The nominees for the 30th Annual South Florida Tourism Professional of the Year Award have just been announced. The distinguished nominees are: · Steve Adkins, Miami Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce · Rolando Aedo, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau · DeAnne Connolly Graham, ROi Media Consultants · Julie Grimes, The Heafey Group · Charles Kropke, Dragonfly Expeditions · Peter Ricci, Ed.D., Florida Atlantic University · Troy Wright, Washington Avenue Business Improvement District The nominees will be honored at the award luncheon, hosted by the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) Advisory Board, on September 30, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, the event’s Host Sponsor. The luncheon MC will be WSVN’s Belkys Nerey. The featured speakers of the luncheon will include celebrity chef, Michelle Bernstein, and Florida International University Dean, Dr. Michael Cheng. In addition to the Hyatt Regency Miami being the Host Sponsor of the event, Show Tech, a South Florida based audio visual production company, is supporting the event as a Signature Sponsor. REEF, the largest operator of mobility, logistics hubs, and neighborhood kitchens in North America is a Platinum Sponsor of the event. Past recipients of the Tourism Professional of the Year Award include George Neary, Tours “R” Us, Wendy Kallergis, GMBHA, Henry Delgado, Smith & Wollensky, Rocco Angelo, Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, William Talbert, III, Alvin West, Sr. GMCVB, and Academy Founders, Stuart Blumberg, Retired, Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association, Bob Dickinson, Retired, Carnival Cruise Lines, and the late Tony Goldman, Goldman Properties, Jeanne Westphal, Dean Lee Dickson, FIU and Alyce M. Robertson, Miami Downtown Development Authority. The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism is a member of the non-profit, NAF. For over thirty years, NAF has refined a proven model that provides young people access to industry-specific curricular, work-based learning experiences and prepares them for college and industry careers. Academies are in 16 Miami public high schools. Proceeds of the luncheon benefit work-based learning activities and scholarships for AOHT students and professional development for teachers. Tickets for the Tourism Professional of the Year Award luncheon are $125.00 for an individual ticket or $1000 for a table of 10. Educators may purchase individual tickets for $80.00 and a table for $800. To purchase tickets for the luncheon, go to https://conta.cc/3efDNLf For additional ticket information, contact Julie Kennedy at 305.693.3017 or e-mail juliekennedy@dadeschools.net By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Unsplash

Self-proclaimed “Mob Daughter” Karen Gravano has seen her fair share of murder and mayhem as the daughter of infamous former Gambino family underboss turned government cooperator, Salvatore “Sammy The Bull” Gravano. Karen faced her own legal troubles when, shortly after giving birth to her daughter Karina in 2000, her entire family was arrested and charged with running an ecstasy ring in Arizona. Those charges resulted in her father doing twenty years in maximum security prison. In 2011 Karen Gravano decided to turn a lifetime of legal lemons into lemonade by going public with her own story. She starred for six seasons on the hit VH1 reality show, Mob Wives, and in 2012 wrote her bestselling memoir, Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano and Me! (St. Martin’s Press). Now in the second season of MTV reality show, Families of the Mafia, which Gravano also produces, Karen and the Gravano family let viewers inside the dynamics of three generations of a family mired and mythologized by the legacy of organized crime in America. The following are excerpts from internationally syndicated entertainment journalist Allison Kugel’s latest interview, featuring Karen Gravano, on her Allison Interviews podcast. The interview is available for re-publication in its entirety, or in select quotable excerpts. On any bad blood with the Gotti family “I didn’t have much to do with them. There were times we went to some parties and we were in the same place. I didn’t really have one-on-one experiences with them until our fathers got arrested in 1990, when we would go to the MCC (Metropolitan Correctional Center) in lower Manhattan and visit, and we would see each other on those visits.” "I don’t have bad blood. I think our fathers came into this as partners and they will forever go out as partners. Yes, my father took the stand, but John Gotti put the whole entire Mob on Front Street, and he drew attention. So [John] is part of the downfall in my eyes, and I look at the Gotti kids as I look at myself. We all had these experiences and we all lost, so why hate each other? I can almost sit back and understand, but they don’t like when I speak the truth. The truth is, there were the Gotti tapes. John was going to betray my father. That is not something I’m making up. There have been numerous FBI agents that listened to the tapes and told those stories. I’m not condoning what my father did when he cooperated, but I’m not condoning what John did. My father was extremely loyal to him. When it came time to go to trial and those tapes were presented as evidence with John bashing my father on multiple tapes, my father said, ‘Listen, I have to defend myself. I’m going to sever the case. I have to say [John] is lying on these tapes.’ John’s answer to that was, ‘What will my public think?’ [John] was basically going to use those tapes in his own defense. John was going to throw my father under the bus to do life in prison, before my father took the stand and John got life in prison. The whole situation is just screwed up, and I feel like generations later, why have any more hatred? But I’m not going to sit back and not say the truth. If they can’t handle the truth, that’s on them.” On her jailhouse romance with boyfriend Xavier Williams who is currently incarcerated "Xavier is someone who I knew before he got incarcerated. We were friends and then he went to prison and we stayed in contact. I’ve started to really understand mass incarceration and the war on drugs, and how Xavier fit into this category. I started reading cases and realizing there were just such harsh prison sentences that were given to some of these individuals, like life without parole, where other people who killed people were able to come home. I reached out to Xavier and started working with him on his case and I just love him. I feel like I’m fighting for this man’s life.” “If he comes out of prison, yes, I would be down to go to City Hall and get married because he is definitely somebody that I love. sometimes I do feel like I could get caught up in this cycle and I have to sit back and say, “Why?” But I think some of my experiences led me to be this person, and it’s hard for me to walk away from somebody that I truly care about and love while they are in that situation. I can’t help my feelings. I can’t help that I fell in love with him.” On sorting the difference between right and wrong “The lines get blurred. All those men take an oath to that lifestyle that they understand. They willingly join that. You agree to kill, and you also understand that you can be killed, and all those men willingly take an oath to that lifestyle. The way my father described it is, at one time he was a soldier and went to Vietnam and fought for his country. When he joined The Mob, he became a soldier in Cosa Nostra, and fought for what he believed in. Does that make it right? No. Killing is never the answer to anything. But the reality is, that’s what was required when he went to Vietnam, when he was fighting for his country, because he believed in it and protected it, the same way he believed in his oath and his life in Cosa Nostra.” “I don’t want to make this sound like a cliché, but they don’t kill innocent people. That’s not what they do. I always got questions, like, ‘Oh, was your boyfriend scared to date you?’ As a father, if someone was being abusive towards me, he would give him the old dad talk, like ‘This is not acceptable,’ but he’s not going to go and try to take that person’s life, unless he was a threat to me, and then any father goes there with that.” On Mob Wives vs. Families of the Mafia “Mob Wives, especially when it first came out, was the first of its kind, where we were actually saying the word out loud. In retrospect, a lot of that show was based off my father’s life and who he was. All the arguing and bickering on that show was not really who I was as a person. Our [family’s] life was just different than that. It was more family oriented. Even though the men in our lives went out of the house and they were criminals, whatever they chose to do outside the house, when you came home it was family oriented and traditional. I don’t think my father liked a lot of the arguing and the fighting on Mob Wives. To him it was petty. He said to me, ‘You coming back to New York is such a bigger presence than you having to argue or fight with women on a show.’ But when you are caught up on a reality show and everybody has their opinion, it fuels its own fire. Families of The Mafia is a totally different direction. We’re actually digging deep into these different families and it’s a multigenerational story. My father is who he is, and he is able to tell his story on this show. His experiences have created some of my situations in my own life, and I tell my story. And now it’s like, where does Karina (Karen’s twenty-two year old daughter) take that as the third generation? We have the “Mafia” word attached to the show, but it’s really family struggles and how, as a parent, do you raise your child to be better than you or to not to make the same mistakes. I think this show is a lot more relatable.” About the Allison Interviews Podcast Allison Interviews, is the newly launched podcast hosted by veteran entertainment profiler, Allison Kugel, where listeners can tune in to hear the intimate full conversations behind Allison’s syndicated print celebrity and newsmaker interviews. Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Follow on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonInterviews.com. Syndicated journalist Allison Kugel has conducted more then three hundred long form interviews with famous personalities from film, television, music, sports, health and popular culture. Her full interviews have been published by USA TODAY, MSN, Hello! Magazine, UK’s Daily Express, PopCrush, HipHopDX, EURWeb, Miami Living Magazine, Las Vegas Magazine, and more. They have been quoted and excerpted by People, ET Canada, SNL’s Live Weekend Update, Life & Style Weekly, AllHipHop, Page Six, and more, with a collective audience of ten million per interview. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Allison Interviews

It’s that time of the year again… sort of! Miami Beach Pride is returning to South Beach after a 1-year hiatus, this year in September (9/10 – 9/19)! We could not be more excited to announce such a dynamic lineup of LGBTQIA+ events, programming, and celebrity lineup of community members and allies. Headlining this year’s festivities, you can expect performances by Mexican singing sensation Paulina Rubio, pop icons Walk The Moon & Crystal Waters, legendary queer DJ Tracy Young, iHeartLatino host Enrique Santos, and the star of FX Network’s hit drama Pose, Jason Rodriguez. In addition to hosting the adored festival and parade, Miami Beach Pride has one-upped themselves with an unmissable programming calendar for Pride goers of all identity; allies, advocates, and letters of the rainbow flag. Kicking off the festivities on Friday September 10th, Pride Light the Night Flip the Switch event illuminating 1111 Lincoln Road in pride’s rainbow assortment of colors. This initiates a full week of parties, art shows, performances, fundraisers, and vogue battles like Monday the 13th’s Queer Art Showcase at the Eden Roc, or Thursday’s Legends Ball: a Voguing Competition brining Florida’s and the nation’s top Vogue Houses together in Miami for an epic competition! Learn all about this year’s dynamic programming by clicking here. We’d like to extend an invitation to all press interested in covering this year’s Pride events. We are abel to facilitate interviews and obtain passes for all Miami Beach Pride related elements, as well as with some noteworthy guests mentioned above. For more info, visit: www.miamibeachpride.com Enrique Santos - iHeartLatino Pop Icons: Walk the Moon Dj Tracy Young Crystal Waters POSE star Jason Rodriguez Mexican Singer Paulina Rubio By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Miami Beach Pride

