Welcome Back, AAJ!

Dear AAJ Colleague:

Welcome to South Florida! All of us here at Leesfield & Partners wish you a successful and enjoyable visit to South Florida. If there is anything you need while you are here, including restaurant recommendations and activities for your families and nightlife, please feel free to call us or visit our website at:

305-854-4900 or 800-836-6400

https://www.floridainjurylawyer-blawg.com/

You may also call either Justin (305-965-2755) or me (305-505-3250) in case you need any last minute recommendations for activities. We look forward to seeing you at the Convention.

In the past, many of you have been interested in a post-convention trip to beautiful Key West. Our office of 40 years will be open and warmly greet you. For more information on Key West restaurants or activities, please contact Carmen Marrero at 305-854-4900.

Warm regards and let’s have a great convention in South Florida.

Warm Regards,

Ira H. Leesfield

Justin B. Shapiro

 

Things to Do in Miami

Miami Seaquarium

Founded in 1955, Miami Seaquarium is one of the city’s most recognizable attractions. The Seaquarium is home to thousands of aquatic species, including sting rays, dolphins, manatees, the endangered sea turtles and more. The Seaquarium offers visitors the opportunity to learn about these species and the importance of conservation while also providing an opportunity to interact with some of the animals. Click here for more information.

Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science

The Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a premiere science museum spanning four buildings located at the Maurice A. Ferré Park. Named for Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost, two patrons of art and culture in South Florida, the museum features a planetarium and aquarium, offering immersive experiences to visitors with the aim of fostering curiosity and education. For more information, click here.

Superblue Miami

Superblue Miami offers visitors an immersive art exploration experience via transcendent lightwork and astonishing digital creations. Visitors may walk among 50,00 square feet of art installations, becoming a part of it themselves. Installations currently open include a mirrored labyrinth, biometric artwork and behemoth murals. Click here to plan your visit.

Miami Design District

Miami’s Design District gives tourists and locals alike a glimpse into the world’s most luxurious brands, world-class dining and art events. Shops available in the neighborhood include Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Dior and Cartier. About 11 restaurants are available, including Swan & Bar Bevy, Le Jardinier and Mia’s Market. Click here for more information on Miami Design District.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is the former home of James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune. Built on the ancestral lands of the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes of Florida, the villa is among Miami’s most easily-recognizable landmarks. The estate merges Mediterranean Revival and Italian Renaissance architecture styles, creating a stunning structure that faces Biscayne Bay. For more information about this landmark and how to visit, click here.

Perez Art Museum Miami

The Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is among one of Downtown Miami’s art hubs that countless pieces of 20th and 21st century art call home. The museum focuses on the vibrant history of Miami and the diverse cultural convergence from around the world that make it such a unique city, paying homage to the diaspora of Latin Americans, Cubans, and Africans. Visit the PAMM website to plan your visit.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, a collection of  rare tropical plants in the heart of Coral Gables that spans 83 acres. Named for Dr. David Fairchild, an impassioned botanist and plant explorer, the Fairchild Garden is a quiet place to connect with nature in one of America’s most bustling cities.

Coconut Grove

Stroll around Miami’s oldest neighborhood, established in the 1800s. Visit local shops, get a bite to eat at a local cafe, or cool off underneath the area’s sprawling banyan trees. In Coconut Grove, there’s plenty to do and see, including the Barnacle Historic State Park. This park is centered around the neighborhood’s oldest home in its original location. Originally owned by author and environmentalist, Ralph M. Monroe, this 1890s home gives visitors a glimpse into the area’s lush, natural greenery while enjoying waterfront views.

Wynwood Walls

Be the envy of all your friends back home with the Wynwood Walls as the backdrop for your photos. The “open-air” art gallery is unique to Miami was formed nearly two decades ago by developer Tony Goldman. The walls feature stunning murals, some of which touch upon several of the most pressing political and socio-economic issues facing generations today such as environmental degradation, gun violence, racial divides and more.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Catch a show at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The center, which opened nearly 20 years ago, acts as the city’s cultural hub for ballet performances, live music and plays featuring artists of all mediums from all over the world. Click Here for a look at upcoming events.

The Miami International Boat Show 

The Miami International Boat Show takes place Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, and ends on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. The event is the largest boat and yacht show in the world, offering individuals the opportunity to explore the latest aquatic innovations. Every year, hundreds of people from all over the world travel to Miami for the show, which takes place both on land and on the water. The water components of the show will take place at the Venetian Marina, Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina, and IGY Yacht Haven Grande Miami. Click Here to check out the latest updates about the event.

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival 

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is an artist’s haven, taking place Feb. 15-17. The 61st installment of the annual, three-day event will take place in Coconut Grove — a location long-considered to be the original Miami art district. What began as an art show on a clothesline to promote a local production has grown to be among the largest outdoor art festivals in the country. For more information, go to www.cgaf.com.

 

Places to Eat in Miami

Uchi Miami – Uchi offers an extensive cocktail menu and elevates Japanese cuisine with the creativity of James Beard Award‑winning chef, Tyson Cole

• • 252 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127
  • 305-995-0915

Makoto – Makoto reimagines traditional Japanese cuisine and brings it into the 21st century with the skill and finesse of one of the world’s most-accomplished chefs, Makoto Okuwa.

• • 9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154
  • 305-864-8600

Carbone Miami – With roots in New York, Carbone brings a sense of style and opulence to Miami Beach with its Italian-American cuisine.

• • 49 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
  • reservations@carbonemiami.com

Pastis Miami – Anyone with a hankering for French cuisine is in for a treat at Pastis Miami, a restaurant offering French favorites such as escargots, onion soup and steak frites.

