The Story Matters
Calendar: p. 14 Oktoberfest, Third Eye Blind, Salsa, Psycho, Munchies, and Are You Ready for Some Football?
Vol. XXIV No.40
September 30, 2009
Visit us at www.miamisunpost.com
411 p. 18
Art p. 14
Music p. 16 M AY H E M P. 4
POLITICAL PLAYOFFS Miami Beach Commission Candidates Get Ready to Run P R O F I L E P. 6
H I S T O R Y P. 8
4 1 1 P. 1 8
B O U N D P. 2 0
P O TAT I O N P. 2 2
F O O D P. 2 4
page 10
A R T P. 2 4
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Covering Miami Beach, North Bay Village, Surfside, Bay Harbor Islands, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, North Miami, North Miami Beach and Aventura, Coconut Grove, Brickell Avenue, Downtown, Design District, Wynwood, Upper Eastside, and Miami Shores.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost •September 30, 2009 • Page 3
Tropical Mayhem BITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE
Animation Supercon
30
If animation is your thing, then check out the grand daddy of animation-fests, Animation Supercon. Hang out with other Animation lovers and stick around for the super duper Futurama cast reunion. Also rub elbows with the stars of Ren and Stimpy, Looney Tunes, Gears of War, Final Fantasy, Transformers, Family Guy, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and more! Prizes, contests, live music, photo shots, and parties. The extravaganza takes place at the Doubletree Miami, 711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami. Sat, and Sun. from 11-2am. For info: animationsupercon.com.
YEARS. THE TIME PERIOD THAT SWEDISH RESEARCHERS
“I'm not offended by all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb. I also know I'm not blonde.” ~ Dolly Parton
DREN BORN IN
A
1953
LONGITUDINAL
14,000
CHIL-
UNTIL THE YEAR
2003 AND THEIR LEVELS OF POPULARITY. THE RESULTS FOUND THAT POPULARITY AS A TEENAGER CAN AFFECT LONG-TERM HEALTH. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT THOSE WHO REPORTED LOWER LEVELS OF SOCIAL STATUS IN ADOLESCENCE WERE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS AS AN ADULT.
Page 4 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
DID
STUDY THAT FOLLOWED
HANNAH & HER SCISSORS One of the original South Beach pioneers, Hannah Lasky of Hannah & Her Scissors was one of the first people to open a hair salon on Lincoln Road way back when. Lincoln Road was nothing but artist studios a few thrift shops and a killer Cuban restaurant or two. Hannah still has the pioneer spirit, because she has just opened a swanky new salon, in a quaint house off Biscayne Blvd on NE 86th Street. For an appointment call 305.772.8426 or hannahandherscissors.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost •September 30, 2009 • Page 5
PHOTO: ETIAN KLEIN
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD KNOW
Edison Farrow Nightlife Promoter By Mariana Beczkowski Whether Edison is listening to pop, rock, hip-hop or Broadway musicals, or jamming in a club to R&B tunes, Edison sure knows how to promote a party. Edison has promoted gay nightlife in Miami for more than seven years and currently promotes three weekly events as well as concerts and comedy shows. “Every Tuesday night, I have Martini Tuesdays, which meets at a different venue every week — Halo, China Grill, Sagamore Hotel, Raleigh Hotel, Townhouse Hotel, National Hotel, etc. I describe this as a night for gay professionals,” he said. “Thursday nights, I promote TheSimple Life at Buck 15 lounge. Drag queen Daisy D DJs and drag diva Chyna is at the door. Fridays, I promote Happy Hour at Halo from 4 to 9 p.m. with half price drinks and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.”
Page 6 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Edison grew up in New York and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and HB Studios. For 17 years, he was involved in acting and the performing arts. He became a promoter completely by accident. “I wanted to start a small weekly gathering for about 10 friends,” he said. “The concept was that we would meet once a week at a chic hotel for martinis. But the event grew quickly. By the fifth week, 100 people were coming to the event. Now, seven years later, there are over 5,000 people on the e-mail list.” What’s next for the man who puts his heart and soul into all of his events? Edison said he plans to start a monthly Sunday Tea Dance at Opium Garden reminiscent of South Beach’s old tea dances. “I really listen to what people suggest and want and try to fill the need,” he said. “I always try to come with new ideas and launch new nights that have never been done before.”
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • Page 7
History COLUMN
A Very Special Moment in Time By Seth H. Bramson mrfec@yahoo.com
The history of Miami-Dade (formerly Dade) County has been "a very special moment in time" and a brief look at the beginnings of this incredible place takes us back to that terrible December day in 1835 when U.S. Army Cavalry Maj. Francis Langhorne Dade, leading a troop of men along a trail on the west coast of Florida near Bushnell, was ambushed by the Seminoles, killing the major and all but three of his company during the Second Seminole War. On Jan. 18, 1836, under the Territorial Act of the United States, the territorial Legislature of Florida created a county that stretched from Indian Key in the Florida Keys north to just north of Stuart, now the county seat of Martin County. To honor the fallen Major Dade, the county was given his name. Dade County began to shrink as early as 1866, when the Florida Keys from Key Largo to Bahia Honda were returned to Monroe County. In 1909 Palm Beach County, including today's Martin County (which was separated from Palm Beach County in 1925), was created and in 1915 Broward County, named for Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, was separated from Dade County. There have been no significant boundary changes to Dade since then. The county seat moved fairly frequently in the years prior to the 20th century, the original location being at Indian Key. In 1844 it appears that the seat was moved to Fort Dallas, the Indian wars post in the area of what in 1896 would become Miami. In 1888, with Juno being more heavily populated than Miami, the county seat was moved north to that point but by 1899, with Miami having become well larger than Juno, the seat returned. For some years it appears to have been situated at Biscayne, which, in 1932, would become the incorporated village of Miami Shores. The richness and depth of Miami-Dade's history have given rise to, literally, hundreds of books and booklets and thousands of articles on, of and about the county and its cities. In addition, the booklets, brochures and other publications of both governments and private businesses have added to the great panorama of history of the area and the region. Interestingly, though, it should be noted that, at this point, the earliest known marked (identified as being from) Dade County piece or item is the 1878 Revenue (tax) Collectors book, which, somehow, wound up in the attic of an early Biscayne (Miami Shores) home and, through a series of fortunate happenstances, found its way into The Bramson Archive. In this book, now 131 years old and acknowledged by both the MiamiDade Public Library Florida Collection and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida as the oldest known and marked Dade County piece, we find the names of pioneers such as the Hunts, Gleasons (NOT Jackie!), Sturtevants (the parents of Julia Tuttle) and William and Mary Brickell, and we learn that the total tax collection from the 40 or so families who then lived in the county was about $3,600! But how was this one book saved? And where are the books from before and after that date? Sadly and unhappily, it appears no others have survived, but here is “the rub”: Each of the few counties in Florida at that time, beginning at an unknown date, but likely following the Civil War, was required to make two copies of the Revenue Collectors Book, one to be maintained and
kept by the county, the other to be sent to Tallahassee. Apparently that routine was followed for many years, possibly well more than a hundred, but with the advent of computers and file cards, the use of the books was discontinued. Unhappily, as has been reported to us, the books sent to the state comptroller were stored for many years in one of the cavernous warehouses maintained by the State of Florida while the counties were expected to safely preserve their copies. Over the years, while the state did have its copies at hand, the counties — given hurricanes, building of new courthouses, fires, disinterest by government employees and other factors — appear to have discarded almost all of the books. Apparently, sometime between 1999 and 2001, the books were discovered in a long-closed room in one of the aforementioned warehouses. Sadly to report, while the information was, we have been told, microfiched or copied in some manner, the state, failing to either recognize or understand the value or importance of the original books, decided that, the information having been copied, the books could be disposed of. And they were. By fire. Besides being confirmed as the oldest marked piece of Dade County memorabilia in existence, it is also possible that the 1878 book now in The Bramson Archive may be the only Dade County handwritten Revenue Collector's book to have survived. It was, indeed, a very special moment in time. Next issue: A mangrove island sandbar off the coast of southeast Florida is discovered in 1870 and purchased for... 35 cents an acre!
