Kris Wessel opens Oolite Restaurant & Bar, an ode to Florida’s diverse bounty and cultures.

For his new Oolite Restaurant & Bar, chef Kris Wessel was inspired by South Florida’s unique flavors and geography.

Having garnered vast experience with local flavors over his two decades on Miami’s dining scene, Kris Wessel is at it again, this time with Oolite Restaurant & Bar. While the past winner on Food Network’s Chopped and James Beard-nominated chef’s beloved Red Light Little River and Florida Cookery focused on regional fare, Oolite takes things a step further. The menu keeps it impeccably simple with gluten-free, protein-based items, devoid of processed flours or sugars, and rich with bold flavors in dishes such as New Orleans barbecued shrimp, grass-fed flank steaks, and the GOD plate (Green Of the Day). Located inside the decidedly modern Frank Gehry-designed building that also houses the New World Symphony, the restaurant has an ambience that’s both ancient and current: Thick slabs of limestone rock decorate high walls, while wide open booths lend a touch of midcentury charm.

Tell us about the concept behind Oolite.
Kris Wessel: I had been sitting on the idea of doing a protein-focused concept, in the sense that vegetables have protein, grains have protein, seafood is protein; what’s not are complex carbs, processed ingredients, and breads. If you go to Per Se in New York and you get a piece of fish, it comes with sea kelp dust and pure fennel puree. What you’re eating is pure protein. There are no carbs, there are no breads, no mashed potatoes.

Why “Oolite”?
I wanted a really strong, local word that showed foundation. I literally Googled “foundation of Miami Beach,” and what I got was pure limestone, pure oolite. Now it’s on my walls.

What is your inspiration for the variety of tastes?
The idea is let’s look at regional food in a singular protein way, and let’s look at it in a healthy way. The flavor spectrum is Florida, the Caribbean, and South America, but I thought I could bring it down to where it’s a midlevel concept that has no gluten on the menu, that has this overall flavor spectrum that’s still the region—it’s still tamarind duck and guava goat and creole oxtail—and what better place to do it than South Beach? To me it’s important that I put out a concept that is healthy, regional, and local. The rest of the country is already at this level, and we want to get to that level.

Why do you think we’re seeing this trend locally?
Miami is catching up to other cities. Chefs now ask, “How are people using the product? How are people using tamarind and guava and mango and sapodilla and guanabana?” There’s so much here. If you’re a chef, you’d better be aware of the cultures around you and play that into your food somehow, no matter what your concept is, or you’re somewhat behind. 1661 Pennsylvania Ave., Miami Beach, 305-907-5535

As Miami grows, Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal’s home, Little Havana, remains a time capsule of his childhood.

Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal walking by a mural in Little Havana that celebrates some of Cuban music’s biggest names. below: Playing a game of dominoes in Maximo Gomez Park.

It’s only a matter of time before Virgin Hotels changes the landscape of this city, with state-of-the-art luxury lodging donning the Virgin name in Brickell and Miami Beach. Virgin Hotels CEO Raul Leal says such a venture is inevitable, but while he’s in the business of making Miami bigger and better, his love for this city began in an area that has been well preserved over the course of his lifetime. “Little Havana has maintained its cultural roots,” says Leal, who moved with his family to South Florida from Cuba when he was 3 months old. “You go to a little cafecito there and you hear all the Cubans talking just the way they were 30 years ago.”

For him, Little Havana is home. It’s where he rode his bicycle as a boy to places like Los Pinareños Fruteria for a healthy snack. “There’s a lady who’s been there since I was a kid,” he says. The community is where he played football in an old parking lot on 12th Avenue and in the schoolyard at Coral Way Elementary School (now Coral Way K-8 Center). “I still have nicked-up knees.”

It’s also where he returns today, reminiscing about his youth from the second he walks through the door of his family’s home. “Even my old bedroom hasn’t changed much,” says Leal of the sentimental weekly visits he makes to the Little Havana home his family has shared for 35 years. “There’s some old posters hanging around, I think of Farrah Fawcett. My mom kept everything.”

Leal in front of Little Havana’s Tower Theater, where he recalls seeing The Graduate (at around age 13).

Leal discovered his love for the hotel industry early on, sacrificing a typical high school experience for a brighter future. The Miami Senior High School graduate got his first job at age 16, working as a dishwasher under the guidance of his father, at the Everglades Hotel. He quickly moved up to busboy, but his goals were much greater. “I used to see the general manager of the hotel come in every day and have breakfast and lunch and have a great life,” he recalls. “He’d come in, sign the bill with clients, and then he’d leave. I said to my dad, ‘I think I want that job.’ That was through the eyes of a 16-year-old, but I actually stayed in the hotel business and never looked back.”

His “nose to the grindstone” mentality, as he puts it, may have kept him away from school proms and pep rallies, but near Little Havana in the 1980s, there was excitement to be had in hospitality. “I moved to another hotel that was very popular back then called the Sheraton River House, at the airport. It had a very crazy, cool club called Daphne’s,” says Leal, who was food and beverage director at the time. “That was South Beach before it was South Beach. The concept was beautiful girls wearing their own outfits and hats. It was a big steakhouse, but also a dance bar with live music.”

By that time, Leal was going to work in style, driving around in a 1970s Mustang Boss that his father bought for him. “It was a little bit older, but cool as hell,” he says. “I was in love with that car. I waxed it every week for five years. My friends were all jealous.”

Leal also drove the car to the Tower Theater, a 1926 Miami staple that was his “go-to theater,” and to restaurants like Versailles, which opened its doors in 1971. It’s comforting for Leal to know that he can still drive by those places today and that the most buzzed-about recent construction on the street was the revitalization of Ball & Chain, a nightclub that first opened its doors in 1935 and reopened to major fanfare this September. “It’s great that it’s back,” he says. “It still retains that old Miami charm, and I think a lot of people find it interesting.”

For a guy whose career has taken him to San Diego, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, and New York, and whose current job brings him to every major city in the US and London, that charm is exactly what he’s looking for. In fact, after spending two years in Manhattan, when Virgin asked him where he’d like to open the new venture of Virgin Hotels, his answer was simple: “Miami.”

“When I get off the airplane, I go straight to places like Versailles and La Carreta for Cuban food because I need the fix,” he says. “As Brickell continues to head west, growth is inevitable in the next 10 years. Hopefully the city will be smart enough to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood. That’s important.”

There’s no shortage of beautiful people in Miami; however, Kasey Ashcraft has turned her beauty into a jet-setting career.

Kasey Ashcraft posing on one of Miami Beach’s colorful lifeguard stands.

No matter where you live in America, you’re bound to have seen Kasey Ashcraft. Although the brand ambassador for Frankie’s Bikinis calls Miami home, her modeling career has her catching red-eye flights back and forth to New York, Los Angeles, and yes, even Milwaukee for shoots. Here we catch up with the blonde bombshell and Wilhelmina staple to talk fashion, Miami, and staying beautiful.

How were you discovered?
In Washington, DC, by a talent scout while shopping with my mom. They gave me their card at the mall, asked me if I was interested in modeling, and that was it. I was 19 years old.

You obviously said yes?
I moved down to Miami two months after meeting them to try it out for a couple of weeks and ask myself, Did I want that life? Coming to Miami opened my eyes to so many things; I saw this totally different life I didn’t know existed. It made me want to work harder because I wanted to stay in Miami, [which is] way more expensive than my home in Maryland.

Did you always want to be a model?
No, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, and I ended up being a model in Miami Beach!

Where do people recognize you from?
Currently I’m doing a lot of work for Venus, Kohl’s, Sears, and Belk [department stores]. I recently got a call from my agent at midnight for a last-minute shoot, [so I had to wake] up at 4:30 am for a 6:30 am flight to Milwaukee. I took four pictures, got back on the plane, and landed in Miami at midnight. All in a day’s work.

