Week of November 29 – December 6, 2010

Last week, GEM NYC volunteered their time with the New York Cares Organization by servicing the underprivileged population of the Church of St. Francis Xavier (Flatiron District) with a hot meal and a warm smile this Thanksgiving. We were pleased to interact with these individuals as they taught us so much about being THANKFUL… Here at GEM, we’re thankful every week to have the privilege of sharing insights about your wonderful city–the Big Apple, New York – and the cool events, places, and products on offer.

Happy Cyber Monday, everybody! This week, we’d like to show you some of the BEST deals “in digital town” - for Cyber Monday (11/29), and much more! Also, don’t forget to share some of your own GEM NYC finds, or if you’d like to drop us a line please do so at gem@ulmedia.net.

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Chances are if you’re online today, it’s probably because you’re trying to buy a gift for someone (or maybe one for yourself!). The National Retail Foundation anticipates that online holiday shopping will increase about 10 percent this year, with over 100 million people pointing and clicking to their holiday heart’s content. So what are some of the best deals out there? See below : )


ICE ICE BABY!

Whether you want to impress the water-cooler gang at the office holiday party, or find Christmas presents that your loved ones won't re-gift, today's deal is for you. Just surf over to Ice.com where today's deal will get you $100 off the site's gorgeous jewelry for just $50. This means that by purchasing a certificate at Livingsocial.com, at a price of $50 – you’ll be able to claim $100 off of your Ice.com purchase today! From bracelets to fashion rings to cuff links and studs, this online jeweler, trusted since 1999, has a massive selection of everything you need to keep yourself, or your special someone, looking like a million bucks. Want to sport some accoutrements with color? Check out the selection of gemstones and pearl jewelry. At 50% off, you can afford to accessorize in style. That's what we call twice the Ice for half the price.

Knock another $1 off this deal when you "like" Ice.com on Facebook.

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FANCY FEET

$20 OFF + FREE SHIPPING = SHOE BLISS! Thanks to ShoeWoo, you can enjoy doorbuster deals starting as low as $29.99 (select styles), plus take $20 off of a purchase of $75 or more online today! The icing on top is that today you get free shipping on ANY purchase, regardless of the sales amount… Now that’s a SWEET deal! Satisfy your shoe-holic tendencies online today by visiting the virtual ShoeWoo shop here.

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MAJOR SHOPPING LOW-DOWN!

The above sales too tame for you? - Not a stranger to online buying, I see – well check out the roster of online sales, savings and deals that will make your mouth water!

Bloomingdale’s: You get $50 off every $250 spend, except for beauty and fine jewelry.

Bluefly: The already discounted stock at this site is getting an additional 10 to 20 percent off.

Endless: Again, the more you spend, the better the discount gets. Just don’t believe that if you spend more, you save more. That just doesn’t make any sense.

French Connection: 40 percent off and free shipping on orders over $125? What’s not to like about that?

JC Penney: Free shipping on all orders over $25, plus discounts on over 40,000 items in the store.

Macy’s: Free shipping on orders over $75, sales on stuff in nearly every department (just not mattresses, sorry) and 25 to 40 percent off on clearance items.

Max and Chloe: Need jewelry? Be sure to check out the deals here — this site is trying out the same spend more, take more off strategy as other smart stores.

Shopbop.com: The more you spend, the better your discounts gets. A cart filled with $250 will earn you $50 off, but if you spend $1,500, you get $500 off.

Stila: Get up to 75 percent off makeup and other beauty products.

Tory Burch: If you spend $300, you get 30 percent off. Plus, there’s a limited edition tote if you spend over $150 and free shipping and gift wrap no matter what your order looks like.

Urban Outfitters: Last day for free shipping! Men’s outerwear is up to 40 percent off, and the Thanksgiving Sale is still going strong.

Now, this isn’t a comprehensive listing, so be sure to search far and wide before you buy — you might be able to get a better deal somewhere else. Happy shopping, and be sure to let us know what deals you score!

