Our Dirty Little Secret is Out!
It does rain here. But usually it just passes through; mercifully we don't get too many daylong gray drizzly affairs such as today, Super Bowl Day. I'd say the Chamber of Commerce is "wringing its hands" but quite frankly no matter what we do here people keep coming, even when we do 'bad.'
You've fought your way through traffic (that's meant literally) and found a place to park your rental. Or, better, rolled out of your hotel bed, and are ready for a busy Sunday. The beach is out. The next obvious thing would be the open-air street festival from 5th to 15th on Ocean Drive. But Beachbum, you say, I'm just not in the mood for raucous, be-jerseyed, roly-poly, beer-swilling Midwesterners going on and on about 11 millionaires trying to stop 11 other millionaire from running around with a ball.
GO WEST GENTLE HOTELSBYCITY READER!
The west side of our little barrier island has some cool places to eat. Starting at, say, 14 and Alton (the westernmost north-south corridor on Miami Beach) you could grab some italian at the delightfully tacky Bella Napoli. Right next to it is Lime, a great Mexican place. Across the street is Quarterdeck--good burgers, "American" food normally--except today is some $75 eat-and-drink affair that may already be sold out. I don't know if you can squeeze in the bar. Maybe. Just south of 16th street is a silver-clad, aluminum building that houses a Starbucks. The little eatery there keeps changing hands and yet they all seem to offer reasonable food at cheap prices. Next block is Taco Rico, more pleasant Mexican food. I know, I know--these aren't very glamorous or even interesting, but as explained earlier, the "name" places are probably booked. In the Regal Cinema IS a charming joint frequented by loyal SoBers--Piola--which has great sandwiches and is usually crowded from when it opens at 6pm with the movie crowd. Great people watching.
Finally we're off the un-lovely Alton and onto Lincoln Road, west end. Grab a coffee at Segafreda, or lunch at Balans. Quattro is new and expensive and beautiful and promising but still inconsistent. There'a new German Bier Garten that seems to be attracting a following. Finally, the little cafe that could, The Cafe at Books and Books. Terrific food, bookstore ambience, affordable prices, funky waitstaff, and plenty of local color. A real winner!
