PCCSF Specialists Discuss the Importance of Flu Vaccinations

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Last year, the incredible team of doctors at Joe Dimaggio’s Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida helped save the life of a teen who nearly died from complications of the H3N2 strain of influenza. As the peak of the 2017 season approaches, experts emphasize the importance of getting the vaccine.

Vanika Idnani lived across the globe in Australia, but the 3-year-old’s death could be a harbinger for the coming flu season in the U.S.

The little girl is the most recent victim of a virulent strain of flu well-known to doctors everywhere.

And that strain is already showing up this flu season in America. How the U.S. responds depends on how influenza-experts engineered this year’s vaccine and whether residents get a flu shot — which can be done on a quick trip to the grocery or drug store.

Convincing people to take advantage of that opportunity is another story.

“It’s sort of odd. One country’s experience doesn’t always mean it will be our experience,” said Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist in the influenza division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Flu is just really hard to anticipate what it is going to do. There are a lot of factors.”

For instance, while Australia, Hong Kong and Southern China had a bad flu season, New Zealand did not, she said. Still, in Australia, more than 50 people have died from the flu this year, including little Vanika. The culprit is the H3N2 strain of the flu which has already surfaced this summer.

Loxahatchee teenager Jenny Spell knows all too well the danger of this strain. The Palm Beach Post earlier this year chronicled Spell’s near-death struggle with the flu that forced her onto a heart-lung machine for five days and required a kidney transplant and nearly a year-long rehabilitation.

Spell encourages everyone to get a flu shot because it is unknown whose immune system might be the one that can’t fight it off. “If you won’t do it to protect yourself, do it to protect the people you love,” said Spell, now a college student at the University of Florida.

Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, echoes Spell’s sentiments: “You might not only be protecting yourself you will be protecting a young baby or an elderly person who may be next to you.”

Even if someone comes down with a flu strain not included in the vaccine, he or she will get less sick than if they didn’t get the shot, she added.

Dr. Allan Greissman, a specialist at Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida in Hollywood, said he is concerned about the myths about the flu vaccination. Few excuses for not getting the flu shot carry any weight, doctors say.

Healthy people who live a gluten-free life can get the flu as easily as someone who lives on Twinkies. There are options for pregnant women or people with allergies. Few people ever have an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Putting it off is not wise since it takes two weeks for the vaccine to take full effect.

Also, the vaccine carries a dead virus so that it can’t give anyone the disease.

“We are very concerned about the upcoming flu season especially because of all the bad publicity the flu shot has been getting,” Greissman said. “Our practice has seen an upswing in the number of influenza positive patients; I strongly urge the community to get vaccinated this season.”

Read the full story on the Palm Beach Post.

Bloommiami Helps Little River’s Creative Scene Grow

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Earlier this year our client, Bloommiami, founded Little River Creative Collective – a platform designed for local innovators to promote their work and present ideas, facilitating growth through collaboration and commerce. This week’s event dubbed ‘First Look’ will showcase the works of three local film makers.

In 31-year-old Lulo Rivero’s evocative film Ímpetu’s, Flamenco sensation Jesús Carmona dances around Miami, finding inspiration for his craft in the Magic City’s frenetic landscape. “The film’s message is meant to inspire people to connect within, follow their passions and dreams all the while not forgetting to break rules, think out of the box, and give the best version of themselves,” says the Miami Shores-based filmmaker.

Rivero will be showcasing Ímpetu’s this Thursday, November 16, at “First Look,” an exhibition of recent work by notable local creatives put together by the Little River Creative Collective (LRCC), which was founded earlier this year by production agency Bloommiami to promote artistic alliances.

“I am extremely honored to be part of ‘First Look.’ I admire how LRCC and Bloommiami connect local artists in exciting ways, especially since Miami is a big city and at times it can be difficult to connect with new circles,” Rivero says. “I really appreciate the opportunity to show my art to a new crowd and to meet new colleagues and creative people who think alike.”

Rivero will be one of three up-and-coming filmmakers highlighted at the free event in Little River. Twenty-eight-year-old Brandon de Reuver of Stack House Media is another. He tells New Times that it will be cathartic to show his work, a music video called The Wave, particularly since it will be a rare chance to be “out in front.”

