Wynwood Arts District is fast becoming a chic Miami destination. While local hipsters have been haunting this urban landscape for the past ten years, the after-dark denizens of this area are still mostly street people.
South Beach visitors who want to explore the art scene downtown should limit visits to daytime hours and must do so with reliable transportation and a wary eye out for the stretches that are still undeveloped. For those intrepid explorers who are undaunted by a sometimes gritty urban experience, we offer an Insider’s Guide to Midtown Miami.
Explore the emerging gallery scene in the morning or early afternoon and then make your way to one of the many inexpensive ethnic eateries nearby. In the afternoon, browse the posh Design District just north of Wynwood to explore the latest trends in Home Furnishings. Most of the showrooms in the Design District are opened until 5pm weekdays and a few still limit access only to professional designers. If you decide to window shop for plush new interiors, the best names in the business line 39th and 40th Streets between North Miami Avenue and NE 2nd Avenue. Print a walking map to plan your visit here:
http://www.miamidesigndistrict.net/pdf/MDDLocatorMap.pdf
On the west side of Biscayne Bay, the City of Miami has a regional distinction with locals and tourists who tend to gravitate toward the Port area before or after a cruise or a Miami Heat Game. The rest of the city north of Bayside is still a work in progress. City Fathers have poured millions of dollars into a Performing Arts District that is still foundering. Developers purchased tracts of land all along Biscayne Boulevard in the former Red-Light District and built new condos, restaurants and bars. While a few ventures have been successful, Biscayne Boulevard is generally not a reliable nighttime destination.
