The Story Matters
Calendar: p. 12 Mexican Puppets, Sex Kittens, Graffiti, Wine, Women, and Pop, Pop...Pop Music.
Vol. XXIV No.39
September 24, 2009
Visit us at www.miamisunpost.com
411 p. 6
Mayheml p. 4
Music p. 16 M AY H E M P. 4
HOOD’S OFFICIAL NON-INTERVIEW (With Juliette Lewis)
4 1 1 P. 6
P R O F I L E P. 8
C A L E N D A R P. 1 2
F O O D P. 1 5
A R T P. 1 6
B O U N D P. 1 8
page 10
P O TAT I O N P. 2 0
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Marguerite Gil Helen Hill
PRESIDENT and CO-PUBLISHER Jeannette Stark jeannette@miamisunpost.com CO-PUBLISHER Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com
John Hood Paula Pelligrino Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
ACCOUNTING Sandie Friedman
Susan Richard Michael Sasser
SENIOR SALES DIRECTOR Stuart Tamsit
COPY EDITOR Mary Louise English
SALES DIRECTOR Jamie Nunez
CALENDAR EDITOR Jake Orsinni calendar@miamisunpost.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jeffrey Delannoy Eitan Moshe Klein
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www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost •September 24, 2009 • Page 3
Tropical Mayhem BITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE
Panic Bomber This sounds like crazy fun! Party at The Vagabond and catch sound engineer, Richard Haig as he takes to the stage to perform a mind-blowing, ear drum bursting, dance music set, while clad in a glowsuit. 10pm. No cover. The Vagabond, 30 NE 14th St. Downtown Miami. 305-379-0508.
“If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.” ~ Dean Martin VALENTINO, THE LAST EMPEROR Part of miami fashion week is a screening of Valentino the Last Emperor. Get an upclose look at high fashion and a behindthe-scenes look at Valentino. Lincoln Theatre, 451 Lincoln Road, South Beach. 7pm cocktails, show at 8:30pm. miamifashionweek.com
Mad Men Mondays Knock back some Canadian club at the swanky Mayfair Hotel every Monday night. Also, feast on filet mignon or burgers, cheesecake or key lime pie all for 20 bucks. $3.50 drink specials should make the liquor flow while watching the show. Mad Men Mondays runs through Nov. 23. 5:30pm at the Mayfair Hotel Lobby Bar, 3000 Florida Ave. Coconut Grove, 305-445-8177 info.
Passion for Tango World Tango Champion, Monica Llobet is bringing the romance, passion and elegance of Alma de Tango to the Biltmore. Learn to Tango every Tuesday in beginners and advanced classes. Learn basics, musicality, philosophy and the passion behind the dance while sipping Argentinian wines. Stay for live shows and exhibition performances after class. 8 & 9pm. $15. per class. Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral G a b l e s . 305.913.3102 for info.
Page 4 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • Page 5
The 411
Dan Marino, Serena Williams, Stephen Ross, Venus Williams, and Bob Griese.
COLUMN
Fins, Fans and Celebs? By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Photography by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
maryjoshore@aol.com
It is rare for a sports-related event to be featured in the 411 unless, of course, said event draws, say… an A-list crowd of VIPs and celebrities, an “orange (team color) carpet” and access to a swank lounge like the Ocean Drive Club, as did Monday night’s Dolphins Season Opener at Landshark Stadium. Celebrity arrivals were televised via the JumboTron, which was visible from the highway. Once inside, guests were escorted to the posh Ocean Drive Club, which was, well, characteristically Ocean Drive — from the lighting and cozy couches right down to the oddly interesting AstroTurf-upholstered ottomans. Barton G. provided light fare and there was freeflowing Land Shark Beer and the uncharacteristic, yet popular, champagne. Champagne at a football game? Talk about “swankified” SoBe tailgating! Celebs in attendance included Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Venus and Serena Williams and Gloria and Emilio Estefan, all there showing support for their newly acquired Fins, along with Dan Marino, Tiger Woods, Steve Young, Stewart Scott and Lili Estefan. During the arrivals, Jimmy Buffet and his band played a short pre-game concert for “Parrot Heads” and Fins fans. Earlier in the week, former “Mr. Ocean Drive” (insert sarcasm font here), the shy, subdued Rich Santelises, celebrated his birthday at the upstairs
lounge at Buzzy’s Burger and Beer Joint. Ultra-hip guests in attendance included Jerry and Jacquelynn Powers, Lisa Pliner, Chapman Ducote, Michael Comras, David Resnick, Eric and CC Levin, Michael Capponi, Zoltan (who took the party photos) and Dan Goodstadt, to name a few. With his 1000-watt personality, Santelises stood on a pedestal (OK, coffee table) and ebulliently thanked each and every one of his friends individually, then stated, "A man’s riches (no pun intended) are defined by the quality of his friendships. The attendees here tonight illustrate that I am wealthy beyond means or need." Almost as cool as the guest list is the laid-back atmosphere of Burger & Beer Joint. Reminiscent of Purdy Lounge a decade ago (with better lighting), B &B boasts tasteful “garage sale décor,” a retro-chic vibe, great music, friendly staff and reasonably priced drinks. An added plus is the delicious food at great prices. Of course, the fact that you can “add truffles to anything” is a reason to visit all on its own. Downstairs there’s a casual restaurant with an extensive menu that even includes a 10 lb. burger (don’t ask), huge beer selection and plasmas for watching all your favorite teams this season.