How do you stay “beautiful” through all of that?
I spend a lot of time sitting on a plane, so I usually have distilled water that I spray on to keep my face refreshed. I drink water with lemon because that helps eliminate darkness under the eyes. I walk around the plane every 30 minutes so my body gets circulation. After a shoot, sometimes I take a shower at the Admirals Club [airport lounge]; it’s a whole routine. My husband hates flying with me.

The Magic City is ready to take on fall’s two hottest shades: green and gray.

State Your Case
A structured, minimalist bag adds an extra surprise in a rich forest green.

Turtleneck ($1,094) and pants ($370), Etro. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-868-5971. 43mm stainless-steel Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe watch, Blancpain ($10,500). East Coast Jewelry, 16810 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, 305-947-8883. Sterling silver Meteorite signet ring, David Yurman ($795). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-867-1772. Belt, Allen Edmonds ($175). Nordstrom, Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 786-999-1313. Porte-Documents Voyage, Louis Vuitton ($2,830). Miami Design District, 170 NE 40th St., 305-573-1366

Gray Matters
Grays layered in several textures make for an eye-catching yet subtle look.

Gilet, Brunello Cucinelli ($1,005). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-864-4833. Shirt, John Varvatos ($250). 1020 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-674-7917. tie, Brooks Brothers ($80). The Falls, 8888 SW 136th St., Miami, 305-259-7870. Pocket square, Salvatore Ferragamo ($140). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-866-8166. 43.5mm Classic Chronograph watch, David Yurman ($4,600). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-867-1772. modeltwo e-cigarette, Ploom ($40). Happy Times, 1607 NE 123rd St., North Miami, 305-899-8414

Green with Style
A forest-colored watch face paired with a sleek silver band completes the ultimate monochromatic look.

Sweater, Marc Jacobs ($1,095). Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-865-1100. Shirt, Prada ($880). Miami Design District, 180 NE 40th St., 305-438-2280. trousers, Brioni ($895). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-868-9399. 40mm stainless-steel Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date watch, Rolex ($9,050). Miami Design District, 135 NE 39th St., 305-576-5391. Belt, Burberry London ($395). Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 305-446-1550

Off the Cuff
Statement-making cuff links in this cool shade of gray pair well with a range of shirts, from even colorways to fashion-forward patterns.

Shirt, Etro ($591). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-868-5971. Pants, Ralph Lauren Purple Label ($595). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-861-2059. 18k white-gold, crystal, and hematite square cuff links, Penny Preville ($4,295). Neiman Marcus, Bal Harbour Shops, 305-993-4620. Limited edition 36mm brushed stainless-steel Chiffre Rouge A03 watch, Dior Timepieces ($3,500). Miami Design District, 161 NE 40th St., 305-571-3576

Un-tied
An unconventional emerald velvet bow tie brings a sleek elegance to evening wear.

Jacket ($2,295) and scarf ($295), Burberry London. Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 305-446-1550. Shirt, Ermenegildo Zegna ($345). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-865-8652. Bow tie, Marc Jacobs ($195). Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour Shops, 305-865-1100. Accutron ii watch, Bulova ($499). Time Center, Inc., 74 E. Flagler St., Miami, 305-377-1919

From the recording studio to Broadway, the boardroom, restaurants, and now real estate, Emilio Estefan can’t stop creating hits.

From his home on Star Island, Emilio Estefan oversees an empire that includes music, Broadway shows, restaurants, and now real estate development.

Emilio Estefan is at heart a musician and music producer. But in addition to his ingenuity with rhythm and timing—or perhaps because of it—the guy also happens to oversee a global business empire. Even beyond Miami, Estefan Enterprises is a significant employer, with more than 3,000 people on its payroll (some of them have been with Estefan for 30 years). With ventures including real estate, retail branding deals, books, restaurants, and forays into movies and on Broadway, the company is bigger than ever.

But if you ask Estefan why—or how—he managed to amass such a complex assortment of holdings, he’ll provide a very simple (and, not incidentally, well-respected) financial philosophy. “I wanted to diversify,” he says. “In music, things change; they want different producers or different writers. I’m an immigrant; I didn’t want to go through tough times.”

Gloria and Emilio Estefan with their dalmatians at their beachfront home in 1991. Gloria had just recovered from a tour bus collision while on the road with Emilio’s mega-hit group Miami Sound Machine.

At age 61, Estefan—now a grandfather—has never been more prosperous. He participates in charities with artists like Rita Moreno, among others. A film he’s produced, A Change of Heart, featuring Aimee Teegarden, James Belushi, William Levy, and his wife, Gloria Estefan, comes out later this year. And after once declining to lend his life story to Broadway, Estefan is now working with the Nederlander Organization—responsible for an unending hit list, including Kinky Boots and Spiderman—to showcase his challenges and triumphs on stage, set to preview on Broadway in October of next year. The name of the show? On Your Feet!, of course, after wife Gloria’s mega-hit song. The production will feature a score drawn from many of the Estefans’ hits over the last four decades (“Get on Your Feet,” “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”) as well as several original songs.

Estefan’s journey to the top has been a long one. “When we started in music, they wanted us to stick to the Latin market or change our names,” says Estefan. “I said, ‘I’m not changing anything.’ I knew there was a market for a fusion of Latin music. I called it ‘Miami Sound.’”

A rendering of Estefan’s new downtown building, which will also house his Bongos Cuban Café.

His namesake group, Miami Sound Machine (created in 1975 as the Miami Latin Boys)—as well as the crossover explosion he created with performers such as Ricky Martin and Shakira—is legendary. So is his role in convincing CBS to create the Latin Grammy Awards. But his prescience was developed on less glamorous ground.

Estefan left Cuba at age 15 and came to the US after living in Spain for a year, where he would play accordion in a restaurant in exchange for meals. In Miami, he went to school at night and by day worked at the Bacardi offices, a relationship he’s maintained with the beverage family to this day. All the while, he would play Cuban music after hours, first at company parties and Biscayne Boulevard restaurants.

The newly reopened Larios on the Beach.

When he began recording, he would fly to Sony Records in New York and wait in the lobby for a minute of the top executive’s time. Eventually he worked his way up to become the company’s president of artistic development worldwide, when Tommy Mottola was the chairman.

Today, Estefan has national branding partnerships with giants such as Target, Visa, and AT&T, and in the spring of next year will be producing, developing, and scoring the highly anticipated grand-opening gala of the luxury resort Baha Mar located in Nassau, The Bahamas. And he is devoting himself locally to a building downtown that will occupy an entire city block and house retail, residential, and office space, including his Bongos Cuban Café that he’ll move from AmericanAirlines Arena and rename Estefan Kitchen. It’s one of several restaurants in his portfolio, along with the newly reopened Larios on the Beach, serving specialties that have been in Estefan’s family for decades. Sources estimate his net worth to be over $500 million. “Some of the estimates I hear are true, and some are not,” says Estefan. “But my life is not about that. It’s about accomplishing things and inspiring people.”

Ill Points Wynwood returns for its second year, bringing the convergence of arts, music, and technology to Miami's most groundbreaking neighborhood.

Performers at this year’s III Points Festival include Swedish chanteuse Lykke Li (here at Lollapalooza 2014 at Grant Park in Chicago).

It’s not easy keeping up with Miami, but it’s certainly exciting. Over the past 10 years, the city has experienced some of its greatest cultural metamorphosis since its inception. Odd then that it’s taken so long for an annual, homegrown event to emerge that reflects the massive growth in both its artistic and technological spheres.

