Wynwood, Miami

On my recent trip to Miami I spent a memorable Sunday afternoon in the Wynwood District of Miami. Having been in the city 2 weeks earlier for WMC/Spring Break, my inital visit was taken up by the music conference, along with pool parties and copious mojito's on the  South Beach.

On my return I was convinced by my host Roger to head across the Bay and check out the 'up and coming' Wynwood or Art and Fashion District as it is commonly known as.  The reference to 'art' led me to believe I would be walking around some galleries and observing Monet's and Picasso's. Throw in the 'fashion' tag and it was not really my idea of my last Sunday afternoon in Miami but what the heck let's check it out.

After a decent coffee at Panther Cafe we went for walk around arguably the coolest 'up and coming' creative district in the US right now - if not the world. Surely.

As we explored the it seemed like every wall of abandoned warehouses were covered in world class graffiti and detailed street art.  Heck even people's backyards were part of the action!  From cult heroes like Obey to up and coming caricatures, the former industrial district was being overtaken with bright, neon and pastel murals. Instead of running away to join the circus, it felt like every established street artist was running away to Miami make their mark on Wynwood before it got too saturated.

Given it was a Sunday the streets were relatively quiet, but I got the impression it was like that every day. The eeriness calmness was part of its charm.  It reminded me of visiting Brooklyn about 5 years ago, just as every flannel-shirt wearing blogger was descending on it's shores.  You couldn't quite put the finger on the coolness of the area, as there seemed no central hub, no visible sign of WHY it was trendy. But every so often you would pass a little carpark party, a small make shift cafe or a back street boutique, in between mechanics and junk yards. Hidden away from the main stream.

After covering most of the area by foot, Roger and I parked up at the trendy Wood Tavern to try a few local boutique beers on tap from traditional Red Cups. Here local artists were making live drawings from bags full of Sharpies, while hipsters and social outcasts mixed and mingled around games of cornhole.  Pitchfork indie dance classics from DFA and Modular came from the jovial DJ's, a far cry from the EDM pollutions of the recent Ultra Festival.

I can't think of many better ways to spend an afternoon.  Art + beers + cornhole in one of the hipest new neighbourhoods in the world. I would love to get back from the famous Art Basel festival in December when Miami comes alive with art industry chin-strokers from all over the world. Watch this space!