As the world’s leading electric jetboard company, Radinn embodies the next-generation of water sports: a completely modular jetboard that lets you soar across the water at incredible speeds. Their boards are the perfect accessory for every kind of cruiser and hobbyist, from Tri-decks yachting the waters of the Caribbean to thrill-seekers in search of their next beachfront adventure. Radinn’s easy-to-use design and cutting-edge technology mean more fun on the water for the entire family. Whereas most personal watercrafts (PWCs) have their electronics integrated into the vehicle itself, the Radinn is a modular system— the advanced mechanics are concentrated exclusively within the battery and jet pack, which detach from the board. All Radinn models fit the same hardware, so customers can own multiple boards without needing to invest in an additional battery and jetpack every time they want to level up. Click below to launch slideshow > Radinn is currently the only electric jetboard on the market employing an advanced IoT platform and cloud-based technology. The board pairs with an app on customers’ phones via bluetooth and offers a variety of remote connectivity features. Continuous maintenance - Just as phones receive software updates periodically to address patches and introduce new features, so does the Radinn. This ensures that customers always have an up-to-date product with the latest software upgrades. Performance upgrades - As customers’ comfort with the board progresses, they’re able to upgrade their riding level and battery range via the mobile app. Jetpacks operate on two levels of acceleration and top speed, whereas the battery operates on three levels of power range. GPS capabilities - The board contains GPS sensors that allow riders to track their rides in the app and log where they rode and what their speed was at any given point. Data retrieval - Data from the jetboards stored in the cloud allows the Radinn technical support team to perform remote diagnostics on the health of the board. Their latest line of jetboards, Generation III, comes in three different models: The Explore, The Freeride, and The Carve. The Explore is our most durable and stable board. It’s perfect for beginners, designed for reliability, and built to last. This model is produced with a protective rubber trim to prevent wear and tear, and is best used for moderate cruising on flat, open bodies of water. The Freeride is our ultimate, all-purpose product. It holds the perfect balance between agility and stability, and is easy to get started on but also responsive enough for more playful riding, sharper turns, and quick rail-to-rail transitions. This model has an innovative hull adapted to slice through waves and choppy waters, as well as features that direct the spray of water down when you are turning, resulting in gained thrust. The Carve takes a bit longer to master for those unfamiliar with board sports, but offers a unique turning style and trick capabilities. It’s designed to carve through water and responds readily when riders initiate a turn. Like The Freeride, The Carve cuts easily through chop but is even more agile, which allows riders to get creative with wave-riding, jumps, tricks, and more. Radinn jetboards are 100% electric, virtually silent, and better for the environment than most PWCs on the market. No more disturbing local wildlife—or your beachfront neighbors. With Radinn, the only noise you’ll leave behind is the relaxing sound of waves. For production info and purchasing visit: www.radinn.com Connect with Radinn www.instagram.com/radinnofficial www.facebook.com/radinnofficial www.twitter.com/radinnofficial By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Radinn

Lee Trevino might have been an engaging, welcome personality on the PGA TOUR to its passionate fanbase. But that wasn’t the impression Trevino got from at least one of his fellow competitors. “There was a guy I never got along with very well, a pro, who was OK but didn’t seem to like me,” Trevino recalled. “I don’t know what his problem was, because I never bothered him.” The Woodlands, Texas - May 04: Golfing legend Lee Trevino signs autographs for fans after playing in the '3M Greats of Golf' at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club on May 04, 2019 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) So Imagine Trevino’s surprise when the unnamed player approached him from two fairways over during a practice round prior to the 1971 Cleveland Open. A week earlier, Trevino made waves by winning his second major championship at the U.S. Open, beating the legendary Jack Nicklaus by four strokes in an 18-hole playoff. What the player was about to say to Trevino was anyone’s guess. “He walked over two fairways to shake my hand and hug me,” Trevino said, laughing. “He said, ‘We finally got somebody that can beat him.’” It didn’t matter that Trevino had a darker skin complexion than most of his peers, or that his Hispanic last name—the surname Trevino traces its origins to Spain—always stood out on a leaderboard. What mattered instead was the respect Trevino earned on the golf course. Beating the revered Nicklaus—in a major championship for the second time, no less—was a monumental achievement worthy of respect. Anything else was irrelevant. The Woodlands, Texas - May 04: Golfing legend Lee Trevino waves as he is introduced during the '3M Greats of Golf' at the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Country Club on May 04, 2019 in The Woodlands, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) “When he walked away, I got to thinking about what he said,” Trevino said. “I thought, ‘You know what? I’m finally one of the boys.’ I got very comfortable being out there.” Trevino would go on to win 29 times in total on the PGA TOUR, including six major championships, to cement his status in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. More importantly, Trevino, nicknamed “SuperMex,” became an inspiration to point toward for other minorities looking for their own entry into golf. That message endures today, as Trevino, now 81 years old, former Jupiter, Florida, resident who now lives in Dallas, continues to be outspoken about growing the sport at the junior levels. He desperately wants youth programs such as the First Tee to find unlimited, free access to golf courses throughout the country. “The only thing that I can do now is be vocal about it, which I’ve been,” Trevino said. “They can be done right. It would be extremely successful if they had their own golf courses, whether it’s nine holes or 18, and their own driving range when they can hit whenever they want to.” “I would have mowed it and had it out there to let these kids play on all day,” he continued. “Cow pasture pool is what we called it. That’s how I learned to play, in the middle of a field.” Trevino’s passion for the game is evident in his voice, even all these years later. He jokes that people can set a watch to his morning routine, which still includes two hours of daily practice time on the range. He and his wife, Claudia, have largely been locked down inside their residence since the Covid-19 pandemic began. That’s meant more time for Trevino to find his swing speed again. “It’s instilled in you. it’s just a disease, really,” he said. “If you really love this game, it’s like drugs. I’ve been in this house now since the pandemic hit, but I’ve got a beautiful home with a big gymnasium and the whole thing. So I don’t go anywhere. I’ve got the greatest cook in the world (in Claudia). “I’m working on some swing speed, and I’ve got some rubber bands, balls and weighted clubs. I’m going to end up killing myself!” The increased time at home has also given Trevino more opportunities to watch the growing Latin American contingent on the PGA TOUR. Three Latinos— Joaquín Niemann, Sebastián Muñoz and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer—qualified for the season-ending TOUR Championship this year. Niemann and Muñoz both claimed victories this time a year ago, and Ancer announced himself as a competitor worth monitoring when he became a key cog in the International Team’s near upset of the United States at last season’s Presidents Cup. “They’re doing extremely well,” Trevino said. “As a matter of fact, Carlos Ortiz (of Mexico), I just saw him the other day. Sebastián is doing extremely well, too. “Ancer? Fantastic. Not a big guy, but extremely talented short game. He figured out that he wasn’t a bomber, so he was going to kill them someplace else. That’s what I did. I wasn’t a bomber but I was a heck of a wedge player and could putt a little bit. You can bring the guys down if you’ve got some tricks somewhere else.” Lee Trevino is as dialed in as ever on the game of golf. And that’s a good thing for all of us. “My personality came from serving people,” Trevino said. “Every job I ever had I was serving someone. That’s what we were taught to do, and it’s never changed. I love people.” Words by Chris Cox/PGA TOUR. Gif /animation courtesy of Adam Sarson.

After successfully activating Downtown Miami’s now-thriving Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater enclaves with thousands of new residents and retail options, Melo Group – one of South Florida’s most active preeminent developers of high-end residential towers – is setting its sights on its next big neighborhood: Downtown Miami’s Central Business District. Melo has launched construction of Downtown 1st, the firm’s newest transit-oriented development at 22 SW 1st Street in Downtown Miami’s Central Business District (CBD). The 57-story tower will include 560 market-rate rental apartments with 10,000 square feet of office space and 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The development is located in the center of Miami’s urban core just blocks from several major employment centers – including a host of city, county and federal government offices – and will activate an area of Downtown that has been residentially underserved for years. The tower will inject the street with new activity, improved walkability and much-needed attainably priced housing. Construction of Downtown 1st is now underway and slated for completion in 2022. Downtown 1st marks Melo Group’s second residential development in Downtown Miami’s Central Business District. Pre-leasing is currently underway for the firm’s twin 52-story Downtown 5th towers, the single largest multifamily project to be built in the CBD, which will deliver 1,042 rental units upon its completion this summer. Melo is also planning to launch a third multifamily development in the area called Downtown 6th, which will include up to 800 rental units. All told, Melo Group is expected to deliver nearly 2,500 residential units to Downtown Miami’s Central Business District over the next two years. “We’re bullish on Downtown Miami’s Central Business District. Our firm’s guiding principle has always been to build for what the market demands. And now more than ever, we’re seeing people in need of good quality, attainably priced housing in convenient, walkable, urban locations close to their jobs and free public transit,” said Carlos Melo, Co-Principal of the