The Story Matters
Calendar p.12 Chocolate Festival, Elvis Lives, Sing-a-Song, and Feast With A Beast at Metrozoo
Vol. XXV No. 04
January 28, 2010
Visit us at miamisunpost.com
HOLD YOUR HORSES Cavalia Rides into Miami
M AY H E M P. 4
P O L I T I C S P. 6
N E W S P. 1 0
H I S T O R Y P. 8
C A L E N D A R P. 1 2
4 1 1 P. 1 4
SEE PAGE. 18 B O U N D P. 1 7
A R T P. 2 1
F A S H I O N P. 2 2
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com SOCIETY EDITOR Jeannette Stark jeannette@miamisunpost.com COPY EDITOR Mary Louise English
PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Kim Stark kim@miamisunpost.com ACCOUNTING Sandie Friedman SALES DIRECTORS Jeannette Stark Jamie Nunez
CALENDAR EDITOR Jake Orsinni calendar@miamisunpost.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jeffrey Bradley Stuart Davidson Marguerite Gil Mary Louise English Jennifer Fragoso John Hood Joshua Malina Joe Robertson Mary Jo Almeida-Shore Kim Steiner Michael Sasser
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Tropical Mayhem BITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE
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MEET GERALD POSNER
CARNIVAL TIME! by Ines Hegedus-Garcia - ines@miamism.com Nothing like a church carnival in Miami to kill a couple of hours. This particular photo was taken at the St. Rose of Lima Carnival in Miami Shores. It wasn't just about the rides though, it was about games, fun, people, food, raffles, friends ... and fried dough!
Cool Antique Toy Show Don't miss the 30th annual Miami Antique Toy Show on January 31, where toy collectors of all ages can play. From late 19th century advertising collectibles to mid-fifties Lionel trains to Mattel Barbie Dolls from the sixties to Kenner Star Wars figures from the late seventies, there is something for sale from every era. Dealers come from all over the US and Europe. InterContinental West Miami Hotel, 2505 N.W. 87th Ave., Doral. For info: 305-468-1400 or miamiantiquetoyshow.com.
Meet Author Gerald Posner, Miami Babylon uncover the politics of Miami Beach from Carl Fisher to Crocket and Tubbs, the events that have helped create the most unique party grounds in the South! Review and luncheon begin 11am at the Surf Club $35.00 in advance. Limited seating, Checks made payable to Biscayne DAR, must be received at the club by Tuesday, February 2nd; 9011 Collins Ave., Surfside.
PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
Page 4 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
1855 S BAYSHORE DRIVE COCONUT GROVE. The romance and glamour of a by-gone era awaits at Villa Valentino, a landmark home in Coconut Grove. Recently renovated, the home retains its charm with most of the architectural details. Grand great room, covered logia, tower, courtyard and original tile. Sprawling compound has a two-story guest house and new pool pavillion withna summer kitchen. Half acre with often ohotographed pool. 11 bedrooms, 8 baths. 8,155 Sq. feet. $2,995.00. For more info on the property Nancy Batchelor, EWM. 305-960-2400 or ewm.com.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • Page 5
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Politics COLUMN
Crapped Out By Jeffrey Bradley A gathering tsunami is threatening to rubble Miami Beach. Despite years of fierce resistance, full-fledged casino gambling is a near-reality, the anti-mob/fearful resident hodge-podge coalition arrayed against it worn to a frazzle. With a successful wending through legislation a foregone conclusion, many are ready to blame Miccosukee agents, lurking in the canebrakes, for readying a Third Seminole War to unleash on our “unique little island.” Where’s Major Dade when we need him? (Actually, whatever the merits of gambling on Miami Beach, thinking that this kind of vice will deflower our moral sensibilities is absurd: we haven’t been a “unique little island” since Al Capone blew into town shortly after the St Valentine’s Day Massacre.) And truth be told, these “destination resorts'', “convention-focused entertainment centers”, or evil emporiums—however you call ‘em—offer competition to the Seminole Hard Rock casinos. A Las Vegas gambling magnate—wouldn’t cha know?—is behind trying to set up a few of them statewide through the Florida Gaming Equalization Act. Good Ford! If that doesn’t conjure up an unsettling vision of a low-level mafioso waving a gun. “Unique little island”, indeed. Under this plan, voters would first approve the casinos by local referendum, then a state gaming commission would grant permits to parimutuel industry applicants. (One can’t help shuddering when reflecting upon these “applicants.” Well.) But these aren’t just casinos; Heavens to Betsy! They are the very Disneyfication of gambling, including shopping centers, theaters, spas, hotels, restaurants and, you know, casinos. Which stand to reap $3 billion a year, create 7,000 or so jobs and, most assuredly, aren’t your father’s slot parlors or green-felt gaming dens. No! We’re talking “destinations” and “integrated resorts” here. Say, somehow we suddenly feel impelled to find the nearest blackjack table and smack down a fistful of sweaty bills on Lucky 7. Ask yourself: “Are you feeling lucky today? Well, are you punk?” Then there’s the morality issue. No doubt, casinos’ll draw deviants, degenerates, made guys, lobbyists and the bunko squad, among other unsavory types, the way stuff draws flies. More to the point, the history of putting this kind of money into public coffers is spotty at best. Remember those Florida Panther license plates that were sup-
“But these aren’t just casinos; Heavens to Betsy! They are the very Disneyfication of gambling, including shopping centers, theaters, spas, hotels, restaurants and you know, casinos.” posed to help those endangered creatures and did everything but? Or the lottery money earmarked for education that always seemed to go elsewhere, usually to plug a state budget gap, or prop up some legislative pork? The money always gets collected but the streets don’t get fixed. Still, the state also seems to be missing out big time, especially in job creation, tax revenue and any chance to apply regulations (according to a local newspaper article), while the focus remains on “getting a deal reached on the gambling compact with the Seminoles.” “Compact”? Didn’t that used to be called a treaty? Note to Seminole Tribe: Be very, very careful. You already live in a swamp. With the controversy surrounding casinos swarming like a cloud of black bugs, we thought we’d put forth a plan or two that just might or might not work—as far as gambling goes, we mean. We recognize the issue as a perennial campaign question, one almost always answered with more smoke and blowhard nonsense than even that of transportation. On the face of it, bringing gambling here seems a bad idea for the residents