RICAN RITZ
Escape Miami’s Memorial Day weekend mayhem by hopping a flight to Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve just west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The former plantation and swank, midcentury modern resort for Hollywood royalty consecutively owned by Dr. Alfred Livingston and Laurance S. Rockefeller has undergone a stunning $342 million makeover replete with lily ponds and nature trails. Taking advantage of a mile-long stretch of white sand, each of its 115 guestrooms and four restaurants sits mere steps from the sea. Su Casa, a large pink hacienda dating from the 1920s, has also been restored for rental. Book a lesson with legendary golf pro Chi Chi Rodriguez to play top-notch East Course, followed by a blissful, tree-house treatment at eco-friendly Spa Botanico.

100 Dorado Beach Drive – Dorado, Puerto Rico, 787.626.1100, ritzcarlton.com

JOSE’S HOUSE
While staying at the Ritz, dine at Mi Casa, yet another showstopper from James Beard award-winning chef Jose Andres. Just as the Spanish toque incorporates local flavor into his Iberian menu at the Bazaar in Miami Beach, he researched Puerto Rico’s culinary heritage, known as cocina criolla, from mofongo to roasted pork prepared at roadside stands. He was pleasantly surprised to find many similarities between the island’s natural beauty, blend of cultures and simple ingredients and his childhood memories of Asturias. In addition to his tapas and molecular gastronomy standards, the famed regional cocktail pina colada is reinvented as an oyster appetizer, and Guavate lechon, named for the nearby barrio that’s home to the delicacy, is served with caramelized mango. Finish with passion fruit flan.

100 Dorado Beach Drive – Dorado, Puerto Rico, 787.626.1100, ritzcarlton.com

SOUL STRINGS
A tropical holiday calls for bright baubles. Enter The FFS, insanely fun jewelry designed by real life and soul sisters Cheryl Freeman and Donna Freeman Hughes of San Francisco and Miami, respectively. Their haute, multimedia looks with an ethnic twist have already caught the eye of Barneys stores nationwide and Base boutique in Miami Beach. Globally sourcing and stringing together odds and ends such as oxidized copper from Ethiopia, and recycled vulcanite from Portugal, they also incorporate high-low materials such as diamonds, turquoise beads, braided leather and charms. There are subdued versions of bracelets for men. Also pick up one of their adorable bags in African Ankara prints that go from beach to bar in a snap.

the-ffs.com

FOR SHORE
Though named after Sunset Beach in Shelter Island, N.Y., 6 Shore Road resortwear flew south for its Summer 2013 collection. Every season, founder and designer Pooja Kharbanda chooses a different destination as inspiration, and Old San Juan in Puerto Rico tickled her fancy this time. (The Indian native first got a taste for the Latin American lifestyle growing up in Panama.) Look right at home on the Caribbean island in her “Fortress” jumpsuit in a turquoise geometric print with bright pink embroidered waist. The “Ricon” one-piece swimsuit’s sexy woven side straps aren’t tan-friendly, but sure look good. Top off outfits with one of her cute colorful turbans. The line is available at Big Drop, Jessie and Nikki Beach in Miami Beach.

6shoreroad.com

CALIFOODICATION
Move over Miami — Delray’s got this one. Three partners with a delectable pedigree including Alinea and db Bistro Moderne opened the Grove, a small eatery off Atlantic Avenue that feels like stepping into a slice of Napa. California cuisine pioneer Alice Waters would be proud of their attention to ingredients prepared simply with panache. Using traditional and modern techniques, examples (the menu constantly changes) might be brined duck whose parts are cooked sous-vide at different temperatures and lengths of time before seared to a crisp; lifted straight from Spain, braised octopus is thrown on a piping-hot la plancha. Best-in-class wines range from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s iconic Burgundy to Vigneti Massa’s timorasso white table wine.

187 NE 2 Ave – Delray Beach, 561.266.3750, thegrovedelray.com

HOPS TO IT
The Local in Coral Gables has expanded with Barrel & Grain in West Palm Beach. Ditching the freezer to emphasize its commitment to freshness, the gastropub sources salad greens from nearby Swank Farms and seafood caught by local fishermen. A play on classic bar snacks, fried cheese sticks are vastly improved by replacing bland mozzarella with creamy brie and pears poached in Hefeweizen beer. Signature grass-fed beef jerky made in-house is smoky versus sweet like the original location’s recipe. Kegs of rare stouts like Bell’s Black Note and North Coast Brewery’s Old Rasputin vanish quickly. Theme dinners such as tonight’s featuring Cigar City sips as part of American Craft Beer Week sell out fast, too.

