Posted on Thursday, Jun. 05, 2008 Shopping, social vibe bring Syesha home

Shopping, social vibe bring Syesha home

Sarasota might be Syesha Mercado's hometown, but Miami is the American Idol finalist's home, baby. ''It's the entire vibe. The minute I step off the plane -- oh, my gosh! -- I can feel the humidity and that's so good for my vocal cords. It's the weather. The people. Just everything,'' Mercado, 21, said on a pal's cellphone while tooling around South Beach on Tuesday afternoon. She's in town for some fan meet-'n'-greets (Wednesday she did Hallandale Beach's Gulfstream), a Deco Drive taping at WSVN-Fox 7 and some chill time before rehearsals begin Sunday for this summer's Idols Tour. The Florida International University theater major -- the last woman standing to take on the Dueling Davids for the American Idol title -- also became engaged to beau Hess Wesley during her Idol run. Not coincidentally, her performances blossomed. ''She has love in her life and it's interesting what happens to artists when they are visited by a special person. Suddenly, it's talent plus,'' said Phillip Church, Mercado's mentor and head of FIU's theater department. Tell us about that American Idol experience. 'It's been an emotional roller coaster. The beginning was rough for me. [Once I made] the Top 10 . . . I felt something new. People started to like me. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to forget about the judges' comments and the blogs and the crazy media thing. When I was at my best was when I was positive and encouraged and just happy.'' What keeps bringing you back to South Florida? ``Definitely South Beach, where I am now, driving around. And, of course, the beaches are beautiful here and the people are great.'' If you could tell someone who isn't from here, say one of your 'Idol' buddies, something secret about Miami to bring them here, what would it be? ``There are two specific stores, Metro Boutique and La Casona Paiz. The latter is a multicultural store. I got my good luck charm there, a crystal quartz, and I lost it on the first show. I'm just back [now] and got one today. It's on a side street on an alley no one knows [215 Sixth St., Miami Beach], but there's this vibe. They have pictures from Haiti and hand-woven bags from Guatemala. It's so cool. I love going there. ``The other [Metro Boutique, 1701 Sunset Harbor Dr., Miami Beach] is a clothing store and I love fashion and they have got cool stuff.'' Conversely, what don't you like about Miami? ``Leaving. It's a tease to come here and have to leave here. I've made this my home these past three years. To have to leave is the downfall of it all.'' -- HOWARD COHEN