The City Beautiful

[planetsurf]

We're moving back to CG from San Diego. We need a bit more urban (& urbane) existence than SD can give us.
LA is more our speed but family all in SoFla so ...

I would agree with most posters here, CG has more/varied restaurants then there used to be. Not a lot of the old places left, but most of them really weren't that great anyway (nostalgia is a strong flavor).
City still a pain to deal with, but would anyone complaining rather let people go hog wild? Not me, I want my neighbors house to look good too. Traffic is worse than it used to be, but the trolley is pretty convenient to get around downtown/on the Mile (is traffic better today ANYWHERE in the country?).
UM looks great and has lots going on, Matheson Hammock still a nice bike ride away.

If your looking for "Ol' Florida", you need to look in North Florida; St Aug area, panhandle. Some nice smaller more retirementty type communities.
If your looking for a really nice upscale community in an urban setting, I don't think the Gables can be beat.

[crisp444]

I just ate dinner in Coral Gables on Sunday night, and must comment that the downtown is is nice as ever. Lots of people out and the restaurants were pretty crowded. Coral Gables is one of the few places in Florida where you can park your car and have a pleasant stroll while shopping, dining, and people watching.