A packed house of food, hospitality, trade and media professionals gathered at Meraki Greek Bistro in Downtown Miami on Tuesday, September 15, for an exclusive B2B tasting and networking event hosted by the EU-financed EUKIHAL Campaign celebrating European Halloumi PDO from Cyprus and European Kiwifruit from Kavala, Greece. Held during the Americas Food & Beverage Show 2026, the evening brought together U.S. importers, distributors, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, media, food industry stakeholders, and Hellenic community influencers with representatives from the participant organizations. From the start, the atmosphere was casual and conversational, with guests mingling over Spicy Virgin Kiwi Margarita mocktails and passed bites including Marinated Halloumi Skewers, Halloumi Fries, Grilled Shrimp and Meatballs, while connecting with producers and fellow industry professionals. Brief welcome remarks were shared by Mr. Anastasios Yiapanis, General Secretary of the Panagrotikos Farmers Union of Cyprus, and Mr. Stefanos Aloneftis, Export Manager of Charalambides Christis, who both offered insight into each of the product’s heritage, production and growing presence in international markets. The evening continued with a live culinary demonstration led by Meraki Greek Bistro Executive Chef Peter Tsaglis, who showcased the versatility of the featured products through a “Halloumi, Kiwi & Watermelon Salad,” featuring grilled Halloumi cheese PDO, kiwi, watermelon, mint vinaigrette, frisée and toasted walnuts. The chef presentation concluded with an interactive Q&A, giving guests the opportunity to ask questions about the products, preparation and culinary applications. The evening then returned to casual networking and one-on-one conversations with representatives from the participant organizations, continuing the exchange of ideas and potential business opportunities across the U.S. food, hospitality, retail and distribution industries. By ML staff. Images courtesy of Meraki/EUKIHAL.

Casino licensing in the US can look surprisingly different after crossing a state line. One jurisdiction may permit commercial casinos and online platforms, while another relies on tribal gaming or prohibits certain formats entirely. These differences reflect decades of state law, political decisions, economic priorities, and federal rules governing specific areas. For players, understanding this fragmented system has practical importance. Licensing determines which casinos can legally operate, which standards apply, and where players can turn when questions or disputes arise. Historical and Federal Foundations The US does not operate a single federal licensing system for casinos. Under the country's federal structure and powers reserved to states, individual states have considerable authority to determine whether casino gambling is permitted and how licensed activity is regulated. Federal law still shapes particular areas. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act establishes the framework for gaming on Indian lands, for example, while federal statutes can affect interstate activity. Tribal-state compacts provide another important legal layer for certain forms of tribal gaming. Long-established casino markets helped demonstrate how state regulation could work. Nevada developed its own licensing framework, while New Jersey established another influential model after casino gambling arrived in Atlantic City. Their systems evolved around their own legal and economic circumstances. That history helps explain today's patchwork. Geography, political attitudes, local economic priorities, and public acceptance developed differently across states. Those differences eventually produced regulatory structures that can vary considerably in both scope and administration. State Regulatory Structures Differ Those historical differences remain visible in how oversight works today. Some states use dedicated gaming commissions, while others assign responsibilities to lotteries or agencies covering several regulated industries. The regulator overseeing players in one jurisdiction may therefore look very different elsewhere. Licenses themselves can also be divided into categories. States may separately authorize casino operators, suppliers, key employees, and physical premises. Requirements can include extensive applications, financial disclosures, background investigations, licensing fees, and scheduled renewals. The contrast becomes especially clear online. In New Jersey, nj online casino options operate within a market overseen by the Division of Gaming Enforcement, while other states may permit different forms of online gaming or provide no comparable licensing route. Land-based access varies too. Some jurisdictions permit commercial casinos, some rely heavily on tribal gaming, and others accommodate both under separate legal structures. For players, location therefore determines not merely what is available nearby, but which regulatory framework governs it. Political and Economic Influences Regulatory differences do not emerge from legal structures alone. Economic priorities can influence whether lawmakers consider additional casino licenses. Tourism development, employment, tax receipts, and pressure on public finances can all become part of debates surrounding expansion. Politics can move those debates in different directions. Some states require voter approval for major changes. Elsewhere, legislatures and governors play larger roles. As leadership and public priorities change, proposals can advance, stall, or return in revised forms. Competition between neighboring states adds another dimension. When one jurisdiction expands casino access, nearby lawmakers may examine whether players and related economic activity are crossing state borders. That can place licensing questions back onto the political agenda. Tribal sovereignty makes the picture more complex. Tribal-state compacts can establish terms covering permitted games, regulatory responsibilities, and revenue arrangements. Consequently, two neighboring states facing similar economic conditions can still develop distinctly different casino markets. What Licensing Means for Players These structural differences eventually reach the player. A state license shows that a casino has satisfied the requirements imposed by the relevant regulator. Depending on the jurisdiction, those requirements can cover financial suitability, operational controls, ownership, security, and ongoing reporting. Licensing should not be interpreted as a promise about playing outcomes. It does not guarantee winnings, more favorable odds, or financial returns. Instead, it identifies the legal and regulatory standards under which the casino has permission to operate. Players can generally verify authorization through the appropriate regulator rather than relying solely on claims displayed by a casino. State gaming agencies commonly publish lists or databases identifying approved operators, properties, or online platforms. That distinction becomes particularly important with offshore websites lacking authorization in the player's state. If a disagreement develops, a state regulator may have limited or no authority over that operator. Licensing therefore affects not just legal access, but the avenues available when problems occur. Consumer Protections and Dispute Options That ability to seek recourse is one of licensing's most practical consequences. Authorized casinos must comply with state-specific requirements. New Jersey’s Casino Control Act and regulations, for example, set out rules covering areas such as licensing, gaming operations, internet and mobile gaming, and regulatory controls. When