I'm not in Miami nor will I be, but I lived in Kendall (just outside Miami proper) for 2 years. Here's a few places you should hit:

Shorty's BBQ on Dixie Highway. Great Pulled Pork

Fox's Sherron Inn The last great dive bar in a city infested with chain faux-pubs.

Stir Crazy Lounge (NSFW). There were three titty bars within a 10 minute drive of my pad, but this one was my favorite. The girls were buxom and raunchy, the beer was cheap and lap dances were only 10 bucks.

As for the Keys, I really can't help you, I've been there but all I remember is that we climbed to the top of a lighthouse and when we looked down we saw three gay dudes oiling eachother up naked in their backyard and that one night I was so drunk I threated a homeless musician.

Also, Haulover Beach is great, if you feel like flapping free in the breeze.

Six-toed cats at Hemingway's house!

Miko, I envy you. I love Miami. Here is a list of AskMefi Miami tags, in case you haven't checked them already.

I think you might like the Miami Design District which is a neighborhood with lots of furniture and art stores. I make sure to stop to Monty's for dinner and some loud latin music every time I am down there. For authentic cuban food you got to go to Calle Ocho (8th street) which is studded with restaurants and you will have no problem finding one you like.

I used to live in South Beach (across from Flamingo Park --ahh! the good times!) so I am extremely biased to this neighborhood. Check out Ocean Drive in the evenings (you might find it kitsch and loud, but hey! fun!) and Lincoln Road open market on Sunday afternoon.

My favorite restaurant in the keys is a place called Mangrove Mama's. If you get the chance, eat there.

Ahh Miko, if only this were two months ago, when I was still down there!

I wasn't far from Miami, but I'm not the best person to ask for restaurant tips, as the last couple of years there I tried to avoid Miami like the plague. South Beach can be fun, there's certainly tons of places to choose from down there.

But have a lot of fun and enjoy the keys! I never managed to get down the keys once in the six years I was in Florida, can you believe it?

A Cuban restaurant called Versailles is fabulous (it's located at 3555 Southwest Eighth St. -- I had to Google the address; it's been a while). Not sure why a Cuban restaurant is named Versailles, but the food is as authentic and excellent as it gets. I recommend the fried yucca and pitcher(s?) of sangria, but everything's grand, and the place is very atmospheric to boot (though casual dress is just fine/moderate price).

Another famous locale is Joe's Stone Crab (I think they're still in season; the place is closed some parts of the year, but the website seems active). I've never actually eaten at Joe's, but I'm dying to. It is expensive, but worth it, if you like crab. Website gives address and directions (I still need to learn how to put in links, alas).

And one of my favorite bookstores ever is Books & Books in Coral Gables. The one at the beach is okay, but the Coral Gables location is the shits. It looks like a Spanish villa.

And, of course, all of Jon's picks. Fox's is awesome -- great chilled vodka martinis, with the overflow served in a glass carafe; red vinyl horseshoe booths; so dark inside it takes an hour for your eyes to adjust; Sinatra on the jukebox. You'll never know what year it is. And I drool in my sleep for Shorty's...

Seriously, have a great time. I'm definitely missing the palm trees sometimes, though it's good to be in NYC.

*stuffs six-toed cat in carry-on*

(We did get a wicked all-over sunburn at Haulover, though. So, beware!) : )

It is a great beach, if you can imagine jonmc, in nothing but black high-tops and a cigarette, loping along the shore. (Always makes me smile.)

People were handing him Coppertone.

What a coincidence... we're flying down to Key West for my partner's birthday on Saturday afternoon, returning next week. This is the FIRST time we've ever flown directly into KW instead of flying into Ft. Lauderdale and driving down the Keys... but since we have only 4 days on this trip, we wanted to avoid the 4-hour drive.

So close, yet so far! :)

What a coincidence... we're flying down to Key West for my partner's birthday on Saturday afternoon, returning next week. This is the FIRST time we've ever flown directly into KW instead of flying into Ft. Lauderdale and driving down the Keys... but since we have only 4 days on this trip, we wanted to avoid the 4-hour drive.

So close, yet so far! :)

BP, I'm getting on a boat Saturday afternoon for 4 days at sea. Sounds like I'll just miss you.

Miko at sea! So romantic!

That sounds like fun, Miko!! :)

Next Monday, hopefully we'll be taking a seaplane ride out to the Dry Tortugas (just for the day).

Miko at sea!

Cue Brandy!

Anyhow, It'll be a shindig of exploring and then a floating classroom/sail training/oceanography dealie. I'll post Flickr and stuff about it upon my return.