This weekend is all about sports, and it's your choice. You can be an athlete by running the Miami Marathon or Half Marathon this Sunday, February 2, which takes runners on a 26.2- or 13.1-mile journey from downtown Miami, through South Beach, and then to Coconut Grove before finishing near Bayfront Park. Or you can cheer them on, mimosa in hand, at a brunch spot directly on the course.
Oh, there's one other sporting event this weekend. It's a little game we call the Super Bowl, and we've complied a list of the best places to watch the game.
See also: Super Bowl in Miami: Six Places to Watch the Game
Carbo-Loading for Marathoners
If you're running the Miami Marathon or Half-Marathon this Sunday, you've probably trained for months, rising at the butt-crack of dawn to log the miles that will take you to the finish line. Before you celebrate (at the finish line), it's time to hydrate and carbo-load. Sure, you can open a can of Spaghetti-O's, but wouldn't you rather have a three-course meal by Top Chef finalist Nina Compton and celebrity chef Scott Conant?
Scarpetta at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach offers a special $35 "carb up" menu for marathoners (you can just pretend you're running Sunday to get the deal; they won't ask to see your race bib or anything).
The three-course menu is served Friday, January 31, and Saturday, February 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. and includes your choice of burrata with heirloom tomatoes; baby basil and arugula salad; diver scallop crudo with fennel, orange, and pine nuts; or creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms for an appetizer. Pasta choices include Scarpetta's famous spaghetti with tomato and basil, black taglioni with stewed baby octopus and basil breadcrumbs, or duck and foie gras ravioli. Dessert choices include coffee semifreddo and coconut panna cotta.
The deal includes American coffee or tea, but tax and tip are not included. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 877-669-5005.
Cheer on the marathoners. Bloody mary in hand, of course.
You know what they say: "If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter." The marathon and half both begin Sunday, February 2, at 6:15 a.m. (wheelchair athletes start at 6:05 a.m.), so if you're an early riser, grab some coffee at News Café on Ocean Drive in South Beach and cheer on the wave of nearly 30,000 runners and walkers streaming by between 6:40 and 8 a.m.
If you prefer to sleep in a little, head to Coconut Grove brunch spots GreenStreet or Lulu to cheer on the marathoners. Elite runners should start to turn up around 8 a.m., with the majority of the pack running through the Grove between 8:30 and 10:30. The two restaurants are directly on the marathon route, around mile 18, so root them on and give some high-fives.
Note: Because of the marathon, many streets will be closed to traffic. Plan to leave your house early. Bikes, public transportation, and walking are the best methods of getting around this weekend. Click here for a course map.
Super Bowl Sunday
The big game is this Sunday, and unless you're reading this at the airport, chances are you're watching it in Miami. Luckily, there are a bunch of restaurants offering some pretty sweet parties. From chef-driven takes on fan favorites like wings and sliders to bars decked out in team colors, our favorite places include Tongue & Cheek, Batch Gastropub, Brother Jimmy's BBQ, and Haven. Check out our favorite places to watch the game, and all the details, here.
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