It’s mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it don’t matter.
-Robert Raven Kraft, 51 years of running every single day
Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun! for WSJ
Jay Foreman, CEO of Basic Fun!, a Florida-based manufacturer known for its Care Bears and Tonka trucks.
“Tonka Trucks Gambled on Keeping Production in China and Survived—Barely
Disrupted shipments shrank profits as the company that sells the toys to U.S. retailers awaited the outcome of trade talks”
Writing | Bob Tita
Photography | Mary Beth Koeth for The Wall Street Journal
Digi | Javier Sanchez
Photo Editor | Shelby Knowles
Miami Boyfriends | Chris
There are not very many men in my life that I put on a pedestal. Chris, my former (land)lord is one of them. He’s humble to the point of correcting me when I call him my landlord, so I just call him my lord. It feels more appropriate.
When you go out to dinner with him, he follows rules that people learn in cotillion. He buys art like a fancy art collector who attends Art Basel to buy does and asks me to come over to help him hang, which makes me feel fancy. I documented his first trip to Trader Joe’s—he’s more of a Whole Foods guy—and worked with my dear friend who used to come down to Miami and live in my guest room every January and is, more importantly, an on air host and reporter for ESPN edit the video of Chris perusing Trader Joes and mocking at my TD favs (love you regardless of your taste in my favs, Christopher) I would post the video if I knew Chris would love it, but I won’t because I know it would embarrass him.
This photo, he didn’t love because of the house socks and shoes with his khaki shorts. He’s more of a tailored top, pleated pants, custom shoes type of man, so take my words and the adorable back garden gnomes as proof. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet…my lord, Christ. I mean…Chris. :)
#miamiboyfriends
Run Raven Run | The story of South Beach legend, Robert "Raven" Kraft
Personal Project
I first met Raven soon after I arrived in Miami to pursue photography, having spent years in graphic design before deciding it was time for a change. I was still finding my footing in a new city when I noticed a long-haired, shirtless man leading a pack of runners along the shoreline every afternoon. One day I said, “Hello.” He invited me to join. That man was Robert "Raven" Kraft, and my life in Miami changed right there on the sand.
Raven has run on South Beach every single day since January 1, 1975, through concussions, hurricanes, heartbreaks, and heat waves — never missing a run. When you complete your first eight miles with him, he gives you a nickname. Mine is “Yellow Rose,” a nod to Texas. That simple gesture made the beach feel less like a place I had just moved to and more like home. I met many of my closest friends through the Raven Run, and Raven quickly became my favorite person to photograph.
Photographing Raven felt like photographing a living piece of Miami’s mythology. He isn’t just a runner, he’s a witness. Miami Beach has transformed dramatically over the decades, and Raven has watched every shift from the same stretch of sand. People come from all over the world just to run beside him, hear his stories, and to receive a nickname. The city even renamed a portion of 3rd Street “Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft Way” in his honor.
What drew me to tell Raven’s story is the way his daily ritual becomes a thread that binds people together. Artists, CEOs, firefighters, the homeless, travelers, lifeguards, and locals — everyone eventually finds themselves side-by-side in the sand, sharing breath, sweat, and stories. Raven created a community without ever trying to. He simply showed up every day — and people followed.
That spirit inspired my best friend, writer Laura Lee (“White Lightning”), and me to create a book and documentary about him. For just over fifty years, Raven has been Miami Beach’s unofficial historian, philosopher, and beating heart. His story isn’t just about a running streak. It’s about devotion, eccentricity, resilience, and the way one person’s daily ritual can unite an entire city.
Documentary by Mary Beth Koeth and Wallace Cruz | Unstoppable https://vimeo.com/ondemand/robertravenkraft
Robert Raven Kraft
Known for his remarkable running streak, Robert “Raven” Kraft has run eight, then later five, miles on Miami Beach every day since January 1, 1975. People from all over the world join his daily run, after which he gives them a unique nickname. In his honor, a portion of 3rd Street in Miami Beach was renamed “Robert ‘Raven’ Kraft Way”.
Loved seeing Raven on NBC’s Today Show this morning. 🏃🏻♂️💨
Dan Buettner | Blue Zones
Dan Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, and award-winning journalist. He discovered the five places in the world—dubbed blue zones—where people lived the longest, healthiest lives and shared this information with the world.
Tiffany Pratt & Gaby Piccirilli
Tiffany Pratt designed a condo in South Florida for Gaby Piccirilli
Love collaborating with these two. 🩵🩷
Dillon Walls
Happy Birthday to my sweet cousin Dillon Walls. He flew down to Miami a few years ago so we could make some images to send off to agencies. Thank you Jesus Bravo and Toe Jam Backlot for playing such an important role in this.
