FYI Miami


		Week of November 16, 2000


	Exile shrine sparks plan for Tower
	Freedom Tower nearly ready for new occupants
	Airport redesings add 25% to rebuild costs
	Boston investors buy Crown Hotel; major rehab planned
	Business teams report Overtown incubator nearer reality
	Trip to Nicaragua, El Salvador seen as market test
	Port agreement with Seville arranged during Spain trip

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FYI Miami is a weekly feature of Miami Today, keeping readers ahead of the news. Here are highlights from the most current edition.

NEW NEW HOME: New Theatre in June will move to the former Astor Cinema, 4120 Laguna St., as it begins its 16th anniversary season. Publicist Eileen Suarez says the venue will house New Theatre "over the next couple of years while the company continues its building fund drive." She said the Astor seats about 120 and will have more support and backstage area, including second-story rehearsal and office space. Meanwhile, the troupe — under the executive artistic direction of Rafael de Acha — continues to perform in limited space at 65 Almeria Ave. Details: (305) 443-5373.

LUNCHEON ABOARD: The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is holding a "Business Leaders Luncheon" at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 17 in the Mikado Dining Room aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas under the banner "Small Black Businesses Rising to the Top." Bryan K. Finnie, president & CEO of the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust, is scheduled keynote speaker. An auction, meal and door prizes are planned. The vessel can be boarded at Port of Miami piers 4 & 5. Cost is $40. Reservations required. Details: (305) 751-8648.

ECONOMIC TALK: Economist Alice M. Rivlin will speaker at 11 a.m. Dec. 1 in the University of Miami's Storer Auditorium, 5250 University Drive, Coral Gables. Ms. Rivlin is former vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board. Her lecture is free and open to the public. Details: (305) 284-5500.

DOWNTOWN SPREE: Downtown Miami Mainstreet is presenting "Festivities on Flagler Street" from 5-8:30 tonight (11/16) that will include a 4th anniversary birthday bash at the Miami Art Museum, 101 W Flagler St., and a performance by Maximum Dance in the Gusman, 174 E Flagler St. Also, A networker with cocktails will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Alfred I. Dupont Building, 169 E Flagler St. Details: (305) 379-7070.

SOUTHERN EXCHANGE: The South Florida Chamber of Commerce is presenting a "Joint Trading After Hours Tabletop Exhibition & Business Card Exchange" from 5:30-9 p.m. today (11/16) in the Radisson International, 711 NW 72nd Ave. Venezuela and Colombia will be spotlighted. Details: Al Otero, (954) 565-6568.

PARKS ACCREDITATION: The Commission for Accreditation of Park & Recreation Agencies re-accredited Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation Department for a second five-year period. Accreditation, says Vivian Donnell Rodriguez, park and recreation director, is based on meeting 152 of 153 standards in 10 categories set by the commission.

BREAKFAST ROUNDTABLE: A panel of experts will dissect the international aspects of Miami's real estate market at a free 7:30 a.m. breakfast session of Miami Today's International Roundtable today (11/16) in the Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. Panelists include Douglas Campbell, senior commercial director of Cushman & Wakefield of Florida; Kimberly Kirschner, who heads the commercial and residential associations of the Realtor Association of Greater Miami & the Beaches, and Riccardo Olivieri, president of BOV Development Corp. The session is sponsored by the Related Cos. Reservations requested. Details: Jody Bray, (305) 358-2663.

RELATIONS SALUTE: The Miami chapter of the American Jewish Committee will present its 2000 Human Relations Award to Willy A. Bermello at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Wyndham Miami Biscayne Bay Hotel, 1601 Biscayne Blvd. Mr. Bermello, an architect and developer, is being honored as a community activist. Cost is $250 to $10,000. Details: (305) 670-1121.

SPAIN SALUTE: The Spain-US Chamber of Commerce is holding its 21st black-tie gala dinner starting with a 7 p.m. reception Friday in the Hotel Inter-Continental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, and ending with a party to follow at Club Space, 142 NE 11th St. Terra Networks USA and Telefonica Data will be saluted as companies of the year. Details: (305) 446-1992.

UM SALUTE: The Web Marketing Association gave the University of Miami's website, miami.edu, a "standard of excellence" award for "navigability and organization."

SOFITEL OPENING: Sofitel Miami, 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive, announced completion of $3.5 million in renovations to public and meeting areas that are designed to attract a bigger share of the corporate market, said General Manager Feryal Abdulkader. He said a second phase calls for renovation of the hotel's restaurant and guest rooms. Details: (305) 264-4888.

WIMBISH ADDS: Wimbish Riteway Realtors has added 42 agents to its marketing team. The luxury real estate firm, the South Florida affiliate of Sotheby's International Realty, has grown from 54 to 386 active agents in the past five years.

AIRPORT LAND: Radames Villalon paid $165,000 for an 8,750-square-foot fenced-in lot with a 3,600-square-foot office and warehouse building at 4050 NW 29th St. east of Miami International Airport. Steinbauer Associates represented the seller, Vernon Jordahl.

HAMPTON REHAB: The Hampton Inn Hotel Coconut Grove, 2800 SW 28th Terrace, finished a $300,000 renovation of guest rooms and common areas, said Bernard Wolfson, president of hospitality operations. He said the hotel celebrates its fifth anniversary this week.

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