Pérez Art Museum Miami, east facade. Photo by Ángel Valentin.

Take an art-filled break before, during or after #ATA56 to visit one of downtown Miami’s best-kept secrets: the Pérez Art Museum Miami. In this waterfront oasis in the middle of a bustling city, in addition to gorgeous views of Biscayne Bay, you can enjoy exhibits of modern and contemporary art with a focus on 20th- and 21st-Century international art.

Opened in 2013, the museum is located in a state-of-the-art building and hosts a permanent collection and numerous traveling exhibitions, both indoors and in its outdoor sculpture garden. Spend a couple of hours seeing the art on your own, or 45 minutes on a free tour (with museum admission). The tours, led by museum guides, are Tuesdays-Sundays at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Tours in Spanish are on Saturdays at 2 p.m.

Pérez Art Museum Miami east facade. Photo by Daniel Azoulay Photography.

Global Positioning Systems, featuring the work of 35 artists from the museum’s permanent collection, is a six-part exhibit that includes artwork from Cuba’s Jose Bedia and Mexico’s Jonathan Hernández. Other works currently on display include those of Dominican artist Firelei Báez, which were inspired by lineages of black resistance; work by Canadian photographer and art historian Jeff Wall; outdoor sculptures by Mark di Suvero; and abstract paintings by nine Aboriginal Australian artists.

Have a wonderful time!

Abrazos,

Becky

I know some of your featherless friends have been asking about parking around the Conference hotel, so I thought I’d give you the scoop.

The Hyatt Regency offers valet parking for guests at $39 per day. Multiple reentries are allowed. (In case you didn’t know, this is important as not all parking garages will allow this). For short stays, the hotel also offers hourly parking. Please check the hotel’s website to learn more about parking rates.

Next door to the Hyatt is the James L. Knight/ Miami Tower parking garage. Parking rate is $19/day, with no reentry, but it does allow overnight parking. This parking garage is open 24 hours and connects to the Hyatt by an air-conditioned, covered walkway.

If you would like to explore other parking options, please be sure to visit the Miami Parking Authority. For your convenience, here is a link with the Hyatt address and some parking options in the vicinity.

Isn’t it great to be a bird?

Daniela

I’d really like to show you around a bit, and I thought the easiest way to do this would be to take you on a tour of one of the main corridors in the Eastern part of Miami: Biscayne Boulevard.

A mere 7-8 minutes’ walk from the Hyatt, 5 minutes from the JW Marriott, and 2 minutes from the Intercontinental, the Biscayne Corridor offers a lot of options, either within walking distance or by hopping a cab.

If you choose the infantry route, I’d suggest you begin by walking in Bayfront Park, a lovely, quiet place to go for a stroll on any given day, with great views of Biscayne Bay, and a balmy, cool sea breeze (this would be a good opportunity to break out your sweater). Aside from the lovely scenery, the park always has a lot going on. They currently have a Botero exhibit; there are free yoga classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm, and there is yoga by donation most days. On Saturday, November 8 at 10:30 am there will be a free Capoeira class. Check out the park’s schedule for a complete list of offerings and times. And of course, there is the newly opened Feria del Mercado de San Miguel, modeled after the famous traditional market in Madrid, where one can have a taste of Spain in the heart of Miami.

Just north of the Bayfront is Bayside Marketplace, a true epitome of Miami and South Florida. It is located on  Biscayne Bay and its undeniable tropical flavor makes it a great place to experience the Miami postcard flavor at its best. This is the place where you will be able to book city tours by bus, or cruises along Biscayne Bay. You will also find souvenir shops, restaurants, and even photo ops with macaws.

Next door to Bayside Marketplace is the famous American Airlines Arena. On November 7 there will be an event at this venue (iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina) with celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Don Omar, and Marco Antonio Solis (wait, what?) among others, so watch for the traffic madness that will surround this event. Plan accordingly, because Biscayne Boulevard will be a very, very busy street. Or just buy tickets and dance your feathers off. Whatever  floats your boat.

Beyond this point you should probably get a cab, but the following areas are definitely a must-see, if you’re into exploring off the beaten paths.

