An Ode to Florida : Reflecting On Our Year in St. Pete

We bid adieu to St. Petersburg three weeks ago and I've been meaning to write some sort of reflective post for nearly as long. But how do I sum up our year in Florida? Trying to do so is a bit of an overwhelming task but ... here goes.

We had our highs and we had our lows, that's for sure. The move to St. Pete was not a smooth one, nor were G's first days and weeks at his new unit. (Similar to our current transition to Jersey.) And I wasn't sure I liked, or would grow to like, living in Florida. (Kinda how I'm feeling about Union City right now.) But once we made it through some serious financial drama (that happened through no fault of our own), unpacked and settled into our apartment, and survived the brutal summer humidity, the hubs and I began to enjoy our new life in the Sunshine State.

We celebrated our first married Thanksgiving and Christmas (with a visit to the Oakdale Christmas House!), and rang in the New Year—in our pajamas, no less.

While I didn't cross everything off my Florida fall and winter/spring bucket lists, G and I did go on many, many adventures. 

Together we...

Explored indie biz-focused fairs (Localicious and Localtopia), partook in boozy events (Oktoberfest Tampa, Guavaween in Ybor City, the Gasparilla pirate fest, the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival, and First Friday, with tubs of beer, in downtown St. Pete), shopped for fresh produce at the Saturday Morning Market (here and here, here) and picked up pre-loved wares at the Brocante Vintage Market.

Toured the Sunken Gardens, Great Explorations Children's Museum and The Florida Aquarium.

Fell in love with the Oxford Exchange and made multiple visits, for dinner, brunch and a book signing, and sometimes just for the delicious coffee.)

Walked around the gorgeous University of Tampa campus.

Viewed world-class art (and stunning architecture) at The Dali, the Chihuly Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts and the Mainsail Arts Festival.

Enjoyed beachy days in St. Pete (Treasure Island, Fort De Soto dog beach and the boardwalk at John's Pass Village), Clearwater, Dunedin, and a Miami Beach.

Attended games to watch local teams—the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Rays and Lightning—play G's favorite sports (football, baseball and hockey, respectively).

Sailed Tampa Bay at sunset.

Took a (BIG!) bite out of the Tampa Bay culinary scene, with visits to: 

Birch & Vine and The Canopy (day and night) at The Birchwood, 

Bella Brava (with the most enormous baked pasta dish you've ever seen), 

Cassis (for a light lunch and our one-year anniversary dinner), 

theAvenue (to cheer on the Chargers), Lucky Dill (for breakfast and lunch),

Annata, 400 Beach, Sea Salt, Rocco Steak, Ceviche,

Tryst, Red Mesa Cantina, Z Grille, Hook's, Cafe Del Mar, Engine No. 9,

Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, The Getaway, RumFish Grill, 

the restaurant at OE (for a gourmet brunch and dinner)

Anise Global Gastrobar, Taps, Hablo Taco, Bar Louie,

and even Bob Evans.

Sipped on... craft beers at dog-friendly Green Bench Brewing Co., 3 Daughters Brewing
and World of Beer (Pup Crawl! Football Sundays! The Jackass!),
various varietals of wine at Try Wine and the Locale Market bar,
classic cocktails and Moscow Mules at Mandarin Hide,
and some of the best java around at Kawha Coffee.

Our favorite "souvenir" from Florida has to be the one and only Jasper, the furbaby we welcomed into our family just months after arriving on the Gulf Coast. But the best thing about our time in St. Pete, and the reason it ended up being difficult to say goodbye, was the people. 

The friends we made in Tampa Bay 

are what made it feel like home. 

Without them, Florida would have been 

a beautiful but lonely place to be.

At the end of May, I organized a going-away pool party at our apartment complex so G and I could see everyone one more time before heading off to Jersey. It was a sun-soaked day full of good food, strong drinks, inappropriate card games and lots of laughs. The perfect way to wrap up our year in St. Pete.

Until next time, Florida! Thanks for the memories.

Miami Memories : Toes in the Water, Toes in the Sand

One of my favorite moments during our Miami Beach getaway was the Monday morning stroll we took along the stretch of sand outside our hotel. Even though we didn't have much time before we needed to start heading back home to St. Pete, I insisted that the hubby and I take a walk along the shore. We were in Miami Beach after all and how could we not step on the sand and poke our toes in the water when it was just steps from where we were staying? So that's just what we did. No longer the weekend, the beach was quiet and nearly empty. We almost had it all to ourselves. The sun played hide and seek in the sky, the wind tossed my hair into a tangled mess. The ocean waves were cool (but not ice cold like we're used to in the Pacific) as they lapped against our feet but more impressive was the colors. Clear, turquoise waters (also nothing like the Pacific) that gradually deepened into a perfect ombre that only nature can create before sliding into a similarly spectacular blue sky with puffs of white clouds here and there. Florida really is a beautiful place, especially where the water meets the sand. I didn't want to leave, G basically had to drag me off the beach so we could carry on with all the other things on my must-do list, but not before I resorted to one of my favorite pastimes and collected a few broken pieces of coral and shell-- souvenirs from Miami.

