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One Island Place, Aventura Unobstructed Ocean &
Intracoastal views. 2-story 8,879 sf pnthse. 5bd/7ba,
approx. 5,200 sfof balconies & priv. rooftop terrace, 5
underground prkg spaces incl. $2.895M also for rent.


Bay Harbor Islands Wide bay residence of renowned
architect Barry Sugerman, featured in Florida Design,
Southern Living, Casa & Estilo, HGTV & Miami Herald.
Open & spacious floorplan overlooking pool, patio,
bay&fabulousviews. $2.975M


Champlain Towers Unique opportunity. Meticulously
designed, 2 units combined to form approx. 3500 sf,
4bd/3.5ba, panoramic direct ocean & city views from
every room. Greatamenities and location. $1.45M


Bal Harbour Village Exquisite renderings and Golden Isles Mediterranean waterfront in 24hrguard
detailed plans for last remaining waterfront lot in Bal gated comm. 5/5.5, vaulted ceilings, wood burning
Harbour Village. Approx. 7,500 sf on 20,500 sf lot, marble fireplace, gourmet kit., marble firs, salt-
protected waters. Motivated seller. $4.5M system pool,Jacuzzi,summer kit.&a 65' dock. $2.3M


4


Keystone Point Boca style home with high volume
ceilings, marble floors, 4bd/3.5ba, oversized water-
front lot with dock & pool. Tropical landscaped
yard,2-cargarage.$1.595M


Terraces of Turnberry Unique 2 story townhouse is Sans Souci Estates 2-story California style waterfront
like a home wall the amenities of a full service bldg. home. Great floor plan 3,650 sf per appraisal. 4/3.5,
Direct water views, eat-in kitchen w/breakfast rm pool and spa, newwooddeckand dock.$899K
overlooking waterway, wet bar,all amenities. $699K

SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES) 0 '
.^^\.^LvN4Z-%kV


...........yei Timeks (305) aye~ms~o September 2012esir(3 5 581 0
..............



..............;
;.............


SBB-I


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012

























My
American
Idols with
Kimberley
Locke
I Dec 7-8


Wiesenthal:
The
Conscience
of the
Holocaust
I Mar 13-17


Forbidden
Broadway
I Jan 4-5





The
Capitol
Steps
I Mar 20-24


Cirque
d'Amour
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Neil
Simon's
Biloxi
Blues
I Mar 29


September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


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September 2012



































































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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012












I Ex ibiin


Mary Brckell Village Meet Your Neighbors
Opening reception of Jamie
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& Orange Shadow


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"La Bestia" photographs
by Isabel Munoz
Not Me:
Subject to Change

Rashid Johnson

"The Guayabera:
A Shirt's Story"

Jean Chiang:
A Journey Called Life

"Shutter"
Jamie Warren and Elena Sisto
"Shelf Life"
by Michelle Weinberg


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Historic Alfred I.
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curated byColin Foord
Construct Addictive Patterns
by artist A.G. Viva

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Freedom Tower
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Unveiling College
Event 11am [Wolfson Campus]

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[Wolfson Campus]


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" the end I Radio"
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Concert
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byJacqueline Briceiio

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2:30pm


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11:30am- at the Gusman
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Noon-9pm Miami-Dade
Public Library
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5:30-
7:30pm

5:30-
7:30pm

6-7pm


7pm



8pm


Vagabond


HistoryMiami
at Mary
Brickell Village


McCormick Place Grand
Opening & Miami City Ballet
Season Opening Party




Historic Olympia
Theater Tour


Rashid Johnson:
Message ToOur Folks


A tour of "New Acquisitions"
and the permanent collection


Brickell to Miami
Circle Walking Tour


Friday at Vagabond


8-Midnight




10am,
2pm and
4pm


12:30pm



2pm



6pm



10am-
9pm

1-4pm


7-9pm


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onwards


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Espanol Miami
Cisneros
Foundation
HistoryMiami
Cultural Plaza

Miami Art Museum
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Miami Dade Public
Library
Cultural Plaza

Freedom Tower

Historic ALfred I.
Dupont Building
Historic Alfred I.
Dupont Building


I Sp-cilEens


Southeast
Financial Center
Bayfront Park


"La Bestia" photographs
by Isabel Mufoz

Not Me: Subject to Change

"The Guayabera:
A Shirt's Story"

Rashid Johnson


Jean Chiang:
A Journey Called Life

"Shutter"
Jamie Warren and Elena Sisto

DWNTWN Art Window

"Shelf Life"by
Michelle Weinberg


Made in Miami Video Art
curated by Colin Foord
Art in the Park


IMIAMIDDA
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY


Miami Dade
College
9am5pm Wolfson Campus]
9am-5pm
Bayfront Park
Noon-5pm at E Flagler Street

Artisan Lounge
Noon-5pm
HistoryMiami
Cultural Plaza
Noon-5pm Cisneros
Foundation/
LegalArt Miami
Noon-5pm
Wine by the Bay

Noon-5pm HistoryMiami
Cultural Plaza
Ongoing Miami Children's
Museum
Ongoing
OMiami Art
Museum
Cutturat Plaza

9am-6pm Adrienne Arsht
Center for the
Performing Arts
9am-8pm
Adrienne Arsht
Center for the
Performing Arts


Open House for the
Prometeo Children's Theatre

"Picnic Blanket"
by Misael Soto
Artist Talk and Presentation
by ALejandro Mendoza
Construct Addictive Patterns
by artist A.G. Viva

Kickball match

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Editions 2011 and 2012

Family Fun Days

MCM's 9th Birthday
Celebration

Second Saturday are
free for Families

"Party at the new aquarium"
by Amy von Harrington

" The end I Radio"
by PattiHer


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10am-2pm Centerforthe
Performing Arts

11am-8pm Miami Dade
am-8p College
[Wolfson Campus]


"Here///Data Mosh"
byJillian Mayer

"Mujeres de Shakespeare"
by Jacqueline Briceiio


11am-noon


Noon-5pm Olympia Theate
at the Gusman
Center for the
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Beached Miami

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Noon-5pm

Artisan Lounge
1-4pm
Christopher Carter

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Calderon Studio


3pm- 6pm


Vagabond


Historic Olympia Theater Tour


Family Day Exhibition Tour:
Rashid Johnson
DWNTWN Art Days bike tour

Free Tours + Families Tour



Artist Open Studios
Visit the studio of
DWNTWN artist
Visit the studio of
DWNTWN artist


Dance Ritual
featuring Louis Vega


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Artist Open
Artisan Lounge Studios

Christopher Carter Visit the studio of
ChristopherCarter DWNTWN artist

Artisan Lounge Artist Open Studio Reception


Ongoing


8pm


10am, 2pm
and 4pm


2pm

4-7pm
11am,
noon and
1pm


10-9pm

1-4pm

3-5pm



10pm
onwards


[AHfterParty


Art Tours


r


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012



















x4 Tuscany Meets Miami
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September 201329 7718 Times C305


