U2 recorded a song called New York on their All That You Can’t Leave Behind LP, and another one after 9/11. I recorded my own tribute, We Rock for NY, in 2008. The city built on industry, money, power, wealth inequality, artistry, can be seen as a microcosm of the world. New York today is a completely different city than 40 years ago, with a new mix of people.

But it’s a city that renews and transforms itself. The melting pot that wont quiet melt. But even with its diversity and complexity, it’s still a city that represents possibilities, so it remains an obsession of mine. I was born in Manhattan raised in the Bronx and New England, and love to vacation in Miami. But this city always calls me back.

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Popsicles and summer: a perfect combination. In Florida, the land of endless summer, a husband and wife duo brings this unadulterated treat to the streets, where they serve their Feverpops from a sleek, eco-friendly ‘truck’ to in-the-know kids of all ages.

Chief popsicle maker, Felecia Hatcher, scours local farmers markets for the freshest, most seasonal produce she can find, then uses it to create her flirty, finger-licking flavors. For fruit fanatics, there’s creamy coconut and sweet, refreshing watermelon mint. The savory-minded should watch out for pine nut or chocolate banana sea salt popsicles. And the booze lovers can drool over the strawberry mojito and peach bourbon (yep, they’re spiked). Track down one of these delicacies if you can, or dream about the latest flavors by following them on Twitter. And in case you’re still not convinced, Feverish fuses music, art, fashion, and social awareness with their ice creams and pops. Talk about the cherry on top.

Miami’s up-and-coming arts district got a little bit cooler last year with the opening of Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, an art gallery-meets-bistro-meets-watering hole that has Miami hipsters swooning. Built inside an old warehouse, Wynwood has a sleek, minimalist look that provides a perfect backdrop for the art on display. An 11-foot-high sculpture of a rainbow-hued man greets guests upon entry, and murals by Shepard Fairey — better known for creating that iconic HOPE poster featuring Barack Obama — adorn the walls.

The art extends from the restaurant out front to the kitchen in the back, where Chef Marco Ferraro creates his own sausages of pork, beef, lamb and veal. Not a fan of meat? Try the equally delicious cilantro-laced seafood ceviche, or the delicate roasted beet and walnut salad. Or just go for a drink – with 40 beers and 70 bottles of wine to choose from, you won’t be disappointed.

Miami-based artist Augustina Woodgate made some super awesome rugs out of the skins of stuffed animals.

Miami-based street artist Typoe makes the act of vomiting look good in his latest installation piece, Confetti Death. It features a buoyant skull which appears to be puking out a stream of infinite spray can caps.

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Want a little Jack Daniel’s with that toffee? Well, say no more. From Miami-based Mermaid Sea Salt Toffee comes sweet — sometimes spiked, but always clever — toffee treats. What starts as an organic, buttery blend of goodness is pimped out with ingredients from curry powder and fennel seeds to rum and Baileys Irish Cream.

A sprinkling of crystallized ginger, melted chocolate, or sea salt often find their way on the final product, which is then lovingly packaged in that oh-so-artisanal way. Mermaid Sea Salt Toffee can be bought in Miami pre-made or, if you’re feeling adventurous, custom-order to make your own spiked, spiced sweetie from the sea.

As such a fan of New York illustrator Josh Cochran’s work, I was excited to discover that he has several limited edition prints, as well as t-shirts, alongside artists Dalek — a Lost At E Minor contributor — and Rueben Rude available through Neon Monster – an online, and brick and mortar art and design collective, selling art, art toys, records, prints, and clothes, among other things. These items were created exclusively for Neon Monster for the very first art toy installation set up at Art Basel in Miami.

Bill Orcutt, erstwhile member of Miami noise-punk outfit Harry Pussy, just released a solo record called A New Way to Pay Old Debts on which he plays improvised, four-string guitar pieces. It will destroy you the way Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’ probably destroyed the first people who heard or read it.

Move over fondue, there’s a new star at the table: a sizzling, hot lava rock. That’s right. At Stone Grill 95 in Miami, while diners lounge on red leather benches, waiters carry blistering lava on massive wooden boards to each table.

