To celebrate the opening of the new facility, Broward Children’s Center hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 13. Broward County dignitaries, including the Mayor of Dania Beach Mayor Joyce L. Davis, Broward Children’s Center’s team, board members and families along with representatives from Delta Pilots Charitable Fund, The Batchelor Foundation, Children’s Opportunity Group and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), who sponsored the transformational project, were in attendance. 

Guests enjoyed refreshments and breakfast bites while listening to remarks from Broward Children Center’s CEO Marjorie Evans and School Director Edith Moore. Dania Beach Mayor Joyce L. Davis and Dania Beach Commissioner Luis Rimoli addressed the crowd about the importance of the Broward Children’s Center’s new playground and the impactful role the Center plays in the community. Representatives from the playground sponsors, including FPL Director of External Affairs for the Broward and Southwest region & NextEra Energy Inc. Director of Corporate Philanthropy Juliet Murphy Roulhac, Esq, and Delta Pilots Charitable Fund Pilot Director Captain Chris Hazleton spoke about their common goal of building up the community and investing in the future of Broward County children. 

The $117,000 enhancement project was made possible through generous donations from community partners including the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund ($72,000 donation), The Batchelor Foundation ($30,000 donation) and Children’s Opportunity Group ($10,000 donation) whose combined funds supported the playground, and FPL ($5,000 donation) whose donation contributed to the basketball court. 

The new, state-of-the-art playground replaces an aging and damaged structure and will be more adaptive for the children that Broward Children’s Center serves. The playground includes a slide, ramps that make it wheelchair adaptive, an adaptive wheelchair spinner, sensory toys and more for children to enjoy during the school year and summer camp. It also includes artificial turf and shade to provide safety and protection from the sun and volatile weather. 

The enhanced basketball court features new asphalt, a basketball hoop and basketballs. FPL’s logo is painted on the center of the court. 

“We recognize the importance of supporting the Broward Children’s Center and the work it does. Together, we are enhancing the quality of life for children and families in South Florida – powering stronger communities,” said Juliet Roulhac, FPL director of external affairs for the Broward and Southwest region & NextEra Energy Inc. director of corporate philanthropy.

“Playgrounds are the cornerstones of our community. We’re tremendously grateful for Delta Pilots Charitable Fund, The Batchelor Foundation, Children’s Opportunity Group and Florida Power & Light for their generous donation of a brand-new state-of-the-art playground and basketball court at our BCC Academy,” said David Perez, M.B.A., director of development at Broward Children’s Center. “This impactful gift will help provide a safe and secure environment for our students. This transformational project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the sponsors who are committed to bettering the lives of infants, children and young adults who are developmentally disabled and medically fragile.”

BCC Academy provides educational, therapeutic and behavioral services for children with special needs, pre-kindergarten through seventh grade. The nonprofit private school is specifically designed to meet the unique developmental and educational needs of children with moderate to severe disabilities, through research-based instructional strategies and a thematic-based curriculum.

With parental input to optimize a student’s educational experience, various assessments and observations are used to set educational goals for each child. The classrooms are designed for each child to receive the personal attention needed to achieve their goals.

About Broward Children’s Center: Since 1971, Broward Children’s Center, a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been providing medical, educational, therapeutic, recreational, daily living and advocacy services through its network of care to infants, children and young adults who are developmentally disabled and/or medically fragile. Through a continuum of services designed to meet the needs of each child and their families, Broward Children’s Center remains focused on delivering the highest quality care necessary to ensure that each individual is given every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Broward Children’s Center is located at 200 SE 19th Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. For more information, please visit www.bcckids.org or contact 954-809-5449 or DavidP@bcckids.org.

The post Broward Children’s Center Unveils State-of-the-Art Playground and Basketball Court appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Event attendees of all ages can enjoy live music by the local band Remix, yard games, giveaways, and a variety of food and drinks available for purchase. During the event, the community is also invited to engage with City departments, which will have display booths where attendees can meet City staff members and learn more about the services the City provides to residents and businesses.

Mayor Scott Singer will deliver a State of the City Address, highlighting the City’s accomplishments and priorities as it looks toward the future. City Council members will also be in attendance to connect with and converse with residents.

“The State of the City & Community Celebration is a great opportunity to reflect on everything that makes Boca Raton such a special place to live, work, learn, and play,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “As we celebrate our progress and look ahead to a bright future in our Centennial year, we’re excited to continue building a community that thrives together.”

