South Beach, Fun on a Low Budget

Rich fun on a low budget: South Beach side streets - Houston Chronicle: "... Taking a scenic route not only gets you out of South Beach's traffic, it also gives you a closer, longer look at the architectural details that make this place unique. While glassy, exclusive high-rises line the edges, the neighborhoods running down the island's middle are mostly filled with low-lying, pastel-colored apartment buildings. A map from the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive pinpoints and explains the highlights as you wander what is essentially an open-air museum. As you stroll, look for the hallmarks of Miami's tropical spin on Art Deco: curved corners, round porthole windows, decorative elements in groups of three, or motifs featuring marine animals or ocean liners. After World War II, those designs gave way to the MiMo Style and its asymmetry, kidney-shaped elements, central courtyards and space-age motifs. Compare those to Mediterranean Revival buildings with archways, awnings and tiled roofs. Not every building is a gem, but for fun, keep track of the buildings' sometimes wistful names such as Metropolis (a stretch for just two stories) or Michigan (a funny reference for the subtropics). Wind your way to the Frieze, an ice cream parlor playing on its neighborhood's architectural charms. It's a half-block off Lincoln Road, but its ice cream, made on site, tastes a world away from nearby chain establishments. Near the Bass Museum of Art are the Miami City Ballet studios. Floor-to-ceiling windows running the length of the block offer a glimpse into the dancers' austere world and a serene contrast to the gaudiness on nearby beaches...." (read more at link above)

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