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CELEBRATE WINTER

On Monday, November 29, 2010 the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District and presenting sponsor Time Warner will host the Eleventh Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square – New York City’s largest holiday festival!

Winter’s Eve kicks off with a neighborhood tree lighting ceremony and features free entertainment, food tastings, in-store activities and shopping around and about this colorful and vibrant neighborhood. Stores, restaurants, cultural organizations and public spaces in the district will be buzzing with activities for both children and adults.

At the same time, sidewalks along Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street will be alive with performers, street musicians, jugglers, stilt-walkers and more, making for a festive fun-filled stroll through the streets of this dynamic Upper West Side neighborhood.

WHEN: Monday, November 29, 2010, 5:30 PM, Rain, Snow or Shine!

WHERE: The celebration begins with a neighborhood tree lighting ceremony at Dante Park - Broadway& 63rd Street! Festivities continue along Broadway from Time Warner Center to 68th Street.

BY SUBWAY: Take the 1, A, B, C, or D train to 59th Street/Columbus Circle or the 1 train to 66th Street and Broadway.

Admission is free, but please bring a canned food donation to Dante Park at Broadway and 63rd Street and help feed the hungry!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please call 212.581.3774 or email mailto:info@lincolnsquarebid.org for more information or to learn how to get involved.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL WINTER'S EVE MAP & PROGRAM!


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FOOD & MUSICA

FLAMENCO MONDAYS:
Marco Britti, the musician owner of Favela Cubana, combines his love of Brazil and Cuba (the Italian has lived in both) by offering authentic food and live music to boot! In order to make this mélange of cultures, Britti has tapped Oscar Santana, a chef from his bygone steakhouse, Soho Steak.

Santana serves Brazilian-style grilled sirloin with mashed potatoes and string beans along with other national dishes such as Bahia-style shrimp (prepared with peppers, onions, tomato, and coconut milk) and a grilled whole snapper with coconut rice and mango sauce. On the Cuban side, there’s arroz con pollo, ropa vieja, and the like (take a look at the first, second, and third pages of the menu). Naturally, the $7 to $9 cocktails include an assortment of mojitos (one of them made with basil instead of mint) and fresh-fruit caipirinhas (blueberry, raspberry, kiwi, etc.).

Event Details – FLAMENCO STYLE PERFORMANCE

WHEN: Every Monday from 9:00pm to 10:00pm
WHERE: Favela Cubana
543 LaGuardia Pl
New York, NY 10012
http://www.favelacubana.com/

COST: GRATIS!
AGE:18+

Menu: Mains and Sides
Menu: Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Desserts
Menu: Appetizers and Sandwiches

For more information, visit their site, or call directly at 212-777-6500.

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EVENTS

We're headed to Park Slope, Brooklyn for a great cause! Join us for some laughs and libations as an eclectic blend of entertainment and media personalities come together to celebrate the First Anniversary and raise funds for Milagros Day, a courageous endeavor to empower abused women.

About Milagros Day:
Milagros Day, a non-profit organization, provides personal growth and professional development to women who have recently left abusive relationships. Founder Dawn Diaz started Milagros Day in honor of her mother, Carmen Milagros Lugo, whom she witnessed being abused for years. For more info: MilagrosDay.org

* Hosted by GLAAD Award-winning journalist and producer Carlos Anaya.

* Music by the Untouchable, Demolition Crew DJ F.A.M.E

* Comedy showcase featuring Dave Lester, Gina Brillon, and Aldo Marachlian. Combined, these comics have performed on Comedy Central, HBO, Telemundo, and countless other TV, film, and stage appearances with various award credits. Bottom line, they are hilarious!

Agenda for Event on December 2, 2010:

6:45 PM: Doors Open
7PM to 8PM: Happy Hour/Networking
8PM to 10PM: Program (Speakers/Comics)
10PM to 11PM: DJ Fame

WHERE: Garfield's Lounge
274 4th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 222-0290

Drink and Appetizer Specials All Night

$22 Advanced Tickets / $30 Cash at the Door

For more information and to purchase your tickets in advance online at the: Milagros Day Facebook Page

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www.urbanlatino.com

Week of November 22 - November 29, 2010

We are 3 days away from Thanksgiving Day, menu planning is in full swing, kitchen duties have been assigned and we will soon sit around the dinner table with our families and friends, and give thanks for all our blessings.

