Our visit to La Birra Bar Doral was the perfect way to spice up an otherwise ordinary Wednesday evening. The vibe? Casual, upbeat, and incredibly inviting for all ages. Whether you’re out with friends, on a date, or bringing the whole family, it’s the kind of place where everyone instantly feels at home. Guests flowed in steadily, and the irresistible aroma of sizzling Black Angus burgers filled the air—an instant mood booster.
We kicked things off with The Golden—juicy Black Angus Argentinian beef patties layered with American cheese, diced red onions, and their signature secret mayo. On the side: crispy sweet potato fries (a must), paired with chimichurri, mayo, and a hint of black truffle. Let’s just say… it was borderline out-of-body.
Meanwhile, others at the table went for the award-winning Crispy Dubai Burger—and yes, it lives up to the hype. Made with 100% Argentinian beef, white cheddar, La Birra Bar’s signature crispy onions, and a decadent house dressing featuring their family-recipe chimichurri, mayo, and a touch of black truffle, all on a freshly baked artisan bun. Every bite hits that perfect balance of crispy, creamy, and juicy.
Of course, we couldn’t skip dessert. Chocolate milkshakes and a warm brownie topped with vanilla ice cream made their way to the table—because… it’s Wednesday, and we’re calling it a cheat day.
Where to Find Them in South Florida
If you’re craving this burger magic, you can visit La Birra Bar Doral, La Birra Bar North Miami Beach, La Birra Bar Fort Lauderdale, La Birra Bar Weston, and La Birra Bar Wynwood—making it easy to get your fix no matter where you are in South Florida.
Why Everyone’s Talking About La Birra Bar
Founded in Argentina in 2001 by Daniel Cocchia, La Birra Bar started as a humble neighborhood burger spot in Boedo, Buenos Aires. Today, it’s grown into one of the most awarded burger brands in the world, known for its commitment to quality, creativity, and fully artisanal ingredients.
And the accolades keep coming. The brand’s Crispy Dubai Burger was crowned Overall Winner at the Inaugural Dubai Burger Championship, beating out top contenders from around the globe. Even more impressive? It also took home top honors at the 2026 Burger Bash during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival—and we were there to witness it.
Safe to say, this isn’t just hype—it’s well-earned.
Piper-Heidsieck returns to the Miami Open presented by Itaú for its third consecutive year, bringing its signature red flair courtside from March 15–29. Infusing the tournament with vibrant energy, bold flavors, and celebratory Champagne moments, the iconic House toasts every serve and rally in style.
Guests can sip on favorites like Cuvée Brut, Brut Rosé, and the Riviera Edition served over ice, alongside playful cocktails and indulgent treats like Champagne floats. Beyond the pours, immersive entertainment—from live Caribbean rhythms and Latin dance to French cabaret and Marilyn Monroe–inspired glamour—brings the brand’s theatrical spirit to life.
At the Champagne Garden, elevated bites take center stage with offerings from Chèvre Miami, including gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, and the over-the-top “Golden Glizzy,” while Aubi & Ramsa adds a sweet finish with Champagne-infused sorbet.
Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck is one of the world’s most awarded Champagne Houses, known for its bold, creative spirit and commitment to crafting wines that “smile.” With a legacy rooted in precision, innovation, and sustainability, the House continues to blend excellence with entertainment—bringing people together across more than 80 countries in celebration.
Blending sport, culture, and indulgence, Piper-Heidsieck transforms the Miami Open into a sparkling celebration both on and off the court.
Carnaval on the Mile returns March 7–8, 2026, transforming Miracle Mile into a vibrant, mile-long celebration of music, art, and culture. Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, the free outdoor event features three live concert stages with international and award-winning performers, a curated showcase of fine art, crafts, photography, and jewelry, and a variety of culinary experiences. Families can also enjoy the Kidz Nook presented by Academica, offering interactive programming and the inaugural Carnaval Miami Greatest Kids Show.
Posted by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore On February - 26 - 2026
Some exhibitions are meant to be viewed. This one must be experienced.
After commanding reverence in Milan’s Palazzo Reale, Paris’s Grand Palais, and Rome’s Palazzo delle Esposizioni, From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana arrives at ICA Miami not as a traveling show — but as a consecration.
Curated by Florence Müller — one of the most respected voices in global fashion curation — this exhibition is less about garments and more about legacy. Müller, a graduate of the École du Louvre and former curator at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, has orchestrated more than 150 exhibitions worldwide. She does not curate fashion; she contextualizes it within civilization.