players believe those requirements have been breached, regulators can provide formal complaint channels. Procedures differ by jurisdiction, but they create an identifiable authority capable of reviewing conduct and determining whether licensing rules were followed. The situation can be considerably different with an unlicensed offshore operator. Without authorization from the relevant state, there may be no local gaming regulator with jurisdiction to investigate a player's complaint or require the operator to follow state procedures. Even among licensed markets, protections are not identical. States can impose different rules surrounding identity checks, withdrawals, account records, and complaint handling. This reinforces why players should examine the regulator governing a casino rather than assuming every US license provides precisely the same framework. Future Trends and Player Awareness The licensing map continues to evolve. Online casino proposals, sports betting laws, new commercial properties, and changing tribal-state compacts regularly bring gaming regulation back before lawmakers and regulators across the country. Change does not always mean expansion. A state might authorize additional licenses, while another could revise eligibility requirements, increase fees, or alter operating conditions. Existing markets can therefore change even without introducing entirely new forms of gaming. As regulated markets evolve, the games available to players can change with them. Even when comparing the most popular online casino games, it is still important to check whether the platform offering them is currently authorized in the relevant state. Checking a state regulator's official list before using a casino provides a straightforward way to establish whether that operator is presently authorized within the relevant jurisdiction. Interstate arrangements and companies operating across multiple states add further complexity. An operator authorized in several jurisdictions may still face different requirements in each. As the market evolves, the state attached to a license will remain as important as the operator carrying it. Why the State Line Still Matters Casino licensing in America reflects a system built state by state rather than from one national template. History established that approach, while politics, economics, tribal sovereignty, and emerging online markets continue to reshape it. The result is a regulatory landscape where legal access and player protections can change across borders. For players, licensing provides essential context. Verifying which authority regulates a casino helps clarify its legal status, applicable standards, and available complaint procedures before any play begins. By ML staff. Images courtesy of Pexels.

Most homeowners pick a roof the way they pick a toothbrush: fast, cheap, and without a second thought. Then they drive past a house where the roofline is the best thing on the block and wonder what went wrong at their own place. The answer is usually the profile, not the color. Metal has quietly become the finish that designers reach for when a house needs a crisp, quiet roofline. It holds a clean edge, it shrugs off weather, and it does not sag or grow moss the way organic materials eventually do. But "metal roof" is not one product. It is a family of profiles that look wildly different from the street, and choosing the wrong one wrecks the look you were chasing. Here is how to sort through the real metal roofing options with a designer's eye instead of a contractor's clipboard. The good news: you can spend real money here and still feel smart about it. Image by Brian Zajac / Unsplash Why metal reads as "modern" in the first place Walk a design district and you will notice the same move over and over: a low-slung building with a single plane of metal sweeping across the top. That effect comes from continuity. Metal panels run in long, unbroken lines, so your eye travels the length of the roof without the visual stutter of individual shingles. On a contemporary house, that calm geometry is half the architecture. There is a practical side too, and it is not marketing fluff. According to the Department of Energy, reflective roof surfaces can lower cooling demand by reducing the heat a building absorbs, which matters in a climate like South Florida's. A light-colored metal roof bounces a meaningful share of that solar load back into the sky. If you are already fighting afternoon heat in a west-facing bedroom, that is not a footnote. My honest take: if your house has clean horizontal lines, a metal roof will make it look more expensive than it is. If your house is a 1920s bungalow with deep eaves and a fussy gable, it can look like a spaceship landed on a cottage. Match the material to the architecture, not to the trend. The three profiles you will actually be choosing between Roofers group metal into a handful of categories, and once you know them, showroom conversations get a lot shorter. Standing Seam: The Crisp One Raised vertical ribs run the length of each panel with no exposed screws, because the fasteners hide under the seam. That single detail is why it looks so clean and why it leaks so rarely. It is the most expensive of the three, and on a modern or transitional home it is almost always the right call. Panels come in wide and narrow rib spacing, which is a design decision, not a technical one. Narrower ribs read finer and more tailored. Wider ribs read bolder and more industrial. Stamped Or Stamped Metal Panels: The Imitator These press flat sheets into shapes that mimic shingles, slate, or tile, then finish them with a textured coating. Standing on the sidewalk, a good stamped panel can pass for the real thing. It suits a home that wants the durability of metal without announcing it, and it is friendlier to a traditional roofline than flat seams are. You get a hint of shadow and dimension, which plate-flat products do not offer. Exposed Fastener: The Budget One Long panels screwed straight through the face, seams overlapping like a shed roof. Cheap, fast to install, and honestly fine on a barn, a shed, or a utility building. On your primary residence it tends to look exactly as inexpensive as it is, and the screws sit in the weather, so they eventually need attention. I would skip it on a house you plan to live in for 30 years. A simple way to decide: The Roofline Test Here is a method I use when I cannot tell how a profile will land. It is not scientific. It works. Photograph your house straight on from the street, no angle. Print it. Tape a straightedge along the existing roofline on the photo and trace a long, unbroken line. Now do the same with a repeating pattern. Step back eight feet. Whichever version your eye prefers from there is the family you belong in. Long line means standing seam. Repeating rhythm means stamped panels. Look at the gutters, fascia, and window trim. If those elements are thin and minimal, seam panels support them. If they are chunky and layered, stamped panels will sit better. You can run the whole thing in about ten minutes on a driveway, and it settles arguments faster than a showroom does. Image by Pixabay What metal does to your color palette Finish choice changes a roof more than most people expect, because a metal surface reflects and shifts with the sky. Charcoal reads almost black under a bright noon sun and softens to pewter by evening. Matte finishes hide the panel rhythm a bit and photograph flatter, which a lot of designers prefer for a muted facade. Standing seam in a mid-tone, either warm bronze or cool slate, is the safest bet against stucco, limestone, and white render. Contrast does the rest of the work. A light cream roof disappears into a pale facade and leaves the house feeling unfinished, which is rarely the intent. And a properly installed metal roof holds its finish for a very long time, which matters more than homeowners usually consider. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has long recognized that a durable roof protects not just the structure but the resale value of the home itself. You are buying a look that stays put. Performance you should actually verify in writing Aesthetics aside, you want the specs that separate a genuinely good roof from a shiny one. Ask for these on paper: Wind and impact ratings from an independent testing standard, not the manufacturer's own brochure. Total system warranty length, and crucially what it covers, since paint and panels are usually separate documents. Panel thickness stated in the metal gauge, not a vague "heavy-duty" label. A fire classification from a recognized testing body, which insurers sometimes care about more than you do. The name and contact of the installer on your contract, since the warranty is only as good as the hands that installed it. If a contractor cannot hand you those documents without a follow-up visit, that tells you something about what comes after the sale. The National Association of Home Builders tracks the professional standards contractors themselves recognize, so a roofer who can speak to that language is usually a roofer who plans to be around when you call. Budget reality, and where the money goes Metal costs more up front than asphalt, and there is no way to dress that up. The premium pays for panel material, more skilled labor, and often new underlayment and trim designed to match. What you get back is a service life that typically outpaces the asphalt alternative by a wide margin, lower cooling load in a hot climate, and fewer repeat visits from a repair crew. Where people overspend is in upgrades they will never see. Wide rib spacing, textured finishes, and premium paint systems add cost fast. Where they underspend, and regret it, is underlayment and flashing. Those are invisible after the last panel goes on. Do not save money there. The single biggest lever you control is not the material at all. It is the installer. A mediocre panel installed beautifully will outperform a premium panel installed carelessly, every time. One question worth asking yourself A roof is one of the few purchases you make that sits above your head for decades and shapes how everyone on the street reads your house. So before you sign anything, stand across the road from your own home and ask what you want that roofline to say. If the answer is "calm, sharp, and built to last," metal is probably already your answer. Then it is just a matter of choosing the profile that belongs on that particular house instead of the one that happened to catch your eye in a photograph. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Pixabay & Unsplash

Miami has become one of America’s great watch cities. Along the Design District’s polished corridors and in the boutiques of Bal Harbour, the world’s most storied maisons now court a clientele that is young, international and unusually well informed. On any given evening in Brickell, the wrists at the bar tell the story: steel sports models, precious-metal dress pieces, and the occasional independent that only a true enthusiast would recognize. Collecting at this level has its own rhythm. Very few serious collectors simply keep adding. Tastes change, and so does the collection. The first Submariner makes way for a Daytona; the Daytona eventually gives way to a precious-metal Day-Date or a grand complication. Each step up tends to be funded, at least in part, by the watch that came before. How that step is taken shapes how much value the collector keeps. The Four Routes to Trading Up The dealer trade-in. It’s convenient, but rarely generous. Authorized dealers generally don’t take trade-ins at all, and grey-market dealers who do must build their own margin into the price they offer. The collector pays for the convenience with a lower value on the watch being traded. The private sale. In theory it brings the highest price. In practice it means strangers, counterfeit payment schemes, lengthy negotiations and the unpleasant business of meeting an unknown buyer with a five-figure object in hand. For many in Miami’s collecting community, discretion alone rules it out. Consignment. It can work well for exceptional pieces, but it depends on timing. The watch sits until the right buyer appears, which may not match the collector’s schedule. The specialist buyer. A firm that authenticates, grades and prices watches from live secondary-market data can make a firm offer quickly and pay within a day. For a collector who has already chosen the next watch, speed and certainty are often worth as much as the last few dollars. The Allocation Call Any Rolex enthusiast knows the moment. After months, sometimes years, of patient relationship-building with an authorized dealer, the phone rings: the watch is available. The expectation, spoken or not, is that the collector will say yes, and soon. This is where collectors often feel forced into a rushed sale. The new watch has to be paid for now, but selling the old one well takes time. The more elegant solution is to not sell right away. By using an existing watch as collateral for a short-term loan, a collector can accept the allocation immediately, then decide calmly, sometimes weeks later, which piece in the collection to part with and for how much. When the loan is repaid, the collateral watch is returned. Diamond Banc, which operates a private office on the penthouse level of One Alhambra Plaza in Coral Gables, offers both routes under one roof. A collector can sell a watch outright, or use it as collateral and quick funding available. Its Coral Gables team specializes in Rolex and Patek Philippe, and its approach suits collectors who would rather not discuss their collection at a retail counter. Collectors weighing their options can review how a Rolex buyer in Coral Gables evaluates a watch, from the Submariner and GMT-Master II to vintage and discontinued references. What Shapes the Value of the Watch You’re Trading Whatever route a collector chooses, the same factors decide what the outgoing watch is worth: Reference and generation. Not all Submariners, or Daytonas, are equal. Specific references, dial variants and bezel materials trade at meaningfully different prices. Completeness. Original box, warranty card and extra links signal a watch that has been cared for, and buyers pay for that confidence. Condition and originality. Sharp, unpolished case edges and original factory parts are prized. Heavy polishing and non-original replacements reduce value. Service history. Documentation from an authorized Rolex service center reassures the next owner. Timing. The secondary market has been recovering since mid-2025. Rolex secondary prices rose 1.7% in the first quarter of 2026, according to Morgan Stanley and WatchCharts. Current pricing matters more than past peaks. A Collection That Evolves The finest collections are rarely the largest. They are edited carefully over time, each watch earning its place. In a city that rewards taste and moves quickly, the collectors who do best are the ones who know what their watches are worth before the phone rings, and who have a trusted partner ready when it does. By Mills Menser