GROOVE IS IN THE ART The brand-spanking new Urbanite Bistro, a
Page 6 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
quaint, cozy resto-bar that looks like a typical, underground SoHo spot, invites you to embrace your inner “boho, artistic child,” thanks to its rotating exhibits of local artwork, which are for sale and decorate its trendy, plum-colored walls. Urbanite offers eclectic bistro fare, of which we recommend the shrimp corn dogs (how can you go wrong?), pad Thai and alligator eggrolls (if you dare). How’s that for “eclectic”? Of course, there are your usual meat and potatoes dishes and a variety of sandwiches and burgers. The place also features two stylish and wellappointed bars, perfect for a few cocktails before hitting neighboring clubs Vagabond and Karu & Y. If you crave a little nosh during clubbing, return to Urbanite — the kitchen is open till 3 a.m. To show its support of the local art scene, the Urbanite Bistro invites guests to a public arts reception on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 7- 9 p.m. This month this “rotating gallery” hosts provocative artwork by Latin American artists Gabriela Sanchez-Vegas and Rudolf Kohn. Guests will receive an Urbanite VIP card, redeemable for a complimentary specialty cocktail during the reception. The Urbanite Bistro is located at 62 N.E. 14th St. For reservations, call 305374-0662 or visit www.urbanitebistro.com. Valet parking is free.
COMING UP: CUTEST BOY BANDS THIS SIDE OF LIVERPOOL Adorable New York City-based foursome The Postelles will perform their latest hits, including the single produced by The Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., at Club 50 at Viceroy on Friday, Sept. 25, presented by Jose Cuervo Platino and Novel. Guests
are invited to enjoy an open bar hosted by the premium tequila line from 8-10 p.m. and drink specials throughout the evening. The Postelles combine a unique blend of “feel good” retro and modern alternative pop. Viceroy Miami is located at 485 Brickell Ave. Entrance is free. Please RSVP to info@novelcomm.com. Another cute, young boy band, the Heavy Pets, will perform at Tobacco Road on Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. Word on the street is that they are “by far, the best local band!” The Heavy Pets just wrapped up concerts at Bonnaroo, Moe.Down and several other festivals this summer and are starting a winter tour right after next week’s show. No RSVP required. Admission is only $6 at the door.
SOMETHING TO WINE ABOUT “Uncork the fun” at the 8th Annual Miami International Wine Fair this weekend at the Miami Beach Convention Center, where nearly 500 wine producers will be on hand to showcase more than 1,500 wines from 20 different countries. One of the largest wine fairs in America, the event will feature tastings and seminars for oenophiles 21 and over. Tickets are $75 per person, with the proceeds going to benefit Educate Tomorrow, and include unlimited wine tasting and food sampling from Miami’s finest restaurants. The fun starts Saturday, Sept. 25. For more information, visit miamiwinefair.com.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT On Tuesday, Sept. 29, acclaimed restaurant Pacific Time, in the Design District, will partner with Thrillist.com to launch its weekly dinner party, “About Last Night.” Chef Brian Bell will prepare
Jimmy Buffet
Blowing out the birthday cakeq
Jennifer Lopez
Emilio and Gloria Estefan
Rich Santelises' Birthday
`
The Postelles
small plates for guests as paparazzi snap photos that will be uploaded to the Pacific Time Facebook page. Throughout the night Twitter followers can “tweet” about the place, and Facebook fans can then check the “Morning After” albums to tag themselves and reconnect with friends they made the night before — ergo the name.
IN FASHION Award-winning Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera, along with Maria Celeste Arraras and Lourdes Fanjul, will celebrate the opening of the Carolina Herrera Bal Harbour Shops boutique and toast Herrera’s spring 2010 Collection on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Rich Santelises' Birthday
Urbanite Bistro
The day after her boutique opening, Herrera will present a full runway fashion show of her spring 2010 Collection in conjunction with Jackson Memorial Foundation’s 11th Annual Guardian Luncheon benefitting Holtz Children’s Hospital, along with Shirley K. Fletcher, this year’s luncheon’s honorary chair. The luncheon starts at 11 a.m. at the InterContinental Hotel, 100 Chopin Plaza, downtown Miami. Space is limited. To buy tickets contact 305-355-4999, or visit www.jmf.org.