Page 8 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Providing Badly Needed Relief for Miami-area Small Business Financial and government leaders all agree that small business is the lifeblood of the American economy, providing more than half of all private sector jobs and nowhere is that more true than in Miami Dade. Yet while local contractors in the building trades, small retailers, restaurants and professionals of all kinds are being squeezed like never before in our crippled economy, most of the U.S. government relief is flowing to the giants of corporate America. With Miami-Dade s small businesses struggling to control their expenses while they wait out the return of better times, Atlantic Broadband is launching a very timely new package of communications services that will save them serious money to help them weather the economic storm. Atlantic Broadband s new business-class services provide all the features necessary for the vast majority of offices and small companies, beginning at $79.95 a month for a package of unlimited local and long-distance phone service and broadband-speed Internet. The phone company competition, whose services aimed at small business have suffered from benign neglect for years, charges nearly that much for just one-line business phone service, not including long distance or Internet. Hundreds of dollars more in yearly savings over the competition area available on more full-featured Atlantic Broadband phone/Internet packages.
For the first time, we are offering an extremely cost-effective alternative for small businesses such as doctors and dentists offices; law, accounting and insurance firms; restaurants; small retailers; building, plumbing and electrical contractors; and local nonprofit organizations, said Mary Hughes, Atlantic Broadband Director of Commercial Development.
And, Atlantic Broadband makes choosing and configuring a business plan simple a huge advantage over the complex service options and complicated bills of the phone company, Hughes said. Among the features of Atlantic Broadband Business Service: • Support for up to eight phone lines. • 20 business-focused advanced features at no extra cost, including receptionistfriendly call hold, transfer, line hunt and userdefined extension dialing; as well as optional voice mail.
• Direct connection to existing standards-compatible phones, faxes and credit card machines; plus hassle-free switchovers that retain existing phone numbers. • Next-generation tools, including an Online Phone Manager that delivers unprecedented on-premises and remote control of the system, including voice mail settings and viewing, and instant re-routing/forwarding. • Attractive upgrade/replacement programs for outmoded T1 lines; as well as inflexible, failure-prone proprietary phone systems. • of calls in the event of electricity outages. • The business-class reliability born of delivering 70 million calls just last month alone, plus 24/7 technical support and personalized service through dedicated account executives. • High-speed broadband Internet service at 3 or 8 megabits per second, with faster speeds to come; plus money-saving phone/Internet service packages. • Only a one-year commitment, versus the three-year contract required to get the phone company s best rates. Single-line, one-year phone/Internet discount packages, including unlimited local and long-distance calling including Canada and Puerto Rico , plus a free voice mail box and phone modem, start at $79.95 with basic 3 Mb Internet service, and $94.95 with basic 8 Mb Internet Service. Additional business lines, up to a total of eight, are $44.95 per month, little more than half the competition s price. Atlantic Broadband also offers an even less expensive business phone plan, which includes unlimited local calling plus long distance at flat rate of 5 cents per minute. Discount package savings are open to both existing and new business customers. More information is available by calling 305861-8069 x3903. Atlantic Broadband serves 98,000 customers in Miami Beach, Aventura, Bal Harbour Islands, Golden Beach, North Bay Village, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, South Miami, Pinecrest, and unincorporated portions of Miami Dade County.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 30, 2009 • Page 9
FEATURE
“It was very emotional for me, people were so warm and everyone was having such a wonderful time. It’s amazing that something which required so little effort could make so many people so happy.” - Mayor Matti Bower on the Gay Pride Parade
POLITICAL PLAYOFFS Miami Beach Commission Candidates Get Ready to Run
Written by Paula Pellegrino paula@miamisunpost.com
‘Tis the season when Miami Beach residents are summoned to take part in that Democratic process relied upon to keep government working for the people. Three Commission seats, one from each group, and the Mayor’s post are in contest for 2009. Hopefully, this latest election can ride on whatever is left of 2008’s stratospheric political frenzy to attract more than 23% of the city’s registered voters to the polls, which is about all who showed up in 2007. Indeed, based on the current socioeconomic conditions and the number of candidates who have tossed their hats into the ring, signs are good that this cycle will be much more dynamic, significant and attention-grabbing than was its predecessor.