For both longtime residents and newcomers, this event is a chance to celebrate, connect, and take pride in the Boca Raton community. For more information, visit the State of the City & Community Celebration webpage at https://www.myboca.us/2434/State-of-the-City-Community-Celebration.

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Huether’s design is based on concentric circles, with a central fountain and seating, surrounded by 17 limestone obelisks, a tribute to each victim. These forms hold each victim’s name and other information about these beloved sons, daughters and husbands whose lives were tragically cut short. A meaningful poem is planned to be engraved into the surface of the plaza. Shade structures have been added to shield visitors from the sun and feature laser cutouts that create unique shadows as the sun moves throughout the day. To complete the circular theme, 17 royal palm trees and an outer seating wall form the border of the Memorial.

Corporations, businesses, foundations and the public can make tax-exempt donations to help build the Memorial at www.Parkland17.org.

The post Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation Unveils Design for Students Lost in MSD Tragedy appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

The beachfront resort – one of only a handful of properties actually on the beach along the Paradise Coast – has made an impressive comeback after being closed in various stages since Hurricane Ian decimated the Naples area in September 2022. Fortunately, the course was still open after Hurricane Helene.

The resort’s newly renovated guest rooms and suites offer views of the Gulf of Mexico and make a headquarters to explore all things Naples, including the city’s eclectic shopping and dining areas. 

The original course at Naples Beach & Golf Club opened in 1929. LaPlaya Golf Club was born in 1958 as the Palm River golf community – really the first of its kind in Southwest Florida. Located just a few miles from the resort, much of the Palm River neighborhood (not affiliated with LaPlaya) still stands as a gateway to LaPlaya Golf Club.

In 2001, the Palm River course, through a partnership of new owners Stephen J. Lockwood Co. and Barron Collier Companies, brought in acclaimed golf course architect Bob Cupp to re-design the course, which reopened as LaPlaya Golf Club in 2002 – the same year the resort made its debut.

The course plays 6,902 yards from the back tees and features five sets of tee boxes. Cupp basically created a “what you see is what you get,’’ layout, but with plenty of water hazards and some narrow fairways to keep players honest.

The resort’s Baleen restaurant is one of Naples’ top rated and offers views of the Gulf. There’s even a dining option right on the sand if you make a reservation.

LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is a showcase for how a combination resort and members club can seamlessly operate.

The post Unwind Along the Paradise Coast at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

A Scotsman like Ross, Findlay came to the U.S. in 1887 — basically to be a cowhand at the Merichiston Ranch near Fullerton, NE., a not-so unusual occupation for young British men of that era seeking better lives outside of Victorian England.

But Findlay, a champion golfer, couldn’t get the game out of his system. Thus, he’s credited with building the first contiguous golf holes in the U.S. — now lost on the plains of Nebraska — sometime between 1887 and 1889.

In 1896 — four years before Ross moved from Massachusetts to the Sandhills — railroad tycoon Henry Flagler signed Findlay to design the Palm Beach Golf Club, adjacent to his Breakers resort. That course, which opened in 1897, now is the Breakers Ocean Course. It’s generally considered the oldest active course in Florida, although the Belleair Country Club is sometimes listed as a tie for opening that same year. The Breakers Palm Beach is still considered the standard-bearer for luxury resorts in Palm Beach and South Florida. 

But let’s stay with golf. On Feb. 22, 1900, at Palm Beach Golf Club, Harry Vardon — then the world’s best golfer — won a 36-hole one-up against his old friend, Findlay. The Palm Beach Tribune called it the “greatest golf match ever played at Palm Beach.” Findlay and Vardon, who stayed on to win the 1900 U.S. Open at the Chicago Golf Club, played more than 4,000 holes of exhibition golf over the next few years and laid the groundwork for golf in America.

The course is immaculately landscaped and offers great views of The Breakers classic hotel building with its Mediterranean-style architecture. The Ocean Course plays only 5,778 yards (par 70) from the tips. But that’s enough for most resort guests and members.

In late 2018, the course emerged from a full-scale renovation by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones.

Meanwhile, The Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach — about a 20-minute shuttle ride away from the resort — gives even low-handicap players all they can handle. Jones in 2022 renovated the course (7,104 yards, par 72) by reconstructing several holes to allow for expanded shot selections and modified bunkers to improve sightlines and playability.