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS: Latin Grammy award nominee Cucu Dia-
Rich Santelises' Birthday
mantes surprised guests at Viceroy’s Club 50 on Thursday night with an impromptu performance. Bad boy Joe Francis, best known for creating “Girls Gone Wild,” partied at LIV both Friday and Saturday nights with a bevy of beautiful girls who weren’t as “wild” as you’d expect, or hope for that matter. On Saturday night at Mansion, musician
Scott Weiland debuted his clothing line, Weiland for English Laundry, and performed a set of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver songs to a packed crowd. Across town on Saturday, at Fort Lauderdale’s Dive Bar, NBA/ reality TV star Dennis Rodman was spotted getting down to Shak Nasti.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 24, 2009 • Page 7
PHOTO: ETIAN KLEIN
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD KNOW
Dorian Santos Activist By Paula A. Pelligrino
What she lacks in age she certainly makes up for in activism. Dorian Santos was just a sophomore in high school when she first became aware of the calamity of children being used as soldiers and slaves in the civil war-ravaged African nation of Uganda. After being encouraged by some school mates to view the movie “Invisible Children”, a documentary which chronicles the catastrophic circumstances in that country, Dorian decided she had to help in some way. Starting a local chapter of Invisible Children, the organization born from the film, came to mind right away; but it wasn’t until a few years later that she was able to put this plan into practice. Now a junior at Florida International University majoring in psychology and religious studies, Dorian is indeed heading an Invisible Children club on campus whose main purpose is to lend a voice to those soundless young victims of this atrocious, 23 year-long conflict. It is with no small amount of effort that Dorian and her fellow club members were able to be a part of some remarkable accomplishments since the group has been active. Primary among them was their presence at the last annual Senate Lobby Day in Washington, DC. Not just did Invisible Children show up to represent Uganda’s brutalized youth, but by the end of the day, they turned out to be the largest lobbying effort on behalf of Africa to date. The international attention that has been focused on Uganda over the last several years as a result of the growing awareness movement did manage to attain peace talks and a temporary ceasefire between Page 8 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
the country’s military and rebel forces, who, when faced with dissolving support for their cause years ago, began kidnapping children. It is believed that up to 90% of the fighting forces for the Lord’s Resistance Army were seized as boys, indoctrinated and armed. It is these forces who victimize their own people, displacing nearly two million Ugandans into refugee camps and causing the horrors of disease, rape and abject poverty. Instead of agreeing to a permanent end to the killing, the leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony, decided he would rather use his army to stoke the fires of war in neighboring countries too, thereby inciting battles that continue to this day throughout the region of eastern Africa. In the face of this ongoing violence and exploitation, Invisible Children members like Dorian Santos have been resolute in their aim of promoting long-term solutions and fostering peace. They believe that education and economic development for the citizens of Uganda and their neighbors are the keys to lasting answers. Though their goal is certainly lofty, their means to success is quite simple. Interested individuals and club members are encouraged to promote their cause in any number of ways from bake sales to bracelets, benefit concerts, rummage sales or just plain conversations. Everything helps and as Dorian states, “once you realize what’s going on, it’s hard not to become involved.” Learn more about the cause of Uganda’s children at www.invisiblechildren.com
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www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • Page 9
JULIETTE LEWIS PERFORMS LIVE AT THE CULTURE ROOM THIS WEEKEND
FEATURE
HOOD’S OFFICIAL NON-INTERVIEW (With Juliette Lewis) Written by John Hood Just finding out that Juliette Lewis was coming back to town got me giddy. After I pitched my editor and was assigned to interview her, that giddy got me downright gone. Or as Tom Waits would say: “real gone.” I’m no lecher, so, as good as she was, I still didn’t crush over her in Martin Scorcese’s remake of Cape Fear. But I did crush hard as she cut a swath through the American landscape in Dominic Sena’s Kalifornia. In fact, me being the writer type, I used to envision a plotline where I cut Early Grayce completely outta the picture, ditched the relatively ho-hum Carrie, and had Adele all to myself. That Grayce was portrayed by Brad Pitt didn’t faze me in the least; if anything, it only made me more determined to pull the switch. When Juliette showed up onscreen as Mallory in Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers, I knew she was meant for me. For here at last was not just a getaway girl, someone who’d save me from the clutches of John Law, nor even a coveted co-conspirator, the kinda dame I
it was destined to do, that is, wreak havoc and restore harmonious disorder. This was also the truth, her truth, written in blood, sweat and tears. When Juliette brought her Licks to Studio A back in ‘06, I stood before her so utterly transfixed that I even allowed some drunk chick to get away with spilling her entire drink down the side of my suit. Really. If you know me, then you know my suits. And you definitely know that my suits and I are very attached. But at that minute, in that place, I didn’t care. That chick could’ve spilled an entire bar on my head and I wouldn’t have flinched. That’s how fuckin’ mesmerized I was. Back then I wasn’t bylining as chronically as I am now, so I’d not arranged even to review the show. Good thing too, because had I needed to rise early the next morning and been required to put down on paper the myriad emotions I felt the night before, I would’ve failed. Hell, I couldn’t have even told you about how much Juliette floored me, let alone written it up for all the world to
