THE MIX

AVENTURIST

COVETABLE FINDS, HOT HAPPENINGS, AND MUST-ATTEND EVENTS

Clockwise from inset: Contreras’ artworksturned-NFTs include Smoke Show, Positivitea, and Paulina. Scan the QR code above to see Smoke Show come to life.

THE MIX Digital Crossover

For more than a decade, Diana “Didi” Contreras has made a name for herself in the street art game with her colorful, bright portraits of women donning walls from Miami to Boynton Beach. Now she’s taking things digital with NFTs. Also known as “non-fungible tokens,” these digital assets allow artists to monetize their digital art and protect themselves from dupes. Like a physical copy, the original can only be owned by one person; artists can also earn royalties. Funded by the Miami Lit Podcast, Contreras’ first NFT (dubbed Smoke Show) sold earlier this year for $1,000—and she’s hooked. “I’m getting a lot of new people who are interested in my art,” she says. “Then the people who are already collectors are interested in investing in my work through NFTs.” One collector even showed Contreras where he “hung” one of her art pieces in a digital house he purchased. (The art can be viewed via a virtual reality headset.) While the new crypto world is an exciting venture for Contreras, she says she doesn’t think she could leave behind canvas and spray paint. “I love making art using my hands. I love painting and textures.” (dianacontrerasart.com) —Christiana Lilly

TRENDING PEEKABOO...

WE SEE YOU! SWANKY HOTELS ALONG SOUTH BEACH ARE AMPING UP THEIR SWIMMING POOL EXPERIENCES WITH GLASS-BOTTOM POOLS. CHECK OUT THE DIVING DIGS AT THESE THREE OASES.

COURTESY OF THE GABRIEL

In the South of Fifth neighborhood, The Balfour Miami Beach has added a plunge pool with an exposed glass edge as 2 part of its $4 million renovation. Sun worshippers can lounge beneath an outdoor umbrella or take a dip, all in the comfort of a quiet relaxation area reminiscent of Cartagena, Colombia. (thebalfourmiamibeach.com)

COURTESY Z OCEAN HOTEL APRIL BELLE PHOTOS

Alex Rodriguez’s lat- 1est investment is The Gabriel South Beach, the sister property to the downtown Miami location. Its lap pool may look like any other from above, but from a few floors below in the hotel tower, light shines through the ceiling from the pool’s glass bottom. An added design bonus is that the pool’s reflection flickers over a multistory mural by street artist Mr. Brainwash. (thegabrielsouthbeach.com)

COURTESY THE BALFOUR

There’s not one but four glass-bottom peekaboo panels in the terrace swimming pool at Z Ocean Hotel. Guests can cool off in the pool and under light sprinklers, or duck into the shade and order drinks from the Front Porch Café. (zoceanhotelsouthbeach.com) —C.L.

3

HEALTHY SWAPS

HOME GROWN

O n e d a y i n 2 0 0 8 , w h e n h e r d i a b e t i c t o d d l e r ’ s s u g a r l e v e l s c r a s h e d , S h a n n o n A l l e n w a s d e s p e r a t e f o r f o o d — a n d f a s t . B u t a s s h e d r o v e , s h e w a s d i s m a y e d t o s e e o n l y u n h e a l t h y o p t i o n s . “ I d o n ’ t t h i n k I ’ v e e v e r f e l t m o r e p o w e r l e s s i n m y l i f e , ” s h e s a y s , r e fl e c t i n g o n t h e m e m o r y .

Around the same time, Allen became frustrated while speaking before Congress about making insulin more accessible and affordable. She realized pharmaceutical companies aren’t incentivized to find a cure for diabetes (since they’d lose an income stream). Her struggle to find appropriate food on the road paired with her dismay at Congress led her to launch Grown, marrying the drive-through model with fresh, organic meals.

Allen describes Grown as “real food cooked slow for fast people.” The first location opened in South Miami in 2016, offering drive-through options like omelets, wraps, and salads. She’s since opened a South Beach outpost and is looking into franchising. The kitchens are certified organic, and the menus boast items like gluten-free blueberry pancakes. Those with allergies or special diets can still enjoy Grown’s robust offerings.