125 Datura Street – West Palm Beach, 561.833.2767, barrelandgrain.com

RESTAURANT RIOT
Those who have ever dreamed of running a restaurant can get a taste on Restaurant Day, a quarterly event that has inspired 3,600, one-day pop-ups in 42 countries. Miami participant Ruthie’s comes to life in the courtyard of a quirky blue house on Saturday, May 18, from 1 to 7 p.m. Its Afro-Brazilian, a la carte menu starts with spicy banana fritters dipped in tamarind chutney and peanut sauces, and salad of Little River Farm greens, palmito and Brazil nuts tossed in a Mandarin orange and purple basil vinaigrette. Xim Xim, a Bahian stew of chicken, shrimp, cashews, tomatoes and coconut milk, has a vegetarian option. Chocolate ginger mousse comes with a black sesame crisp.
152 NE 27 Street – Miami

S IS FOR…
Like a Sesame Street bit, S3 is brought to you by the letter S. Standing for sun, surf and sand, as well as steak, seafood and sushi, the small-plates concept is from the same folks behind YOLO, VIBE Las Olas and O Lounge. The restaurant makes the most of its prime oceanfront location in the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort with Southeast Asian beachy décor of bamboo and grass cloth, and terrace dining with fire pits and water views. The 15-seat sushi bar, live music and a sunken open kitchen so everyone has a view of the action also break the ice. Chefs, whose combined experience includes Masa, Morimoto and Max’s Harvest, put the party in platter.

505 N Ft Lauderdale Beach Blvd – Ft Lauderdale, 954.523.7873, s3restaurant.com

OLAS OYSTERS
For the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale fell short on quality seafood restaurants. The Riverside Hotel’s Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille not only brings the underrepresented cuisine to bustling Las Olas, but with 21st-century sustainability and freshness-inspired daily menus. Happy hour parties gather around the Gorge, a raw bar tower overflowing with delicacies like prawns, caviar and oysters from seaweed-tasting Totten Inlets to sweet Beavertails shucked on demand for a New Orleans vibe. Seasonal ingredients — spring’s first asparagus, just-picked peaches, pungent ramps — enhance entrees such as trout from Sunburst Farm in western North Carolina, and beef cheeks braised in Alabama-based Back 40 honey brown ale.

620 E Las Olas Boulevard, 954.467.2555, riversidehotel.com

HOGS & HORSES
One doesn’t need an old Kentucky home to watch the fillies fly at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 4. Just don your best hat — think Philip Treacy spectacle-making styles — for Swine Southern Table & Bar’s daylong Derby party. The already theme-saturated restaurant in Coral Gables, is going hog wild with authentic touches that would impress Louisville’s horsey set. BYO silver cup for their Buffalo Trace bourbon mint juleps with or without peach liqueur. The menu covers many Kentucky classics — hot browns, benedictine sandwiches, smoked and spiced pecans, country ham on biscuits and bourbon balls. After an old-fashioned hat contest, hear the galloping roar from the gates at post time of 6:24 p.m.

2415 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 786.360.6433, runpigrun.com

LAST DANCE
The countdown to summer is on, and that means Miami’s cultural offerings are drying up quicker than the Florida Everglades in late spring. Time to get your fix — this weekend Miami City Ballet presents its final performance for the season at the Arsht Center. Showcasing two master choreographers, Program IV: Broadway and Ballet combines Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, and George Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. Robbins created the ballet following his smashing success with West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. Set to Chopin, the plot-less piece featuring color-coded costumes is more in tune with folk dances. The latter work was originally part of On Your Toes, a 1936 hit musical marking Balanchine’s Broadway foray. Photo credit: Daniel Azoulay

1300 Biscayne Boulevard, 305.949.6722, miamicityballet.org

FAB FIVE
Like its green beer-swilling brother St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo generally isn’t associated with tasteful times. Oddly a day chosen to celebrate Mexican heritage ends up doing just the opposite. So we’ve compiled a way to toast our southern neighbor in a more suitable manner. Since tequila is king come May 5, raise a glass prepared by one of the city’s top mixologists. At SLS’s Hyde Beach sip the new cucumber watermelon margarita, which redefines refreshment. Broken Shaker’s jalisco greens cocktail resembles a healthy Jugofresh juice (kale, cayenne) only with Herradura Blanco. The Regent’s John Lermayer mixes his agave nectar rita like those at Tommy’s in San Francisco, the Mexican mother ship.

slshotels.com, thefreehand.com, galehotel.com

SOUTH OF THE BORDER BRUNCH

Champagne and caviar brunches are fine indeed, but one also needs his huevos rancheros. Already famous for its from-scratch fare of enchiladas, ceviches and tacos, the Mexzican Gourmet introduced brunch served Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef Ze Carlos Jimenez perfectly prepares the signature breakfast dish of layered, homemade corn tortillas and fried eggs smothered in a slow-roasted tomato sauce. His version of French toast uses vanilla-battered challah bread as a base for whipped cream and cajeta, a sweet syrup of caramelized milk. Classics like pancakes and steak and eggs, as well as a range of taco fillings — Mexican cuisine aficionados swear by his carnitas — keep the whole party happy.