MAYOR: LAURA RIVERO LEVY: As a mother of five, it’s no surprise that a cause near to Laura Rivero Levy’s heart is education. She herself is a graduate of local schools and has been an active PTA member for the better part of decades. Currently, she is involved with Miami Beach Sen-
ior High School’s new marine biology magnet to develop their diving club and also study the effects of ozone depletion on native mangroves. While she praises programs like the International Baccalaureate Program that is being instituted at the school, she feels there is always more that can be offered to students to best prepare them for successful and productive futures. A longtime participant in the American Jewish Committee, Levy says she has developed the ability to bring people together for the purpose of protecting human rights and raising the quality of life for people in other countries. She and her family have hosted dignitaries from various places, including Haiti, Czechoslovakia and Poland so they may observe practices of American municipal government and return home to implement what they learned for the advancement of their own systems. As an aspiring politician as well as a concerned citizen, Levy believes it is of utmost importance that officials diligently avoid increasing taxes, which are high already, in this trying economy to pay off the current deficit. She asserts that, if elected, she will have a bird’s eye view of exactly how money is spent so that she can combat waste and misuse of funds effectively. Furthermore, as mayor, she will access and utilize the community’s best minds to develop strategies that will keep Miami Beach the clean and happy paradise that, to her, it has always been.
RAPHAEL HERMAN: Having lived in Miami Beach for nearly 50 years, Herman believes he knows the city like no other candidate in the race. He attests that he had a great role in Miami Beach’s grand revival in the 1980s, helping to bring it back from the troubles which had beleaguered it during those past times. He says he would do it all over again if given the chance. MATTI HERRERA BOWER: Running for her second term as Mayor of Miami Beach, Mayor Bower looks back and feels a sense of accomplishment concerning what has transpired throughout her first two years. For one, under her administration came the creation of TRAC, the Transparency, Reliability and Accountability Committee. It was established to examine the city’s policies and procedures regarding the ease of public access to information. TRAC reviews the city’s system of internal controls and makes recommendations to the mayor about measures that could enhance transparency within the government. Particular attention is paid to evaluating web-based applications which can streamline access to numerous departments in the city, such as the one controlling building permits and inspections. Please see Playoff on page 12
Race cont’d from page 11 Currently, she is involved with the county in the Miami Beach Convention Center Initiative. In this ongoing process, she sees forward movement in the effort to bring the center up to par so it can continue to be an economic force for both Miami Beach itself and the whole of Miami-Dade. Perhaps an achievement that means the most to her personally is the reinstitution of Gay Pride on Miami Beach this past year with the first ever Inaugural Parade last April. Though not directly responsible for the event’s organization, she was indeed the governing force who facilitated its existence. “It was very emotional for me,” she states. “People were so warm and everyone was having such a wonderful time. It’s amazing that something which required so little effort could make so many people so happy. I’ve been to many parades, but this one was different.” Bower was honored at the parade in appreciation for her attention to the concerns of Miami Beach’s GLBT community. She oversaw creation of the Gay Business Development Ad Hoc Committee whose mission it is to implement city-supported initiatives regarding an array of issues central to the identity and welfare of GLBT residents and business people on Miami Beach, as well as visitors to the city.
Mayor, Matti Bower
making it easier for area residents and job-seekers to network and present themselves to potential employers. “Even if it just begins by happening once or twice a year,” he states, “it’s a start.” Segui also believes that elected officials need to stop seeing themselves as part-timers and think of their posts as full-time jobs, regardless of compensation. “They know the pay when they run for office.”
JERRY LIBBIN: The Commissioner from Group I would like to thank voters for the chance to serve them over the past four years. Through that time, he says, he has been extremely active on various projects which he proposed during his last campaign and has had a great opportunity to immerse himself in the community, listening and responding to residents’ needs. One way he has been “bringing government closer to the people” is with a program called “Coffee with the Commissioner”. Every 6-8 weeks, he visits a local venue and invites the public to join him for some conversation, giving them a forum to voice their ideas and concerns to a public official without having to make their way down to City Hall and set an appointment. A major cause for Commissioner Libbin came about when he learned of a state law that provides a loophole for banks to avoid paying association fees past a six-month period on condo units that have being foreclosed. As banks circumvent the charges and allow the foreclosure process to drag on, the costs are passed to the buildings’ other paying unit owners as special assessments. Though the state legislature
Jerry Libbin
by any outside or personal interests beyond her concern for the city and her neighbors, whose doors she has been knocking on for months. If elected, she intends to balance the commercial and tourism requirements of the city with the needs of its local community. As the president of her condominium association and a real estate agent, an area of expertise for Roberts is residential housing and, by extension, city infrastructure, construction and preservation. Mindful that Miami Beach is home to the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, Roberts vows to balance protection of these architectural treasures with thoughtful and progressive projects that repair the city and advance it into the future. “It would be nice to have a rainstorm that did not also include an overload of the drainage system and sidewalk flooding” reads a quote from her website. Also, frustration relating to traffic issues and parking is shared by Roberts, as is the belief that Miami Beach needs to become safer for those trying to get around on two wheels instead of four. As a member of the Board of Adjusters, Roberts is proud of the work done to protect and define the city through stringent enforcement of building and safety codes. However, she contends, the current system is flawed. Obtaining permits and inspections is so time-consuming that projects are often left stagnating for months on end. Certain developers are even refusing to begin any new business on Miami Beach and are taking their project dollars elsewhere. “We have some stiff competition with nearby areas like the Design District,” Roberts asserts, so the
Jorge Exposito
Sherry Roberts
process needs to be fixed.
COMMISSION GROUP 1: This is the only Commission race with an incumbent running for re-election.
ODUARDO SEGUI: A self-described simple family man, Oduardo Segui is challenging incumbent Jerry Libin in his first political campaign. Job creation and solving Miami Beach’s consistent homeless problem are among his greatest concerns. The former, he believes, is a crisis mostly neglected by officials and police. “Within the entire city government, there are only a few people whose job is to tend to the homeless.” Given Miami Beach’s economic identity as an international tourism capital, it’s inconceivable to Segui how this issue can be overlooked. “With all we have, we need to do more for these people,” he says, even if it is just to make sure they have a meal and a bed for the night. “Of course, we can’t force them into help they don’t want, but we can enforce the laws that are on the books, like the one making it illegal to sleep in doorways. It’s not something that people here spending money and trying to enjoy a vacation should see around them.” As far as creating jobs, Segui has the idea that local businesses should come together periodically to hold a collective job fair; thereby
has heretofore done nothing to repeal the unfair ruling, Libbin vows that in his next term, if elected, he will continue the fight until the law is overturned. Green improvements have also been high on Commissioner Libbin’s to-do list. Besides working on an energy-efficiency program to modify wasteful consumption in city buildings, he has recently sponsored a “No Litter, No Butts” Walk to bring awareness to the scourge of refuse left on the city’s beaches and combat specifically the problem of the sand being used as a giant ashtray, an illegal yet common practice. Volunteers, students and environmentalists got together last Saturday to spread the word about the importance of proper trash disposal on the beaches. “We need to make people aware of how much damage this actually does to our city’s most precious asset.”