Play at the courses is open to members and resort guests.

The post The Breakers Palm Beach Emerges From Full-Scale Renovation appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

However, that clearly won’t be the case with the upcoming Ombelle Fort Lauderdale.

The 43-story twin towers at 300 NE 3rd Avenue in Flagler Village have a distinctive curvy design. It’s the first of three Fort Lauderdale projects planned by Dependable Equities, a Brooklyn-based vertically integrated real estate investment firm and New York City’s ODA Architecture.

It’s further affirmation of the attention downtown Fort Lauderdale is drawing nationally.

“We try to pick an area that has the fundamentals to support growth and to support luxury development,” says Isaac Schlesinger, a cofounder of Dependable Equities. “Our design is going to be on par with the nicest development that anybody can imagine as well as the finishes of the apartments.”

Ombelle will include 775 residences, over 11,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and over 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities.

Schlesinger and co-founder Simon Dushinsky, who is also principal and founder of the Rabsky Group in New York, are responsible for developing thousands of luxury residential units there and have more than 2 million square feet under construction. The firm owns and manages a real estate portfolio of more than $4 billion. 

Schlesinger says Dependable Equities is basically a continuation of Rabsky, which has been around for three decades and focused the last 15 years on a lot of high-end influential areas in Brooklyn, where it has done millions of square feet of residential. Schlesinger thinks they might be the most active residential developers in Brooklyn these days.

Expanding to Florida

“When we expanded three years ago to Florida, we opened up Dependable Equities and we’re looking to continue the same business model as we have done in the past years in Brooklyn to deliver a very, very high-quality residential development,” Schlesinger says. Dependable Equities has its own in-house general contractor, “which gives us an edge not only completing everything on time and the quality, but our budget is just what our construction cost is.”

Developers usually stick with boxy designs because it’s cheaper to build than a building with curves, Schlesinger explains. However, Dependable Equities’ in-house team was able to work with ODA to come up with an eye-catching design and avoid busting the budget.

The key for buyers is that units will be offered at a very attractive pricing for a project with a lengthy list of amenities, Schlesinger says. Units are starting in the $400,000s. The studios and three bedrooms will range from 465 square feet to just over 1,648 square feet, while penthouses will range from 2,400 square feet to just over 2,600 square feet.

Ombelle will offer the latest smart building technology, top-of-the-line appliances and exceptionally finished Italian custom designed kitchens and bathrooms. Each residence will feature airy, sophisticated interiors with designer-curated finish packages, open concept designs and 10-foot ceilings in main living areas.

Residents will have the option to choose fully furnished units and may rent out units for a minimum of 30 days.

The property’s lobby will have a wow factor at 15,000 square feet with an artistic cultural garden. Schlesinger says it will give the feeling of arriving at a grand hotel/spa. The ground floor will include a reception area, multiple lounges and an exclusive residents-only café — designed to foster social interaction and a sense of community.

Wellness and lifestyle-driven amenities are being curated by Arch Amenities Group, which manages 496 sites globally.

The north tower will include a landscaped indoor lounge space, a chef’s kitchen, dining room and dining lounge, a grab-and-go eatery, a dedicated coworking suite with lounge seating, private workstations and private conference rooms, a library, a music room, a recording studio with instrument storage and two private recording pods, a creative arts and crafts studio, a resident lounge and entertaining space and a fully equipped game lounge.

Two indoor pickleball courts with windows on the side will be located on one of the corners of the garage level, Schlesinger says. “We think that’s going to be very cool.”

The south tower features an additional indoor lounge space, a world-class state-of-the-art fitness center equipped with private training, Pilates, massage room, immersive studio and yoga studios; a wellness lounge with an outdoor sauna, cold plunge, treatment rooms, an experiential shower, steam room and sauna complemented with an outdoors Zen Garden; a video game room alongside a swing sports game simulator, and a children’s playroom with indoor and outdoor space. Outdoor, residents will have exclusive access to a resort-style lap pool and a plunge pool with pool-side cabanas and a summer kitchen with multiple seating areas. 

“Because we’re building this large development, there’s going to be different people with different needs. So, we have put in every amenity that you can imagine,” Schlesinger says.

“We feel and think that this is going to make a difference in Fort Lauderdale,” Schlesinger says, noting that making a difference is a bedrock of the company’s philosophy. It’s one reason Dependable Equities chose Fort Lauderdale over Miami, which has an abundance of national developers.

