JOIN US AS WE START OUR TWENTY-FIRST YEAR
In 2005, I launched the magazine what is now simply known as SOMI. I’m delighted that it has been a popular brand for my hometown for five decades.
Joining me on this journey have been our great advertising partners, our local SOMI Business Partner sponsors, a great team over the years of designers, photographers and copy writers, and you – whether a first time or multiyear reader and subscriber. Bringing the uniqueness of my hometown to the wider public has been a joy of mine over these years.
SOMI comes in two parts: first, our online lifestyle magazine, showcasing the food, fashion and fun we enjoy, and part two, our exclusive South Miami area guide, which is published both in print and online. The Guide promotes the businesses in the city of South Miami, and our neighboring businesses in Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County, a combined area I refer to as “Sunset East.”
To kick off our new year, we’re introducing some creative design changes throughout the printed SOMI Guide (www.somiguide.com). Editorially, we start a new community feature, highlighting an organization or enterprise that builds community and contributes to our societal wellbeing. Branches is the first organization that has been selected. We continue with an exclusive regular wellness article focusing on the power of breathing, written by a Columbus Explorer student/athlete hall of fame honoree and international life-style coach. Our SOMIonline magazine follows the economic commercial development in our growing vibrant city. We also introduce our readers to the many new businesses making an investment in our business core in our regular feature: What’s New in Town, A Walk About with the Publisher. It’s so refreshing to visit with our new business owners.
As a community partner, for the last twelve years SOMI has championed the development of The Underline, the transformative ten-mile linear park and trail below the Metrorail. SOMI is the sole media sponsor of The Underline. Within the boundaries of the city of South Miami we have one mile, and we are documenting the building out of this project throughout that mile. Right now, as a commuter cyclist, the construction is certainly altering my travel routes. The 2026 completion date couldn’t come any sooner.
I hope you enjoy SOMIonline as we start our twenty-first year and look forward to your comments.
All the best for the holidays and the new year.
John Edward Smith