COMMISSION GROUP 11: This seat is open because Commissioner Saul Gross has reached his term limit and cannot run again.
SHERRY ROBERTS: Declaring that she “has no baggage, wasn’t elected in a vacuum and wasn’t hand-picked by the board”, Sherry Roberts believes she will be a fresh, unifying force on the Commission, not bound
JORGE EXPOSITO: As a businessman with 31 years of experience in the corporate sector, Jorge Exposito believes he would be a worthy steward of Miami Beach’s needs. For one thing, he knows how to read a budget and oversee an operation. Qualifications which may sound easy enough, but realistically, he says, require more expertise and background knowledge than one might think. What he sees when he looks at current city operations is a process which needs to be streamlined, making it easier for citizens to get what they need done. His involvement in numerous committees, including the Bayshore Homeowner’s Association, has shown him firsthand the difficulty that even savvy individuals can have when trying to affect change via city government. If elected, his primary goal would be to ensure that the residents of Miami Beach continue to receive the same level and types of service that they have become accustomed to from a city which is not presently collecting anywhere near the amount of revenue it once was. “We need a more efficient city. We need to look at how we operate so that we can provide for citizens without raising taxes.” As a member of the Board of Directors for Citizens for Green Space, Exposito combated what he saw as a failure in relation to the Par
Please see Playoff on page 23 Page 12 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
305.538.5757
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • Page 13
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
ART BY: PAULA TURK
Page 14 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
OCTOBER 2
OCTOBER 3
SAVE THE DATE:
MUSIC That Third Eye
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15:
MUSIC Sizzling Salsa
One of alternative rock's biggest bands since the late Nineties, Third Eye Blind sold six million copies of their self titled debut album, then released the acclaimed followups Blue and Out of the Vein. Set to drop a new album, Ursa Major, in 2009, Third Eye Blind plays catchy hits like Semi Charmed Life and Never Let You Go at their high energy live shows. 8pm. $24. Revolution Live, 200 W. Broward Blvd. Ft Lauderdale. For info: livenation.com.
This sounds fabulous. Delicious music in a swanky setting and cocktails to boot! The cabaret debut of Tony-nominated singing actress, Sherie Rene Scott. Her resume is filled with a bounty of credits; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Little Mermaid, Aida, Rent and the recent Off-Broadway hit Everyday Rapture. But Sherie Rene Scott has never performed on stage with just a pianist. $45.00. Carnival Studio Theatre, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami. 305949-6722 or arshtcenter.org.
Don't miss Venezuelan salsa, crooning legend, Oscar D’Leon with the Celia Cruz All Stars as they hit town in a one-night-only performance. They sold out shows in May of this year, so grab a chance to be transported back to Cuba and the early days of the diva, La Guarachera. 8pm. $64. James L. Knight Center, 400 SE 2nd Ave. Miami. For info: 305-372-4634 or jlkc.com.
OCTOBER 2-11 FESTIVAL Oktoberfest Gables Style A ten-day, beer-food-music-fest to celebrate the tradition of Oktoberfest, originally held in Munich since the 1800's. Live music from Austrian bands, the Laterndl Trio and Alpenland Gaudi. Beer bars, wine gardens, Austrian and Bavarian food, contest, raffles and prizes to benefit CHARLEE homes for children. Daily from 11am to midnight. Free. Plaza at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus Austrian-Bavarian Restaurant & Bar, 60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables. For info: oktoberfestmiami.com or 305-774-1883.
CABARET & COCKTAILS
OCTOBER 3 FILM Miami Psycho
OCTOBER 3 SHOP Española Way Market Famous for it's Spanish Mediterranean architecture, Española Way has developed into a mustgo venue. Fabulous restaurants, divine little shops and galleries and a great place to stroll on a Sunday afternoon. Now every Saturday night, you can hang on Española, listen to music and shop during their evening market. Find everything from crafts, jewelry, handmade clothing, candles and so much more. 7pm. Free. Española Way Market, Española Way and Washington Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305-632-8067
The second, in the The Spa at Icon Brickell's Horror Movie Night Series, is the flick Psycho. From the mastermind of all things scary, Hitchcock. So, we suggest you bring your mostest-closest friends and cuddle in the Spa's hip, Philippe Starck designed, 30-person theater. 7:30pm. $12 includes a delicious cupcake and popcorn. Spa at Icon Brickell, 485 Brickell Ave. Miami. For info: 305-503-0369 or viceroymiami.com.
OCTOBER 3 FOOD Taste of Miami This should be a fun event. The first annual Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Taste of Miami takes place this Saturday. Munch on treats from Escopazzo, Soyka, Emeril's Miami Beach, Perricone's, Blue Door and Asia de Cuba to name a few. $60. 5-8pm. Proceeds to benefit the MDGLCC Foundation Scholarship Program supporting area youth. Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr. Miami Beach. For info: 305-673-7311 or gogaymiami.com.
Below: The Karen Peterson dancers. Below middle: A scene from Psycho. Right: A beer maid at Oktoberfest.
OCTOBER 3 DANCE Mano e Mano Catch this awe inspiring, groundbreaking, dance piece from choreographer, Karen Peterson and her Dancers, who will debut their 20th season this Saturday. This exciting work will showcase dancers of mixed style and ability and will include dancers with and without disabilities. Background video is from Cintas fellow Maria Lino. Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71st St., Miami Beach. For info: 305-867-4192.
OCTOBER 4 SPORT It’s a Bike Party There is supposed to be our first cold front moving in this weekend. What better way to celebrate that, than hopping on your bike and heading downtown for the City of Miami's Bike Miami Days event. Don't own a bike, no
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Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
The Big Bounce guys, Brendan O’Hara and Komakozie.
