A week here, for working meetings of Societies'reps to deal with issues related to Information Technology - common network and tools without which we would have to rely on archaic methods to identify foreign repertoires in each other's jurisdiction. Miami, because it's central - well, as central as it can get when you have people coming from Europe, South America, Asia and US/Canada! And it is also affordable...
Staying at the
Soho Beach House, on Collins Avenue, a boutique hotel that operates like a club, part of the British Soho House group - other hotels in London, Berlin, New York and a few other places in the US, I believe. Room (#17) rather cosy (read small - great shower though!) but a large librairy space on the 8th floor, overlooking the beach, where I spent most of my working time at the hotel (wireless everywhere).
Great food on the premises, at
Cicconi's - reminiscent of the eponymous restaurant in London - where I had all my breakfasts and a few luncheons. (Funny, one night, great party, it's their first anniversary in Miami - the place is packed, literally, with "the young and hip, rich and beatiful"! Conversation with, among others, a real estate agent who is ready to sell me some condo that gives on the beach - not ready to buy! Music by the pool, food and booze - until 4am! I could hear the noise from my room - not the only one, apparently, but did not bother me...
Meals with selected colleagues, here and there:
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink,
Rosinella,
Morton Steakhouse (twice - à mon corps défendant!),
Mr. Chow (Chinese, at the W Hotel),
Hakkasan (more Chinese, at the neighboring mammoth
Fontainebleau Hotel, etc...
Meetings held at the
Eden Roc Hotel, nearby - huge structure, very nice but for tour groups!
Took half an hour on the beach during the week!
And runs along the
Boardwalk (about 2km from one end to the other) in the morning - a wood structure that runs along the beach - you wonder sometimes if the girls that run there are in "for the show" or for the exercise...
Weather not great - warm (much warmer for sure than Toronto at this time!) but overcast all week, with a storm and heavy rain to cap it all on the last day!
Miami Beach, September 30,2011
