Brian Lawrence Live

Aug. 29-Sept. 1
Decided to escape Charm City for four days over the Labor Day holiday weekend. My sweetie and I flew down to Miami for a few days of R and R. We like to stay at the Mandarin Oriental, a great hotel on Brickell Key on Biscayne Bay in Miami— just a stone’s throw from bustling South Beach, but far enough away to avoid the sweaty crowds and noise. We spent most days by the pool or at the beach, and nights having dinners at Barton G., Casa Tua, and Prime One Twelve. After dinner at Prime, we ventured across the street to Nikki Beach, did a quick cruise-through and left— majorly shady. We spent some time shopping in SoBe and on Lincoln Road, and another afternoon shopping up at Bal Harbor, where we stopped at one of our favorite places for lunch, Carpaccio. The aging cougar at the table next to us, with her midriff top, black lace thong underwear, stripper platforms, tattoo, diamond-encrusted glasses and blinged-out cell phone, provided the entertainment. It got even better when she requested extra ice cubes to put into her Chardonnay.