Miami - sexiest, most exotic city on earth

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By: Maria Tettamanti

Palm trees, pink flamingos, sandy beaches and sultry weather - all are synonymous with Miami. But what most people don't know about Miami is that it's arguably the most exotic city Americans can visit without a passport. Full of energy, passion and multicultural sabor, Miamians pride themselves on being the nation's sexiest and spiciest people. Constantly changing, Miami provides visitors with top-notch nightlife, eye-catching architecture, clear- blue waters and white-sand beaches.

"Miami is an inspirational place. It's evolved to become a place that's as much for the senses as it is a vacation destination.

It's the only place I can think of that's both tropical yet also cosmopolitan," says David Whitaker, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Tourism of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau . And while the city is best known for its many outdoor oases, Miami is also rich with indoor intrigues. "There are the tropical activities such as a day at the beach, being out on the water boating or fishing, a trip to the Everglades or a round of golf. But then there are cosmopolitan offerings such as an amazing collection of museums, performances, festivals and world-class shopping, be it in major malls or neighborhoods as divergent as Coral Gables, Lincoln Road, Coconut Grove, the Design District or Little Havana to name just a few," Whitaker says.

Then there's the racy and fiery factor found in the city's people and places. "The one word I would use to describe Miami's fashion sense is 'sexy'," says Miami's wunderkind designer Julian Chang. In a city where skin is definitely in and Latin American and European beauties are as commonplace as sculpted bodies, Miami breeds sexiness like no other city. The eye candy in this sun-soaked city surpasses that of any other U.S. locale. "If I can make it here, looks-wise, I can make it anywhere!" jokes Miami native Vivian Chaplick. Whitaker says spiciness is also inherent in the city's cuisine. "We have developed a program called Miami Spice Restaurant Month - a celebration of our cuisine, our culture and our amazing collection of some of the top restaurants and top chefs found anywhere in the world."

With pleasures and pastimes ranging from beach bumming, boating, dining, clubbing, shopping, spectator sports and people watching, Miami is the IT place to discover. The year-round warm weather alone is a viable reason to flock to its sun-kissed shores. Miamians brag about South Florida winters - dry, clear blue skies, temperatures in the 60s and low 70s. Summers are hot (in the 90s) and humid, calling for bikini wear and short shorts. Come nighttime, days unwind into postcard-perfect backdrops. Whitaker says, "What I personally love most about Miami is its light - the sunrises with pinks and streaks of light against our amazing blue sky, light shimmering off the water and different sunsets that reveal themselves each evening. When you see the light reflecting off our buildings and the neon lights, that's when our city comes alive."

It's no secret that flaunting flesh in Miami is as widespread as a Louis Vuitton handbag sighting. Scorching hot weather beckons year-round sandal and short wear by day, but come nighttime, South Floridians like to show off. Locals are loco for Dolce & Gabbana , Roberto Cavalli , Armani , Gucci , Pucci , Prada , Fendi , Carolina Herrera , Christian Dior and more. But it just so happens Miami is home to many designing damsels and dames as well. Among these Miami-based fashion powerhouses are Donald J Pliner , Julian Chang , Silvia Tcherassi and Rene Ruiz. We picked the minds of Miami's fashion darlings and they shared their insights on why they call Miami home, and we asked them to name their favorite must-see places.

Shoe designing dexterous Donald J Pliner, who has called Miami home for the past 12 years, says, "My wife and I love the beautiful beaches, warm weather, atmosphere and culture." For first-time visitors, Pliner advises trips to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Donald J Pliner Concept stores, Miami Children's Museum, Miami City Ballet, Lincoln Road and South Beach. On a personal level, Pliner says, "There are so many wonderful things to do here, but as new parents, we love to visit the Miami Children's Museum, Parrot Jungle, Village of Merrick Park, Lincoln Road, Bal Harbour Shops and Aventura Mall." Pliner adds, "Miami has a fabulous vibe - it's a sexy and hip fashion Mecca. It's like being in a foreign city - a mixture of Latin and European with American amenities."