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com







CONTENTS

COVER STORY
32 Lost in a Rising Sea
COMMENTARY
12 Feedback: Letters
20 Jack King: Summertime Elections
24 Christian Cipriani: All About the Weather
24 Craig Chester: Miami's Big City Past
OUR SPONSORS
26 BizBuzz
COMMUNITY NEWS
46 The Building That Ate Greynolds Park
46 Roll 'Em! Movies Return to the Shores
47 MOCA Goes to Public Well, Comes Up Dry
47 Fire the Minister, Ignite the Congregation
48 Class Conflict: Aventura Charter Schools
NEIGHBORHOOD CORRESPONDENTS
60 Gaspar: Conjunction Junction
62 Frank: The Morning After (the Election)
64 Wendy: Worse Than Their Bite
66 Shari Lynn: Get on the Bus
68 Mark: Satellite Campus
70 Jen: My House Is Your House
ART & CULTURE
72 Anne Tschida: 0 Cinema Indie Screen Star
74 Melissa Wallen: Galleries + Museums
77 Events Calendar
POLICE REPORTS
78 Derek McCann's Biscayne Crime Beat
PARK PATROL
80 Jim W. Harper: Diamond in the Rough
COLUMNISTS
82 Picture Story: Real Estate Boom, Congested Streets
83 Your Garden: Growing on Trees
84 Going Green: Changing Course
86 Pawsitively Pets: Lifestyles of the Rich and Furry
88 Vino: Aussie Wines that Hit and Miss the Mark
89 Dish: Zooming Out of Zuma
DINING GUIDE
90 Restaurant Listings: 296 Biscayne Corridor Restaurants


1 -p-F lccre.w ed


P SSSRO"
ICIe get


BISCAYNE e


PO Box 370566, Miami, FL 33137 www.biscaynetimes.com
Serving communities along the Biscayne Corridor: Arch Creek East, Aventura, Bay Point, Bayside, Biscayne
Park, Belle Meade, Buena Vista, Coventry, Design District, Downtown, Eastern Shores, Edgewater, El Portal,
Enchanted Lake, Hibiscus Island, Highland Lakes, Keystone Point, Miami Shores, Morningside, North
Greynolds, North Bay Island, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Oak Forest, Oakland Grove, Palm Grove,
Palm Island, Sans Souci, Shorecrest, Sky Lake, Sparling Lake, Star Island, Wynwood, and Venetian Islands


PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Jim Mullin
jim.mullin@biscaynetimes.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Erik Bojnansky Senior Writer
erik.bojnansky@biscaynetimes.com
Anne Tschida, Arts Editor
anne.tschida@biscaynetimes.com
Pamela Robin Brandt, Crystal Brewe,
Terence Cantarella, Christian Cipriani,
Bill Citara, Karen-Janine Cohen, Wendy
Doscher-Smith, Gaspar Gonzalez,
Margaret Griffis, Jim W. Harper, Lisa
Hartman, Jen Karetnick, Derek McCann,
Frank Rollason, Silvia Ros,
Shari Lynn Rothstein-Kramer, Mark Sell,
Jeff Shimonski, Melissa Wallen


BUSINESS MANAGER
Sal Monterosso
sal.monterosso@biscaynetimes.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Marc Ruehle
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nancy.newhart@biscaynetimes.com
Lynn Bovd
lynn.bove@biscaynetimes.com
ART DIRECTOR
Marcy Mock
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ADVERTISING DESIGN
DP Designs
production@biscaynetimes.com
CIRCULATION
South Florida Distributors
PRINTING
Stuart Web, Inc.
www.stuartweb.com


FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 305-756-6200
All articles, photos, and artwork in the Biscayne Times are copyrighted by Biscayne Media, LLC. Any duplication or reprinting
without authorized wntten consent from the publisher is prohibited.


0 u

\ E


Serving the medical needs of the Miami Beach
community for more than 35 years


Miami Beach Community Health Center North 11645 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 103-104, Miami, FL, 33181

305-538-8835 www iaibeachhealh.org I ealthcare made ea


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012







We Sell Homes. We Care. [eorgee &Company
REAL ESTATE



Georgee has placed more families in new homes on

Miami's Northeast Corridor than any other real estate agent.


"Our home sold in
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Who will you call to sell your home?

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Keller Williams Realty 700 NE 90th St. Miami, FL 33138 1


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com













































































































10 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012







"WATER FRONT ISMYBUSINESS"


List with me and sell it FAST!


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SAN......I.ESTATES . .............
OWNER WILL FINANCE
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September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com










BISCAYNE

DENTAL CENTER


14771 Biscayne Blvd.
North Miami Beach, FL 33181
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305.945.7745



Yourl OnisIle] Sto Sile Sh~1io]p~


Commentary: LETTERS


Oscar, We Hear You Loud and
Clear and in High Fidelity Stereo
I enjoyed Gaspar Gonzdlez's cover story on
Roy Wright and his North Miami business
repairing old console stereos ("For the Love
of Audio," August 2012). There is definitely a
growing interest in vintage audio equipment.
I wanted to say that Roy Wright is not
the only person in our area who specializes
in this work. I also have a business selling
and restoring vintage record players and
radios. It's called Spin Alley Vintage Pho-
nographs and Radios. You can learn more
at my website: www.spinalleystore.com.
Oscar Herrera
Miami

South Dade Boring? Not When I
Was Growing Up There
In Wendy Doscher-Smith's column
"Freaky Meeting You Here," August 2012),
she asks this question: "Was southern
Dade always a bastion of boredom?"
I would say that, as a youngster
growing up there, at that time for me, the
answer was No.
Like her, I went to Southwood, then
Palmetto (think I'm a couple of years ahead
of her), now currently live farther north, and
rarely venture down south The few times
I do head that way, it does seem like it has
become filled with yuppies and white-picket
fence families. Not that there's anything
wrong with that, but I see her point.
While I was growing up down south,
there was no "Pinecrest" as we know it
today. I knew it as Perr-ine on the east side
and the other side of U.S. 1 as PEA-rrine.
Either way, it didn't matter because
my experience there was that no matter
on which side of U.S.1 you lived, ev-
eryone was friends. At least in my own
experience that was the case.
I highly value my experience grow-
ing up in a true melting pot of people from
different backgrounds and cultures, because
we all meshed fine and it forever made
me feel most comfortable when around a
mixture of people. Ironically I also had a
serious boyfriend from a couple of decades
ago who used to live in the Westchester area,
yet always looked to the area of The Falls
and south of that as the place to be. I believe
he now lives in Pinecrest with his family in
a large home, much larger than the homes
used to be in that area while we were there.
These days I can't bring myself to
venture into "Southland Mall" because
to me, ever since it stopped being Cutler
Ridge Mall in the aftermath of Hurri-
cane Andrew, it was no longer the mall I
hung out at on many occasions.


I also have no desire to ever live south
of South Miami at the very farthest.
Also I love the fact that Miami is finally
starting to build more of an art scene.
Pam Weiss
North Miami

Downtown a Nightlife Hot Spot?
Back Then, Yes
What a wonderfully enjoyable article on
the Vagabond Motel and the Vagabonds
Club (A Tale of Two Vagabonds," August
2012). Thanks to Terence Cantarella for
such a well-researched piece, complete
with great historical photos and promotion-
al images from the pasts of both places.
It's hard to imagine a time when you
could apparently stroll along Biscayne
Boulevard downtown and pass the Freedom
Tower and nightclubs, since it now resembles
a superhighway lined by looming condos.
Anyway, thanks for that article and
keep up the good work!
Jesse Walters, councilman
Miami Shores Village

Vagabond Mythology Laid To
Rest At Last
Thanks to Terence Cantarella for a great
story about "The Way It Wasn't" at the Vaga-
bond. It prompted me to finally remember the
business connectionbetween Sydney Gold-
berg, [who built the Vagabond Motel], and
the Vagabonds act. Goldberg had a business
interest in the Clover Club, the downtown
Miami venue where the Vagabonds appeared
before they opened their own club.
The Vagabonds Club building on
Biscayne Boulevard and NE 8th Street
was originally built as the clubhouse for
the American Legion's Harvey Seeds Post
in the early 1920s. The Harvey Seeds Post
moved to what is now Legion Park in 1934.
Keep up the good work.
Antolin Carbonell
Upper Eastside

Walmart: Like Cramming a
Bowling Ball into a Tea Cup
The meaning behind Christian Cipriani's
column about a Walmart coming to
Midtown Miami is elusive ("The Devil's
Merchant," August 2012), but apparently
he dislikes people who dislike Walmart
more than he dislikes Walmart itself. In
any case, I agree with some of his points:
Midtown is not posh.
Wynwood has evolved whereas Mid-
town was built "in one fell swoop."
Image is important in retail, and
sometimes image doesn't correlate with
Continued on page 16


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


(Biscayne Dental Center')


Dr. Edgar Karim Lopez
Dr. Edgar Karim Lopez is a
Dr. Edgar Karim Lopez is a
graduate of the University of
Miami where he obtained his
Bachelor of Arts in 1995. He
then proceeded to pursue his
dental degree at the
University of Florida School
of Dentistry, graduating class
of 2001.

