DC > Miami

As I mentioned in my last post, my birthday was Thursday, February 17th. I am known to have weeklong birthday celebrations, so nothing was different about this year. After a few gatherings with family and friends I decided to take  a mini vacay. Me and 5 of my closest girlfriends headed to Miami for 4 days. We stayed on South Beach and enjoyed the beautiful mid 80s degree weather. I have been to Miami many times before, but I still thought this would be the perfect trip for a  medium-sized group and very cost-effective. We did a little bit of everything in our brief stay. We went on a speed boat ride (I will provide a short video soon), we laid out on the beach, went to two different nightclubs, had drinks at the infamous “Wet Willies”, we ate at some tasty restaurants, and we went to a Miami Heat game. Such a great trip and just enough time to do it all.

As you all know, I love DC and I honestly think no other city compares to what DC has to offer. Despite the fact it is our Nation’s capital, there is so much history rooted throughout the city, it is also a great breeding ground for young professionals with many different interests and desires to have fun. Miami is one of the few cities that I think is stiff competition for DC, but still does not compare.  Below are a few observations that I made on this recent trip and trips to Miami in the past.

Rent: I asked a couple of people the prices to live on Miami Beach. Typical prices people told me were $1000-$1500 for a studio apartment, depending on location. That is identical to the price you pay for a studio in DC.

Jobs: Since Miami is a destination/vacay spot the typical job of a native is in the service industry. The money is to be made, at the bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. With that said you don’t need fancy degrees to get you promoted in Miami. But what if you move? At least in DC a degree is very common, almost required for most jobs. Our job market is heavily weighted in politics and government agencies. With the skills gained in these jobs and education required you would have more chances of getting employment in other cities.

Restaurants: Even though everyone seems to be in a bikini or less in Miami they still do offer lots of food to indulge in. In my experience of visiting Miami, I have always stayed on South Beach, played on South Beach, and ate on South Beach. I have not heard of many other attractions outside of South Beach, and in fact, I have been told there are some pretty sketchy neighborhoods, that you should’nt be around at night, outside of South Beach. With this select area to eat in, I feel you can easily have tried every eatery in South Beach and know of and tried all the popular South Beach eateries. DC on the other hand, is filled with many different eateries with a variety of cuisines. I feel even a native of the city is guaranteed to find a new eatery and love it at any given time. There are so many “gems” of the city, when it comes to eateries, I think its impossible to try them all.

Nightlife: South Beach is so sexy and fun, and a city that has adopted the saying, “anything goes”. It is definitely the place that your alter ego can run freely. But, when it comes down to nightlife logistics, South Beach can easily disappoint. Most of the club promoters are very money-hungry and less into building clientele. They look at Miami as a vacation spot that you may never come again, so there’s no need to “hook you up” in hopes you will return. The lines are a mashpit of beautiful people hoping to get spotted and escorted to the front. There is always a cover, always! It is also not unheard of for a lady to pay $25-$50 to get in. The drinks are expensive and in my experience men are less likely to buy you and your friends drinks after they have already dropped close to $100 to get in. The clubs are filled with a diverse group of people, and everyone is there to party the night away. Since the clubs are open until 5am or later it is easy for you to get burnt out without the proper rest time prior. I won’t go into great detail about DC clubs, I will save that for another post, but let’s just say its a little different. In DC, it is rare I will ever pay to get in a club, or for my drinks, the most money I put out is for my transportation there and my freakem dress I would wear. DC is a networking city and I look at the nightlife scene in the same way. The promoters are more focused on building clientele and building a name for themselves. They want you to have such a great experience that you will come back and tell your friends.

Dont get me wrong, Miami is one of the best cities in the US to party and vacation. But, DC is a place to call home. Call me bias, but DC is the best city in the US for a young professional looking for equal satification in their “work, play, stay” experience.