Miami, FL. December 1, 2016 — Isabelle & Pierre

Here we go again! We packed the car and drove to Miami where we will spend the next 4 months to enjoy our grand daughter, Charlotte, who is turning 2 years old.

This is going to be a lengthy Post!

A 7 hours drive on the first day took us to Breaux Bridge, near Lafayette, LA, where we stayed overnight. The itinerary was carefully planned by Pierre, wanting to go back to the place where he had the best grits ever! It is a bed & breakfast on a bayou: Maison Madeleine, a charming and very well decorated old home located on the edge of Lake Martin. Madeleine, our talented host, fixes the best breakfasts (really worth the detour!). A 13 hours drive the second day all the way to Miami. Happy dance with Charlotte when we arrived!

We arrived in Miami for the highlight of the season: Miami Art Basel. This impressive contemporary art fair brings a very diverse group of artists together, some well known and some emerging. Such as Gideon Rubin, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Leighton, Adolph Gottlieb, Manolo Valdes, Alex Katz.

It is a very exciting and exhausting time with a lot of satellites exhibits spread from Miami Beach to Wynwood, where you can enjoy the famous street artist: Peter Tunney, and expending to the Miami Design District. Not to miss: the permanent private collections, they are reopening at this time of the year. Design Miami, one of the satellite expositions, is particularly interesting for its creativity in objects and furniture and the craftsmanship displayed. For example: The Haas brothers, etc...

Miami Art Basel is a very social event where people come from all over the world. A perfect occasion for us to catch up with old friends: Pascaline & Kevin R., Dominique & Jacques G., Marco Fila & Beryl Lacoste (yes, friendly competition) and their spouses, Stéphanie & Rex.

As soon as the frenzy of Art Basel was over, we could concentrate on helping Danielle and Arthur settling into their new house in Miami Shores (Yes Rex, East of Biscayne!). Many shopping stops at Ikea and Home Depot. Arthur and Pierre are testing their team spirit on the Ikea assembly manuals, Isabelle is hanging pictures & curtains. Good thing Charlotte is here to help! We even apply our builder/developer expertise in designing and building bookshelves for the kids new den.

We are renting an apartment in the center of Miami Beach (Euclid Av & 8th St) 2 blocks away from the beach which offers a wide variety of interesting scenes! We swim, do yoga, read by the pool of The Standard where we took a membership. We are all set for a cool winter!

Christmas is already on us! Yessss!

Danielle's sister & mother arrive, we shop for the best stone crabs at 8 am on Christmas day at Garcias fish monger & restaurant, the best mustard sauce & key lime pie at Joe's and, of course, foie gras. Friends join in for the day. We swim, open presents, take yearly pictures while Agathe enjoys Christmas with her friends in Venice Beach, CA. Finally, Charlotte falls asleep exhausted by all the excitement.

Charlotte is off daycare for a week so we take her to the Key Biscayne Beach where we meet Salima & Damien J. and their four children for lunch at The Boater's Grill. We take her to PAMM - the Pérez Art Museum, we walk the dolls and Guinness (friends' dog) around the neighborhood. A real Grand Parents crash course!

Fun time at the Ugly Xmas Sweater party at Beryl & Rex H. As you have guessed, Rex won the contest, not really a sweater but he was so chic in his Santa suit!

We spent New Year's eve week-end at Danielle's & Arthur's place while they get some time off. On January 1st, Charlotte christened Isabelle with her grand-mother's name: Bella.

We go to a flea market where we eat Belgian waffles and draw, to the Children's Museum, the playground, etc... Charlotte runs around & Pierre is exhausted!!! Hard to believe right?... Good thing Charlotte likes to read!

And we get visitors! Eric F. an old Canadian friend from Pierre's business school leaving in NYC. Eléonore & Stéphane C., Eléonore is the daughter of good friends of ours, Anne & Guillaume B. also leaving in NYC. Arthur's great friend Brendan M, is visiting them with his mom, Agnes.

We enjoy Miami's restaurant scene: Ironside Pizza & Kitchen, great to go with kids because of its patio and closeness to Miami Shores. Our all time favorite: Pubbelly Sushi. In the same area (Purdy Street), we also like a friendly italian Lucali, Paradigm for breakfast or lunch. In Brickell the Peruvian La Mar by Gaston Acurio, downtown a cozy French eclectic Fooq's and a highly recommended Uruguayan Quinto La Huella. Healthy breakfasts at Eléonore's great discovery near us: Under The Mango Tree. Close to our apartment, we supply our patisserie needs from a very decent french bakery Le Chic, Dirt is a good spot for a quick but very healthy meal along with the classic Italian: Fratelli La Bufala. Near Lincoln Road, we can also recommend for breakfast or lunch crêpes A La Folie Cafe Français, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila for dinner or after drinks and Casa Tua. for a delicious romantic dinner. On First Street, on the very south end of the Beach, the Greek Milos for great see food as well as the Italian Il Mulino, quite special for lunch all week with a very attractive fixed price! Not to forget, Smith & Wollensky right on the Miami Harbor entry channel.

I LOVE HAUTE LIVING, I LOVE BUBBLES, I LOVE MIAMI! Ocean Drive is a must with its Art Deco buildings and hotels, most offer great restaurants. An absolute must is to visit these hotels lobbies and pools: The Edition, The Setai - across from it is a nice restaurant DÔA, The Fontainebleau, The Soho House, The Raleigh, The Delano, The Faena, and the fresh, local & natural 1hotel. 27 Restaurant & Bar @ Freehand Hotel is also a fun lively place on Indian Creek Drive.

I love haute living, i love bubbles, i love Miami.jpg

Saturday 1/28, we celebrated Arthur 34th birthday at Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard. We feel so lucky to be able to spend so much quality family time and see Charlotte grow!

Miami in Winter is definitely a good place to be: We love the restaurants, taking pictures, taking long walks and talks! It is great to have the visit of our NYC friends escaping the cold. Beside the beach, we also go to Wynwood where we like the walls, and enjoy breakfast or lunch at Zak The Baker (closed on Saturdays) and Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. Another great destination: Miami's Design District which offers great window shopping and restaurants: Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Michael's Genuine, and MC Kitchen. La Dolce Vita!!