Today we’re continuing our series on the people who make what we do possible — our supporting members. ❤️ Today we’re featuring downtown Miami’s Matthew Beatty.
Where in town might people run into you? Scootin’ in these downtown streets, having dinner at some new restaurant or at any Publix within a 10-mile radius.
What local business do you think deserves a shoutout? What Nicole Gates has done with Lil’ Greenhouse Grill and what it’s doing for Overtown’s exploding food scene is simply phenomenal. Yes, the food is amazing, but she brings such warmth to people dining there. It’s like eating at your auntie’s house … love it!
What’s a local event you went to recently that you loved? I went to see Hued Songs’ “Spirituals & Òrìṣas: Migration Through Song” at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. It featured mind-blowing vocalists singing about the black-American experience and our ancestral connection to Africa. Just extraordinary.
What made you decide to become a member of The New Tropic? I’ve been a subscriber since day one and depend on it daily to help me understand what’s on the radar of curious residents and local changemakers. I encourage my circle to personally invest in efforts that move Miami forward, so it was time to walk the talk.
What’s something you’re working on that you could use help with? I attended The Cushman School and we recently launched the first-ever alumni scholarship fund. I need help from fellow alums and supporters who want to make sure that every qualified, passionate child, regardless of their family’s financial picture, can have the life-changing experience we had at Cushman.
If you only have one meal left in Miami, where are you going? Prime One Twelve. If you can navigate the theatrics of getting a table (shout out to Derrick!), it’s just impossible to have a bad meal there.
What’s a recent story you’ve read about Miami that you wish more people cared about? There was a WalletHub study that said Miami was one of the least compassionate cities in the country, and a number of news outlets echoed that conclusion. We have our issues and they’re serious, but Miami has enough critics talking us down from the outside looking in or using data without context to tell us who we are. We can’t join that chorus. Whether after Hurricane Irma or on every single Give Miami Day, Miamians constantly prove how much we care about each other and this crazy, against-all-odds place we call home. THAT’S the story we should tell more often.
What’s your perfect day in our city? Wake up. Hit the gym. Meet the friends/fam for brunch. Head home for a quick nap, then get dressed up, hop on the Mover and see a show at the Arsht, capped off with a late dinner at Soya & Pomodoro and jazz at Le Chat Noir.
What does it mean to you to live like you live here? Get out of your neighborhood, get out of your comfort zone, and go explore the incredible city that sits right under our noses, but that many of us never take time to truly experience.
What are you celebrating in your life right now? I can’t say anything yet. But just know that I’m happy … God is good. 🙂
Supporting members like Matthew make our work possible — and they get special perks like event discounts, ticket giveaways, and bonus content in the newsletter. Become a New Tropic member today to join the crew.