“When the majority of your work consists of pulling the strings in the background of projects for other brands and businesses, you get used to being the unseen guy in the booth instead of the Wizard of Oz,” says de Reuver, also mentioning that his music video highlights the local band Pleaser. “When Bloommiami came to us to offer us the feature, I was a little taken aback to be honest, but also grateful.”

The filmmakers’ excitement is indicative of the creative environment blossoming in Little River. Little River resident Andy Ryan Flores, 31, who will be showcasing his work too, says it’s been inspiring to behold the growing scene in recent years.

“The creative community here in Little River is growing fast and I believe that is because of the people in it,” he says, elaborating that his film chronicles British fashion designer Magnus Walker’s passion for Porches and the luxury car brand’s growing community in South Florida. “This city is filled with so much talent and passion for art and community. We are all in this together and when you start to realize you’re better with those around you supporting and encouraging you, you change in such a positive way.”

To RSVP for the second installment of the Little River Collective taking place Thursday, November 16, visit https://lrcc.splashthat.com/.

Bloommiami Leads Retail Design for Airports and Beyond

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For many, a visit to the airport can be an obstacle course of long lines, hurried passengers, and moving walkways crowded with the only people who aren’t in a rush. Air travelers are often so focused on making it to their destinations that they don’t realize the meticulous thought that has gone into the futuristic sky portal they’re moving through.

“Airports are one of the youngest building types” says Derrick Choi, a senior architect at Populous, a firm that designs a panoply of sizable structures, including airports. Choi notes that one of the world’s oldest airports, London’s Heathrow, started out as a “tent in a field.” But as planes and air travel changed, so did the buildings that guided passengers from the curb to a lofty cruising altitude.
Modern airports serve many functions—they’re often a combination of transit hub, shopping mall, and civic square. They welcome tourists, ferry business travelers, and contain enough amenities to entertain restless passengers when a Nor’easter hits the east coast the day before Thanksgiving.
Not surprisingly, an incredible amount of meticulous planning goes into building an airport terminal. In fact, most airports are designed to guide and influence you in ways you would never even guess. For example:
Airports try to copy Main Street, U.S.A.
 
In addition to serving cities, many airports can seem like cities unto themselves. Consequently, to encourage shopping and dining, airports try to mimic the layout of a city marketplace or small town street.
All those shops you see after security? They’re arranged that way for a reason, says Darin Held, a principal at Bloommiami, a firm that helps activate brands in airports.
“When you go into an airport terminal, you’ll see that all the stores are kind of clustered together,” says Held. “This gives you a Main Street-type feel so that you’re able to shop a promenade.” The airport shopping experience, Held shares, is meant to feel as familiar as strolling in and out of the boutiques on your favorite public street.
This mimicry is being seen more and more in airport architecture, especially in the post-9/11 security era when travelers arrive early to ensure they’ll get through TSA lines.
To read the full story, visit Fashion Beans.

Stantec Set to Design Park-Line Miami and WPB Interiors

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lobby1_no-peopleStantec has been selected to design the interiors for upcoming Park-Line residential projects in West Palm Beach and Miami.

Park-Line West Palm is expected to be completed next year while Park-Line Miami, which will rise at MiamiCentral, is slated for completion in 2019. Both projects are located next to new All Aboard Florida Brightline Express Train stations, which will run between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and, eventually, Orlando.

The design concept for Park-Line Miami is “the timeless traveler,” as the release states, with “rich leathers inspired by antique luggage and travel bags, warm woods, creamy neutral tones, and deep blues are incorporated to create a sophisticated and inviting environment.”

Stantec will design Park-Line Miami’s lobby, residential units, and curate the furniture for the amenity deck, the latter including a yoga pavilion, a dog park, a running track, a movie screening area, and a resort-style pool. The twin towers have just begun vertical construction.

For Park-Line West Palm Beach, the project will feature “tones of rich purple complemented by warmer tones of yellow” and a “dripping diamonds tile wall” that “gradients from purple to gold and silver tones.” Amenities there include a game room, a dog park, and a dog spa.

To view more images of the project, view Curbed Miami.

PCCSF Lends a Helping Hand at the 2017 MDA Muscle Walk

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mdawalk Each day, everyday freedoms like walking, hugging, playing and even breathing are taken away from kids and adults in our community with muscular dystrophy, ALS and other related muscle-debilitating diseases.

