As a way to excercise and to decompress from the pressures of starting my own business I’ve taken to running, cycling and competing in Triathlons over the summer. Not only is it a good way to decompress and get some excercise in but also a great way take in some of the amazing scenery that Brickell and the Rickenbacker Causeway have to offer.

I usually prefer running one of two very scenic routes. One takes you around Brickell Key and the other up and over the William M. Powel bridge on Rickenbacker Causeway for spectacular views of the Brickell skyline and Biscayne Bay.

Both running circuits begin on the corner of SE 15 th Rd and Brickell Ave. I’ve mapped out (as best possible) the routes and the approximate mileage at various points along the route below. If you’re taking the Rickenbacker Causeway route, I’d recommend you take a sharp left on the sidewalk right before reaching the overpass that precedes the very busy intersection of Brickell Ave and the entrance to Rickenbacker Causeway. That path will take you under the Rickenbacker Causeway and out the other side where you can continue your run without having to cross any streets.

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Recently a buddy of mine told me about a wine bar on Brickell Key. Not knowing what to expect and open to trying something a bit different from the usual Brickell happy hour / bar scene I wound up spending a Friday night there with a couple of friends. I was expecting a stuffy ambiance that I associated with a wine bar but the place turned out to be a good time and a great way to learn about wine by sampling the wide variety of wines Cavas offers its patrons. Patrons can taste the various wines through the use of a technology known as the Enomatic wine serving system.

Here’s how it works:

Get more info on Cavas Wine Bar on Brickell Key.

As a young kid growing up in South Florida, I would often take the bus and Metrorail from the suburbs to come skateboarding with my friends in Brickell and Downtown Miami. Ever since then I can remember being enthralled with the hustle-and-bustle, skyscrapers, and scenery of downtown. The environment was worlds away from the relative calm of suburbia. That was twenty years ago, and since then Brickell and Downtown Miami have evolved from being primarily business centers to vibrant nightlife, cultural and residential centers.

Four years ago I moved to the heart of the Brickell Financial District. Since then I’ve been enjoying all the perks of living in the heart of the action. Everything I need is either a walk, a short car ride or a couple of stops away on the Metromover. The world class restaurants, entertainment and the beautiful scenery make the area an amazing place to live.

About two years ago I started doing research into selling my condo to move to a bigger place right here in Brickell. Having been working professionally in the online world and having specialized knowledge in marketing real estate online, I knew that over 80% of homebuyers began their search online. So I understood the importance of the web for marketing real estate. However, although I did find major real estate internet portals (i.e. condo.com, trulia.com etc) that listed properties in the area, I didn’t find any website that offered the depth of information that I’d like to offer a prospective home buyer looking to move into the area. Unlike living in suburbia, living in the city is much more than the property you may be looking to rent or buy; It’s about the lifestyle that living in Brickell and Downtown Miami provides you.

That is when I decided to develop BrickellMiamiCondos.com. The website will not only provide a listing of real estate for rent and for sale in the area but also in-depth information on the community such as events, news and entertainment. It will provide the prospective resident a feel for what it will be like to live here and the local community a place to obtain relevant information on their neighborhood.

The site is currently in beta stages (meaning that it’s still not finished and under development) but stay tuned because when completed the site will be THE source –from a local’s perspective– for anything having to do with Miami’s up-and-coming, vibrant Brickell and Downtown Miami areas!