With its blue skies and crystal-clear waters, Miami has forever been a small piece of American paradise where even from its earliest days the motto seemed to be “dream big.” From the moment Henry Flagler built his luxurious Royal Palm Hotel and Carl Fisher hauled out an elephant to promote the new Miami Beach, Miami was in the business of making the fantastic happen.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences Miami Beach, a 7-acre waterfront development planned for the neighborhood of Mid-Beach, has unveiled its private Miami Beach condo villa residences.

Developer Lionheart, together with Steinway & Sons, the Florida Grand Opera and Miami Children’s Health Foundation, recently hosted Sounds on Surprise Lake, an evening of classical music at The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Miami Beach.

From leading hospitality corporations, luxury auto manufacturers to haute fashion houses, designer labels are rapidly infiltrating the real estate sector as branded developments take center stage.

Read the latest mention for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach in The Wall Street Journal.

South Florida’s charity leaders came together for an evening of food and drinks, networking and photography at SocialMiami’s “A Grand Gathering.” The annual photo shoot recognizes individuals who are chairing events to benefit local non-profit organizations and honors their leadership and community service.

More developers and realtors are applying feng shui principles to ensure positive “energy” — and attract Chinese buyers.

Also on Miami Beach, but in a quiet, affluent residential area facing a lake and with sea access, the Ritz-Carlton Residences are nearing completion. The 111 one- to five-bedroom condominium homes and 15 villas designed by Italian Piero Lissoni are 60 per cent sold to overseas buyers. Those remaining start at £1.29 million.