5904 S Dixie Highway, 305.661.6801, themexzicangourmet.com

SUIT YOURSELF

Brioni’s stunning new store design opened at Bal Harbour Shops. Matte black ribbed wood covers walls and curved display tables. Stitched diamond patterns of silk line panels, and plenty of armchairs in charcoal gray and tufted black leather exude a Wall Street tycoon’s lair. At double the size of its former space at the center, the boutique is able to stock a grander assortment of its luxury men’s wear collections including the made to measure program, recently launched sunglasses that are big on aviator styles, and small leather goods, a favorite of the brand’s new creative director Brendan Mullane. Sharp-dressed men are also buying suits in a deep coral linen silk blend, and zipper blousons in navy, burgundy and black crocodile.

9700 Collins Avenue, 305.868.9399, brioni.com

YALE SALE

Few Miami artists gain acceptance to Yale’s esteemed MFA program. New World School of the Arts graduate T. Eliott Mansa not only won a scholarship for Summer 2013 matriculation but all while saddled with an inner-city background plagued by gang violence, drug addiction and the deaths of both his parents. To raise funds for his living expenses, BFI alternative art space is exhibiting the gifted painter’s new portraits of African-Americans who are convicted felons and often his friends and relatives. These works, which are on view through May 8, may be purchased at an opening reception tomorrow night, Friday, April 26, from 7 to 9 p.m., or by appointment.

100 NE 11 Street, 786.877.7280, basfisherinvitational.com

GEM JAM

The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is getting serious about its bling scene. Now patrons who think nothing of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on a table at LIV can also pick up big-ticket baubles at its adjacent Timeless boutique, the hotel’s foray into mega fine jewelry. Proving their commitment, its retail team commissioned the same designer as Bergdorf Goodman for the glamorous gallery. Pieces include pendant necklaces containing confetti of precious metals and ringed in white diamonds that designer Renee Lewis makes in Manhattan. Loree Rodkin’s edgy styles adored by celebrities, and Coral Gables-based John Brevard’s 18K gold and diamond starburst earrings also are displayed among the curated best in class.

4441 Collins Avenue, 305.538.2000, fontainebleau.com

PRINCESS JAZZMINE

Esperanza Spalding, the barefoot bassist who stole the Grammy from under Justin Bieber’s nose for best new artist in 2011 (a jazz first for the award!), returns Friday to the Arsht Center where she performed during an Obama fundraiser. Politics aside, the Austin-based musician, vocalist and composer is campaigning worldwide for Radio Music Society, which snagged this year’s Grammy for best jazz vocal album. Written to complement her previous Chamber Music Society, like an old-school double album, her new scores differ by incorporating a 12-piece band of keyboards, brass horns and drums with Spalding strumming double and electric basses. On the release she worked with masters varying from hip-hop pioneer Q-Tip to legendary saxophonist Joe Lovano.

1300 Biscayne Boulevard, 305.949.8382, arshtcenter.org

THE SCHWARTZ IS WITH YOU Does Michael Schwartz sleep? Right after opening the posh Cypress Room, the James Beard award-winning chef owner of the Genuine Hospitality Group empire in the Miami Design District expands with Restaurant Michael Schwartz at the Raleigh. Though no newbie to hospitality venues, the collaboration with sbe (SLS Hotels) marks his foray into South Beach territory. Just because it officially launches Monday doesn’t mean hordes of devoted diners won’t descend this weekend for whatever morsels they can munch. The menu lists standards among his repertoire like chili and lime-dusted hominy, and newcomers such as steak tartare smothered in quail egg yolk and shallots, and grilled octopus with crushed hazelnuts, green olives, kumquats and preserved lemon. Family-style meals debut on Mondays soon. 1775 Collins Avenue, 305.534.6300, raleighhotel.com

