La Diva Takes a Walk Around da 'Hood'

My name is La Diva and I live on an island.  It's f*cking fabulous.  It's called Belle Isle, is a "natural" island (as opposed to man-made) and is part of a chain of residential islands on the Venetian Causeway that joins Miami Beach to mainland Miami.

I also live on an historical site.  This makes me happy and adds to the fabulousness of it all.

This is the building I live in now.  Every time I walk into it "The Jefferson's" theme song plays in my head:  "Well, we movin' on UUUUUUP!"  I can't believe I live in a place as fancy-pants as this and keep waiting for someone to stop me and ask what I'm doing there.  The building was built in the late 1970's and the interior looks just like the inside of the Love Boat.  It's fabulous.

I have to cross this bridge to get to the shops and restaurants on Miami Beach.

This is to the right of me and faces south looking into Biscayne Bay with the Port of Miami in the background.

This is to my left from the causeway bridge.  I like that I have to go over water every time I leave my home.  Being close to the water makes me happy.

This is the stone plaque and entrance to the lovely little park just over the bridge, on the north side of the causeway named in honor of Maurice Gibb.  Yes, THAT Maurice Gibb (pronounced "Morris") from the Bee Gees, who were longtime Miami Beach residents.  (Barry and Robin might still live here but I never see them!)  Instead of walking through the park, I head east across the street to check out what new store went into the corner shop.

Ahhhh....just what La Diva needs!  A yummy gelato bar!  

And right next to it the French creperie, A La Folie Cafe! In fact, on this block alone, I can enjoy the food of Burger & Beer Joint (every burger you can imagine), Morgan's (damn good comfort food and brunch) and Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante, which offers a unique form of Italian food from Sardinia, naturally! (think fregola, boar and pecorino cheese!)

A turn to the east again takes me to my fabulous new grocery choice, The Fresh Market.  

And a quick stroll up the block finds me right at my other grocery choice, Publix.  Yes, that is my grocery store. We have a rule regarding architecture on Miami Beach.  It all has to be fabulous.  I mean it.

I begin to head west again, towards Sunset Harbor, with hip, new Catalan-inspired resto Barcelonata in front. 

 I pass their other two deelish restaurants, Asian gastro pub Pubbelly and PubSushi.

For some strange reason, I really like living in a neighborhood that boasts a yacht club.  Not sure why, though.  I head south again, towards the park and back home.

In order to glean a bit more sunshine, I decide to walk along the back of Sunset Harbor Yacht Club by the marina, taking photos of the pretty, little boats.  I can do this even though I'm not a resident and is private property because I am sporting a gold lame carry bag and no one would dare question anyone sporting a gold lame carry bag, would they?  They didn't.

La Diva thinks that it would be fun to buy a kayak to go whenever I want!

 I keep heading south and stroll through Maurice Gibb Park again and take note of the stress-free playground scene with the parents.  *sigh*  It's sooooo nice Miami Beach parents have this great, clean, safe play ground for their kids.  It's also soooooo nice it's not within ear shot of my home.

I head back over the bridge to Belle Isle and walk through the small park towards home.  I love this little gated doggy park in front of our building.

As I start to head in, I get a phone call, and decide that this bench under this fabulous tree is too perfect to not sit on while I chat.

I like my new neighborhood.  It's fabulous.  And La Diva needs to be a part of fabulous.  I think I'm going to like living here, yes, I do.