Schlesinger said he expects construction to start in mid to late 2025. Dependable Equities is already talking with lenders and he doesn’t expect any issues because of its successful track record. That would contrast with dozens of projects in Flagler Village that have approvals but no announcements about financing.

Finding opportunity early on

Dependable Equities has three acres south of the New River at 633 SE Third Ave. (currently where the Trial Lawyers Building is located) and 101 SE 7^th St.

“We see there’s a lot of development coming up south of the river and we feel that the downtown, the same way it expands north of Flagler, is going to expand south of the river,” Schlesinger says.

Schlesinger and his partner like to identify potential areas for projects early. For example, the identified the promise of Brooklyn’s North Williamsburg neighborhood about 20 years ago and it has turned into a global destination.

“We’re one of the first who were building luxury residential in that neighborhood and today it’s just one of the hottest neighborhoods, not only in Brooklyn, but even New York City as a whole.”

A City of Fort Lauderdale website says 633 SE Third Ave. has approval for 830 units and 101 SE 7^th St. across the street has approvals for 630 units.

Schlesinger says details are being finalized. ODA’s website has a stylish rendering for a 47-story 633 SE Third Ave. with tubular shapes and scalloped balconies that keep the building from looking overly massive.

Schlesinger noted the new Federal Courthouse under construction about four blocks away at 1080 SE Third Ave. and likes his sites’ proximity to Rio Vista, one of Fort Lauderdale’s most prestigious neighborhoods.

He says, “We liked the fact that we were able to secure a three-acre site in a very densely populated downtown area, which gave us opportunity to create a really beautiful development that people will be able to appreciate and enjoy rather than kind of going and finding small sites and then building what I call ‘pencil towers.’”

The post Curve Appeal: Ombelle Brings a Highly Desired Aesthetic to Downtown Fort Lauderdale appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

For example, a $200 million renovation included a redesign of the resort’s public areas; the debut of new restaurants; and the restoration of the report’s signature Cloister Tower. 

The reimagining of the property’s Beach Club Hotel will be unveiled in January, featuring more new restaurants, a new-look lobby, featuring a new bar and café; a new fitness facility and oceanside event space, and renovation of the hotel’s 207 guest rooms and suites.

When the Beach Club Hotel opens, it will give The Boca Raton a total of five hotels (Cloister, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Tower and Bungalows) amid 200 waterfront acres.

The Boca Raton golf course — originally a Donald Ross design known as the Cloister Inn Golf Club when it opened in 1926 — is a solid, 6,253-yard, par 71 layout, featuring five sets of tees. Ross designed the course between the time he built two of his more noted Palm Beach County layouts — Gulf Stream Golf Club (1924) and Seminole (1929).

There’s nothing hidden or quirky about the course, which is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Golf legends Tommy Armour and Sam Snead each served as golf professionals at the resort.

The golf course is exclusively reserved for resort guests and members.

The post The Boca Raton Offers a Fresh, Modern Vibe appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Who better to talk about the changes than Jessi Blakley, vice president of property owner Tavistock Group, who grew up across from the resort in the Rio Vista neighborhood. Some of her earliest memories are sitting in the rotating Pier Top while her grandfather was doing business.

She was interviewed by Lifestyle Media Group editor-in-chief Kevin Gale. The following is edited for brevity and clarity.

How are things looking?

We’re very excited. We’re at the finish line and so it’s all coming together. It’s finishing touches at this point — the landscaping going in, we’re filling the pools, working on the interiors. As a native and talking with neighbors in the community, I think there’s this nostalgic tie to the property and a real excitement to see how Tavistock has been able to bring it back to life.

What would you say the biggest wow factor is?

I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Pier Top. It certainly is the literal crown jewel of Pier Sixty-Six and something that I can’t even get in an Uber without talking about it. Everyone wants to know if it’s going to reopen. It will reopen as a lounge and it will have the ability to rotate once again.

I think the other thing is how we celebrated the waterfront lifestyle that Fort Lauderdale is known for and how we relaid out the property to focus on that. The old property was a square with a circular building on one end. For a large majority of it, you couldn’t see or feel or appreciate that waterfront uniqueness that Pier brings to the table.