Known for his clean cuts and modern vision, fashion designer Julian Chang sings Miami's praises as well. Chang says, "Miami is one of the great cultural melting pots today. It's also one of the most open-minded cities in the world. As a result, its residents and fans are starving for something new, something creative - there are no barriers." A true believer that Miami is a mix of American, Latin American and European culture, Chang adds, "We hail from all over the world and know how to enjoy life to the fullest extent. Everyone I know that lives in Miami loves Miami. How many cities in the U.S. can you say that about?"

Designer Silvia Tcherassi, famous for her minimalist yet elegant eveningwear and breath-taking bridal gowns, believes Miami's geographic location can't be beat. Tcherassi says, "It's incomparable for business and travel - plus, the Latin flavor, of course!" As far as Miami's best-kept secret is concerned, "The bread of La Provence French Bakery on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables is as good as the bread in Paris."

Adored for couture gowns, exquisite tailoring, superb attention to details and cutting-edge designs, Rene Ruiz raves about Miami's community. "The people here are great and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. There are so many cultures and influences from other cultures - especially Latin America - that keeps the style and attitude of Miami exciting." When asked to describe South Florida style in one word, Ruiz exclaims, "Fearless!"

South Florida artists are enjoying unprecedented popularity, and local galleries, many of which showcase important Latin American artists, are also growing in recognition. One art gallery hot-spot is Gary Nader Gallery on Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables. The gallery showcases Latin American, modern and contemporary art. "The art scene in Miami is constantly growing," says owner Gary Nader. "It's vital, new, extraordinary and vibrant." The gallery's monthly exhibits feature established artists and the largest selection of works by Latin American masters including paintings, sculptures and drawings. Past one-man shows featured Matta, Armando Morales, Mario Carreño, Agustin Cardenas, Fernando Botero, Julio Larraz, Wifredo Lam, Marc Chagall and Guillermo Muñoz Vera - bringing together the works of the most important Latin American artists.
3306 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables

On the Haitian horizon, Myriam Nader's Galerie D'Art Nader is home to the largest selection of Haitian art in the world. Myriam says, "By opening this branch of Galerie D'Art Nader in Florida we want to share with a broader public the beauty and the richness of the finest art of Haiti. We want people to be more familiar with our most vibrant asset and a major part of our rich culture." 1911 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables

Another excellent melange of art can be found at Art + in The Village of Merrick Park . With an inventory as diverse as Miami's vibrant art scene, this gallery houses works by Botero, Lam, Matta, Horacio Martinez, Liliana, Cristina Botero, Rafael Barrios, Jorge Blanco and more. Not only limited to paintings, Art + proudly displays photography, digital art and sculptures.
358 San Lorenzo Avenue Suite 3135, Coral Gables

Miami-based artist Xavier Cortada is also making strokes in the art scene. The muralist has transformed dingy highway underpasses in Downtown Miami, Little Havana and the Design District into virtual mangrove forests. Mangroves are also thematic in his murals at the entrance to the Miami City Hall and the County Commission Chambers and on a recent solo exhibit in the state capitol. The artist paints mangroves to depict our interconnectedness as a community. "Much like mangrove seedlings wash up on a Florida sandbar and set roots, we all come from different places to make Miami our home," Cortada says.

"By reaching out to others we build a stronger community, just as mangrove "walking feet" do to build intricate root systems that nurture life and protect our shores from erosion during a storm."

Forty-year-old Cortada has also created murals for the White House, the World Bank, the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Capitol and the Miami Art Museum. His international art projects include International AIDS Conference murals in Switzerland and South Africa, peace murals in Northern Ireland and Cyprus, and collaborative murals with children in Panama and Bolivia. Images can be found on his Web site, cortada.com .

Last year, Cortada painted open mouths (symbolizing free expression) on an Antonov 2 Soviet plane that flew Cuban refugees to the land of the free and surrounded it with 46 luggage pieces numbered chronologically from 1959 to the present day, the years Cuba has been under Castro's regime. He then invited exiles to write about their own journey to freedom, and place each message in the luggage pertaining to the year of departure.

