New York Times reveals Miami Beach is (gasp) Nice?
New York Times scribe Matt Gross chronicled his adventures on South Beach this week at a $125 studio he booked sight unseen on Craigslist. While the apartment was pretty much a disappointment, Gross was equally let down by Miami’s failure to live up to his expectations that we are, at heart, mean people.
Wandering the stores and posh hotels expecting to be beaten up by imaginary grade school bullies he discovers something really important:
People in Miami are actually pretty nice.
We posted not too long ago about how much we loved Dominique Meimoun’s sophisticated shop “Sex &…”Gross takes his wife there for a little looksee and decides the sleek interior must harbor disdainful shopgirls. Turns out a very sweet girl named Jana shows them all the luxury products and even offers to whip out the store’s signature gold and silver vibrators!
Gross’ reaction?
We walked out, perplexed. Why would such an expensive store treat us with respect? Did they mistake us for eccentric billionaires, or was this image-obsessed city actually free of snobbery?
We offer this apology to Matt:
Sorry to disappoint you buddy, but we live and work here and the sunshine and blue skies render us warm and humane. (Most of us, anyway) So, get used to it.
The article follows the couple through drinks at the Raleigh where a waiter provides a reserved table and no anticipated sneer. Even the Delano offers no attitude. Mr and Mrs Gross explore the lobby and the pool area, yet still Matt worries.
At every step, I expected a security guard to stop us, but none came. This, too, was a free party, open to all.” They hit the beach. Gross is dazzled. “On its own, the golden sand was fine, but it was our fellow beachgoers who made it exciting.
They were, in my humble estimation, the most attractive people I’d ever seen on a beach.
Apparently starved for real New York style cruelty, they hit Wynwood in search of intimidating graffitied warehouses and discover instead that…
cheerful gangs of arty types roamed the streets, many of them toting plastic cups of wine and hefty bottles of Grolsch, free from the galleries.
The horror! Nice crowds, free beer (imported, no less) and no one to dump on his vacation. Likewise the Design District offers only
women in shiny minidresses and the banker types who’d probably paid for them. We didn’t stay long…
Jeez! What’s your hurry Matt?
The weekend leaves the Gross Family with a dreamy feeling, decent suntans and a couple $10 souvenir beach towels to pack in their New York bound luggage.
Total expense for the weekend? $500.38
Cost of discovering Miami is a fun and friendly place to spend a quiet weekend on the cheap? Priceless.
Come back soon Matt. Bring the wife and the towels. We’re here for you buddy!
Leave a Comment