We opened up the landscape so that no matter where you are on the property, you can appreciate the maritime views and the waterway and the ocean breeze. I do think that’s an incredible wow, no matter where you’re standing on the property. The centerpiece of that is a 2 ½-acre multilayered pool deck, which will certainly be a feature for all of our guests. Then, we’re going to have 12 very unique dining venues again on the waterfront.

Will there be parties to kick things off and what is the status of reservations?

We absolutely will. We are working on those plans right now. Right now, bookings are available online, so reservations start in the new year. However, we do plan to open at the end of this year — the exact date to be determined — so we will have rooms that are available sooner than that.

What’s the history of Pier Sixty-Six?

In the 1950s, Phillips 66 petroleum owned the property and it was originally a fuel dock. That 66-spire tower that has now been designated historic was built in the late 1960s. At the time, it was the tallest building in Fort Lauderdale and it completely transformed Fort Lauderdale’s skyline.

We purchased the original resort property, in December 2016. Roughly seven months later in July, we purchased the property just on the other side of 17 Street that was formerly called the Sails Hotel Marina and Shops. Collectively, that makes 32 waterfront acres. We started and focused our plans on the north side on the original property site, and that’s being redeveloped right now and we’ll open later this year.

We have development rights on the south side, but we are contemplating what makes sense there as it fits into the whole area. Part of our development rights gives us the ability to build another hotel across the street, but we just rebuilt the one across from the Pier, so I don’t know that we need that. We need to spend some time on what we think could fit there.

Could you provide a brief overview of Tavistock?

Tavistock Development Co. is a diversified real estate firm that’s owned by Tavistock Group. We specialize in planning, design, finance, construction and development of what we believe to be groundbreaking projects. We are well known for our master plan community in Orlando called Lake Nona. It’s among the bestselling communities in America, but also the most innovative as well. We’re starting a new project just down the road, Sunbridge, which celebrates living in nature. The real estate portfolio also includes a number of gems from the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood to Albany, our resort property in The Bahamas. This is our first real estate project in South Florida, though we’ve had a presence through our restaurants, Timpano on Las Olas, which was recently renovated as well, and then we also own Abe & Louie’s in Boca Raton.

Was the new lower circular building designed to echo the tower?

Exactly, yes. That will host a signature restaurant and also is home to the spa and the fitness center. You’ve got sweeping grand views of the water.

The new waterfront buildings have been described as having a coastal personality. What sort of elements go into that?

 We worked with Garcia Stromberg, based in Palm Beach County, a wonderful local group. They took their design inspiration from the water. It was important for us given that Fort Lauderdale is the Venice of Americas. We have two 11-story condominium buildings called Azul and Indigo. They took their inspiration from coral reefs. You can kind of see that in the ebbs and the flows of the balconies, all of which have plunge pools on them. That’s a first in Fort Lauderdale for the entire building to have plunge pools on the balconies. On the northernmost side of the property that faces Harbor Beach along the Mercedes Canal, there are some four-story condominium buildings. They are taking cues from sand dunes.

Prices start at $3.85 million. They’re designer-ready units. We have started closings, so buyers will be moving in with the opening of the property, but there are still units available.

Talk a little bit about the renovation of the historic tower.

It’s a complete renovation. In the fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma came in and did significant damage to the property, which at the time was open and still operational. We did have to close portions of the property and ultimately decided to shut the property down given the level of damage that was done.

One of the most challenging elements, was trying to find somebody to repair the rotating rooftop. There’s actually not many people who can do that.

The balconies on that original tower were originally blocking the views. We worked together with the city and their historic preservation team to come up with what we felt was a good solution to keep some of that original structure, but then add glass to a portion of it so that you can enjoy those views.

There’s a new 10-story building that attaches to the original building. When you’re inside, you truly don’t know which building you’re in unless you are on the 17th story and you can see that you’re higher than the other.

Talk about the 12 culinary venues.

It is a significant increase. Several of them will be signature restaurants offering diversified dining options. We have not talked specifically about those concepts yet. Leading up to the opening toward the end of this year, we are going to start to trickle out those details and more specifics about the chefs de cuisine and the menus. But we are taking our inspiration from our marina and the idea of gathering the best from all the different ports of calls. You will see those inspirations infused in the menus and the ambiance of each of the venues.

Talk about the spa, Zenova. The first ceremonial spa in the southeast caught my eye, but then there’s a snow room, a sensory shower and a vitality pool.