Melo Group. Melo Group’s focus on the Central Business District comes on the heels of the transformation of Downtown’s once-vacant Arts & Entertainment District into a thriving pedestrian-friendly community with thousands of new residents, retail and restaurant options, and access to free public transportation. The firm delivered a total of 2,300 residential units to the neighborhood in a span of just four years with the 425-unit Miami Plaza, the twin tower 667-unit Art Plaza, the twin tower 710-unit Square Station, and the 499-unit Melody Tower. The four multifamily developments – all of which are near full occupancy – are clustered around the Miami-Dade Metromover Schoolboard Station and connected by an indoor/outdoor retail and dining promenade with a variety of lifestyle/service-oriented tenants and restaurant concepts ranging from Indian, Peruvian, Mexican, Japanese, Italian and more. Since arriving in Miami from Argentina in 2001, Melo Group has been a driving force behind Downtown Miami’s real estate resurgence with a portfolio of more than 6,000 total condominium and rental units completed throughout the Greater Downtown Miami area. While most Miami developers have typically focused on the luxury market in popular areas like Brickell, Sunny Isles and Miami Beach, the Melos have found success building attainably-priced housing in close proximity to public transit for the local market in well-located, neglected urban areas in and around Downtown Miami with future growth potential. By investing early in prime land and building for market demand, the Melos have delivered over a dozen high-end multifamily and luxury condominium towers over the last decade and a half across the city’s now-thriving Edgewater, Miami River, and Arts & Entertainment District neighborhoods. Click below to launch slideshow > Website: www.themelogroup.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/themelogroup LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-melo-group-l.l.c./about By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Melo Group

Miami Living brings "National Yoga Month," taking place in September. This month was created to raise awareness of yoga’s health benefits and hotels and studios in Florida, including right here in Miami. To mark the occasion, check out the following Yoga studios. MIAMI THESIS HOTEL THesis Hotel, in historic Coral Gables, offers yoga classes on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. on the Paseo de Riviera courtyard in partnership with Green Monkey Yoga. Green Monkey Yoga is a local studio that aims to inspire people to improve their health and well-being. The hotel hosts complimentary classes for hotel guests as well as being open to the public and booked through Green Monkey Yoga’s website. The inviting space that Paseo has to offer will ensure good energy throughout the yoga class. This expansive and spacious courtyard is also home to other weekly activations such as art displays, local markets, and dance parties. In addition, the hotel offers on-site dining with bites by James Beard Award winner Chef Niven Patel at Mamey and Mamey on Third. Address: 1350 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146 THE BALFOUR HOTEL The Balfour Hotel is located just steps away from the sparkling Atlantic on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood, right where guests can participate in FREE beach yoga during their stay. Just a block away from The Balfour Hotel, yogis can find 3rd Street Beach yoga classes, available seven days a week, where they can partake in sunrise or sundown yoga as they put their mind and body at ease, feeling the cool ocean breeze and all the beach vibes. Upon request, guests can book a private meditation or power yoga class with Synergy Yoga, a local studio led by a team of expert instructors. Additionally, guests can head back to the hotel for a dip in the elevated plunge pool or grab a healthy bite to eat at the Lobby Bar. Address: 350 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 SHELBORNE SOUTH BEACH Located in the heart of Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is Shelborne South Beach, known for its historic Art Deco architecture, local flavors from fresh cuisine, pool parties, and tropical beach ambiance. In honor of National Yoga Month, The Shelborne will be offering hotel guests complimentary Beach Yoga on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. taught by certified yoga instructor Jill Schnieder. Patrons can soak up the sun as they relax their bodies and clear their minds. Following this class, patrons can head to The Shelborne Caffe where they can enjoy breakfast, tropical juice, and pool views. Address: 1801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 THE GABRIEL MIAMI CURIO Gabriel Miami has partnered with Ahana Yoga to offer hotel guests classes where they can put their minds and bodies at ease. The practice takes place twice a month at the hotel’s Sunrise Terrace Yoga Studio on the 14th floor. The classes are complementary to hotel guests and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The studio is adjacent to the hotel’s lap pool and overlooks the Biscayne Bay giving guests a beautiful view as they partake in de-stressing their body and mind through yoga. Address: 1100 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 FORT LAUDERDALE YOGA AND YOLKS AT SHOOTERS WATERFRONT Head to Shooters Waterfront this September for the eatery’s weekly Saturday ``Yoga & Yolks'' series for a healthy and refreshing start to the weekend. The free, one hour yoga session takes place on Shooters’ scenic waterfront lawn from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each Saturday morning. Following a rejuvenating class, Shooters invites yogis to indulge in a healthy all-you-can-eat brunch buffet for $40 per person, bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys for $20 per person, an a la carte menu and scenic waterfront views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Register