To round out your evening, you may be able to catch a Pulitzer
prize-winning play at
Alley Theatre (615 Texas Avenue,
713-228-8421,
www.alleytheatre.org), with the
venue hosting such productions as David Auburn's renowned Proof and
Suzan-Lori Parks'
Topdog/Underdog.
MIAMI DAY ONE
A
Miami Beach landmark serving a hot, happy morning brew,
Puerto
Sagua (700 Collins Avenue, 305-673-1115) is the way to get your
engine revving when you're visiting South Florida.
Afterward, give the kids a dose of culture by visiting the
Miami
Children's Museum (980 MacArthur Causeway, 305-373-5437,
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org).
It's a top-notch playground for the little ones, with dozens of
exhibits, classes, and day camps. The museum also features a film
program for budding artists.
For some adult playtime, myriad showrooms and countless shops in
the
Miami De-sign District(305-573-8116,
www.designmiami.com) showcase
antiques, ceramics, art glass, textiles, and more. At lunchtime,
feed your need for a Cuban sandwich at
Enriqueta's Sandwich
Shop (186 Northeast 29th Street, 305-573-4681), where they pile
on the ham, cheese, pork, and pickles between two pieces of bread,
dot it all with butter, and grill it to perfection.
After such a scrumptious lunch, one can't help but want to be
pampered.
RikRak Salon and Spa (1428 Brickell Avenue,
305-371-5577), a combination clothing store/salon, is literally a
one-stop shop. Do yourself right -
massage, mani and pedi, hair,
and makeup - then shop the racks of designer clothes, shoes, and
accessories. Plus, with fine wine, gourmet coffee and tea, and
yummy snacks on hand, you could easily spend all day without
desiring a change of locales.
When you do decide to move on, though,
Salero, in the
Firehouse Four building (1000 South Miami Avenue, 305-371-3473),
offers hot and cold tapas for a very cool price - between $2.50 and
$9 per plate (which explains its success with the after-work
crowd). Try Serrano ham, Spanish almonds, fried Camembert, or a
tuna empanada accompanied by a fun selection of wine flights
perfect for sipping with your small bites.