SOFI SIPS The South of Fifth nabe makes it a double with two drinking dens dedicated to residents. Look for the 600-foot radio tower, a petit Eiffel of sorts, for Radio Bar, which pays homage to the hood through the South Pointe, a specialty cocktail of vodka, grapefruit juice and St. Germain. The late-night haunt also serves wood-oven pizzas like those at the Gale hotel by the same owners, as well as craft beers including Michigan-made Bell’s Amber Ale. It gets even fancier libations-wise over at the Flat, whose Bloody Mary features smoked salmon-infused vodka garnished with a quail egg and caviar. After manning many of the beach’s nightclub doors for years, co-founder Cedric Adegnika just wanted a chill spot for boites and bites set to a bossa nova beat. 814 First Street, 305.397.8382, radiosouthbeach.com  500 S Pointe Drive, 305.531.3528, theflatmiami.com

FRIDA & FRIJOLES Fans of Frida Kahlo and authentic Mexican cuisine are swooning for Casa Frida in Fort Lauderdale. A Mexico City couple by way of Cancun dug through their family recipes for dishes made daily with love that they serve in a dining room dripping with all things Kahlo — her signature vibrant palette and self-portraits, and enough flowers to fill a garden. First-timers can’t go wrong with cochhinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork leg marinated in orange juice and achiote, as well as their mole, a 24-hour chocolate concoction loaded with secret ingredients including 14 types of peppers, and used for chicken tamales, among other classics. Mexican transplants also lap up posole of pork, hominy and herbs, heated through spicy pickled vegetables in tabletop jars. 5441 North Federal Highway, 954.530.3668

KARLA CATERS

When the biggest brands (LVMH, DVF, Swarovski) entertain in Miami, they call Karla Dascal. After perfecting her talents in floral and staging design, the founder of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences expanded with catering from gourmet fare to craft mixology. Her team customizes cocktails and menus based on seasonal ingredients, themes and occasions. Spreads may be as simple as artisanal cheese wheels with bowls of nuts and dried fruit to more complex dishes like grilled eggplant rollatini with feta and pine nut relish, and lump crab meat and avocado tartare on plantain chips heightened through dollops of caviar and crème fraiche. Mains range from rack of lamb to salt-cured tuna loin, and they’re always up on the latest dining trends like pork belly.

305.644.3555, karlaevents.com

THE GREATER OUTDOORS

Treat yourself and out-of-towners to a real taste of Florida with a tour by Garl’s Coastal Kayaking. The Key Largo-based nature outfitter is tops for getting up close to the state’s renowned, diverse ecosystems. Expert guides conduct personal and group tours of tropical terrain including Everglades National Park and Florida Bay’s maze of mangroves. Explore orchids and bromeliads in cypress domes and marvel at April’s burst of wildflowers on marl prairies. Paddle through fresh and salt waterways whose abundance of marine and bird activity attracts wildlife enthusiasts and researchers worldwide. Trained with eagle eyes, they’ll make sure to point out a rare native plant in bloom, animal tracks and baby alligators for unique, memorable experiences each and every excursion.

305.393.3223, garlscoastalkayaking.com

SEEING RED

Perhaps you’ve already spotted people with funny red caps waiting outside galas and other events. They’re personal drivers booked through RedCap, an ingenious service that’s generating buzz among South Florida society. While many clients use it for nights on the town, these experienced, trusted pros are available for so much more—car repairs, airport rides and shuttling kids to activities. Priced between taxi and car services, the company offers great deals because clients ride one way or round trip in their own vehicles; many prefer to drive themselves to venues and reserve a driver for the return trip through the easy smartphone app. Memberships cost $49 per month, or $399 per year.

786.352.8700, myredcap.com

HAIRY POTTER

Why sit in traffic to get your hair done when stylist and colorist Dustin Ki makes house and office calls? When he isn’t working on a photo shoot, the Miami native is zipping around town with a car full of shears, flat irons and hair dye such as Alfaparf for blondes and Loreal for redheads—spring is especially intense with prom, graduation and wedding season descending in one massive celebration. Whether in need of something as simple as a blowout or a lengthier process like extensions, time-restricted clients can rest assured their hair is in good hands. Updo styles are another big request, with playful to edgy braids being a major trend for 2013, along with short cuts like bobs and pixies, which he does with equal panache. Makeup and men’s hair are no problem either.

786.519.3869, dustinkihair@gmail.com

COCO LOCO

Chanel unveiled its belle of a Bal Harbour boutique. The decades-old store feels roomier and more inviting at the same time, thanks to a residential makeover by starchitect Peter Marino, who borrowed elements like crystal balls and coromandel screens from Coco Chanel’s Parisian apartment. Signature tweed appears on pastel seating flecked with gold and accessory displays from panels to cubbyholes; the gleaming white façade pays homage to the timeless Chanel No. 5 perfume box. A few picks from the over the top mix are Boy bags where punk meets English fox hunt, astronomy-themed fine watches from the 1932 collection, and the perfect little black dress — a pleated silk mini with floppy bow and pearl buttons. There are more shoes and scarves than ever, too.

