Axios Miami

April 21, 2023
👋 Good morning, Miami, and happy Friday.
- Here's some good Florida transportation news: Brightline announced that tickets for its train service to Orlando go on sale in May, starting at $79 each way.
☀️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80°, and a 20% chance of showers.
Today's newsletter is 908 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: 🎵 Wax for your ear
Some of Martin's record collection. Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios
Girl, put your records on and tell me your favorite song — tomorrow is Record Store Day.
Why it matters: The annual celebration of independent record stores featuring local events and exclusive artist releases puts a spotlight on the recent surge in popularity for analog music.
- Vinyl record sales topped $1.2 billion last year, up 17% year-over-year and outpacing CD sales for the first time since 1987.
What's happening: Miami's most popular record stores are celebrating with free drinks, food vendors, $1 vinyl deals and exclusive RSD goodies, including:
- Sweat Records has live DJ sets, sushi, frozen coffee and drinks from 9am-7pm, plus an after-party at Understory from 7pm-midnight with a DJ set from Com Truise. (Doors open at 9am, but line up before 8am, and you can call to reserve a record to buy.)
- Technique Records celebrates its 5-year anniversary with complimentary drinks and French sandwiches for sale from 10am-8pm. (Book an early access appointment online)
- Lucky Records opens at noon with live DJs on the patio.
Be smart: We asked Sweat Records owner Lolo Reskin what Miami artists sound best on vinyl, and she gave us some sweet picks.
- "Danger High Voltage" by Miami's "queen of soul" Betty Wright, who Reskin tells us was a friend of the shop.
- "Miami Soul: Soul Gems From Henry Stone Records," by various artists from the "soul, funk and r&b heyday" in the '60s and '70s, including Wright, Latimore and George McRae.
- More current artists featured at the shop include Afrobeta, Richie Hell and Seafoam Walls.
💭 Martin's thought bubble: Collecting records can be an expensive hobby, but it makes me feel more connected to my favorite artists.
- I can touch and feel their albums, display them in my home and — especially for independent artists — contribute to their livelihoods and future music far more than through streaming.
2. Go ahead — inhale at this yoga class
Tiffany April Levy (center) and friends. Photo: Lily Fonte @aLilyKatmedia
420 was a good time to catch up with Tiffany April Levy, a yoga teacher whose cannabis-enhanced classes draw hundreds of people.
What's happening: 420 Space Yoga is every Saturday at 4:20pm at Club Space.
- It's free and open to all experience levels.
- Levy describes her style as "fluid vinyasas with a little bit of dancing," plus some kundalini-style shaking and guided meditation.
The intrigue: A DJ spins during class — usually deep house music.
- Levy likened classes to a festival: people bring their own weed and "smoke before class and after class and everybody hangs out," she tells Axios.
- There's "radical acceptance" and "a really, really high vibe."
Yes, but: Recreational marijuana isn't legal in Florida.
- Levy says, "Most people I know have their medical cards," but says she doesn't police it.
Background: Levy, originally from North Carolina, was drawn to Miami for work and the electronic music scene.
- About eight years ago, she collaborated with Link Miami Rebels, the group that owns Club Space, to start 420 Yoga.
What she's saying: "Over the 20 years that I've been around South Florida, it's probably the most loving, caring environment I've been in."
If you go: Reserve a spot and then bring a mat and water.
- Class videos are also on YouTube.
What's next: Levy intends to take her brand global.
- She hosts events with cannabis brands, offers private coaching, hosts a podcast, has a line of yoga clothes and leads retreats around the world.
3. Heat trying to rekindle their flame
Jimmy Butler can't save Miami by himself. Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
After a blowout loss Wednesday, the Heat return to the Kaseya Center tomorrow with their first-round playoff series against the Bucks tied 1-1.
Why it matters: Miami is back on the ropes after getting clobbered by a short-handed Milwaukee team missing two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Catch up quick: The star forward is likely to return but the Bucks did fine without him in Game 2, tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a playoff game.
- Meanwhile, Miami will again be without its second-best scorer, Tyler Herro, who broke his hand in Game 1.
What we're watching: The Heat tried replacing Herro in the starting lineup with Duncan Robinson, but that didn't work out too well.
- Miami's star duo of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo need to play perfectly, but a bench player will also need to step up to give the Heat a shot at beating the No. 1 seed Bucks.
4. Things to do this weekend
Marcoooo! Photo: Courtesy of Beach Polo World Cup
It should be a beautiful weekend to celebrate Earth Day. In that spirit, we've rounded up a slate of outdoor happenings:
- The Beach Polo World Cup runs today through Sunday at Collins Park. Free general admission, with VIP tickets starting at $110.
- The Earth Love Festival includes a cacao ceremony, yoga class, kids' activities, music by Locos por Juana and more. Tickets: $7-$33.
- Visit Everglades National Park or Biscayne National Park on Saturday, when entrance fees are waived to celebrate National Park Week.
- Virginia Key Bicycle Club hosts a kids' meet-up ride at Virginia Key Sunday at 11am.
Your future begins here
💼 Check out who's hiring on our Job Board.
- Sr. Manager, Business Operations at University of Miami.
- Director of Operations at DaVita Kidney Care.
- Sr. Analyst - Marketing Analytics at Virgin Voyages.
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5. State blames contractor for early wake-up call
Not pictured: the screeching siren that accompanied this. Screenshot: Martin Vassolo/Axios
Why was all of Florida woken up before 5am yesterday? A contractor mistakenly sent a test emergency alert to our phones instead of our TVs.
What happened: A spokesperson for Florida's Division of Emergency Management tells Axios that contractor EverBridge will be let go for its role in sending out the statewide wake-up call.
Be smart: While some Twitter users instructed their followers to disable all emergency alerts on their phones, the spokesperson said "having a way to receive emergency alerts can save lives."
- "Please do maintain emergency alert notifications on your cellular device — we will ensure they are used appropriately henceforth."
👀 Deirdra noticed Tom Brady danced around a question regarding whether he'd unretire and play for the Dolphins at the eMerge Americas Conference.
🎵 Martin's favorite record is "Desire" by Bob Dylan. It was a gift from his cooler, older sister.
This newsletter was edited by Everett Cook and copy edited by Lisa Hornung.
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