Luminescent high-rises reach to intracoastal-colored skies—the waters of Biscayne Bay bouncing off their reflective sides—and office workers eat lunch on benches under gently swaying palms. Known as the financial center of Miami, Brickell and its scenery are like Wall Street meets tropical getaway. With a growing roster of condos, hotels and entertainment options, it’s where business and pleasure collide.

At first glance, the Brickell neighborhood which spans about 20 blocks from the Miami River to the Rickenbacker Causeway, and from Biscayne Bay to I-95, is marked by an abundance of construction cranes dotting the skyline including the anticipated Brickell City Centre, a mixed-used development including a luxury shopping center along South Miami Avenue between Sixth and Eighth streets. But slowly and steadily this area of Downtown Miami has grown to a thriving dining and nightlife scene. From casual comfort fare to authentic Asian and modern South American from one of the best chefs in the world, the downtown Miami and Brickell dining scene is white-hot, right now. 

Perricone's Marketplace & Cafe

Perricone’s Marketplace & Cafe began serving the business crowds long before the area became a food and nightlife destination. In 1996, 30-year restaurant industry veteran Steven Perricone opened the doors of his namesake restaurant in an old house just west of Brickell Avenue. Perricone sought to provide high-quality comfort food in a warm setting. With both a sit-down restaurant and a gourmet market featuring an array of old-world charcuterie, cheeses, sweet treats, prepared dishes and sandwiches. The market took off immediately, but the restaurant grew gradually over time. “When we first opened, we’d sit at the bar at night and we wouldn’t see any headlights on the street,” says Perricone. “If we did, we’d get excited that we might get a customer.”

Over the past eight years, that’s changed. Now the area garners foot traffic from locals and visitors from near and far, and the restaurant is packed in the evening with guests noshing on fresh fish, light salads and Italian-American cuisine, such as the decadent fiocchi gorgonzola, imported purse-shaped pasta filled with pear and four cheeses in a creamy walnut gorgonzola sauce. Old family recipes from Perricone’s mother and grandmother are also featured, including the lasagna and eggplant parmigiana.

American Social

Overlooking the Miami River, American Social is one of the newer hot spots to take advantage of the changing climate set forth by hospitality trailblazers. It’s the second outpost of the beloved Las Olas original, and owners and South Florida natives Paul Greenberg and Rick Mijares knew the growing area was the ideal place to bring their craft beer and all-American vibe and comfort food. Everything is made in-house, from the pretzels and rock shrimp flatbread to the 24-hour-braised, black-truffle short rib trio. The food and the drinks are top-notch (including table-side beer taps). But here, forging relationships with guests in a convivial atmosphere is just as important. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than talking to people and seeing the smiles on their faces,” says one pleased Greenberg. “Everybody always has a good time.”

Momi

Momi takes that from-scratch ethos to its signature Japanese and Chinese staple. Unable to find a place to get their ramen fix, owners Mei Yu and Jeffrey Chen took matters into their own hands, opening a cash-only shop in a small, historic house set amongst condos and skyscrapers. There, Chen dishes up steaming hot soup made from a 22-hour tonkatsu stock and noodles created by hand. The succulent pork belly is the most popular topping, but a few lighter options are offered, too. Rather than weigh itself down with a large menu, the aim at Momi is to do one thing and do it well. “We don’t have a concept, it’s ramen. If you don’t like ramen, we have no food for you,” Yu says with a laugh. “We’re like the Seinfeld Soup Nazi.”

La Mar by Gaston Acurio

The area has started to garner the attention of international all-star chefs. When Gaston Acurio, the ambassador of Peruvian cuisine and owner of one of the world’s “50 Best Restaurants,” looked to expand to Miami, he looked no further than the waterfront Mandarin Oriental Miami on Brickell Key as a location for La Mar. Each La Mar has its’ own personality. Here, executive chef Diego Oka focuses on creating modern renditions of authentic dishes, including the popular lomo saltado, a stir-fried beef dish. Local seafood, meanwhile, is a centerpiece in a diverse list of ceviches. “They know our flavors and culture in Miami,” says Oka. “But it’s great to serve first-timers who don’t know anything about my country or ceviche. That’s cool to see.”