Thanksgiving Day is also a time when I think about those that are less fortunate and how important it is to give back. If like me, you too share this sentiment the following is a list of organizations that could use your help on Thanksgiving Day and every day...

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BOWERY MISSION

The Bowery Mission has served homeless and hungry New Yorkers since 1879, when its neighborhood came to define the term "skid row"; Our children's programs, called Kids With A Promise, serve at-risk youth and began in 1894 by giving the children of recent immigrants the chance to escape the tenements in the summer. Today, The Bowery Mission & Kids With A Promise is a results-oriented organization that is recognized as one of New York City's most effective.

www.bowery.org. Bowery Mission, 227 Bowery between Rivington and Stanton Streets. (212) 674-3456. To Volunteer contact: Matt Krivich (info@bowery.org)

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CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS

Citymeals-on-Wheels raises private funds to ensure no homebound elderly New Yorker will ever go a day without food or human company. Last year, our

family of contributors helped us bring over 2.1 million nutritious meals to 17,713 frail aged in every borough of New York City. In addition, over 1,500 volunteers collectively spent 62,000 hours visiting and delivering meals to New York's frail aged. One hundred percent of all public donations go to the preparation and delivery of meals.

www.citymeals.org. Citymeals-on-Wheels,355 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017. (212) 687-1234. To volunteer contact: info@citymeals.org

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FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY

In New York City, the number of New Yorkers who report difficulty affording needed food has doubled to four million since 2003. Food Bank For New York City works to end hunger and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers through a comprehensive group of programs that combat hunger and its causes. From food distribution and nutrition curricula to free tax assistance and disaster relief, learn about how our programs help New Yorkers in need throughout the five boroughs.

www.foodbanknyc.org. Food Bank for New York City, 39 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY

10006. (212)566-7855. To Volunteer contact: volunteer@foodbanknyc.org

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GOD'S LOVE WE DELIVER

The mission of God's Love We Deliver is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. We prepare

and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. We also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to our clients, families, care providers and other service organizations. All of our services are provided free of charge without regard to income.

www.glwd.org. God's Love We Deliver, 166 Sixth Ave at Spring St. (212) 294-8100. To check out Neighborhood Meals Distribution Center in your area follow this link: www.glwd.org/volunteers/delivery.jsp To Volunteer contact: Susan Oher (volunteer@glwd.org)

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NEW YORK CARES

New York Cares was founded by a group of friends who wanted to take action against the serious social issues that faced our city in the late 1980s. Finding few options to help, they created their own organization to address the problems from the ground up. New York Cares is now the city's leading volunteer organization, bringing vital volunteer support to

thousands of nonprofit agencies, public schools, and other deserving organizations. Today's volunteers share our founders' vision that we all have a role to play in making our city a better place. There are dozens of programs you can take

part in over Thanksgiving week's from serving meals to running children's art projects. All volunteers are required to go through a one-hour orientation before signing up for a program; the orientations, which can be booked online, take place every Monday through Thursday, until

Tuesday 23rd.

New York Cares, 214 W 29th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves. (212) 228-5000. www.newyorkcares.org. To Volunteer contact: Conor Carroll (info@newyorkcares.org)

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SALVATION ARMY GREATER NY

The Salvation Army is an international, faith-based charitable organization with a simple mission: to help those in need without discrimination. There are overarching themes that run throughout The Salvation Army's faith-based humanitarian efforts in the United States and beyond, such as relief for victims of disasters, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, food, and shelter. The programs and services that each country, territory, or division offers differ drastically depending on the populations they serve. For insta

nce, programs in a third-world country might include a medical clinic or midwifery school, whereas a program in an urban region of the United States might attempt to remedy a lack of extracurricular education for youth by starting a basketball program or a music class.