His areas of interest are
cosmetic dentist and oral
surgery. Dr. Lopez is a very
dedicated professional
dentist, who focuses on his
patient's needs and comfort.


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012










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Commentary: LETTERS


Letters
Continued from page 12

business practices.
I don't describe Walmart as evil. That's not
a word I toss around casually as an adjective.
I'm opposed to a big Walmart in
Midtown because it's too big, and I
also think that mammoth size might be
detrimental to neighboring Wynwood. I
would not object to a Walmart "Neigh-
borhood Market," which is smaller.
As Grant Stern indicates, "many
have worked hard" to make Midtown
and Wynwood what they are now.
Changes can happen, of course, but
shouldn't we at least try not to mess up?
John Chellino
Miami

Walmart: Loathed by the Left,
Loved by the Left Out
I've read countless articles and letters to
the editor about the coming apocalypse
- namely, Walmart at Midtown Miami.
I end up reading the same arguments
over and over again, and I'm dumbfound-
ed as to how blatantly racist people are.
Not in our neighborhood! We don't want
those kind of people in our little slice of
hipster heaven.
So who is the Walmart shopper? Mi-
norities! Blacks and Hispanics! Low-in-
comers on government programs. In other
words, the base of the Democratic Party.
So I am always puzzled as to why
the Left hates Walmart so much. Where
do they want these people to shop,
Whole Foods-Apple-Nordstrom's?
Yes, the caring Left is so very con-
cerned about the downtrodden, but only
from a distance as they sip their lattes at
Starbucks, reading on their iPad about our
unfair society, all the while disavowing the
majority of their base.
I hope Walmart opens and opens soon.
I am a Walmart shopper and am tired of
schlepping all the way up to 163rd Street.
In this day and age, who wants to
get price-gouged when you can buy
the same goods and services in a clean
and friendly environment for a lot less
money. And that's not to mention all the
jobs that Walmart will bring to the area.
Pity those Lefty store and restaurant
owners who only want a specific kind
of customer roaming the sacred liberal
grounds of Midtown Miami.
Welcome, Walmart! Let the fire-
works begin!
Bobbi Fendi
Miami Shores


Walmart: As Prices Rise,
Success Is Guaranteed
I read "The Devil's Merchant" and
must say that we would love to have a
Walmart in our Midtown area and avoid
a 20-mile trip to shop at their nearest
store, where the varieties and prices beat
all other merchants and recently, all
others grocery stores.
Prices in Miami are already very
high, and they going up, especially at
Publix.
As for Target, where I have shopped
many times well, compared to
Walmart they are almost a small retailer
with very limited products and almost
nothing when it comes to clothes for kids
and adults. Also, Target's employees at
the Midtown store are aggressive and
careless.
I invite Biscayne Times readers to
visit others stores and compare, as I have
done. You'll find that Walmart will be
welcome in Midtown Miami and it will
be a big success.
Karl de Borbon
Edgewater

Goodbye Grass, Hello Ylang Ylang
I loved Jim Harper's article about reject-
ing grass lawns ("Taking a Pass on
Grass," August 2012), and now I feel I've
been redeemed.
I thought I was alone in my Belle
Meade neighborhood of leaf blowers, weed
wackers, lawn mowers, and big rigs not
to mention the horrible pesticide and herbi-
cide poisoning that goes on. Most people are
in denial about that. How many animals are
getting cancer from this poisoning regimen?
And what is this poison runoff doing to the
waters of Biscayne Bay?
When I remove ficus or other inva-
sive species, I find that the indigenous
and endemic plants in my garden do fine.
In the gardening world, this is called
natural gardening, neo-vernacular style,
wild gardening, picturesque, journey
gardening, new American gardening, or
the current term: Zeroscape.
I take my lead from a wonderful Belle
Meade garden at a home that proudly dis-
plays a "wildlife certification" sign out front.
The money saved from planting this type
of natural, low-upkeep garden (I assume
it could run into the thousands of dollars a
year), can be invested in wonderful plants
that bloom so beautifully here, many of
them with incredible fragrances, such as the
ylang ylang tree and the joy tree.
Bill Clark
Belle Meade


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Commentary: MIAMI'S KING


The Truth About August


Elections

Yes, voter turnouts are always low, but devious politicians love them


By Jack King
BT Contributor

outh Florida elections always fasci-
nate me, but not for the right reasons.
Example: the countywide election
on August 14. First, why did we even
have an election in the middle of August,
when many people are away on vacation?
Only 20 percent of the electorate
even bothered to vote. In some areas, the
turnout was impressive. Precinct 295 in
Miami Gardens, with 1192 registered
voters, saw a turnout of 37 percent. But
quite a few places had a turnout of less
than ten percent, the biggest loser being
Precinct 458 (west Miami-Dade), where
there are 127 registered voters. Turnout: 1.
There were some glaring examples
of questionable absentee ballots being
cast. In more than a few races, the
number of absentee ballots nearly
equaled the votes cast on Election Day
and during early voting. This certainly
doesn't pass the smell test.
We also had quite a few contested
races for county and circuit court judge-
ships. The problem was who to vote for.
It used to be that the local bar associa-
tion would rate the candidates based on
their judicial and legal experience. They
still do it sort of.
You can find the ratings on the Dade
County Bar Association website, but
they are not widely distributed, a result, I
suspect, of the extremely political nature
of judicial races. No doubt we need a


better way to pick our judges.
Speaking of picking, the Tampa Bay
Times reported that 38 state legislators
have been sent to Tallahassee without
any opposition. So much for the political
system in Florida. It's so bad that no one
wants to run for elective office.
The clear star of this year's electoral
cycle will be state Rep. Eric Fresen, who
is running for a third term. He represents
a west Coral Gables district, which was
specifically gerrymandered for him so
he'd have no viable opponents.
Fresen's rap sheet...er, bio...includes
a $30,000 IRS tax lien, an election ethics
complaint, being dumped as chairman
of the Miami-Dade Republican Party
for raiding the bank account, and a
mortgage foreclosure on his house. The
foreclosure may be the most interesting.
His mother bought the house, mortgaged
it to the hilt, and signed it over to him.
Then, when the bank came after him for
nonpayment, he signed it back to her.
What a guy!
He's known in the Florida legislature
as the go-to guy who can get anything
done as long as you have enough
money. He was the front man for the char-
ter school business, and more recently,
shilled for the gambling interests that are
trying to bring casinos to Biscayne Bay.
With the casino guys, he got caught with
his hand in the cookie jar, but we've not
seen the last of them. They will be back.
On the national political scene,
our newly rising star in gutter politics


David Rivera: Why is this man smilin!

is the one and only U.S. Rep. David
Rivera. Elected two years ago and now
running for a second term, his rap
sheet is so bad the Republican leader-
ship in the House will have nothing to
do with him. That generally doesn't
bode well for his constituents.
He just wiggled out of a lengthy
investigation by the Miami-Dade State
Attorney's Office, in which they found
he had used campaign contributions for
his personal expenses. You'd think that
would be enough to send him to the big
house for a few years, but he walked away.
Turns out that Rivera and his Republican
cronies in the Florida House had gamed
the system by changing the law on how
campaign contributions can be used and
shortening the statute of limitations on
violations. Now, that's what I call effec-
tive legislating!