What to Do in Downtown Miami and Brickell

You'll find other points of interest in the area including The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, an open-air shopping destination with clothing boutiques, specialty food stores and bars, the rooftop lounge at Club 50 at Viceroy Miami, the Miami Seaquarium, dinner theater at El Toucan Cabaret and Cocktail Lounge and live entertainment at the laid-back arts lounge and bar, Sidebar.

Presented by the Little Lighthouse Foundation, this is South Florida’s premier Halloween event offering guests a unique outdoor nightclub experience where they fall into the fierce clash between Heaven and Hell. Upon entering, revelers will choose between good and evil as they are whisked away into two magical dimensions filled with thrills and chills. This event will also be featuring multiple Halloween themed pavilions and tents, including two lounges presented by Dos Equis appropriately dubbed “Dos Heaven” and “Dos Hell”, featuring NO2 ice cream, make-your-own smores, and themed cuisine. You can also strike a pose at the event's duel photobooth experience, with a Hellish Patron Photo Booth boasting a fiery throne, and a Heavenly Photo Booth featuring a floating cloud bed. Enjoy premium open bar all night, cuisine from Miami’s top restaurants and caterers, and music from DJ Willy Monfret.

Tickets are $175. Time: 8 pm

Lummus Park, 9th Street and Ocean Drive, www.nightmareonthebeach.com.  

Visit the largest haunted house in South Florida with over thirty rooms of terror. This attraction promises a thrilling night for the entire family. Enjoy food, games and live entertainment. General admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children under 6 and includes free parking.

Miami International Mall (east parking lot), 1455 NW 107 Ave., Miami, 305.639.6000. www.houseofhorrorpark.com

Spend a ghoulish night at Zoo Miami's main attraction, Dr. Wilde's Creepy House, a full-scaled haunted house with horror scenes depicting scary creatures and characters with live actors. Enjoy terrifying carousel and tram rides, frightful scare zones and meet the zombies as you spend a night at the zoo. 

Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St., Miami. www.zoomiami.org/Spooky_Zoo_Nights

Looking for a spooky and thrilling way to celebrate the arrival of All Hallows' Eve? Miami may be a young city but it sure has its fair share of curiosities and oddities, many sure to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. With Halloween days away, here are the top haunted places you can visit year-round. Or if you are in the mood to don a costume and go trick-or-treating instead, check out our list for the most ghoulish Halloween events of the season.

Coral Castle

This haunted landmark, in the southern part of Miami-Dade County, is well-known not just for its immense coral structures, but also for the great mystery that surrounds this sculpture garden in stone. Quarried, cut, transported and constructed by Edward Leedskalnin, the huge pieces of stone are often compared to the pyramids of Egypt in their questionable construction. How one man managed to achieve this amazing feat has remained a mystery since Coral Castle opened to the public. Did he have supernatural powers? More of a mystery than a traditional haunt, Coral Castle has always been surrounded in a heavy shroud. Many believe aliens helped Ed; others believe he possessed magical powers. But the undeniable fact is that we may never know the truth. Today, it is one of the must-see museums and attraction you can tour, with narration available in English, Spanish, French or German. Opens daily at 8 am.

City of Miami Cemetery

Amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami's Edgewater/Omni neighborhood, discover what may be lurking behind the tombstones and mausoleums of the city’s oldest cemetery. The City of Miami Cemetery is home to many well-known names, from Julia Tuttle, the "Mother of Miami," to the Burdine Family, founders of the Burdines department store, and the lady (Carrie Miller) who was buried in her bed instead of a casket and encased in cement. Divided into three sections: Jews, blacks and military personnel, this historic landmark is the final resting place for 66 Confederate and 27 Union veterans who are just waiting to spook visitors who roam in the night. The cemetery is open sunset to sundown and it is a favorite lunch spot for workers in the area who visit to meditate or admire the colorful flowers.

Deering Estate

Care for a whisper in your ear? That’s just what you'll experience at Deering Estate at Cutler, an environmental, archaeological and historical preserve in Palmetto Bay. Although no one has lived at Deering Estate since the 1980s, many claim supernatural sightings still haunt this beautiful mansion, which is the site of prehistoric burial mounds and fossils that date back 50,000 years. The estate’s ghostly sightings have frequently been documented by members of the League of Paranormal Investigators. Now you can experience for yourself Miami’s most haunted property through Deering Estate’s variety of ghost tours, paranormal investigations and overnight experiences. Tour prices range from $30 for a two-hour ghost tour to $65 for the overnight SPOOKOVER.

