School is back in session, which means mornings have returned to alarm clocks, drop-off lines, and trying to remember where the water bottle went. Don’t worry, the Miami Design District can handle the rest – from new school-year outfits, hearty lunch, after-school ice cream, and, oh yeah, a few things for the parents, too.
School-Year Style
Add an interactive class into your back-to-school shopping trip at State of Kid. Prep for Preschool focuses on fine motor skills, social interaction, sensory processing, and attention regulation for ages 18 months to 3, while Maker Monkey Workshop gives ages 2 to 8 real tools to build their own projects. Miss Nancy’s Petit Chefs has ages 3 to 8 make treats to take home. There are also ballet and tumbling classes, plus music and sensory play in English and Spanish. Time shopping around a class, and you get the best of both worlds.
Lunch, Handled
When you have a morning on-the-go and have nothing to feed the kids at home – don’t worry, Pura Vida opens at 7am daily. Its kids’ menu features Tiny Toasted Chicken wraps roasted chicken, cilantro jasmine rice, and mozzarella in a gluten-free tortilla, while Sweet Petite Pancakes are made with sweet potato, banana, almond milk, and cinnamon. There is also a Cheese Quesadilla, Kids Acai Bowl, and Pink Paradise Smoothie for your toughest lunch critic.
Ice Cream, You Scream
Overripe bananas and coconut milk are the two ingredients behind Peel Soft Serve’s dairy-free base – it’s eating fruit and the kids only still taste like ice cream. Flavors rotate, so the after-school order can change with the week.
For those looking to go more over-the-top with their sugar rush, start with the cereal wall at Kith Treats. The Bam Bam by Action Bronson combines Frosted Krispies, Cookie Crisp, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Kit Kat, crushed Oreos, and marshmallows, while The Baby A by Aleali May goes with Fruity Pebbles, mini marshmallows, Oreos, and white chocolate chips. The Trail Mix by Salehe Bembury is the non-dairy pick with double Oreos, fresh banana, and vegan caramel. Get any of them as a swirl or milkshake, or add a Belgian waffle if homework is going to require extra motivation.
A Grown Up Look
Next time you realize you have a PTA meeting that’s about to start in 10 minutes, throw on Veronica Beard’s Miller Single-Breasted Dickey Jacket and look ready in no time. Pair it with the Broderick Plaid Pant, a mid-rise, straight-leg trouser in beige plaid, and a flat for morning drop-off. The boutique also offers styling appointments, useful when September somehow has more events than December.
The haircut that got pushed to the bottom of the summer can now be finally be checked off the to-do list at IGK Salon. Founded by celebrity stylists Franck and Leo Izquierdo, the salon is known for precision cuts, color, and beach waves. Perfect before class photos, PTA meetings, and the fall dominate your calendar.
Give your skin a reset with the HydraFacial at Aviva Medical Spa, which offers a deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, and hydration in just 40 minutes. Or, opt for the Deluxe HydraFacial adds targeted boosters, LED light therapy, and lymphatic drainage for the parent who can spare a bit of extra time.
Back-to-school season takes a few weeks to settle. Bring the kids to the Miami Design District, get the errands out of the way, and stay for ice cream.