www.use.salvationarmy.org/gnyd To Volunteer contact: Jennifer Groff (jennifer.groff@use.salvationarmy.org) or (212) 337-7324

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ST. JOHNS BREAD AND LIFE

Bread and Life daily addresses the issues of hunger and poverty in Brooklyn and Queens. Every day, Bread and Life serves over one thousand meals to hungry New Yorkers. We provide these services both at our Lewis Avenue facility and through our unique Mobile Soup Kitchen. For many, the meals that Bread and Life provide are the only meals they

have. Our goal is to combat poverty and help people achieve self-sufficiency, in addition to educating the public and increasing awareness about meals to needy New Yorkers.

www.breadandlife.org. St. JohnR17;s Bread and Life Program, 795 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221. (718) 574-0058.To Volunteer contact: Lavern Spencer (spencerl@breadandlife.org) or (718) 574-0058 ext. 126

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YORKVILLE COMMON PANTRY

YCP's Pantry Program is New York City's largest community-based food pantry and is designed to meet the needs of our families by providing culturally-appropriate and nutritiously-balanced food. Every

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, YCP distributes grocery packages to between 1600 and 1800 families. YCP's Project Dignity is designed to meet other needs of homeless and hungry individuals in our community and consists of a range of services designed to meet the most basic needs of YCP's clients - food, shelter, hygiene, medical services - as well as the larger, more challenging issues they face - long-term housing, health care, benefits and employment. The overall goal of the Program is to serve as a bridge back to health, well-being and self-sufficiency for our homeless and hungry clients.

www.ycp.org. Yorkville Common Pantry, 8 East 109th Street, New York, NY 10029. (917)

720-9700. To Volunteer contact: Gladys Ortiz (gortiz@ycp.org) or (917) 720-9710/ Cell: (646) 280-5939

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Urban Latino

Week of November 16 - November 22, 2010

NYC is always full of surprises! New stores and restaurants open every week. Sometimes stores just pop-up for a limited time. This week GEM has the best of what puts the new in New York.

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DINING

Manhattan’s sleek new contemporary steakhouse, cityhouse, located at 870 Seventh Avenue at the corner of 56th Street, recently opened its doors at the Park Central Hotel, offering a diverse menu of modern American classics and the best cuts of USDA prime beef. Executive Chef, Fabio Capparelli, a budding culinary talent, formerly of the acclaimed BLT Steak at the Ritz-Carlton in Westchester, has crafted innovative signature plates for his latest venture. Dishes include a sublime lobstertini, succulent slow braised tomahawk short ribs and enchanting pistachio crusted diver scallops. Flawlessly prepared steak entrees from the cowboy rib-eye to the filet mignon are accompanied by a vast choice of outstanding sides from Capparelli’s divine mac n’ 5 cheeses and truffle fries to the hen of the woods mushrooms.

Conveniently located near Central Park and just steps away from Carnegie Hall, cityhouse is the ideal spot not only for power business lunches and chic dinners but also pre-theater dining with generous prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner. With the debut of outdoor seating in Spring, cityhouse will be the perfect place to enjoy weekend brunches and signature cocktails such as the refreshing bellatini, made from a unique blend of premium tropical juices, fine French cognac and a touch of ultra premium vodka shaken to a chill and garnished with fresh squeezed key limes.

This Thanksgiving cityhouse will offer a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu which is available on Thanksgiving Day only from 12PM to 8PM. Please visit opentable.com/cityhouse-new-york for reservations or call 212.707.5500.