and should be opposed. But then everything new seems bad for the residents who, anyway, seem awfully NIMBY. And while it pains us to think of the Fountainbleu making money hand over fist (we can’t help it; it’s our nature), still, it would be a Monte Carlo-esque exclusivity with that offshore luxury-yacht docking and all. And look: this plan calls for Miami Beach getting 50% of the tax revenue, and the county and state splitting the rest. Caveat: our half must be used for transportation projects, especially streetcars, fixing the ghastly Indian Creek and 41st Street intersection—the very worst of our bad lot of pedestrian crossings—a rail link direct to the airport (we’ll tack on more demands as we think of ‘em during negotiations), and we can see to it that 10% of their money goes to safety and security, transportation, the whole Middle Beach historic waterfront thing, or — (fill in the blank with your own idea). Better yet, Plan B, the Fountainbleu files for bankruptcy and the City buys it and farms out all resort and casino operations (don’t actually want City Hallers running it; can’t see the mayor or commission wearing green eyeshade visors or brandishing a croupier’s rake). That way, we pocket all of the loot, split it with no one and, we could make a killin’, Jack. There are scads of buckets of ducats to be made. You can bet on it. Page 6 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
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A Special Moment in Time COLUMN
America’s Speedway to Sunshine for 110+ Years, Part Two By Seth H. Bramson mrfec@yahoo.com
As noted in last week’s column, the legendary Henry M. Flagler, in partnership with Henry B. Plant, the Walters family of Baltimore (which owned the string of railroads that would eventually become the Atlantic Coast Line) and the Pennsylvania Railroad, inaugurated America’s first electrically lighted, completely vestibuled train — the fabled all-Pullman sleeping car New York and Florida Special (later the Florida Special) between Exchange Place Terminal, Jersey City, and St. Augustine on Jan. 14, 1888, the train arriving in the ancient city at twilight the next day. When the train pulled in, Flagler stepped out onto the platform and raised his hand as a signal to the waiting engineers at the Ponce de Leon Hotel to throw the turbine switches, thereby lighting up the building with more than a million light bulbs. Onlookers and bystanders were stunned, as general usage of electric lights was, for the most part, some years in the future. The 1888 season was off to a grand start, and all three Flagler-owned St. Augustine hotels would have a season that would open up the INITIALLY, TO CONNECT east coast of Florida to all of America for the first time. Sim- THE RAILROAD STATION, WHICH WAS ON THE MAINply put, it all began with Flagler. LAND, WITH THE HOTEL, Shortly after the three hotels closed, early in April, Fla- ON THE BEACH SIDE, THE gler was attending to business in his St. Augustine office RAILWAY BEGAN OPERATwhen he was interrupted by a secretary asking if he could ING A MULE DRAWN TROLLEY ACROSS THE BRIDGE see two young men who owned a hotel in Ormond. Join- AND OVER TO THE ing Flagler in his office, John Anderson and James Price HOSTELRY. introduced themselves, whereupon Flagler inquired as to the nature of their visit. According to Anderson, who did most of the talking, the men had built a magnificent hotel about 50 miles south of St. Augustine thinking that Flagler was going to extend his railroad to Daytona Beach and by doing so, serve the Ormond area. Flagler, as he verbalized to the men, had neither the intention nor the reason to do so. Anderson then went on to tell Flagler their woes: in building the beautiful 300-room hotel, and not being the beneficiaries of direct rail service, he and Price had a disastrous season, the hotel hosting fewer than 150 room-nights for the entire season. Anderson told Flagler that if Flagler did not extend the railroad to Ormond, Anderson and Price would have no choice but to simply walk away and abandon their great and beautiful property, as they had run completely out of money. Flagler, calming them, called in Joseph R. Parrott (the railroad vice president) and asked him to make arrangements for the two of them, along with James Ingraham (the company’s land commissioner), to visit Ormond the following week. Dutifully complying, Parrott arranged for a buckboard and a boat to take the party to Ormond, where they were greeted by Anderson and Price and escorted to the hotel. Leaving the two owners in the lobby with Parrott and Ingraham, Flagler took almost three full hours to investigate the hotel, examining guest rooms, closets, pantries, kitchens, storage rooms, boiler room and other employee facilities. Returning to the lobby, he motioned Page 8 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
THE ORMOND HOTEL IN ALL ITS GLORY. SHOWN FROM THE HALIFAX RIVER, THIS VIEW LOOKS DIRECTLY EAST AT THE HOTEL.
ABOVE: A FIVE CAR STEAM DRAWN PASSENGER TRAIN IS SHOWN ON THE ORMOND BRIDGE. LEFT: N FEC PASSENGER TRAIN IS SHOWN PARKED ALONGSIDE THE ORMOND HOTEL IN 1924.
for Ingraham and Parrott to join him and whispered something to them. Striding across the lobby to the now-standing Anderson and Price, Ingraham said, “Mr. Flagler has asked me to tell you that he will be in touch.” Crestfallen, Anderson and Price had no idea what that statement meant until three days later, when they received a telegram from Ingraham that said, “Please arrange come to St. Augustine to meet with Mr. Flagler as soon as possible.” Two days later they were again ushered into Flagler’s office. Flagler rose from his chair and put both hands on his desk. “Young men,” he said (and we know exactly what was said that day because the entire conversation was chronicled), “I have come to a decision.” Anderson and Price, on pins and needles, could barely contain their emotion. “I will,” Henry intoned, “extend the railroad to Ormond but only if you sell me the hotel and remain on as my managers.” Anderson and Price, overjoyed, agreed immediately and for almost 30 years remained with the Flagler System. The railroad, incidentally, arrived in Daytona, a few miles south of Ormond, in 1890. Next week: Flagler, fascinated with an island off the southeast coast of Florida, extends his railroad into the subtropics. Seth H. Bramson is the Company Historian of the Florida East Coast Railway and Adjunct Professor of History at both Barry University and FIU. He is America’s single most-published Greater Miami history book author, with 12 of his 17 books dealing directly with the villages, towns, cities and people of Miami-Dade County. He can be reached at mrfec@yahoo.com.
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A PRINCE OF
WILLIAM CARY IN HIS OFFICE AT CITY HALL.
