Ok it's official - I am moving to Miami - anyone know any good contacts / places to live / advice about the area

I always think I know, but it's just a big cover because I actually don't, and now I am gettin kinda nervous

4/4/2011 12:33:27 AM

Welcome to Miami! I moved here last June so I'm no expert... what brings you here? New job?

It seems everything is more expensive here...

4/4/2011 12:41:09 AM

New job

How is the traffic - what are the fun things to do - is the train actually a viable mode of getting around? How fun is Brickell? Do they actually call that little metro thing a train?

4/4/2011 12:42:41 AM

this is what someone sent me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QvbX_FkkGgM

4/4/2011 1:13:17 AM

Bienvenido a Miami

4/4/2011 1:48:49 AM

The video was actually kind of funny.

The traffic is terrible. I'm sure that can be said about any major city, but I grew up in Raleigh, and I'd take rush hour in RTP most any day of the week. I live at the U, which is right of US-1 and so traffic is always terrible. It's true there are a lot of uninsured drivers as well. My car insurance doubled when I moved down here.

The train is raised above ground and is usually called the Metro. It's actually 2 different things - the Metro Mover and the metro (from what I gathered). If you're close to a station it's not too bad to take downtown, but it's nothing like a major city. Obviously, being on the ocean in South Florida means that any rail system must be above ground, and so it's not an extensive system to get anywhere. I usually drive wherever I go.

Expect to pay to park most everywhere. Some places are free, (Target, fast food, grocery store, etc) but most anything that is downtown, restaurants, beach, etc is going to cost money to park. If/when you go to South Beach, I recommend using one of the city parking decks. They are only $1/hr which is extremely reasonable. The first time I went to SoBe, we just found a random deck to park and it was a $20 flat rate.

I haven't experienced a whole lot of Brickell other than like 1 or 2 bars and driving through the area, but it seems really sweet. It's a really pretty and well maintained area that seems to always have a lot of pedestrian traffic. I see people walking their dogs and such; it almost seems to be more suburban life while being downtown.

Speaking some spanish definitely helps in some situations, but I've never really had it required of me. It really is a melting pot, people are from Cuba, the Caribbean, South American, all over the USA (lots from NYC-ish). Even the spanish speaking varies with so many dialects and different pronunciations. FWIW, everyone I've talked to has a really great view of the Raleigh area - it seems tons of people have family in the area or know someone up there.

What area are you working/living in?

4/4/2011 1:50:30 AM

I've been here four years.

4/4/2011 2:03:43 AM

i am not gonna get a job right away

I just wanna know the good places to go and what to do..

Long story short I am taking a mini-retirement in the middle of my life to refocus and determine what I want to do for a bit......

4/6/2011 9:32:48 PM

Are you going to be working in Miami? Or just in that general South Florida area? I lived in Coral Springs, and it was quite nice, but would be too far to drive into Miami every day.

4/6/2011 10:04:33 PM

Ok I am always so quick to give advice, but on this issue I am kind of stuck


Where I live in Virginia, I don't have to drive anywhere. I can just park my car in my spot behind the building and walk everywhere - pubs, grocery store, movies, starbucks, whatever. It has done me many a service to have friends over and just walk wherever we want and end up with a sleepover.

However, I note that areas like that in FL are rarer. Everything requires a car. What's the best option for never having or wanting to drive anywhere???

4/6/2011 10:07:33 PM

o/

4/6/2011 10:10:59 PM

are you fucking kidding? You dont want to walk anywhere in Miami you will get stabbed.

Don't get me wrong I love South Florida but dude try moving to Ft Lauderdale or somewhere at least.

Serious question are you gay? If so I guess Miami makes a little more sense but from what ive heard all the police brutality has made Miami less gay friendly and a lot of them are moving out.

4/6/2011 10:20:06 PM

No, not gay lol

Just trying to keep it green and easily accessible

Every time I go south to FL I always feel like I am stuck in traffic again. I just feel like it's a miserable traffic grid everywhere - is it really that dangerous?

4/6/2011 10:24:24 PM

Miami has always been dangerous. It was the hood until real estate prices went up a lot and some of the hood migrated.

Im not a Miami expert or anything but ive spent a decent amount of time in South Florida.

FT Lauderdale is the place to be right now I think. It's way overbuilt so you can find a badass condo to rent pretty cheaply. Theres hot girls everywhere there and at least half of them speak English unlike Miami.