Panther Coffee and The Annex restaurant in Wynwood

Wynwood (10-15 min by car): A new and upcoming neighborhood, this area is teeming with art galleries, exhibits, small trendy restaurants, and of course, the famous Wynwood Walls, an open-air gallery where graffiti artists showcase their work. In the edibles department, there is Panther Coffee (http://www.panthercoffee.com/), a completely different coffee experience (did you know there’s a difference between East and West coast roast? A big one!), where you will be able to see coffee being roasted in situ, as well as get a crash course on all things coffee. Forget about Starbucks!

Another interesting place is The Annex restaurant. The ambiance is extremely cool. I could just walk around looking at all the antique artifacts that decorate the place while my kids play with the bucket of Jenga blocks that sits at each table. It is the perfect place to sit and relax with friends. Food is decent, not a foodie’s paradise, but the novelty of the place makes up for any gastronomic shortcomings.

Midtown is the intertidal zone where the artistic feeling and coolness of Wynwood meets the sophistication and trendiness of The Design District, a 10-15 minute drive from the Hyatt. As is normal around Miami, there is a lot to do here. From visiting the ultra-modern designer stores, to dining at one of its many interesting and unique restaurants –a foodie’s paradise! Some of my favorites are:

Prohibition Restaurant and Speakeasy –Delicious food and a cool Prohibition-era ambiance. Requires business-casual attire.
Sugarcane –Gourmet Latin fare.
Lagniappe –The charm of this place is its outdoor seating with cool, mismatched tables and chairs, a very relaxed ambiance. Grab the cheese of your choice from the fridge and hand it to the chef, who will turn it into a great cheese board to share. Same with the wine: grab a bottle and pay at the cashier. Live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

Of course, there is great shopping at The Shops at Midtown Miami as well as tried and true restaurants (by yours truly) like the Spanish chain, 100 Montaditos, the Brazilian chain Giraffas, and the Argentinean-Italian fusion Novecento.

And when in doubt… Yelp it!

Phew! What a great tour, Florencio! Time to head back to the hotel now.

Daniela

The life of a typical linguist in Miami is not all about doing T&I work during the day and going salsa dancing at night, you know? We spend lots of crazy hours sitting in front of the computer screen craning our necks and hunching our shoulders, pulling our hair and fraying our nerves with deadlines and interpreting assignments. So what do we Miami translators and interpreters do when on the verge of a nervous breakdown?  Hit the spa, of course!

And there are plenty of them around the downtown area, just walking distance or a short cab ride away from the ATA’s conference site, the Hyatt Regency. Although very high-end, unfortunately the Hyatt does not have a spa. But the Hyatt has made arrangements with its next-door neighbor, the Epic, and that hotel’s fantastic Exhale spa offers Hyatt guests a nice discount on all therapies, including massages, facials and acupuncture. Exhale also has beautiful studios where they offer an outstanding array of yoga classes, as well as their signature workout, an intense hour-long class called Core Fusion. Oh, I almost forgot: There’s a special 20% discount for ATA Conference attendees! Be sure to stop by the Hospitality Desk to learn about the promo code!

Across the street from the Hyatt is the JW Marriott Hotel (second Conference hotel) with a smaller but very pleasant spa with all the amenities one would expect: massages, body scrubs, facials and mani/pedis. A bit farther down the street is MySpa, at the InterContinental Hotel (third Conference hotel!) Beautiful views of the city, a full spa menu and great amenities make this wellness facility an excellent choice as well.

A five-minute cab ride away, on Brickell Key–a man-made island right on Biscayne Bay–is the very posh Mandarin Oriental. Its extremely zen-simple but ultra-luxurious spa facilities are breathtaking. The treatment  will set you back some hard-earned translation dollars but it’s worth it. The theme is Asian, of course, and the Thai massage and reflexology are not to be missed. You can also request to have your therapy done al fresco in a cabana on the private beach. Miami weather is lovely in November.

Also a cab ride away, but very accessible right on Brickell Avenue, is the Spa at Conrad Miami. An urban oasis on the 24^th floor, it is wellness and beauty just waiting for you. It offers a complete spa menu with staples ranging from Swedish to hot-stone massages, high-tech facials and express manicures and pedicures (mojitos in hand are optional but highly recommended).

So, mi amigo, Florencio, no reason whatsoever to go around the conference with a stiff neck or achy back. But do reserve your late-afternoon spa appointments in advance–they go fast! You gotta get in before us Miamians who like to unwind a bit before we put on our dancing shoes and mambo the night away. Yep, that’s how we do it.

