Oh Miami, you sexy minx, I love you so. 2024 marks the 11th anniversary of 305 DAY and I intend on celebrating. The mission of this day is to āfoster unity, promote civic engagement, and honor the cultural tapestry that defines the 305ā. Miami is a city that follows the beat of its own drum, a rhythm thread together by the cultural melting pot of our unique home. Love her or hate her, sheās a bold and independent force, and shines brightly in the world as a destination for warmth, hospitality, and creativity. Iām a Miami native, born in Mercy Hospital and raised on the edge of Horse Country. Aside from a brief college hiatus Iāve never lived anywhere else and am proud to call this place home.
This city chases away as many people longing for change as it welcomes newcomers searching for the same dream. She is a refuge for the oppressed, whether it be international immigrants or fellow patriots, and embraces them with her magical sunsets and warm breezes. Iāve traveled all over our beautiful country but no other place hits quite like home. Iām not saying we are the most beautiful city in the United States, nor am I claiming weāre the best. But thereās so many qualities that rank us at the top (at least from my perspective) and Iād like to highlight some of Miamiās best features in hopes of encouraging you to love your home as much as I do.
The food! If you know me, you know I always begin with the food. For starters, nowhere else in the country can you pop into āuna ventanitaā for a quick Cuban pastry and Cafecito! Starbucks cannot compare to the experience of popping up at one of these unique coffee āwindowsā and ordering a true cortadito made with bitter espresso, evaporated milk, and copious amounts of sugar. Itās a gift from the gods and when you couple it with a fresh pastelito or a warm croqueta it somehow provides an existential escape from the stress of your day. The women who run these cafes are the perfect blend of grouchy and sassy and thrive on knowing theyāre serving up a little moment of zen in your day. Have I mentioned the Cuban Bread? Did you know that itās nearly impossible to get real Cuban Bread anywhere else in the country?! Itās true! While Cuban Bread is readily available throughout parts of Florida itās nearly impossible to source anywhere else. Itās a well-kept secret to produce and even if you try to make it at home it always falls flat (just ask my out-of-state friends). If you live here, be sure to pay tribute to this magical carb on a monthly basis!
In addition to our famous Cuban cuisine, did you know that Honey Garlic Chicken is a Miami only cuisine? I can only presume that the Chinese immigrant population in Cuba brought this magical blend to us and itās truly a travesty that the rest of the countryās sauce options end with General Tsoās. Thanks to our incredible multicultural population we also have Ceviche at the ready in every zip code, Fritanga joints in most neighborhoods, Latin-Asian fusions, Southern cuisine, fresh Italian fare, Argentinian steakhouses, Mofongo and OMG the Haitian food! People just donāt know! I could also write an entire essay on the magic of the Publix Sub and the sticky buns from Knaus Berry Farm but I think you know what Iām talking about. We love to eat in this city and our food is a love language that hypnotizes visitors and keeps them coming back for more.
Now, letās talk about our beaches. Iām sorry, I know that we are a bicoastal nation, but the fine sand and warm, clear water truly set us apart. We are a city where all our children learn to swim by the age of 3 and spend their weekends building sandcastles in the warm shade of their umbrellas. Are you up for some boating? Youāve come to THE place! Almost every friend circle has a buddy with a boat and they are always the most popular in the gang. Days spent drifting through the Atlantic, disconnecting from daily life, are absolutely priceless. Youāll see pods of dolphins swimming playfully along your boat and beautiful manatees floating along. The boating culture here is spectacular and our water is warmer than anywhere else in the country, even in winter!
Speaking of winter, whatās winter? Our winter is everyone elseās best day in the summer! Our city is a rare place where we can enjoy outdoor sports year-round and we arenāt afraid to get a little sweaty. Do we look a little ridiculous wearing turtlenecks when itās 60 degrees out? Only if you arenāt here in person to understand that our glorious humidity adds a bone chilling edge to the slightest of breezes. Do we have freakish amounts of humidity in the summer (and honestly, most of the year)? Sure. Does that humidity also provide a layer of hydration that puts our aging process on hold? Yes, it does. With our insatiable love of swimming pools in this city itās never hard to cool off and with the technology in hair care these days weāre able to keep our hair under control most days. If not, thereās always braidsā¦or buzz cuts.
The fashion in Miami is on a whole other level. Where else can you dress like youāre on vacation at the school pick-up line? Boots last us a decade due to minimal use, but we are constantly replacing those flip flops and wedges! Light and flowy fabrics, sleeveless tops and comfy slip-ons are a must in this city. I pity the people in Urban locations where they walk all day and canāt enjoy the freedom of a sandal on a summerās day. It also guarantees we take better care of our often-exposed feet in one of our plentiful and affordable salons.
Letās take a moment to pay tribute to the incredibly affordable beauty industry we have in Miami. Did you know that itās cheaper to get a mani-pedi here than in most cities in the country? Supply and demand baby! Botox, laser hair removal, lymphatic massage and other magical skincare options are plentiful and wonāt break the bank! Also, if youāre going to a salon where you arenāt referred to as āmi reinaā (my queen) or āmi cieloā (my darling) then youāre going to the wrong salon. There should also be a tray of Cafecito shots distributed hourly as well. These are the rules and they need to be followed. Caso Cerrado.
Weāre also a Mecca for festivals! Art Basel, South Beach Food & Wine Festival, Miami Music Week, Miami International Boat Show, South Beach Jazz Festival, Miami Fashion Week, Miami Film Festival, Calle Ocho, Winter Party, Miami Beach Pride, Brew Miami, South Beach Jazz Festival and The International Mango Festival! Seriously, we have a whole festival dedicated to mangos because thatās how plentiful they are here in the summer! Weāll celebrate just about anything down here and the people watching alone make all these events worthwhile.
Iām swooning right now as I write this because I love this crazy city so much. Do we have crazy drivers who barely understand traffic signals? Sure. Do we have traffic and construction on the highway that would make you want to throat punch someone just to move along a little quicker? What city doesnāt? But somehow, we continue to welcome multi-continental Americans into our fold every year and we always welcome them with a little hospitality in the form of a Cafecito and a box of our signature pastries. Miami, you are a queen!
Riveting Rosy
@rivetingrosy305