PRESERVATION NEWS FEATURE
Miami Beach Honors William Cary Written by Michael W. Sasser
Miami Beach was a very different place when William Cary first arrived in 1994. Tropical Art Deco and Miami Modern (MiMo) buildings were standing, even preserved in the city’s longtime initial historic district — but most city leaders and developers on the verge of making a fortune in South Beach real estate didn’t necessarily treasure them. Long-time preservation leader and former Miami Beach Commissioner Nancy Liebman remembers those days well. “Before William, preservation was treated as nonsense,” Liebman said. “It was referred to as ‘the P word.’ William had a lot to teach people. You could see he [aggravated] the old-time establishment. Zoning had been done to benefit landowners and developers.” But, Liebman recalls, Cary’s arrival as the city’s first director of historic preservation coincided with a new breed of political leader also being swept into action. That combination, led by Cary’s experience, commitment and vision, led to wholesale changes in how city government and the public viewed preservation. Today, 15 years later, Miami Beach has 12 local historic districts and three districts on the National Register of Historic Places. The city’s image worldwide has been shaped by its architecture and that architecture is routinely rated as one of Miami Beach’s top attractions to tourists. “William and his staff made it happen,” Liebman said. On Tuesday, January 19, almost a hundred members of the community gathered at the Bayroom at 9 Island Avenue to honor Cary’s 15 years of service to the community. Had capacity been greater, the audience would have been larger. Instead organizers had to turn away scores of would-be celebrants as support poured out typically late from the Miami Beach community. “I hope I don’t show up and find out I’m being retired,” quipped the affable Cary prior to the event. No, he wasn’t being given the gold-watch-and-walking-papers treatment. It was the rare occasion designed to celebrate the achievements of an important figure in modern Miami Beach history while still at the pinnacle of his career.
“It’s unusual to celebrate a person who isn’t retiring, but we wanted to take the opportunity to applaud him, and also his perseverance over 15 years,” said Liebman, who organized the event along with community activist Don Worth. The Urban Environment League sponsored the evening’s affair. Worth added that he felt the inspiration for the event was also the recent creation of the Lapidus Historic District. “Without his amazing [effort] on the Lapidus District, I believe both the Eden Roc and the Fontainebleau would have been demolished,” Worth said. Many other historic Miami Beach buildings would likely have been relegated to old photos and nostalgic books were it not for Cary’s hard work and dedication over the past decade-and-a-half, organizers of the tribute dinner believe. “He’s had an enormous influence and impact on Miami Beach,” said Worth. “We have a distinct character as opposed to being just a town of condo towers, which wouldn’t be economically viable anyways.” Despite national attention paid to Miami Beach’s Art Deco, when Cary first arrived, buildings were still being demolished in the name of alleged progress. Cary became the professional face behind which preservation activists rallied. Cary brought a degree of professionalism and experience to the city’s preservation efforts that caught the attention of activists and city government alike. Prior to his City of Miami Beach position, Cary held a notable position with the estimable New York Landmarks Preservation Commission. He had led the efforts in a preservation project in Brooklyn of a historic African-American community. He had also traveled the world, first with the Peace Corps and later independently, studying and involving himself in preservation efforts of Third World nations. He’d been befriended by some of historic preservation’s leading world figures. Then there was tiny Miami Beach. “My mother lived in Florida and her health was failing,” Cary rePlease see Cary on page 18
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
POSTER, TEAMWORK BUILDS SHIPS, C. 1918. DESIGNED BY WILLIAM DODGE STEVENS (AMERICAN, 1870–1942).
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SAVE THE DATE:
January 29
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
THEATRE Cocktails Anyone? Catch a of the comedy, The Cocktail Hour. Written by A.R. Gurney, This hilarious production is about a playwright who reveals that his new play is about his own family, to their dismay. Through Feb. 14. 8pm. $20, seniors $15, students $10. Edge Rep at The Literary Cafe, 12325 NE 6th Ave., North Miami. For info: 786-355-0976.
January 29
SOCIAL Be One With the Beasts A new twist on the fun and fabulous Feast With The Beasts is the Beastkeeper VIP Party. Held at the home of Irene and Chris Korge, this event is set to be a showstopper. 11 of Miami's top restaurants Azul, Mandarin Oriental etc., will be providing the food. With three open bars, a dessert buffet, coffee bar, chocolate fountain, music, entertainment, and a silent auction this evening is bound to be wild. And that was before we mentioned the wild animal close encounters. For a donation of $500 this could all be yours to experience. This donation also gives you access to the main event March 5. 7pm. For more info: miamimetroozoo.com.
January 29
THE 39 STEPS Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. Ted Deasy, Claire Brownell, Eric Hisson and Scott Parkinson compose the cast of four who, against all odds, breathlessly and hilariously attempt to reenact all of the characters, locations and famous scenes in Hitchcock’s 1935 film thriller with just a few props and a lot of theatrical ingenuity and split second quick changes. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award winner will open Wednesday, February 10 through Sunday, February 28. Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St, Fort Lauderdale. For info: 800-982-2787 or 39StepsOnBroadway.com
ART Women’s Work/Men’s Work The Wolfsonian Teaching Gallery, a collaboration between The Wolfsonian-FIU and The Frost Museum is intended to serve as a resource for teaching and learning. The support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will provide an opportunity for FIU faculty to collaborate with staff from both museums to organize small exhibitions from The Wolfsonian collection that will be exhibited within The Frost Art Museum's gallery space. The inaugural exhibition,Women's Work / Men's Work: Labor and Gender in America, will run through April 25. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Florida International University, 10975 S.W. 17th Street, Miami. For info: 305.348.2890 or thefrost.fiu.edu.
January 29
MUSIC Bach is Back Relive a little of your walk down the aisle by taking in a performance of the New World Symphony's Authentic Incarnations: Bach Is Back. Revel in the suite’s entirety with conductor Edwin Outwater. As a Symphony with a Splash performance, come early and enjoy a complimentary happy hour. $25. 7:30pm. Lincoln Theatre, 541 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. For info: 305-673-3331 or nws.edu. BELOW : LOS VAN VAN PERFORMS. RIGHT: MONKEY ENCOUNTERS AT THE BEASTKEEPER PARTY. RIGHT: ELVIS ON TOUR.
January 29-30
ERIC HISSOM AS MAN 1 AND SCOTT PARKINSON AS MAN 2 IN ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S THE 39 STEPS.