Image by Sam Burke / Unsplash A man who already owns good watches, good shoes, and a closet full of well-cut suits does not need more things. He needs the right thing - one that shows you noticed how it was made, not just what it cost. The gifts below are chosen on that basis, category by category, with the specific things to check before you buy. What Separates a Craftsman-Grade Gift from an Expensive-Logo Gift Image by m0851 / Unsplash Price tells you almost nothing about how something was made. A logo tells you even less - it tells you what a factory was licensed to stamp, not how the thing itself was built. The only reliable read is a close, physical inspection, the same one a buyer at a workshop would run before signing off on a batch. Pick the object up, turn it over, and check four things. Edges - sanded and burnished smooth, not left raw or painted over to hide a rough cut. Stitching - even, tight, and running in a straight line, with the knots buried inside rather than visible at the surface. Hardware - solid rather than plated, closes with a real click, and doesn't show a different color through a scratch. Weight - more heft than its size suggests, because it's built from full material rather than hollowed out to save on cost. An object that passes all four tests earns its price from the labor and material inside it. An object that fails them is charging for the name on the box instead. Storage and Travel for the Watches He Already Owns Image by KaboomPics / Pexels For a man with a real collection, another watch is rarely the right gift - he has already made those decisions himself, carefully, and a new one competes with choices he's already settled. What he's usually missing is a good way to store and move the watches he owns. He opens a case built for this, sets a watch onto its own cushioned pillow, and closes the lid without it knocking against the others in transit. When you're choosing one, look for individually compartmented interiors sized to actual watch heads rather than just straps, cushioned pillows with some give in them, and a shell with real structure - hard-sided rather than a floppy roll - if he actually travels with the collection. A case that locks or latches securely matters more here than one that simply looks good closed on a shelf. Leather Goods Image by CDN The concrete pick for the watch collector is the Calibre leather double watch roll, one piece in Von Baer's range built to store and move a watch collection - he sets a watch into each slot, rolls the case closed, and packs it without the watches ever touching each other in a bag. The branding amounts to a small debossed name, easy to miss unless you go looking. Von Baer makes its pieces in full-grain leather from A-grade hides, drum-dyed right through. It isn't cheap for a watch roll, and their wider luxury gifts for men range is a great option if a different case or a bag fits him better. Full-Grain Leather Versus Corrected Leather Image by Zhaoyi Meng / Unsplash Full-grain leather keeps the hide's natural top surface intact, imperfections and all, and it darkens and softens with years of handling - that's the patina people mean when they talk about leather aging well. Corrected-grain leather has that top layer sanded off to erase the natural marks, then a fake, uniform grain is stamped into it and sealed under a heavy coating, so it looks flawless on day one but doesn't age the same way - the coating cracks or peels instead of developing character. The fastest way to tell them apart on the spot is to bend the leather sharply between your fingers: full-grain wrinkles unevenly, with the grain pattern shifting where it folds, while corrected leather flexes back into an unnaturally smooth, even surface with no texture change at all. Quiet Luxury: Why No Visible Branding Looks More Expensive Image by Miguel Guerra / Pexels A logo advertises for the manufacturer; it tells you nothing about how well the object underneath was made. An object built from good material and clean construction doesn't need a name on the outside to prove what it is - anyone who understands how the edges were finished or how the hardware closes can already tell, and that's the audience the gift is actually for. The money went into the making rather than the marketing. A Journal of Consumer Research study (Berger & Ward, 2010) found the same pattern across product categories: higher-end goods actually carry fewer visible logos, and the buyers with the most experience in a category prefer the subtler markers (source). That's why a plain, unbranded wallet or a scarf with no visible tag on the outside consistently comes across as the more expensive choice, even sitting next to something with a name stamped across the front. Bar Tools and Glassware Image by Jonathan Ikemura / Unsplash He pulls a heavy glass off the shelf, pours a drink into it, and sets it back down on the table with a solid, low sound instead of a thin clink. A well-made decanter or rocks glass does that every time he uses it, which is often, because it's part of an evening ritual rather than something saved for display. Check the base first: real cut crystal or thick glass has heft and a base broad enough that the glass doesn't tip easily. Run a finger along any seam - a hand-finished piece has a clean, almost invisible line where the mold met, while a mass-produced one leaves a raised, obvious ridge. If it's a decanter, test the stopper: it should seat into the neck with a snug, slightly resistant fit, not rattle loose or jam. Desk Objects Image by Jason Hu / Unsplash A pen, a letter opener, or a paperweight gets picked up daily, not just on special occasions - and daily contact is what makes the small details matter. He signs something, opens an envelope, or sets a stack of papers down under it, and the balance and resistance of the object become a small, repeated part of his day rather than a one-time impression. Look for solid metal components rather than metal-coated plastic, a mechanism that moves with smooth, even resistance instead of catching or wobbling, and edges that were machined rather than molded - a molded edge tends to show a thin seam line where two halves of a die met. Cold-Weather Accessories Image by Renan Braz / Pexels He puts a scarf or a pair of gloves on before he leaves the house, and from that point on it's against his skin for the rest of the walk - so the fiber and the finish matter more here than in almost any other category. A tightly and evenly woven wool or cashmere scarf sits differently around the neck than a loosely knitted one, and it holds its shape after repeated folding into a coat pocket instead of stretching out of shape within a season. Check the edge finish closely: a hand-finished edge is whipstitched, with small, even, closely spaced stitches, while a cheaper edge is overlocked by machine and often frays slightly after a few washes. Skip anything with an external logo patch or embroidered mark - a plain edge with no visible branding is the one that reads as the better piece here, for the same reason a plain wallet does. When the Better Gift Is a Service, Not an Object Image by Hunters Race / Unsplash Sometimes the right move isn't to buy anything new at all. A man who already owns good things often doesn't have the time, or the local access, to maintain them properly, and a service closes that gap better than another object would. He drops something off, someone with the right tools and training handles it, and he gets back something he already valued, now working or fitting the way it should. A strap change on a watch he wears daily but has never gotten around to updating. A full clean and condition on a leather bag or pair of shoes that's gone a year or more without proper care. A tailoring adjustment on a jacket or suit that's never quite fit through the shoulders or the sleeve length. None of these show up wrapped under a tree, but all three hand him back something he uses constantly in