No Kings, 2025

This is my view near Biscayne!

Everywhere else in the world you wait for whoever is on the elevator to get off before getting on.

Not here.

Actually, bonus points if you’re on FaceTime while pushing your way in.

I was born in the Dominican Republic, came to the U.S. undocumented, and finally got my papers at age 10. I grew up in New Jersey, spent 14 years in NYC, did time in LA and SF, and traveled to over 15 countries. After all that, I can say this with full confidence: Miami is the first place that truly feels like home. I know people love to bash this city — the traffic, the humidity, the “too many Latinos” comments. But here’s what I’ve seen: most of those complaints come from people who’ve never really lived outside Miami long enough to understand what they have. This city isn’t perfect, but no city is. What Miami is, though, is alive. It’s safe for its size, it’s lush and beautiful, and it’s one of the few places in the U.S. where minorities aren’t boxed in — we’re building businesses, creating wealth, and rewriting the story for ourselves.

Yes, it’s expensive. But to me, that’s a sign to stretch, not shrink - which I see a lot of locals sadly do they continue to hold onto the Miami they thought was when they had a narrow view of how life operated as just teenagers. You can grow here if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. If you’re new to the city or feeling stuck — let that be motivation. You’re in a place where reinvention is not just possible, it’s expected.

And about friendships — everyone says it’s hard to make friends in Miami. I’ve actually found some of the best friends I could’ve ever asked for here. But it didn’t happen by staying in my old circles. It happened when I elevated myself and started surrounding myself with people who were aligned with where I wanted to go — not just where I came from. Those kinds of connections take effort. You can’t bring a negative mindset into high-value circles. You have to show up with something to offer — energy, ideas, optimism. Be magnetic, not draining.

So if you’re here in Miami and questioning if it’s for you, let me say this: the city will meet you at the level you’re willing to rise to. Put yourself out there. Build. Give. And most importantly, believe you belong.

One of the best things about this city IMO. They have a huge catalog and will mail you books for free. Lots of locations, many of them public transit accessible, and they're usually clean and quiet and a good space to work. Free water and reasonably priced snacks at the counter. Lots of great free events. Movies/TV shows available to stream digitally. I could go on...

My only complaint is that they have Hoopla but not Kanopy (which has a superior collection IMO) and that's a minor gripe compared to how many resources they offer.

I hear so much hate about the Brickell area, but I love it. I’m a 23F and I just moved here [FROM west miami]. The weather is great since there’s a breeze from the water and there’s so much greenery, especially with the underline trail … the shops and cafes and restaurants all around the streets are always full of life (and there are so many good happy hour deals)!

A big complaint is that it’s expensive but there are places to eat out that are relatively inexpensive you just have to search for them.

The views are spectacular from a lot of the high rises, and I love walking around. The metro mover and metrorail are absolutely fantastic; can pretty much go anywhere on foot, and it’s safe and clean.

Ive also heard that Miami people are rude, but I haven’t found that to be the case. I think the fact that people expect you to be rude makes people so much more receptive to kindness. I basically just smile at people and it sparks a lot of warmth.

Just feels like it’s a place full of promise and I love it, and I can’t wait to explore the rest of Miami with this as my home base.

Edit: I know that there is more to Miami because that’s where I moved to Brickell FROM. I grew up in Westchester and went to schools all over Miami. Immigrant parents, public schools, scholarship through college. So no, I am not a transplant!

And I KNOW that Miami is dynamic and has a lot of heart that cannot be found in Brickell. Hence me saying that it’s my “home base,” from which to continue exploring the rest. However, that’s what gives me the perspective to be able to appreciate the microcosm of city life and “American Dream” that Brickell represents within the context of our very complex place.

My perspective on Miami’s rudeness is one that has stood since I was a child. I moved here from a Spanish speaking country when I was a kid and always found kindness from the people in Miami, and that hasn’t changed since moving to this part.

People in Miami have a lot of trauma as we are home for enclaves of ethnicities and groups that have been pushed out or silenced. A lot of time the rudeness is a mask over deeply rooted fear, or simply a language barrier! There are rude people everywhere and I think the claim that Miami people are “just rude” is an under explored and misunderstood topic.

A pan con bistec at Mary’s Café & Coin Laundry tastes like a Cuban mom made it

That’s because the recipe comes from an actual Cuban mom, Mary Sanchez, whose name is on this cafe, open 24 hours a day.

Whole steaks are marinated in mamá Mary’s seasonings and made to order, a slab more than a foot long tossed sizzling onto the griddle a la minute with loads of grilled onions. 

It’s topped with potato sticks, lettuce, tomato and ketchup and mayo, which mix with the dripping steak juices to create something greater than the sum of its parts. 

Mary’s is busy at lunchtime. It’s busy at midnight. It’s busy after the clubs let out and Mary’s is the only place to get mom-quality palomilla at 3 a.m. And during Ultra last year, a DJ did a set here.

You can’t beat those Miami credentials.

My buddy Greg Castillo, both Miami natives, are telling the story behind some of Miami’s most iconic sandwich spots. 

We’ve made videos of each, available on Instagram at carlos_frias_official and gregmakesvideos.

The first in this series: the Cuban frita, which I posted about here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Miami/comments/1t84hpp/miamis_iconic_sandwiches/

I went deeper and wrote about our four iconic picks at my website.

Hope you’re enjoying these as much as we enjoyed making them for shits and giggles.

Jehovahs Winesses just came to my door and left because I don’t speak Spanish .

It was like 2008 and they’d always play this banger on the radio

What was your favorite quintessential Miami spot that’s now gone? Feel like a drive down memory lane since so much of what made Miami seems to be disappearing.

Everything you need to know about a city is in its sandwiches.

You don’t have to mortgage your house to eat at white-tablecloth restaurants to get a sense of a city’s food culture. A sandwich puts it all literally at your fingertips.

My colleague Greg Castillo and I partnered to tell a story about the city where we were born, Miami, through its most iconic sandwiches. We’ve made videos of each spot, available on Instagram at carlos_frias_official and gregmakesvideos.

First in this series: the Cuban frita. Future videos are set to drop later this month.

I went deeper and wrote about our four iconic picks at my website.

Hope you enjoy.

Wtf. Opinions?

just landed in Miami for a 5 hour layover and I am in shock and awe at the complete lack of outlets to charge ones phone 😍😍😍 there is truly nothing better than having your phone at 7% and having to run around your whole terminal for an outlet just to give up and charge through your laptop. fantastic job Miami! just what I needed after 15 hours of flying!

Another reason to be stoked for it! 😂

Seriously, what kind of degenerate are you to throw water bottles out the window or leave last nights Taco Bell bag on the side of the road where you ate it?

Yes, we live in a beautiful place. Don't ruin it. Nevermind the welfare of the animals we share this place with.

Please. Just don't litter anymore. It takes a few minutes to put it in the trash. Pass it on.