Best Of 2023 | Miami | Miami New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida
Navigation
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Earlier this year, when the City of Hialeah floated the idea of annexing an unincorporated chunk of Brownsville, the latter community's leaders banded together to preserve the legacy of their historically Black neighborhood, which was a key destination for civil-rights leaders and entertainers during the segregation era. One of the most prominent speakers during the annexation debates was Enid Pinkney, a longtime Dade County educator and preservationist who told residents, "We have a rich history. We need to learn it so we can defend it." The heartfelt, pointed opposition paid off when Hialeah backed off. An author, activist, and a retired public-school administrator, Pinkney has been a stalwart advocate for safeguarding landmarks in Brownsville and the Miami area, leading efforts to preserve the Historic Hampton House and the Miami Circle.

Photo by Adinayev
Photo by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo/Flickr

If Miami Beach is for the tourists, then Sunny Isles Beach is for the locals. Wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the hotel and condominium towers lining Collins Avenue between Aventura and Bal Harbour, this tiny sliver of low-key beachfront is clean, quiet, and blessed with the softest white sand in Miami-Dade County. Thanks to ample parking nearby, you don't have to worry about searching for a space or weaving through traffic while lugging your beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and cooler.

Dale Zine photo

If Miami's literary scene were a video game, Dale Zine would be its cheat code. After navigating the labyrinthine side streets off Biscayne Boulevard in Little River, you step into a bright, naturally lit space filled with scores of beautifully printed books, magazines, and zines from local and national independent authors and publishers alike. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m., the curated space regularly hosts book signings, launch parties, and a semi-regular art book club. Embrace the GPS challenge.

MaryGold's photo

During the pandemic, fine-dining restaurants that couldn't pivot to takeout didn't fare well, and all three of Brad Kilgore's trendy, fine-dining restaurants — Alter, Ember, and Kaido — tragically closed. But, instead of languishing, Kilgore thrived personally and professionally. He took consulting jobs, worked on the menu for the exclusive, members-only Concours Club, and had a son with his wife, Soraya. Last fall, Kilgore partnered with BarLab's Gabe Orta and Elad Zvi to open MaryGold's Brasserie, a Florida-inspired restaurant offering modern American cuisine that highlights the many cultures Miami embraces. The restaurant in the Arlo Wynwood hotel has become a playground for Kilgore, who cooks with joy and tests the limits of his creativity. Dishes like oxtail beignets and his "Chicken & the Egg" are both whimsical and classic at the same time. When Kilgore pours flaming liquid onto his "Baked Florida" dessert, a tropical take on the cruise line staple Baked Alaska, he seems downright giddy. His happiness is not only palpable, it's palatable.

Illustration: Tom Carlson. Source Images: Demetrius Theune/Shutterstock.com; ArtOfPhotos/Shutterstock.com; Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com;

Dear readers, if you think we spend our waking hours sifting through instances of Miami officials (and citizens) behaving outrageously, or feloniously, or both — well, that’s mostly true.

But we love this place. It’s a stunningly beautiful multicultural marvel, one of the most fascinating places to live on the planet.

What’s more, whenever our explorations lead us to stumble across something special, we make a note to share it with you. We’re journalists, after all, which means we’re incapable of keeping stuff to ourselves.

On that note, we’re excited to present the Best of Miami® 2023, our freshest cache of superlatives, with an emphasis on the SUPER, courtesy of this year’s theme.


The Best of Miami® 2023 is written by Grant Albert, Francisco Alvarado, Joshua Ceballos, Nicole Danna, Carolina del Busto, Kayla Delacerda, Trae DeLellis, Alex DeLuca, Laine Doss, Jose D. Duran, Naomi Feinstein, Jesse Fraga, Shanae Hardy, Izzy Kapnick, Jen Karetnick, Jessica Lipscomb, Douglas Markowitz, Sophia Medina, Erin Michelle Newberg, David Rolland, Jesse Scott, Michelle Solomon, Jess Swanson, Catherine Toruño, Yessy Urbina, Caroline Val, Elena Vivas, and Ryan Yousefi.

Special thanks to Tom Carlson and Jess Swanson for their unflagging patience and assistance.

Design, “Superheroes” concept, section openers, spot illustrations, and editorial layout by Tom Carlson.

Cover by Tom Carlson. Reference images — Cover: Demetrius Theune/Shutterstock.com; ArtOfPhotos/Shutterstock.com; Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com. Arts & Entertainment Opener: Ljupco Smokovski/Shutterstock.com; Skokie/Shutterstock.com; Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com; Gadi Yosef/CC by 2.0 via Flickr. Sports & Recreation Opener: Glenda/Shutterstock.com; Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com; GoodStudio/Shutterstock.com; Arthmost/Shutterstock.com. Shopping & Services Opener: Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com; Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com. Eat & Drink Opener: Peruphotart/Shutterstock.com; Bielous Nataliia/Shutterstock.com; GoodStudio/Shutterstock.com; Phillip Pessar/CC by 2.0 via Flickr. Readers’ Choice: R Boed/CC by 2.0 via Flickr.

Fighting for space in the sand is about the last thing any beachgoer wants to do when they're trying to get away from the hustle and bustle. If you fancy a bit of serenity, Dr. Von D. Mizell–Eula Johnson State Park offers a surprising quantity of shoreside space to stretch out and explore compared to the crowds that throng other beaches in the Fort Lauderdale area. Open from 8 a.m. till sunset and asking a modest $6 for vehicle admission to its multiple parking lots, the park is equipped with covered pavilions, grills, and 2.5 miles of beach. At the heart of the park, near a mangrove-lined waterway, seek out the Whiskey Creek Hideout, which offers food, beverages, and kayak and paddle board rentals. Hiking trails weave throughout the area, and if you don't mind walking a bit, you might encounter an idyllic stretch of sand to enjoy all to yourself.

Photo by Ruth Kim

Why settle for falafel when you have "falafish"? Why dine on shawarma when you can enhance that experience with a healthier "fishwarma"? Why settle for a salad when you can order "Tom[atoes] 'n' Tahini"? This inventive Israeli restaurant shines with light from both the stained-glass ceiling and the exuberant talent of chef Tom Aviv. Winner of MasterChef Israel, this self-taught culinary savant is out to teach Miamians how to eat, drink arak cocktails, and hang out in cool, vintage, artisanal surroundings.

Florida House of Representatives photo

"Best Politician" is a tricky category. It's the one most likely to figuratively bite a humble writer in the keister ten years down the line, when a best-politician laureate is arrested for actually biting someone's keister during a coke binge at a moldy motel. That said, this year's selection, Florida District 34 Sen. Shevrin D. "Shev" Jones, seems a safe bet. Humor aside, Jones has become the de facto foil for Gov. Ron DeSantis' "culture war" agenda. Jones, whom pundits often distill to "the first openly gay state senator in Florida," refused to shy away or back down when DeSantis and his allies in the legislature pushed through a deluge of legislation targeting LGBTQ issues. When DeSantis signed bills in 2023 restricting the use of state funds for transgender healthcare and expanding the state's so-called Don't Say Gay bill, Jones spoke out wihthout mincing words, at one point deeming the governor "wildly out of step with where Floridians actually are on these issues." Born in and still based in Miami Gardens, Jones ensured that LGBTQ people in Florida knew that someone was sticking up for them in the statehouse at a time when many felt marginalized, stigmatized, and dehumanized for political gain.

Best Of Miami®