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GIFTING

To celebrate their 75th anniversary, Harry & David, the leading lifestyle gourmet gifts company, will bring a taste of their home in Oregon’s Rouge River Valley to the big city this holiday season. The two NYC locations, one in Gramercy on 22nd Street and Fifth Avenue and the other at the Columbus Circle holiday market, provide one-stop holiday shopping showcasing the brand’s farm-to-table expertise and new holiday gifts including exclusive wines, award-wining artisanal cheeses, luscious fresh fruits, delectable homemade baked goods and custom handcrafted confections. The pop-ups also offer free delivery service in NYC. For more info visit www.harryanddavid.com

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FASHION

Levi’s has just opened a brand new concept store in NYC. Inspired by its location, the Levi’s Meatpacking 4,500 square-foot store will be the ultimate expression of the Levi’s® brand, complete with an in-store concierge and tailor shop. Levi’s Meatpacking offers an array of unique products including: Levi’s Vintage Collection (LVC) of archival reissues, including replicas of 501s that date as far back as 1890 and limited-edition products, including: Billykirk wallets, hand-dyed silk bandanas and scarves from Upstate, Levi’s Workwear by Filson Oiled Tin-Cloth trucker jackets and the new Workwear byPendleton line, a finely-crafted capsule collection featuring the style and denim of Levi’s® and the authentic wool jacquard fabrics and craftsmanship of Pendleton’s iconic woolens.
Here are a list of prices and just SOME of the services on the menu at the Tailor Shop:

• Misc. Hem options on jeans: starting at $20

• Jacket Sleeve Hem: $30

• Pocket Bag repairs: starting at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Jacket Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Knee Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

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SPA

Spa Merge celebrated its grand opening in March 2010, merging science and nature into one organic spa experience. The spa, located at 102-108 West 57th Street, offers clinical, effective treatments, coupled with naturally invigorating (often vegan and/or edible) products in a peaceful environment. The treatments are not only relaxing and luxurious, but provide amazing results!

Skincare is their specialty and it’s a great time to get a facial to brighten up your complexion for the holiday season. GEM recommends their signature treatment, The Ultimate Merge Facial. The Ultimate Machine by Ageless Esthetics, one of only four units in the entire United States, for the ultimate luxury in facial rejuvenation. The four step process embraces Spa Merge’s concept of merging science and organic nature, combining cutting-edge technology with invigorating product. As the very first treatment system to combine crystal-free microdermabrasion, microcurrent toning, LED light therapy and high frequency stimulation, The Ultimate Machine provides the most versatile and effective facial therapy available. To book your appointment visit www.SpaMerge.com.

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BEAUTY

In celebration of their fall and holiday makeup and skincare collections, Shiseido Cosmetics America opened the Shiseido NYC Limited Edition Beauty Boutique - its first-ever pop-up beauty boutique on Friday, November 12th in NYC. The boutique located at 989 Third Avenue at 59th Street, is open to the public for one week only - from November 12th - 19th from 11AM to 7PM daily. Guests are invited to sample the collections and receive signature Shiseido services during the event.

Other offerings include:

• Gift cards for complimentary facial massage treatments at the Bloomingdales Shiseido counter on 59th Street

• Deluxe samples of signature Shiseido skincare and makeup products

• Information about Shiseido collections including the:

• New Fall 2010 Shiseido Makeup and Limited Edition Holiday Palette

• New Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream

• Best-selling Shiseido Bio Performance Super Corrective Serum

For more info visit: www.shiseido.com

Special Event - November 10th, 2010

GEM NYC will be joining Roots NYC this Wednesday at the:

Vega's Afterwork Tribute to Hector Lavoe

Music By Louie Vega
(Special Hector Lavoe/Fania DJ Set)
Club Cielo's Doors Open at 7PM

WHEN: Wednesday, November 10th

TIME: Doors Open @ 7 PM

Open Vodka Bar & Complimentary Admission before 8PM
$10 after 8PM
$20 after 11PM

Live Performaces By:

Louie Vega & the Elements of Life

A NUYORICAN JAM SESSION PAYING TRIBUTE TO "EL CANTANTE DE LOS CANTANTES" HECTOR LAVOE

Louie Vega (Musical Director/Conductor)
Luisito Quintero (Timbales)
Jose Mangual (Bongos/Vocals)
Eddy Montalvo (Congas)
Junito Davila (Piano)
Maximo Rodriguez (Bass)
Junito Crespo (Cuatro)

& House of Rumba's:
Papo Swing, Nicky Laboy, Oba (w/Opening Rumba)

WHERE: Club Cielo
18 Little West 12th Street, NYC

HOW MAY I ATTEND THIS PARTY? For more information click here, or click on the above flyer image.