Greater Miami's young visual arts community took a major leap in international status when the prestigious annual art fair Art Basel announced its debut in Miami Beach in December 2001. Now, Art Basel Miami Beach showcases artwork from 200 of the world's most respected art galleries, mixing renowned, established artists with cutting-edge newcomers. So be sure to discover Art Basel Miami Beach December 6-9 and you'll be able to brag to your friends back home that you reveled in the most important art show on the American continent and a cultural and social highlight of the Americas.

tres chic
More Left Bank than Miami Beach, A La Folie café transports patrons to France with its crepe-focused fare. In this authentic French café, wooden booths and walls full of foreign newspapers and magazines make you take a second look at your plane ticket to make sure you're still in Miami. Featuring some of the best café fare in Miami including delicious, hugely portioned sandwiches such as the French fave Croque-monsieur, salads, crepes, and, of course, cafe au lait and plenty of wine. Indoor and outdoor seating are equally conducive to whiling away many hours sipping coffee, reading a magazine, and checking out the "eye candy" passersby. 516 Espanola Way, Miami Beach

salsa and all that jazz
Good things do come in little packages, as apparent in the Hoy Como Ayer cabaret. This tiny club, adorned with Cuban artwork, is best known for Fuácata on Thursday nights, where a DJ mixes Cuban oldies with hip-hop accompanied by live drums. Other evenings include Spanish theatre, live Latin salsa and jazz. Long-time Hoy Como Ayer aficionado, president of ArtistaMundo.com and multi-media artist, Cristina Figueredo says, "I come to Hoy Como Ayer to see something different and creative - it's a true platform for local musical talent. Artistically, it's a great place to get inspired and energized at the end of a long week. The quality of the music is the reason you go to Hoy Como Ayer, as the music is always impactful and passionate." Plain and simple: The cabaret captures old Havana flavor like no other. 2212 S.W. 8th Street, Little Havana

the great and the gritty
Hard to find but impossible to miss, Jimbo's joint is the place to order up a cold beer and the only edible item on the menu, spectacular smoked fish. Surrounded by vibrant shacks, sometimes occupied by rowdy live bands, this watering hole shares space with equally colorful wildlife. Roosters, chicken, dogs, herons and pelicans are aplenty, and if you're lucky, you may just spot an endangered manatee in the lagoon. One Jimbo's fanatic, Miami veteran Costas Antoniades says, "Jimbo's is like good medicine. It's got more spunk than any other spot in the world. After a day here, you really don't need a vacation." So enjoy the sights - the "usual" suspects provide great people watching - and you'll feel delightfully disconnected from civilization. Off Rickenbacker Causeway at Arthur Lamb Jr. Road, Virginia Key

design of our times
Is your home in need of some sprucing up? Then swing by Miami Design District. Located just north of Downtown Miami, this single square mile of furniture showrooms, eclectic accessories boutiques, art studios and interior design firms is open for visitors. The who's who of design and arts reign supreme in this natty niche. N.E. 36th Street to N.E. 42nd Street between N.E. 2nd Avenue and N. Miami Avenue

haiti cherie
Colorful and cool as the Caribbean, Little Haiti is a community where Haitian culture is alive and well. Creole-language signs, brightly painted buildings and eye-catching mural storefronts are staples in this neighborhood. And so is voodoo - just take a gander into one of the area's botanicas (a spiritual kind of drugstore) where candles and potions are sold - a reminder that it's a real and living faith in this vicinity. But there are also countless eglises (Christian churches) too, so don't be fooled! For a true taste of Haiti, order up some pigeon peas and rice, oxtail and goat stew from one of the many inexpensive restaurants. North Miami Avenue, from 54th to 59th Streets, Miami

