| A fountain emblazoned with a
mosaic and sculpted lion heads sits in a tropical-like central plaza,
where white wooden benches rest beneath the shade of coconut and palm
trees.
Cubic apartment complexes and cozy single-family homes border the
street that runs near Collins Avenue and 71st Street, while colorful
restaurants face each other in a semi-circle around the fountain.
Listen carefully for you might hear a particular tone of spoken
Spanish that gave this neighborhood its new nickname: little Buenos Aires.
``There are a lot of Argentinians in the neighborhood,'' says Lemon
Twist French chef David Guizol.
Standing in front of the French and Mediterranean restaurant with
Arabic-like arch finishes on the windows, Guizol, his hands resting on his
waist, watches as the little community starts to wake up at about 11:30
a.m.
As the sound of Bob Marley's music emanates from the eatery's
stereo, waiters of surrounding businesses busily set out tables and chairs
of irregular shapes and sizes on their terrace, before adorning them with
candles or flowers for the arriving customers.
``It's sort of private and quiet and it has a good atmosphere,''
Guizol says about the neighborhood. ``Little by little it's changing - for
the better.''
Arcadia Real Estate's Madeleine Romanello agrees. Her office sat in
the heart of Normandy Village for eight years before she
moved it to Biscayne Boulevard and 79th Street.
``It's a hot, hot area. There are a lot of new developments and
restaurants are more successful. They used to open and close but now
they're staying and doing very well,'' Romanello said. ``It's a little
less crowded than South Beach but now prices [of houses] are almost going
to South Beach level.''
Romanello said three years ago a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home
sold for about $275,000 in the neighborhood. Now, she said, nothing is
under $450,000.
Yet, she said, ``it's the cheapest area for homes in Miami Beach.''
By noon, people strolling along Normandy Drive grow curious
about the restaurants' international menus. A couple stops and glances at
Lemon Twist's choice of salads and pastas.
Guizol quickly returns to his kitchen and tightens an apron around
his waist - time to work.
Where We Live is part of a Herald series that spotlights cities and
- in this case - smaller neighborhoods. Got a neighborhood you think is
worth showing off? Tell us about it. E-mail Nathalie Gouillou at
ngouillou@herald.com.
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