A lovely park along the bay in the Mimo area of Miami. Lots of open spaces, enormous mature banyan trees that provide lots of shade and a creek full of crabs and little creatures that scurry about. Plus it has these amazing trees that appear to also be part vine. They are pretty magical looking, full of texture and great for art inspiration. 

When it comes to food, Miami can be really fussy and expensive. Being from Los Angeles I've been spoiled with amazing and affordable Japanese food. The Japanese Market is a little difficult to locate at first. It is on the ground floor of a nondescript office building in North Bay Village. Although it's small compared to it's California counterparts, the market meets most of your Japanese culinary needs. You would never expect by the size and location of the sushi bar to have such delicious food, but as they often say, looks can be deceiving.

Being a big fan of Jim Drain before moving to Miami, I knew of this artist run alternative art space that he and Naomi Fisher currently operate together. They have amazing shows and host a myriad of lectures, readings and screenings throughout the year.

They do the best mojito! Ball & Chain has been the most popular jazz bar in Miami for Cuban live music and salsa dancing! 

Many people flock to Miami during the winter months to escape the cold. For James Deering, Vizcaya was home away from home. Built with the help of his friends and 1,000+ workers during the early 20th century, the Renaissance Italian and French influenced architecture and gardens make for a transformative experience.