As the Design District's upcoming onslaught of LVMH , and other luxury brands, presses ever closer, strange and fancy things are happening in this formerly industrial (then commercial, then design-y, then haute design-y) neighborhood. A billboarded-up frontage was spotted in the Design District by the administrator of the exMiami forum, anonymous provocateur "Sandman." It's the new Cartier store, opening this summer on 40th Street, between NE 1st and 2nd Aves. Popping over to the Cartier website confirms this, but strangely gives a different location: Suite 204 of the Melin Building, at 3930 NE 2nd Ave. a few blocks away. So, either there's a temporary store open now around the corner while the permanent one is being constructed, or the temporary one is opening this summer, and there's some mysterious (and yet unidentified but Cartier related presence) on the second floor of the Melin building. Stay tuned.

What luxury brands are coming to the Design District as it reincarnates over the next few years? Where will they set up shop, and who will pick up shop and leave?

Wynwood's Getting A Flagship Ducati Showroom

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When will Wynwood, as inevitably happens with all things "underground," loose its edge and become mainstream? Judging by the overwhelming throngs attending gallery night each second Saturday of the month, full of chongas, suburbanites, and douchy people only there because it's "cool", our little artsy neighborhood may totally have already done so. We may bemoan Wynwood's economic boom, but it's actually ok. Really. Art is huge in Miami, and if the uncouth masses love it, that just means our town is even cooler than ever. But we've got to prepare for the inroads of the corporate world in our little artsy hood.

And here come the capitalists! Starving artists, meet Ducati, the really fast, and really expensive motorcycles. They're setting up shop in Wynwood, and boy will this Flagship Ducati Showroom have everything, including a retail store and repair shop. Plans for a Ducati-branded cafe seem to have been nixed though. Designed by Juan C. Linares, of RWB / Linares Architecture, Ducati's Wynwood Flagship store will open this December, coinciding with Art Basel.

Rap Mogul Buys Biggest Mansion in South Florida -- with $7.15 Mil Cash

We've showcased some pretty big, elaborate and expensive celeb homes here on toofab, but this one takes the cake for many reasons -- rap mogul Ronald "Slim" Williams reportedly purchased what is known as South Florida's largest home ... for $7.15 million cash.

The co-founder of Cash Money Records, which claims artists like Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne and Bow Wow, bought the 34,000-square-foot abode through a shell company, in a deal shrouded with such secrecy that real estate agents had to sign a 14-page confidentiality agreement and the previous owner had to wait in a separate room so Slim's identity would remain undisclosed.

Well, looks like someone talked.



The 9 bedroom, 12 bathroom monster is located in the triple-gated Windmill Ranch Estates in Weston, which is west of Ft. Lauderdale. Surrounded on three sides by a lake, the property has more features than you could ever want or need -- a 24-hour door person, 17-foot custom wood doors, a 15-seat movie theater, the requisite wine room and an indoor tennis court.

The baller space also boasts an 8-car garage, two swimming pools -- one indoor and one outdoor, grotto-style with its own beach -- a spa, and a 7,000-square-foot grand ballroom. You know, for those last minute balls you decide to throw.

Public records indicate that no mortgage or banks were involved in the purchase, meaning that, yes, the super-secret deal was done with all "cash money."

Click "Launch Gallery" above to see more shots of Slim's huge new house!