South Beach: La Vida Sustainable
ECOVORE: http://www.theurbn.com/category/feature/ecovore-feature/
DecoBikes are a hit in Miami's South Beach; photo by Robin Tierney
In Miami’s South Beach, living la vida local has nothing to do with Maybachs, bling and celebrity-spotting; all that partying would require a trust fund, liposuction and possibly rehab. During recent visits, I biked and jogged, meeting resident musicians, artists and models who shared keys to South Beach living that are sustainable in terms of health, urban community and sanity. My observations:
Bicycling is as hot as salsa dancing. Shiny new DecoBike bikeshare stations have popped up around the beaches, and bike shops abound. “On weekends, my car never moves,” Jonathan Folland says while disengaging a DecoBike from a bikeshare station. “You can ride it place to place, to the coffee shop, parks, the beach, and just leave it at any of the bikeshare stations all around the beach.”
The Breakwater is among preserved art deco buildings; photo by Robin Tierney
Preservation has enriched South Beach. Looking at the astonishing buildings inspired by the golden age of ocean liner and aviation travel, it’s hard to believe this place declined into decrepitude, with talk a few short decades ago about levering the old structures. Take a walking or bike tour, such as the Art Deco tour offered by the Miami Design Preservation League. The guides reveal stories behind the tubular railings, zigurat rooflines, and airstreamed corners, some of which involve playboys, artists, gangsters and rogue waves.
Andres Ripoll, cycling with Sammy; photo by Robin Tierney
Good-in-all-ways food.“We bike every weekend, from downtown to South Beach,” says film producer Andres Ripoll, biking with TV anchor Peggy Carranza and a dachshund (in basket) named Sammy.
A musician enjoys superb raw cuisine on THRIVE's patio; photo by Robin Tierney
Andres tells me about a relatively new raw-vegan restaurant behind a garden center in South Beach. I enter a passage barely visible from the street into a little Eden of plants – the patio of T.H.R.I.V.E., which stands for The Healthy Raw Inspired Vegan Experience. The credo: sustainable/organic, super-nutritious, delicious. Amen, I think, torn between spiralized zucchini alfredo with fresh sun-dried tomato, portobello pizza with basil and cashew cream, amazing fresh-squeezed juices. Maybe followed with carrot cake with coconut frosting and “Amazing Truffles” with spirulina. Being on bike, I opt for raw chef Rose’s suggestion: her Indian-inspired biryani, for which she substitutes micro-sliced cabbage and beets for rice. Absolutely amazing.
THRIVE raw vegan entree; photo by Robin Tierney
Note: The sweet potatois a Miami staple. You’ll see the orange superfood pop up in fries to pies to detox diets.
1910 advertising poster at the Wolfsonian "Museum of Thinkism"; photo by Robin Tierney
Décor lore. The Wolfsonian calls itself the Museum of Thinkism and just underwent a facade-lift. Admission is free on Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. This collection of modernist and functional objects from 1885 to 1945 provides a visual social history and clues to the rise of our consumerist society. Among the objects: clocks, toasters, 1851 London World’s Fair souvenirs, a painting of “Mary’s X-Ray” to posters using fabulous graphics to advertise new inventions such as light bulbs. Look for Leonetto Cappiella’s human firefly from 1910; this caricaturist turned graphic designer aimed to create logos to break through the visual clutter of the growing urban landscape.
Ecovore eats:
T.H.R.I.V.E. (see above).
Chow Down. This popular Surfside, Fla., eatery has just opened a new location on Alton Road. Can’t wait to try it.
Go-Go Fresh Food Cafe. Plain on the outside, party on the palate with its mini pizza-pies, many of them vegan and gluten-free, and the “Superfoods” sweet+ savory baby spinach and quinoa-crowned salad. The veggie burger comes with lemon tahini spread.
Go Go Superfoods bowl; photo by Robin Tierney
Apple a Day Natural Food Market. Immune-boosting juices from echinacea root to Blueberry Nirvana. And bargain-priced curry tofu or avocado wrap on a sprouted bread, sided with a cup of veggie soup. Juices, too.
The Cafe at Books & Books. This Lincoln Road sidewalk cafe is run by a pioneer of New South Florida cuisine. Try the Cuban black bean soup, grilled tofu fajita wrap with roasted corn salad, or tropical wild rice with coconut.
Peace A’ Cake. Food porn made by a holistic health coach from spelt flour, apple sauce, coconut palm nectar, dark chocolate chips and raw almonds. Sold at local health marts and juice cafes; website lists locations. Also watch for Bunnycakes if you like cupcakes and similar treats.
Ecovore sleeps: To save money and get a quiet’s night sleep, I stayed just across the Venice Causeway at the recently sustainably renovated Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. The hotel has a free shuttle to South Beach, though you may be sufficiently invigorated to jog or bike over the beautiful Venetian Causeway.
DecoBikers stopping at THRIVE to refuel; photo by Robin Tierney
the food looks to die for! I better get these images out of my head before my next meal because it might leave me feeling very unsatisfied otherwise!!
I tell myself, "Go for the greens." I try to fill up on the (unprocessed) colorful foods. That way if I overdo it, at least I get the most nutrition for the calories!
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