noticeably better condition - which is often closer to what he actually wanted than one more object added to a closet that's already full. Frequently Asked Questions What is a good luxury gift for a man? The strongest choice is usually something that supports what he already owns and uses rather than something entirely new - a well-made case for a watch collection, a properly finished leather accessory, or a service like a strap change or tailoring adjustment on a piece he already wears. The common thread is construction you can inspect closely: clean edges, tight stitching, solid hardware, and real weight in the hand. What are luxury premium gifts for men? They're objects and services where the value sits in the making rather than in a visible name - full-grain leather goods, hand-finished glassware and bar tools, solid-metal desk objects, and well-woven cold-weather accessories with no external branding. A premium gift in this sense is judged by what happens when you turn it over and check the edges, the stitching, and the heft, not by what's printed on the outside. What do you buy a man who has everything? You buy something that improves how he stores, travels with, or maintains what he already owns, or you book a service instead of buying an object at all - a proper cleaning, a strap change, or a tailoring appointment. For a man with a full collection and a full closet, the shortage is good maintenance and good storage for the things he's already chosen carefully - not more things. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of CDN, Pexels & Unsplash

Riz Mirza and Oriah Mirza are renowned healers, conscious lifestyle experts, podcasters, authors, and media entrepreneurs who have spent more than two decades exploring healing, personal transformation, and what it means to live a more connected life. With a refreshingly relatable, decidedly “no woo-woo” approach, the husband-and-wife duo have built a devoted global following around curiosity, adventure, authentic connection, and the belief that transformation can be both profound and practical. Through Sacred Earth Retreats, they lead immersive journeys to extraordinary destinations where wellness, ancient history, exploration, and meaningful human connection converge. On January 8-10, 2027, they’ll bring that philosophy to Sedona, Arizona for The Mystics Experience: Sedona – a deeply meaningful experience inspired by their shared fascination with ancient wisdom, personal transformation, and collective healing. Miami Living Magazine caught up with the duo to talk about their journey, their work, and what continues to inspire them. Riz Mirza Oriah Mirza Miami Living (ML): Riz, you grew up in the Bronx, and your life hasn't been a conventional path to becoming a trance channel, psychic medium, and shaman. Were there signs of this ability during your childhood, and how did it become your life's work? Riz Mirza: The Bronx was my first mystery school. It taught me how to read a room and the energy in it. By the age of seven, I started having visions and getting messages from people who died. But in the Bronx, you don’t just announce that you’re talking to spirits; you stay quiet and observe and do your best to figure it out. So for many years I thought I was being pulled between two worlds, survival and the unseen world. Now I understand they weren’t separate, and being born there gave me a street sense of survival, but my gift gave me a purpose. So I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to become a trance channel, psychic medium, or a shaman. The spiritual kept calling me. And every other possibility of other careers never panned out. Once I gave in, people came for guidance, and the messages became clearer. My mentor Alex Murray once told me to follow the gift and let the private ability become a public responsibility. Miami Living (ML): Oriah, so much of your work revolves around helping people understand their emotions and regulate their nervous systems, yet you’ve also built a career in television, creative direction, publishing, and experiential design. When did you realize that our physical surroundings can actually change how we feel? Oriah Mirza: Honestly, I think it started in childhood. I moved around constantly, often isolated, and I developed this intense ability to tune into the energy of everyone around me just to navigate my world safely. Later on, building careers in TV and design, I realized that very few people are actually intentional about how a space makes them feel versus just how it looks. You can spend millions on decor and still feel totally ungrounded in your own home. It’s that exact intersection of aesthetics and nervous system regulation that I’m fascinated by. ML: Your new series, Oriah’s Nest, takes that idea quite literally – you’re entering celebrities’ homes and transforming spaces into personal sanctuaries. What do people most often discover they’re missing from their own space? Oriah Mirza: Honestly, they discover they are missing themselves. Most people spend so much time designing their homes for entertaining others – for the perfect impression – that they forget to create a single space that truly nurtures them. In Oriah's Nest, we're reminding people that healing has to begin at home. They discover they are missing a dedicated sanctuary where they can actually unplug from the noise of the world, sit quietly, and just breathe. ML: As a team, the two of you have taken people to places like Japan, Egypt, Glastonbury, and Mount Shasta in search of something that feels deeper than conventional travel. Can you take us behind the scenes of choosing a destination for Sacred Earth Retreats? What happens when you arrive somewhere and realize, “This is the place”? Oriah Mirza: Riz and I look for adventure through the lens of spiritual history, culture, and deep energy. It’s usually an intuitive call first– we just feel drawn to a specific place, and then we figure out the logistics to get there. But the defining moment is when you actually arrive and stand on that ground – whether it's before the Pyramids in Egypt or at Mount Shasta. There’s an immediate, unshakeable unawakening inside you. You feel the energy in your bones, and you know it’s the exact environment to hold the transformation we’re designing for our community. Riz Mirza ML: What does the retreat experience look like? When is your next retreat, and where can others sign up? Oriah Mirza: It is definitely not an "escape" from your life; it’s about returning home with practical tools and a renewed purpose. We focus on what we call the five pillars of well-being—spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, and environmental connection—and we anchor that in the intense energy of a sacred site. It usually involves profound sound healing, shared meditation, and Riz’s live transmissions. We are currently preparing for Egypt 2026. Others who feel called can find out about our next Sacred Earth Retreat adventures and sign up at our main hub at www.rizmirza.com/sacred-earth-retreats. We are also excited to announce THE MYSTICS EXPERIENCE: SEDONA, based on our real-life and teachings. This is more than three incredible days in Sedona. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of yourself and the year ahead. A stronger connection to your own intuition. New perspectives from the channeled teachings and astrology. Practices to help shift your energy when you return home. And the experience of stepping outside your everyday world long enough to see your life — and what’s possible within it — differently. ML: Through Chakra Cozy Magazine, you’re creating a modern, accessible space where spirituality, wellness, travel, consciousness, science, and personal growth come together. If the magazine could change one conversation happening in the world today, what would you want that conversation to be? Oriah Mirza: I’d want to change the standard conversation that tells us spirituality, wellness, and personal growth have to be niche, separate, or purely "woo-woo." I want people to realize that becoming a more conscious human being is just a natural part of sophisticated, contemporary living. We've created a space where you can explore big, mystical ideas without feeling lectured or judged, showing people how to take these profound concepts and make them practical tools for a happy, real life. ML: You’ve built a very expansive spiritual lifestyle brand while keeping your philosophy firmly “no woo-woo.” What does staying grounded look like when the cameras are off? Oriah Mirza: Look, Riz and I both come from humble roots in East LA and the Bronx. Spirituality isn’t something you perform; it’s how you live when the cameras are off. For me, staying grounded looks like the day-to-day work: planning the magazine, having safe conversations at the dinner table with our children, admitting when I’m wrong as a partner, prioritizing real presence over perfection, and enjoying the simple, cozy universal frequencies of our own sanctuary. ML: After everything you’ve experienced, created, and learned together, what still feels like a mystery to you? Oriah Mirza: Honestly, the true depth of human resilience and potential is still the beautiful mystery. No matter how much open contact I’ve experienced, or how many profound transformations we’ve witnessed, the capacity of the human heart to heal and keep growing is endless. For us, curiosity is always more vital than certainty. The deeper you go, the more you realize there’s always another layer to discover about consciousness, about reality, and about ourselves. Oriah Mirza Keep up with Riz and Oriah on social media and watch the podcast: @oriahmirza @rizthepsychic The Mystics Podcast By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Riz Mirza & Oriah Mirza

Collecting in Miami has long expanded beyond art fair week, and more and more apartments in Brickell and Miami Beach are turning into private galleries. However, moving a painting or a sculpture into a new home here is sometimes harder than buying it. In this article, we will explain how the climate, high-rise building rules, and hurricane season affect moving a collection. Image by Etkin Esmer / Unsplash Heat, Humidity, and a Very Fragile Canvas For works of art, the main enemy in Miami is not the distance but the air. Heat and high humidity harm paper, canvas, and antique frames, especially when a piece spends hours inside a scorching truck bed or on an open loading dock. Even a short exposure to unstable conditions can make climate control important during transit. A sharp transition from the outdoor heat into a cool, air-conditioned lobby also leaves its mark on sensitive materials. In other words, any move of a collection starts with the question of how much time each item will spend outdoors. That is precisely why collectors increasingly trust such tasks to companies where art handling is designated as a separate direction. For the carrier https://elatemoving.com/ it is called Fine Art, with an emphasis on delicate handling of valuable items and white-glove standard packing, where every piece is wrapped and labeled individually. The company is insured and licensed, and for digital asset enthusiasts, payment in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and other cryptocurrencies is provided. Every Piece Travels Differently There is no single universal packing method for a collection: what saves a canvas might damage a sculpture. Although details are always discussed with the carrier, the general logic looks like this. Listed below are typical risks for various types of works and the protection methods professional packers usually resort to. Artwork type Main risk on the move Typical protection Framed works on paper Broken glass and moisture near the paper Protected glazing inside a padded crate Canvas paintings Punctures and pressure on the canvas Corner protectors and a rigid travel frame Sculpture and ceramics Chips on fragile edges and bases Custom-fitted foam inside a wooden crate Large-format photography Scratches on face-mounted acrylic Non-abrasive wrap and upright transport Mixed-media installations Loose components and complex reassembly Numbered parts and an assembly map Before packing, photographing each work from several angles and checking its condition against the inventory is well worth it. A condition record also makes it easier to spot any changes after delivery. In addition, such photographs will come in handy when securing insurance and during rehanging. The Condo Tower Factor Most new addresses for collectors in Miami are high-rise towers with concierges and strict moving rules. Before setting a date, we advise clarifying the following with the management company: Booking windows for the freight elevator and loading zone; Certificate of insurance requirements for the carrier; Permissible truck dimensions at the entrance; Moving rules for weekends and evenings. Separately, hanging the art is worth planning ahead, since large canvases and heavy sculptures sometimes demand reinforced mounting and therefore approval from the management company as well. Checking wall capacity before moving day can prevent last-minute installation problems. Thus, the schedule for moving art is built around building rules, rather than the other way around. Timing Around Storms and Art Week Hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June 1 to November 30, and even regular summer storms may spoil well-thought-out unloading. As for collectors, many people add works to their collections in the first days of December at Art Basel Miami Beach, so unloading in a dry month will be convenient. If the apartment is not ready yet, then storing the collection will be better than installing it in the middle of renovation work. Besides, the works of art can be saved from dust and abrupt weather changes because of climate-controlled storage. It is advisable to negotiate ahead of time for how long the works will be stored and how they will be brought back. The company says that 99.5% of its moves are done on time, and for fragile cargo in a hot climate, timing is particularly important. The Final Hang Moving a collection in Miami is primarily about managing climate, building rules, and timing. Thoughtful packing and a precise schedule preserve works in the exact condition in which they were purchased. Then, a new home starts not with boxes, but with the first perfectly hung painting. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Unsplash

Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade President Alex Rodriguez-Roig is proud to name Jackeline Alers as vice president of development and longtime supporters Rebecca Sproul and Raphael Perez-Blanco III to the organization’s Board of Directors. The appointments strengthen the organization’s leadership as it celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026. As vice president of development, Alers supports the organization’s fundraising and development priorities. In her position, Alers leads the team responsible for fund development and event management, which raises funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s operations and markets the organization’s brand and mission. Her role helps advance resources for programs serving thousands of children and teens across Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s six Clubs and sites. Alers brings more than 20 years of nonprofit resource development experience to her new role. Her expertise spans fundraising, development operations, philanthropy, major gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, grants, donor stewardship, board development, marketing, communications, volunteer engagement and organizational capacity building. Throughout her career, she has helped organizations secure millions of dollars in philanthropic support while strengthening the infrastructure that allows nonprofits to thrive beyond a single campaign, grant or event. She has partnered with chief executives, boards, philanthropists, corporate partners, foundations and community leaders to turn strategic vision into measurable, lasting results. “Jackeline brings the kind of energy and expertise we need as we build toward our 80th anniversary, and I'm confident her leadership will help us reach even more families across Miami-Dade,” said Rodriguez-Roig. “I am also proud to welcome Rebecca Sproul and Raphael Perez-Blanco III to our Board of Directors. Their professional experience and commitment to this community will strengthen our ability to serve the Miami-Dade area youth who need us most.” Rebecca "Becky" P. Sproul, an audit partner with KPMG LLP, brings more than 30 years of public accounting experience to the general board. She served as KPMG's national talent and culture officer for audit from 2020 through 2025 and as partner-in-charge of the firm's Coastal Business Unit audit practice from 2018 through 2023. Sproul earned a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Florida International University. She is a licensed certified public accountant in Florida and Puerto Rico. Her community involvement includes serving on United Way Miami's audit committee and Florida International University's Dean's Council. Raphael Perez-Blanco III has also been appointed to the General Board. His professional background, education, credentials and community involvement will support the board's work on behalf of Miami-Dade youth. Perez-Blanco III is a Miami-based attorney with a background in tax, real estate and corporate law. He earned his Juris Doctor and LL.M. in Taxation with concentrations in International Tax and Taxation of High-Net-Worth Individuals from the University of Miami School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Florida International University. He currently serves as associate counsel at Adler Properties, LLC, handling commercial leasing, acquisitions, and development transactions, following three years as a law clerk at Sanchez-Medina, Gonzalez, Quesada, Lage, Gomez & Machado LLP, where he specialized in commercial real estate, corporate entity formation, and complex tax filings. His experience is rounded out by a Florida Supreme Court-certified legal internship with the University of Miami's Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic and an earlier legal internship focused on bankruptcy case analysis. Founded in 1946, Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade marks eight decades of service to the community in 2026. The organization has grown from one building and a single site for boys to six Clubs and sites serving thousands of boys and girls year-round. Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade provides programs in character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, cultural arts, sports, fitness and recreation. Its staff, initiatives and programs help young people build the skills and access the resources they need to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. For more information, please visit www.bgcmia.org By ML Staff. Photos/Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.

The prestigious American Heritage Schools, which celebrates 62 years of fostering academic excellence and shaping future leaders this school year, is proud to announce that 95 seniors (65 from the Broward Campus; 30 from the Palm Beach Campus) from the class of 2027 were named National Merit® Scholar Semifinalists. Additionally, 64 more seniors were honored with the distinction of National Commended Scholar, further highlighting the deep pool of talent and academic potential at the school. This milestone solidifies American Heritage's standing as Florida’s premier college-preparatory institution in the 72nd annual National Merit® Scholarship Program, with both the Broward and Palm Beach campuses sweeping the top state rankings. Out of more than 1.2 million high school juniors nationwide who took the PSAT/NMSQT®, fewer than 1% qualified as National Merit Semifinalists. American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, is once again ranked as the No. 1 school in Florida and the No. 2 private school in the U.S. for the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. The Palm Beach Campus is the No. 1 school in Palm Beach County and the No. 2 school in Florida with the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. The National Merit Scholarship Program is a national academic competition and the most prestigious award a senior can receive. The combined students from both campuses comprise 10% of all semifinalists throughout Florida's public and private high schools. Together, these high-achieving seniors represent over 25% of the senior class across both campuses earning recognition. One in seven students from American Heritage Schools in the Class of 2027 is a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist. This marks the 17th consecutive year that American Heritage Schools have had the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists in Florida. For 13 consecutive years, American Heritage Schools has been the No. 1 or No. 2 private school in the nation with the highest number of National Merit Semifinalists. “Earning National Merit recognition is never an accident. It is the direct result of years of consistency, discipline, and hard work,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, President of American Heritage Schools. “Having over 25% of our senior class achieve this honor across both campuses is an incredible milestone. We are exceptionally proud of these students and excited to see the impact they will make at the nation’s top universities.” “We're taught by professionals who, after teaching us in the morning, go to work and practice what they preach. It's really given me real-world insight into how I can imagine myself in the fields that I'm interested in,” said Aviva Bejar, a senior at the Broward campus and a Hollywood resident. “American Heritage's pre-professional program gives us access to resources and real-world engineers that many other schools simply do not have. It’s a unique opportunity to understand engineering outside of the classroom,” said Norah Smucker, a senior at the Palm Beach campus and a Boca Raton resident. Beyond the prospect of securing millions of dollars in potential scholarships, these exceptional students are presented with a wealth of new opportunities for their collegiate journeys, instilling a profound sense of confidence in their prospects. According to the esteemed National Merit Scholarship organization, prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and Vanderbilt have consistently embraced and enrolled the highest number of National Merit Scholars. American Heritage Schools is also pleased to announce that 94% of the students passed the AP (Advanced Placement) exams with a score of 3 or higher, compared to 69% in Florida and 73% globally. This accomplishment solidifies American Heritage Schools as a leading institution for college preparation nationwide. More information can be found at www.ahschool.com/nationalmerit. By ML Staff. Photos/American Heritage Schools.