The dollars raised to support those affected by these medical illnesses fuel MDA’s efforts to find research breakthroughs across diseases, to care for kids and adults from day one, and to empower families in hometowns across America with services and support.

This weekend, Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida is joining the Muscle Dystrophy Association in its annual Muscle Walk.

The annual walk gives residents from across the country the opportunity to unite around a cause that binds everyone together so that MDA can continue to enhance its support and care, offer the highest-quality programs and accelerate research efforts to bring more treatments to families faster.

The MDA Muscle Walk of Hollywood-Miami will take place this Saturday, October 28 at Charnow Park in Hollywood Beach. To register for the walk or donate to the cause, visit MDA.org.

OBR Gains LAND.design as New Client

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screen-shot-2017-08-23-at-5-05-43-pmOberhausen Marketing & Public Relations is proud to announce the addition of LAND.design to its premier client list. LAND.design is a full-service, Miami-based environmental planning, landscape architecture, exterior living, and design practice. The unique firm specializes in creating bespoke outdoor environments for boutique hotels, private residences, luxury resorts, ecological projects, urban zones, and public spaces around the world.

LAND.design and its founder, Matthew Lewis, have established an internationally recognized portfolio of high-quality, award-winning design solutions.

The boutique-style firm has completed more than 75 projects in impressive locations including Dubai, Latin America, Mexico, the U.S. and the Caribbean.

The firm’s comprehensive team of tech-savvy, creative talent possesses vast experience in sustainable design, geography, architecture, technical drafting, conservation, ethnography, the arts, and interior/exterior design that is matched by a breadth of global expertise in business and linguistic assets.

Stay tuned to learn more about LAND.design’s exciting projects.

Bloommiami Set to Transform Little River Building

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Bloommiami is joining developers to bring new life to a handful of buildings in Miami’s Little River neighborhood. The adaptive re-use and mixed-use development will feature new restaurants, retail and office space.

Some 60-plus-year-old buildings in Miami’s Little River neighborhood are being transformed into retail through adaptive reuse.

Architecture firm Bloommiami crafted a plan to renovate the four buildings at 235 N.E. 79th Street into 42,000 square feet suited for restaurants, retail and neighborhood offices. Construction on Eden started in early September and should be completed in the first quarter of 2018.

The project is among a growing number of developments in a neighborhood that has been attracting more business and home purchases as people are priced out of areas like downtown Miami, Wynwood and the Design District.

“Eden will mirror the ‘grass roots’ development movement that is defining this unique neighborhood,” said Darin Held, partner at Bloommiami. “As a Little River based company, we’re excited to be a part of this project and bring to the community a space that reflects its people, culture and heritage, while offering a new retail and entertainment destination.”

Read the rest of the story on The South Florida Business Journal.

Choeff Levy Fischman Named Top Coastal Architects

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ohtopOcean Home Magazine’s annual collection of Top 50 Coastal Architects includes some of the most innovative, influential, and prolific architects in the world like Richard Landry, Deborah Berke, and others profiled in the most recent issue.

So, it’s no surprise that Miami-based Choeff Levy Fischman Architecture + Design was selected as one of the greatest for the second year in a row.

Choeff Levy Fischman is a known leader throughout South Florida in the style of Tropical Modern architecture, changing the appearance of Miami’s most prominent residential neighborhoods, such as North Bay Road and the Venetian Islands.

The Miami-based firm has vast experience in designing single-family residences, commercial and residential high-rise buildings, hotels, multi-family developments and shopping plazas. Its clientele consists of executives, athletes and celebrities that wish to accentuate indoor-outdoor living, including Alex Rodriguez, Cher, Edward James Olmos, Matt Damon, Rony Seikaly and Barry Gibb.

Experts in their field, Choeff Levy Fischman emphasizes indoor-outdoor living, using warm elements such as ipe wood, natural stone, concrete, and water features to create high-end tropical environments. The firm has won several design awards, and architecture critics and major publications like Architectural Digest, Wall Street Journal, and Ocean Home Magazine have recognized its work. The firm takes great pride in the high level of design and technical documentation that is maintained throughout every project, and its ability to properly oversee complex projects through construction.

