A movement is emerging in South Florida. Everyone, from party promoters to tech entrepreneurs, is embracing it. Tropical urbanism, libertarian individualism, and an influx of capital has coalesced into a new type of man… The Florida Flâneur.
What’s in a name?
First, what is a flâneur? The archetypal flâneur is a 19th century Parisian rake who idly strolls - and observes. He’s an urban spectator but not an entirely modern gentleman. Writer and philosopher Walter Benjamin had this to say about the flâneur:
The street becomes a dwelling for the flâneur; he is as much at home among the facades of houses as a citizen is in his four walls. To him the shiny, enameled signs of businesses are at least as good a wall ornament as an oil painting is to the bourgeois in his salon. The walls are the desk against which he presses his notebooks; news-stands are his libraries and the terraces of cafés are the balconies from which he looks down on his household after his work is done.
The character of the flâneur has always been compelling to me. I enjoy walking around major cities observing and dreaming. Fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to amble around some of the world’s most intriguing towns. For many years I thought of these strolls as an idle distraction. Now, however, I realize these walks have played a major role in how I see the world.
But what does this have to do with Florida?
Moving to Miami I’ve turned my gaze to the Sunshine state, where there’s a proud urban tradition and multicultural milleaux. Cuban refugees recreate traditions from their home island, Northeasterners migrate for a fresh start, and people from around the globe travel to live out their pop art fantasies.
Let’s face it, Florida does not have a reputation for urban sophistication. There’s the notorious “Florida Man” to consider. This rural/suburban creature lives at the margins, uninterested and unaware of the wider world.
The Florida Flâneur is an attempt to turn the Florida Man on his head. Everywhere I go, I encounter guys living the flânerie lifestyle. These businessmen and playboys lounge in cafes from Key Biscayne to Palm Beach enjoying the colorful carnival of life passing by.
In establishment America, the flâneur is a figure of the distant past. Corporatism has made him obsolete. There’s no room for an idle stroll in hustle culture. Down South, however, things are a bit different.
Who exactly is the Florida Flâneur?
Let me describe the sort of guy I’m talking about.
He’s successful, but doesn’t define himself through work. Most likely the Florida Flâneur owns a highly lucrative, often shady, business. As the quintessential Miami business man he sells Ferraris, exports vending machines to the Bahamas, and has a side hustle drop shipping on Amazon.
He’s not a yuppie. Ask him anything, except what he does for a living.
From the beach to the bar, his greatest pleasure comes through his interactions with others. Loving beautiful partners, there’s always romance in his life. Lunches take a bit longer and cocktails go late because he never gets up too early.
The Florida Flâneur, enjoys reading, but does so from his IPad (so no one mistakes him for an intellectual) with a cafecito in hand. At the gym he can be found lifting heavy, no Pelatons here. With a wardrobe to fit individual tastes and the state's climate, he’s unselfconsciously fashionable.
Politically, the he can best be described as an atypical conservative with an epicurean twist. Take Miami’s mayor Suarez, for example. He’s a political Florida Flâneur, passionately improving the city through freedom, futurism, and fun.
His spiritual forbearers are PJ O'Rourke and Tom Wolfe. They proved you can enjoy guns and french food, vote Republican but also read literature.
What to Expect
I want to create a voice for this exciting new world order. It’s ignored by the modern intellectual class but is a force to be reckoned with. This is my invitation to follow along, slow down, and enjoy the view!
Andrew, I enjoyed your article "In Defense of Flashy." I do not know if you are aware of the CHQ News. The topic is Chautauqua Institution and the style is satire. As you my know CHQ is a bottomless well of WASP style hypocrisy, so we never lack for topics. At the heart of it, the writers all love the place and all its quirks. What we resist is the gentrification and Disneyfication of our odd corner of the world.
We are now entering our 13th year of publication. If you would like to know more or have an interest in contributing to our silly endeavor, we would pleased to have you on the team.
You can contact me at Leftcadio@gmail.com. Yes, my name is in fact Twig Branch (long story about how that happened).