OCTOBER 5
problem, rent one there. Tons of live music with Jazzilla, Afrobeta, Elastic Bond and Suenalo performing on different stages. Tim Hardaway will be hanging with the kids in the Children's Corner. Afterparty at Tobacco Road. 9am-2:30pm. Free. For info: bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com.
ART A Feast for the Eyes
This sounds amazing! The Arts at St Johns, in collaboration with the Miami Beach BotaniBelow Left: No. 10, CHad Pennington. Above: Bike Days Miami. Below Right: Oscar D’Leon. cal Garden, is hosting an exhibit called Common Roots. An art exhibit about native plants and how they build bridges beCTOBER tween different cultures. Paintings, weavings, sculpture and photography of local artists will SPORT be juried and shown. Participating artists inDolphins vs Buffalo Bills clude Linda Apriletti, Patti Black, Rosie Brown, Gary Catello, Elizabet Chacon, The blogs are going wild. Is it the Dolphins? Is it the Bills with T.O.? I guess we have to watch and find out. Ruben Chamizo, Dee Clark, Perri Cox, John DeFaro, Mark Diamond, Natasha Duwin, Home game at Landshark Stadium. Tickets are still Rosa Gallardo, Flex Maslan, Deborah available. 4pm. $41. Landshark StaM. Mitchell, Evelyn Mitchell, Terry dium, 2267 Dan Marino Blvd., Arroyo Mulrooney, Miguel Paredes, Miami Gardens. For info: 800Patricia Roldan, Irene Sperber, FINS-TIX Paula Turk, Marilyn Valiente, Nelson Viera, Deborah Weed and Marian Wertalka. Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach. For info: 305-613-2325.
O
4
WALLET FRIENDLY DATE NIGHT:
OCTOBER 6 CLUB The Big Bounce
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25: ART DECO DISTRICT We all live within it, or at least spend most days hanging out in it. But have you actually toured it? We think this is a perfect Wallet friendly date. Drop by the Art Deco Welcome Center and take an awe inspiring private tour, with your own private tour guide, of the Art Deco District. Filled with eye popping visuals and delicious deco tidbits that only insiders know. The tour will keep you and your date enraptured. If you want extra company, take a guided tour or the ideal for a cosy date option, is the self-guided tour for those who want to be really alone. We propose after the tour you and your date stop by La Sandwicherie for lunch. We suggest their world famous Croque Monsieur, grilled ham & Swiss on toast sandwich. Only $7.50. If ham and cheese is not your thing, there is a full menu of delicious sandwiches to try all under $10 bucks. La Sandwicherie is located at 229 14th Street. The art Deco tours are offered daily at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. 305-531-3484.
Page 16 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Head back to the times of the fedora and 1920's New York City where the music was free and fine. Every Tuesday night the musical styling of The Big Bounce aka Brendan O'Hara & Komakozie will take you back there. A musical mix of big band, hip hop, folk and soul headed by O'hara on the mike. The whole evening a performance worth tapping into. 10pm. No cover. Florida Room at the Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305672-2000 or brendanohara.org. To contribute events, please email info. and images to events@miamisunpost.com
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www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • Page 17
The 411
Mr. Clintons Guests, Jules Trump, Bill Clinton, Stephanie Trump
COLUMN
Brrrrrr Days = Birthdays By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Photography by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore
maryjoshore@aol.com
It seems as though we have been receiving an inordinate number of birthday invitations over the past couple of weeks. We can only surmise that the frigid January temperatures (about 75 in Miami but chillier points north) a few decades ago resulted in extra canoodling for warmth among the parents of more than a few friends and local personalities, making for some fun and interesting birthday gatherings, to fete our favorite Libras. From Hadley Henriette’s Cuban-Chinese themed party, to Michael Valdes’ soiree in which the best-dressed guests received prizes, to Gino Campodonico’s outlandish Barbie-themed bash at the dollhouse, which featured Lady Gaga impersonator Rosie Herrera (who just received rave reviews for her directorial/producer debut with Various Stages of Drowning: A Cabaret performed earlier this year at the Adrienne Arsht Center), Libras celebrate creatively. Other locals celebrating their birthdays this month include Katrina Campins, Navin Chatani, Erica Freshman, Michael Madd, Hassan Radouane and Angela Santopinto, all of whom hosted a Libra Zodiac party at Red, the Steakhouse on Wednesday. More birthday parties are in the works for Michael Leonidas Kirkland, Vanessa Poskanzer and Max Shore.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT...DATES, NUDIES AND CHEEKS It’s hard to resist a party named after one of our favorite ‘80s classics, About Last Night. Enter Pacific Times’ celebrated chef, Jonathan Eismann, with provocatively named, scrumptious dishes such as the gnudi (pronounced “nudie”), “dates” and “grouper cheeks,” and we are hooked. OK, so the food names aren’t so funny in the cold light of day, but they were pretty amusing amidst the glam/hipster (which we’ve recently come to identify as any cute 20/30-something donning a fedora and/or decorative neck fabric) crowd that packed the Design District eatery for the weekly “About Last Night” party, which could easily be confused with the set of a photo shoot or show on the WB, except that food was present even though the model-types seemed to be more on a liquid diet (duh). The premise behind the party is that guests spend the night Tweeting and updating their Facebook posts. How this is different from any other party, fashion show, restaurant outing, date, movie watching, back scratching, driving experience… took us a minute to figure out. Turns out the party’s unique draw, aside from the hot crowd and outstanding food, is that the event itself is a Facebook/Twitter “friend” so those who enjoy a
Page 18 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
Hipsters at Pacific Time
few too many libations and/or suffer short-term memory loss can piece the night together the next morning. (Not necessarily a good thing.) Inaugural hosts Sean Drake and Michelle Leshem drew in a great crowd including Tara Solomon, Nick D’ Annunzio, Megan Harris, Sam Baum, David Glass, Jose Ortiz, Jacquelynn Powers, Eric Newill, Bill Kearney, Debbie Ohanian and Manny Hernandez. It comes as no surprise that the outstanding food created by Eismann, which is served in style by adorable, friendly waiters, resulted in a shout-out for Pacific Time by Esquire Magazine as one of the "Best New Restaurants in the U.S." To be blunt, and quote a fellow diner who shall remain nameless: “flavors of orgasmic proportions.”