I






When he was campaigning in
Miami, his entire family was on the
payroll, including his mother. There
are still many unanswered questions
about his campaign expenditures.
Recently the FBI opened
an investigation into allegations
that Rivera secretly funded the
campaign of Justin Lamar Sternad,
who was running in the Demo-
cratic primary against Joe Garcia,
Rivera's 2010 opponent. Garcia
won the primary handily and will
face Rivera in November, an elec-
g? tion that will probably be much
closer this time. It looks like the
feds are on to something this time.
While Rivera was in the Florida
House, he purchased a home in Tal-
lahassee. After several years, the bank
that held the mortgage foreclosed on the
property. Rivera said it was all a mistake,
but he never explained why he hadn't
been paying the mortgage.
So what is it with Republican politi-
cians hiring their mothers and having
banks foreclose on their homes? Quite a
recurring theme. I never thought of dear
old mom and foreclosures being a path to
victory, but there must be something to it.
A final note: When Rivera was living
in his soon-to-be-foreclosed home in
Tallahassee, his roomie and bro pal was
none other than our other rising star, U.S.
Sen. Marco Rubio.

Feedback: letters @biscaynetimes.com


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Commentary: URBANIA


All About the Weather,


All the Time
The subtropics have spoiled us rotten and we couldn't be happier


By Christian Cipriani
BT Contributor

The many cultures of South Florida
coexist like tectonic plates under
constant heat and pressure, and it's
a wonder we don't have more explosions.
But one thing that binds us together is a
near constant obsession with our weather.
They say the English talk about the weath-
er a lot, but I think we have them beat.
Weather is one of the defining features of
our experience here, and it doesn't escape
conversation even for a day.
Violence and weather are what tend
to land South Florida in national news.
Tropical Storm Isaac came and went with-
out much fanfare, and as I write this, it's
making its way toward New Orleans as
a Category 1 hurricane. All summer the
media have been alive with reports on the
20-year anniversary of Hurricane Andrew.
I wasn't living here then, but the people I
know who were all have an Andrew story,
and they inevitably conclude with the
disaster bringing out the best in everyone.
I got my first real taste of catastro-
phe when Hurricane Wilma arrived in
2005. As we surveyed the damage the
next morning, I was struck more by the
neighbors talking, offering help, and
cooperating than I was by the oak tree
lying sideways across three cars. I'd
never seen most of these people before
that morning, and once power was
restored, they would fade back into their
daily lives.


Disaster does bring out camarade-
rie, and the citizens of South Florida
need that more than any place I've been.
When Isaac approached last month, I just
happened to be leaving town, and as I
sat in Pittsburgh on an unusually sunny
weekend, following Facebook photos of
trees bending in the wind, I reflected on
how weather has shaped my life.
Like many transplants, I grew up in
the north, with four full seasons. In the
dead of winter, the sun faded to dusk by
4:30 p.m. and temperatures could drop
below zero. By July the thermometer
hovered in the 90s, and we'd stay out
until the 8:30 sunset catching fireflies.
Northern weather wore on me. It's
a physically schizophrenic way to live
and I knew one day I'd end up in the
sunshine. From clothing to routines, up
north you just need more of everything.
The few good memories I have are
of skiing, autumn leaves, fireplaces, and
the comforting way that distinct seasons
can slow time. The punishment for living
in paradise is that years flip by with
cruel speed.
When I first moved to South Florida,
I used to go to the beach year-round. To
me, it was always beautiful outside, the
water always perfect. I was an excitable
tourist on permanent vacation. What's
the difference between 72 degrees and
82? May and November? It took years for
me to tune into subtle shifts in weather
and adapt my lifestyle accordingly. More
happens down here between January and


December than I ever imagined possible:
mid-60s to low 90s, cool to hot, dry to
wet, crisp to humid, clear to buggy, and
on it goes. I now have more ways to mark
our seasons than art and music events.
But over seven years I've also grown
spoiled. Now I don't go to the beach
unless it's perfect the sun, air, water,
day of the week, and time of day must all
align. I've driven home because I can't
find a good parking spot on South Beach,
and in my head I see myself at age 12
waiting for the bus. It's dark and freezing.
The street is covered in filthy snow, and
I'm staring incredulously at a man sitting
in an air-conditioned car driving away
from a white-sand beach because he can't
bring himself to walk a couple of blocks.
These days happen. We curse the
heat. We whine about rain. We skip the
boat because of clouds. But my worst
day in Miami is still pretty good, and
I'm always grateful for sunshine. That
we live in one of the sunniest places on
earth is worth smiling about every day of


the year. It's not a complete explanation,
but I blame lack of sunshine in Pennsyl-
vania and England for extended periods
of listlessness when I was younger.
I once heard a radio interviewer ask
a Swedish author if her country's endless
nights drive more people to suicide. I
found her explanation fascinating. She
said Scandinavian happiness is re-
nowned, and that Swedes don't commit
more suicide they're just more honest
about it. Religious guilt causes people in
other cultures to lie and cover up suicide,
but Swedes, she said, are not ashamed.
This hurricane season may pass
uneventfully, or it may bring violent
storms that drive us from silent, black
rooms and into the streets ready to help
our neighbors. But right now we can be
thankful, because we know that the story
always ends the same; another long and
beautiful winter will come to fix what-
ever went wrong.

Feedback: letters@obiscaynetimes.com


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Commentary: MY VIEW


Once and Future Metropolis

Miami is finally becoming a city but not for the first time


By Craig Chester
Special to the BT

Miami is finally becoming a
real city.
That's a phrase you might
have heard with increasing frequency
lately. Coupled with its sister line:
"Miami is finally growing up." These ex-
pressions represent the notion that Miami
is cultivating the amenities worthy of a
world-class urban destination.
Presumably, when people conjure
ideas of a "real" city, they imagine a
downtown urban core full of vitality, ef-
ficient public transportation, art and cul-
tural, signature parks and public spaces,
a dynamic mix of businesses, a center
for entrepreneurship and innovation, and
a hub for a regional economy.
By those measures, Miami is in fact
beginning to fall into the category of "real
city." We now have a Metrorail link to the
airport, a booming arts scene, and new
downtown cultural attractions like the
Adrienne Arsht Center and the Miami Art
Museum under construction. Lights are
glowing in the towering condos, and new
stores and restaurants are opening daily.
But the idea that Miami is "growing
up" and "becoming" a real city implies
that it's never been one perpetually
lacking the qualities of other important
places around the world.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. To see what a "real city" looks like,
we only need to see the Miami of the past.
Let's begin with a modern Miami
gripe: public transportation. Did you


know that Miami once had among the
most extensive streetcar (rail) trolley
networks in the developed world?
In the era of the Miami streetcar,
from 1916 to 1940, Miami boasted 11
trolley lines that crisscrossed the county
from Miami Beach to the City of Miami
and even down to Coral Gables. Be-
tween the streetcars and Henry Flagler's
FEC railroad that linked Miami with the
rest of Florida, rail coverage in Miami in
the 1920s dwarfed what we have in 2012.
You read that correctly. In 1925 you
could hop aboard a trolley and ride over the
County Causeway (now the MacArthur) to
Miami Beach That line was torn out in 1939.
If it existed today, not only would it represent
a sorely needed transportation link, but it
would certainly be one of the nation's fore-
most transit-oriented tourist attractions.
Back on the mainland, the Coral
Gables Rapid Transit Electric Line took
riders from downtown Miami to Miracle
Mile in 12 minutes, at speeds close to
75 miles per hour along Coral Way. The
year was 1925.
In the 1920s, downtown Miami
underwent a revolution. The city's
population in 1920 was 30,000. By 1925,
annexations and real estate speculation
had swelled it to more than 100,000.
With newfound wealth pouring in,
all the trappings of more celebrated cites
soon followed world-class shopping
and entertainment, luxurious hotels, and
a landmark public space: Bayfront Park,
which was once quite grand.
With each passing season, returning visi-
tors would remark that Miami had "grown