• • 380 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127
  • 305-686-3050

Joe’s Stone Crab – What was once the small lunch counter of restauranteur Joe Weiss in 1913 has since flourished to be among the most recognizable names in the Miami hospitality business. If you stop in, don’t forget to ask for the legendary Key lime pie!

• • • 11 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
    • 305-673-0365

Prime 112 Restaurant – Located in the historic Browns Hotel, Prime 112 offers diners a contemporary menu of Italian-inspired dishes.

• • 112 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
  • 305-532-8112

Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen – Sunday brunch is calling, and it’s telling you to visit Abbalé Telavivian Kitchen. Check out this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that specializes in dishes from Tel Aviv.

• • 864 Commerce St., Miami Beach, FL 33139
  • 239-933-6422

Otto & Pepe – No need to travel for the delectable tastes of Italy, Otto & Pepe brings the flavor to you with a focus on natural wines and decadent pastas.

• • 126 NW 27th Street, Miami, FL 33127
  • 305-989-3181

Sexy Fish Miami – Sexy Fish offers scrumptious Japanese-inspired meals of sushi, sashimi, seafood, fish, and meat cooked on a Robata grill.

• • 1001 S Miami Ave. Miami, FL 33130
  • 305-889-7888

Dirty French Steakhouse Miami – Dirty French is where the classic elegance of Maxim’s of Paris and the traditions of an American Steakhouse merge. Located in the heart of Brickell, the steakhouse offers delicious meals with unmatched ambiance.

• • 1200 Brickell Ave. Miami, FL 33131
  • 305-990-8707

Bouchon Bistro – The Bouchon Bistro brings a little bit of that French “je ne sais quoi” to one of Miami’s most famed neighborhoods.

• • 2101 Galiano St, Coral Gables, FL 33134
  • 305-990-1360

Zucca – Zucca is the spot for diners who want inventive cocktails and dishes and wines that give a little taste of Italy.

• • 162 Alcazar Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
  • 786-580-3731

Hillstone – Hillstone is your destination for American dishes including steaks and burgers in an upscale environment.

• • 201 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
  • 305-529-0141

Christy’s Restaurant – Christy’s has been a landmark in the heart of Coral Gables for the last four decades, ensuring customers are happy with their signature steak and seafood dishes as well as other famed menu items like Caesar salad and baked Alaska.

• • 3101 Ponce de Leon, Miami, FL 33134
  • 305-446-1400

Doc B’s – For that taste of comfort and American cuisine, head over to Doc B’s. Named for the owner’s father and fashioned to mimic the physician’s bedside manner, Doc B’s gives diners a taste of home with a fresh ingredients guarantee.

• • 301 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134
  • 786-864-1220

Sea Grill – Located within Merrick Park, one of Miami’s most-popular shopping malls, Sea Grill offers an authentic Greek fine-dining experience. The menu includes Mediterranean

• • 4250 Salzedo St #1425, Coral Gables, FL 33146
  • 305-447-3990

Maiz y Agave – At Maiz y Agave, diners can unwind in the restaurant’s casual atmosphere while savoring authentic Mexican flavors in dishes like tacos, cochinita pibil, and tlayudas.

• • 375 Miracle Mile, Miami, FL 33134
  • 305-723-9898

 

 

 

 

 

Looking to Explore Key West? We’ve Got You Covered!

If you’re interested in extending your South Florida adventure to explore the Florida Keys, Leesfield & Partners knows just where you should go. The firm has occupied a Key West office on historic Whitehead Street since at least the 1980s, but the firm’s ties to the area date much further back than that. In 1973, while a fledgling attorney, Mr. Leesfield tried his first case in Key West.

Since then, the firm has represented thousands of Key West clients, securing numerous record settlements and verdicts. With all that time spent in Key West, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have learned their way around like locals. Check out these recommendations below!

5 Things to do in Key West

1. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park – Transport yourself back through time as you walk through the 1845 fort that houses the most extensive collection of Civil War era canons in the U.S.
2. Key West Lighthouse – Visit the Key West Lighthouse, a beacon to ships in the night and a landmark for the city.
3. Sunset Sail – If you’re going to take a sunset sail, Key West is certainly the place to do it. There are a plethora of rental companies who take guests on an end-of-day cruise.
4. Earnest Hemingway House – Spanning 1.5 acres, the mansion of renowned author Earnest Hemingway is a worthy destination for aspiring authors and bookworms alike. The Spanish-Colonial-style residence was home to the writer and his second wife, Pauline Pfeiffer, an accomplished journalist who wrote for publications like Vogue and Vanity Fair. During your stay, don’t forget to say hello to the many six-toed cats dwelling on the property.
5. Mel Fisher Maritime Museum – Visit the Mel fisher Maritime Museum to get a glimpse at some of the interesting treasures and artifacts recovered from shipwrecks all over the world.

5 Places to Eat in Key West

1. Antonia’s – Antonia’s is a fusion of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine that celebrates 25 seasons in Key West this year, making it a Key West staple.

• • 615 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
  • 305-294-6565

2. Seaside Cafe at the Mansion – Any tourists hoping to get an eye-full of Florida’s sparkling waters may do so at this outdoor community mainstay.

• • 1400 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
  • 305-340-8167

3. First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery – An iconic Key West favorite, First Flight is the option for anyone with an aviation fascination and an appetite.

• • 301 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040
  • 305-293-8484

4. Moon Dog Cafe – Diners hoping to get traditional American cuisine with a trendy atmosphere should look no further than the Moon Dog Cafe.

• • 823 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040
  • 305-741-7699

5.  Thirsty Mermaid – The Thirsty Mermaid offers patrons the chance to enjoy freshly-caught and locally-sourced seafood.

• • 521 Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040
  • 305-204-4828

Interested in a post-convention trip to Key West? Call 305-854-4900.