FESTIVAL Art & Music
Super Art in the Park, a Super Bowl sanctioned event features the reggae music of Fourth Dimension, Jacob Jeffries Band, Ketchy Shuby and The Spam Allstars. Local art exhibit, The Carnaval Miami Poster unveiling and appearances throughout the evening by sports stars and team mascots. Proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross Haitian relief efforts. Fred B. Harnett/Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. For more info: coralgables.com
January 30
PERFORMANCE Elvis Lives! Catch the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists Tour when it shakes up Miami for a special one-night performance. The tour is a multi-media extravaganza that pays homage to Elvis Presley during various stages of his career. The performers are tribute artists who were finalists in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist competition, held by Elvis Presley Enterprises. They will be joined by a live band, back-up singers, dancers, and an Ann-Margret tribute artist, as well as iconic imagery made available from the Graceland archives. 7pm. $28.75-$38.75. BankUnited Center, 1245 Dauer Dr., Coral Gables. For info:305-284-8686 or bankunitedcenter.com.
January 23
FILM Chocolate Fest
If you are a true Chocoholic, then this event is for you! Cinema Paradiso hosts Fliff-elicious offering everything from Chocolate Martini's to Chocolate Movies. The fun begins with a foodie festival with restaurants, candy stores, ice cream parlors, and bakeries, selling scrumptious candies, ice cream and almost anything imaginable that is chocolate. The theater will show chocolate themed movies like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, In Search of the Heart of Chocolate, I Love Lucy-Job Switching, and Chocolat. 10am to 5pm. Free. Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE Sixth St. Fort Lauderdale. For more info: 954-760-9898 or fliff.com. Please see Calendar on page 20 www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • January 28, 2010 • Page 13
The 411
Donna E. Shalala at Pawpurrazzi 2010
Nancy and Jon Batchelor, Sandy Batchelor Emily Marquez-Dulin, Dr. Fredric Brandt
COLUMN
Best in Show By Mary Jo Almeida-Shore maryjoshore@miamisocialholic.com
Marisa Cisneros-Rizzon with Gwenivere, Marcos Rizzon, Andreina Rizzon with Dante
Pat and Milton Wallace with Chloe, Jake and Hanna
Every year, Pawpurrazzi is one of the most unique events in town. Where else can you see 500 socialites, with more than 350 dogs in tow, all dressed to the nines? This year’s Pawpurrazzi, which took place on Friday night at Jungle Island was the place where dog and people watching reigned supreme. From ice cream treats, make-overs, and a Purina doggy bar for the furry guests, to a fabulous dinner and impressive auction chaired by Saks Dadeland’s Juan Lopez, Marisa Cisneros and Ann Rubino, for the humans, Pawpurrazzi was a blast for guests of any species. One of the evening’s highlights, was the one-of-a kind fashion show: “Great Pets Who Walk In Front of Great People,” where honored guests and their dog(s) ironically walked the “catwalk” for the runway show, the best part of which was seeing just how much people look like their dogs, or vice versa. The 50 foot dessert bar, which included gourmet cupcakes, brownies, make-your-own sundaes and S’mores- (complete with blow torches and all), Turkish coffee and just about every other scrumptious delight imaginable was also fantastic. The event raised close to $500,000 for the Humane Society and five dogs were adopted during the evening Special guests included: Sandy, Jon, and Nancy Batchelor, Kirk Landon and Pamela Garrison, Bunny Bastian, Marisa Cisneros-Rizzon, Dr. Fredric Brandt, Yvonne Eldredge and Emily Damiano, Barbara and F.W. Mort Guilford, Sherrill and Mary Ann Hudson, Linda and Patrick McEnany, Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami, Jeanette and Ted Fine, Christina and Robert Hudson, DJ and Steve Kerr, Sandy Zankl, Steven and Allison Zelkowitz, Melanie and Ryan Herman, Jeff and Yolanda Berkowitz, Sam Blum, Lady Beatrice Clancy, Ana May and Eugene Conese, Skip and Joyce Dickerson, Irene and Chris Korge, Helene and Marc Kovens, Juan and Carmen Lopez, the Munilla family, Jennifer and Richard Postrel, Ann and Frank Rubino, Bob and Sookey Schwartz, Rene Ruiz, Marysol Patton, Amy Zakarin and Glenn Singer, Mayor of Golden Beach.
DCOTA
Dexter Rosenblatt and Rene Ruiz at Pawpurrazzi
Helene Kovens at Pawpurrazzi 2010
On January 12, Clo and Charles S. Cohen, owners of DCOTA (Design Center of the Americas), hosted a private grand opening gala to celebrate the launch of the first ever DCOTA DesignHouse. A crowd of 400 social and design luminaries from Miami to Palm Beach gathered
Page 14 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
to view the cutting edge designs and to toast the 2010 Stars of Design: Sam Robin, Max Strang, Carlos Betancourt, Nicholas Varney, Jeff Blakely, Robin Hill, Laura Paresky Gould and Vladimir Kagan, who were honored on the same evening. Among those in attendance for this fabulous event: Charles S. Cohen, Erika and Vladimir Kagan, Robin Hill, Brad Ford, Brian Patrick Flynn, Sophie Donnellson, Julia Noran, Norma Quintero, Tina Carlo, James W. Murphy, Nicole Lozano, Diane and Aristotle Aris, Gary Hutton, James Wall, D. Ashlee Harrison, Jilian Sanz, Irvin Lippman, Diane Sepler, Jeff Blakely, Phoebe Howard, Bonnie Barnett and Robert Kagan, Jeff and Gina Sabean, Katie Vecellio, Iran Issa Khan, Marnie Goldberg, Michael Kirkland and Sandy Krakoff. This gala benefited three outstanding museums, representing each of the three counties of South Florida, The Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach; the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Broward; and the Vizcaya Museum, Miami/Dade. The entire run of the DesignHouse will also benefit these outstanding cultural institutions. DesignHouse will be open daily, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., through June 11, and select Saturdays throughout the run (Saturday, February 6- Saturday March 6, and April 10).