Week of November 9 - November 15, 2010

Last week, GEM NYC was invited by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to get the inside scoop on Miami's hidden gems, one-of-a-kind attractions and exciting events. As the holidays are right around the corner, we were ecstatic to speak with the tastemakers of our sister city because whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas – people will want a warm place to spend the holidays with friends and family this winter (flights are less than $500 roundtrip to MIA this week for either holiday period).

We will also be offering you this week our very FIRST giveaway – see below for more details and submission instructions!

Don’t forget to share some of your own GEM NYC finds, or if you’d like to drop us a line please do so at gem@ulmedia.net.

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MUSICA:

The first annual Miami Live Music Month is November 1-30, 2010. Every week in November, 25 lucky winners will have a chance to win a seat for themselves and a guest on the weekly “Rock the Bus Tour”. Winners get tickets to two live Miami music shows, a Rock the Bus ride to each show and swag bags with goody items. Don’t miss your chance to “Rock the Bus”!

Miami Live Music Month highlights Miami’s top live music venues, including Tobacco Road, Churchill’s Pub, Crescendo Jazz & Blues Lounge, Jazid, Transit Lounge, Bossa Nova Lounge, Hoy Como Ayer, The Clevelander and many other great venues. Music lovers can sample the hottest live bands playing rock, jazz, blues, R&B, Caribbean jams, Latin grooves, bossa nova and more. Miami’s multicultural vibe makes the city a perfect location for a growing live music scene.

On November 12-14, 2010, Miami Music Festival and its emerging artists’ conference takes center stage. The MMF will again feature acts in a wide variety of genres from Florida, around the U.S. and around the world, performing for the music industry, the press, the local community of music fans and visitors to Miami.

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MUSEUM:

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens was built by agricultural industrialist James Deering, who lived on the property from 1916 to 1925. Today, the extraordinary European-inspired estate and National Historic Landmark includes a house filled with art and furnishings, and 10 acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay.

Vizcaya’s collections are broad and diverse, including its National Historic Landmark Main House and Village outbuildings, its gardens with their architectural elements and statuary, and the array of art objects on display and integrated within the design of the Main House. Vizcaya’s patron and designers brought to the estate collections spanning 2,000 years, from North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition, today, we are pleased to feature an exceptional collection of orchids on display in the David A. Klein Orchidarium to the north of Vizcaya’s Main House. Open daily 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Adults $15, children (6-12) $6, children under 5 free. To plan your visit this winter click here.

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WELCOME GEM PETS:

Miami welcomes guests traveling with pets with an extraordinary array of offerings ranging from the basic necessities of comfortable beds and water bowls to spa treatments, doggie yoga, yappy hours, and other luxuries. You’ll see how three hotels below, beat out the rest of their competition with their laundry list of doggy amenities!

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club: When it comes to guests’ four-legged friends, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club barks up a tall order. Among customized amenities that can be ordered in advance are a fluffy bed, special collars and leashes, elevated food and water bowls and favorite treats. A Pooch Pouch in-room dining menu, created specially by the resort’s culinary team, offers a long leash of dining options and includes a doggy bagel, teeth-cleaning dog bone and much more. For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle.

Mayfair Hotel & Spa welcomes pets up to 50 pounds with an in-room doggie bed, water bowl, treats and a special pet menu offered at the "Bark Bar & Grill." Offerings include Mutt Loaf, Shi Tzu Sushi and Bow-Wow Burger, with the number of calories and the health factor, rated by paw prints, indicated for each menu selection. For more information, visit www.mayfairhotelandspa.com.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY:

With its legendary nightlife driven by the fashion and entertainment industries, Miami is at the forefront of the culinary trend towards blending dining and entertainment experiences. It is extraordinary cuisine that takes center stage at white-hot spots like Tantra, Nikki Beach and Meat Market, and a more recent entry to the fray, Loftin’s at Casa Casuarina, in the mansion owned by the late fashion designer Gianni Versace. By the time diners are enjoying coconut crème brulee or guava cheesecake, the music begins to pick up and the cocktails flow with more regularity. Meanwhile, at B.E.D. diners recline on beds while supping on gourmet cuisine.

