[Santoro]

The best tool I've seen for pricing in MIA is padmapper.com
It's basically a google map that filters every realtor/craigslist ad, and you can adjust the settings to how many rooms you want, your maximum budget, etc etc. I live in a slammin, spacious 3 bedroom in Brickell with bayfront views for $900 a month per person, utilities included. Make haggling a big part of your life in Miami, from your housing to the door guys at bars/clubs. If you're legit not an ass about it, it's rather easy to get into smaller venues for half price or even free. Especially if they see you there every week and you lock them down a la the G Manifesto.

I've been living in Brickell the past year, and that is about as far away from sobe as I'll ever get. Here's my take on why Brickell is the best place outside of Sobe to post...This is for many reasons:

-I enjoy cycling to bars with friends and this is a central location. Easy rides to...

Brickell hangouts - Shout out to the Filling Station-cheap eats/drinks and good beer. Fado's, Segafredo, and the Irish Pub are good as well

Coconut Grove - Mr Moes on tuesdays is a pickup chillfest when college starts. Dollar beers don't hurt either

Downtown - cruises start and end at Bayfront, which has 10+ bars and an endless supply of tourists when ships are in town. Also hit up the Vagabond, wear a University of Miami shirt and people will open you. Lots of college kids go there from Dade College and UM. Hot Tip: Miami LOVES the U. For live music, grand central has a great sound system, reasonable tickets and drink prices (~8/beer, 10/drink and that includes tip), and never holds a line outside if it doesn't have to.

Art district - second saturday artwalks let you show off that otherwise worthless liberal arts education while indulging in free booze. Electric Pickle is a great spot to party as well. As with any miami venue, getting there before midnight means little/no cover and a late night happy hour til things start rolling. It's also a bit quieter before midnight, so you can do the chatting thing before you hit the dance floor.

If you live on sobe, cycling on the Venetian Causeway to get anywhere else is a deathwish.

"Yo brah, I could care less about riding a bicycle"
Valid. But listen up, Jr...

-Go any farther south and prepare to spend the majority of your life stuck in traffic on US1. Roads are poorly designed and there is lots of crime...why do you think apartments in south miami are so cheap?

-Go north to the art district and it's not exactly safe. Sure the night life there is starting to pick up, but it's DEAD during the day. Right next to overtown (pretty ghetto area) is not where I'd like to sleep.

-Downtown is ok, but everything besides bars shuts down at 5 and you have to go to Brickell to get groceries anyway. Should you end up there, check out Bali Cafe on NW2nd St for authentic sushi. Don't believe the hype of all the other sushi wanna-be places, this is the real deal.

-Sobe might have models, but in my experience locals are much more down to earth in Brickell. And believe me when I say that you won't be settling on looks. The locals are smokin hot. I second Blue Martini as a cougar hotspot, and also as more of a gringo hangout. Segafredo and the Irish Pub are perfect for venue changes (they are right next to each other)...the transition from a live band to club music or vice versa has worked well for me. Club 51 on US1 is THE perfect date spot...has the posh lounge vibe without all the bs that usually goes with it. Baru Urbano was voted the best happy hour in the city...the bar there from 5-7 rivals a saturday night in most other cities. Also plenty of mediocre sushi places that are decent enough for dates.

-There is minimal late night garbage food in Brickell, and I have yet lose a night to some greasy pizza place that she "has to have."

-3 words: Brickell Running Club. Look it up on facebook. Meets Wed @7pm downtown. 200+ people to run with, the majority of whom are the very girls you'll be hitting on later that night. Bitch shields down and endorphins on the up and up. Plus who goes out without working on their fitness? Get your head in the game. There's also a run club on sobe that meets on thursdays on lincoln road at Mr R's running shop.

Potential pitfalls of Brickell/ things to consider:
-few tourists, and the locals have a strong social circle that can be hard to break into
-gotta polish up on speaking spanish. Respect the culture and your efforts will be repaid tenfold.
-Leases are usually yearly


That said, those are not really pitfalls, just challenges to get dedicated and pick up the slack in your life.

I did.

Worth it.

[Santoro]

Just poured over the forums and it looks like Mixx covered most of this stuff before. Should have known. Heck, we've probably been at Baru Urbano on the same night.

I don't have enough posts to link, his bit is on the Costenas vs. Bogotanas vs. Paisas vs. Calenas thread

[thegmanifesto]

chambs88 -

Great post.

I am most likely going to base myself out of Miami in winter moving forward.

I am 100% sold on Brickell nightlife.

However, how is Brickell for daylife? Are there good restaurants, supermarkets, sandwich spots, deli's, Italian markets?

Sell me on living in Brickell fulltime.

What I am thinking of doing is living in South Beach (probably South of 5th) so I can roll the beach, day Game, and go to my Boxing Gym.