“Then the dreamiest girl in the history of Hollywood swapped the screen for the stage and almost single-handedly saved rock ‘n’ roll from its foppish pose.” could make big plans with; no, here was a bona fide partner in crime, a gal to be by my side through the thick of things, come what may, each and every step of the way. But even more than Juliette being the Bonnie to my Clyde, I wanted her to be the Fanny Brawne to my John Keats; the proverbial girl-next-door with whom I might share my Mansion of Many Apartments. And when Juliette appeared as the keen, kind and utterly enlightened Becky in Lasse Hallström’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, she was just that — and more. Wily and wise well beyond her years, with a smile in her eyes that belied secrets not yet learned but destined to be kept between her and whatever guy was lucky enough to stand beside her. I wanted to be that guy. So did Gilbert Grape, and that’s much of what was eating him. Then the dreamiest dream girl in the history of Hollywood swapped the screen for the stage and almost single-handedly saved rock ‘n’ roll from its foppish pose. I hyperbolize, of course. But not much. Because the act, her act, assuredly was no act at all. This wasn’t some star exercising an ego; this was a force of nature doing what
read. As I recall it was akin to living a cliché — you know, the one about there being no words. When the Licks returned in ‘07, this time to Culture Room, I was a little better prepared. Not at first, mind you, though I did manage a quick preview for Flavorpill. But prepared enough to hustle up the concert review for New Times. And in this instance the words came at a randy, breathless clip. “Possessed by sex and danger, atwirl with growl and roar, Lewis frenzied to the floor in a puddle of pathos, at once exorcising and embracing the demon seed inside her,” I wrote, when attempting to accurately describe what I witnessed during “Death of a Whore.” And even then, I fear, the words were nothing but understatement. See, even though I believe that not enough can ever be said about Juliette Lewis, I also believe that trying to sum her up in words is a losing proposition. She’s bigger than language. So no matter how you splice, dice and assemble the syllables, you’re gonna come up short. And
Please see Lewis on page 19
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
ALICE COOPER
Page 12 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
SEPTEMBER 25 MUSIC Manhattan Pop Quartet Catch the sweet melodic tunes of indie pop band, The Postelles when they hit Club 50 at the Viceroy. This is a one-night-only special gig before they fly their way to Iceland. No cover. Doors open at 7, free Platino tequila cocktails at 9, and the band goes on at 10pm. Club 50, 485 Brickell Ave, Miami. For info: 305-503-4400, ext. 7138, or myspace.com/thepostelles.
SEPTEMBER 25 THEATRE I Think, I Do
SAVE THE DATE: FOR KIDS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10: MEXICAN MARIONETTES FUN FOR THE KIDS. FROM MEXICO COMES A UNIQUE SHOW, WHICH THE KIDDIES WILL LOVE, THAT BLENDS PUPPETRY AND STORYTELLING IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. MARIONETAS DE LA ESQUINA MAKES IT'S MIAMI DEBUT AT THE CARNIVAL STUDIO THEATER. PERFECT FOR TODDLERS AGES 3-6. $15. MATINEE SHOWS AT 11AM, 2PM AND 5PM. CARNIVAL STUDIO THEATER, IN THE ZIFF BALLET OPERA HOUSE, 1300 BISCAYNE BLVD. FOR INFO: 305-949-6722 OR ARSHTCENTER.ORG
Here's your chance to be a guest at a wedding of a couple you don't know. One of the longest-running shows in theatre history, Tony n' Tina's Wedding is a scripted comedy that includes the audience as part of the show. In fact, the audience are the wedding guests. Eat dinner, drink cocktails, interact with the cast as the scenes play out. The Miami version has a Latino spin, with a Cuban-Italian dinner complete with conga line. The show runs every Friday and Saturday night at Mansion on Miami Beach at 7pm. $73.49. Mansion, 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305532-1525 or mansionmiami.com.
SEPTEMBER 26 SOCIAL Bomber Belle Costume Ball One part Parisian cabaret, one part Playboy party, one part Ibiza and overall very naughty! That's how Starlust Nights Entertainment company describes their parties. Sounds so decadent! Experience one of them this weekend with the Bomber Belle Costume Ball, a '40s theme masquerade ball complete with a Passion Party hosted by The Sex Kitten, Stacey Vaughn. $80-$100. Free for unaccompanied ladies. 10pm. Skyline, 645 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. For info: starlustnights.com, skylinemia.com or 305-397-8046.
SEPTEMBER 26 SOCIAL Dance Party on the Beach
includes dinner, open bar and an annual Rhythm Foundation membership. 7:30pm. Outdoor event. Key Biscayne Beach Club, 685 Ocean Drive, Key Biscayne. For info: 305-6725202 or rhythmfoundation.com.
SEPTEMBER 26 MUSIC Carmen Catch the Miami Lyric Opera's version of Carmen as they pay tribute to the origins of this glorious opera that take place in Seville in 1830. $30. 8pm. Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach For info: 305-674-1026 or miamilyricopera.org.
SEPTEMBER 26 FESTIVAL Miami International Wine Fair
Now in its 8th year, the Miami International Wine Fair, hits the beach this weekend. Sample bounteous types (1,500) of wine from 20 different countries. Socialize while you sip wines, munch on treats from 20 local restaurants. $75 or $120. 4-6pm. Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach. For info: 305-673-7311 or miamiwinefair.com
SEPTEMBER 27 FOOD Sunday Brunch, Jazz and Football Now this is something you can get your significant other to do willingly. Spend Sunday morning feasting on a bounteous buffet inside Epicure market, listen to some jazz and then watch football on a 60-inch plasma. Omelet, pasta and meat carving stations, french toast, blintzes, desserts and $2 beers and $4 mimosas. $25 per person. 11-4pm. Epicure Market, 1656 Alton Rd. Miami Beach. For info: 305-947-4581 or epicuremarket.com.
Far Left: The Spam All Stars. Middle: The Postelles. Left: A costume from the opera Carmen.
