Hotels in Miami

[Hardbopjazz]

Anyone here from the Miami area? I am attending a class at the University of Miami in Coral Gables on July 20th through the 23rd. Can you recommend any hotels in the area? Most of all, can I find some live jazz when the class is over at night?

[Big Wheel]

Will you have a car? Miami is not a particularly easy city to get around if you do not.

There is a Holiday Inn right across US 1 from the university. There is also a Marriott about 3 miles to the south; it is right next to the Dadeland South Metrorail station, and you can take the train to the University stop. There are others that may be preferable to these, but if you don't have a car it could prove hard to get around.

As for live jazz...there ain't much. There is a bar called Titanic right near the university on Ponce de Leon just north of Red Rd., but it used to have more jazz than it does now (they had weekly jam sessions but AFAIK those are no more). The best place in Miami is the Van Dyke Cafe on Miami Beach--sometimes they have "name" people, but not frequently. It looks like Mike Orta, a very good piano player who I took a couple of lessons from, is holding down Monday and Tuesday nights

(see here-- http://donwilner.bizland.com/experiment.htm ). There is another club on Miami Beach called Jazid, but it mostly features acid jazz/electro-pop these days. There is also a place in Liberty City whose name I forget but is supposed to feature good local players. You may be better off trying Ft. Lauderdale...

[Hardbopjazz]

I'll have a rental.