1113 Pinecrest Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

OUR GIFT OF TIME

|

MILLION DOLLAR HOMES

The

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BEST BETS

Return of

Old Florida Architect David Johnson’s Revival Style

Jazz in the

Gardens Sammy Figueroa’s Latin Sound

Two Chefs

Pinecrest’s Landmark Restaurant

Resort Style

Dressing Down at Mermaids

Hidden

the

Pinecrest On the Water

Greening of pinecrest

at Black Point

Mayor Cindy Lerner and the Drive for Sustainability PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM PIN P INE IN ECR EC CRES CR EST STMAGA AZ AZI A ZINE ZI NE. N E E..CO COM C OM O M | N NOVEMBER OV OVE O VE V EMBE MB M BER 2 BE 2013 01 0 013 13 1 3

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

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contents NOVEMBER 2013

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UP FRONT 6

Publisher’s Note How We All Connect

8

Around Town News and Notes

14

Best Bets Parades, Books & Lights

16

Culture Calendar Theater, Dance & Music

DEPARTMENTS ENTERTAINMENT 18 Jazz Superstar Sammy Figueroa Plays the Bowl DINING 20 A Taste of Two Chefs, a Pinecrest Landmark HIDDEN PINECREST 22 On the waterfront, just down the road COMMUNITY 24 A Pinecrest cancer survivor gives back EDUCATION 26 The Socratic method at Palmer Trinity OUR FAVORITE STORES 28 Teavanna may just change your morning brew

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36 FEATURES 36 The Greening of Pinecrest When Mayor Cindy Lerner took office, she was determined to make Pinecrest a leader in sustainable practices. Five years into the project, the Village is becoming a national model for how to deal with climate change.

42 Florida Revival Style Some call it Cracker Style, others Old Florida, others just another way to build that suits the weather in Florida. All that architect David Johnson knows is that he is suddenly in demand in Pinecrest.

THE BACK PACK 50 With the Kids A Gem at the Gold Coast Railway Museum

REAL ESTATE 30 What $1 million buys you in Pinecrest

54 Family Issues

BEAUTY & WELLNESS 32 The latest procedure to turn back the clock

58 Restaurant Listings

FASHION 34 Resort wear is a year-round style in South Florida

Sometimes a parent has to come first

56 A Teenager’s View Among the top gripes: You don’t trust us A selection of restaurants around

60 Happenings Charities worth your time

63 Scene on Site Snap shots from galas around town

66 Seven Questions With...

Pinecrest Gardens director Alana Perez

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NOVEMBER 2013

Hello Neighbor

Being a good neighbor is part of our values-based education.

18 months – 5th grade, with remarkable teachers who offer a superior curriculum in a nurturing, safe environment.

The Richard and Janet Yulman Campus 5950 N. Kendall Drive, Pinecrest, Florida 33156 telephone 305 665 6228 www.tbam.org/dayschool PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 20133PJ * 4+ 5 Accredited by: NAEYC, AISF, SACS CASI

NOVEMBER 2013

from the publisher

Making a Personal Connection As I welcome you—our readers—to the inaugural issue of Pinecrest Magazine, I find myself reflecting on the connections we all make in our lives. As children, we connect on the most basic level with our parents, and as we mature into teens and young adults, our dominant connections are made in the classroom in pursuit of a support group that often translates into lifelong friendships. Finally, at the university level, we create another network of connections that lead us into adulthood, our professional lives, and so much more.

Our chairman, Gary Press, is such a connection for me. I knew Gary because of a relationship with his sister, Jennifer. At the time, I was looking for a unique challenge.

This after a significant amount of time spent holding down various corporate-level positions at the Tribune Company, Travel Weekly and Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel.

Jennifer connected us, we felt the synergy of purpose, and together Gary and I are launching the tenth Lifestyle Media Group publication, Pinecrest Magazine.

Now I’m proposing we all explore yet another vital connection—the one we feel with our community, the Village of Pinecrest. As our world becomes more and more disjointed in the midst of the hyper-connectivity of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, the network of one’s home and community becomes all the more important. Your children’s schools, your businesses, the local retailers you patronize, and the restaurants you frequent become your family. There is a sense of belonging in the Village of Pinecrest on so many levels that don’t exist in other communities.

We at Pinecrest Magazine welcome the opportunity to tell the stories of your lives. We will reach out into the community every month to cover the topics that are important to you and your family: Sustainability in our village, the beauty of our homes and gardens, the hidden gems of boutiques and restaurants, and the thing that makes Pinecrest really special, its people. I welcome you to join us on this journey with every assurance it will educate you, surprise you, provoke you, and above all, enrich your life.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any comments about the magazine, the community, or the stories you think we should be covering. This is, in the end, your magazine.

Gail Scott Gail Scott, Publisher gail@pinecrestmagazine.com

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

PUBLISHER Gail Scott EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JP Faber ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Kiki Bochi, Ivette Figueroa, Richard Shellene

CREATIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Melanie Geronemus Smit ART DIRECTOR Alexander Hernandez ART DIRECTOR Frank Papandrea GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alisha Riddle MARKETING CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Dawn Rahicki EVENTS PLANNER Danielle Tarrant ONLINE MEDIA Suzanne Holtermann WRITERS

Jennifer Altieri, Brooke Berger, James Broida, Dan Millott, Eric Nathal, Samantha Rosen PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andrew Urban, Karen Nercess

ADVERTISING SALES GAIL SCOTT gail@pinecrestmagazine.com SALLY NICHOLAS sally@lmgfl.com PETER EVANS peter@lmgfl.com HELEN FRANKEL hfrankel@lifepubs.com SHARI GLATTER sglatter@lifepubs.com DEBBY GOLD dgold@lifepubs.com SUZETTE GORDON suzette@lmgfl.com JILL HOROWITZ jill@lmgfl.com BONNIE JUDSON bonnie@lmgfl.com KIM KADEL kkadel@lifepubs.com LISA LEE lisa@lmgfl.com RONA LEVENSON rona@lmgfl.com DEBBIE PEROVICH dperovich@lifepubs.com RHONDA ROSENOF rrosenof@lifepubs.com APRIL SWANSON april@lmgfl.com BETH TACHE beth@lmgfl.com

CHAIRMAN Gary Press GENERAL MANAGER Danielle Tarrant

LIFE MEIDA GROUP 3511 W. Commercial Blvd., Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33309 954.377.9470 | fax 954.617.9418 www.pinecrestmagazine.com ©2013 Pinecrest Magazines are published by Life Media Group, all rights reserved. Pinecrest Magazine is a monthly advertising magazine. All contents are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher. The advertiser is solely responsible for ad content and holds publisher harmless from any error.

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around town

This year’s Nutcracker Ballet a gentler version for children with sensory issues There is a moment at the theater, as the lights go down and the music begins, that is filled with expectation and excitement. For families of children with autism or other sensory processing issues, however, that moment may also be laced with anxiety.

Because children with sensory issues can become overwhelmed by unexpected events, loud noises and even bright lights, parents never know quite how their youngsters will react. As a result, many families don’t even attempt to attend cultural events—and everyone misses the experience.

It is for families like these that the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet and New World School of the Arts are staging South Florida’s first “sensory-friendly” production of the Nutcracker Ballet. Through special adaptations, the presentation aims to make the theater experience more accessible to children with special sensitivities.

“This is the first time that a production of this size has attempted to adapt the environment and technical details to meet the needs of the Autistic and ARD community,” says Ruth Wiesen, artistic director of the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, which is based at the Miami Conservatory for Ballet. The conservatory, just south of The Shops at Sunset Place, draws many students from Pinecrest.

The sensory-friendly show is being presented with the support of the county’s All Kids Included initiative to make activities more accessible to families with special needs. Adaptations will include softened lighting and a lower volume on the music.

Children are encouraged to bring their own noise-reducing headsets; additional headsets will be available. A “quiet room” also will be available with a live video of the performance for families that need to leave the auditorium. Inclusion specialists will be at the theater to assist.

The show opens on Wednesday, December 4 at 10 a.m. at Miami Dade County Auditorium.

In addition, TAYB and New World are collaborating to present their annual show for the whole community a few days later. “It’s such a wonderful experience for everyone—the dancers as well as the audience,” says Pinecrest resident Annie Altman, the show’s costume director. “Many families make attending the Nutcracker an annul holiday tradition. For one beautiful evening, everyone is transported to the Kingdom of Sweets.”

This year’s community presentation will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 at Miami-Dade County Auditorium, 2901 W. Flagler St. Tickets range from $15-$35 and are available through Ticketmaster or at the auditorium box office.

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

A Special Nutcracker What: Professional artists and more than 180 talented young dancers from throughout MiamiDade County come together for this annual holiday tradition, with a special sensory-friendly presentation for children with autism and related disorders.

Who: Presented by the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet and New World School of the Arts Where: Miami Dade County Auditorium, 2901 West Flagler Street When: Wed., Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. (sensory-friendly); Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 5 & 6 at 10 a.m. (school day performances); Sat., Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. (regular performance) Cost: $7 for sensory-friendly and school performances, other tickets $15$35, available through Ticketmaster, the auditorium box office, or www. thomasarmour youthballet.org/ reservationform/ For ticket information: 305-547-5414 Questions: 305667-5543

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around town

Spreading Holiday Cheer To most people, Christmas and kids are a natural combination. But with the holidays just around the corner, Janice Drewing can’t help but think of all the older people who are alone.

That’s why she is particularly proud of the Village of Pinecrest’s participation in the Senior Santa program, which collects gifts for elderly folks in need.

“Everyone thinks of children at the holidays, and there’s definitely a need there. But there are also so many elderly people who have nothing and no one. They rarely get anything special,” says Drewing, the village’s senior activities coordinator.

This is the third year that Pinecrest has taken part in the gift collection for seniors, which is coordinated by Home Instead Senior Care.

Throughout the month of November, a collection box will be placed at the Pinecrest Community Center to receive unwrapped items. Drewing is hoping residents put additional collection receptacles at their workplaces and spread the word among friends and family.

Don’t know what to contribute? A list of needed items is available at the community center, Drewing says. “You’d be surprised at what they want—socks, slippers, simple things,” she says. Gift certificates for groceries and drug stores are also very helpful. “People think that all seniors have family to take care of them, but that’s not always the case,” Drewing says.

Since Pinecrest joined the effort, Drewing has seen the collection grow considerably. Pinecrest’s seniors, in particular, have embraced the program to help less fortunate peers, Drewing says. She hopes this year’s collection is bigger and better than ever. “Anyone can bring in a small gift.

The older people who receive something are so appreciative of any gesture,” she says. “It really touches them.”

For further information call: 305-284-0900

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Green with Envy It’s not surprising if you get yard envy every time you get a gander at the grounds of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. But you can bring some of that lush vegetation home this month at the annual Fairchild Ramble, billed as South Florida’s most beloved garden party. The weekend festival, scheduled for Nov. 8-10, features the largest plant sale of the year with an estimated 15,000 specimens. Many veteran visitors come with their own wagons, prepared to pick up some new plants and trees as well as to enjoy the garden marketplace, art, antiques, rare books, a greenmarket, music, family activities and more. This year’s Ramble is special because it helps mark Fairchild’s 75th anniversary. “It’s a festival that is definitely rooted in tradition, although there are new things to see every year,” says Brooke LeMaire, a Fairchild spokesperson.