Allen’s experience in cooking for athletes—her husband is basketball Hall-of-Famer Ray Allen—has led to Grown catering for teams including the University of Miami, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, L.A. Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards. “Forget counting calories,” she says. “Count chemicals.” (grown.org)

Looking for fresh alternatives this summer? Upgrade your snacks with three of Allen’s picks:

¬Slice up tortillas and lightly fry them; enjoy with avocado mash seasoned with lime and sea salt. ¬ Cook organic corn kernels on the stove and top with canola oil, salt, and salted butter for healthy homemade popcorn. ¬ Make cut fruit more exciting with homemade whipped cream—it’s just heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla beaten with a wire mixer. —C.L.

Q&A FUNNY GIRL

D o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e i s o n e o f t h e l e a s t f u n n y t o p i c s o u t t h e r e , b u t s u r v i v o r a n d c o m e d i a n B r i t t a n y B r a v e m a n a g e s t o s h i n e a l i g h t o n i t t h r o u g h s t a n d - u p . “ C o m e d y i s t h e a r t f o r m w h e r e p e o p l e w a n t t o h e a r t h e t r u t h , ” s a y s B r a v e , w h o s p l i t s h e r t i m e b e t w e e n M i a m i a n d N e w Y o r k C i t y . B u t s h e ’ s n o o n e - t r i c k p o n y . H a i l i n g f r o m a l o n g l i n e o f “ f u n n y , c r a z y - l o u d I t a l i a n s , ” B r a v e i s t h e h o s t o f t w o p o d c a s t s , p e r f o r m s m o n t h l y a t t h e L i n c o l n E a t e r y o n M i a m i B e a c h , a n d c o - p r o d u c e s t h e w e b s e r i e s T h e D i s a s t r o u s D a t i n g L i f e o f D i a n e D a m o n e . B e l o w , s h e d i s h e s o n a l l t h i n g s c o m e d y . ( b r i t t a n y b r a v e . c o m ) — C . L .

DANIELA PIANTINI

AVM: What does it take to be funny?

Brave: I think funny is honest and honest is funny. It’s got to be true to whatever’s happening in the moment. When it comes to material, if it’s real to you, and it happened to you, and it’s funny and important to you, that’s honest, and then that’ll be funny.

How do you survive “bombing”?

When you bomb when you’re first starting, it’s like, “Oh my God, I silenced the room,” and I felt like I was going to die on stage. Once you’re a couple of years in and you’re comfortable and you’ve been doing this every night, a bomb maybe isn’t that painful. It’s just like, “Oh, it didn’t go as well as I thought.” But yeah, I’ve definitely had bombs; I’ve been booed.

How do you incorporate domestic violence into your comedy?

I don’t subscribe to the fact that comedy needs to be dark or self-deprecating all the time. But I do subscribe to the fact that it needs to be real and truthful. So for me, talking about my experience with domestic violence in my stand-up and in my comedy just goes hand-in-hand. There’s no way I wouldn’t. I’m not making fun of it; I’m not making a joke about it because I think domestic violence is funny. I just think domestic violence needs to be talked about, and the way I choose to talk about it is through comedy.

ON VIEW DETECTIVE SKILLS

MIAMI, PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS. BEGINNING MAY 16, THE PHILLIP AND PATRICIA FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE HOSTS “SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE EXHIBITION,” AN EXPLORATION OF THE FAMED SLEUTH’S HISTORY AND IMPACT ON POP CULTURE. WANDER THROUGH SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S STUDY AND HOLMES AND WATSON’S SITTING ROOM ON ICONIC BAKER STREET, AND USE YOUR SKILLS IN SCIENCE, DEDUCTION, AND OBSERVATION TO HELP SOLVE CRIMES. PLUS, SEE PROPS FROM THE SHERLOCK HOLMES MOVIES STARRING ROBERT DOWNEY JR., AS WELL AS THE TV SHOW ELEMENTARY, STARRING BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH. CHECK OUT THE EXHIBITION THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5 INSIDE THE HSIAO FAMILY SPECIAL EXHIBITION GALLERY. (FROSTSCIENCE.ORG) —C.L.