United States: Miami

If the city of Miami is Picasso’s muse, then Lincoln Road 111 is – without a doubt – his blank canvas. 

Let me explain. To the outside eye, the steel building designed by Swiss architects Herzog and de Meuron appears to be nothing outside of the ordinary.  

But if the muse is what makes the canvas a piece of art, the city of Miami is what makes the 111 Lincoln Road an event planner’s masterpiece. 

With jaw-dropping views overlooking the city of Miami Beach, the 111 becomes a 25,000 square foot indoor/outdoor explosion of color and light. 

Located in the heart of South Beach, on – yes, you guessed it – Lincoln Road, this modern marvel offers an event space perfect for those looking to host meetings, incentives, conferences, and conventions (MICE) with a breath-taking panoramic outlook of the city skyline in every direction. 

The wall-lees, window-less open air venue has nothing but 34 foot ceilings to protect your hair from the rain and skin from the sun. An unforgettable space to enjoy Miami’s beautiful weather and cityscape without any elemental harm to guests or event décor, it’s no wonder the building is home to various art and fashion shows, corporate networking events, and video/photo shoots. 

And let’s just take a second to admit that this open-air space could not be more suitable for the times than, well…right now.  

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. It’s summer 2020 and we’re in the beginning-ish stages of the pandemic. I return home for a month to visit my family in Kansas after spending the past three months in ‘quarantine heaven,’ only to find that my very COVID compliant parents refuse to go to any restaurant, café, or activity-unless it is outside. 

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I was part of the young and healthy party demographic that pretty much ignored the pandemic and disregarded the whole idea of quarantine. However, after some much needed parental guidance, I came to accept that the sun and fresh air were basically another version of Clorox. I mean, the CDC itself even says so – explaining, how “proper ventilation with outside air can help reduce the concentration of airborne contaminants, including viruses, indoors.”

Which is what makes the 111 a blessing in disguise. Like a puff of air blows the fire off a candle, the ocean breeze blows the COVID off the 111’s event space. 

Essentially, the space provides all the fresh air health benefits of being outside, with the comfort of being inside.   

What’s more, is that 111 Lincoln Road has its own built-in dining and shopping experience. Oh, and it has its own parking. 

For the Saturday shopper, come with nothing and leave with everything – and I mean literally. In full embrace of the Miami style, shop for summer clothing at Osklen (urban style meets nature’s elegance),  head over to Ted Baker for a much needed beach bag, stop at M.A.C. to get your face Brickell ready, and then peak into Framed to protect your eyes from that South Florida sun. Then, after a sweaty day on the town, pop into Ja Malone and emerge smelling like a field of flowers. 

I mean, I’m not going to tell you to come empty handed or ‘accidently’ leave your luggage at the airport, but… it wouldn’t be half bad if you did. 

Juvia, the 111’s famous rooftop restaurant, is Miami’s holy trinity of international cuisine – combining French, Japanese, and Peruvian cooking into one divine creation. 

And for those with a sweet-tooth, this South Beach venue has you covered. Those needing to cool down from a long day in the sun can enjoy Miami-made ice-cream at Paletas Morelias,  while others hoping to avoid the brain freeze may opt for an Italian pastry alongside a smooth cup of coffee at Rosetta Bakery to end the night. 

But if none of those options speak to your newfound Miami soul, the 111 also has an in house Shake Shack (classic American burgers and fries) and Choco Matte (Japanese/London Soho fusion) for those post event festivities.