It’s about a holistic health and wellness experience and a differentiated amenity set that speaks to different people’s needs. You have the traditional elements that one thinks of when they go to a spa, but also some of these newer and again, regional offerings.

The ceremonial sauna that you mentioned is quite unique. It is the first in the southeast. It’s something that’s quite popular in Europe. This is inspired by the Aufguss Saunas. It’s like a bit of a fusion between sound therapy and rituals and there’s a sauna meister that disperses aromatics and does rhythmic movements.

We hear a lot about cold plunges now and the health benefits around what that does for you, so the snow room does that without dunking you underwater.

What’s the event space going to be like?

 Absolutely stunning. We have 40,000 square feet of meeting and events space. The ballrooms are gorgeous and also inspired by the marine setting. The details from the lighting and the light fixtures, the flexibility that the rooms provide are going to allow large scale events. We have some outdoor meeting spaces as well on an event lawn. So, both indoor and outdoor space that we think is going to be incredibly unique.

Were there many changes to the marina?

We also, of course, rejuvenated the marina, which has been the top yachting destination on the eastern seaboard. Most of that was on the southern side so that newly acquired property is where the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Super Yacht Village is. There was a kink in the face dock on the south side. We straightened it out so that now you can accommodate larger vessels on the south side of the bridge, which is significant. We attract many sailboats and large vessels, and that is a really unique amenity to be able to offer. There were a number of upgrades that were made to the docks and the design on the south side to make it easier for access and navigation.

 We’ve also incorporated a lot of environmental practices in terms of our waste management as well as some eco-friendly materials. We’ve also added EV charging ports because electric vessels are the next wave of technology in the boating world. We will once again host the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. We are one of the founding locations.

The Pier plus the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center expansion and its new hotel seem like they are really going to be a quite powerful combination. I feel like Fort Lauderdale is coming into its own right now. There’s significant investment being made across the city and a rising tide floats all boats. I think when I look specifically at the 17th Street corridor, we’re the gateway to the beach. I think it’s really significant that the investment that’s being made to bring in larger events to our convention center is having the diversification of hospitality offerings with our resorts and our food and beverage and entertainment venues. I think that’s important to the vitality of the continued growth of our city. It’s an exciting time and we’re excited.

The post Pier Sixty-Six: A Legend Reborn appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

2. THE SCENE:  The mid-day Sunday drive was a breeze without all the weekday traffic. Take time to explore Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile, swim in the Venetian Pool or visit The Biltmore Hotel. As we turned off Douglas Road, we passed through the historic entry into the city’s business district —  the Alhambra Entrance, a stone structure that looks like a bridge with two towers. Just a few blocks away was the 1924 Mediterranean-style La Palma building, a fitting home for a French bistro. A huge bowl of flowers behind the reception desk, a gleaming, mirrored bar and an impressive display of seafood in curvy glass cases set the tone. The interior was designed by Keller’s long-time collaborator Adam D. Tihany of New York City. Colorful French country floor tiles, a parlor palm and prints of objects and their French names made it feel like the French countryside.

3. ENJOY THE WINE: We got some great recommendations: The 2016 Meursault, La Barre Dessus – Clos Marguerite was a smooth white wine that was a great palate cleanser. The Chateau DuTertre, Margaux 2011, a red Bourdeau blend, was light and smooth. An electronic tablet offers an extensive list of choices. The cocktail list includes the French 75, Bijou, St. Germain Spritz and Boulevardier.

4. STARTING OFF: The sectional-style baguette had a thin crispy outer layer and a very soft inside. The Escargot de Bourgogne came in puff pastries — great for dipping in the sauce. The endive salad was artfully arranged and had creamy soft chunks of blue cheese. The Foie Gras Saute was melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness and so was the Gnocchi á la Parisienne, which was a much more delicate pasta than the typical Italian version.

5. ENTREES AND DESSERT: The menu offers seasonally changing classic French dishes such as roast chicken, steak frites and croque madame. We split the Boeuf Bourguignon — braised short rib with fingerling potatoes, French round carrots, pearl onions, bacon lardons and a Bordelaise sauce. It had a masterful complex flavor and was fork-tender. The other entrée was Truite Grenobloise, sauteed Idaho rainbow trout with cauliflower florets, capers, lemon suprémes, brioche and beurre noisette. It was perfectly prepared and the filets slid right off the skin. The star side was the Champignons de Paris, button mushroom in a tasty veal juice. Save room for the Profiteroles with ice cream and a chocolate sauce poured tableside and the Chocolate Mousse.