This should be fun. A dance party fundraiser for the Rhythm Foundation, who for the last 21 years have brought "world music" to Miami in over 300 concerts. Expect great food, an open bar, A Perez Prado tribute by DJ Le Spam and The Spam All Stars, and a silent auction. Admission is $100 which
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost •September 24, 2009 • Page 13
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
SEPTEMBER 25 MUSIC Manhattan Pop Quartet Catch the sweet melodic tunes of indie pop band, The Postelles when they hit Club 50 at the Viceroy. This is a one-night-only special gig before they fly their way to Iceland. No cover. Doors open at 7, free Platino tequila cocktails at 9, and the band goes on at 10pm. Club 50, 485 Brickell Ave, Miami. For info: 305-503-4400, ext. 7138, or myspace.com/thepostelles.
SEPTEMBER 25 THEATRE I Think, I Do Here's your chance to be a guest at a wedding of a couple you don't know. One of the longest-running shows in theatre history, Tony n' Tina's Wedding is a scripted comedy that includes the audience as
A scene from the documentary, Next: A Primer on Urban Painting.
part of the show. In fact, the audience are the wedding guests. Eat dinner, drink cocktails, interact with the cast as the scenes play out. The Miami version has a Latino spin, with a Cuban-Italian dinner complete with conga line. The show runs every Friday and Saturday night at Mansion on Miami Beach at 7pm. $73.49. Mansion, 1235 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305-532-1525 or mansionmiami.com.
SEPTEMBER 26 SOCIAL Bomber Belle Costume Ball One part Parisian cabaret, one part Playboy party, one part Ibiza and overall very naughty! That's how Starlust Nights Entertainment company describes their parties. Sounds so decadent! Experience one of them this weekend with the Bomber Belle Costume Ball, a '40s theme masquerade ball complete with a Passion Party hosted by The Sex Kitten, Stacey Vaughn. $80-$100. Free for unaccompanied ladies. 10pm. Skyline, 645 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. For info: starlustnights.com, skylinemia.com or 305-397-8046.
SEPTEMBER 26 WALLET FRIENDLY DATE NIGHT: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: ART & JAZZ & AT MOCA
Rita Ackermann, Firecrotch, 2008.
Page 14 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Okay guys and gals, we have the perfect suggestion for this Friday night. Pack a picnic, (this is a great chance to show of your culinary skills or hit the Epicure hot food section. You can afford to splurge on dinner. ) then head over to the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. The fun begins at 7pm with an opening reception for their newest exhibit, Pivot Points 3. Enjoy some wine, peruse the art like MOCA's Newly acquired sculpture by Magdalena Abakanowicz called HeadWorks and other pieces by a mix of artists like Dan Flavin, Mark Handforth, and Yoko Ono to name a few. Once your culture thirst has been sated, head outside to feast under the stars with live jazz from Mitch Frohman of The Bronx Horns at 8pm. It’s a very wallet friendly evening. The museum reception is $10, free for museum members and the jazz is also free. To Go: MOCA, 770 NE 125th St., North Miami. 305-893-6211 or mocanomi.org. Exhibit runs through November 8.
Food
NEW location on 163rd Street
COLUMN
Two Sisters, Twice As Good and Very Beige
CALL NOW 305-454-0019
By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) Hotel restaurants don’t immediately come to my mind when deciding where to go out for a nice meal. But we were in the Coral Gables area recently and remembered having a luscious dinner at Two Sisters some time back. Located in the Hyatt Regency at 50 Alhambra Plaza, this eatery is pleasant, quite and (I must admit), mature. No loud music or wild décor, it’s just a calm, soothing place with a discreet professional wait staff, neutral colors and even the open kitchen with several chefs within was… unnoisy….shhhhhh. We wanted to try the Miami Spice, $35, threecourse dinner at Two Sisters and see how it compared to some of the other Spice menus around town. As you might have noticed if you are an avid follower of the two month special menus, they are not all the same. Some of the restaurants bring great preparations to the table and others, do not. In the case of Two Sisters, it was definitely a delicious encounter. We started with the Jumbo Crab Cake, encrusted with corn relish and laced with a drizzle of cilantro oil. Chef Joseph Bidnell has a knack for including cornels of corns in many of his dishes. Nothing wrong with that. His menu is alluring, up-scale and he likes to interweave local tropical ingredients with a mélange of Mediterranean flavors. Soups and appetizers include Black Bean Soup with roasted scallions/tomatoes topped with a dollop of sour cream for $6.00, a Chicken al Pastor Quesadilla for $8 and Flash Fried Calamari with Chile-lime aioli for $9. There are six different salad combos on the regular menu but only the Romaine Caesar salad with fresh parmesan, white anchovy oil and warm garlic croutons is on the Spice list. Entrees include Pan Seared Halibut with Coconut Saffron Rice and marinated tomatoes as well as the Chipotle marinated Pork Tenderloin with a side of Machango smashed Potatoes, Corn Chile sauté, smothered with an arbol vinaigrette interwoven with a cilantro essence. Although the Key Lime Pie mango puree and coconut cream, sounded really appetizing we chose the Chocolate cake, topped with fresh berries and cream. It was yummy as was the Pinot Grigio Danzaite Venezie Italia wine that accompanied our meal. Each table has linen table clothes, porcelain oil and vinegar bottles, beige and tan walls, beige sofas, beige chairs and charming chandeliers which thankfully weren’t beige. The menu has an abundance of Latin influenced dishes and the diners were mostly ‘established’ Hispanics. It’s good food all year long, at decent prices, in a relaxing, beige-y atmosphere. A little bit unusual in Miami where almost every eatery seems overloaded with visual and auditory contents but never-the-less we appreciated the tranquility. Details: 305.667.6100
