Tag Archives: portofino tower south beach condos for sale

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Miami Beach

238719670

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re trying to figure where to enjoy some green beer and hunt for leprechauns, Miami-Dade County is going to be one giant pot of gold of options this weekend. Let’s explore some highlights.

Ricky’s South Beach is featuring plenty of live music, Jameson shots for only $5, and lots of green beer specials. Beer pong fans will love the Leprechauns Cup beer pong tournament; the winner will receive a $200 bar tab!

Miami Beach’s Bagatelle Miami is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday beginning at noon. Enjoy an appropriately holiday-themed brunch until 6 pm. Guests are strongly encouraged to make table reservations.

How does cocktail and whiskey specials sound? South Pointe Tavern in South Beach will have plenty of those plus Iced Irish Coffee and lots of additional drinks.

If you’d rather stay away from South Beach, you could always check out Sandbar Lounge on Collins Avenue. Plenty of festive drinks will be available including $4 Blonde Guinness.

Over in Miami, the Wynwood area will have its own St. Patrick’s Day celebration and there is no cost to attend. DJs, a green beer garden pop-up, more than twenty food trucks, art, it’s going to be lots of fun! Over 15,000 people attended last year so make sure to get there early!

This update is presented by the Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call the Portofino experts at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Paradise at the Portofino Tower

portofinoTower1505

Have you ever dreamed of living in South Beach? If so, you’ll obviously want to enjoy the best living experience, and few South Beach condos match the allure of the Portofino Tower. With its soaring height and location in the trendy “South of Fifth” area, the Portofino Tower boasts as much style as it does substance.

If Portofino Tower sounds like a place you’d consider living in, there is a fantastic three bedroom, two and a half bathroom unit for sale in the condominium. Unit #1505 boasts just over 2,300 square feet of living area and the views will take your breath away. The brilliant Miami skyline, the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful Biscayne Bay, the massive cruise ships, you’ll be able to enjoy all of these views from the comfort and privacy of your Portofino Tower residence. Kick back in your living area with a scenic backdrop courtesy of the floor to ceiling windows, spend some time at the fitness center or the two pools, the Portofino Tower is appealingly all-inclusive.

Portofino Tower is practically seconds away from the beach, Ocean Drive, and South Beach’s numerous hotspots. In fact, you can walk to all of these places and not have to worry about driving.

This update is presented by Miami Beach real estate team at Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

The Miami Beach Trolley Is Complete

mbtrolley-1

Soon, dealing with Miami Beach’s traffic congestion and hunting down a parking space will no longer serve as valid excuses not to visit the barrier island. Today, the Miami Beach Trolley is launching the final route of its service called the Collins Link. The Collins Link joins the North Beach Loop, Alton-West Loop, and Middle Beach Loop.

Thanks to the opening of the Collins Loop, passengers of the Miami Beach Trolley will now have a means of traveling from 5th Street up to 88th Street, with transfers. All but one of of the four lines will being its operation at 6 am and will continue to run throughout the day until midnight. The other line (the Alton-West Loop) starts its operation at 8 am but also continues until midnight. These hours reflect the Miami Beach Trolley’s hours from Monday through Saturday. All four of the lines start operating at 8 am on Sundays.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Miami Beach Trolley, it can carry about 25 passengers and has several advanced features. Security cameras, complimentary Wi-Fi for passengers, and real time tracking are an example of what to expect. Download the trolley app to your phone and you’ll be able to see when the next trolley will arrive.

Doa Brings ‘LatAsian’ Cuisine to Miami Beach

Do words like “nikkei” and “chifa” sound familiar at all? If they don’t, they eventually will. The same people behind Miami hotspots Coya and Zuma are preparing to unveil an all-new project called Doa (pronounced dow-ah) that’s expected to open its doors in Miami Beach this November.

Doa will be a fusion of largely Peruvian food featuring a strong Chinese and Japanese influence, with plenty of other pan-Asian touches mixed in. The new eatery will further reinforce Miami’s ongoing attraction with delectable Peruvian cuisine.

In countries like Bolivia and Peru, the large amount of Asians from countries like China and Japan have been adding their own twist to the cuisine for more than four decades. “Nikkei” and “chifa” are quite common words over there, even if they seem odd here in South Florida. In fact, the restaurateur behind Doa has dubbed his cuisine ‘LatAsian’.

Some of the foods future patrons of Doa will be able to try include steamed buns, ceviche, dim sum, skewers, and plenty of grilled items. There will also be lots of Peruvian classics to enjoy plus a ‘LatAsian’ beverage program.

Doa will be located at 2000 Collins Avenue and will be open seven days a week until 5 am. It may just become your new favorite spot for a late night meal.

This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Three Bedroom Paradise at Portofino Tower

The experience of calling South Beach your home is perhaps rivaled only by the incomparable privacy of Fisher Island, the upscale community visible from South Beach. With South Beach condos like the Murano at Portofino, Apogee, and the Yacht Club at Portofino all providing great experiences, it’s difficult to choose which is the best one to live in. If you’re looking for the absolute best views however, you can’t go wrong with the soaring Portofino Tower.

As one of the tallest buildings in all of Miami Beach, the Portofino Tower’s southernmost location means the most glorious vistas of the majestic Atlantic Ocean plus the Miami Beach cityscape and more will always be visible as soon as you wake up. To fully enjoy the experience we’re highlighting Unit #2005 within the Portofino Tower. This is a stunning three bedroom, two bathroom residence with over 2,300 square feet of living area and it has not one but two balconies. Set down a small table, grab a comfy chair, and get ready to imbibe a breezy ambiance that is simply extraordinary.