COMING UP: LADIES LUNCH Ladies Lunch was recently held at Smith & Wollensky, and offered a terrific opportunity to network with women from different careers and occupations — not that we ever need a reason to “lunch.” At the gathering, each attendee brought materials and causes to share with the group during a 30-second introduction. Which brings us to our point: if you’re ever in need of a divorce attorney, life coach or locksmith (certain situations may call for all three), Ladies Lunch is the place to make your connections. The next lunch will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, at La Goulue in Bal Harbour Shops and will feature Michelle Marchand, an expert in training and development, who will get the ladies involved and inspire the group to get motivated. The next Ladies Lunch South Beach will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15. The SoBe luncheon will feature guest speaker
Pat Morgan of Smooth Sailing Success, who will discuss “Empowering Women to Be More, Create More Fun & Build Better Relationships.” We highly encourage you to bring plenty of business cards. For more information, please contact events@m3events.net or 305-865-5733.
PERKS FOR THOSE IN THE BIZ A Fish Called Avalon’s executive chef, Brian Cantrell, invites those in the bar, nightclub, hotel and restaurant industries to experience the restaurant’s award-winning cuisine by offering specialty items, including wine by the glass or bottle, beer, well cocktails and all signature appetizers, at half off the menu price on Monday nights. The 20-year-old South Beach landmark offers modern American seafood with tropical influences and sleek minimalist décor. It is open daily from 6-11 p.m. For restaurant reservations please call 305-532-1727. Visit www.afishcalledavalon.com for more information.
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS: Rapper Ludacris was at Meat Market last week, celebrating his birthday and drinking his new cognac. Later in the week, Jared (of Subway fame) dined at Meat Market with five friends. He had the wedge salad and Kobe skirt steak. Sounds like that might be a great addition to the Subway menu. Sing it, 50… 50-dollar foot-long! Josh Groban hung out at W South Beach’s WALL nightclub on Friday night, showing up late with a group of friends. He took two tables and sipped on Grey Goose and Patron. Saturday night, Pete Wentz left his show in West Palm Beach to head down to LIV
Debbie Ohanian, Jonathan Eismann and Tara Solomon at Pacific Time
Hnaging at The Postelles concert at Viceroy Club
and DJ at the Ocean Drive Magazine Fall Fashion event for Chloe. Wentz asked party guest Michael Jordan for a photo but was denied by security. Earlier on Saturday, Michael Jordan had dinner with Miami Heat/LA Lakers coach Pat Riley at Mr. Chow. Later, Jordan visited Louis with his girlfriend, Miami girl Yvette Prieto, where he was low-key, enjoying a bottle of Macallan’s 15-YearOld Whisky and puffing on a stogie at a table across from the DJ booth, as his party danced around him and ordered cocktails. Generous as usual, Jordan overtipped his waitress by $100. On the same night, designers Julian Chang and Karelle Levy, along with reality star Michael Cohen, celebrated Hadley Henriette’s birthday at her gorgeous North Bay home. The Chapelle Show’s Charlie Murphy (fans, insert your Rick James impersonation here, “I’m Rick James, B$%ch”) enjoyed a quiet dinner at Houston’s Coral Gables on Sunday night. Last, because of chronological order, NOT order of significance, former President Bill Clinton dined and enjoyed a cigar (how cliché) at Acqualina Resort & Spa on Tuesday night. The former President was served food from Il Mulino. According to the staff, he was extremely friendly.
Audra Cherry and Karelle Levy at Hadley Henriette's birthday party
Hipsters at The Postelles concert at Viceroy Club
Valanetti twins at Michael Valdes' party
Michelle Leshem and Jochy Ortiz at Pacific Time
Hadley Henriette's birthday party
Ladies' Lunch at Smith and Wollensky
Ladies' Lunch at Smith and Wollensky
Birthday boy, Michael
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 30, 2009 • Page 19
Bound COLUMN
Dough-Re-Me, Baby! Jason Kersten Knows a Cat Who Really Makes Money By John Hood
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You know, if the economy wasn’t so screwed up and a few less folks owed me loot, I would’ve written up Jason Kersten’s The Art of Making Money (Gotham $26) way back at the beginning of June, when the book first hit shops. But I was so intrigued by the notion, and so in need of what the notion might deliver, that I figured I’d go ahead and try my hand at really making money too. Alas I’ve neither the patience nor the fortitude to become a counterfeiter. I know that now. And it is much to my chagrin that I even considered the prospect in the first place. However, I am rather well adept at bringing the news about books, especially of the more nefarious breed. So it is with great good pleasure that I at last bring you news of Kersten’s rollicking chronicle. Of course I was kidding about actually trying out some of the principles involved in The Art of Making Money; had I truly been of that kinda mind I would’ve been ensconced in the trade way back in the early ‘90s when the late, irate Loompanics published a buncha books on the craft. But with the world the way it is, I can see how some people might be tempted. Me? I’m content to sit on the sidelines of this game and regale you with the tall tales as they’re presented. And yes, as you might well suspect, this is some tall tale. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing about it. The thing is, though, this tall tale is all true, and nothing but true. Or as true as any hustler’s tale can be anyway. And to me that kinda gives it an even greater height. Meet Art Williams, a South Side Chi-town street creeper with a yen for more, more, more. The more,
In fact a fed said only the North Koreans printed better. And the Commies did (and do) so from a $10 million machine just like the one used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Williams was one of the damn few cabbage-growers who wasn’t thrown by the 1996 New Note, the Fed’s most counterfeit-proof piece of long green. And once he mastered the bill’s intricacies, he became the most in-demand money machine in the Midwest. Underworld types offered him riches for his recipe; Russian gangsters promised stately layouts on the Caspian Sea. And the feds made Williams
“Meet Art Williams, a South Side Chi-Town Street Creeper With a Yen for More, More, More.” of course, is money. And he’s driven to careful extremes to make it, literally: first under the wing of a clever old-school master craftsman named DaVinci; then on his own in a makeshift printhouse he calls “the Dungeon.” But Williams is driven by another deep need — family. He wants to find his father (who abandoned the coop long ago). And he wants to know his son (whose mother just so happens to be Chicago PD). It’s that last drive that will do him in. But it’s the action that gasses Art’s last drive which gives this story the get-up and go-go. Rumor has it that all-in-all, Williams printed nearly $10 million in sourdough. It was good stuff too. Damn good stuff. Page 20 • Thursday, September 30 , 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
a person of very special interest. Kersten sprung this longplay from his samenamed 2005 Rolling Stone feature. He had the story then; he’s got the life now. The Life. Three-hundred pages of unmitigated drama and intrigue. As the world turns for the worse and more folks keep getting less and less, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last days of the counterfeiter. Whether or not we ever see another as colorful — or as colorfully realized — as Art Williams is anybody’s guess. But if you’ve got an interest in loot and the back-alley ways in which it’s sometimes made, this book is for you. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. I’d hate to lose a pal to some kinda wild whim.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • Page 21
Potation COLUMN
Pick of the Pinks A Closer Look at Pink Champagne By Ewan Lacey
After spending so much of the summer watching movies on the endless rainy days of London, when I should have been basking in sunshine in Miami, I am now fully prepared for a mild South Florida winter. Of course, to luxuriate in the style akin to that of David Niven in the inaugral Pink Panther movie, one needs a burst of fizz and considering the exceptional quality of pink champagnes, why not make that fizz a pink one!
