December 19 – Miami, USA

welcome to Wynwood

Weather – 27º, sunny

Temper Tot

Steps – 15,078

Humidity – 80%

The Wynwood neighbourhood of Miami has been on our to-visit list for a while. We did a drive by when on a Hop On-Hop Off bus a few years ago and have always planned to return on foot.

The main draw (for us at least) are the murals and other art covering mostly exterior walls of buildings, but also telephone poles, fire hydrants, and other exteriors.

Wynwood Saints

Wynwood is not walkable from Miami Beach. We took the 30 min bus ride there and back - on the way back the ride was free because the machine on the bus was on the fritz.

indoor piece

We went a bit early and found a The Panther Café for breakfast. Then we met Lance, our guide, for the 1 hr walking tour. There are many tours of Wynwood art, but this particular tour got us actually into Wynwood Walls.

Wynwood Walls is an outdoor and indoor museum of streel art. Most of the art was made using spray paint, but you’d hardly notice as the pieces are so intricate and detailed. Each one is replaced every 3 years or so, as they want to make room for the next one and being outdoor, they deteriorate – they don’t really restore any of them.

3D

There are a few exceptions to this…one being the Last Supper mural. This was one of my 2 favourite pieces here.

The Betsy Orb

My other favourite were a few pieces all made with smashed glass – not pieces of smashed glass assembled like a mosaic, but one piece of glass that the artist smashed. I would never have guessed this is how the pieces were made until I looked super closely. I’ve never seen anything like these before.

sitting on art

This tour was only an hour and could definitely been longer.

After the tour we found a brewery. Wynwood, a former warehouse and garments district was transformed in the 1990s into a hip area, home to micro breweries, art galleries, and shops.

Back on the bus and we were home in time for siesta, wine hour and one last dip into Miami night life.

Last Supper - too big to get it all in a photo

so detailed

We learned from our Art Deco tour that The Besty Hotel had evening jazz piano. We thought we’d start out here…nope, the pianist called in sick. They were trying to get another player to come, but in the meantime we decided we’d have dinner, then come back on the way home.

each one piece of smashed glass

We went back to Espanola Way to Oh! Mexican. We enjoyed it last time…why not? A warm Friday night was MUCH more happening than a rainy Monday afternoon.

After dinner we were back to The Betsy…the found a new (oooold) pianist. He was good but mostly played Christmas carols when he wasn’t taking a break…musicians!

Chris and the art