- -- ...- ._._
.
As this undated vintage postcard shows, downtown Miami once bustled
with trolleys, cars, bikes, and shoppers.


like magic," and thus Miami's commonly
known moniker was born- the Magic City.
So when did Miami begin to lose
its magic? What caused the decline that
stripped it of its status as a real city? In
short, the development pattern we call
suburbanization wreaked havoc on the
heart of the city. The damage was nearly
fatal, and we've only now begun the
healing process.
The incessant westward march of
suburbia in Miami after World War II
had many unintended consequences. As
people fled the central city in favor of new
homes on former swampland, businesses
followed them. Downtown ceased to be
a hub of retail activity, which shifted to
suburban shopping malls and the ubiqui-
tous, auto-oriented strip malls that now
flank our roadways throughout the county.
As automobile commuting became
the norm, downtown Miami was utterly
recalibrated to accommodate the soaring
number of suburbanites who came to
work each morning in cars. The disas-
trous effects of this transformation are
quite visible today.
The final Miami streetcar line was torn
out in 1940. Entire blocks of downtown
buildings (that today would be considered
historic) were leveled to create vast parking


lots and garages. The landscaped medians
of Biscayne Boulevard were paved over. A
once thriving nearby neighborhood, Over-
town, was literally purchased and razed
so 1-95 could skirt downtown Miami, a
traumatic dismantling from which the com-
munity has never recovered.
By the 1970s, downtown had com-
pleted its degeneration from a bustling
cosmopolitan center to little more than
an asphalt conduit to a string of bland
office towers surrounded by a patchwork
of on-ramps, expressways, and park-
ing lots. By 5:00 p.m. each day, it was
deserted. The magic had vanished.
It's a sad story, but it just might have
a happy ending.
Today there is new interest and
major investment in Miami's urban core,
after our misadventures in suburbia. Be-
tween the housing crash and a younger
"Millennial" generation rediscovering
the pleasures of walkable communities
(and rejecting the long car commutes of
their parents), the energy, wealth, and
accompanying amenities are returning to
urban Miami.
Yes, we are becoming a real city -
only it's not for the first time.

Feedback: letters@ibbiscaynetimes.com


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September 2012






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September 2012
Sales, special events, and more from the people who make
Biscayne Times possible


By Pamela Robin Brandt
BT Contributor

september: Even if we live to the age
of famed writer Marjory Stoneman
Douglas (108 years old all but the
first 25 years as a Miamian), we'll never
stop associating this month primarily
with the start of school, right after Labor
Day. Which, to a kid, seemed fitting. We,
of course, thought the holiday's name
referred to the nine months of jail-type
hard labor we were about to serve.
For grown-ups, in reality, the end of
summer vacation can mean the begin-
ning of a huge range of exciting possibil-
ities, especially if you live in BT territory.
Whether you want to start a whole new
career or to just start having more fun,
advertisers are offering so many ways to
help improve your life that you'd think
New Year's Day came in September.
For some readers, actually, it does.
September 17 is Rosh HaShanah, the
Jewish New Year, and start of a ten-
day period through Yom Kippur when
worshippers do "an accounting of the
soul." To prepare yourself for the High
Holy Days, Temple Israel (137 NE 19th
St., 305-573-5900) is offering several
free evening programs. On September
5 and 12, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., experi-
ence "Connection, Reflection & Con-
versations," a rabbi-guided exploration
of texts and traditions, plus discussions
of the essence of personal change. And


on September 8, from 10:00-11:00 p.m.
there's Selichot, a meditative service;
preceding the latter, at 7:30 p.m., there's
family-friendly programming, a dessert
reception and text study.
Meanwhile the spiritually focused
and reality-conscious folks at First
United Methodist Church (400 Biscayne
Blvd., 305-371-4706), aware that Septem-
ber is the start of regular football season,
gently remind readers that there's plenty
of time to hit the church's 11:00 a.m. ser-
vices before the Dolphins' Sunday home
games this month. We wouldn't dream of
being so crass as to add that the team sure
could use a few prayers considering its
preseason record... Just saying.
For those whose spirituality is more
alternative culture, Inner Balance Mind
Body Studio (12579 Biscayne Blvd.,
786-383-3088) has an offer that'll build
both your soul and career dreams. The
studio's 200-hour yoga teacher training
course, a ten-week program (meeting
Wednesday evenings plus Saturday and
Sunday afternoons) starts on October
6 and BT readers get a whopping $100
discount. Call or visit www.inner
balancemindbody.com for more info.
If your dream of a new life is focused
on a new place to live, say hello to Scott
R. Dinin (595 NE 69th St., 786-431-1333),
a full-service Realtor and licensed broker.
He's also longtime advertiser Scott R.
Dinin, a lawyer particularly passionate
about seeking justice for clients having


trouble with insurance companies, banks,
credit card companies, and similar prob-
lematic parties. The words "Renaissance
man" come to mind.
Joann Hennessey of Civil Justice
Advocates (which has offices in Fort
Lauderdale and Delray as well as 620 NE
76th St. in Miami; 305-200-5115) congrat-
ulates associate Kunal Mirchandani for
a very successful first year with CJA, a
firm that helps homeowners fight against
foreclosure. Mirchandani joined CJA
after working for big banks and becoming
frustrated with their practices; this insider
knowledge has led to his successful
results for clients, says Hennessey.
Some home problems are easier to
solve than others. Welcome new adver-
tiser SlipStop Florida (305-687-3773),
whose anti-slip treatments are the solution
to stopping accidents caused by slippery
floors marble, ceramic tile, and more.
Application is fast; there's no curing time,
and the treatment is effective whether
floors are dry, wet, or even greasy.
If your housing problems are more in
the category of bad interior d6cor, another
former big bank adviser can help out with
that: Anil Kakar, whose Kakar House of
Design (305-756-6363) just opened earlier
this year at Antiques Plaza (8650 Biscayne
Blvd., #23). The shop sells a wide arry of


InnerBalance
MIND L Y trSTUD10


Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training starts Oct. 61

www.innerbalancemindbody.com

12579 Biscayne Blvd. N. Miami, FL 33181 786.383.3088


luxe vintage, MiMo, and eclectic d6cor col-
lected from all corners of the world.
Dave Widdas at 360 Furniture
Consignments reports that 360's "summer
super sale" was such a huge success that
the store has been cleared out and re-
stocked with hot, high-end modern design-
er pieces from Giovanni Erba, Christopher
Guy, and more. And deals continue, for BT
readers; mention us for a 20% discount.
To get your yard looking good, call
new advertiser Bob's Lawnmower
(15270 W. Dixie Hwy., 305-947-3578), a
venerable family-owned and operated
business that sells and repairs... you
guessed it. What the name doesn't tell
you is that Bob's also services other
gas-fueled machines emergency
generators (reminder: we're only halfway
through hurricane season), and more.
Looking for a fun evening out that
also benefits others? Mark your calendar
for September 29, 7:30 p.m., at North
Miami Beach's Julius Littman Theater
(17011 NE 19th Ave.), when "Five Cul-
tures in Opera" will be presented by the
Onyx Opera, a nonprofit organization
that creates performance opportunities for
classical singers and musicians, especially
those of color. Part of the $30-$40 ticket
Continued on page 28