offering he says, “I only drink and sell very good wine and I know each wine and the producers very well. None of these wines will ever give you a bad head or stomach; these are all very high quality Champagne’s!” When I’m drinking wine in enthusiastic company, the experience is always heightened and Daniel is certainly enthusiastic. The range of style on offer was very interesting and provides a rare opportunity to really pin
“the gaggle of pink bottles, cooling, supported by a plate of pink French biscuits certainly had its alluring sense of grandeur and fun!” We are all now aware of the power of pink wines, not just on the growing sales figures of wine retailers but also on our thirsty pleasure seeking palates due to the increased effort in production and its resultant effect on quality. There is also the glam aspect. I was invited to a French champagne tasting at a local club in London and when I got there , the gaggle of pink bottles, cooling, supported by a plate of pink French biscuits certainly had its alluring sense of grandeur and fun! These events, often sponsored by the importers, offer a very attractive and niche service to those of us that enjoy good wines, and when it comes to organized tasting events, have a hint of the hedonist about them. My friend Daniel, is one such importer, and he always throws the most lavish tastings. Daniel’s career was formerly in banking but being a Frenchman with a palate and passion for appreciating fine wines at very fine prices, there was simply no more room for the strict curves of financial figures. He has a certain air of enlightenment when he imparts this. About the wine he is
point what one likes in a Champagne. The tasting was ordered by the percentage by volume of Chardonnay in each wine starting with the least. The tasting notes are presented here in the same order:
LEMAIRE RASSELET: (85% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Noir) Good body and fruity – a nice opener – not my pick of the bunch but a very fine party wine
PIERRE MIGNON: (65% Pinot Maunier, 15% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay) Hints of summer fruits with a more full bodied and toasty aroma. A very good champagne but not the favourite.
Maunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay) Slightly bitter and certainly an odd one out in the mix. I had a desire to pair this with a dozen oysters!
ETIENNE CHERE: (1/3 Pinot Meu-
CHAPUY: (15% Pinot Noir, 85% Chardonnay) This was a winner with us all – very light fruit and balanced acidity – the real quality was in the elegance of the wine. Such finesse makes this a choice sparkle for a special occasion or romance perhaps?
nier, 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Chardonnay) Good body with a balance of fruit and acidity – a great wine for parties and celebrations. Beware though large quantities could be drunk!
DIDIER HERBERT: (20% Pinot
Page 22 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
To summarize, I think it is fair to say that rosé Champagne is worth the special attention lavished upon it, not least because it is harder to make but also because it has the spiritual power to lift the vibrancy of any occasion. Of course, I tend to adhere to the adage that decadence comes when the plight for pleasure seems risky. With that in mind I am reaching for one more bottle of Chapuy!
Race cont’d from page 12 Three Golf Course on Prairie Avenue. Initially, he relates, that piece of land was deeded to the city by a private resident. It was meant for the use and enjoyment of all residents but as time passed, the city began breaking off and doling out portions of it for various small construction projects. Upon learning of those occurrences, Citizens for Green Space sued and was able to stop the division and distribution of the property. There is now a master plan for the land which includes enhanced facilities, like tennis courts, and ensures its proper designation as public park space.
MARIA MAYER: After three consecutive years of budget cuts, Maria Mayer is warning that the city needs to be prepared for what may be the worst fiscal year yet. That is why she promises, if elected, she will work together with fellow Commissioners to reduce the misspending she believes is plaguing the city and threatening its economic endurance. “There is no room to cut services and no room to increase taxes,” she states, “but there is room to cut waste.” She outlines a plan that would be implemented early and tracked on a monthly basis to ensure consistent progress. A first step would be to revamp the Capital Improvement Projects program which Mayer be-
Michael Gongora
lieves functions through a system that is too expensive and takes too long. “An overhaul would save millions,” she declares. With sixteen years practicing merger and acquisition law, negotiation is her business and she sees this as a critical point for new agreements. She says that since times are tight, there is new leverage now that did not exist in the period when the terms of many of these service contracts were agreed upon by the city and its providers. City salaries and pensions, financially categorized as long-term liabilities, are another component which Mayer believes must be re-examined if Miami Beach is to remedy its current deficit woes without increasing taxes. “We need to be realistic and work with employees. Sacrifices have to be shared by everyone. When things are good, we are happy to pay great salaries, but in these tougher times, it’s worth a look and see.” As a mother of three children who were born and raised on Miami Beach, Mayer also relates to issues of parks, schools and cleanliness. She says she wants to make sure that her children, and everyone’s children, inherit a great city.
COMMISSION GROUP 111: This seat is open because Vice Mayor Victor Diaz was appointed in
2008 to replace Commissioner Richard Steinberg and is therefore not seeking re-election in 2009 as a condition of that appointment.
ALEX FERNANDEZ: Though only 23 years old, Alex Fernandez stresses that he has the political experience far beyond his young age. After arranging a fund-raiser for Camillus House when he was 13, Fernandez was approached by a member of the media covering the event and offered his own radio show to discuss local issues; which he accepted and kept for the next 10 years. That, along with some local television and public relation positions for Miami Dade County gave Fernandez his background in communication. A job in private industry with international real-estate developers who had over $100 million in property sales, provided him the ability to fund his entire campaign and, he promises, if elected, will allow him to work full-time in a Commission seat that offers little more than a stipend as payment. Fernandez believes that elected officials need to assume a real leadership role in the community at large, and lobby other entities like the school board, the county and the state to generate changes that the city needs but cannot necessarily generate for itself. A prime example, he points out, is the “tent city” of outcast sex-offenders which has sprung up underneath the Tuttle Causeway. Though it is officially on the Miami side of the bridge, and totally out of Miami Beach’s jurisdiction, it has a major on impact visitors approaching the city via that high-traffic route.