Then nightime, roll over to Brickell to swoop fresh leads.

What would be the downside to this?

Also, I plan on having no car. (I will take the pain on cabs.)

Thoughts?

[Brian]

(07-29-2011 10:15 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

chambs88 -

Great post.

I am most likely going to base myself out of Miami in winter moving forward.

I am 100% sold on Brickell nightlife.

However, how is Brickell for daylife? Are there good restaurants, supermarkets, sandwich spots, deli's, Italian markets?

Sell me on living in Brickell fulltime.

What I am thinking of doing is living in South Beach (probably South of 5th) so I can roll the beach, day Game, and go to my Boxing Gym.

Then nightime, roll over to Brickell to swoop fresh leads.

What would be the downside to this?

Also, I plan on having no car. (I will take the pain on cabs.)

Thoughts?

thats how i would do it. am actually considering something similiar. brickell has its moments but if you are going to live in miami there is something about being able to roll to the beach in a short walk that is hard to turn down.

[Santoro]

GM-

I barely even have to go out at night to get leads. Daytime is just as busy in Brickell because of the financial district. During the day those trendy, small clubs like DoloresLolita turn into trendy, small restaurants that host the same chic clientele. La Moon is a great little Cuban place, the owner lives in my building and supports the locals with a meal on the house every now and then. For Italian, Perricone's is amazing, and has a legit Italian deli/dessert/wine shop. Last time I checked the guy behind the counter looks a bit like Joe Pesci. For seafood there is Casablanca's restaurant and marketplace just over the river. The hotels on Brickell Bay host the international big spenders in on business and have respectable eats/daytime bars as well. Dining is much less of a tourist trap, and not many chains are around. Places that are bad simply don't last.

Mary Brickell Village is the Clevelander of Brickell. People flock there 24/7. During the day it's a different scene though. Coffee shops, guitarists playing in the street, artists...it feels like a moment, not a montage. That's what I look for in a place to call home.

Publix is the only option for groceries. Their selection is ok, but on the upside there are 3 of them so walking there is always easy. Hit up Perricone's market for those nights when you want to cook something special

If you don't have a car, here's the downside....
-obviously, no beach access
-public transit leaves something to be desired aka why I bicycle everywhere. The buses on sobe are pretty good about arriving on schedule, and they come more or less every 15 minutes. In Brickell, you can get burned waiting much longer than expected
-No good gyms. LA fitness does not count as a respectable gym. This is why the running club is so important to the community.
-The Macarthur causeway backs up loco style on the weekends with everyone trying to get to south beach. $60 cab ride to go 6 miles? No thanks.

Solution to get to south beach on weekends: if cabbing it, pay the small toll on the venetian causeway.

If you can get a car or motorcycle then there's pretty much no downside to living in Brickell. I picked up a motorcycle for cheap a couple months ago and being mobile has eliminated all of the issues listed above. I can ride out to the gym or sobe easily, just have to be aware of rush hour/leave early enough on weekends. Never a problem. Most of the high rises don't charge for motorcycle parking.

You heard it here first....

Key Biscayne is CRAWLING with well-off cougars that need adventure. A stroll through its main drag yields interesting results...this place is uncharted territory as I've never seen anyone else posting up there. daytime only spot.

Other useful intel:

Easy way to get from south beach to brickell or vice versa...You might be aware of this, there's a bus ($2) that runs from 5th street and washington straight to the metromover downtown (which is free). The metromover makes a stop at the heart of Mary Brickell. I've used this many times so that I only have to pay for a cab on the way back. This works later than 7pm, otherwise you get caught up in the aforementioned traffic.

Lots of my grad school friends look to sublet their Brickell places over winter break while they travel home (mid december-mid january) for ridiculously cheap. If you would like to give Brickell a try, that would be a great chance.

[The_CEO]

G-Manifesto: are you staying through summer this time?

[MiXX]

(07-29-2011 12:16 AM)chambs88 Wrote:  

Just poured over the forums and it looks like Mixx covered most of this stuff before. Should have known. Heck, we've probably been at Baru Urbano on the same night.

Ha! Love that place! Great job on the updates!

Enjoy Baru, I won't be there for awhile as I am chasing Polish tail in the horizon.

Mixx

[InternationPlayboy]

Do yourself a favor, don't live on the beach. Before I moved out here that's what everyone recomended, but I hate living on the beach and am trying to get out of here ASAP to somewhere else. The beach is mad over priced and the people suck, not to mention its mad cliquie which makes it suck even worse. Every time I leave the beach I have a blast and meet women waaaay easier than i do on the beach where the women are mad stuck up. Trust my, unless you are stacked and look like Brad Pitt, DO NOT MOVE TO THE BEACH! Where would I suggest besides the beach? Anywhere but the Beach.