Admission is $25 for adults, $18 for seniors 65 and up, and $12 for children 6-17. If you walk or ride your bike to Fairchild you get an eco-discount of $5 off admission for adults and $2 off for children. For more information, see www.fairchildgarden.org

Fundraising in disguise The romance of Pinecrest’s Masquerade Ball heats up this month with the passion of Brazil’s carnival. The second annual event, which raises money to support Pinecrest Gardens, will include music, dancing, food and drinks, all with a Brazilian theme. The excitement takes place from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. Tickets are $75 in advance or $100 at the door. Come ready for a night of excitement, and be sure to bring a mask. They’re required. For more information, call 305-669-6990 or see www.pinecrestgardens.org

around town

Fuss in the Farmer’s Market Growing in New Directions Stirs Concerns Management of Pinecrest Gardens’ popular farmer’s market moves into new hands this month. As of November 1, the market will be run by a non-profit organization created by Gigi Gimenez and Susan Muci, who have been vendors at the market for two years. Their Green Market Co-op was selected to take over after vendors complained that the previous management company was charging too much for spots, where they sell everything from produce, pickles and baked goods to homemade soap and salsa every Sunday.

The transition, however, has not been without bumps. Although rent at the market is now lower, some vendors are disgruntled about new requirements to purchase liability insurance and use biodegradable bags, both of which increase their costs. After hearing complaints from vendors at the October Village Council meeting, Village Manager Yocelyn Galiano Gomez noted that the additional requirements on vendors were imposed at the direction of the council, not the new management. Galiano Gomez will meet with unhappy vendors and keep a close eye on thee switchover.

For the Children ildren Baptist Receives a $1 Million Gift Baptist Children’s Hospital has received eceived a $1 million gift from local philanthropist Sherry rry Kranys, one of the largest in its history. The money ey will be used to establish the Sherry Kranys Children’s ren’s Innovation Fund, which will match other er donations received--up to $200,000 per year for five years.

Ms. Kranys says her gift was inspired by granddaughter Kendall, who was a patient at Baptist Children’s Neonatal Intensive nsive Care Unit more than a decade ago. “Kendall ndall was born weighing only 2 pounds, 7 ounces.

She thrived because of the excellent ellent care she received,” Ms. Kranys said.

“It is for this reason that I would ould like to give something back…” Ms. Kranys is a resident of Deering Bay, which though technically outside side Pinecrest village limits is “as close ose as it gets,” she says.

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the

Robo Cops The Plan to Photograph Plates Gets a Green Light The Pincecrest Village Council has approved a plan to install ‘red light’ cameras at various intersections throughout the city. While some residents object—Cutler Bay saw a 22 percent rise in rear-end collisions after installing such cameras— statistics show they dramatically reduce serious crashes. And while they are not re revenue generators per se, they reduce the need for police.

“Most traff traffic violations in the future will b be enforced through automation,” says Pinecrest Police Chief Samuel Ceballos. “It’s more efficient. As municipal budgets continue to downsize, automation become commonplace.” They will becom risks of collateral also reduce redu damage. “From a public safety aspect, th there should be one at intersection,” says Ceballos. every inte “If you hav have an officer there, they have to go through the intersection [to pursue an offender]. That has inherent ri risks.” The village will now seek comp competitive bids from vendors.

PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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BEST BETS

NOVEMBER 17 - 24 Miami Book Fair International The Miami Book Fair International is an eight-day literary party in November. The Fair, in its 30th year, will open Sunday, November 17 with the popular “Evenings With…” series, featuring six nights of readings and discussions with noted authors.

On Friday, the Street Fair kicks off with the Festival of Authors— more than 350 authors reading and discussing their work. Children’s Alley includes activities, theater, arts-and-crafts, storytelling and readings by children’s book authors, with a special focus on comics and graphic novels this year.

When: Nov. 17 - 24 Where: 401 N.E. 2nd Ave., Suite 4102, Miami Tickets: Street Fair admission is free on Nov. 22; Adults: $8, Children: $5 on Nov. 23 & 24 Info: 305-237-3258 or www. miamibookfair.com

NOVEMBER 23 Holiday Parade at The Falls The annual Holiday Parade at the Falls is Pinecrest’s answer to the Macy’s Day Parade in New York: Marching bands, floats, celebrities, stilt walkers, mini cars—everything but the giant, helium filled cartoon characters. Now in its 17th year, the parade winds around the outside of the mall, then leads the crowd in for the annual lighting of 1 million bulbs, with entertainment on three stages and a Santa’s House.

The event is free for the community. The only caveat is that you’d better get there early, because with an attendance of 25,000 people there isn’t much room left to sit on the grass once the parade begins.

When: Nov. 23, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: 8888 SW 136th St., Miami Tickets: Free Info: 305-255-4571

NOVEMBER 27 – JANUARY 6 Nights of Lights Experience an enchanted night like no other as Pinecrest Gardens transforms into a holiday wonderland filled with magical creatures and animated animals— illuminated by thousands of spectacular and sparkling holiday lights! The event, presented by Live Like Bella, a foundation for childhood cancer, opens on Wednesday, November 27 and runs through January 6.

Many evenings will feature free events in the Banyan Bowl, including Christmas Carols, Musical Theater Performances, Story Telling and much more!

When: Nov. 27 – Jan. 6 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 S. Red Rd., Miami Tickets: Adults: $5, Free for Pinecrest Garden Members & kids 2 and under Info: 305-669-6990 or www.pinecrest-fl.gov

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Learning Then, Leading Now Our students, like those before them, are learning to lead.

PATRICK MURPHY

Class of ‘01 United States Congressman

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DA X TEJER A

Class of ‘03 Fusion (ABC/ Univision) Sr. Coordinating Producer

Serving a community of students in grades 6-12.

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BEST BETS What: Searing, existential drama by John Patrick Shanley.

When: Nov. 7–24 at Various Times Where: Alliance Theatre Lab at Main Street Playhouse Tickets: $15

» Balé Folclórico da Bahia

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NOVEMBER events

Theater / Dance

Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Tickets: $23

» Romeo & Juliet

» Knowledge & Noise

What: Asolo Repertory

Theatre’s shadow interpretation.

When: Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.

Where: South MiamiDade Cultural Arts Center Tickets: $15

What: A comedic modern myth about a brother and sister searching for the literal “unknown.”

When: Nov. 1–16 at 8 p.m.

Where: Miami Theater Center Tickets: $20

» Ruthless! The Musical

» In the Heights

What: Satirical musical

What: The story of

about the consuming drive for stardom.

When: Nov. 1–3 at Various Times Where: Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Tickets: $53

Cuban, Dominican, Puerto Rican and every other Caribbean nationality searching for a place to call home.

When: Nov. 1–17 at Various Times Where: Miami Children’s Theater Tickets: $15–$25

» California Suite What: Miami Acting Company presents Neil Simon’s hit comedy.

When: Nov. 1–3 at 8 p.m.

Where: Pinecrest Gardens Tickets: $18–$25

» Miss Nelson is Missing What: Quirky classic with music by Joan Cushing.

When: Nov. 1–15 at 2 p.m.

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Where: Actor’s

» Fear Up Harsh What: Critically

acclaimed drama about a Marine Medal of Honor Winner.

When: Nov. 7–24 at Various Times Where: Adrienne Arsht Center Tickets: $45

» Savage in Limbo

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

What: “Bahian” folkloric

African dances & songs.

When: Nov. 8 at 8:30 p.m.

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center Tickets: $35–$65

» Viva Paris What: Parisian burlesque and variety show.

When: Nov. 8 & 9 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 10 p.m.

Where: Colony Theater Tickets: $35 - $60

» Siempre Flamenco Cabaret Series What: Flamenco show

with song & dance.

When: Nov. 8–10 at Various Times Where: South MiamiDade Cultural Arts Center Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 day of show

» My First, My Fist, My Bleeding Seeded Spirit

Venues

Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables 305-444-9293 or actorsplayhouse.org Adrienne Arsht Center 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 305-949-6722 or arshtcenter.org American Airlines Arena 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 786-777-1000 or aaarena.com Colony Theater 1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach 305-674-1040 or colonytheatremiamibeach.com Miami Children’s Theater Performing at the Alper JCC 11155 SW 112th Ave., Miami 305-274-3595 or miamichildrensthater.com Miami Stage Door Theatre 500 71st St., Miami Beach 305-397-8977 or stagedoortheatre.com Miami Theater Center 9806 NE 2nd Ave., Miami Shores 305-751-9550, ext. 234 or mtcmiami.org New Theatre at Roxy Performing Arts Center 1645 SW 107th Ave., Miami 305-226-0030 or roxyperformingartscenter.com Pinecrest Gardens 11000 S Red Road, Miami 305-234-2121 or pinecrest-fl.gov South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center 10950 SW 211th St., Miami 786-573-5316 or smdcac.org The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach 305-377-7987 or fillmoremb.com

What: A play about murder, desire and vengeance.

When: Nov. 8–Dec. 1 at Various Times Where: New Theatre at Roxy Performing Arts Center Tickets: $25–$30

When: Nov. 16–23 at

» Mourning Becomes

» Tango Lovers

Electra What: The Florida Grand

Opera presents a post Civil War opera by Eugene O’Neill.

Various Times Where: Adrienne Arsht

Center Tickets: $25–$254

What: World-class dancers accompanied by the Symphonic and Philharmonic ensembles and vocalists.

When: Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.

Center

& 8 p.m.

Where: Colony Theater Tickets: $39–$125

Tickets: $55–$150

» Stanley Clarke & The

» The Red Thread

What: Cutting-edge

What: Ancient Chinese Folktales-inspired play.

When: Nov. 20–Dec. 22 Where: Miami Theater Center Tickets: $25

classical with virtuoso jazz concert.

When: Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.

Where: South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Tickets: $25–$46

Harlem String Quartet

» The Twilight of the Golds

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What: Holiday musical

What: A show that traces

the dance’s roots from the barrios of Buenos Aires through contemporary dance.

When: Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.

Where: South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Tickets: $27.50–$48.50

Music

» Jake Miller

What: American rapper, singer and songwriter from Weston, FL. When: Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

Where: The Fillmore Tickets: $32

» Pink Panther at 50 What: Jazz concert celebrating Henry Mancini.

When: Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.

Where: Adrienne Arsht

What: An evening of opera in honor of Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th birthday.

When: Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

Where: Pinecrest Gardens Tickets: $5–$30

What: Concert performance by acclaimed Opera singer.

When: Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center Tickets: $50–$130

» Madeline’s Christmas

» Tango Fire

» Viva Verdi

» Deborah Voigt

What: Broadway play by Jonathan Tolins.

When: Nov. 22–Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.

Where: Miami Stage Door Theatre Tickets: $38

based on children’s book.

When: Nov. 22–Dec. 22 at Various Times Where: Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Tickets: $23

What: A cappella group sing religious anthems.