here. Address: 3033 NE 32nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 MIRAMAR BEACH HOTEL EFFIE Make your way up to Hotel Effie’s Ara Rooftop & Pool Lounge to partake in a sunrise yoga class. Patrons can enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the resort as they meditate and relax during the quiet and peaceful sunrise hour. Yogis can find balance in their body and mind and enjoy the resort’s beaches and recreational attractions to the fullest. The classes are free, open to the public, and take place every Wednesday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Address: 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 SANDESTIN GOLF & BEACH RESORT Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort is the perfect place to celebrate and partake in National Yoga Month with group fitness yoga classes that are offered six days a week in the Sandestin Fitness Center, boasting waterfront views as participants relieve any stress or worries they may have through yoga. The resort sits on 24,000 acres of pristine beach and bayfront, boasting nature trails, dining and entertainment. The resort offers a variety of amenities and activities so there is something to accommodate everyone. Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W Miramar Beach, FL 32550 KEY WEST THE MARKER KEY WEST HARBOR RESORT Guests vacationing at The Marker Key West Harbor Resort have the opportunity to start their day with Aqua Yoga on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the resort's heated pool. The immersive yoga class uses the medium of water to decrease pressure in joints while increasing buoyancy in the body. Following this refreshing and relaxing class, patrons can continue lounging by the pool, indulge in breakfast at the resort's Starboard Restaurant, or enjoy all the other activities the resort and Key West has to offer. Images: HERE Address: 200 William St, Key West, FL 33040 WEST PALM BEACH THE NORTON MUSEUM OF ART The Norton Museum of Art has partnered with OM Yoga Wellness Studios for Yoga in the Garden. The classes, which take 2x weekly, are priced at $10 for museum members and $20 for non-members, registration is required as space is limited. Yogis can kick off their week by recharging their minds and body in The Norton’s peaceful sculpture garden that showcases some of the museum's exquisite artwork. Following this tranquil class patrons can head to the garden terrace where they can find the Restaurant at the Norton to grab a healthy bite to recharge and refuel. Images: HERE Address: 1450 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Drea de Matteo is best known for her Emmy-award-winning role as Adriana La Cerva in HBO’s hit series, The Sopranos. But not many know that she only auditioned for one episode. Her performance charmed audiences and producers, and made her a series regular on the HBO show. Since then, the Queens, New York-native has continued to find success in the entertainment industry. After The Sopranos, the actress joined the cast of Joey, Desperate Housewives, Sons of Anarchy... and most recently, Paradise City, where she plays Maya. The Prime Video exclusive series created by Ash Avildsen—as a continuation to his 2017 film American Satan— piqued her curiosity from day one. Paradise City is sexy, unique, and has a cast that makes magic together. But De Matteo wasn’t always in front of the camera. Once upon a time, she wanted to be a film director. Her mother Donna, who was a playwright and playwriting teacher at HB Studio in New York, introduced her to theater and the entertainment world at a young age. De Matteo went to college at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. “I was definitely nervous about how much a director had to manage. While I was in film school, I kept ending up in my own films because I would save them for the last minute and I would never be able to find an actor to act for me last minute,” she chuckles. Her classmates noticed her talent and pushed her to go into acting. “I wanted to act, but I was afraid to. I was shy... It felt like it wasn’t a noble enough thing.” Then, The Sopranos happened. This was De Matteo’s first job. Though she had prepared, she didn’t know what she was doing. The latter wasn’t going to stop her, she quickly learned the ropes and in 2004, she was nominated and won her first Emmy. “Never in a million years would I have guessed that,” she says. “I was not prepared for that. Real nervous,” she says about her win. It’s no surprise that Adriana is De Matteo’s favorite character. “She had some many layers to her. She was vulnerable. She was misunderstood by a lot of the public while the show was going on,” says De Matteo. “She was the sacrificial lamb… She might have been tough and crass, and dressed saucy but she was the innocent. She was the only character who wasn’t jaded, the only character who had no agenda other than love behind her. She was never trying to manipulate anybody. She was pure.” And for those reasons, after Adriana was killed, the show took a dark turn. “I never thought that the death of that character would turn the show around like that.” Over the years, De Matteo has been involved in a number of TV projects. “I had a great time with Matt Le Blanc doing Joey,” she says. “I did not love doing the show, we had so many issues, and I did not want to be there, because I didn’t think I fit in that space, but the fun that Matt and I had while trying to navigate it was immeasurable.” LeBlanc coached her on how to be in a sitcom —which was new for De Matteo. “Some of the best times of my acting career and I’ll never forget that.” Then, Paradise City came along. De Matteo’s agents were not behind this project, but still, she was very curious about the show, especially given her own connection to the music world. “I was more intrigued about who Ash Avildsen was because I couldn’t believe there was this young guy who was like, ‘I’m going to make my own