[thegmanifesto]

InternationPlayboy -

So I guess you don't like the beach? Ha.

Just playing.

I think the beach is good for Daylife and living because it is so convenient. And you don't need a car.

I plan on going to other parts of Miami to swoop fresh leads (namely Brickell).

Thoughts?

Do you think that is a bad strategy?

[InternationPlayboy]

(07-31-2011 01:24 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

InternationPlayboy -

So I guess you don't like the beach? Ha.

Just playing.

I think the beach is good for Daylife and living because it is so convenient. And you don't need a car.

I plan on going to other parts of Miami to swoop fresh leads (namely Brickell).

Thoughts?

Do you think that is a bad strategy?

I mean it sounds like you make pretty good dough. If that's the case I guess the beach isn't terrible since most women are all about what you've got. Yeah, you don't NEED a car on the beach but your gonna be spending a lot on taxis trying to get around inthis heat. And if you don't have a car, good luck getting to any other part of miami. A taxi ride across the bridge is gonna run you $20. I would highly recomend not living on the beach. South Miami, Coral Gables, and Coconut Grove are FULL of hotties that aren't close to as stuck up as the beach girls, that's where I'm going to live, in a dope ass 5 bedroom pad too with some friends. The beach girls have the worst attitudes of any girls I've met anywhere and that's no exageration. When I do pull on the beach it's mostly tourists. The problem with tourists though is there's so much competition, you meet a tourist, get their number, and by the time you call them 6 hours later to meet up, they've already met 10 other dudes. Seriously, the beach is the worst place I've ever been to pick up women. Yeah, they are beautiful, but they have horrible attitudes and there's just way too much competition. It's hard to pull when you don't have a car and the next guy in line has a ferrari. There are just as good looking girls anywhere in MIA anyways.

[InternationPlayboy]

But actually G, it's not so bad picking girls up during the day on the beach, but going out at night is terrible, I guess I should have said that. The girls you find during the day are pretty cool. But IDK, I just don't like living on the beach all together though, it's too crowded, I'm not real into touristy places. I feel like its like living in Disney Land. Not to mention the fact I'm surrounded by the tourist vibe all day at work. Can't wait to get the fuck out of this place.

[jariel]

(07-31-2011 01:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

The beach is mad over priced and the people suck

The entire city of Miami is overpriced and full of shitty people, that's just how it is.

[thegmanifesto]

InternationPlayboy -

Yeah, I am not big on partying at the beach either.

I like the restaurants and lounges though.

It also seems easier to get girls from other parts of Miami to meet you at the beach VS Coral Gables or something.

Thoughts?

Yeah, cabs will be spendy, but not having a fly ride saves you $1000 per month by my estimation (payments, insurance, gas, washes, flat tires, parking tickets, dui's etc.)

$1000 per month buys a lot of cab rides.

[InternationPlayboy]

(07-31-2011 02:12 PM)jariel Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 01:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

The beach is mad over priced and the people suck

The entire city of Miami is overpriced and full of shitty people, that's just how it is.

Not even. My friend just moved into a 5 bedroom place and is paying $900 a month in a middle class neighborhood just right across the bridge, 10 minute drive from my house on the beach. And yeah, in general people in Miami suck, but much more so on the beach. I've found it a lot easier to meet good people over the bridge, but that could be because I have a lot more close friends over the bridge.

[el mechanico]

G, no car in FL? Cabs are great for nightlife but, a car is almost a must during the day. South Florida is huge. How would you do a day trip to Palm Beach or Key Largo?

Also, I can't understand how you guys can live here without a boat. Do you have any idea of how much ass those things generate? If done right boats are not a pain in the ass.

[InternationPlayboy]

Yeah, car is pretty much a must in SoFlo, it really sucks being stuck on the beach. As nice as the beach sounds, trust me it gets old being stuck in this bubble for so long. Can't wait to finally get a car. I had all the money saved up for one but I ended up getting kidney stones and it cost me a ton of money, just now finally saved up enough for a car again. Boats definitely make Miami a fun place, we go out on a friend of mines whenever we can.

[MiXX]

(07-31-2011 02:34 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

G, no car in FL? Cabs are great for nightlife but, a car is almost a must during the day. South Florida is huge. How would you do a day trip to Palm Beach or Key Largo?

Also, I can't understand how you guys can live here without a boat. Do you have any idea of how much ass those things generate? If done right boats are not a pain in the ass.

I have a jet Ski....same amount of ass, les hassle of a boat!

Mixx

[el mechanico]

(07-31-2011 03:26 PM)MiXX Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:34 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

G, no car in FL? Cabs are great for nightlife but, a car is almost a must during the day. South Florida is huge. How would you do a day trip to Palm Beach or Key Largo?