When: Nov. 9 at 8 p.m.

Where: South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Tickets: $10–$37.50

» John Legend What: Grammy Awardwinning singer John Legend.

When: Nov. 2 at 8 p.m.

Where: The Fillmore Tickets: $43.50–$70.50

» Drake What: Drake with special

guests Miguel and Future.

When: Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Arena Tickets: $65–$117

» Widespread Panic What: American rock band with special guests Roosevelt Collier & Bobby Lee Rodgers Band.

When: Nov. 5 at 8 p.m.

Where: The Fillmore Tickets: $35–$52.50

» Alejandro Fernandez What: Grammy-winning Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernandez.

When: Nov. 16 at 8 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Arena Tickets: $70–$170

Tickets: $39–$99

» The History of The Eagles What: The Eagles perform their classic hits.

When: Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Arena Tickets: $52–$180

» Janelle Monae What: American R&B and soul musician.

When: Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.

Where: The Fillmore Tickets: $33.50–$48.50

» Distant Worlds music from Final Fantasy What: Symphonic concert featuring music from the renowned video game series.

When: Nov. 23 at 8 p.m.

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center Tickets: $35–$150

» Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

What: Jazz concert.

When: Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.

Where: Pinecrest Gardens Tickets: Free

What: International hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

When: Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Arena Tickets: $35–$57

» Buddy Guy & Jonny Lang

» Kanye West

What: Concert by Grammy

What: Kanye’s first major solo tour in 5 years.

When: Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Arena Tickets: $40–$150

» Clifton Heights Jazz Project

Award-winning blues musicians.

When: Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center

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» Krewella What: American electronic dance music group.

When: Nov. 8 at 9 p.m.

Where: The Fillmore Tickets: $27

» Fisk Jubilee Singers PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

17

entertainment

...and sammy walks in He has toured and recorded with jazz giants from Miles Davis to Herbie Mann; he’s played percussion for rockers ranging from Mick Jagger to Joe Cocker; his own band has secured two Grammy nominations. This month he brings Latin Jazz to the Gardens.

By JP FABER

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

first heard Sammy Figueroa on stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. It was the last Friday of the month, a free performance for a packed crowd on the museum’s open plaza. Sammy was center stage, surrounded by a battery of congas and his band—the piano, bass, drums and horns of the Latin Jazz Explosion. They were playing something called “The Magician.”

I later learned that Sammy and the band were Grammy nominated for this exquisite jazz ballad, with its Brazilian vibe and Sammy’s conga rhythms. All I knew then was that I loved it. It sounded like Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Stan Getz and Sonny Rollins rolled into one, only with a Caribbean-Latin undercurrent that gave it a whole new level of energy. I also learned later that all the voices I’d heard in the music— Herbie, Miles, Stan and Sonny—were Jazz greats Sammy had played with or been friends with, and that Sammy himself is considered one of the world’s great musicians.

“I’ve been extremely lucky in my life to have played with so many of these people,” says Sammy, who thrived in the heart of the New York music scene for decades before moving to South Florida. “It’s been like a dream come true for a kid from the Bronx.”

It was not only jazz artists who employed his talents as a master percussionist. The list is mind boggling, running the gamut from Blondie and Annie Lennox to David Bowie and Mick Jagger. “I was part of the original Average White Band at the time when I got this call. The voice said, ‘Hey, Sammy, you know who this is? I’m Mick Jagger.’ ‘Well then,’ I said, ‘I’m Alfred Hitchcock.’ He thought that was funny.”

The call actually was from Jagger, who was recording a solo album. Sammy joined the session for a week then went on tour with him.

Rock and roll, however, is not Sammy’s genre, nor are the pop and R&B styles of other artists he’s played with, like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker.

Sammy is all about jazz, and in particular that unique fusion known as Latin Jazz.

“The guy who gave me my first gig when I was a kid was Herbie Mann,” he says. “He took me to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1975. It was because of him that I played with everybody else.” After Hancock, Sammy joined the Brecker Brothers, then played with John McLaughlin, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine and Quincy Jones.

“And that’s when I joined Miles Davis’ band. After that I

I

was the busiest percussionist in New York. It was crazy. It wouldn’t stop.”

After winning the NARRAS Award for best percussionist— twice—Sammy decided to leave the hectic pace of New York. He moved first to Los Angeles for two years then discovered Miami. After jamming with some of the local musicians, he decided to put together a group. “That was about 15 years ago, and here I am today with a band.”

Sammy has now recorded three albums with that band, starting with “And Sammy Walked In” and “The Magician,” both nominated for Grammys in the “Best Latin Jazz Album” category. His latest is called “Urban Nature.”

“Latin Jazz uses the Latin idiom with a harmonic structure that is completely jazz,” says Sammy. “The Latin beat is perfect for jazz. Macheto and Peter Rodriguez were playing this in the 1960s. When I heard Cal Tjader [play it] it turned my head around. I realized this is what I wanted to do…”

His Latin Jazz Explosion band, with Silvano Monasterios (who wrote “The Magician”) on keyboard, Omar Negroni on “percussionist Sammy drums, Gabriel Vivas on bass Figueroa advances a and Cisco Dimas playing brass, has done just this, recording the bright ideal of Latin albums and playing at venues jazz.” -New York Times like The Blue Note in New York and The Van Dyke on Miami Beach. But, ever loyal to his muse—jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader—Sammy has also formed another band called Sally’s Tomato.

“I have a real passion for Cal Tjader,” says Sammy. “I got to see him [when he was alive] in a club in San Francisco. He is my hero. I’ve been listening to him since the ‘60s, and I’ve bought every album in vinyl…. I wanted to do something as a tribute.” Sally’s Tomato is his homage to Tjader, and the music Tjader played with pianist Eddie Palmieri and saxophonist Stan Getz.

Sally’s Tomato: Join Sammy Figueroa on percussion, Brian Potts on vibes and Chino Nunez on timbalero.

Nov. 16, Pinecrest Gardens. Gates open at 6:30 p.m., performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets $20-$25. Call 305-669-6990 or go to www.pinecrest-fl.gov and click on Pinecrest Gardens. Q PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

19

DINING

Two Chefs Two Chefs reigns supreme as the culinary landmark of Pinecrest, with imaginative cuisine that reminds its devotees what gourmet dining is all about.

By James Broida

he only problem with eating at Two Chefs is the next day, when you have to come down to earth. Even the food you normally love seems ordinary. In a sentence, you would be hard pressed to find a more sublime meal.

The establishment itself exudes a low-key elegance reminiscent of restaurants in Manhattan or Paris: Subdued lighting, linen tablecloths, a deep, gleaming bar, the subtle light of a brick oven that flickers with the warmth of real fire.

Walking into Two Chefs from the ordinarylooking shopping center where it’s located could not be more of a contrast.

The understated atmosphere of Two Chefs is a perfect foil for the deliciously inventive food prepared by founder/Chef Jan Jorgensen who has been at the helm for two decades. A native of Denmark, Jorgensen was trained in classic European cuisine; he and fellow Danish chef Soren Bredahl started Two Chefs as a cooking school in 1992, and then expanded into the present restaurant. Chef Bredahl departed a decade ago, but the cooking school remains.

T

Founder/Chef Jan Jorgensen started Two Chefs with fellow Danish chef Soren Bredahl as a cooking school in 1992 and has since expanded it to its present-day shrine of fine dining.

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Ahi Tuna Tartare (left) cradled in hand-cut potato chips and drizzled with yellow pepper sauce. New England Clam Soup (above) with calamari and shrimp. Grilled Salmon from the Faroe Islands (below) with roast fingerling potatoes.

This profound knowledge of classic cooking, tempered by regional tastes and ingredients, is what makes Two Chefs so stunning. We started with Ahi Tuna Tartare, cradled in hand-cut potato chips and drizzled with a yellow pepper sauce. They were light and fresh, with a titillating combination of texture and flavor. Next came a Beef Carpaccio, laced with chicken drippings and tiny, sweet red peppers from Peru, to be eaten on grilled sour dough bread with a little fried goat cheese. I still dream of this dish.

As an interlude we tried the New England Clam Soup, which woke up a new group of taste buds. It had none of the heavy flour-and-potatoes chowder of the traditional soup, but instead a light milky broth with a delicious clam flavor, tilted toward South Florida taste buds with calamari and shrimp instead of potatoes.

In the realm of entrées we tried the Grilled Salmon from Faroe Islands, with its skin perfectly spiced and crisp, utterly fresh, atop a cluster of roast fingerling potatoes with parmigiano reggiano cheese and truffle oil. The potatoes alone made the dish, though the Salmon was so good it made me look up the Faroe Islands (north of England and owned by the Danish, of course.) Another outstanding entrée was the classic New York Strip Steak with real Sauce Béarnaise. Astonishingly juicy and flavorful, worth every calorie.

I could describe other dishes, like the slow cooked Beef Short Ribs, or the Chicken Chop ‘Cordon Bleu,’ or the Fireoven Flatbread with salmon and caviar, but suffice it to say that all dishes involving red meat, poultry or fish are playthings for Chef Jorgensen.

The wait staff is also superbly trained. Our waiter Carlos exemplified what Chef Jorgensen calls “walking the tightrope between proper and relaxed,” with just the right amount of advice—including pairing the clam soup with a Chardonnay from California’s dryer vineyards and the salmon and meats with a Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Underwood Cellars.

For dessert we were tempted by a Mississippi Mud Cake with Pumpkin Whipped Cream, but for us there was only one choice, a dish that is both hard to pull off and a signature of the Chef’s, and it came in three variations: The ‘Grand Marnier’ Soufflé, the Chocolate Soufflé, and

the Pistachio Soufflé. All served with crème anglaise and chocolate ganache sauce. All heavenly light and fluffy. The pistachio was the most interesting. “It’s seasonal,” says Carlos. We asked him if it was pistachio season. “No, it’s Two Chefs season. We serve it only for three months.”

That, by the way, is the final culinary twist to the Tale of Two Chefs. Because Chef Jorgensen is such a restlessly creative cook the menu is changed weekly. Some things remain—the tuna tartare is a ‘flagship’ appetizer—while others come and go, replaced by new creations. Never underestimate a chef who also runs a cooking school.

“The menu is about what we are going to cook this week and serve you,” says Chef Jorgensen. “It could be a week where there is tuna or conch in the house, or buffalo.

It all depends because we use fresh local or regional ingredients, nothing from Europe except blue cheese from Denmark”—or salmon from the Faroe Islands. Q

Prices: Starters $11-$16; Entrees $22-$38; Dessert $12 Hours: Open for lunch Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m-2:30 p.m.

Open for dinner Mon. 6-9 p.m.; Tue.-Sat. 8-10 p.m.

Closed Sundays.

Location & Contact Info: 8287 S. Dixie Highway. Call 305.663-2100 or visit www.twochefsrestaurant.com

PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

21

secret places

A Hidden Gem in Cutler Bay Gators, saltwater crocs, exquisite water views, fresh seafood, live music and cold beer: Black Point Ocean Grill is one or our best-kept secrets

By Eric Nathal

ou would imagine that South Florida would have a wealth of options for waterfront dining.