Then, daring patrons take whatever meat they fancy — from lamb to filet mignon — and toss it on the stone until it cracks and smokes, grilling to perfection. In addition to these charred delights, the new concept boutique restaurant also serves an impressive list of global fusion dishes to an increasingly enthusiastic Miami following. Now that’s hot.

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When you’re struck with that drunken hunger after a big night out, there are few things more satisfying than a massive, oozing, greesey, buttery, grilled cheese sandwich. Apropos then that Cheeseme — a new late night grilled cheese bar — has just opened its doors in South Beach, Miami.

Serving until 5am, Cheesme offers up sixteen choices of cheeses to be paired with whatever dozen-plus breads you fancy. Munster, Manchego, and Fontina share the menu with brioche, pumpernickel, and rye. Spice your creation up with some meats, such as smokey Applewood bacon, or layer in veggies, fruits, or spreads like arugula, peaches, or chutney. Touted as a ‘grilled cheese and fry bar extraordinaire’, Cheesme also dishes out crispy French fries served with sauces from blue cheese to wasabi mayo.

Common Machine is a hot new media collective of artists, editors, filmmakers, photographers and producers. Based in Miami, with key collaborators in New York, the studio is headed by Brett O’Bourke, an award-winning journalist turned documentary producer who has since focused on producing web-based niche entertainment for corporate clients. Several Common Machine projects will be hitting the internets in the coming months, including a series of videos for a classic clothing retailer looking to rebrand, videos for several big name architects, to be released just before Art Basel Miami Beach, and the second installment of the video series it is producing for Lost At E Minor, the first of which — a profile on marionette maker, Pablo Cano — is above.

Tiana Markova’s fascinating fly-on-the-wall account of a day in the life of a high class prostitute, Jenna, is tastefully done yet provocatively revealing. Jenna’s captions provide the detail to accompany each shot. Of the photo above, she says: ‘Unpacking at the hotel in Miami. I couldn’t wait to take off my clothes and walk around naked! I hate winter almost more than anything’.

Produced by our talented friends over at Miami-based studio, Common Machine, this is the first installment of a new bi-monthly series of exclusive Lost At E Minor videos that they will be putting together for us. This one is on marionette maker, Pablo Cano, who uses ‘mundane objects to create magic on a string’. And he does. We hope you enjoy!

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The photographic-based artwork of Miami’s Lisa Torske is stunning. Tiny snapshots of every dream I’ve never had.

There’s something compelling about the energy, the charisma, and the incessant pmmft, pmmft, pmmft of the slippery ghetto tunes blasting (and I mean blasting) out of every hotel, café and bar in South Beach, Miami. It’s as if everyone is there for a good time, and damned if anyone, or anything, is going to get in their way. With my ears ringing like an over-sized cowbell from the music playing in the hotel lobby — and, I have to point out, it was loud enough to drown out a 747 — I strolled down the long beachside strip taking in an ambiance that was as much about the people as it was about the places at which they congregate. It was an odd mix – from conservative out of towners, in the mood for some spicy Miami action, to locals reveling in the comparative serenity of a mild Spring afternoon. If the promenade was unusually quiet on the day I walked down it — and insiders at a local cafe suggested it was — then, please, beam me back on a warm summer’s day, strap me into a comfortable deck chair, and let the great catwalk of life make its way past my eyes. Yes, South Beach is a one-off — this long, airbrushed expanse of sand and water, beautiful, interesting, and inviting. The area was the first section in Miami Beach to be developed at the turn of last century, which is reflected in the density of shops and hotels. A hurricane swept through in 1926, causing considerable damage. But the strip recovered well and now is a thriving, year-round destination with a prominent Latin American community. With so much going for it, it’s ittle wonder it has the highest property values in Miami. It’s a fun place to explore, but be sure to stock up on water beforehand. You’ll be drinking plenty of it. And make sure that your hotel room is a long way removed from the rather boisterous reception areas which, I suspect, are really surrogate nightclubs in brilliant shades of white.