Brickell Village, Miami

       I know that the uber-hip, the fashionistas, and the real players all flock to Miami Beach for their thrills, but frankly, it can feel a little…plastic. I was conscious of being a stranger. On the outside looking in. I was too far north of the dress code, a fish out of water, and I couldn't afford a decent drink.

      But Brickell is better. It's fun, has plenty of sights and things to do, and it just feels good. Mary Brickell Village is a small stretch of urban Miami, extending through 9th and 10th Streets of Miami, but expanding even further on weekends. It is in striking distance of a handful of museums, including the Museum of Contemporary Art. There are also plenty of parks and good shopping nearby. You can look at The Shops of Mary Brickell Village here: http://www.marybrickellvillage.com

     Now let's talk food, as I've two recommendations for you:

     First, the fabulous Fontainbleu on Collins Ave., "a spectacular blend of Golden Era glamour and modern luxury" is an incredible property even to visit for a drink. Originally built in 1954, the 20-acre oceanfront hotel went through a $1 Billion reinvention in 2008. It is gorgeous. And there are fantastic food options if your budget doesn't mind. We visited Hakkasan last year and enjoyed it immensely. This is new-school Cantonese Chinese food, served and presented with style. The beef dishes were superb as was the sweet and sour pork with pomelo. Read more about the restaurant here:
http://www.fontainebleau.com/web/dining/hakkasan/hakkasan_at_a_glance

    I like the second option even better. Truluck's is a chain, I believe. But the restaurant we visited, at 777 Brickell Ave. (305-579-0035) did not seem formulaic in the least. The seafood, a specialty here, was absolutely delicious. Some of our party had the famous stone crabs. I went with a blackened grouper served with a creole sauce that had plenty of crawfish and crab ($36.). The ambiance is wooded and uncrowded, the service is excellent. When one of our party had to wait a few minutes for her dinner because of a mix-up in the kitchen, the Manager (without a word from us) sent over an enormous shrimp cocktail "to get you started." And she came back to check on and apologize again. That's good customer service.
    Save room for the desserts. The carrot cake with caramel sauce and the chocolate layer cake were both worth writing home about:

     After dinner, wander around the shopping area, shake it up at a local club or hit a cafe for a coffee. Hope you enjoy it.