If anyone has the chance to...
by miami_gal
If anyone has the chance to visit the beautiful city, you have to check out the clubs, fine dining (especially Casa Salsa, Ricky Martin's hot resturant!) and the most beautiful shopping and beaches! Sigh...I miss everything. The beautiful lights, city, resturants, the beaches, the people and most of all, I miss the warm breeze late at night...sigh!:)
Jewish Law – the Eruv
by tampa_shawn
Culture Tip #3 (you will get more from these tips if you read them in order)
One of the 613 commandments of the Shomer Shabbat (see previous tips) prohibits carrying anything or picking things up outside the boundaries of your property during the Sabbath. This is to ensure the Sabbath is a day or rest as prescribed in the Bible.
To some this means nothing can be carried over the property line and when I say nothing, I mean nothing....not even keys, a purse, a child or a baby. It may also mean nothing can be picked up outside your property line.
However, the property line may extend (depending on how traditional you are) to commonly held property (traditionally called Eruv). In today’s world the Eruv refers to the string around commonly held property. The Eruv or Eruvin needs to be marked by the Rabbi and allows adherents to the Shomer Shabbat to extend the boundary of their home….and to carry things inside the Eruv.
Miami Beach has had an Eruv (pronounced A-roove) for over 20 years. In Miami Beach the Eruv is quite large and consists of miles and miles of string that is erected on poles, lamp posts and between buildings. The eastern boundary of the Eruv is the easiest to find. It parallels the boardwalk in South Beach. From the boardwalk find a pole and look up approximately 12 feet and you will see the string.
Note click on the picture to enlarge. If you focus on the pole you will see the Eruv (string)
I've also learned that Eruv's are checked weekly to make sure they are complete on a weekly basis and there is an Eruv hotline so people can check on the status of the Eruv.
For other locations that have Eruv see
http://www.religionlink.org/tip_030507bzones.php
For more information on Eruv’s
http://www.denvereruv.org/explain.html
Take a side trip to the Everglades.
by chrissyalex
If you don't have a car, one of the many excursions available from Miami Beach is a half day trip to the Everglades for an airboat ride. It is very touristy, but I did enjoy it. The drive is about 45 minutes from Miami Beach. At first when you are on the boat, it will go very slowly and you will see all kinds of beautiful birds and lots of alligators. Some of the alligators will swim right up to the boat and you are literally inches away from them! Scary! Afterwards, you will take a higher speed ride through the swamp and the boat will dip side to side a little until you arrive to a less inhabitated area of the swamp. Here you may step out of the boat and into the swamp , if you like. The man driving the boat said it was safe to step out since the alligators are usually not in this area and any poisenous snakes will be spotted by birds ,but I didn't chance it! About half the people stepped out of the boat and said that the mud on the bottom of the swamp was very mushy and slippery and you feel like you are sinking in it..
Cruisin' Ocean Drive
by Alice-Kees about Art Deco District; the ocean front
Nothing can beat a late arrival in Miami after a 11 hour flight, pick up your rental car at the airport and drive it straight to Miami Beach, where you almost automatically get to Ocean Drive. This oceanfront promenade is the place where people come to watch and be watched. Of course, with our intermediate Pontiac there was no way we would attract anybody's attention. The atmosphere was just great and we felt that we had arrived in another episode of Miami Vice that evening... Dress to impress
The Shamrock in South Beach
by HotSpotJ about Playwright Irish Pub
The Playwright Irish Pub is a great place for someone to visit who is from up North and doesn't exactly want to dress to impress- but wants to enjoy a few beers, and yet still be around some of the beautiful South Beach singles. I had been here many times and enjoyed the Cider they call Strongbow- its a must if you visit this Pub. Irish Pub-esque, no need for designer Italian here!