9700 Collins Avenue, 305.868.0550, chanel.com

MOCA MAKES OUTThe Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, celebrates its quinceanera with Pivot Points: 15 Years & Counting through May 19. Artists and collectors permanently donated more than 50 significant works that reflect the institution’s globally recognized niche for groundbreaking exhibits, many of which were the first solo shows for today’s top names. It’s fun to peruse an overview not only of MOCA’s history, but the city’s fledgling art scene pre- and post-Art Basel. There are works by heavy hitters like Ed Ruscha, whose Rooftops was gifted by Marty Margulies, and Jack Pierson, who gave his print IDOLS. Visitors to the De La Cruz Collection will recognize Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s installation of a stack of large sheets of paper that are complimentary.770 NE 125 Street, 305.893.6211, mocanomi.org

FEELING FLORIDAPerhaps Michael Schwartz has been spending time out at the Rod and Gun Club in Everglades City, because he went full-on Old Florida for his fourth eatery. Opened last night, The Cypress Room is decorated with its namesake wood in the form of reclaimed pecky panels, mounted deer and boar heads, and rose wallpaper, as in your granny’s parlor. Cuisine and cocktails are designed to be more upscale in conjunction with the Miami Design District’s luxury label turn. Starters encompass country Cracker frog legs to marrow, the hottest ingredient in New York. Be romantic with house specialty cote de boeuf for two, or get your game on with antelope, turnips and apricots. Whatever you do, save room for Hedy Goldsmith’s divine desserts.3620 NE 2 Avenue, 305.520.5197, thecypressroom.com

COCKTAIL CRUISE
Unless you’ve been hiding under a glow stick, you may have noticed the nation’s largest electronic music festival is going down in Miami this weekend on top of Spring Break. Sounds like the perfect excuse to head for the more relaxing shores of Palm Beach. Toast over your smart move at HMF, the stunning new lounge at the Breakers. Named after island and hotel father Henry Morrison Flagler and designed by the same firm behind New York gem Per Se, the historic Florentine Room has been reinvented for the new cocktail class. If liquor libations aren’t your cup of tea, peruse the wine list as tome with 1,600 varietals, as a cigarette girl circles for a sweet photo opp.

One South County Road, 561.655.6611, thebreakers.com

NO PROBLEM, MON!
Worth Avenue’s cool quotient went way up with the arrival of Island Company’s flagship. Just follow the jammin’ reggae beats late into the evening, long after most local residents have hit the hay. What started as a simple string bikini has grown into a lifestyle empire built on soft fabrics and vacation vibes. Caribbean colonial décor of dark wood, rope-wrapped columns and fun props from an outfitted retro jeep to an Indonesian fishing skiff is so welcoming, that clients often request a similar look for their homes. But this regional brand is sticking to fashion for now. Adorable swimwear, knockaround tunics and shorts, and vintage-inspired, Italian sunglasses await the islander in us all.

256 Worth Avenue, 561.655.3231, islandcompany.com

TRUE TOP CHEF
Few if any Florida toques share Michael Wurster’s c.v. Not only did the Culinary Institute of America graduate intern at Le Cirque 2000, but then went on to cook at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, followed by Alain Ducasse and 11 Madison Park in New York. He then switched gears to the hotel world with two W restaurants, a pattern continued at Omphoy Ocean Resort, one of Palm Beach County’s few boutique properties. As the executive chef at Malcolm’s: the Art of Food, Wurster enlightens the lackluster local food scene with dishes such as langoustine and foie gras ravioli, and a fun play on chicken prepared Northern and Southern style. Book Fridays for monkfish bouillabaisse including toast points and heavenly rouille.

2842 South Ocean Boulevard, 561.540.6444, malcomsrestaurant.com

GYPSET JEWELRY
Famous for going to the ends of the earth for the most exquisite stones, jewelry designer Tamara Comolli opened her second U.S. store at 150 Worth shopping center. Cool off in its tranquil turquoise and white setting with Italian refreshments from the cute retro fridge. For the occasion, the Florida fan created a Palm Beach collection of pastel chalcedonies and 18K rose gold. It’s limited-edition, so don’t take too long to mull it over. Her Hippie Glam theme starts with ocean jasper sourced from shallow waters remotely located off Madagascar’s northern coast; its mottled swirls of offbeat colors are reminiscent of childhood marbles, only better. Trays full of signature mikados, resembling acorns in all sizes, appear on pendants to Flamenco bracelets.

150 Worth Avenue, 561.659.3710, tamaracomolliusa.com