Villa Paula

Located in Little Haiti, Villa Paula is sure to grab one’s attention for its history and its beauty. Built in 1925 as the first Cuban Consulate in Miami, the mansion served as the primary residence of Consul Domingo Milord and his wife, Paula. The house, named in honor of Milord’s wife, features 18th-century architecture and consists of 10 rooms, 18-foot ceilings, hand-painted floor tiles and Tuscan columns. After six years of living there, Paula died unexpectedly from complications of a leg amputation, and there began the stories of ghostly activity. Witnesses report hearing footsteps, doors and windows slamming, the smell of Cuban coffee and roses wafting through the air, and apparitions of a one-legged woman in a full-length gown. In 1989, The Miami Herald named Villa Paula the most haunted house in Miami. After renovations and change in ownership since 2003, the villa is now used as an art gallery exhibiting a few Picassos, a Renoir sketch and works by Cuban artists.

Blue Anchor 

At first glance, you wouldn't think Palm Beach with its luxurious environs could be the site of a spooky English pub with lots of spellbinding tales. But in Delray Beach on Atlantic Avenue, you'll find the Blue Anchor. A popular London bar, first opened in 1864, it was transplanted to the U.S. and re-assembled with its original doors and stained-glass windows at its current location in 1996. With it came a lot of history: Winston Churchill as a young lad was known to frequent the spot for his nightly French cognac. But this pub is better known for its notoriety than celebrity clientele; it has been reported that two victims of Jack the Ripper were spotted with a dapper gentleman before their untimely demise. And the death of Bertha Hackey, who was killed by a jealous husband 100 years ago, still haunts the bar, even across the pond. These are a few of the stories that helped annoint it as the "most haunted pub in the U.S." by the Travel Channel in 2004. Go in for some pints and the bangers and mash with a side of terror. The Blue Anchor opens daily at 11:30 am.

Top Events for Halloween

• Nightmare on the Beach: The Battle of Heaven and Hell
• City of Coral Gables Halloween on the Mile
• Zoo Miami Spooky Zoo Nights
• House of Horror Amusement Park
• 23rd Annual Moonfest in West Palm Beach

From festivals to concerts, the fall is revving up to be months filled with fun events for the whole family. Check out these scheduled events in Miami.

Festival Miami at the University of Miami

Oct. 16-Nov. 7

Purchase your ticket to this fall’s collection of vibrant performances by the biggest names on the music scene from around the globe who will showcase their talents alongside the outstanding students and faculty artists from the Frost School of Music. More than 20 performances, organized into four themes, are scheduled—Great Performances, Jazz and Beyond, Music of the Americas and Creative American Music, all in the intimate setting of the 600-seat University of Miami Maurice Gusman Concert Hall. 1314 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. www.festivalmiami.com

Fall Garden Festival Featuring the 75th Annual Ramble

Nov. 13-15

Experience all that fall has to offer with seasonal cooking classes, home gardening demonstrations and a fall beer garden with a “Ramble” twist. This garden party celebrates outdoor living through art, antiques, a furniture design show, and the largest plant sale in South Florida. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables.www.fairchildgarden.org

The Color Run

Nov. 14

The Color Run debuts their new Shine Tour in 2015 and brings a fresh spin and unique experience to run enthusiasts. The Shine Tour experience offers an all-new Sparkle Zone to the course. Past the finish line, participants can enjoy music, dancing and massive color throws with accents of new confetti cannons, shimmery clouds of color, sparkle and more. Color Runners receive a limited edition Shine Tour Participant Kit, that includes custom race t-shirt, gold finisher's medal, shiny tattoos, tri-color headband with silver stitching, as well as other goodies. Sun Life Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami. www.thecolorrun.com

Miami Book Fair International

Nov. 15-22

Join more than 350 authors for one of the finest and largest literary event in the country. Among the authors participating in this year's edition include rocker and poet Patti Smith, journalist Tom Brokaw and Academy Award–nominated actor, playwright, and contributor Jesse Eisenberg. Book enthusiasts can also enjoy talks, autograph sessions and food demonstrations at the weekend Street Fair. Miami Dade College-Wolfson Campus, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami. www.miamibookfair.com