Enter III Points, a meticulously engineered collision of cutting-edge music, art, and technology in the heart of Wynwood. Founded and organized by Amir Ben-Zion, Erica Freshman, and David Sinopoli—the same brain trust responsible for club Bardot, perhaps the city’s most intimate venue for live acts—the three-day festival returns this month for its second go-around with a bigger roster of musical acts, a new venue, and a bevy of art installations and technology seminars. “Our angle at III Points is not about the music, or the art, or the tech, but how they all combine to form a comprehensive experience,” says Sinopoli, who serves as the music director guru at Bardot.

Yacht playing at the 2013 III Points Young Turks BBQ at Cafeina.

As it did previously, the festival aims to take over a massive warehouse in Wynwood—this time Soho Studios—with enveloping art installations and a lineup of international, genre-busting musical acts such as Los Angeles beat king Flying Lotus, the bewitching Swedish indie pop chanteuse Lykke Li, and lush electropop maestros Metronomy, among plenty of others. They’ll be joined by some of Miami’s finest bands and DJs, such as Jacuzzi Boys, DZA, and Ketchy Shuby.

However, what makes the festival different is how it forms a creative symbiosis with the surrounding community by staging satellite events at neighborhood bars and galleries. The goal? To turn Wynwood for one weekend into an immersive playground for the most adventurous new sights, sounds, and experiences. “We’ll probably never stage it in the same venue, ever—it’s about growth,” says Sinopoli. “The neighborhood is changing so much, and not always for the best, so we want to eventually provide a forum for conversations about that while continuing to develop what is best for our culture and our musicians.”

Miami artist Danny Alvarez’s mirrored triangles on display at the III Points Campus last year.

This year, III Points is placing greater emphasis on Wynwood’s role as a rapidly expanding hub for tech startups. It’s an aspect of the community that tends to be overshadowed by the avalanches of press given to the city’s visual arts explosion. To that end, the festival has formed an alliance with The Lab Miami, a collaborative workspace that’s home to some of Miami’s foremost technological innovators. For those wanting to learn about the field, the collaboration will provide an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at crafting art, app building, or even beatmaking. “We’re putting together two days’ worth of amazing programming—informative, hands-on lectures and workshops about everything from 3-D printing to virtual reality,” Freshman explains. “It’s a lot more academic this time, especially when it comes to art and music. There will be a lot more technique-based ‘how-to’ presentations.”

As with any new venture, there’s also a learning curve. “I don’t think everyone got to experience everything we had to offer last year because they didn’t realize just how much was going on,” she says. “Our schedule and messaging are going to be a lot clearer and tighter this time around.”

From the sounds of it, III Points aims for a fantastic mash-up—tunes, tech, and forward thinking. It’s a celebration of the city’s creative flowering, one that looks to continually evolve itself. Says Freshman, “It’s all about turning people on in new ways, especially to the neighborhood.” III Points Wynwood takes place Friday, October 10, through Sunday, October 12, at Soho Studio, 2136 NW First Ave., Miami, and various other locations in Wynwood

Avery Pac’s Republic Bike outfits hip Miamians and cool companies with customized bicycles.

Avery Pack at Republic Bike.

Love purple? How about rainbow or silver? Republic Bike is a new way to give cyclists an opportunity to ride a sliver of their personality around town. The company, founded by Avery Pack in 2008, allows you to design your own bicycle on its website, picking the shapes and colors for nearly everything (think options like an orange-stripe frame, blue rims, white tires, and yellow seats), starting at just $399. “As an individual, you have that connection because it’s unique to you and you participated in its creation,” says Pack, who was “interested in bicycles as a kind of design object, or an art or sculptural object.”

Born and raised in South Florida, Pack graduated from New York’s Columbia University with a Fine Art degree. What started as an aesthetic project evolved into what is today, according to its creator, “not only a design business, but in some ways a marketing business and a transportation business.”

Case in point: The Dania Beach operation has garnered big-time clients such as Google, Fisher-Price, and Nike, which use Republic bikes on their corporate campuses. “It’s an employee-incentive program to get employees engaged in bicycle commuting,” says Pack.

Local hotels, too, have begun to use the bikes as fun branding-mobiles. Republic provides custom-colored cruisers, fixies, and cargo bikes for high-end properties such as the Mondrian, the Shore Club, and the Delano. The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach has ordered 20 Republic bikes, six of which will be designed by local artists. Similarly, Amanda Lee, the activity coordinator at the trendy Freehand Miami hostel, says of its bright red fleet of cruisers, “The bikes are beautiful, and we love spotting them out and about South Beach and hearing guests return with stories to tell about their adventures.”

Riding a bicycle around South Florida is a blessing with the sun, tropical breeze, and endless views of blue water framing each mile as you pedal along at your leisure. So what better place to have a whimsical and weird bike than the streets of Miami? Pack will gladly let you design the “odd or ugly or oddly beautiful.” You’ll fit right in.

Outfitted in this season's finest clothes at the eternally stylish Delano, these Miami fellows talk purpose, passion and, of course, fashion.

DJ Ruckus

Suit, Giorgio Armani ($1,740). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-861-1515. T-shirt, Gap ($40). 673 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-531-5358. Pocket square, Salvatore Ferragamo ($140). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-866-8166. Rolex Daytona watch, Rolex, Ruckus’s own

When most teens were sneaking into Miami’s coolest clubs, DJ Ruckus was headlining them. At 15, Ruckus was manning the booth at Crobar’s popular Thursday-night party. “The deal with my mom was that as long as I went to school on Friday mornings, I could do it,” he remembers.

Now 30, Ruckus has played all over the globe and at private parties for Oprah Winfrey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Kanye West. “I curate the outfits as much as I do the music,” explains the charismatic former model, who recently jetted off to Ibiza, St-Tropez, and Montenegro after spending 36 hours in LA. In his suitcase are formal pieces from Comme des Garçons or Givenchy; tees and tanks he scores at Allsaints; the rest of his wardrobe he finds at Atrium and the Webster.

Ruckus counts cousin Lenny Kravitz as a major fashion influence. “[Lenny’s] obviously very, very chic and fashion forward,” says the DJ, who is now on to accessories—a Hublot or Rolex Daytona—and unique Roxhouse gems from local Miami designer Alexis Geller.

This month, Ruckus will be spinning at his birthday celebrations in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, New York, and Miami, his hometown, which is still his favorite place to perform. “Growing up in Miami, it’s always going to be one of my favorites,” he says. “It’s sexy and warm, and there’s an energy that things are happening here. It feels like home.”

Barry Brodsky

Tuxedo, Canali ($2,195). Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 305-446-1499. Shirt, Tom Ford ($635). 800-866-3673. Pocket square, Ermenegildo Zegna ($100). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-865-8652. De Ville Hour Vision watch, Omega ($10,600). Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-931-8788. Epi belt, Louis Vuitton ($400). Miami Design District, 170 NE 40th St., 305-573-1366

“You don’t want to appear like you’re trying to prove anything,” says Barry Brodsky, president of Brodson Construction, about his personal mantra of “understated elegance,” as his firm constructs projects like the Bal Harbour boutiques, world-class homes such as Robert Wennett’s penthouse at 1111 Lincoln Road, and award winning restaurants like Juvia.

He honed his approach to design during his earlier career as a model. “The boutiques and the lines I would see were always interesting to me,” he recalls. Shortly after starting his firm, Brodsky and his company were tapped by such upscale labels as Hermès, Gucci, and most recently Maje and Tiffany & Co. to create boutiques across the country. “Roberto Cavalli, for the first few stores he had here, sent us artist renderings [from which] we had to derive architect renderings to produce the boutique.”

Naturally, Brodsky shops in similarly high-end stores: Prada and Tod’s, and he’ll customize Isaia shirts from Neiman Marcus with his company logo. Besides an occasion-appropriate watch—a classic Rolex or Baume & Mercier for the everyday—his only accessory is the almost-imperceptible silver charm around his neck that reads dada. “I have twin 11-year-old boys that are very dear to me.”