DIM YUM! Our fascination, o.k., OBSESSION with dim sum began while watching Eat Drink Man and Woman, the foodie cult flick of the 90s. And with the exception of samplings at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (coming our way in just a few weeks), great dim sum has been tough to find. Well happy days are here, thanks to Hakkasan’s new weekend dim sum lunch menu. Not since the scrumptious dim sum delights we had at the award-winning Ton Kiang in San Francisco, have we enjoyed such perfectly prepared, authentic dim sum. Hakkasan, which boasts a sleek yet cozy atmosphere serves up some of our favorite (in a seemingly endless array) delicious dishes, which include: the prawn cheung fun, siew long bun, turnip cakes, and the French beans, to name a few. In addition to the dumplings, you can also order several different roasted items (duck, chicken, pork), congee (rice porridge soup), and a few choices of noodle dishes, such as the pulled mushroom noodles and one of the best won-ton soups this side of Shanghai. And the prices are not bad, ranging from $6-$22. Hakkasan is hands down the best
Sam Robin, Vladimir Kagan & Robin Hill
place to have dim sum in Miami, combining the "high class opium den" look and feel of the London original with top-notch service and dishes prepared to perfection.
NIKKI BEACH- FINE DINING SOUTH OF FIFTH Nikki Beach is known for many things: the serious Sunday afternooninto-Monday morning parties for South Beach locals; sun kissed, bikiniclad bodies lounging about from Marbella to St. Tropez to Koh Samui; claiming the #1 spot in Travel Channel’s “World’s Sexiest Beach Bar” list…but fine dining- not so much. Well it’s time to add exquisite dining experience to Nikki Beach’s offerings. Executive chef, Gerry Gnassi’s gourmet menu is available for lunch and dinner, and includes sushi, including a Maine Lobster Roll with mango and tobiko caviar, wood-oven gourmet pizzas, prime steaks and fresh seafood. Our top pick was the 2 ½ pound Australian lobster tail, which we dubbed the “Jurassic Park lobster.” We seriously wouldn’t want to run into this thing in the ocean but it was gloriously grilled on our plate, even though we could barely eat ¼ of it. Other favorites included the giant prawns and Chateaubriand for two (more like 4). The menu revamp is part of a comprehensive overhaul of the entire property, and definitely worth checking out.
Wade Hallock & D. Ashlee Harrison
Charles Cohen & Timothy DuPont
place at a private home on Fisher Island, A.K.A., “La Isla Bonita” immediately after the concert, featuring creative cocktails courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka, hors d’oeuvres, and a fusion of music by saxophonist, Jason Kush and DJ Roberto Castillo. The event is for members of “Friends of New World Symphony,” a group of young professionals with a mission to support the arts. “Friends” annual memberships range in price from $150 to $2500 and offer an in-depth experience with the country’s most talented musicians. For membership information, contact Stacey Glassman, stacey.glassman@nws.edu.
PRE-GAME SHOW
A number of high profile business minds and celebrities will be at the American Airlines Arena this Thursday through Saturday as they support local Miami Beach residents, JR and Loren Ridinger, who own the internet company Marketamerica.com and will welcome over 25,000 people to Miami to learn about the company's newest product launches and the economic opportunity offered to its independent business owners. Celebrities in attendance will include Eva Longoria Parker, Emilio Estefan, Scott Barnes, Scottie Pippen and Alonzo Mourning. The show will close Saturday at 6:30 pm with a performance by Grammy award winning artist Alejandro Sanz. Market America has just released a small number of tickets to this sold-out conference for $195 for all three days. For more information and to purchase tickets, email media@marketamerica.com.
The Eats Beats Cleats Gridiron Festival presented by Comcast will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 4 on Lincoln Road, featuring more than 75 current and former NFL All Stars, fan experiences and VIP events throughout the weekend. Expect to see NFL greats, who will be signing autographs, and national sports exhibits, including the Heisman, Super Bowl, World Series, IRL and NASCAR trophies, which will be in one place for the first time ever. Weekend and daily passports are available ($85-$350) by going to www.ebcmiami.com. The four-day festival presented by Comcast and sponsored by Lincoln Mercury, LandShark Lager, AirTran Airways, Bacardi, Gallo Wines, Coca Cola, Cundy Insurance, Miami magazine and Lincoln Financial Radio is set to dominate Lincoln Road the entire weekend. All proceeds benefit the Gridiron greats Assistance Fund. Also on Thursday, February 4, Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is hosting a “Haiti Relief Effort” event from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at his restaurant, Proof Ocean Drive, in the former Table 8 space. The Ricky Williams Foundation, a not-for-profit charity led by Ricky Williams supporting national and international communities in need, has joined forces with JBF Worldwide, NFL Players Association and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund to raise money and encourage relief efforts for the numerous victims suffering from the island’s recent and catastrophic earthquake. Guests will enjoy dinner prepared by Proof Ocean Drive’s executive chef Ivan Dorvil, cocktails and live music. Football fans will also be able to bid on items such as Super Bowl XLIV tickets, jerseys worn by their favorite players, genuine NFL memorabilia and a luxury time piece during the event’s silent and live auction. Guests are asked for a minimum donation of $100 to attend this event. Proof Ocean Drive is located inside the Z Ocean Hotel at 1458 Ocean Drive, South Beach.
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS:
“Friends of New World Symphony,” will showcase Bach on Saturday, January 30, at the Lincoln Theater. The “Authentic Incarnations” will highlight Bach and offer young patrons an introduction to the classics by the 87 New World Symphony Fellows. This event is a taste of what’s to come at the New World Symphony gala February 13. The after party takes
Saturday night, Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver, Santonio Holmes hung out at Kitchen 305 with rapper T-Pain, who drank shots of Nuvo shawty, made famous by his "Blame It On," hit song with Jamie Foxx. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco bowled and watched the playoffs at Lucky Strike on Sunday.