Almost every cuisine under the sun can be found in Miami -- Cuban, Haitian, Vietnamese, Colombian, Peruvian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, German, Greek, Irish, Argentine, Russian, Indian, Honduran, Brazilian, Jamaican, the list goes on. In the mood for meat? Top-rated steakhouses like Christy's, BOURBON Steak, Kobe Club, Texas de Brazil, Manny’s Steaks the Palm and Capital Grille dot the dining landscape.

Feel like enjoying a cappuccino and watching rollerbladers whiz by? Alfresco cafes are a quintessential part of any Miami dining experience, from Ocean Drive's famed News Café (open 24/7) to Coconut Grove's legendary Greenstreet Café. An even more casual option is Dogma Grill, a hip hot dog stand that now offers creative concoctions in four Miami locations – á la NYC Papaya King Hot Dogs. Meanwhile, there's still a two-hour wait for a table most nights at Joe's Stone Crab, a Miami institution that opened its doors in 1913. Miami's culinary scene presents an ever-expanding cornucopia of delectable choices.

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ADVENTUROUS GEMS:

Evoking the essence of Miami with a mix of history, education and just plain fun, local tourist attractions offer much more than a break from the beach for families visiting Miami. Jungle Island, which relocated in 2003 to Watson Island in close proximity to resorts and cruise ship terminals, is a 18.6-acre theme park that is home to more than 3,000 exotic animals and 500 species of plants. Here, visitors enjoy animal stage shows, one-of-a-kind interactive aviaries, plant nurseries, jungle trails, a petting farm and educational exhibits, as well as world-famous parrot shows, a new Serpentarium and Jungle Theater, an Everglades Habitat and much more -- all nestled on a lush tropical island.

Nearby, the Miami Children's Museum features interactive exhibits, including a miniature supermarket, television news studio, cruise ship and a giant sandcastle slide. MCM is one of the ten largest children’s museums in the United States and destined to be one of the most successful. MCM and Target have collaborated to celebrate every month (every 3^rd Friday of the month, from 3PM to 9PM) with fun interactive activities and crafts, storytelling and much more! One can also explore hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits which are related to arts, culture, community and communication for FREE! To plan your visit, click here.

Families also enjoy spending time with the rest of the animal kingdom at Miami's acclaimed Metrozoo. One of the world's great zoos and the only one in the continental United States located in a subtropical climate, Metrozoo opened a new $35 million exhibit, Tropical America, in 2007. Larger than the average American zoo, the 27-acre exhibit features jaguars, anacondas, giant river otters, stingrays and more. The zoo is also home to the American Bankers Family Aviary Wings of Asia exhibit, with more than 300 birds representing 70 species of exotic, rare and endangered Asian birds in a large free flight area that feels like an Asiatic jungle. Another popular attraction at the zoo is Dr. Wilde's World, including a new Wild Earth Jeep Simulator where guests can take a virtual African safari. Unlike any other zoo in the U.S., Metrozoo incorporates an “Adopt an Animal” program for children, which invokes social responsibility and promotes wildlife preservation!

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GIVEAWAY:

GEM NYC would like to give a lucky traveler this week a full day VIP Go Miami “City-Pass” for a family of 4, for use by December 31^st, 2010! This great offering is worth a whopping $229.00 USD, courtesy of our friends at Smart Destinations. The VIP Pass may be used for one full day’s general admission to most attractions for 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 years old). To win, simply send your full name, email address and telephone number to gem@ulmedia.net or promotions@urbanlatino.com. The winner will be contacted on Monday, November 15^th via email and telephone.

*If any of you can visit Miami for the holidays to enjoy the warm weather – please share with us your stories and pictures!

Sincerely,

GEM