Miami is too ghetto for me, I think if you dont at least check out FTL first you're making a mistake.


Granted i dont know what your budget is like. If you're balling out Im sure you can find a sick neighborhood somewhere where life is pristine. But it's mostly just the Jewish people who live like that in Miami. The rest of the place is poor. Plus $20 cover at the door of most clubs is pretty ridiculous. Check out FTL first.

[Edited on April 6, 2011 at 11:17 PM. Reason : a]

4/6/2011 10:53:51 PM

Quote :

"Miami is too ghetto for me"

That makes it awesome, IMO.

Hit up south beach on a weekend and you will see more candied painted cars on 84's that your mind can handle. It is just amazing for the car watching, if you are in to that kind of stuff. Maybachs, Phantoms, Lotus... you see them all of the time down there.

And the shopping is really nice, and there is a Lil' Jamaica where you can get all of the Jamaican Oxtail that you want. Simply put, I would love to move to Miami.

4/7/2011 12:17:39 AM

you WANT to live around ghetto? Fuck that. I'm not an elitist snob with my living arrangements by any means but I am not down with poor people and danger.


I totally agree with you on the car watching but I kinda like eating outside and watching all the 40k wannabe millionaires in orange nissan 350z's cruise the A1A on their cellphones and holler at every girl.

To each his own.


One thing about florida i call this "Florida bullshit" which is basically an all-encompassing term that covers most of the people you will meet. Everyone has some ridiculous story about their business, their business idea, their business opportunity, etc.

South Florida is a giant dick measuring contest. It's not like Raleigh where you can buy a $200k home, $30K car, and mow your grass in the summer and be considered a good person.

In South Florida you have to constantly mention that you were about to buy a house twice as big but decided to wait, drive a 2011 Mustang, put some kind of ridiculous statue in your yard, and make sure any conversation you have revolves around your investment portfolio.

I've never seen anything like it. As amazing as the weather and area is to live, the people are so bad that you either assimilate with the idiots or leave because you just can't fucking take it.

I usually go for about a week at a time and by the 4th or 5th day I lose my mind around those people.

You know how beach town locals in places like wrightsville and myrtle beach are all idiot, druggie, losers? South Florida locals are all insecure people competing for the most attention in their old age. A bunch of 65 year old men walking around with huge gold watches and chains. Pathetic.

4/7/2011 1:00:25 AM

Quote :

"Ok it's official - I am moving to Miami"

Quote :

"Long story short I am taking a mini-retirement in the middle of my life to refocus and determine what I want to do for a bit......"

That's pretty cool actually. Just to unplug, and try a new place. I know nothing of Miami, but best of luck!

4/7/2011 1:14:23 AM

Quote :

"South Florida locals are all insecure people competing for the most attention in their old age. A bunch of 65 year old men walking around with huge gold watches and chains. Pathetic."

South Florida is better generalized into the Miami area and the White Florida, which is typically more along the west coast a bit where you will find all of the stuff that ^ just mentioned.

I disagree with you on your take on Miami. It is a cultural melting pot that is rare to find in the States. Yes there are ghettos, but lets not get to caught up in thinking that just because something is poor and nonwhite that you are dealing with danger.

Whenever I am in Miami, I do my best to explore the Cuban and Jamaican neighborhoods for all of their food and culture and I have never had a problem. I think that it is rare to find a city in the States where in certain neighborhoods you might as well be walking into another country. Don't let the ignorance steer you away.

Oh and again, south beach FTW.

4/7/2011 10:11:14 AM

Quote :

"One thing about florida i call this "Florida bullshit" which is basically an all-encompassing term that covers most of the people you will meet. Everyone has some ridiculous story about their business, their business idea, their business opportunity, etc."

That may be true of South Florida, but don't generalize to the entire state. North Florida, Jax in particular is NOT like that at all.

4/7/2011 7:49:23 PM

you'll certainly never run out of fun things to do. also, the women down there will make the trash here in old raleigh look like gutter rats.

4/7/2011 8:41:13 PM

if you live in Miami proper, your cocaine intake will be sure to rise 1000%

4/7/2011 9:04:05 PM

I currently live in the south Fl area. I am lookin forward to movin back to nc.

4/8/2011 12:45:55 AM

Headin down in about two weeks, can't freaking wait

This thread has actually been very helpful so far.

