My Big Fat Cuban Baby Shower (part 1)

This past weekend I drove down to Miami for my cousin Carolina's baby shower. Imagine my glee when I found out the baby shower was going to be held at a bookstore (my most favorite place on earth).

But it wasn't just any bookstore.

It was held in the courtyard of Books & Books , a very cool indie shop located in beautiful Coral Gables (the store also has locations in Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and the Cayman Islands). The shop is shaped like a large U with a spacious open air courtyard in the middle (the courtyard is where the baby shower was held). Besides having fabulous books and a very helpful and knowledgeable staff, the place also has this very charming (and extremely narrow) indoor cafe. One side is solid wall filled with photos of famous authors who've done events at the store.

The cafe has also done culinary collaborations with author-chefs such as Lidia Bastianich, Anthony Bourdain and Jamie Oliver.

I have to admit though, probably the coolest part of the store was that open air courtyard. As you walk inside from the street there's a bar set up, where they serve beer and wine from around the world. When I complimented the wait staff on their beautiful store, one server proudly told me "You should see this place at night." I later found out on Friday nights the cafe hosts live music.

An awesome array of books, a beautiful atmosphere, good food, wine, beer and live music... When I go back?

(tomorrow I'll actually blog about the baby shower!)