COMING UP MARKET AMERICA TAKES OVER THE AAA
Iran Issa-Khan & Vladimir Kagan
Mike Penrod and his wife, Jenya.jpg
“Jurassic Park Lobster” at Nikki Beach
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • January 28, 2010 • Page 15
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Bound COLUMN
If the River Was History Navigating the Thames
Japanese and Thai Specialties! "Enjoy Exotic Dishes of the Orient"
By John Hood
On the List: BOOKS AND BOOKS Indie Next List
Unique and provocative selections recommended by the independent booksellers of America. THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE by Salman Rushdie THE SECRET SCRIPTURE by Sebastian Barry HOW THE SOLDIER REPAIRS THE GRAMOPHONE by Sasa Stanisic CHOSEN FOREVER: A MEMOIR by Susan Richards CHURCH OF THE DOG by Kaya McLaren THE SISTER by Poppy Adams HOUSE & HOME by Kathleen McCleary HOUSE RULES: A Joe DeMarco Thriller by Mike Lawson TIME IS A RIVER by Mary Alice Monroe THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE by David Wroblewski TELEX FROM CUBA by Rachel Kushner AMERICA AMERICA by Ethan Canin OXYGEN by Carol Wiley Cassella THE CONDITION by Jennifer Haigh WHAT WAS LOST by Catherine O'Flynn HIT AND RUN (John Keller Mysteries) by Lawrence Block
Okay, the Nile might lead us back to ancient Egypt, the Yangtze might flow for the future, and the Mississippi will always have Huck and Jim. But of all the world’s great rivers, none has perhaps played as important a part in all world events as the River Thames. Forget the fact that it’s only 215 miles long (and not even the longest river in the United Kingdom). Because what’s coursed down this slow and steady stream is nothing short of the course of history. If you have any doubts, reading Peter Ackroyd’s Thames: The Biography (Anchor $20) will immediately dispel them. Ackroyd, who’s probably most famous for his biography of London, also has to his credit bios of Chaucer and Shakespeare and Dickens and Eliot, so he’s an old hand at spinning the essence of a life. Here he goes one further, and shows how the Thames is responsible for life itself. The Thames, of course, is central to London. “It brought its trade,” writes Ackroyd, “and in so doing lent beauty, squalor, wealth and dignity to the city.” In fact, he continues, “London could never have existed without the Thames.” Naturally, its history is also central to England, or, “the Britons and the Romans, the Saxons and the Danes and the Normans and the other migrating groups who decided to settle somewhere along its banks.” And there’s where the whole wild world comes in. Forget the past 12,000 years — which is the “unbroken process of occupation and settlement in the Thames Valley” — because humankind has been along this river for half a million years. That’s when “the denizens of the Old Stone Age or Paleolithic era” set up encampments along the banks. And though these beings remain a “people without history,” the fact that their existence “covers the longest period of human survival in the history of the world” surely must count for something. But if you’re like me, you like things a little more modern — or at least with some kinda name recognition. And here Ackroyd gets going grandly, from
THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS:
Julius Caesar’s second invasion in 54 B.C. to Sir Walter Raleigh’s Tower of London jail cell writing of The History of the World in 1610. There’s Virgina Woolf and “The Docks of London” (1931); there’s Longfellow and Tennyson and the fourth Duke of Queensbury. And there are the swans, which once swam by the thousands, and have been immortalized by Milton and Wordsworth, Browning and Keats, among others. And of that history? Well aside from the legions of marauders that have used the Thames to make their play for Britain, there’s Britain’s influence on the world. In Daniel Defoe’s days, for instance (early 18th century), 2,000 vessels could be found on the Thames on any one day. And it’s a bet that those vessels brought with them the makings of a British Empire. But even “by the twelfth century,” writes Ackroyd, “it was already an ancient port.” And it trafficked in goods from Norway and Russia to Babylon and Scythia. There were occasions, however (40 to be exact), when no boats sailed on the Thames, because the river was solid ice. And recounting those occasions is Helen Humphreys in a wondrous little book entitled, simply, The Frozen Thames (Delacorte $22). Now for anyone who might think that a river’s freezing doesn’t really rank on the list of things worth writing about, let me assure you that Humphreys obliterates that notion in one fell swoop. Make that 40 swoops, of poetic grace and sheer beauty. That the vignettes here tend to concern themselves with preventing King William’s window tax, a headless Charles I, Queen Matilda attempting to flee, and lovers meeting out on the ice during the plague years (among other sundries), only makes the work that much more graceful and beautiful. These were the proverbial times that tried a person’s soul, and here they’re exquisitely rendered. It’s not every day I devote myself to a river; nor should it be. But to come across not one but two books that so devotedly cover the course of a certain sweep of water is to come across the river itself. And if I can walk on water, even for a day, well, hell, why wouldn’t I?
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Cary cont’d from page 11 calls. “I realized that I had to help her maintain her quality of life, so I moved to Florida.” After a couple of years in business with his brother, Cary spotted an advertisement placed by the city. He said he was very fortunate to have then been offered the position as Miami Beach’s first and, to date, only director of historic preservation. “The city has done an extraordinary job with preservation,” Cary said. Humble and gracious, Cary is quick to credit city leaders and, in particular, his staff for the successes of the past 15 years.
CARY WITH DON WORTH. RIGHT: HOFFMAN’S CAFETERIA NOW KNWN AS JERRYS DELI. FAR RIGHT: NANCY LIEBMAN. FAR RIGHTBELOW: A VIEW OF SOUTH BEACH.
“This recognition is really about my entire staff,” Cary said. “Several people mentioned the staff and that’s great because they all do warrant the recognition,” Worth said. Still, certainly in the early years of Cary’s tenure, he had to put that staff together and lead a sometimesdubious city government down the preservation path. But the city did follow that path. Cary cites as preservation’s first major success under his tenure, the designation of the Ocean Beach Historic District from First Street to Sixth Street. It was the first time the city declared a district historic without national recognition already in place. “It was a major battle,” Cary remembers. “When it happened, it was probably the happiest day of my career in Miami Beach.” It was also a warranted move. As Cary uncovered in preparation for that designation, Ocean Beach was actually home to the city’s first hotel, Brown’s Hotel. “Ocean Beach was the city’s first subdivision,” Cary said. “At the time, it was viewed as being a seaside resort for the proletariat.” Following the Ocean Beach victory, Cary said there was “a certainty that if historic buildings were going to be demolished, there had to be an application process.” “Historic designation began spreading all over,” Cary said. Since Ocean Beach, Cary has successfully led the efforts for local designation of five different areas, inPage 18 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
cluding the Morris Lapidus Mid 20th Century District, which was approved just late last year after some four years in progress. Normandy Isle and North Shore Districts have also been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places during Cary’s tenure. Ironically, Cary noted, historic preservation was actually a tool for development. The very development and landowner interests that initially opposed preservation efforts, benefited exponentially as a result of preservation and also from the city’s vaunted Art Deco reputation. At the January 19th dinner, Cary regaled the audience with the story of his career. Many did not know about his fascination with east African historic communities, his years spent in Samoa and elsewhere in the South Pacific with the Peace Corps, the way he had passed on his own potential career in architecture in the name of preserving the history of others. “He had the place mesmerized with the stories of his background,” Liebman said. “You know how at events, people can get bored. That wasn’t the case. It wasn’t just another event. We were all really fascinated.” Liebman said that Cary really validated preservation in the city. It has paid off for Miami Beach in many ways. “It’s really something about which people can be proud,” she said. “Preservation is institutionalized here as it is not in other cities.” To his credit, Cary said he was mostly embarrassed by the recognition. “Preservation is not the work of one person — it’s a collaborative effort,” Cary said. “I’ve been blessed to work with wonderful people. There are so many others. I am just a momentary custodian. This is really a tribute to the strength of how people feel about their city. They understand what a wonderful place it is to live and to work. Really, it’s just a privilege to be associated with that.” Still, Cary recognizes that there are challenges ahead. Among these are maintaining the strength of regulations protecting districts and projects for Lincoln Park and Collins Park. He also wants to ensure the designation of the city’s monuments and fountains and there are, of course, other historic parts of the city to consider. The dinner in his honor was just a brief moment away from Cary’s ongoing efforts to help Miami Beach maintain and treasure its past. These days, though, Cary gets routine breaks from his work when he returns to his home. That environment has changed of late as well, as his Seacoast Towers home
falls within the boundaries of the latest historic district. “Can you believe it? I finally live in a historic area officially.”