Just relax, enjoy, and say… A(hhhhhhhhh)TA!

José J. S.

Your visit to South Florida must include spending a couple of days in the city where I live, Hollywood—Florida, not California! Located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood was founded in 1925 and is the 12th-largest city in Florida. For a relatively large city, Hollywood still retains a small-town atmosphere.

The must-sees include Hollywood Beach, downtown Hollywood and the parks. Hollywood Beach has several small hotels and is a favorite of snowbirds (our seasonal visitors). One of its famous features is the Broadwalk, where you’ll have a great time walking, bike riding, people-watching or simply basking in the sun. While you’re there, keep an eye out for film crews; this whole area has been competing with the other Hollywood, and TV shows like Dexter, Burn Notice, The Glades, Graceland and even one episode of The Sopranos have been filmed in the vicinity. Movies, too: Caddyshack, The Birdcage, Rock of Ages and The Hours were also filmed here.

Downtown Hollywood is smaller than the equivalent area in other metropolitan cities. It is certainly walkable, with a couple of dozen restaurants and the ArtsPark. On Monday nights, there’s a food truck round-up. And you’ll love Topeekeegee Yugnee Park—just don’t try to pronounce it! Locals know it as T.Y. Park. You’ll see flocks of birds, playful squirrels and more. Rent a paddleboat, have a picnic, barbecue, play volleyball, enjoy the sun or take the kids to the water park.

If you’re looking for Latin American flavor, there are at least five Colombian bakery/restaurants nearby. My favorite is Las Américas Bakery on Hollywood Boulevard. And Peruvian restaurants are popping up all over: two great ones in downtown Hollywood are La Huaca and J28 Sandwich Bar.

We’re waiting for you with open arms in Hollywood, Florida!

Un abrazo,

Becky

Florencio living la vida loca in Downtown Miami.

I know you’re incredibly excited about the whole Miami experience, and we are very much looking forward to hosting you and showing you around!

But before you break out your Tommy Bahama-style shirt, khakis, and shades, let’s go over some other —just as important—items that will keep you safe while visiting in the Sunshine State.

1. Sunscreen. Yes, this is a must in Miami. I know you flamingoes like your pink complexion, but careful, here you need to apply sunscreen, even if it’s not hot. November marks the end of hurricane season in Florida, and the beginning of the most amazing weather. We naturally want to be out and about on a sunny day —just remember we’re getting closer to the Equator here, and sunrays can be pretty unforgiving.
2. Bug repellent. By November, most bugs are dead or dormant in the rest of the country. Not in Florida. Those critters don’t get a break here, and neither do we. This is especially important if you’ll be venturing to National Parks, or at the beach after dusk.
3. Bring a sweater. Just as the rest of the country is donning heavy coats, gloves, and hats, we Floridians do too. Surprised? Well, after a few months of 90-degree Fahrenheit weather, how do you expect us to deal with temperatures in the low 70’s ? We don’t understand how you flamingoes survive in places where the temperatures drop below 60 (and the snow falls above 500 feet, as in Portland!). I’m sure you’ll be able to spot Miamians at the Conference. Just don’t say anything, ok?
4. A word about safety. The fact that we live la vida loca here in Miami, doesn’t mean we do it with carelessness. If you decide to rent a car or drive your own, don’t leave your valuables in there. Not even hidden. And after you go on that shopping spree you’ve been looking forward to in the Sawgrass Mills, the Dolphin, or any of the other fabulous malls we have in South Florida, don’t drop your bags in the backseat and continue shopping (or go elsewhere). Just like it is easy for you to spot Miamians, you flamingoes stand out as well. Like any other big city, be mindful of your surroundings, don’t walk alone at night, and stay away from isolated places.
5. Driving in Miami. Contrary to popular belief, we do have traffic rules in South Florida. However, we can’t seem to find anywhere how to properly use the horn, so we experiment all the time. This will come as a surprise to you, but drivers here are honk-happy (no, we’re not happy when we use it, yet, we use it often). And turning signal lights? Not quite sure what they’re used for. I guess that’s how we can tell apart foreign flamingoes from the local variety.

Now that you know the basics, go ahead and rent that convertible and drive over the McArthur Causeway, (or road 395) while listening to Miami’s own Pitbull, you know you want to.

Can’t wait to show you around!

Daniela