We have miles of waterfront. Yet there are surprisingly few restaurants directly on the

Y

water.

Fortunately there is Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay, a mere seven miles south of Pinecrest—about the same distance as downtown Miami—with its Ocean Black Point Ocean Grill.

Grill When I first drove into 24775 SW 87th Ave Cutler Bay the large and mostly empty (305) 258-3918 parking lot I thought I was blackpointoceangrill.com in the wrong place. But as I drove closer, I was relieved to see that the Grill was open and bustling with patrons.

The bar was full of what seemed to be regulars: Sun kissed boaters and fishermen sipping cold beers and munching smoked fish dip and tortilla chips. Luckily, I got the last table on the waterfront deck.

My table overlooked lush mangroves and a few boats docked for the night. The sun was reflecting on the calm water and beginning to set, the sky taking on a pink hue.

It was very Key West—there was a live band playing Hotel California and that wonderful smell of the sea. My server explained that this is one of the few remaining spots where you can still see saltwater crocodiles. To help diners spot marine life as the sun goes down there are underwater lights along the deck. I only spotted a few mullets and tarpon, but manatees, alligators, and dolphins are known to make regular appearances.

The menu is straightforward Florida renditions of

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American fish and burger staples. I started off with cracked conch; it was a perfectly battered hunk of pillowy mollusk fried to a golden crisp. It arrived piping hot, hissing when I squeezed lemon on it.

Snapper, Cobia, Grouper, Tilefish, Hogfish—with so many options, I didn’t know what to order. My server raved about the grilled hogfish special and I accepted his recommendation. The fish was prepared simply with key lime butter and served over rice with sautéed vegetables.

It just about melted in my mouth, as really fresh seafood should. I closed with a slice of their custardy key lime pie.

Tart and tasty, it is made daily on premise and quickly sells out. Don’t even try to ask for the recipe; they won’t give it.

Black Point Ocean Grill’s roster features live music Wednesday to Sunday. There is also a daily happy hour (3 to 6 pm) for everything behind the bar, along with discounted appetizers ($4!) like blackened shrimp, eggplant bruschetta and tuna poke.

Black Point is pleasantly uncomplicated, with friendly servers and laid-back patrons in khaki shorts and fishingthemed T-shirts. This is vintage Florida. Q

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community

Her Gift of Time When Pinecrest resident Debi Strochak first learned that she had breast cancer, the worst part was the fear of too little time left. Too little time to see her son graduate college, too little time to see her daughter practice law, too little time to see all the places she wanted to visit.

“Here I was, just 47 years old, diagnosed with stage three cancer,” she says. “All of a sudden I realized how little time I had left. And I had a bucket list.”

Fortunately The name of the for Debi and her company—and family, she won the pink brand the struggle, imprinted on choosing Baptist Hospital—which the face of each she credits with watch—is Our her remission Gift of Time. through a cuttingedge combination of chemotherapy and the use of stem cells.

Even now 15 years later, however, she still tears up when describing how lucky she felt to see her daughter argue her first motion in court, and her son march down the aisle for his college graduation.

“I realized then it was all a matter of time, literally,” she says. “Time is what

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photo by KAREN NERCESS

A Pinecrest cancer survivor launches a watch brand to remind us all of the value of time

Debi Strochak spares a minute as she shares the Gift of Time. “Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift,” Debi observes as she displays four of the various timepieces available on www.ourgiftoftime.com.

this disease takes away, and when you get that time back you realize what a gift it is. I wanted to somehow let everyone know that.”

She also wanted to contribute toward the ongoing research into finding a cure for cancer, which she has already done in numerous ways. As the Auto Tag Queen of Miami (she and her family own 27 auto tag agencies in Miami-Dade), Debi initiated a statewide program to sell special “End Breast Cancer” license plates, an effort put through by then State Rep. Cindy Lerner, now the mayor of Pinecrest. Since 2001, the fees from these plates have generated $4 million for research.

Ten years later, with the support of Mayor Lerner, she helped resurrect the Pinecrest Relay for Life, which has since raised more than $400,000.

Now the savvy businesswoman has launched a watch brand that emphasizes the lesson she learned.

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

The name of the company—and the pink brand imprinted on the face of each watch—is Our Gift of Time.

While they are not made in South Florida (the manufacturer is in New Jersey), the company is based here.

“This says it exactly,” says Debi, who lives with her husband in the heart of Pinecrest. “It’s about the time we have remaining here in this world.”

Selling for $213 to $259, each watch purchase returns $50 to $65 for cancer research—basically all the profits. So far they are available online at www.ourgiftoftime.com, but will become available at retail outlets where proprietors agree to donate the profits.

As for Cindy’s original ‘bucket list’— which included things like sleeping under the stars, watching a moon launch and travelling to China—she says she has now “filled three buckets and am working on the fourth.” Q

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25

education

Dr. Corey Harvin and his guitar: Teaching what students want to learn.

Photo by Anthony McFarlane

Socratic Music A Palmer Trinity music teacher reaches students with an interactive approach, old school style

By Brooke Berger

mong the oldest and most powerful types of teaching for encouraging critical thinking is something called the Socratic method. The concept derives from how the Greek philosopher Socrates taught—by creating a dialogue of questions and answers that help students develop their own points of view, and move in their own directions.

For guitar instructor Dr. Corey Harvin this seems to work. Harvin believes in allowing his students to feel in control by helping them learn for themselves—and along the way develop self-respect and a trusting student-teacher bond.

A square classroom at Palmer Trinity, adorned with white boards and posters of musical heroes, is where Harvin invites students to embrace youthful inventiveness and expand their musical knowledge. Students here work toward their end-of-year school performance, but plaques on the walls show that not just peers and parents notice Harvin’s guitarists.

In 2010 and in 2012 his students achieved a gold rating at the WorldStrides Heritage Music Festival in Orlando.

This year they will travel to a national guitar festival, to perform and meet professionals and other peers. For the students who make it, it’s a tremendous reward. “For the students who don’t travel to the competitions, it gives them something to work harder for,” says Harvin.

A

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Harvin received his Bachelors in Music from FSU and his Masters from the Eastman School of Music. He then pursued his passion and received a doctorate in music as well as certification in Community Education and College Teaching. A teacher since 1996, Harvin has been instructing guitar enthusiasts in grades six through twelve at Palmer Trinity since 2007.

Harvin likes to incorporate what intrigues his students, allowing them to steer the direction of the teaching and engage in the learning process. “This year my students were all interested in learning to play Bohemian Rhapsody on the guitar, so I transcribed the song,” explains Harvin.

On another day he will ask students to create their own jingle within a given scale.

Overall, he encourages self-teaching and intellectual selfrespect. “If a student asks what the note B is, I help them to learn it on their own with a series of leading questions rather than just telling them,” he says.

“Dr. Harvin is a unique guitar teacher,” says Palmer Trinity student Claire Hebb, 15. “He balances technique and musical theory with style and originality. He makes coming to guitar class everyday fun and an enjoyable experience.”

In the end, he hopes students will begin to unconsciously answer their own questions, develop their own styles and continue to learn on their own after graduation. Q

Find a place where you can ďŹ t in.

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27

our favorite stores

Teavana Where The Days of The Tea Bag are Over

BY Brooke Berger

Wandering through The Falls one afternoon I recognized a store I’d never tried. Usually I’m on some kind of shopping mission, and don’t have the time for curiosity stops. But I was drawn to a beam of light shining on a sign that said “Free Samples.” That, combined with the delicate aroma of Wild Orange Blossom herbal tea, drew me inside. I have always been a tea drinker but when I say tea I am referring to a Lipton bag and mug of hot water. Here there are no tea bags. Instead the approach is closer to an ancient Japanese tea ceremony. Actually, their tea comes from all over the world. White, Green, Oolong, Black, Mate and Herbal teas from China, Japan, India and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon)—even Rooibos, a red tea from South Africa. As a kind sales assistant named Jan Leyva explained, “A White tea can increase hydration and antioxidants in the body and Black teas benefit cardiovascular health. Oolong teas are fragrant and promote healthy digestion. Mate teas are full of antioxidants, and herbal blends have many all over health benefits.” Tie that to a recent consumer report showing that the loose teas of Teavanna have super high levels of anti-oxidants, and I was on my way with a tea ball, a teapot and a new approach to life. From now on my mornings start with a cup of Golden Monkey Black tea. Q

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Early detection of cancer saves lives. AutoNation has partnered with IndyCar Champion Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay in the fight against cancer.

We’re raising funds and awareness, from coast to coast. Together we can win this race. ”If my mother had discovered her cancer sooner, she could be alive today.” - Ryan

AutoNation.com Ryan Hunter-Reay IZOD IndyCar Champion

To make a donation, please visit RacingForCancer.org PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

29

real estate

WHAT DOES $1 MILLION BUY IN PINECREST? These homes, currently on the market, are priced in the $1 million range Compiled By Hazel Goldman

Hazel Goldman is a leading realtor for Pinecrest and surrounding areas. She is currently the top RE/MAX agent in Florida. The properties listed here are currently on the multiple listing service of Miami-Dade County and listed by various agents.

Address: 5950 SW 135 Terrace Description: 6 Br/4 Bth/Pool/2-Car Garage Lot Size: 15,637 SQ FT House Size: 4,177 SQ FT Nearest School: Pinecrest Elementary Put on market: 9/4/13 Asking price: $974,900 Address: 5820 SW 132 Terrace Description: 4Br/2.5 Bth/pool/2car garage Lot Size: 15624 Sq. Ft. House Size: 2829 Sq. Ft. Nearest School: Pinecrest Elementary Put on market: 10/10/13 Asking price: $988,000

Address: 7231 SW 132 Street Description: 4 Br/3 Bth/Pool/2Car Garage Lot Size: 38,027 Sq. Ft. House Size: 2,795 Sq. Ft. Nearest School: Palmetto Elementary Put on market: 9/23/13 Asking price: $1,000,000

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Plastic Surgeon Dr. Randy Miller explains the new stem-cell assited procedure to a prospective patient

Turning Back the Hands A New Surgical Technique Turns Back the Clock

By Richard Shellene

“As plastic surgeons we have something for every part of the body, but until recently we had nothing for the hands,” says Dr. Randy Miller M.D. “Now we do.”

That something is a new procedure where fat is transferred to the hands from another part of the body, after enhancing its concentration of stem cells and growth factors. The results are hands that regain volume, look years younger and continue to improve over time due to the stem cells.

For Dr. Miller and his fellow plastic surgeons, hands are telltale signs of aging, often overlooked by women who undergo other procedures to turn back the clock. “They look great from top to bottom until they reach across the table,” he says.

The key to the procedure is the discovery in 2001 that our body’s fat tissue contains adult stem cells, the mature form of embryonic stem cells we all have in the womb. The embryonic ones can become any cell in the body; the ones in fat can only turn into connective tissue such as collagen and new skin, which is ideal for cosmetic purposes.

Dr. Miller, who recently served as president of the prestigious Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons, is a pioneer in the use of fat as a natural filler, as opposed to synthetic fillers such as Juvederm or Radiesse.