SHORT TAKES

• Happy Hour: Tuesday-Saturday, 4-6 p.m.,
• Hours:
  Sunday: noon to 9 p.m.
  Monday–Thursday: 4-10 p.m. 
  Friday: noon to 10 p.m.
  Saturday: noon to 10 p.m.

• Bouchon emphasizes seasonal items and fall/winter brings Boudin Noir, blood sausage with potato purée and caramelized apples; Saumon Poêlé, pan-seared Scottish salmon with French green lentils, Matignon of root vegetables and red wine jus; and tender Confit de Canard, duck prepared in a multi-step time-consuming fashion.
• The prices at Bouchon are reasonable given the quality of the food and service, but you can get an extra boost with the recent three-course prix-fixe L’Express Lunch and Dinner menus.

WHERE: 2101 Galiano St., Coral Gables, FL, 33134

 PHONE: (305) 990-1360

WEBSITE: https://www.thomaskeller.com/coral-gables-florida/bouchon-bistro

The post The Dish: Bouchon Bistro appeared first on Lifestyle Media Group.

Parent company Yurbban Hospitality Group started out in Spain and has grown to 20 locations, including Colombia, Peru and three others in SoBe: Crest Hotel & Suites, Casa Boutique Hotel and Aqua Hotel. 

Uma’s Sunset Tower is home to check-in — enter off of St. James Street, just south of 18^th Street. Walking up to the check-in area immediately set the vibe with chic landscaping and sleek furnishings. The Sunset Tower has art pieces selected to evoke old Miami charm.

The Sunrise Tower on the east side of the property has a fun bohemian counter-culture ambiance with retro photos. Café Americano on the ground floor is super convenient and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and a lively cocktail hour. The people watching along Collins is quite fun.

The Sunrise Tower’s rooftop pool area offered a bar with complimentary beer and wine during happy hour. The view to the east was quite lovely with The Delano just to the south.

I stayed in the Sunrise Tower on an upper floor with a sweeping view of Collins Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean.

The fun vibe of the room was set by a vinyl record player with the Beach Boy’s “Endless Summer” ready to play along. A long low dresser was ready with snacks for purchase. Multiple USB and 110 outlets forestalled one of my pet peeves about many hotel rooms. Everything was fresh and clean. The comfy beds had 300-thread-count sheets.

The hotel was a great location for a series of casual foodie adventures.

After recently profiling chef Michelle Bernstein, I was eager to visit Sweet Liberty (237-B 20th St.), which enlists her talents along with her husband, David Martinez and bartenders John Lermayer and Dan Binkiewicz.

Happy hour was in full form and the restaurant was buzzing with a rock and roll soundtrack from my youth, being enjoyed by a crowd much younger than myself. Bernstein’s fried chicken sandwich lived up to its billing and was accompanied by a tasty watermelon salad. I also ordered the shoestring fries — pure perfection — and the brownie dessert with a scoop of ice cream served in a small cast iron skillet. I had to tell myself not to eat the whole thing.

Breakfast Saturday morning was at Café Americano. I loved the CA Breakfast Sandwich, with shaved ham, fluffy scrambled eggs, cheddar and provolone and a griddled brioche bun. Sunday morning was indulgent French toast with a tres leches custard, rum dulce de leche, and strawberries.

One of the great things about SoBe is its walkability, so it was easy to check out Ocean Drive, the Lincoln Road Mall and Washington Avenue.

I came across Mozzico Cucina, Pizza & more (1616 Washington Ave.) at lunchtime on Saturday and had an outstanding rectangular slice of pesto pizza with cherry tomatoes and basil. I got dessert at Osmanlizadeler Baklava (618 Lincoln Road). Being a chocoholic, you can guess what mine had in it.

 I wanted to keep it a little light for dinner and dropped into Rosetta Bakery (1666 Collins Ave.) and had The Authentic Rosetta sandwhich, a delight filled with Italian cooked ham, cream cheese, prosciutto di parma and arugula mortadella.

As I drove back north on State Road A1A the next morning, I concluded that Uma was a fun experience with great vibes and an unfailingly friendly staff. If you want to go, check out umahousesouthbeach.com for end-of-year specials.

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