Maria Mayer
Alex Fernandez
“Someone should be at the governor’s office,” he states. “That’s what I would do. There is no room for apathy.” Another cause that Fernandez wants to fight for is a bigger slice of the bed tax and tourism dollars that are collected from and redistributed to municipalities by the county. “Miami Beach contributes 35% of the total taxes collected by the county, roughly $200 million, yet gets very little of that money back.” He says the city needs that money for a myriad of its own reasons, like fixing streets, preventing floods after a natural event, fighting rising crime and homelessness. “Miami Beach is a destination for the beautiful people, but many of own residents are suffering and need services. They are all our neighbors and we cannot ignore them.”
MICHAEL GONGORA: In a perfect world, Michael Gongora, if elected, would be able to re-visit some interest on the idea of an underwater park and art gallery that first came up back in 2006, when he stepped into a Commission seat for the one year remainder of that term. However, he knows that these days, the focus for any elected official must be on the basics of rebuilding deteriorating infrastructure, tending to the elderly and other struggling portions of the population and guarding the environment against the perils of global warming brought on by
the massive carbon footprint that unrestrained development created. As president of the Miami Beach Bar Association and a community association lawyer, Gongora succeeded in his goal of reopening the NoBe Pro Bono Law Clinic, offering free consultations to the public on the first Wednesday of every month. Also, as the Chairman of the Environmental Coalition of Miami Beach, he has secured $150,000 in funds, despite deep budget cuts, to improve Lumus Park and the North Beach Band Shell. He pledges, if elected, to make sure the Capital Improvement Projects that have been promised to residents but not yet completed, like the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Plan, are delivered in full. Gongora asserts that with his prior experience on the Commission, he was able to familiarize himself with the ins and outs of local government, so there will be no need for a learning curve and he will be able to “hit the ground running”, ready to make difficult decisions from the very first day.
GABRIELLE REDFERN: Redfern states that her years of experience with local and county transportation issues and her formation of two local advocacy groups has positioned her well to make effectual, knowledge-based decisions toward change that she knows benefit her constituents. Her years of service on the Design Review Board have given her a front row seat to development and the challenge of maintaining balance between preservation and urban renewal. After more than a decade of involvement in municipal affairs,
Ganrielle Redfern
Redfern was concerned about what she observed as little progress on issues affecting residents the most: traffic, congestion, parking, sanitation, public safety and the creation of a sustainable economic future. She sees her candidacy as a matter of urgency and a way to give back to the community which, she says, has always been there in support of her and her family. “If not me, then who?” she asked herself, “and if not now, when?” If elected, Redfern would set her sights on working with the county to demand an overhaul of public transit service for the Beaches, based on data from the Coastal Communities Master Plan and the accompanying Transit Study. Next, she would work with her fellow Commissioners to review and rewrite Land Development Regulations, so that during this period of no-development, it would be ensured that the development which ensues in the next round serves the city’s future generations. Also, she states, she will turn her attention to cleaning the streets, even if she has to do get out there on Washington Avenue and do it herself.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 30, 2009 • Page 23
Food COLUMN
Smith & Wollensky And Wine
Yrasema Santana with Frank Rivera, both hosts of Fusion Latina on W-DNA
Art
By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) Located on Government Cut with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, Fisher Island and downtown Miami, Smith & Wollensky is a favorite dining destination for intimate and yummy meals. Recently, Miami Beach hosted the Eighth International Wine Fair, which drew thousands of consumers and trade guests to the MB Convention Center. Wine growers from around the globe wined and dined potential distributers at numerous eateries, hoping to lure distribution deals for their respective vineyards. French wine exporters invited a dozen guests to a Smith & Wollensky dinner, just prior to the fair’s opening, to taste their featured wines. On the luscious list of adult beverages: Baron de Montfort from the Bordeaux Region, Chateauneuf-du-Pape des Princes 2007 from the Rhone Valley, Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2007, Chateau de Monbadon-Castillon 2005, Saint-Chinian red Excellence Jean de Roze 2006, Chardonnay de Penneutier VdP d’Oc 2008, “La Coterie” AOC Cotes du Rhone (organic), and a Banuyls 1950 from the Domaine Pietri. The dinner wasn’t too shabby either. On the menu, caesar salad, a huge cut of filet mignon with a side of hashed brown potatoes and the S & W delish creamed spinach. For dessert, as if there was any room left in any of the tummies: warm molten chocolate cake. I know, I know… but someone has to cover these difficult events! Smith & Wollensky served us USDA Prime steaks that are dry-aged and hand-cut on the premises, for tenderness and flavor. But the stars of the evening were the wines. S & W has now gone international, adding selections from the best vineyards of France to its American favorites. Cheers! Smith & Wollensky is located at 1 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Details: 305-673-2800.
ABove: A sample of our dinner. Below: Dessert served with French wines. Yummy
Page 24 • Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
COLUMN
Fine Arts, Fine Times By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) Photos: M. Gil
Public radio station WDNA proudly unveiled its newest endeavor recently. Besides showcasing jazz and Latin jazz on the 88.9 FM dial, the station will now also feature a visual artist in its gallery space every two months. The inaugural event was spearheaded by acclaimed jazz vocalist Meredith d’Ambrosio, who is also an established landscape painter. The 88.9 FM Fine Arts Concert Series plans to bring the visual arts closer to the musical world by introducing talented visual artists to jazz enthusiasts in its Coral Gables radio studios. Multi-talented d’Ambrosio presented more than 35 aquarelles and oil paintings to guests, and afterward gave a live performance accompanied by jazz pianist Patti Wicks. Everyone enjoyed beverages by Caldas Rum, hors d’oeuvres provided by Passion of Life Gourmet and adult beverages by Wine Shoppe & Gourmet. Stay tuned for future events. Left: Michael and Alice Goldhagen. Below: Frank Morganti and Bonita Eiden.
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