Always Running on Miami Time

Art Deco on “Miami Time”

Miami may be world-renowned for its Art Deco glow but the story starts later than most think. In 1925, Deco had yet to arrive; instead, the skyline was marked by the Mediterranean Revival–style Freedom Tower. Celebrating its centennial this year, the landmark has lived many lives: from housing The Miami Daily News, to serving as a Cuban Assistance Center for refugees after 1959, to memorializing Celia Cruz, la Reina de la Salsa. Now revitalized and soon to reopen, the Tower reminds us that in Miami, even history runs on “Miami time.”

Pools: The Forgotten Canvas

Artist Alex Proba once called swimming pools “the forgotten canvas.” Her latest Miami project, a tiled mosaic pool created with Cerámica Suro, proves otherwise. Inspired by local coral reefs, the design shimmers under the Florida sun, adding a new chapter to Miami’s storied pool culture. From Robert Winthrop Chanler’s fantastical grotto at Vizcaya (1917) to Coral Gables’ Venetian Pool (1924) and the record-breaking Biltmore Hotel pool (1926), Miami pools have long doubled as social stages and design marvels. Proba’s work signals a return to artistry, urging us to see even backyard pools as spaces for creativity and wonder.

Ventanitas: Miami’s Cultural Windows

As Miami gears up for Art Week, locals know the city’s energy runs on cafecito best served at a ventanita. These iconic coffee windows are where croquetas meet chisme, and where institutions like Versailles and La Carreta have become community landmarks. Ventanitas: A Window Into Miami’s Coffee Culture, a 2024 book by O, Miami, pairs Gesi Schilling’s photography with local poetry to capture their cultural power. For an authentic taste during Art Week, three are must-visits.

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