Miami: South Beach Society

Lucky enough to be treated to another work trip, this time I was in a much warmer climate; Miami, Florida. Although there was a lot I enjoyed about Miami (the SUN, the night life, the ocean...) my favourite part of the trip can be summed up into two main streets: Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road.

Ocean Drive:
Ocean drive is essentially the eastern most street in South Beach, right on the ocean. It's riddled with outdoor bars, art deco shops, and restaurants. (Specifically, we started our adventure at about 10th ave & Ocean Drive and walked for roughly 6 blocks.)

The best part about the restaurant scene on Ocean drive is its European feel.  Lots of outdoor seating so you can enjoy your meal in the warm weather, and people-watch! There is also a hostess standing outside each of the eateries to try and convince you come in and try their special of the day. (If you've ever been to Little Italy in New York its also very similar).  To top off this wonderful evening, after our (rather large) meal, we walked through a few galleries/art deco shops. This photo is now my inspiration for my stairwell at home!

Lincoln Road:
This outdoor shopping area puts all Toronto 'outdoor malls' to shame!  Cleverly nicknamed 'The 5th ave of the South' this pedestrian road is enclosed by boutique shops, brand name stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters...you name it, it's on Lincoln road.  I spent so much time in this area I ended up eating both my lunch and dinner in this district. Just like Ocean drive, the restaurants offer most of their service to outdoor seating.  Of all the restaurants we checked out, Meat Market was hands-down the best. (We actually sat indoors at this place).  The decor was stunning, the wine selection was superb, and the food was fantastic! The only thing I didn't like about Meat Market....was my bill at the end of the evening.

London: Liberty

I was in London last week on a quick business trip and couldn’t resist the chance to get a few hours of shopping under my belt.

I absolutely love the cosmopolitan nature of London and the glamorous shops throughout the city.  Each time I’ve been to London I’ve made time to visit Harrods, the world famous department store.

On this particular visit I was staying in West London on Regent street.  When I told my driver how excited I was to go back to Harrods and Top Shop in Knightsbridge, he asked if I’d been to ‘Liberty’ yet.   Not only had I never been there, but I’d never heard of this store before. He asked me a bit more about my favorite spots in London and after a quick conversation he was convinced I’d love Liberty.  It was only a few blocks over and he strongly suggested I start my afternoon off there instead.  The local’s know best right?  Off to Liberty.

 I’m so glad I made the decision to go to Liberty instead.  For starters, the exterior of the store is stunning. Constructed on Regent Street in West London the store was built over 100 years ago using the timber of two ships.  Inside the building, winding staircases and five floors  beautifully display the collections. Best of all, the store is anything but cluttered or busy (Harrods on the other hand is like being at Grand Central Station during rush hour). Liberty’s collections range from very expensive designer pieces (Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney etc.) to fashionable & affordable brands (Heidi Klum’s new swimwear line).  More than simply another women’s clothing store, most of the floors in Liberty are actually dedicated anything but clothing.  Unique stationary, fabrics, fragrances, china, exclusive coffee table books (I could go on forever).  

 

For any ‘fashionista’  visiting London I’d definitely suggest checking out this store.  Harrods is a fantastic tourist spot, but the only thing most people can afford from this UK hotspot are items from the gift shop.  If you want to get someone an authentic, chic souvenir from London, I think they’ll surely appreciate something from Liberty much more.