COVER STORY
Hold Your Horses Cavalia Rides into Miami By John Hood Anyone who’s been on Biscayne Boulevard over the last week or so has seen a series of white tents rising up on the grounds of Bicentennial Park. The spread is dominated by a mammoth structure — the Big Top — which is some 110 feet tall, spans more than 26,264 feet, and brings to mind nothing if not the Arabian Nights or some other tall-tale fantasy epic. But of course it’s what’s within those tents that’s got all of Miami agog. In case you’re one of the few who haven’t yet heard, it’s Cavalia. And it is spectacular. Created by Cirque du Soleil co-founder Normand Latourelle, whose last visit to our town was with Cirque Réinventé in 1989, Cavalia is Cirque gone equestrian — and then some. According to the fact sheet, the show “features 12 different breeds of horses, including Arabians, Lusitanos, Spanish Pure Breed, Quarter Horses and Paint Horses from France, Canada, Spain and the United States.” And astride and aside those horses is a 40-person troupe representing the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Portugal and Russia. In its six years of existence, Cavalia has been seen by more than 2.5 million people. In Miami, it sold out its initial two-week run and was extended a third
week; then a fourth. That’s great news for Cavalia, of course, but it’s also great news for the folks at the Adrienne Arsht Center, who are marking their first off-site co-production. It’s even greater news for Miami, which gets to see the kinda world-class action we’ve been meant to see all along. There’s an array of vast action taking place throughout the two-hour show, and to reveal any of its content
would be to give away the secret. We can tell you that Larry King calls it “the best show [he’s] ever seen,” that Oprah Magazine says it’s “breathtaking,” and that the Los Angeles Times writes, “With high flying acrobatics and dazzling visual effects, this show is a sight to behold.” We can also tell you that it took 150 people 12 days to erect Cavalia’s glistening village, and that the behemoth tour not only employs 120 full-time staffers, it
hires 200 in each city it hits. We can tell you it takes 100 trucks to move all the trappings, and that the trappings include a 210-foot-wide screen backdrop and a 160-foot-wide stage, which is the width of a regulation NFL football field. We can also add that it took another 100 trucks to bring in all the sand and the dirt required to build said stage. We should also add that Cavalia would not be extending its Miami run if the Magic City wasn’t entirely enthralled with what great spectacle there is to behold: acrobats and magic, trick riding and dressage, a high-flying ballet of truly incredible dimension. But don’t take our word for it, let alone the word of the thousands of your neighbors who’ve already thronged the site. See and experience this once in a lifetime event for yourself. You deserve it. And so does Miami. IF YOU GO: Cavalia runs through February 12 at Bicentennial Park. Showtimes are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.cavalum. Regular tickets are priced from $34 to $89.50. (There are also VIP options.) For more information call 866-9998111 or visit Cavalia.net.
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • January 28, 2009 • Page 19
Calendar WHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK
January 30-31
This 20-piece orchestra, formed in 1969 in Havana, Cuba, has reshaped salsa music over the past forty years by adding and fusioning rich elements of the Caribbean. Afro-Cuban drumming, and modern instruments like electric guitars, violins, synthesizers and salsa and rock/pop elements. $112, $87 & $62. 7pm. James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami. For info: 305-416-5970.
ART Miami Beach Festival of the Arts 150 artists from across the nation exhibit paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics, jewelry, and photographs. This year’s festival poster art, Miami Sunset,” is by Kiss bandmember Paul Stanley. The original painting, will be auctioned to support Arts for Learning’s after-school programs. A '40s, '50s and '60s dance party to celebrate the historic designation of two beach MiMo districts. 6pm Sat., North Beach Bandshell, 7250 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. 10am. Ocean Terrace, Collins Avenue and 73rd Street, Miami. For info: 305-673-7577 or miamibeachfestivalofthearts.com.
February 1
COCKTAILS The Blissful Sixty Want a little extra time to relax at happy hour? Well Happy Hour at Area 31 runs for two hours of $5 drinks and $6 nibbles. Monday through Friday from 5 - 7 p.m. Area 31, 270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami. For info: 305-424-5234 or area31restaurant.com
January 23
MUSIC Shelbourne Sing-a-Song
February 1
Sing your little heart out at the Shelbourne Beach Resort Sing-a-Song. Yes, we mean with karaoke. Knock back some delicious cocktails, choose from hundreds of songs, do some wiggling, knock back more cocktails, sing another song and have a great, great time. Hosted by Ronnie Leonard. 10pm. Every Sunday. Shelborne Beach Resort, 1801 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305-531-1271.
CLUB Reggae Night Features performance by Jean P. Jams (Deep Roots) and dancehall in the back room with DJ Governor Lee & DJ Junior Green. 11pm. Purdy Lounge, 1811 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach. For info: purdylounge.com.
January 31
February 2
SPORTS Pro Bowl
ART Paintings and Palettes
Moved from Hawaii to Miami, this sports event caps the football season. All-star annual contest between American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC). The Honor Society will perform at the pregame show and the national anthem. 7:30pm. $50-$195. Sun Life Stadium, 2269 Dan Marino Blvd. Miami Gardens. For info: 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
MUSIC Los Van Van
February 1 Yo, Yo! Ne-Yo
FOOD Jazz Brunch
January 31
Exhibition of new works by Maimi artist Marcos Valella; through Feb. 21. Farside Gallery, 1305 SW 87th Ave. Miami.
