by Christiana Lilly

LORIE MERTES OF LOCUST PROJECTS BLENDS ART WITH HER EVERYDAY STYLE

An expert in art, Lorie Mertes is executive director of nonprofit gallery Locust Projects — and she knows how to incorporate beautiful things into her Miami lifestyle. Here are eight of her current obsessions:

1. The Gallery

“Locust Projects has some stellar exhibitions lined up by Nancy Davidson and Miami-based artist Pepe Mar, and we are also participating in NADA Miami during Art Basel.”

3852 North Miami Avenue, Miami; 305-576-8570; locustprojects.org.

2. The Clothing

“I do the delivery services like MM.LaFleur. It is a great way to see a range of things you likely would not find in one store. I go for comfortable modern pieces that have an interesting cut, and I try to make them distinctive through accessories.”

MMLaFleur.com.

3. The Makeup

“A colleague at Locust introduced me to Fenty Beauty, and I am so happy! Real-life skin tones that cover my sensitive, heat-flushed skin and have awesome staying power.”

Foundation, $34. Sephora, 721 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305-532-0904; sephora.com.

4. The Restaurant

“I’m intrigued that there are still restaurants where you can expect the unexpected and be wowed every time. My faves at KYU Miami include the roasted grouper, Thai coconut creamed spinach and coconut cake.”

251 Northwest 25th Street, Miami; 786-077-0150; kyumiami.com.

5. The Art

“Miami’s museums and galleries pull out all the stops this time of year, and locals are lucky to go check them our before or after Basel. I’m looking forward to the Dara Friedman retrospective at Pérez Art Museum Miami.”

1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami; 305-375-3000; pamm.org.

6. The Late Night

“The Corner is my go-to bar. They have great cocktails made by attentive bartenders, an extensive beer selection and good noshes. It’s a reliable haven to keep those great conversations going.”

1035 North Miami Avenue, Miami; 305-961-7887; thecornermiami.com.

7. The Ring

“My grandmother’s color-coded drawers of vintage costume jewelry informed my collecting obsession. I’ll mix big and bold vintage statement pieces like ’70s black chains and ’50s multistrand beads with modern touches, including my Elsa Peretti Cabochon ring that looks like a crystal ball.”

$775. Tiffany & Co. at Miami Design District, 114 Northeast 39th Street, Miami; 305-428-1390; tiffany.com.

8. The Read

“The most beautifully written book I’ve read recently is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Richly visual, enchanting characters. Begs to be made into a movie. Can’t wait to see who they cast as Count Rostov!”

$27. Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables; 305-442-4408; booksandbooks.com.

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Here’s Where To Watch The Annual Winterfest Boat Parade

Courtesy Riverside Hotel

Every year, one million people watch the lit-up vessels in the Winterfest Parade—it is a Fort Lauderdale tradition, after all.

Want to beat the crowds clamoring along the 12-mile route? Check out our picks of restaurants and hotels hosting viewing parties for this year’s event.

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11.30.17

by Christiana Lilly

Miami Art Week events and installations that will be all over your Instagram feed

Tania El Khoury’s “Fingertips”

Art Basel is here, which means your Instagram game needs to be on point.

Whether you’re swimming in a pool of sprinkles at the brand-new Museum of Ice Cream, wandering the Upside Down at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, or traveling through Kanye’s brain at Basel House, there’s no end to the exhibits for you to immerse yourself in.

We’ve gathered the most selfie-friendly spots, so get your smart phones ready, pick a favorite filter, and get ready to hashtag.

Read the rest at Miami.com.

11.09.17

by Christiana Lilly

Jenine Howard’s 8 Miami Essentials

The best local finds for holiday gifts and everyday delights? That’s easy when you’re as in the know as Jenine Howard, a Miami philanthropist, basketball wife and cool mom. Her eight essentials in the 305:

1. Must-have margarita at Houston’s

“The Cadillac Margarita at Houston’s is made just right! The perfect Grand Marnier-to-lime ratio. That and the artichoke dip? Nirvana.”

Houston’s, 17355 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach; 305-947-2000; houstons.com.

2. Southern-style brunch at Whisk

“Whisk is our go-to. They serve organic and seasonal Southern-style comfort food, and the service is warm and wonderful.”

Whisk, 7382 Southwest 56th Avenue, Miami; 786-268-8350; whiskgourmet.com.