Now, all you really need to know about that morning, in photographs...

Miami Memories : Scarpetta at Fontainebleau

After arriving in Miami on Saturday night, G and I had a drink at our hotel bar and considered where we should go for dinner. While flipping through OpenTable, G decided to deviate from our plan and book us a 9 o'clock reservation at Scarpetta, celebrity chef Scott Conant's Italian eatery located inside the historic and iconic Fontainebleau. Our plan was to visit Miami Beach's most luxurious landmark hotel sometime during our visit and to simply get a glass of wine and an appetizer at Scarpetta since it is an extremely expensive restaurant, befitting its residence inside a luxury hotel and the fact that Conant (you probably know him from "Chopped") is a James Beard award-winning restaurateur.

But, G threw caution to the wind. Carpe diem! You only live once (YOLO!). He said we may never return to Miami Beach and he wanted to make the most of it. So he booked, we got dressed up, we went.

And the food was divine, of course.

The meal began with an abundant bread basket-- filled with three kinds of rolls-- served alongside a porcelain canoe of spreads: butter, olive oil, and what I believe were deeply concentrated tomatoes (the tomato flavor in these little bites was beyond). Torn between ordering a glass of Rosso (red) or Bianco (white), I selected the only Rosato on the wine menu: Bertani Bertarose, a 2012 vintage from Veneto, Italy. Not too sweet, just a hint, it may be my new favorite rosé. G, a red man, ordered the 2011 Pertinace Barbera, from Piemonte, Italy.

While the dinner menu was full of tempting entree choices, including Diver Sea Scallops and Fennel Dusted Black Cod, I just had to get pasta knowing it was fresh-made in-house. Plus, Conant is always sharply critical of "Chopped" contestants' pasta, so I felt I must give his a try. I convinced G of this, too. I ordered the Scialatelli (pronounced shy-uh-la-telli, I learned), which featured long, linguine-like noodles tangled up with luscious chunks of Maine lobster, arugula and basil and topped with crispy bottarga bread crumbs. (Bottarga is salted fish roe, I just discovered, which I'm glad I didn't know beforehand because I may have asked our server to hold the crumbs. But they were delicious!)

As for G, he chose the Short Rib & Bone Marrow Agnolotti (a stuffed pasta similar to ravioli), served with a horseradish and red wine jus. I tried a few bites and the pasta sheets that formed the agnolotti were so thin, so fine, so delicate, I can't imagine the training and time it takes to make each perfect morsel. The filling was deeply and satisfyingly savory, much different from my dish which was light and fresh. Both, however, were decadent and scrumptious in their own way.

Fortunately, the reasonable portion sizes allowed us to save room for dessert. While we were leaning towards the Pistachio Soufflé we opted for the Chocolate Zeppole, on the recommendation of our server. G had never before had zeppole, which could be best described as an Italian donut. But these fried balls of dough are much lighter than anything we Americans make. And these zeppole were especially good because their airy centers were stuffed with Nutella. As if that wasn't enough, the plate of five was showered with a sprinkling of crushed hazelnuts and served with a pool of spiced anglaise for dipping. The thing of dreams.

After dinner, we planned to go to the nightclub housed within Fontainebleau: LIV. Unfortunately for us, we lingered over dinner a little too long and by the time we got out at 11 o'clock a line had already formed out the door and into the (surprisingly cold and windy) Miami night. We would have suffered through the chill and the crowds to get in the door but then we found out the cover charge: $60 for me, $80 for him. Having already dropped that much on dinner (plus a tip) we decided to take our old (30-ish) butts and full tummies back to the hotel and cuddle up under the covers, to dream of giant, sparkling gold chandeliers and boats of creamy vanilla anglaise...

[ All dressed up for our fancy Scarpetta dinner. ] 

[ Clockwise: Scialatelli, Agnolotti, Zeppole, an overflowing bread basket and Rosato wine at Scarpetta. ]

[ Gorgeous, twinkling chandeliers in the lobby at Fontainebleau. ]

Miami Memories : Hilton Cabana Miami Beach

[ The Hilton Cabana Miami Beach (left) boasts direct beach access. ]

Our home away from home during our quick Miami getaway this past weekend was the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach, a brand-new luxury beachfront hotel that just opened this past summer. 

Situated on Collins Avenue at 62nd Street, the 10-story building is built in the MiMo style of architecture that originated in Miami in the 1950s and 60s. As is typical with Miami Modernism, the Hilton Cabana's design and decor is sleek and minimalist with flashes of glamour and fun. I especially loved all the vintage photos that peppered the hotel walls and our room, as well as the pops of yellow here and there, inside and out.