domino
Clacking domino tiles, Cubans clad in guayaberas, cigar smoke smothering the air - this is what you"ll find in Domino Park. Officially named Máximo Gomez Park, it's really known as a gathering place for Miami's most devout domino players. Among a macho setting, men spend hours at the domino tables where anti-Castro politics are as fierce as the games being played. Surrounded by a colorful mural of world leaders painted by school children in honor of the Summit of Americas held in Miami in 994, visitors may just discover a ferocious game of dominos - along with an earful of the day's political chatter - if they're willing to gamble a dollar or two. S.W. 8th Street and S.W. 15th Avenue, Little Havana

to the market we go
For a truly rustic experience, check out La Plaza Market. Reminiscent of a Caribbean outdoor bazaar, where locals haggle over fruits and veggies, this marketplace is bustling with bucolic energy. Color and local rugged charm are omnipresent in this action-packed spot. 57th Avenue and Flagler Street

MIAMI SPICE

FASHION CREDITS
Photography by Leonardo Vecchiarelli
Stylist: Ise White with Code Artists
Hair Artist: Elle Gomez with Code Artists
Makeup Artist: Yesenia Vargas with Code Artists
Models: Carlos Andre Dos Santos with Next Management, Kaja Sokola with Next Management, Agbani Darego with Next Management, Viktoria with Michele Pommier Management

		Piedras bathing suit, Vitraux necklace.
		On Carlos: Shorts by Machine shorts. On Kaja: Parosh gown, Christina Machado jewelry. On Forest: Craig Signer pants.
		On Carlos: Red Carter bathing trunks. On Viktoria: Piedras bikini, Vicini shoes, De La Vega necklace and earrings.
		Split dress.
		On Viktoria: W Swim bathing suit, Pineda Covalin necklace and earrings. On Forest: Dolce & Gabbana pants, Prada belt, Zoo York skate board.
		On Carlos: Redest Pants, Julian Chang shirt, Bailey hat. On Viktoria: Parosh dress, Piedras necklace. On Kaja: Parosh shirt and skirt, Piedras necklace.
		Red Carter bathing suit.
		On Viktoria: Silvia Tcherassi dress, Francesca Romana jewelry. On Kaja: Silvia Tcherassi skirt and blouse, Francesca Romana jewelry, Pineda scarf. On Forest: Craig Signer shirt and blazer, Roberto Cavalli jeans. On Carlos: Julian Chang shirt and pants, Stacks T-shirt.
		On Kaja: Craig Signer top and skirt. On Agbani: Gianfranco Ferre dress. On Viktoria: Gianfranco Ferre dress. On Forest: D&G shirt and pants. On Carlos: Roberto Cavalli shirt and pants.
		Trash Couture dress, Danilo Giordano skirt.
		On Agbani: Gianfranco Ferre gown, Francesca Romana necklace. On Viktoria: Trash Couture dress.
		On Carlos: ES shorts. On Agbani: Red Carter bikini, Pineda Covalin scarf, Vicini shoes.
		On Agbani: Red Carter bathing suit. On Viktoria: W Swim bikini.
		Red Carter bikini, Parosh necklace.
		On Kaja: Gianfranco Ferre gown and shoes. On Agbani: Rivera Rivera gown. On Carlos: Red Carter bathing trunks.
		Gianfranco Ferre feather shrug and gown, Dior hat, Vicini shoes.
		Rivera Rivera ensemble, Renee Caovilla shoes.
		Rozae Nichols dress.
		On Carlos: Craig Signer shirt. On Kaja: Silvia Tcherassi top, Renee Ruiz skirt. On Agbani: Elie Tahari shirt, Rozae Nichols skirt.
		Renee Ruiz top, Vitraux bracelet.
		Piedras bathing suit, Renee Ruiz wrap.
		On Viktoria: Piedras top, Renee Ruiz skirt. On Kaja: Silvia Tcherassi top, Renee Ruiz skirt, Francesca Romana jewelry. On Forest: Ruca shirt, Dolce & Gabbana pants, Prada belt. On Carlos: Nike shirt.