“Fat acts as the filler from your own body,” says Dr. Miller, who practices in Coconut Grove. If injected correctly, the fat will ‘re-vascularize’—i.e. grow a network of blood vessels—and survive permanently. And with fat, says Dr. Miller, “the stem cells act to regenerate and repair the skin,

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

which continues to improve in color and texture over many years.”

For the procedure itself, the first step is to use liposuction to ‘harvest’ fat, which is washed to rid it of oils and impurities, then centrifuged to produce a concentrated layer of stem cell rich Before fat.

“These days we add PRP,” says Dr. Miller, which stands for ‘platelet rich plasma,’ the part of your blood that contains special proteins called growth factors. “Combined with the adipose, it’s a miraculous procedure,” he says. Next the mixture of fat and PRP is injected into the back of the hands between the After bones, tendons and veins where volume has been lost.

“The nice thing about this procedure is that it’s entirely performed under local anesthesia. It’s an easy procedure for patients, with minimal pain and no heavy bandages,” says Dr. Miller.

The result is hands that lose their boniness and pronounced tendons and blood vessels. The skin looks renewed, and continues to improve over time. “It’s beyond plastic surgery. It’s regenerative medicine,” says Dr. Miller.

“It doesn’t stop the aging process but it makes the hands look rejuvenated for many years.” Q

photo by andrew urban

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33

fashion

Resort Shopping Made Easy Gather your 2014 looks in just one location—especially for resort chic

By Brooke Berger

ovember is here, and that means we are on the cusp of the resort-wear season, which by oldschool standards means the weeks after New Year’s when affluent snowbirds fly to warmer climes. In South Florida “resort wear” is more of a specialized year-round fashion statement, though we still maintain the semblance of a season, and we still go off to resorts.

For this upcoming season local swim wear designer and boutique owner Jessica Corry Sierralta is helping the fashionistas pack their bags. From her Kai Lani swimwear line and beyond, the styles at her Mermaids Boutique this

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year are dishing out looks that will win every woman’s affections.

The boutique captures the trends with its two best selling suits. For the adventurous and bold, the Kai Lani line’s Seychelles Knot Kini features the braids, knots and tribal prints that painted Miami Swim Week, all in one suit.

For the woman who seeks a little extra support, Maaji underwire tops and hipster bottoms are featuring great patterns boasting summer colors.

From stunning cutout one pieces to sporty racerback tops, the wide selection makes it appear that the swim gods just couldn’t pick one style that was ‘in’ this year.

From stunning cutout one pieces to sporty racerback tops, the wide selection makes it appear that the swim gods just couldn’t pick one style that was ‘in’ this year.

Mermaids Boutique is even letting the little ones (i.e. your kids) join in on the resort season with the Kai Lani mini solid bow bikini.

With swimwear so strikingly bold, the coverups this season are keeping it neutral. Their niche this year is non-niche, because they come in all forms. The typical tunic is still here, but it’s taken a backseat to pom pom crop tops and crochet flowing dresses. “Everything goes this season as far as coverups,” says Miami native Sierralta. “Rompers, flowing tops, colorful lightweight shorts, and fringe dresses are all ‘in’ right now.”

Just like with ice cream there always has to be some toppings.

Accessories have become a staple in beachwear. Elaborately beaded long necklaces with shining pendants hold together the best looks. The Buddha Mama necklaces (actually blessed by Buddhists) fit the bill and are made by a Miami local who gives the proceeds to a local charity. Gold handmade braided bracelets make nice arm candy and flatter any outfit.

The bags this season are woven with delight whether big or small.

The Florabella Natural Fringe Clutch is versatile enough for day or night thanks to its small handheld size. The Florabella Mixed Natural Woven bag is so big even your kids will fit inside, definitely getaway worthy. Match the bag with an Oddabash Natural Jemima Hat and complete the look with what ties it all together: Shoes.

The snake wrap sandals and Nami flip flops feature trending animal prints as well as bright neon tribal decoration. Don these and you’re ready for any resort—or another day in South Florida! Q

Clockwise from top left to right: Tribal Footwear: Nami flip flops featuring trending animal prints and bright neon tribal decoration; Swim Collection: Stunning cutout one pieces and sporty racerback tops; Kai Lani Fringe Bikini; Arm Candy: Gold handmade braided bracelets.

Mermaids Boutique 7328 SW 57th Ave., South Miami 305-662-8621 www.mermaidsboutique.com

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Cover Story

photo by andrew urban

Mayor Cindy Lerner: “Local governments are the first responders [to climate change] and we must be more adaptive.”

the

Gr

eening of pinecrest

BY JP FABER

DESPITE ITS RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE, THE VILLAGE OF PINECREST HAS TAKEN A LARGE ROLE IN THE NATIONAL—AND GLOBAL—MOVEMENT TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CITY PRACTICES, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO ITS PROACTIVE MAYOR. n late September the gallery at Pinecrest Gardens, normally reserved for art classes and displays of paintings, was repurposed as a conference room for more than 40 mayors and city officials from the U.S. League of Cities. They met there for three days to draft a national proposal for how municipalities can deal with climate change.

The two chairs of the conference: The mayors of Boulder, Colorado and Pinecrest, Florida.

“These climate changes are going to destroy infrastructure, and have huge implications,” said Boulder Mayor Matthew Appelbaum at a press conference held midway through the meeting.

He was speaking from experience: His city had just been ravaged by floods from 15 inches of rain—a year’s worth—dumped in four days.

“We’re here to understand best practices… We need much better planning.”

Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, his co-chair and host of the event, spoke next. “What we know in South Florida is that we are ground zero for climate change. It will impact South Florida first. There are already flood events all along the Southeast Coast,” she said. “Local governments are the first responders and we must be more adaptive. We have to engage our residents and our communities on how to understand this and move forward.”

Mayor Lerner’s admonitions were not idle political chatter. One reason the League of Cities chose Pinecrest for its conference is because Mayor Lerner and the village have not just talked the talk, but have walked the walk.

In the five years since she was first elected (she was re-elected last year without opposition), Mayor Lerner has unleashed a plethora of green practices, from electric cars and school trams to recycling programs and citizen education. Call

I

it the Greening of Pinecrest.

The Making of a Green Village As a new mayor promising change, what do you do if your city already has great schools, low crime, and plenty of natural beauty and green space? Make it a model of how cities can practice sustainability in the face of imminent climate change, of course.

That’s the epiphany Cindy Lerner had as she began her first term as Pinecrest mayor in 2009.

“Because of the kind of community we are— highly educated, affluent, and not challenged by a lot of other issues that other communities are, like crime and drugs—I thought it was really important that we take some responsibility for learning how to become a sustainable community,” says Mayor Lerner. “I asked what that meant on a municipal level and nobody seemed to know about it. So I had to educate myself.”

What Mayor Lerner found out was that, unlike many other states, Florida has no sustainability program. It became “incumbent on us to do this on a local level,” she says. “As a state we are very slow in coming to the party on this.”

So the mayor and then assistant city manager Jocelyn Gomez went on a mission of selfeducation, learning about things like the Kyoto Protocols and carbon footprints, joining the Energy and Resources Committee of the League of Cities, and launching a taskforce called the Pinecrest Green Initiative to get others involved.

That taskforce came up with an initial Green Action Plan, which had three simple goals: Create an energy efficiency program for the village, including recycling; develop procurement policies to ensure that every company the village buys from has a sustainable, PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

37

Cover Story green policy; and train the entire staff to “Think Green,” including LEED certification for the planning department.

Mayor Lerner could not have found a better partner than manager Gomez, who re-joined the city government in 2009 after serving as Doral’s first city manger for five years. Previously she had been Pinecrest’s assistant city manager (1996-2004) in charge of a tree-planting program that placed more than 10,000 trees in public rights-of-way around the village.

“The green campaign stared when Mayor Lerner got elected—that was one of her priorities as mayor,” says Gomez. “I was already a ‘tree-hugger’ so I became the person the [then city] manager assigned as the liaison for sustainability. As part of my duties as assistant manager I took on oversight of the Green Action Plan.”

When Gomez was promoted to City Manager in 2011, she and Lerner had the plan well underway, through a variety of small initiatives they believe will have a

Start Me Up: Mayor Lerner with one of the electric cars that are replacing the village’s fleet of gas-guzzling vehicles.

program to replace city vehicles with electric cars.

At the same time, the city began passing ordinances to ensure green practices among builders and homeowners, not only requiring minimum amounts of green space for

ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOW IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS CALLED GREEN ACADEMIES TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON THE FUNDAMENTAL OF SUSTAINABILITY—INCLUDING MEASURING THE CARBON FOOTPRINTS OF THEIR OWN HOMES, AND WAYS TO REDUCE THEM. significant collective impact.

“All things we do are individually small bites of the apple, but they all contribute toward the sustainability of the community,” she says. “Our biggest challenge is to educate the public as to how they can take these things on as individuals. It’s a macro issue, but you can take it down to the household level.”

all residential and commercial properties, but rewarding developers with 50% discounts on accelerated permits if they use green building principles in their designs.

Following up on the city’s tree planting program— started shortly after incorporation as a beautification project—the village also launched an adopt-a-tree program (see side bar), coupled with strict penalties for removing trees from residential or commercial property.

The staff at Village Hall, including Vice Mayor Jeff Cutler (seond from left) display their award for the program that City Manager Jocelyn Galiano Gomez (far right) pushed through to educate city employees about implementing sustainability practices.

Step by Step With education as the mantra, one of the first steps the village took was to bring in a consultant to help train staff and get Pinecrest certified by the Florida Green Building Council as a ‘green city.’ That took a year.

Next came their effort to start a transit program, to get cars off the street. That led to a trolley program for students, in which two trams take kids to and from school within a two-mile radius, to reduce congestion and carbon emissions. That program, which uses county public transit dollars, is now in its third year—and it’s coupled with a

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Perhaps most exceptional, however, has been the educational efforts of Lerner, Gomez and the entire city council. All public schools have now implemented programs called Green Academies to educate students on the fundamental of sustainability—including measuring the carbon footprints of their own homes, and ways to reduce them.

Along these lines, the village is providing space at Pinecrest Gardens to the CLEO Institute for public education about global warming. One of its first projects was to create solar demonstrations at Pinecrest’s public

10 THINGS THAT PINECREST HAS DONE TO BECOME A GREEN VILLAGE 1

photo by KAREN NERCESS

The Green Action Plan This is the blueprint adopted in January 2010 to make all village buildings more energy efficient; to require all vendors to use sustainable practices; and to train staff in green practices.

2 Green Building Program

In 2011 the village passed an ordinance that rewarded “green” building designs with expedited and discounted permitting.

3

The mayors of Boulder, Pinecrest and Williamstown, KY, at the National League of Cities meeting in Pinecrest on climate change.

schools, using 20 solar panels donated

by Mr. Solar, a local solar energy company.

“Each school created a special project, using solar energy for something, to heat water or to recharge cell phones,” says Mayor Lerner. Along the same lines of public awareness, the city also created an annual Pinecrest Earth Day Festival, now held each April in Pinecrest Gardens.