Born and raised in FL for most of my life, and hearing these perspectives is kinda bracing me for it all again because a lot of these tips are completely right. I am relocating from Southeast VA and obvi went to State so, that will have been like 8 of the last ten years since graduating high school spent in the mid-Atlantic. It should be a culture shock going back to FL fulltime....

[Edited on April 16, 2011 at 1:57 AM. Reason : ]

4/16/2011 1:45:35 AM

Used to live in Miami Beach so here is my take

Location: I lived on the bay side of South Beach and still think it is the best place to live in the area. You don't get all the stuff said in this thread about south beach but you are still close enough to walk to all the great bars and beach. Most of the condos are very affordable although were built rich right before the crash. I got a furnished 2br condo with slanted views of the bay for 1k utilities included.

Neighborhood: This is like a highly jewish neighborhood but has whole foods, publix, and all you need right there in walking distance. A lot of people ride beach bikes around. Lincoln road shopping is right there as well. I lived on alton road right by flamingo park. The park is an amazing place after 5 when its not hot. Great basketball pickup games (dwade, shaq, raja, (and i guess lebron now) often come out there and play). Just from being in that park you can get a real idea of the women in the neighborhood. 10 after 10 would walk through walking their dogs. These are really rich girls who did what you did from america, argentina, russia and israel. As long as you appear to have a decent job and money, they WILL fuck you.

Traffic. I headed against the grain of traffic most of the time because of where I lived. 95 north of miami is brutal in both directions all day every weekday. Traveling south from miami in the morning or north to miami in the afternoon is fine. Getting into south beach on a friday or saturday evening/night will be pure gridlock.

Unless you are looking go downtown to brickell or to little havanna to get some culture, the city of miami is useless and dangerous. Its just like being in a 2nd world country. People trying to sell fruit and wash your car at every stoplight, slums, etc.

Other places to live: Miami Beach (non south beach), Sunny isles(All Russians), Key biscayne(top notch, super rich) and Brickell(young bankers). I feel like living anywhere else would have a lowered quality of life and you wouldn't even have the energy to drive to the cool places through traffic, park and then be there.

You might want to check out coconut grove. Its cool for college people but I'm not a big fan.

Trains: The trains are a joke and only work if by chance, you live near it and work near it. They don't go to any of the places you would expect (airport, beach, stadiums, amtrak) and are often several minutes late.

Downtown has a "people mover" like downtown detroit. Its not a train its just a way to get around the shitty downtown area. Bayside and Brickell are the only things worth going to downtown.

Final thought: Don't move to Miami. Move to Miami Beach. Miami Beach is the city most people refer to when they say they are going to Miami and South Beach is usually the exact place they are going. TV rarely shows anything in Miami. Its all Miami Beach.

[Edited on April 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM. Reason : I worked in key biscayne]

4/16/2011 10:20:47 AM

Quote :

"That's pretty cool actually. Just to unplug, and try a new place. I know nothing of Miami, but best of luck!"

Thanks man.

I am taking some finance courses though over the summer because I need to get them out of the way during this mini-retirement.

I consider it a mini-retirement, but it's more like I've come into a little bit of money, enough to survive, enough to take a time out and be paid to go back to school.

I am gonna take them at Miami-Dade College just to get it done. I know that's kind of a step-down from State, but I chose the area because I could do all the stuff and still get the credential and be close to family. I just applied for MDC over the summer a few days ago, so at least I have something to do. Most other programs are full, and U Miami wasn't cost effective comparatively or where I'll be doing my primary course of study. MDC is just for the prereq transfer credits.

Anyone hiring in the finance field? I don't need to work, but it's disconcerting to not have a job. I know unemployment is lower there. I guess I could always be a bagboy at Publix - hear that's a great place to pickup ladies.

4/16/2011 2:35:28 PM

24 and mini retirement? inheritance money? I hope you are good in spanish...if not, take courses. You should of move to NOVA to get on as a contractor for the feds, which sometimes leads to perm.

4/16/2011 11:28:19 PM

^don't come in here making shit up.

[Edited on April 17, 2011 at 1:18 AM. Reason : you don't need spanish]

4/17/2011 1:18:25 AM

^^ His advice is spot on. Get a job with the feds now, they'll be the only employer in the usa when communism takes over in a few years. May as well be a middle manager when that happens

4/17/2011 1:53:36 AM

wow, face has really shit on this thread with all his trolling

4/17/2011 3:45:25 AM

nah the trolling is legit - I provide and receive my fair amount in chit chat, so it's karma

The movers called me and are coming in a week. So do I preemptively pack my stuff to keep their fingers off it or do I just lounge and let them do all the work?