And here, she does so with first-hand intimacy. Müller has followed Dolce & Gabbana across decades of Alta Moda presentations — standing inside Sicilian cathedrals, along Venetian canals, within Roman ruins — witnessing not just the runway, but the ritual. She understands the ateliers — the expert hands that cut, stitch, drape, bead, and revive techniques that might otherwise vanish.
As Müller observes: “I believe Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are among the couturiers most inspired by Italian culture and art, and those who represent it most faithfully… the exhibition demonstrates one thing: that the past is not dead.”
The title itself is literal: ideas born in the heart, realized by the hands. Over 300 Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria pieces unfold across immersive chapters, where the experience is total. Each gallery features its own custom soundtrack and signature scent, enveloping the visitor in an olfactory and auditory map of Italy.
The “Devotion” Hallway: A Pilgrimage of Craft
The “Devotion” room serves as the exhibition’s spiritual anchor, meticulously recreating the high drama of the 2022 Alta Moda show in Syracuse, Sicily. To experience it is to walk a long, narrow gallery carpeted in vibrant papal yellow, an architectural echo of the Piazza del Duomo where the collection first debuted.
The air here is heavy with the scent of sacred incense, while a grand projection brings the ritual to life: a solemn, theatrical procession of “cardinals” in crimson vestments and figures representing Mary and Jesus moving to the haunting strains of Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. On the opposing wall, the garments stand like icons — sculptural gold jackets adorned with 3D-molded cherubs, “tabernacle” coats encrusted in jewels, and black lace veils that honor the Sorrowful Mother. This corridor pulls the viewer forward, transforming a fashion display into a pilgrimage that leads, inevitably, toward a shimmering golden altar.
A World of Influence
The journey continues through the layers of the Italian soul. There is Sicily — not as cliché, but as bloodline. Ceramic motifs from Caltagirone and the painted heroics of Sicilian carts are reborn in sculptural coats. Rome appears not as backdrop but as empire; papal mantles shimmer in metallic embroidery while vestal silhouettes glide in white silk moiré. Venice glitters in Murano glass and Byzantine mosaics, reflected infinitely in mirrored rooms.
And then there is The Leopard (Il Gattopardo), directed by Luchino Visconti. The masterpiece becomes both metaphor and muse — tradition surrendering to modernity. The ballroom scene flickers across mirrored walls to the swell of Nino Rota’s original score, while Alta Moda gowns shimmer beneath.
The Opera Gallery: The Grand Finale
The journey culminates in a gallery where fashion surrenders entirely to the stage. Curated as a reimagined Italian opera house, the space is enveloped in crimson velvet and gold-leaf molding, echoing the grandeur of Teatro alla Scala in Milan.
Here, Müller displays the Milano Opera Collection, where the designers act as conductors of silk and organza. Voluminous capes and gowns are dedicated to the heroines of Verdi, Puccini, and Bellini — from the tragic fragility of La Traviata to the fierce exoticism of Turandot. The air is filled with the aroma of vintage theater wood and velvet, as iconic arias pull the viewer into the dramma all’italiana.
A Legacy Preserved
What Müller accomplishes at ICA Miami is significant. She places Dolce & Gabbana not inside the fashion calendar — but inside cultural history. Architecture, Renaissance painting, Catholic iconography, folklore, artisan guilds — all converging into garments that feel less worn than inherited.
And Miami — bold, baroque, unapologetically sensual — understands this language.
Florence Müller
This exhibition is not about trend. It is about devotion. To craft. To region. To memory. To beauty so deliberate it feels sacred. In a fashion landscape chasing speed, Dolce & Gabbana choose permanence. In a culture obsessed with disruption, they choose preservation.
Maryanne Salvat and Mary Jo Shore with Domenico Dolce
From the heart to the hands — and now, from Italy to Miami — where spectacle meets reverence and craftsmanship becomes destiny. From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana is not just about fashion — it is about legacy.
America’s Premier Food & Wine Celebration Returns This Week, Select Can’t-Miss Events Still Available February 19–22, 2026
Miami Beach, FLA. (February 17, 2026) – The countdown is officially on! The 25th annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) returns this week for four days and nights of unforgettable food, drink, music and celebration. The star-studded event will showcase Food Network’s biggest culinary icons, Grammy Award-winning artists, popular lifestyle personalities, and more than 500 chefs, winemakers, and spirit producers all joining forces to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. As excitement builds for this milestone anniversary, taking place February 19–22, 2026, tickets are going fast, but Festival fans and foodies near and far still have a chance to snag tickets to some of the weekend’s most buzzed-about events.