“Thank heaven for people like the mayor,” says CLEO Institute director Caroline Lewis. “I wish we could clone her.”

What’s Next?

In the process of leading the city to adopt green practices, Mayor Lerner has become something of a global ambassador of sustainability. In addition to her work with the League of Cities, she recently returned from Europe, where she was one of only four U.S. mayors to be invited to attend the World Mayors Summit on Climate Change, held in Nantes, France. She was also invited to an Eco City Summit in the same city, which is considered Europe’s “Green Capital.”

“I’m not even sure how I got invited,” says Mayor Lerner. “But I came back with my brain on overdrive for new initiatives.”

What’s next on the Mayor’s agenda is incorporating solar energy into the city’s public buildings and

constructing more electric charging stations (there is already one at Village Hall). “There are quite a few residents who own electric cars, and not that many charging stations around Florida. There is a state plan afoot, but I think that each municipality should maintain their own… so we put in the budget for [more] electric car recharging stations.”

Overall, however, the mission still remains one of education.

“Next year I will be installed as president of the Miami-Dade League of Cities, so it will be a perfect platform to carry the message forward,” says Mayor Lerner. The city has also joined with seven other South Florida municipalities in something called the PACE program, which stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy, which rewards home owners with a package of financial rewards for installing energy efficient appliances, roofs, etc. It also provides another platform to share information.

“There’s not just one program, but many different ways to get the message out,” says Manager Gomez.

“Of course we’ve been targeting the schools first. The younger kids get it, that the sea levels are rising, that there is such a thing as global warming, and that they can start changing things at home now. After all, they are the ones who are going to be affected in the long run.” Q

Green Regulations In 2012 the village passed an ordinance requiring all residences to maintain at least 35% of the lot as green space, and fining any residents who remove trees.

4

Adopt-A-Tree Program For prices that begin at $185 each, the city will plant one of 15 species of trees in your yard. The trees are already 8 to 10 feet tall and guaranteed for a year.

5

Carbon Neutral Program The city has partnered with the national JustGreen initiative to reduce personal and residential carbon footprints in the village.

6 School Compact

The village has partnered with its five public schools to create Green Academies, special science-based curriculum magnet programs.

7

Non-Polluting Vehicles The city is converting its municipal vehicles to hybrid and electric as older gas-guzzling models are retired from the fleet.

8

Public Transportation The city has established a trolley system for students who live within two miles of their public schools, to reduce carbon emissions.

9

Citizen Education The city has given space to the CLEO project, which holds public seminars to educate villagers about global warming.

10 Green Corridor

The village has joined with seven other South Florida cities in the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program to reward homeowners for energy efficiency.

PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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Cover Story CONTINUED

green education

The CLEO Institute is one of Pinecrest’s models for teaching about sustainability

In what is known as the ‘historic entrance’ to Pinecrest Gardens, a small coral rock building on Red Road, a handful of student volunteers are hard at work assisting Caroline Lewis, a former school principal who is creating a model for community education about global warming.

Lewis directs the nascent CLEO Institute, which is being housed and provided a stipend by the Village of Pinecrest to provide public education outreach programs about sustainability (CLEO stands for Creative Learning and Engagement Opportunities).

“It’s a beautiful partnership that we hope to duplicate in other cities,” says Lewis. “We are trying to find contact points for this community to engage—through the schools, the teachers, the parents and the businesses.”

Targeting everyone from attorneys and

bankers to community leaders, the CLEO Institute holds monthly training and education sessions about what is happening to the planet—and what can be done.

“At the end of the day they come away with an understanding of greenhouse gasses, and their effect on the atmosphere, the oceans, the ice caps, the sea levels and so forth,” says Lewis. “We also give them a check list about their individual roles. It starts with reusing grocery bags, and ends with being an informed consumer, voting and holding elected officials responsible. Somewhere in the middle is driving an electric vehicle.”

Says student-volunteer Marissa Prieto: “If we can get people to change their ways, it’ll be a better planet in 100 years. But probably it’s already too late for the next 50 years. We’ve done the damage.” Q

Learning in the Gardens: CLEO director and founder Caroline Lewis (second from left) and her crew of student volunteers.

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feature

Old Florida Revival

With three houses under construction, a half dozen under order and more than a score built in and around the village, Pinecrest architect David Johnson is bringing back the old Florida style.

By J.P. Faber

D

The “White Residence“ in Pinecrest: A return to traditional Florida design, using overhangs, balconies, breezeways and peaked roofs.

Right: Architect David Johnson, who calls the popular revival a return to the ‘Florida Vernacular.’

42

avid Johnson’s office on 104th Street, just in from Pinecrest Parkway, is the exact opposite of the kind of buildings he designs. It is a glass-paneled cube inspired by the future. The homes he designs are inspired by Florida’s past.Over the last fifteen years he has become one of the most coveted architects in Pinecrest, designing homes in the distinct “Florida Cracker Style.”

The look and feel of Johnson’s homes derive from the days of Florida’s first settlers, who wrapped their buildings with wide verandas to provide shade as well as protection from rain for the home’s deliberately large windows.

They were oriented to the prevailing winds, and had long hallways to funnel breezes through the house. Steep roofs with cupolas drew heat from the inside as well.

Cracker-style houses were so energy efficient that the Florida Governor’s Energy Office and the Florida Solar Energy Center officially revived the style in 1990 with a statewide design competition that asked architects to “return to Florida’s past in creating energy-saving homes for the present.”

“They call it Florida Vernacular, or Old Florida,” says Johnson, himself a Pinecrest native who worked for two pioneers of the style’s revival— Charles Harrison Pawley and Robert Bradford Brown—after he graduated from the University of Florida. “What I design is a twist on a classic Florida home.”

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PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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On the Veranda: “I love this house because so much of it is inside and outside,” says artist Bonnie Angueira. She is seen here with pet bulldog Zoey in her Johnsondesigned Pinecrest home.

Right: Her house, the “Perez Residence,” from the front.

While the style is called ‘Cracker,’ that word evokes a kind of rough backwoods image that is leagues away from the elegance of Johnson’s Pinecrest homes. The feeling inside is closer to Colonial architecture, more in the style of a Mount Vernon, or a Monticello, especially when it comes to the details.

“There is a lot of woodwork,” says Holly Lee Zawyer who with her husband Sean commissioned Johnson to build their dream Pinecrest home. “His houses have a lot of detail and a lot of finish work. Under the overhang of the roof there are hand-carved beams. There is wainscoting all around the house.”

The Zawyers found Johnson by driving through the village. “We had actually been looking for houses in the neighborhoods, and we “It turns out found ourselves admiring that all top a certain style. It turns out that all top five houses five houses that that we loved were David we loved were Johnson houses. There was David Johnson something about them.”

That something is an houses. There was architectural vocabulary something about that includes things like wide verandas, tall them.” - Holly Zawyer windows and something called ‘connectors’— indented spaces between rooms of the house, so that addition windows can be added to bring in more light and air.

“I try to be as close the Old Florida as possible, to have as much light and ventilation as we can,” says Johnson. “We always have covered porches and verandas, and always PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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Left: Old fashioned wainscotting is used throughout the Zawyer residence.

Right: Johnson stands out front of the one-story Pinecrest home.

nice overhangs, which is all part of that Old Florida look… We try to make the porches deep enough so they can actually be used.”

Four Square Another fundamental of the Johnson home is the formal layout, a square which is divided by hallways that cross each other in the middle, creating the four basic spaces of living room and dining room in the front, and kitchen and family room in the back, with the halls acting as natural breezeways.

“A lot of my homes have the Georgian square, which is historical, developed

by Thomas Jefferson,” says Johnson. “A lot of the antebellum homes, and the Florida Cracker homes, are based on the 4-Square Georgian house.” From the core square further rooms can be added, with open ‘connector’ spaces of light between them.

“I love this house because so much of it is inside and outside,” says Bonnie Angueira, a painter who lives in another Johnson Pinecrest house with her husband Alexander. A deep veranda wraps entirely around the back and side of their two-story home, and wide halls divide the main building into the traditional Georgian square. “The house truly has a flow to it, a spirit to it,” says Alexander.

“A lot of people stop by to take photographs of it.”

Adhering to the Old Florida standards is getting harder, however, says Johnson, who has been restricted by many of the new codes implemented after Hurricane Andrew.

“One thing that is very different today is the Hurricane Andrew code changes,” he says. “Because of all these regulations it’s tough to have as much openness as you’d like. It makes it harder to have more openings, because you have to have more structure.”

Even with the strictures of new regulations, Johnson’s houses continue to delight patrons, and to draw new ones, almost entirely by referral or queries.

And his reputation continues to grow.

On the website of high-powered realtor Carole Smith, for example, she touts the fact that her 7-bedroom luxury property at 9100 Old Cutler Road was designed by ‘renowned South Florida architect David Johnson,’ one reason why she’s asking $5.5 million for the home. That and the custom doors and ‘flood of PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

47

All in the Details: Built by local firm Entek Construction, The Zawyer home looking down its breezeway to the front door (left); the kitchen enjoys lots of natural light (right); Architect Johnson designs the old-fashioned way, with pencil not computer (below).

natural light.’

In the end, however, what makes Johnson a successful architect is not just the quality of work, but his relationship with his clients.

“The greatest challenge in any new project is listening. I listen well to the client. That is one quality that has given me repeat work. Architects can have large egos, and try to force designs on the client. The challenge is to get their [the client’s] ideas… I welcome them to bring me tearouts from magazines. I don’t have a problem with that…”

On the other hand, says Johnson, “I can tell you that at the beginning I’m very upfront. I’m the first to tell clients that they are going down the wrong path. If someone comes to me wanting a Mediterranean home I recommend them to someone else.” Q

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PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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with the kids

The Ferdinand Magellan’s Ride into History The Gold Coast Railroad Museum is great family fun. It also houses the first national historic landmark in Miami-Dade—a famous train saved by a UM student and president

By Dan Millot

he Gold Coast Railroad Museum now houses more than 40 rail cars and engines, making it one of the most important and interesting such museums in the country. It also houses one very special car, the third in its early collection—a former presidential train saved from oblivion.

Long before Air Force One transported American presidents around the country, the train was the preferred mode of presidential transport, dating back to Abraham Lincoln. Starting in 1928, presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt leased theirs from the Pullman Company’s ‘Explorer’ series, named after the likes of Marco Polo and David Livingston.

When America entered World War II in 1941, a whole new level of security was required, so the Secret Service purchased one of the cars with the intention of making it bullet proof. The Ferdinand Magellan was chosen because it had air conditioning.

President Roosevelt used the railcar, but he preferred flying or driving. His wife Eleanor, however, loved to use

T

50

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

the rail car, so much so that the second stateroom was known as Eleanor’s Room.

Roosevelt’s last trip on the Magellan was on April 10, 1945 when he traveled from Washington to Warm Springs, Ga. He died two days later and the funeral train, including the Ferdinand Magellan and a second car to carry the casket, returned to Washington.

Vice President Harry Truman become president, and a year later welcomed Winston Churchill to the Whitehouse in Washington— where the two of them boarded the Magellan and headed west to Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. It was there that Churchill delivered his famous Iron Curtain speech declaring that a barrier had descended across Europe.