Yoga
Barre

Pilates
Gyrokinesist. V





Kids Yoga

Pre/Postnatal Yoga


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.comSeptember 2012


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BizBuzz
Continued from page 26

price goes to worthy charities.
Looking for a fun way to get wher-
ever you're going that also benefits
Miami's environment? Check out the
City of Miami's new car-sharing pro-
gram, a partnership between the Miami
Parking Authority and car2go (miami.
car2go.com). It's easy to use one of the
program's 240 eco-friendly and very
cute "Smart Fortwo" cars: Register for
membership; locate the nearest available
car within the city on your smartphone
or laptop; swipe your membership card;
drive wherever; then park at any legal
parking space within the city, swiping
again. You pay for the time between
swipes, period. Parking, gas, mainte-
nance, and cuteness factor are free.
Don't fret, all you pre-adults. For the
artistically inclined among you, North
Miami's Museum of Contemporary
Art (770 NE 125th St., 305-893-6211) is
offering free after-school programs for
middle school and high school students.
MOCA's weekly classes range from the
classic (painting, drawing, photography)
to fashion design or hip-hop art and
culture. An application is required from
attendees; visit www.mocanomi.org.
For young musicians, early-child-
hood music classes at Miss Jane's Music
Studio (305-757-6500) begin September
4. And we do mean "young" musicians.
As well as group keyboard lessons for
first and second graders, plus group
guitar for third to fifth graders, Jane
Spinney teaches pre-schoolers, toddlers,
even newborns. Visit www.miss
janesmusic.com for a full, fascinating
explanation of the Musikgarten method.
There's also a convenient new retail
component at Miss Jane's. For sale are a
variety of children's instruments, sheet
music, and accessories guitar tuners,
music stands, more.
To perk up school lunches, forget the
PB&J; instead tuck a treat from Bagels
& Company (111 ,4 Biscayne Blvd., 305-
892-2435) into your kid's book bag. As
well as hand-rolled bagels, David Cohen's
place has a full menu of classic deli
delights, including one pound sandwiches
(fresh-roasted turkey, imported ham, roast
beef, more) nearly big enough to share
with the whole class. See this issue's ad,
too, for several dine-in coupon deals.
An invitation to graduates of
Monsignor Edward Pace High School
(15600 NW 32nd Ave.): Come to the


annual Alumni Bash on September
28, starting at 5:30 p.m. The $15 ticket
price except for Pace Alumni As-
sociation members, who get in free -
includes food, drink, music, a ceremony
honoring this year's Hall of Fame
inductees, and admission to a football
game between Pace's Spartans and
Gulliver Prep's Raiders. Not included:
studying or homework. For more info
contact Letty Torres at 305-623-PACE,
extension 213.
The Miami Downtown Development
Authority wants you to know there's
fun for the whole family at DWNTWN
Art Days, September 6-8. Events range
from gallery and artists' studio tours to a
kickball match and children's theater. See
this issue's ad, or visit DWNTWNartdays.
com for a full schedule.
Thank the City of Miami Beach for
the September 19 Food Truck & Music
Fest, an evening of free live entertain-
ment featuring Marlow Rosado's nine-
piece band. The family-friendly fun is
scheduled for 5:00-10:00 p.m. happening
at the North Shore Band shell (Collins
Ave. and 73rd St., in North Beach).
Savvy neighborhood developers
know one of the first things that turns a
desolate area into a draw is unique food/
drink establishments. If you thought
10th Street and N. Miami Avenue was
iffy the last time you were there after
dark, you mustn't have been there since
The Corner (1035 N. Miami Ave. #101,
305-961-7887), a new advertiser, opened
on that corner. You'll find classic and
creative cocktails, plus scintillating
sandwiches and snacks, not only late at
night but till morning's light; the cozy
spot is open Tuesday-Thursday till 5:00
a.m., Friday and Saturday till 8:00 a.m.
And a longtime locals' favorite for
dining till dawn (well, almost 3:00 a.m.)
has just been recognized by Esquire maga-
zine as one of the two dozen best late-night
food spots in the USA. Congratulations to
Yakko-san (3881 NE 163rd St., 305-947-
0064), and its scrumptious menu of home-
style Japanese small plates!
On a smaller scale, but exciting news
nonetheless: Friendly neighborhood
sandwich shop Hippo Bites (1071 NE
79th St., 305-677-3633) finally got their
boba machine! For those unfamiliar with
bubble tea, a phenomenon in Asia, it's
hard to explain what's so much fun about
slurping these fruit and/or dairy-en-
hanced drinks, which also contain large
tapioca "pearls," through clownishly
large straws. You must try it yourself.


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









What's French food without wine?
Not the typical dining experience you'd
find at any classic bistro in France, for
sure, or during September, at Miami's
own French Riviera bistro La Cigale
(7281 Biscayne Blvd., 305-754-0014).
See this issue's ad for a free glass of
wine with every dinner order.
We doubtless needn't tell you to join
us in welcoming new advertiser Shoku-
do (4740 NE 2nd Ave., 305-758-7782).
From the folks behind longtime Lincoln
Road stalwart World Resource Caf6, this
brand-new venture, which has a much
more relaxed ambiance (like an exotic
beachfront eatery, with a backyard
instead of a beach) is already an instant
hit. See this issue's "Dish" column and
Dining Guide for more details. Also see
Shokudo's ad for food photos so scrump-
tious you won't need to read anything.
Celebrating its 62nd year in business,
Laurenzo's Italian Market (16385 W
Dixie Hwy., 305-945-6381) will be throw-
ing an in-store San Gennaro Festival, from
September 13-26. Featured: free cooking
demonstrations and tasting of the most
celebrated Italian-American dishes from all
over the USA, including versions of signa-
ture regional pizzas (Chicago's deep dish,
New Haven's "apizza," and more). Go to
www.laurenzosmarket.com for a schedule.
With South Florida's growing season
starting next month, The Market Com-
pany (themarketcompany.org) is adding to
its existing roster of farmers markets with
a new green market in a new downtown
green space, Flatiron Park (1001 S. Miami
Ave.). The market will start in October. For
vendor information: 305-531-0038.
Several other advertisers are also
giving readers a chance to plan ahead for
events happening next month, even into
next year. Tickets are now on sale, for
instance, for the fabulous 72nd season of
the Florida Grand Opera, which begins
in November and features four all-time
favorite operas: La Boheme, The Magic
Flute, La Sonnambula, and La Traviata.
Single tickets start at just $11. Go to
www.FGO.org, where you can buy tix
and choose the seats you want.
Tickets are also on sale for "The
Broadway Tenors" kick-off concert of the
season at the Aventura Arts & Cultural
Center (3385 NE 188th St., 305-466-8002),
on November 9. Visit www.aventuracenter.
org for details on this show, starring three
award-winning Broadway leading men,
and on other 2012-2013 productions.
Neither neighborhood businesses nor
neighborhood residents will want to miss