Ahmed Elbiali

Suit, Tom Ford ($4,990). 800-866-3673. Formal shirt, Louis Vuitton ($660). Miami Design District, 170 NE 40th St., 305-573-1366. Silk tie, Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane ($245). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-868-4424. Pocket square, The Tie Bar ($8). 40mm stainless-steel Datron Chronograph watch, Movado ($2,995). Goldtime, 531 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-534-8897. Shoes, Emporio Armani ($595). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-868-2113

“When I’m In [the ring], I feel like a badass,” says Ahmed Elbiali, the Egyptian born, Miami-raised pugilist who has South Florida’s boxing community in a tizzy. It’s difficult to imagine that this soft-spoken, respectful 24-year-old is a ferocious fighter: not only does he hold a 6-0 record, but every one of those wins was by a knockout. “When I climb those steps, that macho ego attitude happens, because as much as it’s a sport, the other guy is still trying to take your head off.”

Elbiali turned pro after a missed opportunity to fight for Egypt in the 2012 London Olympics. During his training, stadium riots had broken out after an Egyptian Premier League football match, and the remaining athletic events for the year were canceled. “I still have dreams about the Olympics—that’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. But better things are to come.”

So far, these have included signing with renowned manager Al Haymon, whose client roster includes Floyd Mayweather Jr., Amir Khan, and three-time world champion Adrien Broner. It’s a move that could take the self-described “flashy” boxer onto the world stage. “Image is very important to me. I try to be humble,” says Elbiali, who sticks to his “preppy” style of Hugo Boss and John Varvatos. “The Louis, the Gucci, the Prada—these things will come.”

It’s part of the credo by which he lives and works: “If you respect boxing, boxing will respect you for a lifetime.”

Reid Heidenry

Red check cotton jacket, Julien David ($1,455). The Webster Miami, 1220 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-674-7899. Formal shirt, Louis Vuitton ($600). Miami Design District, 170 NE 40th St., 305-573-1366. Pants, Giorgio Armani ($895). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-861-1515. Leather oxfords, Ermenegildo Zegna ($695). Bal Harbour Shops, 305-865-8652. Watch, Heidenry’s own

Reid Heidenry’s approach to luxury real estate is unconventional, but then again, so is he. As one half of HH Luxury Group at SBI Realty, Heidenry’s cheeky brand of agent is disrupting Miami’s real estate industry with a healthy dose of authentic nonchalance. “I’m not formal,” he says. “I make sure to always be professional but with a little infusion of fun.”

Heidenry’s client list tends to favor those “in creative industries,” including fashion photographers, models, NFL players, and a Grammy award-winning singer. He’s also been photographed by the paparazzi on numerous occasions with Sports Illustrated model Nina Agdal.

For all his insouciance, Heidenry is acutely self-aware. “Buying a home is very intimate,” he notes. “People want to feel like the person gets them and understands quality. one of the easiest ways to make that translate is in my style,” which he describes as a “casual but classic” collection of alexander Wang, Zara, and an enviable display of Vans.

Turn the conversation to the dog tags around his neck, and the exterior softens. “It’s my dad’s. He passed away, so i always wear it.” Everything else to Heidenry is a bit more simple. “When it’s hot out, you have to be creative,” he says. “But always wear [long] pants. you can’t show your legs when you’re showing properties. People won’t take you seriously.”

Julio Cabrera

Vest ($498), shirt ($228), pants ($398), and dress shoes ($698), John Varvatos. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-501-4900. De Ville Hour Vision watch, Omega ($10,600). Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-931-8788

After 25 years of shaking, stirring, and straining, Julio Cabrera, The Regent Cocktail Club’s head bartender (and managing partner), has become world-class, nabbing this year’s Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender award and then representing the US in the Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender competition, landing in the top five.

For the global presentation, Cabrera dressed as Robin Hood, but it’s all part of his show. “I’m behind the bar, but I’m singing and dancing,” he says. “The reason I bartend is not because I like to make cocktails; my goal is making people happy and providing an experience.” Cabrera is conscious of the supporting role his style plays in that experience. “I care a lot about the outfit that I wear every night,” says Cabrera, who regularly dons a suit, tie, and the finishing touch—one of his self-designed, custom-tailored bartender jackets from Mumbai, India. “I’m trying to be classy, professional, fun, and different at the same time.”

That flair carries over into his work. In his native Cuba, Cabrera learned a cantineros style of cocktailing—a “very technical and elegant way to make drinks”—that adds to his appeal. Today, he’s dedicated to elevating Miami’s cocktail culture by hosting bartending classes at The Regent. “It’s good for Miami’s bartending community.” And, of course, the rest of the cocktail-sipping city.

Brian Guadagno

Blazer ($1,298) and henley ($178), John Varvatos. 1020 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-674-7917. Chinos, J.Crew ($75). 726 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-673-9806. Chambray sneakers, Vans ($55). Nordstrom, Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 786-999-1313

His dedication to protecting lives would qualify as enough “substance” to land Brian Guadagno in any group of notable men. But the 20-year veteran lifeguard saves lives in more ways than one. As the founder of Raw Elements, a natural, chemical-free, and certified non-GMO sunscreen company, Guadagno is educating consumers about healthy and effective sun care.

Growing up on the beaches of Narragansett, Rhode Island, he was always clear on his life’s purpose. “As a young kid, I emulated the lifeguards; they were my idols,” says Guadagno, who joined the team at 16.

Fifteen years into his career, shoddy sun protection products prompted him to embark on a self-proclaimed “sunscreen obsession,” researching harmful effects of chemical ingredients and the lack of protection sunscreens actually offered.

By then, Guadagno was spending his summers in Rhode Island and winters in South Beach. “Miami afforded me that opportunity to work at night and focus on [Raw Elements] during the day,” he says. “It’s had a huge impact on my outlook on things. I’m very much into a natural lifestyle.”

For fashion, he favors T-shirts from Modern Amusement, retro thrift-store finds, and Vans if he’s forgoing his favorite OluKai flip-flops. And while in Miami, he can’t pass up a trip through Base on Lincoln Road and a bead store in downtown, Maslov Beads & Findings, where he’s taken up making his own jewelry.

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino talks Ryan Tannehill, the evolution of the quarterback, and the joys of his ventures in pizza.

Dan Marino relaxing along Biscayne Bay adjacent to the Miami Beach location of his post-football venture, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.

With more than 420 touchdowns and 61,000 passing yards, Dan Marino certainly made many memorable plays over his 17-year career as quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. Today, the Hall of Famer keeps busy as husband to his wife of 29 years, Claire, and father to their six children, as well as his new role as special adviser to his former team. However, it’s Marino’s latest venture, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza (520 West Ave., Miami Beach, 305-674-8100), which just opened a new location in South Beach, where you might spot him on any given night. “We use a real coal oven, set it at 850 degrees, and make pizza the way it used to be made,” says business partner and the eatery’s namesake, Anthony Bruno. “Coal keeps [the brick oven] at a more even temperature [so the pizza] comes out charred, a little crispy, and a little well done.” People are eating it up—from South Florida to Marino’s hometown of Pittsburgh. We sat down with the legend himself to get his take on—what else—pizza and football.

Ocean Drive: Since this is our annual Men’s Issue, I want to talk football. How do you think the Dolphins are going to do this year?
Dan Marino: They’re a team that I feel is close to the playoffs. Last year, they were very close but had a disappointing end of the season. You would like to think the Dolphins are going to compete, but it’s tough in the East; the Jets are getting better, the Buffalo Bills are getting better, and the Patriots have always been good. They have a tough road ahead of them, but they’re going in the right direction.

