What Miami Needs - Fisherman's Wharf/Historic Seaport!!! (Golden Gate, South Beach: restaurants, air quality)

[big mean bear]

Why isn't there a fish market or "fisherman's wharf" in Miami similar to the fish market in San Francisco? Both cities are on the water, both cater to seafood-eating crowds, so why isn't there even a plan in the works to put a fresh fish market/historic port somewhere on Miami's waterfront? A fisherman's wharf/historic seaport could be similar to Bayside in its creation, but it would not be 'fake' like Bayside...

Quite frankly, I just love good seafood and I think that the city has the waterfront space and the # of tourists (by far) to make something like this succeed. Below are pictures of San Francisco's "Fisherman's Wharf"..... I'm jealous

[ConeyIsBabe]

Miami is not like - nor will ever be like - the wondeful city of San Francisco!

I used to hang out at the marina, at what is now called "Bayside", when there were just boats docked there and one very nice restaurant. Now it's a tourist trap just like the rest of downtown Miami and South Beach ! Just my humble opinion

[doggiebus]

I didn't know Bayside was just a Marina before it became the tourist trap. Very interesting.

I wish we had something like Pikes Market in Seattle, Fishermans Wharf is still on the touristy side IMO.
But I think weather plans into this, could you imagine an open air market like Pikes in South Florida its just to warm for that. They would have to make it an indoors thing, and then the air quality in the place would need to be controlled very well, with all the smells from different things.

[big mean bear]

A fisherman's wharf or historic seaport would be great for Miami, and it isn't an impossibility like "great public transportation" would be in Miami. It would also take far less money and fewer qualified people to run it than a "great public transportation system. I get fed up with people who want to turn Miami into some kind of Manhattan... The marina would be a marina just like any other, only with an emphasis on a seafood industry and maybe a couple tall ships or sponge schooners for the tourists to look at or take sunset cruises on.

On the other hand, maybe Miami is too 'metro' or 'retro' or whatever you want to call it to build a landmark port that focuses on history and tradition. Miami's first inhabitants were sponge fishermen. The only reason I started this thread is because I am in love with Miami's history, and I can't get over how little people wish to cherish it in this city...

Look at our roots people... I will try to scan some great shots of Miami harbor and government cut when I get a chance...

[nicsma2002]

I would love to see something like a Fisherman's Wharf in Miami, but it would have to be done right, with character and attention to detail, which would require a lot of planning, not something often done here, with a few exceptions. When was the above picture taken? Pretty cool seeing all that green space in downtown Miami.

[planetsurf]

Originally Posted by nicsma2002

I would love to see something like a Fisherman's Wharf in Miami, but it would have to be done right, with character and attention to detail, which would require a lot of planning, not something often done here, with a few exceptions. When was the above picture taken? Pretty cool seeing all that green space in downtown Miami.

Second that! Part of the charm of Fisherman's Wharf is it IS touristy (VERY) but it's also a little bit commercial AND you can find really good food there too. Part of the problem with Bayside is I don't have a compelling reason to go. The food just isn't worth it, whereas in SF, the food IS worth it (at many places, not all).

(Oso Bravo, keep in mind, Manhattan DOES have the South Street Seaport, GREAT views, but just ok food. I'm not sure but I think it barely survives.)

When we want decent food, ON the water and a nice view we'll go to Monty's -- NO way to Bayside.
If we want an area with lots of people to stroll and/or eat, we'll go to Lincoln Rd. We probably go down there every 3 weeks or so. We JUST went last week to meet some friends for dinner with kids. Walked around afterwards, got desert for the kids, it was VERY nice.

We have the weather problem here, I'm not going to walk around outside for TOO long anywhere 8 months out of the year, but if the river area got cleaned up, keep the marinas active, encourage (w/ low rents) the restaurants there and bring in new ones, I think we could have a nice little area for locals to stroll and/or eat and a decent place for tourists to spend an evening.

[planetsurf]

I just noticed your top picture is of "Tarantinos," GREAT example of what I meant.

Had a great lunch there with DW last March (flew up for a weekend b4 we moved out of Cali).
Food was NOT great, but it was very good. Not cheap, but not too bad $-wise and a FANTASTIC view of the Golden Gate the whole time.
Very, very enjoyable meal overall.
Seemed to be mostly tourists, but also locals with out-of-towners and a few (what I believed to be) locals too.

Then right behind Tarantino's is the Boudin Bakery -- you can see their roof in the pic. Yes it's touristy as hell, but they also have GREAT sourdough bread.

Up the hill and west of there is Ghirardelli Square -- NOT impressive. You get the obligatory ice cream or chocolate from Ghirardelli's, but otherwise, eh.
Walking from Tarantino's to Ghirardelli Square is ugly -- VERY VERY touristy, then you come to that park (can't remember the name) and it get's really nice again.

My point is I don't think it would be too hard to make something like this in Miami -- we romanticize it so much and it really isn't all great there, but it's a must do in SF and worth it imo.
I truly believe we could do something similar here -- not the same, not as nice, but similar.

[big mean bear]

Originally Posted by planetsurf

I just noticed your top picture is of "Tarantinos," GREAT example of what I meant.

Had a great lunch there with DW last March (flew up for a weekend b4 we moved out of Cali).
Food was NOT great, but it was very good. Not cheap, but not too bad $-wise and a FANTASTIC view of the Golden Gate the whole time.
Very, very enjoyable meal overall.
Seemed to be mostly tourists, but also locals with out-of-towners and a few (what I believed to be) locals too.

Then right behind Tarantino's is the Boudin Bakery -- you can see their roof in the pic. Yes it's touristy as hell, but they also have GREAT sourdough bread.

Up the hill and west of there is Ghirardelli Square -- NOT impressive. You get the obligatory ice cream or chocolate from Ghirardelli's, but otherwise, eh.
Walking from Tarantino's to Ghirardelli Square is ugly -- VERY VERY touristy, then you come to that park (can't remember the name) and it get's really nice again.

My point is I don't think it would be too hard to make something like this in Miami -- we romanticize it so much and it really isn't all great there, but it's a must do in SF and worth it imo.
I truly believe we could do something similar here -- not the same, not as nice, but similar.

Anything would beat the tacky fakeness of Bayside. But hey, beggars can't be choosers!

[bryan61]

Who TF wants to be like sf or settle. S FL has the Keys

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[big mean bear]

Originally Posted by bryan61

Who TF wants to be like sf or settle. S FL has the Keys

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Of course, that's between 2 and 2.5 hours away. I don't consider anything North of Long Key the Keys... it reminds me too much of what I'm trying to escape every time I go to the Keys (Miami).