3. Sneakers for the kids

“My sons Jett and Jace are sneaker collectors, and they go to SoleFly for the latest and greatest kicks.”

Air Jordan 8 Retro, $190. SoleFly, 8099 South Dixie Highway, South Miami; 305-661-3423; solefly.com.

4. Best-smelling perfume

“My signature scent is by Kilian called Straight to Heaven. It’s inspired by rum and is melded with sexy patchouli and spiced up with nutmeg. Very Caribbean — like me!”

$315. Saks Fifth Avenue at Brickell City Center, 81 Southwest Eighth Street, Miami; 786-907-3800; saksfifthavenue.com.

5. The Juice Foundation by Jenine Howard and Juwan Howard

“Our family’s cause is The Juice Foundation — it’s our seventh year partnering with the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our mission is to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle.”

The Juice Foundation, juicefoundation.org.

6. Hot yoga is the way to go

“I am religious about my bikram yoga practice. It allows me to stay balanced, centered and limber. I practice at Sunshine Hot Yoga weekly.”

Sunshine Hot Yoga, 13847 South Dixie Highway, Miami; 305) 253-6978, sunshinehotyoga.net.

7. Her place for a moment of zen

“Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located less than a mile from our home. It is a magical place that I jog through every week.”

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables; 305-667-1651; fairchildgarden.org.

8. Add dramatic flashes to your lashes

“I go to Ohh! Lashes to add the perfect dose of drama to my eyes. Tamara, the owner, uses hypoallergenic mink lashes to increase my length and volume.”

Ohh! Lashes, 1390 South Dixie Highway, Suite 2120, Coral Gables; 305-890-8806; ohhlashes.com.

Originally published in Indulge magazine

11.08.17

by Christiana Lilly

TAKE A CHEF’S TOUR THROUGH SUNNY ISLES BEACH

This year, the city of Sunny Isles Beach celebrated its 20th anniversary since incorporating. This beach boomtown is a 2-mile stretch of luxe condos, diverse retail and high-end hotels that draw visitors from around the world. Sandwiched between Aventura and Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles put itself on the luxury map with the 2003 opening of Trump International Beach Resort. That drew other upscale hotels and residences, like Acqualina and Porsche Design Tower. More than just pretty buildings, Sunny Isles also boasts picturesque parks, beautiful beaches and globally inspired restaurants.

Meet our guide

Chef Kurtis Jantz might have the best view in the working world, overseeing Neomi’s Grill, Gili’s Pool Bar and Gili’s Beach Club at the seaside Trump International Beach Resort. “Sunny Isles has such a diverse culture for a small community, and we have the most beautiful, clean beaches,” he said. Born in Japan and with an affinity for modern Florida cuisine, Jantz has been the resort’s executive chef since 2003, picking up scores of accolades along the way.

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10.31.17

by Christiana Lilly

Charity and Sylvia – The 200-Year-Old Same-Sex Marriage

Rachel Hope Cleves

The legalization of same-sex marriage may be brand new to American history, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything unique.

Rachel Hope Cleves, a professor of history at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, has been studying the love story of two seemingly ordinary women: Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake. After meeting in Vermont in the late 1700s, the women were “inseparable” and essentially lived as wife and wife for four decades.

In 2014, at the cusp of the Defense of Marriage Act being overturned in the United States, Cleves published “Charity and Sylvia” — a reminder that LGBT people are nothing new to history.

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10.30.17

by Christiana Lilly

Rob Thomson And His Real Estate Ventures At Waterfront Properties

He didn’t know it at the time, but Rob Thomson was being groomed as a real estate agent before he was old enough to drive a car.

The youngest of five boys, Thomson would sit in the car with his mother, real estate agent Joan Thomson, while she made stops at houses and chatted with clients.

As he says, he was an unwitting student in the “Joan Thomson School of Real Estate,” picking up his mother’s techniques that he still uses 30 years later.

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10.19.17

by Christiana Lilly

Fort Lauderdale’s Five Best Barber Shops That Every Man Needs To Visit

The 1930s called, and they’re glad that barber shops are back in vogue.

We’ve put together a list of the five best old-school barber shops around Fort Lauderdale. Sit back, relax and look fresh after an appointment at one of these manly parlors.