How would you rate young Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s progression?
He has improved. He improves every year, and I think this year is a big year for him to take the next step, and help the team with situations when we have the opportunity to get into playoffs, and of course, make sure we get into the playoffs.

“To go from one place to 2,000 employees and watch them grow up from kids to managers, to me that’s satisfying,” says the Hall of Famer of Anthony’s.

What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of that offense?
The biggest thing this past year was obviously protecting the quarterback and making big plays. They need to have bigger plays. And in terms of production, coach Joe Philbin or anyone on the team will tell you the last two games of the year you’ve got to score more than seven points for a chance to get into playoffs.

This offseason, the St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam, the NFL’s first openly gay player. He’s since moved to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, but what was your response to all of the opinions and coverage?
In some ways, it’s sad that things are tweeted and talked about in certain ways, but that’s going to be a part of the way it is. It’s a different time now, and it’s a time where I think hopefully it’s a positive experience for everyone involved.

With young guys like Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson, the quarterback position has evolved. These guys are becoming so mobile, is it good for the game?
It’s exciting for the game. Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III—they’re dynamic playmakers. For Manziel, he’s going to have to be smart about how he runs around and the chances he’s going to take because the NFL is a different game than college. But I do think he will be very successful in the NFL because of his playmaking ability. [The quarterback position] is changing because guys who are coming out of college now are more involved in spread offensives, so they move around a lot more than in the past. The offense is set up for more mobile quarterbacks.

There has been so much media coverage on concussions at all levels of football.
The league and the players are doing the right thing as far as understanding the future and the difference it can make in people’s lives, especially with young kids, making them learn to hit the right way and tackle the right way. The league is also doing the right thing as far as the big hits with the helmets, the blows to the head that can be a problem down the line. Quite honestly, it can be a problem for a lot of guys, and it’s a serious deal.

As an athlete, do you support David Beckham and the soccer team coming here?
I’m always supportive of sports in general. Football, baseball, soccer—I want to see the opportunities be there for the community and for the players. Am I in a position to say yes or no to where the stadium should be? I’m sure it would be fun to have soccer here, but I’m not sure if the stadium is going to be in the right place or not.

One of the pizzas at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.

How do you stay in shape, how are the knees?
Pizza! Pizza, that’s it. And the Eggplant Marino—eggplant thinly sliced and served with our fresh tomato sauce and Romano cheese. No, I still try to do something every day. I do the elliptical and the treadmill, and work out.

What’s your post-football diet like?
I work for Nutrisystem, too, but I do have my time when I want Anthony’s. The Eggplant Marino is definitely healthy.

How did you and Anthony meet?
I got to know Anthony years back when I first came to South Florida and got drafted and started going to Runway 84 (in Fort Lauderdale), the flagship restaurant. Over the years, we just became good friends and started our first pizza place 12 years ago; the first one we opened was in Weston. Since then, we’ve been working and developing this concept.

What else is on the menu that you like?
The roasted cauliflower pizza. The one thing Anthony always calls this food is Italian soul food.

What have you enjoyed the most about owning restaurants?
This has been satisfying because you’re creating something from the ground up, and developing young people in the jobs. To go from one place to 2,000 employees and promote from within, watch them grow up from kids to managers, to me that’s satisfying.

Where do you like to eat in South Beach?
I like to go to Prime 112 and Joe’s Stone Crab. That’s actually something I like to do with my daughters. We’ll come down early, go to Joe’s, and then go to the Heat game.

Is there a specific play or call you want back from your playing days?
There are a lot of interceptions that when I threw them and the ball was halfway there, I was like, “Oh, can I have that back?” There’s not one in particular. Thankfully there were more touchdowns than interceptions. 

October marks the start of stone crab season in Miami—finally!

George Stone Crab claws at My Ceviche.

Ready, set… devour! Starting this month and lasting until May, the stone crab season is off and running. The crustaceans’ claws are harvested in Florida waters and delivered fresh to many local restaurants. Whether you favor dining on white tablecloths or at a hole-in-the-wall shop, these sweet, chilled crab limbs are every foodie’s backwater dream. Here is a look at some of Miami’s best spots for this local delicacy.

The Grandaddy of Claws
Joe’s Stone Crab has become the unofficial institution for stone crabs and has served everyone from beach locals to Bill Clinton, Frank Sinatra, and Muhammad Ali. “What sets us apart from other stone crab eateries is our authenticity,” says COO and co-owner Steve Sawitz. The claws are still prepared the same way that Sawitz’s great-grand father and restaurant founder Joe Weiss devised how to serve them 93 years ago. 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-0365

Luck of Brickell
“We bring our stone crabs straight from our own fisheries,” says Truluck’s manager, Kim Vazquez. Every Monday during stone crab season, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat stone crabs for $99. Add some live music and fine-dining service, and you’ve got yourself a winning recipe. 777 Brickell Ave., Miami, 305-579-0035

The Fully Monty
Monty’s is one of the only restaurants to serve crab claws year-round. “When Florida crabs go out of season in May, we import fresh crab claws from the New England coast called Jonah crab claws,” says general manager Laurie Powell. We recommend hitting the raw bar happy hour between 4 and 8 pm for lively waterside dining along with a pile of fresh claws. 2550 S. Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove, 305-856-3992

Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market offers stone crab daily specials.

King George
Consider George Stone Crab“stone crabs on wheels.” Founder and President Roger Duarte (who also owns My Ceviche, 1250 S. Miami Ave., Miami, 305-960-7825) left a high-profile job as an investment banker and started the company by delivering fresh stone crab to his neighbors in Key Biscayne. “We do delivery straight from the ocean to your door in 24 hours,” notes George’s Victoria Calleja. Duarte’s mother is responsible for the now-famous mustard sauce. 800-273-2722

Dock to Dish
Get as dirty as you like while you munch on those stone crabs, because Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market is all about fresh seafood and no frills. Located along the Miami River, Garcia’s stone crabs are straight off its own fishing boats. “We don’t freeze our claws, and we serve them fresh because that’s what the customers like,” says manager Juan Muchotrigo. Call ahead for stone crab daily specials. 398 NW North River Dr., Miami, 305-375-0765

Ill Points Wynwood returns for its second year, bringing the convergence of arts, music, and technology to Miami's most groundbreaking neighborhood.

Performers at this year’s III Points Festival include Swedish chanteuse Lykke Li (here at Lollapalooza 2014 at Grant Park in Chicago).

It’s not easy keeping up with Miami, but it’s certainly exciting. Over the past 10 years, the city has experienced some of its greatest cultural metamorphosis since its inception. Odd then that it’s taken so long for an annual, homegrown event to emerge that reflects the massive growth in both its artistic and technological spheres.

Enter III Points, a meticulously engineered collision of cutting-edge music, art, and technology in the heart of Wynwood. Founded and organized by Amir Ben-Zion, Erica Freshman, and David Sinopoli—the same brain trust responsible for club Bardot, perhaps the city’s most intimate venue for live acts—the three-day festival returns this month for its second go-around with a bigger roster of musical acts, a new venue, and a bevy of art installations and technology seminars. “Our angle at III Points is not about the music, or the art, or the tech, but how they all combine to form a comprehensive experience,” says Sinopoli, who serves as the music director guru at Bardot.

Yacht playing at the 2013 III Points Young Turks BBQ at Cafeina.

As it did previously, the festival aims to take over a massive warehouse in Wynwood—this time Soho Studios—with enveloping art installations and a lineup of international, genre-busting musical acts such as Los Angeles beat king Flying Lotus, the bewitching Swedish indie pop chanteuse Lykke Li, and lush electropop maestros Metronomy, among plenty of others. They’ll be joined by some of Miami’s finest bands and DJs, such as Jacuzzi Boys, DZA, and Ketchy Shuby.