From high-energy beachfront parties and legendary tastings to indulgent brunches and late-night celebrations, SOBEWFF®’s 25th anniversary promises the most exciting Festival yet. Though select events are already sold out, the following experiences still have limited tickets available:
Festival favorite Guy Fieri returns to host Coca-Cola presents Tournament of Champions LIVE, as all five past champions from the hit Food Network series — Brooke Williamson, Maneet Chauhan, Mei Lin, Tiffani Faison and Antonia Lofaso — go head-to-head for ultimate bragging rights. Plus, hip-hop legend Rev Run of Run DMC takes the stage for an unforgettable performance.
The Festival’s most sinful new event, Naughty Bites hosted by The Naughty Fork part of The Hangar Event Series, puts indulgence center stage with elevated comfort food and crave-worthy bites that feel luxe yet familiar.
Chew on This: A Live Podcast Series presented by iHeartRadio takes over the iconic Miami Beach Bandshell for a unique Festival experience bringing five live podcasts to the stage throughout the day, each hosted by some of the most dynamic personalities in comedy, music, entertainment, and food.
Katie Lee returns to host Sip & Swirl: A Wine Happy Hour at Joia Beach where close to a dozen stations will feature wines from around the world.
Ashley Graham, Michael Pirolo, and Marc Vetri host Late Night Pizza Party sponsored by Lucci Lambrusco at Bar Bucce for a late-night, full-flavor pizza party where great food, great wine and great music collide.
Masters of Fire hosted by Tyler Florence returns as a signature tent event celebrating SOBEWFF®’s 25th anniversary, offering guests an exhilarating outdoor cooking experience featuring a lineup of talented chefs who take grilling to the next level.
Hosted by 2026’s Tribute Dinner honorees, Michelle Bernstein and Sacha Lichine, Final Pour: Tribute Dinner After Party will celebrate the two visionaries with great food, craft cocktails and a performance by Les Greene & The Swayzees.
To date, the Festival has raised more than $45 million in support of its educational mission to provide an invaluable real-world experience and an interactive educational platform for future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). Between SOBEWFF® and its sister NYCWFF, more than $55 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities of each Festival. Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining cultures of their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as a platform to drive awareness and engagement for a wide array of philanthropic activities. Tickets for the Festival are On Sale NOW, with plenty of options to suit your taste and budget at sobewff.org. Stay up to date all year long by following @SOBEWFF on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Posted by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore On February - 6 - 2026
For more than six decades, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival (CGAF), presented by First Horizon Bank, has championed the vibrant intersection of community, culture, and creative expression. Now celebrating its 62nd year, the iconic three‑day outdoor festival returns February 14–16, inviting art lovers, families, and curious explorers to experience one of the nation’s premier cultural events where discovering, collecting, and celebrating go hand in hand. Forty percent of the artists at this year’s festival are participating for the first time.
Consistently ranked among America’s top art festivals, CGAF transforms the scenic Biscayne Bay waterfront, in the picturesque community of Coconut Grove, into a dynamic open‑air gallery and cultural playground. With 285 internationally recognized artists, the festival offers an inspiring blend of fine art, live performances, hands‑on activities, and immersive family‑friendly zones, making it a place where creativity truly comes alive.
For more than 60 years, CGAF has served as a beacon of artistic excellence and community connection. Its mission remains steadfast: to foster creativity and bring world‑class art to Miami’s cultural landscape. But the festival is far more than an art show, it is a full cultural journey filled with interactive experiences for all ages.
Festival Highlights
• The Stacks Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood- Live music returns to Peacock Park, paired with live mural painting and interactive DIY art activities for all ages.
• Arts & Drafts Beer Garden Presented by Cervecería La Tropical– Enjoy craft brews while watching Miami’s artisans create in real time.
• Inner Artist – Dive into hands‑on creativity with painting, crafting, and live performances at Regatta Park.
• Comic Kid – A kid‑powered zone where young creators can build, paint, and explore.
• Young Collectors Club – Kids ages 6 to 12 can start their own art collections by purchasing artwork for only $5.
• Collectors Club presented by First Horizon Bank – Elevate your festival experience with a special ticket that providesexclusive lounge access, open bar, light bites, and air‑conditioned restrooms ($169.99++ per day)