The most memorable use of the Ferdinand Magellan came in 1948 when President Truman conducted his famous whistle stop campaign, logging in 21,000 miles, 140 stops and 147 speeches, many of them from the rear platform of the car.

As the 40s bowed out and the 50s ushered in, presidents began using more air travel. Truman preferred it and his successor, Dwight D Eisenhower, rarely used the Magellan.

He did once for a 1953 state visit to Ottawa to address Canada’s Parliament, and its last use came a year later when Mrs. Eisenhower traveled to Groton, Conn., to christen the nuclear submarine USS Nautilus.

From that point on the car shuttled around Washington, parked at various rail sidings. By 1958 it was declared government surplus and seemed destined for the scrap heap.

Meanwhile, two years earlier a University of Miami business major named Bill Godfrey had convinced then

Your customers are talking.

Are you listening?

with the kids

UM president Dr. Jay Pearson, a rail ‘enthusiast,’ to acquire some historic rail equipment and keep it on UM’s “South Campus” which had miles of unused track. First came a 1930s steam locomotive from the U.S. Sugar Company in Clewiston, then a “Jim Crow” baggage/passenger car and a caboose.

Then Godfrey heard that the U.S. government had declared the Ferdinand Magellan ‘surplus,’ and convinced president Pearson to save it. UM came up with $100 and the car was on its way to Miami, where the car has remained ever since, with two exceptions.

The first came during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the U.S. government forced UM to relocate the museum to Fort Lauderdale so that it could use the land for a CIA “listening post.” The museum returned when the land in Fort Lauderdale was needed to build I-595.

The second time came in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan used the car for a 120-mile rail trip through Ohio.

Because of security concerns, the president made speeches from the back of the car, but didn’t travel in it. He would fly by helicopter to each location where he was scheduled to speak. The car remains available for use by any sitting president if he (or she) requests it.

Prior to its Reagan outing, the Ferdinand Magellan was finally placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978—the first thing in South Florida to ever receive that designation.

Today the Ferdinand Magellan is back to its prime, having been recently restored—including re-creating the same podium for the rear of the car Truman used on his 1948 whistle-stop campaign. You can see how, when used by presidents, it was a full service operation, with a small living room, staterooms for the president and First Lady (Eleanor’s Room), and space for a traveling staff of chef and steward. The dining room, also used as a conference room, was where Truman played poker with his cronies.

About the Florida Gold Coast Rail Museum The Florida Gold Coast rail Museum is located adjacent to Zoo Miami and open seven days a week.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children, and a guided tour of the Ferdinand Magellan is available ($2 extra). Small gauge train rides are available daily ($2.50). On some weekends (call first) you can ride the big trains in coach or caboose ($6) or inside the locomotive cab itself ($12). The rides last about 25 minutes. Visitors to Zoo Miami get free admission to the rail museum. There is also free admission on the first Saturday of each month, though all special rides still cost extra. Q Gold Coast Railroad Museum 12450 S.W. 152nd Street, Miami Open Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Open Weekends: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

305-253-0063 or gcrm.org

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Inside History: The Ferdinand Magellan rail car, pictured on the previous page, had well-appointed interior spaces including (top) the President’s Stateroom leading to the speaker’s podium, Eleanor’s Room (middle) and flooring details (bottom) from the chef’s galley.

Charming European cottage exterior

Tailor this upstairs bonus room to fit your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal needs

Gourmet-style kitchen with large island for food prep and seating

Casual dining area is perfect for large family gatherings

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family issues

REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR MASK ON FIRST Parenting at the top of your game means taking care of you first By: Jennifer Altieri

Jennifer Altieri is a mom of two, NLP Life Coach, Passion Test Facilitator, Parent Educator, Founder of Hope Inrheart, and author of WHY ARE YOU YELLING? A Parent’s Guide To Raising Kids Without Raising Your Voice. www. hopeinrheart.com

54

I don’t know about you but I feel like once again the holiday season has snuck up on me. Thanksgiving plans highlighted with turkey dinners, football, and an attitude of appreciations and blessings are just days away.

For many people the holidays are a time to travel.

If you find yourself on an airplane this holiday season you will listen to (or tune out) the safety instructions. Even if you typically tune them out I’m fairly confident you can recall the airlines give directions about how to use the oxygen masks. You must first put the oxygen mask on yourself and then you may assist your children.

Typically, airlines are known for flight delays, bad food and cramped seating.

Who would have guessed that they cleverly disguised words of wisdom into the safety instructions?

Putting the oxygen mask first on yourself, then on your children, is a perfect analogy for parenting.

If you think it is selfish to take care of

yourselves first, I understand. It took me a while to embrace the concept as well. To be clear I should emphasize that I am in no way advocating neglecting a necessary parental responsibility. I am encouraging you to look at this as an opportunity to parent at the top of your game, with a happy heart and smiling face. Here are just ten of many ways you will live and teach your children by example when you put your mask on first: 1. Set healthy boundaries / priorities 2. Lovingly say “No” when you mean no 3. Say “Yes” only when you mean yes 4. Look for the win/win - respectful of yourself and others 5. Find your passion and follow it happiness flows from your passion to your parenting 6. Breathe deep - seriously, this can turn your frown upside down 7. Enjoy! Life is supposed to be fun 8. Recognize miracles can come in unexpected wrapping 9. See mistakes as opportunities - lessons learned without blaming yourself 10. Choose happiness - yes happiness is a choice that is always available without exception Still on the fence?

Can you do your best job taking care of kids if you’re not taking care of yourself?

Ask yourself, if I pass out while trying to help my kids because I didn’t put my mask on first, is the result helping them or hurting them? How will they feel watching me? Was I successful at putting their mask on before I passed out?

Honest answers may bring new awareness and allow you to release old belief patterns that are not serving you or your children.

Kids follow our example more than our words. Taking care of you shows them how they should treat themselves as they grow into adulthood.

This Thanksgiving as you count your blessings, don’t forget to count yourself.

You are a remarkable individual who cares deeply for your family. How do I know? Why else would you take your time to read this article? Q

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Through The Eyes of a Teenager

It’s a Matter of Trust Why is it that our parents believe we will succumb to the worst influences?

By Samantha Rosen

Samantha Rosen is a junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School

56

NOVEMBER 2013

“When are you going to be home? Who are you going to be with? I want their name, parent’s names and number and address.”

Feeling like we’re sitting in the interrogation room of a police station, grilled for answers that look like they’re going to solve a murder mystery, the questions of our parents seem never ending; we can feel the lack of trust radiating with every question.

Trust. A simple five-letter word that can make or break a relationship, a word that determines what a teenager’s weekend plans entail. The trust, or lack thereof, between us teenagers and our parents is an ever-present issue.

I personally believe modern-day trust issues result from the generational difference. “It was different back then!” we constantly cry in despair as we watch our plans slip away with each disproving shake of our parents’ heads after hearing what we had in mind.

Years ago, snail mail was the main form of communication. A crisp white envelope, which would later end up hung on the fridge, would appear in the mailbox; name, address and number all included on the invite in various pen colors, informing a teenager, and obviously their parents, of their upcoming plans.

Today, party invites sent out in mass form through various social media sites lead to questions like, “Why are there 1000 people invited?” and “Is there going to be supervision?” and the predictable, “You don’t even formally know the person?” The “house party” 20 miles out of town incites suspicion and feelings of unease among parents who quickly attempt to derail our attendance.

These days the new generation is much more fast

paced than previous generations. While I have no credibility in saying that drugs and alcohol were not blatantly present back then too, at high school nowadays they seem impossible to avoid.

As teenagers, our biggest frustrations result from the assumptions by our parents that we will not be able to make wise decisions when placed in tough situations, that we will struggle to resist conforming to the wrongdoings of teenage society but in the end will succumb to peer pressure.

We are not denying the sketchiness of the Facebook invite suggesting attendees “BYOB”, but we are advocating for a stronger, more apparent trust between our elders and us. Yes, we do understand that everything our parents do is “because they care” and are “looking out for our best interest,” but all we ask for is a chance. A chance to prove to our parents that they can trust us and that we are capable of making sensible decisions under any circumstance.

To be allowed to go to some parties with our friends and be trusted that we will use good judgment.

Our parents may believe that we are surrounded at all times by other teenagers determined to throw away their futures.

But that is not the case, and even if it was, that’s not our intention. Trust me. Q

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MEET LEWIS REIF, CMKBD,CAPS &HUWLĂ&#x20AC; HG 0DVWHU .LWFKHQ %DWKURRP 'HVLJQHU &HUWLĂ&#x20AC; HG $JLQJ ,Q 3ODFH 6SHFLDOLVW It is heard quite often from our clients that Lewis treats you like family. He is known for his great attention to detail and very personalized service. Our charter member of the Allied family, he is celebrating his 30th year remodeling kitchens and baths at Allied. /HZLV IHOO LQ ORYH ZLWK GHVLJQLQJ NLWFKHQV EDWKURRPV DV LW Ă&#x20AC; WV LQ ZLWK KLV SDVVLRQ IRU creativity. He sees it as a way of helping others transform their lives, through a Kitchen & Bath design & remodeling plan they make use of every day. /HZLV KDV HDUQHG D VHULHV RI FHUWLĂ&#x20AC; FDWLRQV RQH EHLQJ WKH PRVW KLJKO\ UHFRJQL]HG DQG specialized designation for Design Professionals from the National Kitchen and Bath $VVRFLDWLRQ WKH &0.%' &HUWLĂ&#x20AC; HG 0DVWHU .LWFKHQ $QG %DWK 'HVLJQHU DQG KH DOVR HDUQHG WKH &$36 GHVLJQDWLRQ &HUWLĂ&#x20AC; HG $JLQJ ,Q 3ODFH 6SHFLDOLVW IURP WKH 1DWLRQDO Association of Home Builders . It is a very select group of professionals that can say WKH\ KROG ERWK RI WKHVH FRPELQHG FHUWLĂ&#x20AC; FDWLRQV LQ WKH 6WDWH RI )ORULGD Lewis makes a commitment to know each client on an intimate level, as the better he knows and understands their needs and goals, the more successful the project turns out. Lewis and our Team at Allied welcome you. Make your appointment today!