However, what makes the festival different is how it forms a creative symbiosis with the surrounding community by staging satellite events at neighborhood bars and galleries. The goal? To turn Wynwood for one weekend into an immersive playground for the most adventurous new sights, sounds, and experiences. “We’ll probably never stage it in the same venue, ever—it’s about growth,” says Sinopoli. “The neighborhood is changing so much, and not always for the best, so we want to eventually provide a forum for conversations about that while continuing to develop what is best for our culture and our musicians.”

Miami artist Danny Alvarez’s mirrored triangles on display at the III Points Campus last year.

This year, III Points is placing greater emphasis on Wynwood’s role as a rapidly expanding hub for tech startups. It’s an aspect of the community that tends to be overshadowed by the avalanches of press given to the city’s visual arts explosion. To that end, the festival has formed an alliance with The Lab Miami, a collaborative workspace that’s home to some of Miami’s foremost technological innovators. For those wanting to learn about the field, the collaboration will provide an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at crafting art, app building, or even beatmaking. “We’re putting together two days’ worth of amazing programming—informative, hands-on lectures and workshops about everything from 3-D printing to virtual reality,” Freshman explains. “It’s a lot more academic this time, especially when it comes to art and music. There will be a lot more technique-based ‘how-to’ presentations.”

As with any new venture, there’s also a learning curve. “I don’t think everyone got to experience everything we had to offer last year because they didn’t realize just how much was going on,” she says. “Our schedule and messaging are going to be a lot clearer and tighter this time around.”

From the sounds of it, III Points aims for a fantastic mash-up—tunes, tech, and forward thinking. It’s a celebration of the city’s creative flowering, one that looks to continually evolve itself. Says Freshman, “It’s all about turning people on in new ways, especially to the neighborhood.” III Points Wynwood takes place Friday, October 10, through Sunday, October 12, at Soho Studio, 2136 NW First Ave., Miami, and various other locations in Wynwood

Miami recently played host to two big birthday bashes. Find out who was celebrating in this week's celeb sightings.

Angela Simmons

Angela Simmons Hosts Birthday Dinner at Seasalt and Pepper

On Thursday, September 18, the fashion designer and reality star hosted a birthday dinner for 30 at Seasalt and Pepper on the Miami River. Simmons sported a fishnet dress and feasted on gorgonzola pear and black truffle pizzetta, homemade spaghettini, seasalt seafood casserole, and organic filet mignon.

Flo Rida Goes VIP for His Birthday Bash at Cameo

On Tuesday, September 16, the Miami native took his birthday celebrations to Cameo, where he sat at a VIP table on the dance floor and popped bottles of Champagne with a large group of friends until 5 a.m.

Director Brett Ratner Dines at Touché

Brett Ratner, director of films like the Rush Hour series, The Family Man, and X-Men: The Last Stand, made his way up to Touché Rooftop Lounge & Restaurant for dinner on Tuesday, September 23. Ratner dined with his fiancée, model Marcelle Braga, who is the daughter of Touché's Executive Chef Carla Pellegrino.

Travis Scott Gives Surprise Performance at FDR

The hip-hop artist was spotted at FDR at Delano on Monday, September 22 ordering bottles of 50 Bleu vodka. Scott also surprised the crowd with a special performance during his night out. 

At 2 a.m., Kris Humphries arrived at FDR with a group of eight people. They ordered bottles of 50 Bleu and Patrón.

Kris Humphries Parties at Rec Room

Earlier that weekend on Friday, September 19, the Washington Wizards basketball player (and ex of Kim Kardashian) had drinks with a group of friends at Rec Room.

Miami Fusion Soccer Player Parties at E11even

The newest member of Miami Fusion, Isaac Santana, was seen popping bottles at E11even on Thursday, September 25 until 6 a.m.

Sports Players and Coaches Dine at Prime 112

University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino dined at Myles Chefetz's Prime 112 on Sunday, September 21.

Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Osi Umenyiora took his fiancée, former Miss Universe winner Leila Lopes, to the restaurant that same night. 

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF STEPHEN LOVEKIN/GETTY IMAGES FOR MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK

There's plenty to toast on Miami's culinary scene this week, from The District's anniversary bash to the return of Burger & Bordeaux at db Bistro.

The iconic db Burger 

Burger & Bordeaux Dinner Special at db Bistro

October means the end of Miami Spice, but db Bistro Moderne is filling the void with the return of Burger & Bordeaux, its three-course dinner special, available through the end of the month. Diners can choose a starter and then move on to the pièce de résistance, the much-loved gourmet db Burger stuffed with red wine-braised short ribs and foie gras, served on a parmesan bun with a side of pommes frites. Wash down dinner with a glass of Les Cadrans de Lassègue and end with a decadent dessert. 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, 305-421-8800

The District's One-Year Anniversary Party

The District is turning 1 and celebrating with a five-course dinner for 50 people this Thursday, October 2 at 9 p.m. With their host, artist Domingo Zapata, diners will make their way through Chef Horacio Rivadero's menu, which encompasses cuisine from the Americas and the Caribbean. If you can't make it to dinner, swing by during the reception from 7-10 p.m. for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and music by Umber, Camee, and Vidal and the Goosebumps while checking out the eatery's newly curated artwork. 190 N.E. 46th St., Miami, 305-573-4199; to RSVP, call or email info@thedistrictmiami.com

Happy Hour at the Better Days Pop-Up Bar

Haven't made it to Brickell's first pop-up bar yet? Don't worry: Better Days will stay open through New Year's Eve so there's plenty of time to spend an evening at the transformed thrift shop and try one of the signature cocktails—like the much-loved Mexican Michelada, a beer cocktail with Modelo Especial, extra spiced and over ice. Stop in for happy hour from 5-8 p.m. 500 Brickell Building, 75 S.E. Sixth St., Ste. 103, Miami, 786-220-7690

Cocktails & Dreams Launch at Mansion

Mansion is getting on board with the city's craft cocktail craze by launching its new mixology bar, Cocktails & Dreams, on Saturday, October 4. Mixologist George Cavros (creator of the cocktail menu at Las Vegas' King Ink) has prepared a menu of classic and cheeky cocktails, from his Old Fashioned to the Whips & Paddles, a blend of rye, strawberries, allspice, lime juice, and Champagne.

This weekend Mansion will also launch its weekly Saturday-night soirées with Mansion Made Me Do It, an evening modeled after Amsterdam's Red Light District complete with Dita Von Teese-type performances. Stay tuned for each week's theme. 235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 786-735-3344

You might celebrate Taco Tuesday on the regular, but this Saturday, October 4 is another excuse to eat your favorite hard- or soft-shell dish: National Taco Day. These five standouts keep Mexican traditions alive while adding unexpected flavors.

Cochinitas Al Achiote at Jalapeño Mexican Kitchen

The Cochinitas Al Achiote turn up the heat. 

Miami Beach's Jalapeño Mexican Kitchen serves up a spicy taco variation fit for the barbecue—the Cochinitas Al Achiote with Mexican chorizo, pulled pork, and smoked bacon. Pro tip: Greet your host with "Happy Taco Day" from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday and you'll get to try beef, chicken, or pork tacos on the house. 530 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305-532-4747

Japanese Taco at The Bazaar by José Andrés

We know The Bazaar doesn't specialize in Mexican fare, but Chef Andrés has a taco worth your while. The Japanese Taco is a sushi-inspired creation with some subtle Mexican influences; it's a cucumber shell filled with grilled eel, shiso, wasabi, and pork chicharrónes. 1701 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-455-2999

Make Your Own Taco at Cantina La Veinte 

Choose pulpo (octopus) when designing your own tacos. 

