305 Day: What we love, hate about the Magic City
From the gorgeous beaches to the endless Cubanos (sandwiches) and cafecitos and never-ending list of things to do, there's lots to love about living in Miami.
But it's not perfect, and not a day goes by where we're not complaining about something (looking at you, I-95).
So on this 305 Day, please indulge us as we dive into our love/hate relationship with the Magic City via this non-exhaustive list.
Our uniqueness, when we can get there
Love: It's impossible to compare South Beach (art deco architecture, the beach, nightlife) to Calle 8 (rich Latin heritage) to the more suburban cities of Miami Gardens, Pinecrest or Doral or the financial district that embodies Brickell.
But that's why we love it. Every area offers something unique.
Hate: It's easier to fly out of state than to take a day trip from North Miami to Kendall when you factor in traffic.
Did we mention the lack of public transportation?
Worldly cuisines
Love: Miami's restaurant scene is world-renowned — we have awards to prove it!
Hate: With it, though, are the over-the-top clubstaurants (shoutout to The Infatuation for the term), cliche decor, music that's too loud, and way too many tasting menus.
Plus, dinner at even the most unassuming restaurant can often cost you your firstborn.
Play ball
Love: Miami claims a ton of sports glory for being a relatively young market.
Each of our Big Four major sports teams — the Heat, the Dolphins, the Marlins and the Panthers — has won a championship.
Hate: Shoutout to bandwagon fans!
We arrive late and leave early — hello, Heat fans who left before the Game 6 NBA Finals comeback! — and we rally behind a team only when we have a star player.
We live where you vacation
Love: It's March 5. The sun is shining, the humidity is low, and a light breeze is in the air. It's a perfect beach day.
These are the days that remind us it's worth living through the 101-degree days in August.
Hate: The 101-degree days in August.
We can't have nice things
Love: Places like Versailles, Joe's Stone Crab, and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are intertwined into Miami's fabric — and are still standing.
Hate: Meanwhile, beloved music venues like Churchill's and Tobacco Road, restaurants like Shucker's, and sports venues like the Orange Bowl have shuttered, often to make room for new, flashy developments.
Speaking of development, the lack of affordable housing requires more words than allowed in this newsletter, so we'll leave that for another day.
Miami politics
Love: Our whacky politics always keep things interesting.
Miami may be the only city in America where a congressional candidate said she had been abducted by aliens — and still got a major newspaper endorsement.
Hate: We only laugh to keep from crying.
Miami has a history of corruption, and several elected leaders have been arrested or investigated in recent years.
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