“WHEN THE WINDS of change blow,” an old Chinese proverb notes, “some people build walls and others build windmills.” It’s fair to say that Mike Eidson and Dean C. Colson are master constructors of both—in the best sense possible. On one hand, the pair are, respectively, Senior Partner and Managing Partner of the venerable Coral Gables law firm Colson Hicks Eidson, which has established itself in Miami and around the globe over the last half century-plus as the gold standard

LOCAL PINECREST NOVELIST , alternative medicine practitioner, and South Florida Writers Association (SFWA) Conference Director C.V. Shaw is a whirlwind of positivity—and about as busy as she sounds. Yet she still kindly took the time to speak with AQUA Pinecrest about her literary influences, her quantum energy work, how she came to write a tale of treachery, magic, and passion set in the lush countryside of sixteenth-century England, and what aspiring scribes can expect from

IN A TIME of hectic schedules, information overload, and outright disinformation, it isn’t always easy to discern what the best—and healthiest—choices are for not only ourselves but our families. Or at least it wasn’t until metabolic science researcher, biomedical PhD, and local mom of four Madina Sokolov launched Hormones & Neurons, a delightfully inspiring, sometimes whimsical, always edifying channel designed to take science out of the ivory tower and make it fun, accessi

PERHAPS THE DEFINING characteristic of the Mexican painter, musician, and writer Teá Mox is her unapologetic love for and exploration of so many creative objects/mediums. Here, after all, is an artist whose lush, near-symphonic EP Sailors —produced and recorded entirely by herself in her bedroom (!)—is not only one best dream pop releases in recent memory, but also is perfectly complimented by her lovely series of accompanying paintings, ethereal self-shot avant garde videos,

“BELIEVE IN WHAT you sell,” Michael Martinez tells AQUA Pinecrest, “and, trust me, you will enjoy much more success.” The Miami born and raised ONE Sotheby’s International Realty Senior Vice President certainly knows of which he speaks: On the success side of the ledge, over the last quarter century he’s been a certified Top Producer company-wide for more than a dozen years with career gross sales approaching $2 billion. (He earned the distinction of #1Top Producer, period, i

ONE WOMAN IN OUR midst who has dedicated her life to advancing greatness and progress is Friends of Miami Animals (FOMA) Founder and President Yolanda Berkowitz. “I actually stumbled into animal welfare after nearly 20 years advocating for kids in foster care,” Berkowitz tells AQUA Pinecrest. “I’ve always loved animals, but for a long time, I was more of an advocate from the sidelines. It wasn’t until I saw how many of the same systemic failures affecting kids—such as lack of

HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA , we are well-acquainted with the yearly influx of snowbirds, those winter-weary residents from the Northeast, Canada, and other cold environs who journey here to enjoy the sunshine and sand. For South Floridians who seek a change of seasons, however, we must journey in the other direction—which is exactly what my wife Pam and I did on a recent trip to upstate New York, where we boarded the American Cruise Lines ship American Glory for a nine-day Fall Fo

BORN IN NORTHERN MEXICO and raised mostly in Chihuahua, Magnolia Orli came to Miami as an academic but has quickly blossomed into one of the most passionate and skilled supporters and documentarians of the Miami music scene. “After finishing my Ph.D., I was drawn to Miami for its vibrant cultural scene and the predominance of Spanish,” the South Miami writer tells AQUA. “I wanted to raise my son in a place where bilingualism is not only accepted but celebrated. Miami quickly

WHEN THE SANCTUARY of the Arts first opened in the former sanctum of the First Church of Christ, Scientist on Andalusia Avenue in Coral Gables, its newly minted director Rafi Maldonado-Lopez had a sign hoisted up amidst the Romanesque columns of its front facade which simply read: “Yes, This is It.”   Four years later, the sign is no longer needed—the Sanctuary now hosts a dizzyingly diverse array of up to 55 shows per year, drawing around 25,000 patrons.   “People just walk

“THE LONGER I LIVE,” the architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “the more beautiful life becomes.” Of course, sometimes life can use an assist. That is where the new Regency Parc ultra-luxury residential tower in the heart of Coral Gables comes in.   This instantly iconic miracle of design exudes the magnificence of a breathtaking Lake Cuomo villa and boasts 126 spacious “Sky Residences” ranging from 1,768 to 12,000 square feet. But it also includes a jaw-dropping array of

MANNY GARAVITO decided to become a comedian the moment HR told him to stop telling jokes at the office.   “I was working in corporate banking, wearing a tie, making my coworkers laugh, and occasionally getting pulled into awkward conversations about ‘professionalism,’” Garavito says. “Tough crowd!”   Garavito did his first open mic in 2009 at the old Miami Improv in Coconut Grove—and bombed. “It was an out of body experience on stage,” he recalls. “But I looked into the crow

IT STARTED AS A cross-country road trip to see friends in Sedona, Arizona. Afterward, almost on a whim, my wife and I opted to head to Palm Springs, California, to see the city so many Hollywood celebrities have called home. After a whirlwind three days, the location exceeded all our expectations, and we left totally smitten, vowing to return at our next opportunity.   AN OASIS Called by many “Hollywood’s Desert Playground,” this sparkling oasis, a little over 100 miles east

FEW PROJECTS have impacted how Floridians travel more than Brightline. Beginning in 2012, when Fortress Investment Group announced the...

THE LINEAGE OF THE Allen Morris Company is about to transform Coral Gables once again. The family company responsible for the notable...

WHEN YOU SEE 400  women in workout gear walking the streets of Miami, you might think it’s a parade or a protest. In reality, it’s Girls...

WE CAUGHT UP WITH prominent lawyer Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson, president and senior partner of Colson Hicks Eidson in Coral Gables to learn...

A 10-YEAR-OLD PINECREST shop run by a local mom of three has just expanded into a two-story space perfect for her custom clothing and...

MIRACLE MILE , the legendary promenade in Coral Gables, is full of European architecture and Miami-style shops, but walking into Private...