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MIAMI
Bienvenido to a Place in the Sun
Miami is one of the most vibrant, trendy and culturally diverse cities in the county. Where else can you find an event called "Drink and Draw" that encourages people to take out their sketchpads while hanging at the bar?
Here, you can soak up the sun in Miami Beach all day, catch an award-winning performance at the Carnival Center and then drive down to Little Havana for an authentic Mojito.
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With the majority of the population between 25 and 44 years old, Miami caters to the young and the young at heart. Forbes.com named Miami one of the best cities for singles in 2005, no doubt due to its abundant nightlife. But this once river town has grown into a major metropolis that today is also one of the best places to start a new business, especially for Latinos.
In the past five years, Miami has experienced many transformations, mainly due to a new wave of immigrants coming from Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an expensive place to live in comparison to other major cities in the U.S., but it is also full of endless opportunities if you have ambition and drive.
Neighborhoods
 Kendall
Kendall, a large suburb located about one hour from the Florida Keys, is one of Miami's fastest growing neighborhoods. It's also one of the most affordable, especially if you are in the market for a small condo or apartment. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment typically ranges from $800 to $900. Sale price for the same apartment would be about $160,000.
The second largest branch of Miami Dade College is located in the heart of Kendall. Though mostly a family-friendly neighborhood, Kendall is a middle ground somewhere between the hustle and bustle of the beach and pure suburbia. Here, you can find virtually everything you need without going to far from your doorstep, whether it's an award-winning comic book store or an Irish pub.
Kendall is divided into East and West. West Kendall is home to one of the largest Columbian communities in the State of Florida. There is also a large concentration of Peruvians and other South American groups.
Several Anglo non-Hispanic enclaves do exist, mostly in East Kendall. There is an almost 50/50 split in demographics between Hispanics and White non-Hispanics, according to data on the Census Bureau website.
US-1 between Kendall and Coral Gables
Though the University of Miami (UM) technically sits on Coral Gables property, it encompasses several surrounding communities intercepted by US-1, such as Kendall and Coconut Grove.
Thanks to the university's presence, the atmosphere always has a young vibe. Long-time establishments, like the Big Cheese, show their support for UM's legendary football team with Hurricanes flags, posters and a staff that is always dressed in green and orange.
Crossing US-1, you find Sunset Place, a large shopping mall and entertainment hub with a GameWorks and movie theater. Every block along the main highway is filled with restaurants serving everything from "Miami's Best Pizza" to Mexican tacos and Thai cuisine. The street is also packed with coffee shops, book stores and quirky bars, where college students meet to unwind and sing karaoke after a long day in class.
Rent is average for a one-bedroom, about $850. Older apartments could go for a tiny bit less. There are also many beautiful homes in the area and many UM students and young professionals would rather share the rent in a large house with pool.
South Beach
Starting with Miami Vice in the 1980s, Miami Beach has become a prime location for filmmakers throughout the years. Back then, the area was associated with retired folks looking for a warm climate. Today, the 23 blocks of hotels, clubs and restaurants is better known as South Beach.
In addition to great places to eat and stay, South Beach is also central for art and culture. Lincoln Road is home of the Miami Symphony while the classic Jackie Gleason Theater hosts an array of plays, concerts and musicals throughout the year. Along Ocean Drive, the strip that runs parallel to the ocean, a mix of live music fills the night.
Since 2005, the South Beach area has one of the highest property values in the city. Prices for ocean front condos often reach the millions. Lofts are also popular, but be prepared to pay about $1,000 per month for a tiny 500 square foot space. However, because housing is so expensive on the beach, there are plenty of roommate opportunities.
Design District
The Design District is a unique 18-square block community where art and design fuse. Galleries, architectural firms and other creative businesses are making the move to the up-and-coming neighborhood. Draca Development is adding mixed-use buildings and experimental residential housing. None of it is cheap, though. Lofts begin at about $300,000.
The good news is that affordable housing can be found just outside the Design District. If you find a place you like, do some homework first, though. Many neighborhoods near the posh district are struggling communities with higher crime rates. The payoff is the central location - minutes from Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and right smack in between both international airports.
Another plus is having the Wynwood Art District within walking distance. Once known as Miami's Puerto Rican neighborhood, the area comes alive every second Saturday of the month for gallery walk night.
Coral Gables
Nestled within a city sprouting skyscrapers in every direction is one of South Florida's most historic neighborhoods. Coral Gables was founded by George Merrick, a Miami pioneer with a dream of creating a retirement village. The neighborhood's Mediterranean-style architecture and abundant green space is protected by zoning codes that prohibit large-scale developments.
Coral Gables is simply beautiful. Single-family homes have coral rock foundations with vines crawling up the exterior walls. Most have appraisal values in the millions. However, the budget-conscious can find ample-sized apartments with wood floors in the outskirts of the neighborhood at a decent price, about $800 to $850 for a one-bedroom.
The Biltmore Hotel is one of the most prominent landmarks. Legend says the hotel is haunted by the ghost of Al Capone's bodyguard who was murdered in the penthouse suite. Guided tours are available most Sundays.
The city has approved mixed-unit buildings in the business district. The area is also a great place to find work. Magazines, financial institutions and many law firms, just to name a few, have offices in Coral Gables.
Transportation
Most people in Miami will testify that a car is essential to get around. They are right. Housing is usually too expensive in the business districts, so most people live at least 30 to 45 minutes from work.
With more than two million residents in Miami-Dade County, traffic congestion has become a way of life down here. If you can't brave it, there are other options.
The Metrorail, a 21-mile elevated trail system runs to Downtown Miami and extends west to Hialeah and Kendall. It stops approximately at every mile and fare is $1.50. Metrobuses cost $1.85 and can take you anywhere in the city, but they only stop once every hour and passengers sometimes complain about delays. Monthly passes for both the Metrorail and Metrobus can be purchased for $75.
Metromovers, smaller city buses, run through most neighborhoods and are free of charge.
Carpooling services can be coordinated by contacting South Florida Commuter Services at 1-800-234-RIDE.
Local Lingo
South Florida is much more ethnically and regionally diverse than the northern part of the state; instead of taking dialectic cues from the old south, Miami owes much of its unique lingo to Caribbean and Latin American influences. Similar to the way people in New Orleans use French in conversational English, Miami natives often incorporate a little Spanglish into their daily vocabularies. Because of this, there is a fair amount of unique terminology that separates the locals from the tourists.
A paraguero(a) is one of the terrible drivers you might see swerving down Route 1. Be sure to pack a pair of chanx - Spanglish for flip flops-to wear on the sand in SoBe (that's South Beach). If you plan on rooting for the football team at University of Miami, sound like a local by calling them The 'Canes. And residential Coconut Grove is better known as The Grove to those who live there.
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Travel/Hospitality
• Carnival Corporation
• Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Lines
• American Airlines
Fashion
• Perry Ellis International
What do you love about working here?
I never get bored in this town. Ever. Nightlife aside, there's a lot to do here. There's a huge variety of restaurants, and many gems that people down here seem to take for granted, like the zoo, the museum of science/planetarium, brunch at the Biltmore Hotel, etc.
Jay, 22
University of Miami, Reporter
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