Shoot, man, I need to mount my Sunpass pretty soon.....

my stomach isn't ready for south beach.

Back here posting in Tdub because of excessive loneliness. I think that the loneliest time in your life is during a move if you're not married, but maybe I'll find a wife in Miami.

4/17/2011 8:36:50 PM

It's happening this weekend folks.

I am taking applications for a bilingual maid.


Either way, I am really happy the market is so ready for someone who wants to get a place!

4/26/2011 11:15:10 PM

Find some Molly and go to Space.

Thank me later!

4/26/2011 11:24:08 PM

Beware of con-artist maids.

4/26/2011 11:28:19 PM

What's a Molly and where's Space?

I am there this weekend!!! Can't wait.

4/26/2011 11:28:57 PM

Went to Wet Willie's on South Beach with some friends that were in town this past weekend. AMAZING alcoholic slushies, and love that you can take it to go on the beach if you want. It's like $10 for a large but damn are they good and strong.

4/26/2011 11:53:20 PM

The best is fourth of July they had like 15 energy drink companies handing out energy drinks for free to promote new flavors and shit. We made so many mixers with that and swam/played touch football. I'm surprised i didn't have a heart attach. I drunk nothing but energy drinks the whole weekend, some with vodka, some not, one with absinthe. Didn't sleep for 36 hours.

4/27/2011 12:15:56 AM

Ok so I have lived here now for a week, and it's hot as balls, and I am getting a lot of sun.

People drive crazy, but the food is great, and I am more stressed than I was before.

I started working on my masters program instead of being a loaf, and it's harder than I remember. I am more stressed now than before, except the latitude is different.
Anyone else down here?

5/10/2011 9:28:03 PM

Shit...was hoping you wouldn't find the internets down there.

5/10/2011 9:29:05 PM

This place was awesome enough for 7 days+ to displace intarweb usage

but then I got set up and
I has founds them

5/10/2011 9:31:50 PM

I apologize sir...I didn't realize this was a Lounge thread. Good luck and enjoy Miami!

5/10/2011 9:34:13 PM

How are you more stressed than before?

5/10/2011 10:55:28 PM

Just stressed because who knows


Spanish is turning into a major barrier because the really hot chicks all speak spanish better than they do English

FML for not taking Spanish

E Man my life is set up - let's host a Tdub party Miami when the shit gets set up right - not just u and me though cuz that's gay we gotta have an NCSU enclave down here

6/21/2011 9:33:59 PM

iEstas bonita!
¿Quieres ver mi casa?

6/21/2011 11:49:33 PM

what is this "lauderdale-by-the-sea" place?

6/22/2011 7:56:59 AM

^ an incredibly small enclave that wanted its own city limits that is BRUTAL on parking and doesn't give a shit

I GOT A PARKING TICKET THERE ON CHRISTMAS DAY

CHRISTMAS DAY

because 24/7 apparently means 24/7 even though meters typically exclude holidays, especially when Christmas also is happening on a Sunday

6/22/2011 11:27:33 PM

glad you are liking miami, Fort lauderdale is a little better for hot spanish women speaking english. not as diverse as south beach but can be a nice change of pace.

I missed this whole thread.
We live in Pembroke Pines and like that we can get to most places in about 25 minutes...

We will probably be hosting some NCSU football game watching parties in the fall... met a couple of state fans at the local ale house a couple of times!

6/23/2011 9:19:22 AM

When you learn to speak russian go up to sunny isles beach. O. MY. GOSH.

6/23/2011 11:49:13 AM

6/23/2011 1:08:12 PM

mini retirement at 24 makes my head want to explode

6/23/2011 3:13:48 PM

^ it's harder than I thought and dangerously becoming addictive.

I am taking some random classes around here for fun in the meantime.

Did you know that if you get a 4.0 GPA at one of the local schools here the internet window displays a fireworks marquee Makes me feel like I beat Super Mario or something. Perhaps it's appropriately super-rewarding for nerds to see the graphic. I'll have to do Spanish too I guess....

I love FL

6/23/2011 4:18:22 PM