I finished these last three busy months in Florida and I choose to start my stories with it.
Yes, Florida. Some say it’s boring, but after I’ve been there so many times, in different cities, Florida keeps surprising me.
I’ve been wanting to visit Wynwood, Miami for a very long time.
The Art District of Miami, where Art Basel (International Art Conference) takes place every year, is located in the neighborhood.
Wynwood is mainly associated with the Wynwood Walls project.
Many of you who know me, know I have a personal connection with the graffiti world; And for those who don’t know me, my brother is among the leading graffiti artists in Israel (UNTAY).
Yes, I’m not objective, so what? He’s my brother and he’s very talented, and every time he finishes a graffiti wall, dismantled, broken, and tired, I marvel. “How does he do it?” I keep asking.
So, I went to Wynwood to investigate the special wonder.
Like many graffiti scenes, Wynwood, as neighborhood, is not fancy. It is sketchier, underground, downtown kind of neighborhood, and I guess this is what gives her charm.
Beyond clear borders, you can see that the region is underdeveloped and even neglected.
The art walls start a few blocks before you approach the Wynwood Walls. Every wall in the neighborhood tells a story. The amount of paintings is endless. I walked the whole block and only photographed and admired them, but the pictures do not illustrate the experience itself.
It’s breathtaking.
A good friend of mine recommended that I stop at Zak The Baker for a late breakfast.
First, I went into the bakery. What a bakery. I was shaking with excitement.
The pastries showcase gave me the chills. I know it sounds like an exaggeration, but when you live in the US and the most impressive pastries showcases you see are filled with cupcakes or macarons, you are filled with joy when you see Burekas.
I decided to return to the bakery later for dessert and walked to the Deli few minutes away.
The design is an industrial design, which allows anyone to see what is going on in the kitchen. I ordered beet salad and vegetable sandwich.
The beet salad arrived first, decorated with olive oil, lemon, dill and feta cheese.
I love beets; they are tasty, healthy and very refreshing.
In a perfect timing, after a few bites from my salad, the sandwich arrived; Homemade rye bread with avocado, sprouts, tomato, and poached eggs.
I finished my breakfast and went back wandering in the streets of Wynwood. I got to the famous Wynwood Walls area (few artists who have been accepted or invited to paint as part of Art Basel arrive at the compound every year). It is fenced and surrounded by guards so that people will not enter and destroy the walls.
As I walked through the paintings, I could not help but feel the magic is fading from the graffiti art inside this reserved space. On one hand, the support that art receives is important and praiseworthy. On the other hand, it takes from this art its roughness. I called my brother (what I do every time I stand next to a graffiti he told me to go see) and said, “You have to be here. It’s a monster.” And I summed up what I felt myself. Wynwood Walls is an artistic monster.
It is a must visit, especially if you are not into art. It is a mind-blowing experience, if not for the art, but for Rogelach at ZAK’s.
Aside from street art, Wynwood offers a variety of dining venues, bars, and lounges.
These places can be used for date night, for friends’ lunch, for brunch, and for coffee. There are also boutiques, tattoo shops, and galleries.
Just few days ago Chef Michael Solomonov posted in Instagram he is going to open another branch of Dizengoff (consider one of the best hummus in the United States today).
See you soon,
Hagar XOXO
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