THEY WON'T TAKE YOUR DIAMONDS AND JEWELRY BUT WE WILL! WE BUY AND SELL DIAMONDS, LOOSE, AND UNMOUNTED We Pay Cash on the Spot, Free Appraisals No matter how large or small your transaction, we pay cash
305.454.0019
15540 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Directly across the North Dade Justice Center www.goldbuyerflorida.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 24, 2009 • Page 15
Art COLUMN
Fall Art Exhibitions at Miami-Dade Libraries By Kim Steiner
The Miami-Dade Public Library System is offering a number of exhibitions and art programs during its fall season. Exhibitions include works in textile from Cuban born artist, Juan Antonio Gonzalez, better known as Erman; fine art photography by Seattle-based artist B.A. Bosaiya; an exploration of "the neighborhood," through sculptures, painting and artists books, with Miami artists Mary Malm, Brian Reddy, Claudia Scalise and Tom Virgin. Special art programs include a workshop, with author Dr. Melanie Almeder, where participants will be encouraged to visit the "landscapes of their memories" to evoke images for poetry and memoirs. Angels and Insects by B.A. Bosaiya at the North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183 St. 305625-6424. September 10 - December 22. Cortando, Cociendo y Recordando by Erman at the West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, 305 - 553-1134. September 26 - December 17. There Goes the Neighborhood - Reception: Wed., Oct., 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a reading by Dr. Melanie Almeder, author of On Dream Street at the Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St. 305-535-4219. October 14 - February 28. Struggles for Justice in Miami-Dade Neighborhoods - Reception: Sunday, October 18, 2:304:30pm at the Main Library, 101 West Flagler St. - 305-375-2665. October 18 - December 27- Love and Respect for Self and Community: For complete details visit www.mdpls.org or call 305-375-5048.
Clockwise from top: 1. Angels and Insects - B. A. Bosaiya. The Bride's New Gown, 2006. 2. Under the Softest Fur Lies the Sharpest of Bones, 2006. 3. There Goes the Neighborhood by Brian Reedy. Animapolis, 2007.
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Bound COLUMN
Standard-Bearers New Stories from the South Lives Up to Tradition By John Hood
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There must be something in the muddy water south of the Mason-Dixon Line that makes folks inordinately drawn to story, especially the short story. Maybe it’s the way the form allows one to neatly arrange things that are inherently messy. Perhaps it’s that a tale seems to be best told in a single afternoon or evening. Or it could just be that the legacies left behind by writers like Eudora Welty and Flannery O’Connor are too rich to not be continued. Whatever it is, the South does tend to lend itself to narrative. And Southerners seem ever ready to step up and do the narrating. That’s why collections such as New Stories from the South (Algonquin $14.95) appear every year; and why every year more and more people appear to be reading new stories from the South. The thing about it is, though, as this edition’s editor Madison Smartt Bell so succinctly notes in his “Introduction,” the South, particularly the white Old South, “has pretty well gone up in smoke.” “To the traditional white and black recipe have been added new shades and strains, from Asia and Central and South America, and just about everywhere else on the shrinking globe,” writes Bell. Consequently, the rootedness which “used to be the core quality of Southern culture… has drifted into polarity with the nomadic quality of so many Southerners’ lives.” Yet even if the South, such as it was, has long disappeared, the geography of place cannot be denied,
with a certain twang. And, as Bell indicates, the twang itself has begun to go global, be it through something as simple as the Chinese take-out in Michael Knight’s “Grand Old Party” or the Little Indian immigrant song of Rahul Mehta’s “Quarantine.” This is the 24th edition of New Stories, and its 21 tales were culled from the original 80 that Algonquin editor Kathy Pories offered up for inclusion. And though I consider myself to be relatively well-read
“Of course Southerners don’t have a monopoly on being broke and wishing they were drunk” whether you’re an arrowhead counterfeiter in South Carolina (George Singleton’s “Between Wrecks”) or burying a dead dog in an Oklahoma backyard (Clinton J. Stewart’s “Bird Dog”). Of course Southerners don’t have a monopoly on being broke and wishing they were drunk (Kevin Wilson’s “No Joke, This Is Going to Be Painful”), nor are they the only people who want to get back at the one they loved enough to do everything asked of them (Jill McCorkle’s “Magic Words”). And high school girls get pregnant everywhere (Geoff Wyss’ “Child of God”). But even universalities such as these seem to take on a higher color when they’re told Page 18 • Thursday, September 24 , 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
(hey, 20 books a month has to be considered something), there were but three writers with whom I was already familiar, and only one (excluding Bell) that I had previously read. I don’t know about you, but I dig stumbling upon a scribe for the very first time. It kinda makes me feel I’m learning something. So why not do like Stephanie Soileau’s heroine does in “The Camera Obscura” and “pick someone you like well enough and dig in.” ‘Cause chances are you’re gonna get to like ‘em more and more as you read along. And who knows? You may even end up liking their friends.