MUSIC
January 31
Chefs from Thailand, China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Singapore prepare authentic flavors of Asia. Along with American and European breakfast classics. Every Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm. $68.00 Adults includes unlimited Taittinger Champagne, Brut Prestige and Bloody Mary's. $30.00 Children up to 12. Valet Parking $15. The Restaurant at the Setai, 2001 Collins Ave. South Beach. For info: 305-520-6400 or setai.com.
EDWIN OUTWATER
Catch pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and occasional rapper Ne-Yo when he hits town for a one-night only performance. Besides performing his own music for his Top Ten hits including Miss Independent, Because of You, So Sick, and Closer, Ne-Yo is also the mastermind behind charttopping hits for performers Beyoncé and Rihanna. Show opens with Jagged Edge and Verse Simmonds. 8pm. Knight Concert Hall, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. For info: arshtcenter.org.
February 4 FAR ABOVE: MIGIE, MARCUS VALELLA. ABOVE: MARLENE DIETRICH IN MOROCCO. RIGHT: MMM...CHOCOLATE
Cuba’s biggest, funkiest dance orchestra, Los Van Van returns to Miami for a one-night performance. Page 20 • Thursday, January 14, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
FILM Morocco The films of Joseph Von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich will be shown through February at the Miami Beach Cinematheque. Kicking it off is Morocco starring Dietrich, Gary Cooper and Adolphe Menjou. What cabaret singer Amy Jolly (Marlene Dietrich) hopes will be a sizzling romance with shy, but stunningly handsome solider Tom Brown (Gary Cooper) fizzles in the Moroccan desert, so Amy pursues the attentions of Monsieur La Bessiere (Adolphe Menjou) in this sultry, moody romance. 8:30pm. Miami Beach Cinematheque, 512 Espanola Way, Miami Beach. For info: 305-673-4567 or mbcinema.com.
Arts COLUMN
Trailer Park Sparks and Hubcap Art By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) Photos: M. Gil
Looking for some raucous fun? Singing, yelling, beer drinking, tank-top donning, rebel flag waving, red neckin’, trash echoing, etc. — it’s all there at the Miracle Theatre and it’s all tremendous fun. The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a “MUST SEE” production. Easily a mix between South Park and Desperate Housewives, this fun, riotous, sexy, bawdy, R-rated musical is seasoned with a murderous ex-boyfriend, a bighearted stripper and a chorus of trailer park divas residing in Armadillo. It’s a hysterically funny musical extravaganza that you really shouldn’t miss. This production has great songs, fantastic singers and an unforeseeable outcome. And… in the lobby area, expect an unbelievable art exhibition that easily compliments the Trailer Park production, created by former rocker Kathy Gibson. This wild-haired blond is part of the Miracle Theatre staff. Always present and always smiling, Gibson is responsible for the Miracle’s present art show and trust me — it’s unique and noteworthy. On view, Gibson’s painted hubcaps. Yep… hubcaps! And they are fantastic. The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Details: actorsplayhouse.org or call 305-444-9293.
LEFT: ARTIST KATHY GIBSON WHO PAINTED ALL OF THE HUBCAPS.
Art News Matta: A Retrospective at the Gary Nader Fine Art By Marguerite Gil (megs@famae.org) Gary Nader will be showing an outstanding selection of works by Chilean Master Artist Roberto Matta through Feb. 16, 2010. The retrospective will focus on the formative years of the artist’s career, particularly the decades of the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Included in the show: abstract pieces that appear as ethereal states of Matta’s mind. Expect to view vibrant and elegant paintings as well as more violent and obscure works. Some of the creations also translate his canvases into the artist’s very unique spatial universe. After studying to be an architect in Chile, Matta embarked to Europe. In Paris he was a sketcher of Le Corbusier, and worked with Walter Gropius and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. Later Dali encouraged him to integrate with the surrealists. Duchamp made him understand the challenge in using a static medium. It is said that at the age of 30, Matta had invented everything. From working in abstracts, he returned to the working with the human form with all its contradictions and dismemberments. For the artist there only remained the verification of the incessant change that gave unparalleled mobility to his paintings. Gary Nader fine art is located at 62 NE 27th St., Miami. Details: 305-576-0256 or visit garynader.com
www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • January 28, 2009 • Page 21
Fashion COLUMN
Getting Stoned By Jennifer Fragoso (fragosofashion@aim.com)
From the pen of Jule Styne to Marilyn Monroe’s lips in the film version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, the words “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” have never rung more true than in The Letter. A short film directed by Laurence Dunmore, starring Thandie Newton and Jason Isaacs, it showcases jewelry designer Solange Azagury-Partridge’s latest collection, “Stoned.” The fiveminute short is a visual exploration of the love and lust women have for fine jewelry. It opens with Newton’s character plucking all of her baubles from red velvet cases and packing them into a duffle bag before leaving her husband for her lover. Just before walking out on her husband, Newton’s character slips off her engagement ring and leaves it behind with a note. In the end, faced with deciding between her lover and her ring, the character realizes nothing spells comfort like cushion cut and returns for the cognac-colored diamond ring she left on the bedside table. The collection is as intoxicating as a love affair and the film transports you to that place we all know too well — breaking up. The Real Fake heart ring will make you gasp with the ecstasy you felt when you had your first kiss, while the Stoned Woman pendant will remind you of how you fell to the floor when you knew the relationship was finally over. Each piece in the collection is stunning and designer Azagury-Partridge, known for her enamel lip rings, triumphs innovation by showcasing the “Stoned” collection on film. Log on to www.solangeazagurypartridge.com for more details on the “Stoned” collection and to watch The Letter.
ABOVE: HOT LIPS. LEFT: RAINBOW EARRINGS FROM THE STONED COLLECTION BY SOLANGE AZAGURY-PARTRIDGE. BELOW: GATEKEEPER CHOKER
ABOVE: THE STONED NECKLACE. ABOVE LEFT: THANDIE NEWTON IN THE LETTER. LEFT: OLD FASHIONED EMERALDS. FAR LEFT: A SCENE FROM THE LETTER.
Page 22 • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com
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www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, January 28, 2010 • Page 23