I asked Dillon who he’s signed with today…he said, “I’m with Muse in NYC, Select in Los Angeles, and TheLab in Milan.”
He ate sushi for the first time in Miami. 🍣✨
Tigre Sounds & Ace Props + Studios
Music Discovery for Citizens of the World | Collab with Tigre Sounds & Ace Props + Studios
Vagabond Hotel | Flamingo Magazine
Before the mega-resorts and high-rise hotels, there were motor lodges with neon signs blazing, pools sparkling and postcards promising paradise. Now, Florida’s retro motels are getting a second chance, thanks to a wave of passionate renovators bringing these roadside relics back to life.
✏️ Eric Barton
📸 Mary Beth Koeth
Hair & Makeup | Silvana Avignoni
Styling | Goldyn Hour Style
Dogs | Momos Pet Sitting, Pongo the Dalmatian
Car | Miami Vintage Prop Cars
Hotel | Vagabond Hotel Miami
Model | Zaria
Magazine | The Flamingo Magazine, Jamie Stephenson Rich
Florida Leather Supply | Mauricio Castillo-Suazo
Two years ago, I was on a Billboard shoot in Little Havana and wandered into the cutest little fabric shop next door — Florida Leather Supply. The owner let me photograph the artist in front of all his gorgeous rolls of fabric, and his shop even made it into the article.
Fast-forward two years… I’m at an AI workshop, minding my business, and the man next to me says he owns a fabric store in Little Havana. I tilt my head, squint my eyes and ask, “Which one?” When he said Florida Leather Supply, I about fell out of my chair. It was HIM. I sent him the photo the minute I got home like the responsible adult I pretend to be.
Later that night, my friend mentions her dad was also at the same workshop, and guess what? Her dad is ALSO the owner — Mauricio Castillo-Suazo. Apparently, Miami is the smallest city on Earth.
I asked Ariel if I could photograph her family in the shop, and she said yes. And here we are. Every time I look at these photos, my heart does a little happy dance.
Pictured | Mauricio Castillo-Suazo, Maia Suazo-Maler & Ariel Suazo-Maler
Florida Leather Supply — opened in 1962, passed from grandfather to father in 1980.
💛✨
Coco Gauff and Emma Grede | UPS | Martin Agency
Emma Grede Partners With Coco Gauff and UPS to Mentor Emerging Entrepreneurs
Photography | Mary Beth Koeth, Digi Tech | Javier Sanchez, Assistant | Jose Arizmendi, Retouching | Violaine Capra, Agency | Martin Agency, Vanessa Griggs, Production | Illusive Media, Ale Marie Odriozola, Hair/Makeup | Nordia Cameron Cunningham, Gear | Aperture Studios Miami
Alycia Parks | Venus Razors
Alycia Parks for Venus MoistureGlide Razor.
Photography | Mary Beth Koeth, Digi Tech | Eric Lauer, Assistant | Beatrice Pelletier, Production Company | Station Film
La Roche Posay | Tennis
La Roche Posay Protect the skin you play in
High-endurance, water-resistant and designed to provide superior UV protection that won’t budge on the court
Photography | Mary Beth Koeth, Digital Tech | Javier Ignacio Sanchez, Grip | Jose Arizmendi, Gear | APERTURE Studios, Miami, Production | Bryan Sheffield, Talent | Madison Keys, Taylor Fritz, & Frances Tiafoe, Agency | Untold Fable
Billboard | Alejandro Sanz
AI-AP
The Rippers for AFR Magazine
Really fun day with these dudes for AFR Magazine
The Rippers~Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, and Matt Jones.
📷 @mbkoeth
💻 @lightisbeauty
💪🏽 @josearizmendi
💃🏼 @milakastari
Diana & Zigmund
Miami Beach snowbirds, 53 years married.
Petra Nemcova | People Magazine
Petra Nemcova for People Magazine
📸 | Mary Beth Koeth
Digi Javier | Sanchez
Photo Direction | Sarah Burrows
Hair & Makeup | Lola J Hair
Coco CG2
Coco Gauff for New Balance
NB Team Kirsten Rudberg Kevin Eichie
💪🏼 Jose Arizmendi Rebeca Mendizabal
Production Bryan Sheffield Wonderful Machine
Styling Mila Gonzalez Kastari
Hair Makeup Nordia Cameron-Cunningham
Retouching Bianca Carosio