the October 17 Small Business Fair, pro-
duced by new advertiser Nicole A. Waters,
whose own business has the catchy moni-
ker Local Waters. "Career navigator"
Waters has chosen a max fun networking
environment the Villa 21 bar (221 NE
17th St.). Featured at the event, which runs
from 4:00-9:00 p.m., will be product dis-
plays, raffles, a DJ, and more. Businesses
must register in advance for a booth; call
786-302-0450 for info.
It takes a lot of time to create a good
zombie costume. That's why we're let-
ting you know now about the October
20 Zombie Crawl, brought to you by
the Shops at Midtown Miami. Tick-
ets, available in three price categories,
enable partiers to crawl the route of des-
ignated zombie-friendly Midtown estab-
lishments from 7:30-11:30 p.m., in search
of free booze and bites. For details visit
www.southfloridazombiecrawl.com.
If your fall plans involve looking
pretty much the opposite of zombielike,
welcome new advertiser Danny Dillon
Shampology (2690 NE 2nd Ave., 305-
588-4142). The salon offers a full range of
hair services, plus skin and nail treatments
that'll have you glowing from head to toes.
Mention the BT this month for any of the
following discounts with select stylists:
20% off hair coloring, a $25 blowout, a $50
express facial, a $35 mani/pedi.
After reading all the above, you've
got to be smiling, right? Make sure it's
a smile that dazzles by making an ap-
pointment with Soltanik Dental (2999
NE 191st St. #359, 305-466-2334). Dr.
Valeria Soltanik's ad offers a new-patient
special, and she has a "BizBuzz" offer,
too: a Nite Guard (which prevents tooth-
grinding), custom made for only $150.
Don't forget Fido! The family dog
deserves star treatment, as new adver-
tiser Star Dog (55 SW llth St., 305-374-
2210) recognizes. This family-owned,
friendly neighborhood pet store special-
izes in top quality organic dog foods -
dry, canned, and even raw (frozen).
Do drop in, also, to new advertiser
Legitimutt (192 NW 36th St., 305-438-
4385). The unique draw is the Legitmutt
line of luxury dog fashions, designed
by supermodel Kristy Hinze Clark. You
know your dog craves a strikingly col-
ored Italian leather collar, and perhaps
a designer raincoat for the remainder of
South Florida's storm season.

\.N ,,. rii,,i special coming up atyour busi-
ness? Send info to bizbuzz@biscaynetimes.
com. For BT advertisers only.


September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


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September 2012


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LOST


A


RISING


SEA


Reality check: One day in the foreseeable future, most homes and

businesses along the Biscayne Corridor will be under water

BY ERIK BOJNANSKY
Photo illustrations by Marcy Mock


he world will be a very different
place 50 years from now.
Thanks in large part to cen-
turies of spewing greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere, we can expect higher
temperatures, unstable weather patterns,
and rising seas.
For all who live or work in the
Biscayne Corridor, those rising seas will
pose unprecedented challenges, many
of which we'll be forced to confront
soon, in our lifetimes. But imagine for a
moment the scene in the year 2062.
Broad expanses of land Aven-
tura, Eastern Shores, Biscayne Landing,
Arch Creek East, Keystone Point, Sans
Souci Estates will flood frequently
and severely.
Farther south, eastern Miami Shores
will be inundated, as will most of Sho-
recrest, Belle Meade, Bayside, Morning-
side, and Edgewater.
The Miami River, the Little River,
and the Oleta River will overflow their
banks and flood surrounding neighbor-
hoods. Much of Brickell will look like
a new bay. Downtown landmarks such
as the Freedom Tower, the American
Airlines Arena, Museum Park, and the
Adrienne Arsht Center will be islands in
a vastly expanded Biscayne Bay.
Communities like North Bay Village,
Bay Harbor Islands, the Venetian Islands,
Star, Palm, and Hibiscus islands, as well
as South Beach, will be substantially
under water.
This the conceivable future of the
Biscayne Corridor should we experience
a two-foot rise in sea level, a scenario
local climatologists say is distinctly
possible. "Most projections say this is
going to happen," asserts Leonard Berry,
director of the Center for Environmental
Studies at Florida Atlantic University.
"The difference [in scientific opinion] is
the timing and how rapidly."
More detailed information is
expected next year, when the United


Miami's Upper Eastside, like Aventura and South Brickell, will be
swamped by just a two-foot sea-level rise.


Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change releases a new report
on global warming. Until then, the best
estimates are that by 2030, Biscayne Bay
and the near-shore ocean (they'll rise
simultaneously) will be between three
and seven inches higher than they are
today. By 2060 sea level is projected to
rise between nine inches and two feet.
The bay and ocean won't stop rising
at nine inches or two feet, either. "By
the end of the century, a little under 100
years from now, there could be four to
six feet or more of sea level rise above
the present sea level," says Harold
Wanless, chairman of the University of
Miami's geological sciences department.
With a four-foot rise in sea level,
Brickell will be a bathtub, and most
neighborhoods east of Biscayne Boule-
vard will be either submerged or resem-
ble islands. A narrow strip of land will
be all that remains of the beaches from
South Pointe to Golden Beach. The Keys
will, for the most part, disappear. Fort
Lauderdale will look like Venice, Italy.
With a six-foot rise in sea level,
only 44 percent of Miami-Dade County
will remain dry at high tide. By this


time, says Wanless, sea-level rise will
accelerate from the current rate of
slightly less than a foot per century to a
foot per decade.
Wanless fears that the world's seas
could rise more than 20 feet if massive
amounts of ice from Greenland and
Antarctica slip into the ocean. "Ten
or twelve years ago, I wouldn't have
thought this would happen so fast,"
Wanless acknowledges. "That was
before I was able to see what was hap-
pening in Greenland and Antarctica.
The rates of [melt acceleration] are phe-
nomenal and may be a critical problem
for mankind."
Florida is particularly vulnerable to
sea-level rise. According to the Center
for Environmental Studies, of the 4.2
million people in the U.S. who live at an
elevation of four feet or less, 2.4 million
are in Florida. An added threat: Scien-
tists expect the mighty Gulfstream to
weaken, which could result in sea levels
from Florida to the Carolinas rising ten
percent faster than the rest of the world,
according to David Enfield, a retired
NOAA oceanographer now working for
UM as a research scientist.


Even though South Florida's future
appears bleak, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk,
dean of University of Miami's School
of Architecture, insists that the Bis-
cayne Corridor can adapt to sea-level
rise with proper planning. "Something
is happening," she says. "Whether it is
exactly the way scientists are predict-
ing is less the point than understanding
that there is a change and we need to
accommodate it."
Toward that end, Monroe, Miami-
Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach
counties formed the Southeast Florida
Regional Climate Change Compact
in 2009 to develop plans for dealing
with the threat of sea-level rise and
other adverse effects of global warm-
ing. Serving on the compact's com-
mittees have been scientists such as
Wanless, Berry, and Enfield, as well as
city planners and architects (including
Plater-Zyberk), county administrators,
state officials, environmentalists, and
business leaders.
Other strategic efforts are under
way. This past June, for example, FAU's
Center for Environmental Studies
hosted a climate summit in Boca Raton
to examine how rising sea levels might
affect South Florida and what can be
done about it. The summit included a
digital video created by FAU associate
professor Francis X. McAfee and stu-
dents John Michael Wilyat and Jammy
Chong. The video uses topographical
data and state-of-the-art digital imaging
to depict what will happen to downtown
Miami as sea levels rise. (To view the
video, go to www.ces.fau.edu/SLR2012/
media/animation.)
Despite near unanimity among
climate scientists that sea levels will
rise at an increasingly rapid rate, and
that extreme weather will become com-
monplace, UM's Wanless complains

Continued on page 34


September 2012Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


































































These maps, created by FIU's Peter Harlem using LiDAR topographical data, depict land surrounding Biscayne Bay at three points in time: Two-foot
sea-level rise (left), four-foot sea-level rise (center), and six-foot sea-level rise (right). Areas shaded brown to orange represent higher elevations.
Terrain and roadways shaded light blue will be submerged during normal high tides.


Rising Sea
Continued from page 33

that many people, including politicians,
are either skeptical of global warming
or ignoring it altogether. "We are living
in a very tenuous time right now," he
warns. "It is mind-boggling to scientists
that people are sticking their heads in
the sand."