The Scapegoat’s latest chapter starts with hunter green walls, amber lighting and a healthy dose of 1980s South Beach. Eight years after opening in South of Fifth, the intimate, 30-seat cocktail den has debuted a reimagined interior and refreshed identity that looks to the decade’s after-dark spirit for inspiration. Led by internationally acclaimed bartender Tom Lasher-Walker, the refresh is less reinvention than evolution. The team traded the bar’s dark brown-black walls for rich hunter green, swapped high-tops for standard-height wood tables and introduced a new logo with an unexpected lineage: The Strokes’ 2001 debut album, Is This It, and the retro cigarette branding that inspired it. Glossy green tile, dark wood and leather-toned seating round out the new look, while the easygoing neighborhood-bar feel that has defined The Scapegoat since 2018 remains intact. Behind the bar, Lasher-Walker brings two decades of experience spanning some of the world’s most influential cocktail bars, from The American Bar at The Savoy in London to Attaboy in New York and several celebrated Miami spots. At The Scapegoat, that pedigree translates to serious cocktails without the ceremony, pairing meticulous technique with the ease of a neighborhood haunt that never takes itself too seriously. For its transformation, Lasher-Walker and the team looked to the 1980s, when South Beach nightlife was carving out an iconic chapter in Miami’s cultural identity. But the decade’s influence didn’t stop at the velvet rope. “Coupled with the fact that the decade also gave birth to some of the greatest bands and music of the last 50 years, alongside the emergence of modern cocktail culture through drinks like the Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan and Tommy’s Margarita, it made sense for us to really lean into that aesthetic and identity,” he said. Tom Lasher-Walker The interiors may transport you to ’80s Miami, but the cocktail menu takes its cues from early-2000s New York. The beverage program taps into an era of equal-parts cocktails, Milk & Honey-era contemporary classics and recognizable pours designed to be approachable enough for cocktail newcomers and alluring enough for seasoned barflies. The lineup moves between modern standards and Lasher-Walker originals, each pulling from a different chapter of his bartending career. The Hidalgo, created at The Scapegoat in 2025, shakes up mezcal with pomegranate amaro, lime and orgeat, while Beny’s Daiquiri takes a tropical turn with aged rum, Velvet Falernum, banana, lime and Angostura bitters. For a little heat, the Hollywood Margarita, first created during his time at Mae’s Room, pairs blanco tequila with triple sec, Ancho Reyes Verde and lime. And if you needed an excuse to clock out a little early, $12 cocktails should be convincing enough. From 5 to 8 p.m. daily, The Scapegoat’s happy hour serves up daiquiris, gimlets, Palomas, Tom Collins, Manhattans, mojitos and Moscow mules for just $12. Your boss will understand. Probably. Find The Scapegoat at 100 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach, where drinks are flowing daily from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. By ML Staff. Photo Credits: The Scapegoat

Bal Harbour Shops will transform into "Pink Park" from October 1 through October 30 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The open-air luxury retail destination will feature a sculptural, pop-art-inspired reinterpretation of urban park life installed across the iconic Center Courtyard and extending through the property's pathways. The installation repurposes everyday park elements—including benches, café tables, and fountains—into an immersive pink landscape designed to highlight women's health and well-being. The month-long initiative incorporates interactive public programming alongside the visual installation. Every Wednesday throughout October, the West Shops will host "Mahjong in the Park," featuring complimentary open play at signature pink tables. The weekly sessions cater to both experienced players and beginners, with select dates offering guided instruction and hosted games. The series concludes with a formal Mahjong tournament on October 28, with reservations recommended for participants. Additionally, the property will host "Love Notes, Written in Pink," featuring a dedicated pink writing station and mailbox. Visitors are invited to compose messages of hope, encouragement, and remembrance, which will be collected in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The combined installation and programming schedule aims to engage the community while benefiting breast cancer research initiatives. By ML Staff. Photos/Bal Harbour Shops.

Continuum luxury residences in Miami Beach is pioneering the future of Smart Community living by becoming the first property in Florida to integrate the industry’s most advanced bandwidth for superior connectivity, introduced by fiber-optic market leader Hotwire. To execute this property-wide transformation, Continuum engaged telecommunications advisory firm Vitalis to conduct a comprehensive tech audit of the property's existing infrastructure. The evaluation revealed that residents across both towers were reliant on fragmented, costly, and inefficient providers, prompting management and the HOA board to establish a unified Smart Community framework powered by Hotwire and managed through Vitalis. To select the ideal network partner, Vitalis managed a competitive RFP bidding process among seven leading national and regional telecommunications providers. Hotwire was ultimately awarded the contract based on its established track record with luxury high-rises and the strategic advantage of having existing fiber-optic cabling in Continuum’s common areas. By leveraging Vitalis's bulk purchasing power, the property adopted a consolidated wholesale model that incorporates Hotwire’s premium services directly into monthly HOA fees, delivering substantial cost savings and elevated performance to all homeowners. Under the new infrastructure, residences in both the North and South Towers will feature brand-new Wi-Fi 7 routers engineered to support high-density device environments with built-in redundancy to prevent service disruptions. The transition eliminates outdated satellite equipment in favor of 4K streaming platforms running on in-home wireless networks. Beyond standard entertainment, the updated TV platform incorporates a dedicated community channel for management announcements and an interactive app allowing residents to book on-site amenities, including the tennis center, restaurant, and beach club. The technological overhaul also addresses property-wide cellular and emergency safety connectivity. Vitalis partnered with Connectivity Wireless to install a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) across indoor and outdoor common areas to eliminate cellular dead zones. Furthermore, the property is upgrading its BDA life safety system to meet state fire code requirements, guaranteeing reliable communications for first responders during emergencies. Hotwire will maintain dedicated on-site technicians to provide 24/7 support, with full completion of the Smart Community transition expected by Summer 2027. By ML Staff. Photos/Kike Flores.