Lewis cont’d from page 11 you’re gonna get frustrated. And after you’ve banged your head against the wall for a few days, and knocked every word outta your numb skull, you’ll still feel incomplete. Especially if you’re looking for her to complete you. But you won’t give up. I know I wouldn’t. And I didn’t. And then I hear about Juliette coming to town with Terra Incognita and I go for broke. So yeah, I get the assignment. But that’s just the beginning of the battle. From there I’ve gotta find out who represents her. Then I’ve gotta get in touch and make my request, which is really more like pleading my case. Only instead of endeavoring to keep my ass outta jail, I’m trying to get it in touch with a girl of my dreams. I get the data. And I get it quick. And on Aug. 6 I put in my formal request to interview Juliette Lewis in advance of her Sept. 27 Culture Room appearance. Then I waited. And I waited. And I waited some more. Oh, I didn’t sit on my ass twiddling my thumbs while I waited. In fact, I probably bylined 100 different times during that month of limbo. But with each passing day, the back of my mind became increasingly occupied with the notion of speaking with her. After 30 days I resubmitted my formal request, and four days later I received this message: “Yes, let’s do this. We’ll be in touch later today!” I couldn’t believe it. Things had gone from utter silence to a “yes, let’s.” I tell ya, I jumped high enough to kiss the moon. When the publicist did indeed get in touch with me later that day and said that she’d “love to help set up the interview,” the moon was eclipsed and I was kissing Mars. Then two days passed with nothing, so I inquired. Hold tight, I’m basically told. So I do. Another day passes with the same results, and I remain in the holding pattern. Mind you, throughout all this I’ve told my editor it’s a go, and Tweeted and Facebooked and messaged and mentioned the news to everyone I know. More crushingly, I’d rise each morning thinking that today was the day, only to be shot down by evening. But I’m no crybaby. And I’m nothing if not persistent. So I bucked up and kept at it. The 12th became the 13th, the 13th became the 14th, the 14th became the 15th and still I had no good news. Sure, I kept the phone and the tape recorder by my side while I worked, and the page of questions open and ready to go. I even went as far as to send word when I’d be running outta of the house just in case a call was about to come. One more day. One more day. One more day. I pushed for an extension on my deadline, and I got it. I pushed for another, and I got that too. I pushed for a third. No problem. Then a call came that didn’t ask for one more day. It just said that the interview couldn’t happen before my deadline. I said “thanks anyway.” But in fact I did have one more day. But I wasn’t going to ask for it without some kind of assurance that it would be worth asking for. I mean, I’d been tossed into the journalistic equivalent of crying “wolf!” And I was beginning to feel dogged. So no, perhaps I didn’t say “thanks anyway” with a nice, wide smile. How could I? I wasn’t just disappointed; I was in some respects shattered. There are only so many rises and falls a man can make on any one
subject — or over any one girl — before he starts cracking. Still, I managed to make one last plea. I wrote the publicist a long, heartfelt letter about how disappointed I was. I also told her how puzzling I found it to be that I could readily land interviews with the likes of Moby and Emily Gaines (just this last month), or Sasha Grey and Marisa Tomei (over the last year). But for some reason I couldn’t land a quick Q&A with Juliette Lewis? I also told her that I felt like a heel for letting down my editor, who graciously gave me extension after extension to no avail. I make my living by meeting deadlines. To blow one is to blow my livelihood. And in return I received nothing but a cold shoulder. No let’s try again; no maybe next time; and no apologies. Nothing. And I was left longing and bereft, and my editor was left with a gaping hole in the next issue. A hole, I might add, that she held for me to fill. Listen, I’ve been around. And things happen. Crazy things. I know
this chick means something — and not just to me. To have been able to speak with her and to write it all down would’ve meant that I got in on the meaning. But I didn’t. So even though I’ll be there when Juliette Lewis stages with her New Romantics next Sunday night at Culture Room and lets loose with the roar that is Terra Incognita, I won’t be there in the same spirit. Not that I don’t still believe that she’s the be-all to end-all. It’s just that I’ll still be waiting through that one more day that never came.
that better than just about anyone. Trust me. And you’d think a thing like this wouldn’t really matter that much, not when the world is so out of whack. But this is my world we’re talking about. And it’s my word. When I commit to something I follow through, no matter what it takes. And you wonder why I’d flip over Juliette Lewis? Well, like I said, I’ve been around. And I know what truth looks like. I caught Patti Smith at the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton back in the late ‘70s and I stood three feet from the rock goddess as the lights went on and the sound cut off and she had to literally be carried screaming off the stage. I was front and center at Gusman Hall for The Runaways when they opened for — and in every way equaled — The Ramones. And I can still hear Exene Cervenka’s voice when she led X through a sprawling “Los Angeles” at The Love Club in Philadelphia after they murdered the Go-Go’s. I sat at a front table at the Townhouse in New York while Peggy Lee leered directly at me. I saw Chann Marshall before she got happy; Lydia Lunch when she was still real mad; Diamanda Galas summon the Furies beneath the East River in the Brooklyn Anchorage. And I stood thunderstruck when Courtney Love led me down a deep Hole at The Edge. So yeah, I’ve seen truth. And Juliette Lewis is the embodiment of that same truth. Forget the crushes and the dreaminess and the kid stuff;
between me and her. Just the ether. It was almost as if she was right there in the room with me. But of course she wasn’t. Still, even on the other end of the line I could see that telltale smile in her eyes, and I could feel the actual heat of her intentions. Hearing her speak to me firsthand was akin to listening to someone who knows what they want and knows how to get it and is not willing to stop until they have done so. It’s not a cutthroat, Ayn Rand determinism I’m talking about. It’s the determination of one who seeks only the truth. Was I thrilled? You betcha. In fact, I’m still pinching myself. I don’t much gush over people, celebrity or otherwise. But I am an enthusiast. I live for moments that propel us through life, and this was one of those moments. So you’ll excuse me while I go hurtling through the universe. ‘Cause I just rang off with Juliette Lewis. See ya on Sunday, baby!
