6 Reasons Why I Love Miami
There are people who complain about Miami and bring up such petty things like having to speak different dialects of Spanish to order a coffee. It’s not a cafeteria, but I go to my local coffeehouse every morning and order up an iced latte in English, no problem. I also get to sit outside and read the paper with my dog, year-round. This is how much I love Miami and I’ve only been awake for 20 minutes.
1. Living Miami Style
Miami offers tempting restaurants, cool bars and clubs, and great shopping. In other words, a multitude of ways to spend money. Luckily rents in Miami are relatively cheap compared to most other major cities. For $1,250, I was able to find a furnished, renovated apartment in a desirable area of South Beach. In other cities, $1,250 buys you a basement studio next to the projects. If you have a $1,400 or higher budget, you can move effortlessly into a stylishly furnished apartment with all utilities included, a luxury high-rise building on the Bay, or a remodeled art deco apartment steps away from the beach. One of my great apartment finds was a beautifully furnished studio at the Mondrian, all utilities and parking included, along with the amazing pool and gym, for $1,500.
2. Making Friends and Having Fun
I have friends in Brooklyn who ask me with envy, “Wait, so is that your friend who looks like a model, or is she the one who had the World Cup BBQ? Oh you’re talking about the girl who lives In Brickell, got itâ€. And then they demand to know how I have so many friends when I’ve only been in Miami a few months, while they’ve been in NY for a few years and their only friend is allergic to alcohol and goes to bed at 9:30.
Another reason why I love Miami is because it’s so easy to make friends. Just like me, everyone else recently moved here too. Miami’s transient population means that at any given time 70% of people are on the lookout for new friends. Or just someone to go out with. So take advantage of the MiamiBeach411 meet-ups, follow people on twitter for tweet-ups, go to that yoga class in Flamingo Park even if the sharp grass pokes through your beach towel, and strike up a conversation with the cute Latin waiter. Before you know it you’ll have such a busy social life that friends from your home town won’t be able to keep up with you!
3. Let’s Have a Drink
Going out in this town with its sky high drink prices aimed at tourists gets expensive. I limit myself to about two nights out per week. Miami’s world famous nightlife can only be found in, Miami. With great house music, the world’s best DJ’s, good-looking crowds, and the chance to break out your most fabulous dress, the clubs in other cities pale in comparison. If you want to go out casual in jean shorts, finding a favorite local bar is a must. Check out Ted’s, Abraxis, The Playwright, or Redbar in Brickell for a chill evening and drink prices that won’t empty your wallet.
4. Cancel Your Cable
Miami’s small size makes it easy to go to any event, and I never got more invitations than I get in Miami. Most of my facebook messages are invites to clubs, a fundraiser, networking event, meet-up, tweet up, or launch of a new publication or gallery event. The city of Miami knows how to party and Halloween is a perfect example. Seriously, what other town in the U.S. hires a DJ to spin outside until 5am? Let’s not forget about the Food and Wine Festival, Winter Music Conference, and the Art Basel parties.
5. Finally, Your Chance to Study Abroad
Living in Miami is like living in another country, in a good way. Largely populated by Latin Americans, Cubans, Europeans, Russians, and Americans running away from home, Miami offers a chance for you to practice that second language while “living abroadâ€, and meet people from all over the globe. If you’ve taken Spanish in High School or College, now’s your chance to become fluent.
6. “So What Do You Do?”
For those of us that haven’t landed that cushy job in advertising that pays $70,000, or aren’t working fifty-five hours a week and taking work home in the hopes of one day making partner at a law firm, sometimes “What do you do?†can be a painful question. In Miami, you’ll never hear that question, and if you do the person asking is an overall rude person whom you should ignore. People in Miami don’t judge you based on your career (or lack thereof). If you have a blog, or if you’re a bartender, aspiring DJ, or just have a job that pays the bills, be proud of yourself. As long as you have enough cash in your pocket to go out and a flexible schedule that allows you to hit the beach on weekdays, you’re living the dream.
There are certainly downsides to Miami, but the beach makes up for it. When the weather is great, and the purple flag isn’t up, there’s nothing better than gazing out at the calm turquoise sea and soaking in the sun. Sure there are flaky boys that don’t text back, leggy Brazilian girls to compete with, unscrupulous landlords, no sign of American food in some grocery stores, too many bugs, and the hordes of tourists to deal with, but come on- It’s 82 degrees and a perfect beach day!
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18 Comments on
"6 Reasons Why I Love Miami"
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rk says:
Christy, great article, it made me smile. I love the way you looked at the positive side of Miami. However, I must note that:
“Miami’s transient population means that at any given time 70% of people are on the lookout for new friends”
could also mean:
“70% of your friends will be gone shortly..”
and:
“Living in Miami is like living in another country, in a good way”
also applies in a bad way (driving habits, poor service, lack of reliability..)
and as for:
“So What Do You Do?â€
That is indeed the question that the 20% unemployed have to ask themselves every day.
Still, great article, look forward to more.
Posted on 01/02/2011 at 11:39 AM