T.V. show,’” says De Matteo. “It wasn’t a huge money grab. I was interested in him. I was curious, how anybody could have the balls to think that they could do all of this. So, I showed up to watch and observe. And it was the best time ever. How we all [the cast] came together, having faith in this guy that none of us had a clue about, was crazy. All of a sudden, he ends up with a cast of influencers, rock stars, actors, Disney stars —we’re a mish-mosh; it doesn’t make any sense, but somehow it makes sense.” Paradise City also stars Bella Thorne, Olivia Culpo, the late Cameron Boyce, and Andy Biersack. After speaking to Avildsen and reviewing two roles, De Matteo pursued the character Maya, who, to her, felt like a continuation of Adriana. “What if Adriana would have lived and become the music manager she always wanted to become? Well, instead of becoming a music manager, she becomes a booker. Adriana could have become Maya.” De Matteo had found herself playing the same role over and over again, the role of a victim, and while she loved doing that, Maya gave her a taste of something new. “This character, there was no room for that. She is the grand protector, making things happen, tough as nails, no BS. I never really get to play that very often. So, I’m not playing a broken character.” Maya is a little bit of a mystery in the beginning, but as the show evolves, viewers get to know her better. This past year, De Matteo has been fortunate to be home in California with her loved ones, doing what she loves: television and working season after season. “I feel guilty saying this, but we were really blessed here. We all look back on it with very strange nostalgia. Throughout all of this madness, we felt very safe and secure and connected, and we created a ton of art while we were here. We had a little community.” Sounds like De Matteo has found her home, her Paradise City… “where the grass is green and the girls are pretty....” Season 1 of Paradise City is now available on Amazon Prime Video. Words by Claudia Paredes. Character stills courtesy of Sumerian Films/Hit Parader

Very Unique and luxurious corner Unit at the Prestigious Apogee South Beach Residence. Completely renovated 04 line apartment featuring 3 bed 3.5 baths, a media room, beautiful ocean views from an 11 Ft wide terrace, that itself provides a much needed summer kitchen. This fascinating unit also provides a gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, private elevator and much more. Key Features Price: $16,500,000 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 3 Full, 1 Partial Interior: 3,731 Sq Ft. Exterior: 0.09 Acre Click below to launch slideshow > Contact: www.sothebysrealty.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Sothebys Realty

Miami’s newest transit-oriented apartment building, the 312-unit CORE residential tower, is now open and welcoming residents, marking the first building to deliver within the 7-acre Link at Douglas mixed-use development adjacent to the Miami-Dade Metrorail and The Underline linear park. Situated at 3060 SW 37th Ave., CORE provides lifestyle-driven amenities, unmatched connectivity and a central location near Miami’s most in-demand shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations. Additionally, the building has over 6,000 square feet of retail space on the ground-floor level that will be home to several exciting dining and service-oriented retail concepts. Featuring panoramic city views, the 22-story, luxury residential tower offers studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments with modern finishes. The property, which is already more than 50% leased, offers rental rates starting at $1,690 for studios, $2,090 for one-bedrooms and $2,790 for two-bedrooms. As part of its opening promotion, the building is offering one month of free rent for new residents. The overall Link at Douglas mixed-use project is led by a joint venture between Miami-based real estate developers 13th Floor Investments and Adler Group, in partnership with global investment manager Barings. “We are thrilled to open the doors at CORE, our first apartment building at the Link at Douglas transit-oriented development. Since we started leasing, we have seen a steady demand for high-quality rentals that has surpassed our expectations,” said Jonathan Raiffe, Chief Operating Officer of Adler Group, on behalf of the joint venture development team. “Our leasing success reflects CORE’s high-quality apartments, top-of-the-line amenities, and superb connectivity to several public transit options.” Situated at the confluence of two of Miami’s most popular neighborhoods, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, CORE is near major shopping, dining and entertainment options such as Shops at Merrick Park and the newly reopened CocoWalk. The tower’s transit-oriented location offers direct access to Miami-Dade County’s Metrorail system, the Miami-Dade bus lines and both the Coral Gables and Coconut Grove Trolleys, making car-free living a viable option for residents while easily connecting with communities such as Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Brickell, Downtown Miami and the Health District. Additionally, the property sits within walking or biking distance to the University of Miami main campus. Lifestyle-driven amenities include a rooftop pool deck with stunning views, poolside barbecue grills, private cabanas, as well as a fitness center with a yoga studio, and an entertainment media room. A modern business center was designed with sleek workspaces, private offices and lounge areas along with a conference room, outdoor work terrace and other features that make working from home a more productive and enjoyable experience. A social lounge comes complete with billiards, shuffleboard, ping pong, and a furnished seating area centered around a fireplace. Additional perks include a secured package room, dog washroom, bike storage, and available WiFi in all common areas. Residents will also