THIS JUST IN: Monday afternoon. I answer the phone to hear four of the most beautiful words in the English language: “Hi, John. It’s Juliette.” Yep, you guessed it. After all that back and forth the interview came through. And when Juliette Lewis did finally call, there was no publicist
Juliette Lewis appears Sept. 27 at the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Admission is $14.99. For more information, call 954-564-1074 or log on to www.cultureroom.net.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 24, 2009 • Page 19
Potation COLUMN
What’s Best to Drink at a Barbeque? By Ewan Lacey
When I was in my twenties, I wouldn’t have cared which wine I drank at a barbecue – indeed as long as there was alcohol, I was happy. Elegance comes slowly to some of us, and yet as time passes even I find the determination to drink until I’m sick in the bushes is fading. There are wines which will add an extra touch of character to the efforts of the chef, here are a few tips for you to follow, or not.
lower degree of alcohol, make sure that it’s something fruity, low in tannin which can be served chilled. This doesn’t rule out red wines. There are plenty of reds that fit the bill. Beaujolais, although quite unfashionable due to the Nouveau overload we saw in the ‘80s, is made from the Gamay grape which is both light in tannin and very fruity. There are many types, the best being named after the villages they come from such as Morgon, Fleurie and St Amour.
KEEP YOUR HEAD: Make sure you don’t go for a wine that’s got a high alcohol content. Barbecues are synonymous with warm weather (unless you’re reading this up North) and slightly salty food. Both create a thirst and slaking it with too much alcohol is not the answer. There are quite enough problems associated with barbecues – charcoal won’t burn; long delays in cooking; chicken burnt on the outside and pink in the middle – that creating another by knocking everyone out with highly alcoholic wine is another that you just don’t need. Go for something with an abv of 12.5% or lower, or be dammed.
DON’T GO OVER THE TOP: Generally the food on the barbecue is very familiar, but made different by the use of marinades, charring and simply by having the dining room and kitchen outside. So be aware that some trusted matches won’t work, for example: steak and a gutsy Cabernet Sauvignon. This won’t work for two reasons, firstly the alcohol level is likely to be too high, especially if you chose a big New World wine. Secondly the tannins (the stuff that dries out your gums if you chew a grape pip, or drink stewed tea) in the wine will react with the tannins created by charring meat and will dry your mouth out.
KEEP COOL: After choosing something refreshing with a
CUSHION YOUR LANDING: If you’re still intent on bigger and more robust Red then a young Rioja can work well. Rioja is a good match not only for red meat, as you’d expect, but also for chicken and fish. Try it with sea bass or monk fish. Get something young and fun though. The older the wine, the longer it will have spent maturing in oak and so the tannin levels will be higher. So don’t go for a Crianza or Reserva as they’ll clash with sausages wearing leather jackets.
WHITES ARE EASY: Dare I say it, German whites are ideal for afternoon drinking. A good German Riesling will
cia in Spain offers delicate balance of citrus, sherbetty acidity and soft apricot fruit. It’s also a dream match for fish. For a little more weight, add in a lively, fresh Chardonnay. Not one of the big oaky, alcoholic Aussies but a young, quaffing Southern French from the Pays d’Oc or the Languedoc region.
“So don’t go for a Crianza or Reserva as they’ll clash with sausages wearing leather jackets.” be lower in alcohol and have a wonderfully refreshing, racy acidity. If you’re loath to buy German wines, look for a Riesling from down under – New Zealand produces some great examples. If you’re feeling adventurous, Albarino from Gali-
Page 20 • Thursday, September 24, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
ROSÉ: This might be the best match of all; as long as you avoid both the lolly-water saccharine sweet style and astringent paint-stripper rosé. Pick something from Provence for a delicious balance
between soft tannins, a lovely dry acidity and yet a powerful weight of fruit.
SPARE YOUR WALLET: Spending a little more can often bring a huge increase in the quality of the wine you bring home. Bear this in mind, but don’t go mad. Don’t spend any more than $10 on a wine for a barbecue.
TODAY’S EXPERIMENT Tell your friends. If your friends are accustomed to turning up at your parties with bottles of wine they bought for a few bucks from the grocery store, tell them to forget it. Or rather, ask them to bring food instead, maybe dessert. If they turn up with a frozen shop-bought gateaux then ask yourself, do I really like these people? Life really is too short. Happy barbecuing!
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