While the its focus has recently been on high-end custom residences, mostly in the Tropical Modern style of architecture, each principal has a varied background with other specialties as well. Ralph Choeff has designed several hotels, which include the Mondrian South Beach and Kimpton Anglers Hotel, as well as housing developments, shopping centers and commercial establishments. Raphael Levy has diverse experience, working on projects that include high-rise design, commercial property and single-family custom residences. Paul Fischman has a background in high-rise architecture, having worked for the prestigious architecture firm Arquitectonica. The firm’s office takes on a studio-like environment where ideas are shared and discussed to produce a final design reflecting the client’s desires.

Committed to continuing education and the licensure process, Choeff Levy Fischman employs university interns, frequently through the University of Cincinnati’s Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program. Interns work in four-month intervals and learn everything from office practice to generating graphics. They work on real projects producing digital 3D models and participate in the design process, formulating conceptual ideas and schematic design models with the principals. Interns attend meetings with clients, engineers, contractors and city officials as well as make site visits during the construction phase of a project.

In 2016, Choeff Levy Fischman hosted the AIA Miami Young Architects’ Forum at its office. The firm has also lectured at the AIA on the subject of global warming and at Miami-Dade College on the industry in general. It has served on the Miami Beach Design Review Board to help raise the standard of design in the city.

If you’re dreaming to build a one-of-a kind home in an one-of-a kind coastal location, chances are any one of 2017’s Top 50 architects listed here can help turn your dreams into reality.

SoLē Mia Development Moves Forward with Wells Fargo Loan

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sole-miaPlans are coming together at the SoLē Mia site. South Florida’s next iconic neighborhood & North Miami’s largest project ever, just got a financial boost to build the development’s two luxury rental towers.

An ambitious, long-in-the-works project to turn one of the largest remaining parcels of undeveloped land in South Florida into a planned community just took a step closer to fruition.

Wells Fargo & Company has made a $101 million HUD-insured loan to SM Multifamily LLC, the developer of two luxury, 17-story residential towers with a total of 400 units and attached parking garage.

The towers will be part of the first phase of SoLē Mia Miami, the 183-acre master-planned community in North Miami being developed by Oleta Partners LLC, a joint venture between two well-capitalized and experienced developers, Turnberry Associates and LeFrak.

“It is a pleasure to be part of this important development through our work with long-time clients, LeFrak and Turnberry Associates,” said Alan Wiener, head of Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital, in a statement. “This initial residential project will jump start an important mixed-use development, which will generate sustained long-term economic development in Miami for many years to come.”

Since the 1960s, various attempts to develop the land parcel have failed. Previous plans for the site formerly known as Biscayne Landing have included an amusement park and indoor ski resort. From 1975 to 1981, the tract was used as a municipal landfill. Oleta Partners acquired the property in 2015.

To read the full story, visit The Miami Herald.

 

Oktoberfest Comes to Wynwood This Weekend

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floridafest_steinThe fall season for beer lovers only means one thing – and no, we’re not talking about pumpkin beer. It’s the celebration of Oktoberfest, the world’s largest Volksfest or beer festival. Held annually in Germany, it’s a 16- to 18-day festival running from mid or late September to the first weekend in October, with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. In Miami however, we have Blocktoberfest hosted by Concrete Beach Brewery.

This year, the third annual celebration is back with stein hosting competitions, pretzel eating games, bratwursts, beer, and lots more so strap on your lederhosen and head over to Wynwood this Saturday for some fun!

Oktoberfest-style celebrations will take place from 1 to 7 PM at the Social Hall on Saturday, September 23 where guests can get a taste of Floridafest, the German-inspired brew with a hint of tropical influence.

Floridafest is the supreme South Florida beer to savor this fall – ideally under a palm tree as you attempt to shade yourself from the blaring sun – we are in Miami after all. The lager features subtle undertones of toasted coconut, with notes of toffee and vanilla that round out this smooth, medium-bodied beer.

The limited release beer is currently available on draft at select South Florida bars and restaurants, but 16 oz. four-pack cans will be exclusively available for purchase at the Blocktoberfest celebration starting this Saturday.

The event will feature live performances by Monster Sound Pro, delicious bratwursts by Babe Froman Fine Sausages, and more. Concrete Beach will donate $1 from every Floridafest beer sold during the event to Feeding South Florida, up to a maximum of $1,000. For more information on Feeding South Florida visit feedingsouthflorida.com – the leading domestic hunger-relief organization in South Florida.

To find where Floridafest is available, visit the beer finder.