Commercial Truck Insurance in Miami Beach, FL

There’ll be no “shushing” here. Faena Miami Beach is inviting everyone to laugh out loud inside their theater. They’re launching an exclusive monthly comedy series called “Masters of Comedy”.

To start off the roar of laughter tomorrow night is Bill Bellamy. Deco got the low down on what to expect from the master player himself.

Bill Bellamy: “Mike Tyson calls the honey from the hotel room at 2 o’clock in the morning. Is that or is that not a booty call? Can you help me?”

Comedian, Bill Bellamy made “booty call” a thing. But now it’s taking on a new sound with the youngins.

Bill Bellamy: “Like a booty call sounds like you getting a snack, like you’re really getting something. Sneaky link sound like it might be in the wrong packaging or it might not smell right, you know what I mean? Like it doesn’t sound like it’ll be good for you. You know what I’m talking about?!”

Bill Bellamy: “Be normal. But today? Just ain’t the day!”

Bill starred in the 90’s hit ‘How To Be a Player?’ and seems like he’s aging like a fine wine, what’s the secret?

Bill Bellamy: “Coco butter and laughter, that’s my one, two, three. All jokes aside, I think when you’re happy and you’re doing something that you love it keeps you youthful.”

Bill Bellamy: “I took a bath last week.”

Stand-up is his jam! This is why he’ll be coming to Miami Beach’s Faena Theater to kick-off his “Masters of Comedy.”

Bill Bellamy: “The thing I like the most about it is the masters of comedy. I feel like I’m a master of comedy. I get an opportunity to show you why I’m there and I get to enjoy my Miami, Florida fans. I’m excited to perform there. It’s a beautiful theater. Beautiful!

This lively 305 stage known for Allura Cabaret, now welcomes laughter.

Brian Forti, executive producer of Faena Theater: “Faena Theater is a wonderful intimate theater inside Faena Hotel. It’s been designed after a European opera house. We have performers coming from everywhere and they interact with the guests. The guests are eating and drinking and suddenly there’s an artist coming and sitting next to them dancing.”

Mrs Maisel: “You made a mistake calling a comedian. My refrigerator is not running sir. Bye now.”

The new monthly series was inspired by Prime Video’s hit “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

Brian Forti: “The art director said we cannot duplicate this look anywhere. We must put her in this theater. It was a great experience and if you watch the episode that is the reason why we have now moved on to presenting comedy series.”

Bill will launch the series, followed by funny guy, Adam Ray and jackass Brad Williams and you better come dressed to impress.

Brian Forti: “It’s unlike the other venues around town where you see comedy. It’s a great experience when you need to get away from work or all the things in your life that are bringing you down at the moment. It’s an escape and it works.”

“Masters of Comedy” premieres Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

FOR MORE INFO:Faena Theater ‘Masters of Comedy’3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL, 33140Ticketshttps://faenatheater.com/masters-of-comedy

Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Miami Beach’s skyline is set to sparkle brighter with the transformational revival of The Raleigh, an iconic gem on its historic coastline. Under the visionary guidance of acclaimed architect Peter Marino, a rejuvenation project is breathing new life into this cherished landmark.

The Raleigh, originally designed in 1940 by Lawrence Murray Dixon, has long been a symbol of Miami’s vibrant Art Deco heritage. Despite standing empty for years, its allure remained undeniable. Now, a collaboration between Marino, New York-based developer SHVO, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is steering its evolution into a contemporary marvel while preserving its timeless charm.

The restoration project, a labor of love by Marino and Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design Inc., pays homage to the building’s storied past. With meticulous attention to detail, Marino ensures that The Raleigh’s essence remains intact, while seamlessly integrating modern amenities. Guests can anticipate the revival of beloved spaces like the Martini Bar and Tiger Lounge, infused with a fresh perspective that bridges past and present.

But the transformation extends beyond the hotel’s walls. Rising alongside The Raleigh is the majestic Rosewood Residences, a testament to luxury living. Designed by Marino himself, these oceanfront homes offer a lifestyle of unparalleled opulence. From two-bedroom retreats to sprawling seven-bedroom estates, each residence boasts panoramic views of the azure waters.

The Rosewood Residences promise a wealth of exclusive amenities, befitting their elite status. A dedicated lobby adorned with curated art sets the tone for sophistication, while private Porte Cochere entrance and valet service ensure seamless arrivals. For wellness enthusiasts, a state-of-the-art fitness center beckons, complemented by oceanfront swimming pools that invite residents to bask in the sun’s warm embrace.

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Experience the allure of The Raleigh’s revival—a harmonious blend of history and modernity set against the backdrop of Miami’s enchanting coastline. Whether you’re a connoisseur of architectural marvels or seeking the epitome of luxury living, The Raleigh promises an unforgettable journey into Miami’s storied past and vibrant future.

The state’s efforts come after college kids have spent years partying and causing mischief in many of Florida’s beach towns

Spring break season is far from over.