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dining listings

Captain’s Tavern has been serving the freshest seafood, house-made specialties and award-winning wine selection. ld Mon.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: till 11 p.m., Sun.: 5 p.m.-9 p.m. 9625 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305-666-5979. www.captainstavernmiami.com $

George’s

Anacapri Italian. Anacapri’s Italian cuisine is full of simple, unforgettable dishes that keep regulars coming back. The casual but fine-dining atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening or celebrating with friends.l Tues.– Fri.: 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.;d Sun.: 5–9 p.m., Tues.–Thurs.: 5-10:30 p.m., Fri.–Sat.: 5-11:30 p.m. 12669 S. Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305-443-8388. www.anacaprifood.com $$$

Brios Tuscan Grille Italian. Tempt your palate with Brios delicious Tuscan recipes in a large Italian bistro that feels like its in the heart of Italy. ldSun.Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. 8888 SW 136th St., Miami. 305-234-0012. www. brioitalian.com $$

Caffe Portofino Italian. Caffe Portofino reflects the diversity of South Florida by introducing an international fusion with an Italian zest and a touch of Caribbean flavors. l Fri.: 12–3 p.m.; d Sun.–Thurs.: 5:30–10 p.m., Fri.– Sat.: 5:30–11 p.m. 13615 S. Dixie Hwy, Ste 117, Cutler Bay. 305-2522869. www.cportofino.com $$

Captain’s Tavern Restaurant Seafood. For the past forty years,

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French, American. George’s in South Miami is a funky, upbeat spot with excellent brunch, friendly service and tasty drinks. Try some of their delicious standouts—truffle pasta, tuna tartare, escargot or beef carpaccio. bldMon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.: 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.-12 a.m., Sun.: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. 1549 Sunset Dr., South Miami. 305-284-9989. www. georgessouthmiami.com $$

Miyako of Dadeland Japanese Restaurant Japanese. Miyako of Dadeland is a Pinecrest staple, with fresh sushi and other Japanese delectable from Dragon Rolls to Shrimp Tempura. ldMon.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.dMon.Thurs.: 5 p.m.-10:30p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 5 p.m.-11 p.m., Sun.: 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

9533 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305668-9367 $$

The Muffin Tin Restaurant American. You’ll always find fresh hand-baked muffins and Southern hospitality at this mom-and-pop restaurant owned by Mike and Mary Mabjeesh. Nova and corn beef made on site. bd only Mon.Sun.: 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Pinecrest Town Centre, 12555 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305-235-9020. www. marythemuffintin.com $

Thurs.: 6-10 p.m. 9610 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables. 305-668-8788. www.redfishgrill.net $$

Rincon Español Restaurant Spanish. Rincon Español serves authentic Spanish food, from tapas to paellas to mariscos. Everything is made-to-order, plus the portions are perfect for sharing with friends and family. ldSun.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.10:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. 9511 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest.

305-740-5858. $$$

Sushi Rock Suniland Japanese, Thai. A rock-n-roll themed sushi restaurant with large portions and fresh salads—enjoy delicious Japanese and Thai cuisine. ldMon.-Sun.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

11293 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305259-0022. www.sushisiam.com/ sushisiamsushirock.html $$

Town Kitchen & Bar International. Town Kitchen & Bar serves traditional global comfort foods with a focus on fresh, quality ingredients and a fun, social atmosphere. bSat.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.;l Mon.-Sun.: 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; dSun.-Wed.: 5:30p.m.-10 p.m., Thurs.-Sat.: 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. 7301 SW 57th Ct., South Miami. 305-7408118. www.townkitchenbar.com $$

Wagons West American. A local favorite, Wagons West is all about comfort foods that involve turkey, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy. Burgers & BBQ too, with a friendly staff. bldMon.-Sat.: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m., blSun. 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1311 S Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. 305-238-9942. wagonswestrestaurant.com $

Red Fish Grill Seafood. Enjoy fresh fish at one of South Florida’s most romantic restaurants. Housed in an historic building on the beach, Red Fish Grill offers gourmet dining in a unique setting.dFri.-Sun.: 5-10 p.m., Tues.-

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

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happenings

9 november Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade The Four Seasons Hotel Miami Grand Ballroom 1435 Brickell Avenue, Miami 305-446-9910 Saturday, November 9, 2013 VIP Party 6:30 pm, Cocktail reception 7:30 p.m., Dinner and program 8:30 p.m., After-party 11 p.m.

TICKETS Single tickets $500, tables start at $5,000; After party $50 per person.

For tickets and sponsorship info: Astrid H. Ehrenstein at 305-446-9910 ext. 30 or aehrenstein@bgcmia.org.

SPONSORS Presenting Diamond Sponsor 4 Beauty Aesthetic Institute Inc./ Dr. Constantino and Mrs. Nina Mendieta; Gold Sponsors The Carmen Rebozo Foundation; Silver Sponsors Academica, Lana DeSimone, The Medina Foundation, Baptist Health South Florida and Ocean Bank; Bronze Sponsors Coral Gables Executive Physicians, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Matty’s Sports; Beverage Sponsors Bacardi and Total Wine; Décor & Production Sponsor Aloré Event Firm; Community Sponsor Miami Femfessionals; Media Sponsors WSVN Channel 7, Miami magazine and Pinecrest Magazine.

PHOTO Gala Chairs Olga Guilarte (past B&GC president), Eris Thomas, Lana DeSimone, Irene Korge

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WILD ABOUT KIDS Gala THE EVENT The Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade will host its 7th annual black-tie Wild About Kids gala, presented by 4 Beauty Aesthetic Institute Inc. and Dr. & Mrs. Constantino Mendieta. Wild About Kids will benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. The event will honor John Walsh, American television personality, criminal investigator, human and victim rights advocate and host/creator of America’s Most Wanted; and Cesar L. Alvarez, co-chairman of Greenberg Traurig and Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade alumnus. Boys & Girls Clubs of MiamiDade alumna 15-year-old singer, dancer, and model Elizabeth Elias will sing the National Anthem to open the dinner program. Voted one of the Top 100 Events of 2011 by BizBash, this year’s gala will kick off with a VIP party offering photo ops with celebrity guests at 6:30 p.m. Guests, including South Florida’s top community leaders, will enjoy a cocktail reception, a luxurious raffle featuring one-of-a-kind items, dinner program, live music, dancing and much more. An after party, also at Four Seasons Hotel Miami, will begin at 11 p.m., where guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening into the wee hours with Frank Sinatra-style entertainer Jeff Grainer, a D.J, dancing, an open bar and appetizers.

THE CAUSE Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade works to assist area children in need with its many positive programs. These include after school programs, homework assistance, computer training, social skills, dance, arts & crafts, professional mentoring, and summer and athletic programs. “The gala is our greatest fundraiser, because it benefits thousands of children at our five clubs on so many levels, especially the education of hands-on skills that cannot be learned in schools,” says gala co-chair Lana DeSimone. “Many of our children stay friends for life. These priceless skills benefit everyone our kids meet, from parents to professionals.” Q

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

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happenings

8 february Baptist Children’s Hospital The Biltmore Hotel Country Club Ballroom 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables (855) 311-6903 6 p.m.

TICKETS For ticket information go to www. baptistchildrenshospitalevents.com.

There are various underwriting/ sponsorship opportunities. For more information please contact Events@baptisthealth.net

“Hall of Dreams” Gala THE EVENT This will be a gala like none other. Adults and children are cordially invited to attend this unique event at which all of your dreams can come true. A fun-filled, black-tie-optional reception and silent auction will be followed by dinner and dancing. Throughout the evening, children and adults alike can dream the impossible: Would you like to be an astronaut? How about a teacher, doctor, famous singer, baseball or basketball star? Everything will be possible at the Baptist Children’s Hospital “Hall of Dreams” Gala.

THE CAUSE Proceeds from the gala will be used by Baptist Children’s Hospital Foundation specifically for the Children’s Cancer Caring Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Children’s Emergency Care Center. At Baptist Children’s Hospital, more than 200 pediatricians and 100 pediatric subspecialists, backed by pediatric-trained nurses and support personnel, offer their expertise in nearly every field, providing healthcare services to children from birth to age 18.Q 62

NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

scene on site

Iren Korge, BGCMIA Gala Co-Chair and Barry Stein, BGCMIA Board Chair

WILD ABOUT KIDS As a kick-off to the Nov. 9 Boys & Girls Clubs of MiamiDade annual “Wild About Kids” black-tie optional gala, co-chair Irene Korge hosted a fundraiser at her home “Casa de Korge” on October 3. Over 125 attendees gathered for the cocktail event.

Megan Walsh, designer of Blank Silk Fashions (middle in pink), with Models

Megan Walsh, designer of Blank Silk Fashions, Aimee Deupi, BGCMIA Gala Committee and Lana DeSimone, BGCMIA Gala Co-Chair

Dennis Friel from Dennis Friel Art Studios LLC unveiled this year’s gala commissioned painting

Dennis Friel from Dennis Friel Art Studios LLC unveiled this year’s gala commissioned painting

BGCMIA Petra Soy Candles

PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM | NOVEMBER 2013

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scene on site

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CGEP Fundraiser Coral Gables Executive Physicians (CGEP) welcomed more than 400 supporters at their Sept. 26, 6th Annual Fundraiser/Cocktail Reception for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade.

The event raised more than $25,000 for area youth.

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NOVEMBER 2013 | PINECRESTMAGAZINE.COM

Adolfo A f He H nri nriques; Dr. Robert Thom ho as, Medic dic cal a Dir Direct Di ector, o CG or, CGEP; EP; E s Thom Eri mas, as CEO, CGEP; Bria an Kee an K ley, Bap ap ist apt i He Healt altth

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7 Questions

7Questions for Alana Perez

lana Perez became the Director of Pinecrest Gardens in April 2010 after four years as the marketing director of the Florida Grand Opera—and fourteen years as the director of the largest U.S. ad agency in Romania. A resident of Pinecrest, she brings tremendous personal passion to her job of directing the garden jewel of the village.

A

What accomplishment are you most proud of as garden director?

A Breathing life into the Banyan Bowl. It had been dark for years. But through our Cultural Arts programs we have been able to pay homage to the rich history this property enjoyed as Parrot Jungle, enlightening and entertaining families for so many years. It’s part of the renaissance the Gardens is experiencing.

photo by andrew urban

What is the top priority for the Gardens in the coming year?

A I would say Education. We are in the process of hiring an educational coordinator and launching several new educational initiatives to compliment the cultural activities we provide.

Is Pinecrest Gardens the heart of the community?

A I believe the heart of the community is this entire 22-acre property that includes the Pinecrest public library, the Pinecrest Community Center, the Village Green and of course, Pinecrest Gardens, South Florida’s Cultural arts park.

“The gardens [are] a magical place for children, and for all those who appreciate the historical significance and botanical beauty of the property.”

Who are your biggest allies in the quest to make the Gardens great?

A First and foremost, the Mayor and [Village] Council. Without their support none of this would be possible… It also wouldn’t be possible without the support of our residents, who really appreciate our cultural events and want us to do more… Finally, I would say the Village Manager [Yocelyn Gomez], who rode her bicycle here every day after school growing up in the area. She continues to inspire me and nurture the vision we share to make the Gardens a magical place for children, and for all those who appreciate the historical significance and botanical beauty of the property.

What has been your biggest challenge as the Gardens Director?

A Attracting mates for our two resident fowl superstars, Walter the Peacock and Don Swan.

Have you experienced any ‘Zen Moments’ in the Gardens?

A Well, let’s see… if we are talking a “Jon Stewart Moment of Zen,” I would have to say witnessing first hand the use of plastic flower centerpieces as table décor in a botanical garden setting… go figure!

What is the most fun thing you do as the Gardens Director?

A Setting the stage and putting it all in motion while interacting with my staff who work uncanny hours and yet maintain a sense of humor and a get-it-done attitude day in and day out. Q

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