $180 million transformation of the legendary Eden Roc Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa is scheduled for completion in the autumn 2008. The existing tower has been undergoing extensive modifications, including total renovations of all 349 guest rooms, pools and cabanas, the Destination Spa, all food and beverage outlets, meeting space and retail options. A new ultra-deluxe 21-story Ocean Tower will feature 283 new guest rooms. For more information, visit boldnewedenroc.com.

EPIC Hotel, Kimpton’s new lifestyle boutique hotel in downtown Miami, is scheduled to open in December 2008. Located at the edge of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, EPIC Hotel combines the style of a cosmopolitan boutique hotel with the amenities of a resort. The hotel’s 411 rooms and suites are artfully designed with furnishings that convey an understated sense of cool and feature balconies that provide inspiring views of the city and bay. Amenities will include a 15,000-square-foot wrap-around pool deck, four restaurants and lounges, a spa and fitness center, and a marina. For more information, visit epichotel.com.

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach will celebrate its reopening this autumn after a spectacular $1 billion rebirth by hosting the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on 14 November 2008. Fronting the Atlantic Ocean, the 1,504-room resort will include two new towers; 11 restaurants and lounges, three dynamic nightlife venue, a 40,000-square-foot spa with mineral-rich water therapies and swimming pools, a dramatic oceanfront pool-scape featuring “walls of water” intermingled with a free-form, Morris Lapidus-influenced pool surrounded by cabanas and sun loungers. For more information, visit fontainebleau.com.

Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is currently undergoing a $10 million transformation of its guest accommodations, full-service restaurant Two Sisters and Alcazaba nightclub. Scheduled to be completed in late 2008, the restoration includes a new look for all rooms, inspired by the Spanish Alhambra appearance of the hotel. The lobby, lounge and pool area exude European elegance, while the guest rooms emote dark wood and rose- colored tones with furniture that has a Moorish style. For more information, visit coralgables.hyatt.com.

The Biltmore Hotel has introduced Total Performance Golf, where players are placed through a series of evaluations usually reserved for the best golfers in the world. A joint venture between Titleist Performance Institute, certified golf swing instructors, biomechanists, physical therapists and fitness trainers, the program uses a state-of-the-art 3D motion capture system and functional movement analysis to assess the “total picture” of a golfer's body, swing and equipment. Programs range from a 3 ½-hour initial evaluation to a 4-day golf performance school, with prices starting at $800. For more information, visit biltmorehotel.com.

In May 2008, the MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District celebrated the completion of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Biscayne Boulevard reconstruction project from 50th to 77th Streets at a cost of $14 million. The area received a complete facelift including new drainage, streets, sidewalks, lighting, street furniture and landscaping. During the remainder of 2008, the area will receive additional plantings and a unique $190,000 MiMo theme sidewalk design. The Jetson-style motels of the 1950s which line the District are undergoing a transformation as well.

Motel Blu has had a $1 million total renovation of 65 guest rooms and pool area, including the new Red Light Dining Lounge Restaurant featuring all organic ingredients on its menu. In addition, the Best Value Inn recently completed a $350,000 renovation of 40 guest rooms and Carl’s El Padre Motel offers 10 clean, nicely renovated guest rooms with flat screen TVs at affordable prices.

The1950’s historic Coppertone Girl sign originally located on the Parkleigh House on Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami will be restored at a cost of $100,000, installed and unveiled in early December 2008 within the MiMo District. For more information, visit mimoboulevard.org.

COOL CUISINE AND NIGHT LIFE

Miami’s RikRak Salon recently added a popular South Florida culinary destination, Café Joley, which incorporates a full-service salon, a spa and an accessories and clothing boutique. Perfect for a quick bite, Café Joley at RikRak features a full menu with Joley’s signature dishes, along with special creations unique to its new RikRak Salon location, and a select variety of fine wines and champagne. Café Joley opened in RikRak Salon branches in Brickell and the Sagamore Hotel in South Beach. For more information, visit rikrak.com.

The King Is Dead, a $2 million nightclub facility located in the Design District in Downtown Miami, will be completed in October 2008. This will be an indoor addition to Grass, the al fresco restaurant and lounge in the same location. As the only nightclub in the Design District, The King is Dead will cater to locals and visitors who have discovered the destination, which is defined by its art, designers and world-renowned restaurants. For more information, visit grasslounge.com.

ATTRACTION ACTION

Award-winning sculptor John Henry, known throughout the world for his large-scale steel sculpture, plans an unprecedented, seven-city exhibition throughout the state of Florida, titled Drawing in Space: The Peninsula Project. In Miami, the artwork will be on view at the new Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University from 29 November 2008 until 9 March 2009 and at the Miami Beach Public Library from 29 November 2008 until 29 January 2009. The outdoor sculpture will be placed in Bicentennial Park, north of the American Airlines Arena.

Incorporating new works as well as some of his most recognized pieces, the multi-venue show brings together his colourful, monumental works in such a way that they conceptually interact with one another in a continuum. For more information, visit peninsulaproject.com.

Homestead-Miami Speedway will crown the first ever Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series Champions during Ford Championship Weekend from 14 to 16 November 2008. At the Speedway, fans will enjoy new additions to the exclusive Champions Club, highlighted by 40 new HDTVs, a new billiards table and interactive gaming. For more information, visit homesteadmiamispeedway.com.

Jungle Island invites visitors six years of age and older to welcome its “Loveable Lemurs,” endangered baby lemurs from Madagascar. For 45 minutes, guests have the opportunity to touch, hold and play with these adorable and furry, gold-eyed primates. A keeper informs guests about the lively primates. For more information, visit jungleisland.com.

RETAIL NEWS

The renowned chocolatier, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, recently opened its doors in downtown Coral Gables. The store features decadent treats for all ages, in addition to a “Chocolatier for a Day” camp for kids. For more information, visit peterbrooke.com.

Priscilla’s of Boston, one of the country’s best-known upscale bridal salons, is scheduled to open on Miracle Mile in late 2008 or early 2009. For more information, visit priscillasofboston.com.

Aventura Mall, South Florida’s largest super regional shopping centre, celebrates its 25th anniversary by welcoming new designer name-brand stores to its roster of 280 stores, including AG Adriano Goldschmied, Damiani, Equinox, Gilly Hicks, Kate Spade, Barney’s New York Coop, Geox, Hollister, Reiss, Ocean Prime Restaurant, Tommy Hilfiger and Forever XXI.

The mall's recent $125 million renovation and expansion, which included a new wing anchored by Nordstrom, added an inviting and stylish new look to the destination. For more information, visit aventuramall.com.

For further information on what’s happening in Miami, log on to MiamiAndBeaches.com.