OK, LeBron, all you have to do is let the word Miami mellifluously slide from your lips tonight and everybody will be happy. Extremely happy. And we know you'll be besieged with all sorts of stuff as soon as you make your announcement, so feel free to print out this column and put it aside until you've made the move and taken care of business.
You've been to Miami plenty of times before, and we know you know about Prime 112, the Forge, Michael's Genuine, and all the celebrity spots. We humbly offer five suggestions that you might not know about -- but should. Just our little part in trying to help you adjust to your new surroundings.
By the way, LeBron, you're not going to make me look bad by signing with Cleveland now, are you? I don't want to burden you with any potential guilt, but this post took me quite awhile to put together.
1. Mahogany Grille
It's co-owned by another hall of fame athlete, Andre Dawson. You can go to Sunday lunch, enjoy outstanding soul food, and spend some rare time around nonmillionaires. Bonus: Paparazzi don't hang there often.
2. Kingdom
Where else should the King go for a big, beautiful burger?
Man cannot live on bread alone or, for that matter, on bread and fried
chicken -- bad for the cholesterol. If all you wanted was great food,
you could have signed with New York or Chicago. As you are well aware,
South Beach offers an eye-candy-sweetened people-watching experience
unmatched by competing cities. Blue Sea sits smack-dab in the Delano
Hotel lobby, a fine spot to take a seat and watch the parade go by (of
course, they'll be watching you too). Plus the sushi is really good.
4. Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill
We need you to stay healthy, and this restaurant is located within the
Standard Hotel spa. Steam baths, saunas, massages, gorgeous outdoor pool,
yoga... yes, yoga. Look, dude, with all due respect, you're not in
Cleveland anymore. Anyway, you can sit outdoors for lunch, between the swimming pool and stunning bay vista, and eat food that's not only
delicious but also healthy. We'll say the word one more time: healthy.
Maybe you can use that as your mantra when practicing yoga.
It's located in the former Versace mansion -- great food, royal
service, a dining room fit for a superstar. Most important, you can
get a look-see after dinner to decide if you want to buy the place. Can't
get any closer to the South Beach scene than that.
Anyway, assuming you're not going to let me down tonight -- I mean, at
this point I'd have to take it personally -- this list ought to suffice
for the time being. Feel free to write for more suggestions anytime.
P.S.: It's probably too early for me to hit you up for playoff tickets, right?
Blue Sea at the Delano
1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
305-674-6400
Kingdom
6708 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
305-757-0074
Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill
Standard Hotel
40 Island Ave., Miami Beach
305-673-1717
Mahogany Grille
2190 NW 183 St., Miami
305-626-8100
The Villa by Barton G
1116 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach
305-576-8003