🌱 Patch AM: Why burrowing owls keep turning up from PortMiami to South Beach

Good morning Miami Beach! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why burrowing owls keep turning up from PortMiami to South Beach
• How Peter Thiel’s Miami Beach mansion fits into a billionaires’ tax battle
• Could Tallahassee undo Miami Beach’s plastic-straw rules by 2027?

Also on today's calendar: Mocktail Fest Miami: a Dry January Celebration and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: I got fired from the M&M factory. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Nice with plenty of sun, with a high of 75 and low of 65 degrees.
• Sunday: A thunderstorm in spots, temps: high: 78, low: 65.
• Monday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 76 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Burrowing owls headed home to Miami after hitching a ride on a cruise ship (wusf.org) — Burrowing owls that accidentally sailed from PortMiami to Spain are being flown back and will be released near the port or other protected habitat. The story highlights how these protected birds have also been spotted in Miami Beach’s Lummus Park and South of Fifth, underscoring the species’ quiet presence in nearby neighborhoods.
   

• Amid California billionaire tax debate, Peter Thiel announces new Miami office (diyatvusa.com) — Peter Thiel, who bought a Miami Beach mansion in 2020, is further cementing his Florida ties by opening a new Thiel Capital office in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. The move comes as California considers a one-time billionaire tax, highlighting how wealthy residents may shift homes and business activity to low-tax states like Florida.
   

• Florida Officials Aim to Ban Paper Straws by 2027 in New Bill Proposal (people.com) — Miami Beach’s plastic-straw rules could be rolled back under a new Florida bill that limits how cities regulate drinking straws and stirrers. Lawmakers say they’re worried about chemicals in paper straws and disability access, while critics argue the proposal undercuts local environmental efforts already in place in cities like Miami Beach.
   

📸 Around Miami Beach

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Miami Beach

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday January 4

• Beach Fit Camp at 64th Street Beach
  64th Street Beach - on the sand, meet near the lifeguard tower with a towel or mat and water
  7:30 am
• Lincoln Road Farmers Market
  Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce , 1920 Meridian Ave , Miami Beach
  9:00 am

Monday January 5

• Beach Fit Camp at 64th Street Beach
  64th Street Beach - on the sand, meet near the lifeguard tower with a towel or mat and water
  6:30 am
• Zumba at Altos Del Mar Park in North Beach
  Altos Del Mar Park , 76th Street and Collins Avenue , Miami Beach
  8:00 am
• Group Fitness Workout at Altos Del Mar Park
  Altos Del Mar Park , 76th St and Collins Ave , Miami Beach
  9:00 am

Tuesday January 6

• Beach Fit Camp at 64th Street Beach
  64th Street Beach , 64th Street Beach - on the sand, meet near the lifeguard tower , Miami Beach
  6:30 am

Wednesday January 7

• Group Fitness Workout at Altos Del Mar Park
  Altos Del Mar Park , 76th St and Collins Ave , Miami Beach
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Beach Fit Camp at 64th Street Beach
  64th Street Beach , 64th Street Beach - on the sand, meet near the lifeguard tower , Miami Beach
  6:30 am

Sunday January 11

• Mocktail Fest Miami: a Dry January Celebration
  Miami Beach Botanical Garden , 2000 Convention Ctr Dr , Miami Beach
  5:00 pm

📣 Miami Beach Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 3

• Beach Fit Camp at 64th Street Beach
  64th Street Beach , on the sand, meet near the lifeguard tower , Miami Beach
  7:30 am
• Zumba at Lummus Park on South Beach
  Lummus Park , 13th Street and Ocean Drive , Miami Beach
  9:00 am
• Group Fitness Workout at Altos Del Mar Park
  Altos Del Mar Park , 76th St and Collins Ave , Miami Beach
  9:30 am
• Sabbath Worship Service
  Tabernacle Seventh-Day Adventist Church , 8017 NE 2nd Ave , Miami
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Looking for a reliable human who can aid me in unpacking boxes for a new move,!
  Please let me know what and when you are available.. Miami Beach (Nextdoor West Avenue)
• I need to renew a small kitchen and a bathroom in my apartment in Miami Beach.
  Do you have a good and honest and fast contractor to suggest me? Thanks (Nextdoor West Avenue)

• South Beach Group Hotels posted a job opening for Houseman - Riviera Hotel in Miami Beach. Apply here.
• Marriott posted a job opening for Recreation Attendant in Miami Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Miami Beach here.

🗞 Nearby News

Surfside

• Netanyahu gives motivational speech in Surfside before Jewish diaspora (nbcmiami.com)
• Israel emerged from war ‘stronger than ever,' Netanyahu says at JNS event in Florida (tjvnews.com)
• Tom Brady's 23-year age gap to Alix Earle sparks discussion after duo seen partying together on NYE (nypost.com)

Miami

• A Special Evening Honoring Kionne McGhee as the 2025 Citizen of the Year (communitynewspapers.com)
• Missile Fragments Add To Evidence MQ-9 Reaper Drone Carried Out Venezuela Strike (twz.com)

Ok Miami Beach! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I kept throwing out all the W’s.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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