benefit from The Underline, a 10-mile linear park underneath the property that spans from Downtown to South Miami, perfect for outdoor exercise. Apartment units feature private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows that offers ample natural light. Residences are designed with luxury plank flooring, granite countertops, modern kitchen hardware and appliances, an in-home washer and dryer, and porcelain shower walls. The next tower to open at Link at Douglas is CASCADE, a 36-story rental apartment building under construction and set to deliver in mid-2022, which will feature a 25,000-square-foot Milam’s Market on the ground-floor level. The overall Link at Douglas master plan will encompass approximately 1,500 residential units, over 32,000 square feet of retail space, a 100,000-square-foot, class A office building, and a public plaza that connects with The Underline linear park. Bozzuto Group is CORE’s provider of property management services, including full-service concierge, 24-hour maintenance, resident app, recurrent resident events and its signature away-from-home services of plant care, newspaper delivery and in-home package delivery. Bozzuto Management has been ranked #1 for online reputation for six years in a row. For more information on the property and leasing opportunities, please visit www.coreatlink.com or call (833) 581-1194. Follow CORE Link at Douglas on social media via @COREatlink on Facebook and Instagram. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Bozzuto Group

In celebration of the milestone 10-year anniversary of its first U.S. location, internationally acclaimed celebrity hotspot Zuma Miami has announced that they will be undergoing a globally-inspired revamp this summer. Since opening its doors in 2010, the location has and will continue to bring its style of modern Japanese izakaya dining from the robata grill and kitchen to its Miami guests. During this limited time, “Zuma Alfresco” will launch; an outdoor oasis located on their famed waterfront terrace while updates take place within its interiors, beginning mid-August until mid-October. “As a global brand, we are in-tune with giving our guests a worldly experience and as time passes, we like to continue to find ways to be ahead of trends in the dining and hospitality realm,” said Chef Rainer Becker, creator and co-founder of Zuma. “Miami was our first entrance into the United States, and we were able to bring something very special to the Downtown area which at that point was unfamiliar. Soon after, it became a catalyst for further growth of luxury brands. With this design refresh, we are again initiating the next wave of signature experiences, which will include the newest components from all the Zuma’s worldwide.” Having opened during a time where international concepts had traditionally taken South Beach by storm, it is undeniable that Zuma Miami was one of the original restaurants to put the Greater Downtown Miami and Brickell area on the map. After Miami, Zuma continued to develop and expand its nationwide reach expanding to New York, Las Vegas, and Boston. “When we first came to the States, we embraced the American market, incorporating new design and food flavors.” said Rainer Becker. “It’s a game changer seeing after over a decade how Zuma Miami’s influence continues to grow and affirms what we had hoped would happen. With our newest updates to the location, we are welcoming guests to the future of Zuma that showcases the best design that our concept has to offer.” Over the past 10 years, Zuma Miami has kept true to their high standards as pioneers of global dining, creating a benchmark and much-loved culinary destination in the city. The revamp celebrates Zuma’s vision and the next decade of style and innovation with fresh, newly minted décor and menu offerings. Bringing Chef Rainer Becker’s internationally acclaimed style of modern Japanese izakaya dining, the concept continues to focus on developing their employees and attracting talent from all over the world. While the transformation takes place indoors, “Zuma Alfresco” will be fully operational from Sunday – Thursday (6:00 p.m. — 11:00 p.m.) and Friday – Saturday (6:00 p.m. — 11:30 p.m.). The outdoor concept will be offering the full menu and their famed brunch on Saturday (11:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.) and Sunday (11:30 a.m. — 3:30 p.m.). With the entrance located through the lobby of the Epic Hotel, the limited-time concept will feature a decorated greenery archway that leads guests into the outdoor terrace. The dining area will feature air conditioning fans will be placed throughout. For more information on Zuma, visit: http://www.zumarestaurant.com By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Zuma Restaurant

Take a breath of fresh air as you walk into this contemporary take on a Venetian-Palazzo, nestled on the private Island Estates with only 22 homes. This modern day smart house provides a heavenly feeling the moment you step through the front doors and crisp intracoastal views take over. Featuring a dramatic foyer and massive arched glass windows and doors streaming with natural light, the home offers 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and 1 powder room, along with an additional converted room. Designed by Ramon Pacheco, features throughout the 4,803 square feet of interiors include a double living room, sleek Ornare kitchen and closets, home office, and Samuel Health fixtures. The expansive master bath boasts a $20k cast iron soaking tub overlooking the water — and design accents throughout the home include Louis Vuitton trunks and Chanel pillows. Outdoors, find a Mediterranean-style vibe with sweeping water views, perfect for entertaining — featuring a fire pit, relaxation dock, fully-equipped custom summer kitchen with two grills and bar. 3911 Island Estates is listed for $7.5M by Chad Carroll with Compass. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of The Carroll Group