The Portofino Tower has got a swimming pool, fitness center, and plenty of other amenities to complement its fantastic South Beach location. You’ll always be in the heart of all the action and the Portofino Tower is the perfect way to experience it all.

Miami Beach’s Strict LEED Requirements

How important is climate change to you? Are you the type that likes to reduce their carbon footprint as much as possible? If you happen to be a Miami Beach resident, the city is looking to do just the same and will be penalizing future builders that don’t step up their efforts to become “greener”. How so? With a new ordinance that went into effect last month, builders planning on erecting any stricture that’s larger than 7,000 square feet must abide by new green building standards or they’ll be required to shell out for a five percent fee based on the structure’s cost of construction.

Had Miami Beach implemented the new ordinance about six years ago, the city could have generated roughly $60 million dollars that could have been used towards green initiatives, including installing electric vehicle charging stations or contamination clean up efforts. Since these projects typically involve millions of dollars, the five percent fee is considerable.

Miami Beach’s ordinance is stricter and more ambitious than any other jurisdiction in all of South Florida. These structures are required to have no less than a LEED gold certification if the builder wishes to avoid having to pay the five percent fee.

There is some debate that the ordinance could put the brakes on an already slow market, but there is no denying Miami Beach’s efforts to become environmentally conscious are ambitious and welcoming.

Feng Shui and Home Staging

We all know that staging is a critical step in boosting the odds of selling a home. Properly staging a home means ensuring that the furniture and décor provide a neutral yet welcoming feeling that attracts buyers and makes them feel at home. Despite its simplicity there is a lot that goes into the process, and the feng shui technique can certainly help.

In Chinese culture feng shui is commonly used for buildings and home décor, designed to promote a balance of health, good fortune, harmony, and tranquility. One of its fundamental principles is space. When staging a home, it’s important to be aware of any spaces that might be constricting or blocking a path. Is a table too close to the wall? It should be moved. Minimalism is highly important in feng shui as it’s believed it allows the mind to be at ease.

The use of colors is another important principle of feng shui as a balanced color scheme creates harmony. If the furniture has neutral colors like gray then the walls should have colors that pop like orange or blue, for example.

Nature is also used in feng shui as it’s believed that plants will clean the air of a home and reinforce a healthier ambiance. A house plant for example, gives the feeling of inviting and warm.

Have you ever tried using feng shui in your home?

Downtown Miami and Miami Beach

Miami Beach and Downtown Miami are practically right next door to each other, separated by Biscayne Bay and roadways like the MacArthur Causeway. Considering the appeal of both of these areas, have you ever stopped to wonder how they differ? Let’s take a look.

Downtown Miami’s music week is marked largely by the annual Ultra Music Festival which continues to grow in popularity and draws a cast of young attendees. Over in Miami Beach however, these young attendees usually spend music week lounging and partying by the pool at one of the trendy condos or hotels like Hyde Beach.

In terms of living situation, you’ll find people renting a unit at a building like Icon Brickell while telling a little white lie and saying they own. Meanwhile, a Miami Beach resident might say he or she owns an Icon South Beach unit when really they’re just renting at the Flamingo. Speaking of real estate, you’ll pay $50 million for a duplex penthouse at a building like the upcoming 1000 Museum while a combined unit penthouse at the Faena in Miami Beach commands $60 million.

When it comes to staying active, Downtown Miami residents can be found working out at the Equinox while Miami Beach residents arguably have a broader range of options, including Citi Bike, taking a hearty walk through Lincoln Road or a swim in the ocean.
This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Colombia’s Connection to Miami

Foreign countries continue to be a major driving factor in the real estate market, and Latin American countries are among the biggest when it comes to buyers. In fact, for 17 of the last 19 months Brazil had held the top position in searches for South Florida real estate. However, Colombia is now making strong strides itself and has usurped Brazil as the top country for two straight months. This shift in position represents a strong connection between Miami and Colombia.

Although Colombia came in top place when it comes to Miami real estate searches in January, the nation actually falls down to third place in the percentage of actual South Florida home buyers, coming in behind Venezuela and Brazil.

Colombia’s connection to South Florida is also evident with the upcoming Trump International Hotel & Tower set to debut in the country’s capital city of Bogota. This building represents the third time the Trump organization has extended its efforts into South America.

Also worth nothing is the upcoming mixed-use building set to make its debut in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood that’s being built by the development firm of Prodesa. With the firm of Arquitectonica overseeing the design, the 19-story building will comprise 372,932 square feet.
This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.

Useful Real Estate Apps

The majority of people kick start their home search online. Whether it’s through a website or a smartphone app, it’s much easier to do research from the comfort of your own home. Let’s explore some of the best apps used by real estate agents, buyers, and sellers that you might want to check out yourself.

Most of us are aware of sites like Trulia or Zillow and their apps are certainly quite popular. However, Redfin arguably has an advantage over these thanks to it ease of use. You can find out information such as how much a home was sold for just by standing in front of it and entering the address or touching an icon. It also tends to have the timeliest and most accurate information which is updated every fifteen minutes. The app also makes it easy to search for open houses.

Sellers looking to prep their home for a sale or existing homeowenrs that want to do some home improvement may want to check out Houzz, an app that provides design recommendations and a large collection of high-resolution photos that users can filter by keyword.

Homesnap makes things even easier by pulling up information on a home simply by taking a picture of it. You’ll be able to view property tax records as well as interior photos if the home is listed. All pictures are stored for future reference and are mapped out.
This update is presented by Miami Beach Realtor Tim Allen of Blackstone International Realty, specializing in the Portofino Tower. If you are interested in Miami Beach condos such as the Portofino Tower South Beach condos for sale, call Continuum expert Tim at 305-588-2451 for information on sales and rentals.