ManKind

Ahead of the wave of barbershops that have come to Fort Lauderdale, Lee Garipoli opened the doors to ManKind in 2005 to bring a one-stop shop of relaxation and refinement. Not only do the barbers offer services for hair and beards, but the staff also offers massages, facials, waxing, manicures, dry cleaning, shoe shine and repair and clothes tailoring. Want to relax after a cut? Hit the pool table or grab a drink at the bar. There really is no reason to leave this man cave.

501 SE Second St., Ste. 103, Fort Lauderdale; 954.525.0209; mankindformen.com

Buck & Beard

Jose Lima went to hair school to prove to his roommate it wasn’t a good fit for him. Instead, he proved himself wrong. Now, Lima is the co-owner of Buck & Beard in the growing 13th Street corridor with business partner Ricardo Colopi.

“The barber shop experience is having a huge comeback,” Lima said. Open for a year, the 10-chair shop sports an industrial look with leather and wood for the ultimate guy’s spot for haircuts, beard work, waxing and manicures. However, women have also become loyal customers. The city is celebrating the grand opening of 13th Street on Oct. 21, and on Nov. 11, it’s holding the grand opening party of its neighbor Milk Money.

815 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954.399.2327; buckndbeard.pagecloud.com

Monarchs

After being in the culinary world for nine years, Greg Young made the switch to barbering. Now, he and his business partner Kevin Grande are the proud owners of a place they say is fit for kings.

“Beards are very trendy,” Young says. “It’s not as easy as most make it seem to be. We’re able to provide those services as well as a great experience.” Located in FAT Village, the shop opened in April 2016. With every cut, barbers provide a hot lather and a straight razor for a fresh look. Customers can also enjoy some cold brews and Oak and Cane rum. When the staff isn’t working, they give back to the community with back-to-school cuts and haircuts for the homeless around Thanksgiving.

504 NW First Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954.514.7650; monarchscs.com

Not Your Father’s Barber Shop

At this shop, it’s all about bringing together the old and new. Coming from a family of barbers, owner Zac Jancek was looking for a place for people to relax and hang out—not just cut and jet—when he opened his shop in 2016. Customers can indulge in complimentary beers and play on nine different gaming systems from Sega Genesis to Playstation 4. But when they’re in the chair, it’s that old-school service. Not Your Father’s Barber Shop specializes in classic cuts like the pompadour and slick back, fit with a hot towel shave. “Guys are wanting to take care of themselves again,” Jancek said.

2740 East Oakland Park Blvd., Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale; 954.451.5999; facebook.com/pg/notyourfathersbarbershop

V’s Barbershop

Keith and Jenna Keltner opened shop in July with the goal to bring back the old school barber shop of yesteryear, where men could get a good straight shave and parents could bring their sons for their first haircut.

“Each barber shop has its own niche,” Keltner said. “V’s is very authentic.” That includes black-and-white tiling, refurbished barber chairs and exposed brick walls. Mark your calendars for Veterans Day because veterans, first responders, police officers and firefighters will receive 50 percent off all services on Nov. 11.

2426 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale; 954.233.1964; vsbarbershop.com

Pro Barbershop Tips

Use a light beard oil or a beard butter. It makes your beard more manageable.
Be selective in what products you use. A lot of products have detergent in them, which can cause hair loss.
A balm or a conditioner will help your beard go through that two-week itch period that drives guys crazy.

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10.02.17

by Christiana Lilly

THE BEST OF THE MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE

The Fly’s Eye Dome at the Miami Design District. (Photo by Ra Haus)

A creation of developer Craig Robins, the Miami Design District over the past decade has morphed into a go-to destination for locals and visitors. While the district began as and still is the “it” place for high-end designers and furniture stores, it has become so much more than that. Just three square blocks, the neighborhood features flagship stores from luxury fashion houses, mom-and-pop restaurants and independent boutiques. The Design District is the little Miami neighborhood that packs a big, artful punch.

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09.25.17

by Christiana Lilly

KELLY BLANCO IS A MIAMI TV REPORTER WITH ON-AIR STYLE AND OFF-AIR COOL

Photo by Zak Bennett

An intrepid traffic reporter at NBC 6 for nearly five years, Kelly Blanco knows how to hit the ground running while maintaining a flawless look. When she’s not working the camera, she forgoes her figure-hugging dresses for flowy, boho styles. We asked her to share her top Miami tips.

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