Topic: History

Piggybacking off Cinco de Mayo, the Miami Modern architecture movement is launching Cinco de MiMo, a two-day festival celebrating the MiMo movement. Festivities kick off Friday night with a Frieda Kahlo look-alike contest, piñata cracking, snacks, cocktails and more at the Upper Eastside Gardens.

Things are looking sunny for Miami’s iconic Coppertone Girl sign, which hangs on the Concord Building at 66th W. Flagler St.

The sign's future has been in jeopardy for quite some time. Locals consider it to be a part of Miami history, and there have been a number of organizations and citizens fighting for its restoration and safety.

MiMo is to Miami as Art Deco is to South Beach.

MiMo, or Miami Modern, is an architectural style that developed along Miami's Bisycane corridor between 1945 and 1965. Architectural preservationist Terry D’Amico coined the term in 1998 and has since led the charge to protect and restore the city's historic structures. Today, there are 50 buildings being restored along Biscayne Boulevard between 50th and 77th streets.

ON Assignment spent an afternoon with D'Amico exploring the Biscayne corridor, the MiMo movement and the future of both.

In the six years since September 11, 2001, families and a nation have found a way to remember and cope. Local artist Debra Holt has done both through her interactive art installation Cathartic, currently on display at Abba Fine Art. We spoke to her about inspiration and hope.

What inspired you to create Cathartic?

So, how do you get rid of a rock quarry pit in the middle of your newly designed city? Do what Coral Gables founder George Merrick and architect Phineas Paist did: make it a pool. This week, ON Assignment takes us to the famed Venetian Pool, diving into its history and preservation efforts through the years. Before you jump into our video, here are some quick facts:

• The pool holds 820,000 gallons of water.
• During the summer months, the water is replenished with water from the aquifer below the pool.
• The water is then recycled back into the aquifer, where it is naturally filtered.
• The pool is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
• Water depths range from two feet (wading pool) to over eight feet by the large waterfall.

Ramon Puig is the King of the Guayabera. The Cuban native and longtime Miami resident has been making the classic Cuban shirts for over 60 years and has designed for the likes of Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr. and Denzel Washington.

The four-pocket guayabera earns its name from the Spanish word Guayaba, meaning fruit. Cuban men traditionally wore the shirts on their way to harvest fruit and used its pockets to tote goods home.

Step inside Puig's world in our video below.

For more info, visit Las Casa de Las Guayaberas, 5840 SW Eighth St, 305-266-9683