At Cantina La Veinte, the upscale Mexican restaurant at the Icon Brickell, patrons can choose their filling under the Make Your Own Taco program. Notable selections include the Carnitas de Pulpo (sautéed octopus), Chamorro (pork shank confit), and Cochinita Pibil (marinated braised pork). Enjoy select tacos at exclusive prices during lunchtime on Saturday. 495 Brickell Avenue, 786-623-6135

Key West Shrimp Taco at Naked Taco

Get a taste of South Florida with your tacos at Naked Taco. The Ralph Pagano-run restaurant offers the Key West Shrimp Taco made with toasted coconut, lime, sriracha aioli, and jalapeño. Another option we can't resist: the Chipotle BBQ Short Rib taco with crispy onions and jalapeño cilantro crema. 1111 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-534-8455

Crab Cake Tacos at Pilar Local Restaurant & Bar

Get these fish tacos during happy hour. 

If you don't mind heading a little farther up north, Aventura's Pilar Local Restaurant & Bar—named after Earnest Hemingway’s fishing boat—is cooking up a unique seafood-inspired meal just for National Taco Day: two crab cake tacos with apple slaw, remoulade, and prosecco vinaigrette. On any other night, head there for happy hour, order the guaranteed-fresh fish tacos, and gaze at the restaurant's original art available for purchase. 20475 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura, 305-937-2777

Skip the selection at the drugstore; these upscale products will help you achieve a smooth shave without the nicks or painful razor burn.

Collezione Barbiere Deluxe Shaving Stand with brush and razor, Acqua di Parma ($670). Neiman Marcus, Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-993-4620

Investing in a high-quality manual razor and brush will make shaving a more pleasant experience and cut the time you spend at Walgreens in half. Polished brass, wenge wood, and badger bristles (the best for working up a solid lather) make this handcrafted kit a must-have item.

Face Buff Energizing Scrub, Jack Black ($30 for 6 oz.). Sephora, 721 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-532-0904

The secret to a close shave is careful preparation. Plan ahead by using an exfoliating cleanser to get rid of excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells.

Pre-Shave Oil, The Art of Shaving ($25). Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd. #1527, 305-937-1877

The merits of pre-shave oil are debatable, but guys with beards swear by its ability to soften facial hair, diminishing the uncomfortable friction that causes razor burn.

White Eagle Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream, Kiehl’s ($16 for 5 oz.). 832 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-531-0404

A fan favorite for decades, this no-nonsense cream creates a smooth, nick-free shave, even without water—plus, it’s mentholated to deliver a cooling sensation that combats irritation.

Moroccan Neroli Shaving Serum, Aesop ($37 for 2 oz.). aesop.com

Perfect for shavers with more sensitive skin, foamless serums capitalize on the benefits of botanical oils for a more moisturizing experience.

Cade After Shave Balm, L’Occitane en Provence ($34 for 2.5 oz.). Village of Merrick Park, 330 San Lorenzo Ave. #2325, Coral Gables, 305-445-1040

Eliminate redness and ease razor burn with an aftershave balm filled with natural ingredients like shea butter, birchwood sap, and juniper and rosemary essential oils.

Beauty Elixir, Caudalie ($49 for 3.4 oz.). Sephora, 721 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-532-0904

Sure, it’s primarily marketed to women, but this best-selling mist is also one of shaving fanatics’ best-kept secrets for post-shave hydration.

Logan Leather Travel Kit, Frye ($178). Nordstrom, Village of Merrick Park, 358 San Lorenzo Ave., Coral Gables, 786-999-1313

You can’t do all of your shaving from home; travel is inevitable, so why not pack your tools in something a little more substantial than a Ziploc bag?

Gorgon City returns to Miami with a debut album and even more star power. 

Gorgon City's Kye Gibbon and Matt Robson-Scott

UK-bred music producers Kye Gibbon and Matt Robson-Scott may have started as RackNRuin and Foamo, respectively, but they pooled their resources under the notable Black Butter Records and emerged as house duo Gorgon City. Now they're on their way back to Miami to perform masterfully mixed club-pop hits at Grand Central on Thursday, October 9 (tickets here). Two days earlier, their debut album, Sirens, drops; we're expecting quite a show considering the names featured on their new tracks: Jennifer Hudson, Katy B, Erik Hassle, and the list goes on. Before they take the Grand Central stage, we chatted with Robson-Scott about Miami, music, and partying.

Your hits like “Ready For Your Love” with MNEK and “Here For You” featuring Laura Welsh are already insanely popular. Which track off Sirens are you most excited for the world to hear? 
MATT ROBSON-SCOTT: We are really excited for people to hear "Hard on Me" featuring Maverick Sabre. It’s a really different style to our previous releases and shows a much more melancholic shade to the record.

Who was the coolest—or most unexpected—person you got to work with on the album?
MRS: Working with Jennifer Hudson was incredible. She's such a respected and talented vocalist and she completely owned the vocal on "Go All Night." 

You’re coming to Grand Central—have you played Miami before? What do you think of the club scene?
MRS: We have played in Miami a few times for WMC and it's always crazy. [Going to] Treehouse for the Black Butter Records party was amazing, plus the Annie Mac party this year was a mad one. 

Do you usually enjoy hitting up the club scene, or do you prefer staying behind the scenes in the producer role?
MRS: We like to party!

Any Miami spots you want to visit while you’re in town?
MRS: We would love to watch a Heat game and hit up Joe’s Stone Crab. 

From your perspective as producers, what’s the difference between the UK and U.S. party scenes?
MRS: The style of house music we make and play is a more underground genre in the U.S., which gives the parties a cool and understated vibe.

Which house producers do you listen to and admire?
MRS: Currently we really like ANNA from Brazil who just remixed [our track] "Unmissable." Green Velvet and Caribou are two legends we have always loved.

Dance music has evolved quite a bit in the past few decades. Where do you see the genre going from here?
MRS: Hopefully it will keep on progressing, with producers experimenting further with new techniques and styles to keep it moving.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CAPITOL RECORDS 

Find out what's new on the Miami fashion scene this month.  

Fall Accessories for Class Acts 

Gentlemen can fire up their formal wear with elegant yet edgy accoutrements.  

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
1. Boss Hugo Boss ($95). Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-792-6099 
2. Tiffany & Co. (price on request). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-864-1801
3. Christian Louboutin ($1,395). Miami Design District, 155 NE 40th St., 305-576-6820
4. David Yurman ($1,950). Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-867-1772
5. Cartier ($1,150). Miami Design District, 151 NE 40th St., 305-864-8793 

Miami's Manliest Salon 

Mario Silvestri and Andrea Battista of Junior & Hatter.

After taking the mainland salon scene by storm with its eclectic Wynwood salon, Junior & Hatter—the brainchild of stylists Andrea Battista and Mario Silvestri—has branched out with a new space right next door called Junior & Hatter Gents. The men’s grooming venture offers cuts, beard trimming, hot shaves, and manicures for dude hands. But it smartly also provides a foosball table, 70-inch flat-screen TV, and free beer. “We want guests to enjoy the time they spend with us while receiving the best in professional hair service,” says Silvestri. Oh, and there’s a piano, too, for when that beer and a haircut have you feeling like a rockstar. 2750 NW Third Ave., Miami, 305-571-8361

Baume & Mercier Keeps its Promesse

From Baume & Mercier, the Promesse collection draws on the architectural lines of a timepiece from the 1970s.

