Miami - Wynwood
Some places revitalize but I would call what happened at Wynwood a reinvention.
This is what I believe most cities wish could happen to their most deteriorated urban areas (or should anyway). This area north of downtown was a crappy (I mean like really crappy) part of town and what happened is consistent with the theme that neglected urban areas often get saved by either hipsters, artists, or the gay community.
When a developer decided to celebrate the graffiti murals and brought artists in display their art, it brought in the people who wanted to be around the art scene (and then bars, shops, eateries and eventually the development).
Art is everywhere here. Murals, sidewalks, telephone poles – I mean everything is covered with color and designs. The counterculture spirit is pervasive in the neighborhood – even the streets smelled constantly of weed.
I think successful changes like this sometimes takes more than just dollars - it needs to have a sense of community and that is where the art comes into play. It gave the people coming here a centralizing theme and something to celebrate.
These days the neighborhood is in that transition and gentrification phase with construction booming around the streets. Hopefully it doesn’t price out the people that made the place what it is today.
I was in the Las Vegas Arts District recently and I think they are trying to duplicate the Wynwood success. But as with everything in Vegas, although they did a great job and made a crappy area better, it is a cleaner more sterile version than in Miami.
Wynwood’s transformation was organic and feels that way.
Wynwood even has a Bonci Pizza! A clear sign of gentrification.
(I’ve been to the one in Rome - didn’t know that they were going global)
Sounds of construction and development everywhere. Hopefully it’s not the sound of displacement.
Literally everywhere you go there is great art smacking you in the face. Street art is to art what punk rock is to music - at its core is a rebellious spirit.
Wynwood Walls
This exhibit used to be free but now it costs $12 to get in. I guess it used to also just be open but they decided to enclose the area to protect the art.
World class artists are invited in to create their expressions on the walls and in sculptures and it is an excellent celebration of street art. Another great aspect of these works is how the works are big - the sheer size makes them more visually striking.
It’s a tribute to what made Wynwood the place it is now.
They also have indoor exhibitions like the above.
Le Chick
Stopped in here for lunch and this place is indicative of how nice the area is becoming. Definitely upscale and the food was delicious. As the name implies - they do chicken here. Fried chicken and brussel sprouts shown above. We had some cocktails here as well.
Another note for Miami: Not sure if it’s because they have a lot of international tourists but often the tip is included in your bill but they still have the tip line on the credit card slip - so be careful when you close out that you don’t double tip by accident.
Gramps
We were at Wynwood during the day (better to see outdoor art during the day was my reasoning) so we did not get to check out the nightlife in Wynwood. Most of the bars had not yet opened but Gramps was pouring so we stopped in to cool off and get refreshed.
The place has a pretty big outside area and also has a pizzeria onsite. On the inside, the nostalgic part of me liked how they still had 25 cent pinball and arcade games.
I did notice in these hotter climates that I was getting beer bottles that were less than 12 oz. Is it beer inflation or are they thinking that you don’t need the last bit because it will be warm by the time you drink it?
1 800 Lucky
I did not eat here as I was already full from a previous meal but I felt it worth mentioning this spot. 1 800 Lucky is an Asian themed food court. It has a pretty large bar and has space both inside and out. If I had a second stomach, I probably would have sampled some fare here as some items looked pretty good. Maybe next time.