SEED Food and Wine Festival

Nov. 18-22

The nation’s only plant-based food and wine experience, SEED Food and Wine Festival comes to town November 18 through 22.  The celeb-studded five-day festival features chef dinners, a grand tasting, film screenings and many other activities, all dedicated to a message of conscious consumption—and delicious cuisine, of course. This year the festival will crown "America's Best Veggie Burger" in their newest event, The Burger Battle. Other new additions include a 5K Run, a Yappy Hour and a Bliss Yoga Brunch. Events throughout Wynwood Miami and Miami Beach, check the website for the complete schedule. www.seedfoodandwine.com

A passionate advocate for the arts and former executive vice president of the New World Symphony, Victoria Rogers was recently selected as the vice president of arts at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a national organization dedicated to the promotion of journalism, media innovation, engaged communities and the arts. A native of Louisville, Ky., Victoria Rogers lived in Atlanta before settling in Miami. It is no surprise that as the daughter of a classical musician, her love of the arts was sparked at a young age where it became a vocation and avocation. When she is not traveling to Knight Foundation cities around the country, she likes to explore the area's public parks and gardens to "contemplate, relax, sketch, read or just be" or daytripping to the Everglades National Park. Here are Victoria's recommendations for how to spend a perfect day in Miami. 

Victoria Rogers' Perfect Day in South Florida

7 am

We live in such a beautiful environment, it’s hard not to be outdoors all the time. So thankfully some of the best spots are combining the outdoors with arts and culture. You can start off with a kayak ride off the Deering Estate and then walk around the grounds and see the studios for their artist residency program (there’s also a theater on-site). Or go to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for a morning walk as the sun rises and catch their latest visual-arts installation between the palms and ferns. 

11 am

You cannot have a trip to Miami without visiting the Perez Art Museum Miami. Be sure to check out the Project Galleries, where the museum commissions artists for experimental works. Finish up with a delicious lunch at Verde, overlooking Biscayne Bay. You’ll want to stay all day, but there is so much more to do. 

2 pm

Miami is a great place to see how the arts can reinvent neighborhoods, and Wynwood and Opa-locka are two excellent examples. Take time to see both. Wynwood, with its murals and galleries, draws the photo shoots and international visitors. But Opa-locka is gaining attention, a place where leaders have played off the traditional Moorish architecture, created by the city’s founder Glenn Curtiss, and engaged the community in creating some significant public art pieces and programming.

4 pm

The Wolfsonian is one of those only-in-Miami institutions. What started as philanthropist Mickey Wolfson Jr.’s private collection has turned into an interesting place to spend an afternoon, looking at pieces from the Industrial Revolution to the Second World War that explore the persuasive power of art and design.  

8 pm

Whether it’s the Here and Now Festival, which showcases new works by Miamians, or the Nu Deco Ensemble, which is looking to reinvent the orchestra for the 21st century, the Miami Light Project gives you a look at what’s new and next in Miami culture. Plus, their facility, the Light Box at Goldman, is an incubator and space for artists to co-work and create together. Then grab takeout from Joe’s Stone Crab—its fried chicken is delish—and head over to Soundscape Park on a night when the New World Symphony is playing and simulcasting to the park outside via the Wallcast: 5,000 people, all ages, from all over our city, enjoying a night of music under the stars. 

10 pm

Catch a movie at O Cinema. Independent filmmaking is thriving right now in Miami, and independent theaters like O Cinema, Miami Beach Cinematheque, the Coral Gables Art Cinema and the Cosford and Tower Theater are helping to grow the audiences for great film here in Miami. Plus, it’s fun to see a film in such an intimate setting and feel rooted in the community. 

11 pm

Every week, Microtheater Miami, a project of the Centro Cultura Español, puts on a series of short plays in several shipping containers in Downtown Miami—yes, shipping containers. If you think O Cinema is intimate, try Microtheater. Wednesday and Thursdays the plays are in English, Fridays and Saturdays in Spanish, where they draw actors and writers from Miami’s "telenovela" (soap opera) industry. You can grab some food and drink in between shows and it quickly becomes a party. For those who like a late night, Microtheater offers a special bonus session Fridays and Saturdays, offering seven plays from 11 pm to 1 am.