Also, I can't understand how you guys can live here without a boat. Do you have any idea of how much ass those things generate? If done right boats are not a pain in the ass.

I have a jet Ski....same amount of ass, les hassle of a boat!

Mixx

Nope, you can't put lights on a ski or use them at night= half the ass!

[InternationPlayboy]

(07-31-2011 04:04 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 03:26 PM)MiXX Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:34 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

G, no car in FL? Cabs are great for nightlife but, a car is almost a must during the day. South Florida is huge. How would you do a day trip to Palm Beach or Key Largo?

Also, I can't understand how you guys can live here without a boat. Do you have any idea of how much ass those things generate? If done right boats are not a pain in the ass.

I have a jet Ski....same amount of ass, les hassle of a boat!

Mixx

Nope, you can't put lights on a ski or use them at night= half the ass!

Plus, you can only fit one ass on a jet ski, you can fit many on a boat.

[jariel]

(07-31-2011 02:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:12 PM)jariel Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 01:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

The beach is mad over priced and the people suck

The entire city of Miami is overpriced and full of shitty people, that's just how it is.

Not even. My friend just moved into a 5 bedroom place and is paying $900 a month in a middle class neighborhood just right across the bridge, 10 minute drive from my house on the beach. And yeah, in general people in Miami suck, but much more so on the beach. I've found it a lot easier to meet good people over the bridge, but that could be because I have a lot more close friends over the bridge.

$900/month to have 4 roommates is cheap?

I mean maybe we just prefer different living styles, I live alone in a $1K/month spot in the Gables, and still think it's too much, because this isn't New York City.

The real estate market here has been overvalued, and still needs to come down, Miami period is a low wage, high expense city.

Furthermore, "Good people" and Miami is an oxymoron.

You're kind of new to the city and you're without wheels which limits your ability to really explore this place, so you'll have to pardon me if I choose to defer to my opinion and the ones of others who've actually been here an extended period of time.

[MiXX]

(07-31-2011 05:42 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 04:04 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 03:26 PM)MiXX Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:34 PM)el mechanico Wrote:  

G, no car in FL? Cabs are great for nightlife but, a car is almost a must during the day. South Florida is huge. How would you do a day trip to Palm Beach or Key Largo?

Also, I can't understand how you guys can live here without a boat. Do you have any idea of how much ass those things generate? If done right boats are not a pain in the ass.

I have a jet Ski....same amount of ass, les hassle of a boat!

Mixx

Nope, you can't put lights on a ski or use them at night= half the ass!

Plus, you can only fit one ass on a jet ski, you can fit many on a boat.

I'm all about quality, not quantity

Mixx

[Kish]

I bet a nickel in Miami would be a dime in DC.

[InternationPlayboy]

(08-01-2011 08:52 PM)jariel Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 02:12 PM)jariel Wrote:  

(07-31-2011 01:17 PM)InternationPlayboy Wrote:  

The beach is mad over priced and the people suck

The entire city of Miami is overpriced and full of shitty people, that's just how it is.

Not even. My friend just moved into a 5 bedroom place and is paying $900 a month in a middle class neighborhood just right across the bridge, 10 minute drive from my house on the beach. And yeah, in general people in Miami suck, but much more so on the beach. I've found it a lot easier to meet good people over the bridge, but that could be because I have a lot more close friends over the bridge.

$900/month to have 4 roommates is cheap?

I mean maybe we just prefer different living styles, I live alone in a $1K/month spot in the Gables, and still think it's too much, because this isn't New York City.

The real estate market here has been overvalued, and still needs to come down, Miami period is a low wage, high expense city.

Furthermore, "Good people" and Miami is an oxymoron.

You're kind of new to the city and you're without wheels which limits your ability to really explore this place, so you'll have to pardon me if I choose to defer to my opinion and the ones of others who've actually been here an extended period of time.

No, all 5 bedrooms $900 a month with 0 roomates. Just cause I don't have wheels doesn't mean I haven't seen a lot of the city. Choose to defer to who you want, this is just my observation after living here almost a year compared with the other many places I've been and lived. I guess Miami can be a low wage high expense city if you don't know how to hustle, but I found a good job only 2 or 3 months after moving here. And as to your remark "Good people and Miami is an oxymoron," sure in general people suck in Miami, but you can find good people anywhere you live, you may just have to dig a little deeper in MIA.

[CallSignBigRed]

and I was looking to relocate to Miami after my contracting adventures are done I guess I have to reconsider.

[thegmanifesto]

(09-26-2013 06:01 AM)CallSignBigRed Wrote:  

and I was looking to relocate to Miami after my contracting adventures are done I guess I have to reconsider.

Why?