While we didn't have an ocean view room, we didn't have to travel far to catch a glimpse of the sand, the sun and the surf. G and I enjoyed cocktails at the poolside, ocean-adjacent Allison Bar twice-- upon arriving at the hotel, just in time to watch the sunset, and Sunday morning before heading off to the Chargers game. The on-site restaurant, L'echon Brasserie, was fabulous as well, offering us not only a convenient place for breakfast but gourmet a.m. grub. The Eggs Benedict was deliciously salty and savory and the yogurt parfait was seriously the most beautiful cup of yogurt I have ever seen. It tasted every bit as good as it looked and a mini croissant with butter and blackberry preserves was the perfect accompaniment.

My only complaints with the Hilton Cabana are minor. The bed's mattress was a bit hard for my taste. (Maybe it needs a bit more breaking in? The hotel is new, after all.) And I wasn't terribly fond of our spaceship of a bathroom, as I called it, with its brightly illuminated, high-powered mirrors. I don't need to see my pores quite that closely. Especially on vacation!

But overall we had a very pleasant stay at the Hilton Cabana and would recommend it to those looking for an upscale, oceanfront, centrally-located hotel in Miami Beach.

Now for a few more photos, if you'd like to see...

[ Vintage touches in the lobby. ]

[ Sparkling, modern light fixtures in the lobby. ] 

[ Our MiMo-style room. ]

[ If you want to see everything wrong with your face, these are the mirrors for you. ]

[ Playful, vintage-inspired mural at the Hilton Cabana. ] 

[ Vintage photographs in our room. ]

[ Scenes from two breakfasts at L'echon Brasserie. ] 

[ Ocean view from the outdoor, poolside Allison Bar. ]

[ Cocktails at the Allison Bar. A pre-Chargers game mimosa and a margarita (left). A Tropical Storm (right) upon arriving at the Hilton Cabana, though the Kappa Pisco concoction (mixed with passionfruit, orange juice and bitters) tasted more like sunshine in a glass. ]

[ Watching sunset hues dance over the water from the poolside Allison Bar. ]

[ The rooftop Cabana Pool boasted a stellar view of the hotel's beach access and beyond. ]

[ Yellow beach cabanas at the Hilton Cabana. ]

A Mini Miami Getaway

[ The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. ]

This weekend we are continuing my husband's 30th birthday celebration with a quick trip down south to Miami Beach. G decided that, for his birthday, he'd like to see his favorite team, the San Diego Chargers, when they came to Florida to play the Miami Dolphins. So that's what we're going to do. On Sunday. But outside of game time, we're going to take advantage and explore the Magic City, South Beach and environs.

We leave tomorrow and will come home Monday. Here's our game plan for our mini Miami getaway:

[ A look inside the $200-million Fontainebleau renovation. Glitzy. ]

• Check out the elaborate and recently renovated landmark hotel, the Fontainebleau Resort & Spa. I didn't know much about Miami before researching for this trip, but I did know about the famous Fontainebleau. 

[ Scarpetta Miami Beach, a nautical version of the urban-rustic Italian original in New York. ]

• While at the Fontainebleau, we plan to pop into Scarpetta, the Miami Beach outpost of celebrity chef Scott Conant's original New York Italian eatery. The menu is pricey, as is to be expected, but I figure we can just have a glass of wine, share an app and enjoy the ambience and ocean views. G and I are huge Food Network fans and love watching acclaimed restaurateur Conant deliver deft criticism (and, sometimes, praise) on "Chopped."

[ Urban art at Wynwood Walls. ]

• Visit the Wynwood Walls, an open-air museum of sorts in the Wynwood Arts District. The graffiti garden is filled with Instagram-able, world-class street art painted on warehouse walls and doors, and there's even a restaurant and bar on site. The collection of urban murals is definitely a Miami must-see for me.

[ The Cafe at Books & Books. ]

• Browse Books & Books, the best bookstore in the city, and perhaps have lunch at the Cafe, which serves up a mix of Latin and Southern cuisine as well as plenty of people-watching if you snag an outdoor table set along Lincoln Road, SoBe's main shopping artery.

[ Our home for the weekend: The Hilton Cabana Miami Beach. ]

We'll be staying at the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach, a brand-new luxury beachfront hotel in Miami Beach, on Collins Avenue, in an up-and-coming area called "Millionaire's Row." With cabana in the hotel's name, the pool area looks unsurprisingly amazing and I got a new bathing suit for the occasion. I just need to remember to pack the sunblock!

[ Sparkling pool and ocean views at the Hilton Cabana Miami Beach. ]

In between these rough plans there is bound to be plenty of imbibing and at least one night out on the town. Not sure where we'll go exactly (and what flashy nightclub we'll be able to get into-- hopefully we won't have trouble getting past the velvet ropes) but we'll just see where the weekend takes us.

If you've been to Miami, we welcome any recommendations on places to go, things to see, or where to eat and drink! I'll be sure to fill you in next week on our adventures.

[ Story, named 2014 Nightclub of the Year. ]

(Fontainebleau images via the resort's Facebook page and website, Scarpetta image via the restaurant's website, Wynwood Walls images via Goldman Properties,  Books & Books image by Justin Namon via Cafe's Facebook page, Hilton Cabana images via its website, Story image via club's Facebook page)