College kids are traveling to Florida for its beaches and warm weather, but with that come many risks.

Hundreds of teens are partying off Miami’s Ocean Drive. This comes weeks after the city of Miami announced it was imposing curfews, bag checks, and raising fees to punish spring breakers for bad behavior.

Like most of the state, authorities in Miami Beach, Panama City, and Daytona are rolling out initiatives to stop tourists from trashing the place. On Wednesday, during a bill signing, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said this year, he’s also deploying heavy reinforcement.

“We’ve seen spring break come; we’ve seen a lot of people here, but you have not seen what you’ve seen in years past," said DeSantis.

The governor compared the state’s homeless problem to young adults coming in for the week and acting reckless. He says Florida’s streets have become too crowded with unwanted visitors. As a result, Gov. DeSantis is sending 140 state troopers to 17 cities across the state to “keep the area safe.”

“We have to govern this state and these communities with an eye toward what’s in the best interests of the law-abiding citizen.”

Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody also has something to say about spring breakers. She said Tuesday young adults are typically throwing parties, which opens the door for illegal drugs.

Moody is calling for officers at the Volusia County Sheriff’s department to stack up on naloxone, which is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. The initiative is part of her "One Pill Can Kill" campaign.

“Many equate spring break with drug use," said Moody at a presser in Daytona. "We’ve got to stop that because we now know that so many illegal substances contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.”

Some businesses are also shutting down early due to locally imposed curfews

In a 2019 interview with WFSU, Carol Dover the CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, said the money made from tourists during spring break can help smaller towns grow.

“Tourism is still the economic engine," said Dover. "It doesn’t matter if you’re local or state. You need tourists in your community to continue to bring the sales tax revenue, the bed tax revenue.”

Copyright 2024 WFSU. To see more, visit WFSU.

Travel

We skipped a wild spring break in Miami Beach. Instead, we had a blast relaxing with retirees in Florida an hour north.

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Bright and early on a Saturday morning last March, I boarded a flight southbound to Florida with hundreds of other college students.

As a group, we screamed "spring break" — wearing various cuts and colors of college gear and the joyous expressions that can only be attributed to a week away from school stress.

But when we reached the Sunshine State and most of my fellow passengers headed to Miami Beach for drinking and debauchery, my friends and I didn't go with them.

Instead, we headed about an hour north of Miami toward the quiet oceanside community Hillsboro Beach for our own relaxing spring break.

We'd chosen to skip the ragers and bad behavior associated with spring break, especially spring break in Miami. This year, Miami Beach even launched a campaign "breaking up" with spring-break tourists and enforcing new restrictions to crack down on destructive partying.

But we went to a party school and saw plenty of that back home. Now, we were ready to relax with retirees on our last spring break before college graduation.

We leaned into the laid-back vibes for our whole trip and made friends with retirees

The small beach town we stayed in was mostly populated by retirees in their 60s. Even fellow tourists we saw visiting the local businesses rarely seemed to be under 50 years old.

So, when my friends and I showed up to check into our hotel, we received more than a few confused glances.

We got "Are you sure you're in the right place?" and "Are you heading to Miami?" more than once, but when we explained our plan for a relaxing getaway, we were often met with understanding.

We embraced the "coastal grandmother" aesthetic with our white linen shirts and floppy beach hats and spent hours reading on the beach.

When we weren't soaking up the sun, we played card games and Bananagrams and ventured into the (very tame) downtown area for dinner.

Since we slept steps away from a quiet beach, we traded in late, hungover mornings for early alarms to watch the sunrise.

On many of these mornings, we were joined by a new friend: a retired woman who was traveling alone and missing her grandkids back home.

We enjoyed the sunrises together and watched local conservation workers on ATVs protecting hatching sea turtles as they migrated to the water.

If we were hungover on a crowded Miami Beach, we would've missed out on forming this unlikely friendship that crossed generational divides.

Throughout our trip, we spent time with many kind, older tourists and hospitality workers. Once they realized we weren't obnoxious, havoc-wreaking spring breakers, they were more than willing to share their time and stories with us.

By the time I headed home, I knew we'd made the right choice

After a week in our little slice of heaven, it was time to head back.

In our Uber to the airport at 5 a.m., our driver told us he'd come straight from a night of driving around Miami partygoers — and he had horror stories.

He told us he was surprised by our choice for an alternative spring break, but he understood. He'd seen many arrests, sick students, and lost young people in his spring-break driving career.

When we boarded our plane north, we were reunited with our peers, who had the clammy, tired looks only a hangover can bring.

Reinvigorated from our week of R&R, my friends and I listened to their wild tales from Miami while exchanging knowing glances: We'd made the right choice.

Our spring break perhaps wasn't traditional for college kids, but it was just what we needed.

Jesse Bull moved to South Beach for the surfing.

He called the water between between 4th Street and the jetty forming the northern barrier of Government Cut "prime surf area. It doesn't break all the time, but when it does, it's really good."