Baume & Mercier’s Promesse, a collection of automatic and quartz timepieces that was five years in the research and development stages, combines the architectural lines of a piece from the 1970s with modern-day style. The line (starting around $1,900) consists of both 30mm and 34mm Swiss-made watches that feature a round case and dial, intermixed with an oval bezel for feminine appeal. Accents include diamonds and mother-of-pearl. Mayors, 7457 N. Kendall Dr., Miami, 305-667-7517

8,100 Square Feet of Ferragamo

With the recent evolution of Salvatore Ferragamo’s iconic flagship at Bal Harbour Shops, fashionable fans of the brand will not be disappointed by this two-story haven. “The expansion of the boutique will provide a rich and intimate Ferragamo experience for our customers,” says Vincent Ottomanelli, CEO and regional director of Ferragamo USA, of the massive yet inviting 8,100-square-foot space that highlights the brand’s new direction under Creative Director Massimiliano Giornetti. Bal Harbour Shops, 9700 Collins Ave., 305-866-8166

Couture That's On the Money

Tucked away in a converted post office in the Design District is Italian import Billionaire Italian Couture, which debuted its store this past December at Art Basel. The brand, which offers both men’s and women’s clothing, was heavily inspired this fall by both medieval-era and classic Asian motifs, making for bold, daring prints and saturated colors fitting for Miamians. Miami Design District, 4000 NE Second Ave., 305-576-2300

The latest culture news from Miami. 

Flyanairliner Alleviates the Need for Speed

Inside the cockpit of one of the Flyanairliner simulators.

No snakes on a plane here—just you, your choice of trusty copilots, and your instructor, buckled into a multimillion-dollar, full-motion flight simulator. Following your pilot-led pre-flight briefing, you’ll enter a high-tech cockpit comprised entirely of authentic Boeing or Airbus jetliner parts. The real fun begins as you maneuver a 747-8 or 777 through a combination of adrenaline-inducing accelerations, ascents, descents, and landings, all on the same equipment that commercial airline pilots use to train. To get your aviation experience started, simply choose the Iceman to your Maverick and fasten your seatbelt. Ray-Ban Aviators optional. 6601 N.W. 36th St., Virginia Gardens, 702-927-2620

Ready, Set, Go-kart with K1 Speed 

Test out the mean, green, high-speed racing machines at K1 Speed.

K1 Speed has arrived on the outskirts of Doral, bringing speed demons and G-force junkies the thrill of head-to-head racing. Much like Teslas, these high-performance vehicles are totally electric while offering superior acceleration on tight turns. K1 Speed go-karts, which have preset speeds for varying skill levels, race upwards of 45 mph on two fully enclosed, glass-smooth tracks, allowing for racing 364 days a year (closed Thanksgiving). Competitive leagues are available for both adults and juniors. 8600 NW South River Dr., Medley, 786-838-0612

Miami City Ballet's Romeo and Juliet

Opening its season with Romeo and Juliet, the Miami City Ballet will recreate the classic drama with opulent sets, romantic costumes, and a stirring score by Sergei Prokofev. Choreography by John Cranko brings the longing to life. The ballet marks Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez’s second season, and was previously performed only once to sold-out crowds. October 17-19 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-929-7010

Craig Semetko's "Unposed"

Life’s most offbeat moments are tricky enough to witness, let alone capture. Yet Craig Semetko’s photography, on display this month at Leica Store Miami, allows for a humorous story to be told spontaneously in a single frame. Unstaged and shot in real time with his Leica, Semetko’s photographs draw on his background as a professional comedy writer and showcase his highly developed sense of the absurd. "Unposed" runs through November 28 at Leica Store Miami, 372 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 305-921-4433

Paul Aho's Photographic History

In Surfing Florida: A Photographic History (University Press of Florida; $32), artist and surfer Paul Aho provides a sun-splashed visual history illustrating how the Sunshine State, despite its modest waves, earned its place in the history of surfing. Aho takes readers on a retro road trip along the Florida coast, chronicling the first surfing community in Daytona Beach in the ’30s, the sport’s explosion in the ’60s, and the current stars, including Kelly Slater and Frieda Zamba. Be sure to dog-ear the chapter on Miami and the Whitman brothers, who pioneered the hollow board and the art of standup surfing. Books & Books, 927 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, 305-532-3222

In between throwing passes, making shots, or going for gold, sports stars flock to SoBe to unwind during their off time. We stalked the Instagram accounts of Miami-loving athletes to find out their favorite spots to visit while in town.

Dwyane Wade Catches a Game at Marlins Park

 

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The Miami Heat star proves he’s #justoneoftheguys in this adorable family selfie at a Marlins game.

Ryan Tannehill Hooks a Sail Fish

 

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When he’s not helping to win the big game, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is busy catching big game fish. He posted this shot with the Weez in the Keys fishing team during #finsweekend.

Chris Bosh Does Cardio on the Beach

 

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The Heat power forward shows us how he keeps in shape out of the gym—by going for a run on one of Miami’s beautiful beaches. He paired this upload with an inspirational quote: “The thousand mile journey starts with one step.”

John Salley Hangs Out with Old Friends at E11even 

 

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Retired basketball legend turned TV personality John Salley is a big fan of Miami since his days with the Heat in the '90s. He recently put up this pic of him and his crew hanging out at E11even. 

Conor Dwyer Goes Backstage at Ultra with Lil Jon

 

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When he’s not too busy swimming for gold, 25-year-old Olympian Conor Dwyer loves to party in South Beach. Here he is jamming backstage with LiL Jon at the Ultra Music Festival.

Derek Dietrich Parties at Liv

 

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The Miami Marlins player sure knows how to loosen up between baseball games. He uploaded this pic with a few friends at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit party at Liv.

Reggie Bush and Sidney Rice at Katsuya

 

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Detroit Lions player Reggie Bush escaped the Michigan cold with a quick trip to the Winter Music Conference. He posted this shot of him and friends outside of Katsuya at the SLS Hotel.

Spa days aren’t just for women. These five Miami beauty spots have tailored services created with you in mind, gentlemen—no one has to know the secret to your amazing skin.

Take a dip at Lapis. 

Advanced Pain Relief at Lapis 

Maybe it's those long hours you've been clocking at the office, or you have a chronic problem area or sports injury. Either way, Lapis, the Spa at Fontainebleau has got just the cure. The 80-minute, full-body advanced pain relief treatment will help with stiff joints and soreness, leaving you feeling refreshed after a rehabilitative corrective massage. Tack on a 30-minute detox hydrobath to massage your muscles in the water, or soak up one of the spa's many other aqua amenities. 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-674-4772

Mens Facial at exhale

Next time you're downtown, stop at the EPIC Hotel for exhale spa's mens facial. The 60-minute therapy uses ultrasonic cleansing for a dual effect: it helps with pesky ingrown hairs and unclogs pores. The outcome? Smoother and clearer skin that's free of redness and irritation thanks to the treatment's skin soothers. After the hard part is over, relax with a face, neck, and shoulder massage. 270 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-423-3900

Manscaping at The Biltmore 

For men who don't have the time (or the patience) for a long treatment, The Biltmore Hotel's spa just launched a manscaping menu with express treatments perfect for guys on the go. The 30-minute services range from haircuts to expert facial and brow shaping, massages, manly manicures, foot care—all of the grooming basics that will have gents looking good to go in no time. 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables, 305-913-3187

Back Facial at Acqualina Spa 

At Acqualina Spa By ESPA, facials aren't just for your face. The men's menu includes a 50-minute deep cleansing back facial with professional brushing and exfoliating to help regenerate cells. The treatment is topped off with an aromatherapy massage and marine mud mask, and while the mask soaks in, your feet get some love with a foot massage. 17875 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, 844-602-4941 

Purify for Men at COMO Shambhala Urban Escape

Looking for one treatment that does it all? Metropolitan Miami Beach's COMO Shambhala Urban Escape presents the COMO Shambhala Purify for Men, which cleans and exfoliates using COMO's antioxidant-rich PURIFY products. The service starts with a warming compress and back cleanse before moving on to an exfoliation, mask, and scalp massage. The deep-cleaning process finishes with an express facial, leaving your skin hydrated and smooth. 2445 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-695-3600

PHOTOGRAPHY VIA FONTAINEBLEAU.COM