That may sound strange, especially for someone like Bull who grew up in central Illinois – not exactly a mecca for surfing. He picked it up when was studying for his PhD in economics in San Diego. Then he moved to South Beach. He lived in a small apartment and could just walk out onto the sand when the waves were rolling.

"I have friends who tell me they'd come over to surf. They would drive around for an hour and they couldn't find parking. They would go home," he recalled.

But not for him. The waves were just right outside his back door.

Bull is an economist. So he sees these kinds of situations as trade-offs. He lived in a small apartment, no yard, but he could hoist his surfboard on his shoulder and walk to the waves. His surfing buddies had to find parking.

It’s the kind of trade-off the city of Miami Beach is forcing upon Spring Breakers.

It's you, not the beach

Miami Beach wants to break up with spring break. By the way, if you’re a college or young adult Spring Breakers – it’s you, not Miami Beach. The city has been waging a battle against big crowds, rowdy behavior, violence and traffic. So much traffic.

The city will close nine of its parking garages and all of the city’s parking lots beginning Thursday morning through Monday morning for the next two weekends.

"It's an extreme example of trying to price people out of a market — what behavioral economists might call friction," said David Neal, founder of Catalyst Behavioral Sciences in Miami.

There are exemptions. According to the City of Miami Beach, residents and employees of nearby businesses will still be able to use the closed parking garages using 'proper identification.' The garages and lots will be open for the last two weekends in March but charge a flat $30. It's usually $2 an hour. And getting towed in South Beach for nonresidents will cost more than $500.

"As long as the costs are high enough and people know about it sufficiently in advance to change their plans, then it's probably going to be effective," Neal said.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about spring break restrictions in South Florida

These types of financial disincentives usually work to change behaviors in the short term, he said, but this effort aims to inflict a lot of financial pain toward its goal of reducing violence.

"Psychologists, policy people, behavioral economists typically try to find ways that subtly nudge people to do the right thing without causing huge amounts of pain," Neal said.

But there’s nothing subtle about Miami Beach’s efforts. The city isn’t nudging spring breakers — it’s shoving them.

"I think that'd be a fair description," said Bull, the surfer and economist from FIU.

"They're saying let's disincentivize people who we don't want to come here. If we make it harder to park, it's less likely that somebody's going to show up with a gun or other things we don't want people to bring."

"This is not a nudge. I wouldn't even call it a shove," said Sara Isaac, chief strategist at Marketing for Change in Orlando where she works on behavior change marketing.

"It might fall into what behavioral scientists call sludge, which is usually a bad thing."

'Sludge' makes something more difficult on purpose. But Isaac said it's not always a bad thing.

"If the locals feel really strongly that they are tired of the chaos and mess and expense of spring break, this is actually a good way of making it harder for all those behaviors to occur," Isaac said.

Salty armpit

South Florida beach towns are no stranger to trying to chill spring breakers.

Forty years ago, A1A in Fort Lauderdale was the epicenter of the spring break crowds. It was the early and mid 1980s. Fort Lauderdale was wrestling with its own spring break reputation. It had become known as Fort Liquordale. In 1985, People Magazine called the area on A1A "a sleazy mile-and-a-half long stretch of shops, bars and hotels dead center in the salty armpit of Fort Lauderdale."

The area was busy on a recent weekend afternoon. The sand was filled and crowds were beginning to form at the bars and restaurants.

Fort Lauderdale also tackled traffic in its fight against spring break. Four decades ago, the city brought in concrete jersey barriers to build what was derisively called a wall. It kept people from crossing across A1A between the bars and the beach anywhere they wanted to.

The city built the barrier for a few years during spring break and it did help reduce traffic problems as Fort Lauderdale staged its own efforts to break up with spring break. Four decades later, plastic jersey barriers on one side of A1A and crowd control fencing on the other are doing the same now.

Fort Lauderdale may also use parking, hoping to force behavior changes during this spring break season. The city commission okayed a change two weeks ago that will allow the city manager to hike parking fees at city lots near the beach to $100 a day.

Supply and demand

Back in Miami Beach, the lack of supply of parking is likely to drive up the cost at private parking lots that remain open. This is Economics 101 — with no city parking garages open in South Beach over the next two weekends, and demand probably still high, prices should go up.

"I would sure expect the private suppliers to really increase their prices," said Bull of FIU. "[It] may be unfortunate from consumers’ viewpoint, but it's interesting because probably those businesses will do very well on those weekends at the expense of some people who choose not to go [while] the people who choose to go [will] pay higher rates."

There is no city regulation in Miami Beach limiting how much a private parking lot operator can charge.

Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach are anchoring expectations for visitors by talking about these higher costs and bigger hassles to get to the beach. Kind of like Bull’s old surfer buddies when the wind blew in the right direction to stir up the waves on South Beach.

"The good days — it's a barreling, fast, hollow wave. It's super crowded, and it's really hard to find parking in that area," Bull remembered.

It will be even harder the next two weekends.