Frank Nero, president and CEO of
the Beacon Council, which seeks to in-
crease economic development in Miami-
Dade County, admits he doesn't hear
much talk about sea-level rise during
discussions with executives and develop-
ers. "I don't think that is on the top of
anyone's list, quite frankly," Nero says.
"There are other concerns the business
community has [about Miami-Dade's


future], but I don't think the rise of the
oceans is one of them."
However, Nero adds, entrepreneurs
and corporations in Miami are becoming
more environmentally friendly. "The busi-
ness community is looking at sustainability
and green issues," he says. Those sustain-
ability issues include more LEED-certified
buildings that reduce energy consumption
and leave a smaller carbon footprint.


Reducing emissions from fossil fuels
could slow the rate of sea-level rise, but
it won't prevent it or turn it back. "We
have already kicked the bucket," says
Wanless. To actually reverse the warm-
ing trend, he explains, "We have to get
below C02 atmospheric levels back
when I was born [1942], and that is

Continued on page 36


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012















































































































Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012








Rising Sea
Continued from page 34

unbelievably difficult to do."
David Enfield says there's now more
carbon dioxide (which retains heat in the
atmosphere and oceans) in the atmosphere
than there has been in the last million
years. The United States may have reduced
its C02 emissions to the lowest point in
20 years, but the burning of fossil fuels
elsewhere on the planet, particularly from
India and China, has increased.
Adds Wanless: "The bottom line
is there are too many people on Earth
trying to live a comfortable life."

We don't have to wait 50 or 100
years to see the effects of
sea-level rise. Even now there
are telltale signs, such as coastal floods
in low-lying areas at extreme high tide,
or the invasion of marine plant species
into places where fresh-water vegeta-
tion once dominated. According to a
2009 report from the South Florida
Water Management District, saltwater
is already starting to infiltrate under-
ground aquifers the region's primary


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The Edgewater neighborhood near downtown Miami will under water
when the sea level rises about two feet.


source of freshwater. "We're seeing
the evidence," says Peter Harlem, a
geologist and mapmaker who works as
a researcher at Florida International
University's Southeast Environmental
Research Center. "We're just not putting
it together."


Harlem believes sea-level rise will
be more obvious 20 or so years from
now, when the ocean is about a half-foot
higher. In South Dade, areas around
Black Point Marina, Turkey Point, and
the county's sewage treatment plant will
be inundated at high tide. During high


tides, Biscayne Bay and the Oleta River
will also begin to spill over into low
areas in northeast Miami-Dade.
And that's without rain. With rain,
flooding events will be more extreme
as storm drains and other flood-control
methods begin to fail. In fact, less than
a foot of sea-level rise could mean
50 to 80 percent of the flood-control
structures located in Miami-Dade and
Broward canals will "have to be looked
at," cautions Jayantha Obeysekera, chief
engineer for the South Florida Water
Management District.
That's because the 50-year-old
equipment, designed to discharge canal
water into the bay following heavy rains,
relies on gravity, and there is less than a
six-inch difference between the upstream
canals and downstream Biscayne Bay.
Three flood-control structures serving
northeast Miami-Dade are being inspect-
ed. Foi no\\ we've not had any flooding
issues," Obeysekera says, buth c're
concerned for the future." Modifications
won't be easy. "There are many options
and all of them are expensive," he adds.

Continued on page 38


RWM5 PEmE 9 ORU

Board Members: Delores Guadagno, Kent Gubrud, Noe Escobar
Dr. Brenda Davis, Mr. Ainsworth F. Smith


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


















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UM's Harold Wanless: "Ten or twelve years ago, I wouldn't have thought
this would happen so fast."


Oceanographer David Enfield: "South Florida is probably going to have
less rain, but it will come in buckets."


Rising Sea
Continued from page 36

Ironically, climate models predict
that South Florida and the Caribbean
will be hotter and drier in the future,
says oceanographer Enfield. But there
will be monsoons. "By the end of this
century, South Florida is probably


going to have less rain, but when it does
come, it will come in buckets," Enfield
explains. "That raises the prospect of
street flooding."
In some parts of South Florida, that
flooding will be long term, notes Harlem:
"When they stop draining because there's
nowhere for the rainwater to go, they
become small freshwater lakes."


Fewer tropical storms and hurricanes
are expected, but they will be much
more powerful. "Instead of seeing two
Category 5 hurricanes in a century, like
we did in the 20th Century, we'll have
maybe three," Enfield says. "Instead
of three Category 4s in a century, we
may have four or five." Aside from the
powerful storms, the region will be more


vulnerable than ever to storm surge as
the rising sea level erodes beaches and
coastline sediments at a faster rate.
Meanwhile, underground seawater in-
filtration will speed up, gradually replac-
ing freshwater, shorting out buried power
lines, and corroding concrete and steel

Continued on page 40


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Rising Sea
Continued from page 38

rebar in buildings. "Saltwater is more
likely to damage nonmarine concrete,"
says Harlem, "so the building foundations,
which are in the ground, will encounter
the problem [of corrosion] before the
ocean is high enough to flood streets."
Miami-Dade's crumbling water and
sewer system will have to be completely
overhauled and redesigned or else. Esti-
mated cost: a billion dollars. "The present
system will no longer work and we'll have
increased contamination of surface and
ground waters," UM's Wanless affirms.
Aside from the prospect of raw
sewage escaping the system, rising seas
will also erode former landfills such
as Biscayne Landing in North Miami,
where developer Michael Swerdlow
plans to build apartments, retail outlets,
and hotels. The low-lying, bayfront land
was once a notoriously toxic Superfund
clean-up site. Harlem is skeptical that
county-funded remediation efforts at
the 190-acre property will prevent the
six million tons of garbage still there
from being exposed by a one-foot rise


A scene from the alarming and amusing video created by FAU students
John Michael Wilyat and Jammy Chong with supervision from associate
professor Francis X. McAfee.
A k






A scene from the alarming and amusing video created by FAU students
John Michael Wilyat and Jammy Chong with supervision from associate
professor Francis X. McAfee.


in sea level.
"Landfills and surface burial sites
will not survive very long once the waves
can attack them every day," Harlem
explains. "Fact of life about the ocean: It
is very, very powerful. The remediation


sounds like a temporary fix to appease
the development plans, but it's not good
for the coastal waters of the future."
Enfield is concerned about another
potential environmental disaster: nuclear
meltdown. At two feet of sea-level rise,


2 Turkey Point will be an island cut off
. from the mainland. If the nuclear power
Plant takes a serious hit from a strong
Hurricane, it could be swamped by a tidal
Surge of 20 feet or more. Under such a
Scenario, Enfield worries that pumps
used to cool the reactors at the current
Q facility, or at a future reactor Florida
Power & Light wants to build at the site,
might be rendered inoperable, just like
I Fukushima. "That's my concern as a citi-
-: zen," he says. "It's not clear to me that
SFPL is planning for that sort of event."
S Richard Gibbs, a spokesman for
FPL, assures that the current and future
nuclear plants will be safe in higher
seas, and points out that Turkey Point
suffered only minimal damage from
the 17-foot-plus storm surge generated
by Hurricane Andrew. "The existing
nuclear units are 20 feet above sea level,
designed to withstand the worst-case
tidal surge," Gibbs says. "And all the
critical plant equipment is positioned
even higher." The new power plant, he
adds, will be on a foundation 26 feet
above sea level, and built according to

Continued on page 42


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Rising Sea
Continued from page 40

post-Fukushima flood criteria.
A more certain environmental di-
saster will be afoot once oceans rise four
feet: the end of the Everglades. Seawater
at that level will flow into the Shark
River Slough, commencing the transfor-
mation of the delicate freshwater eco-
system into a saltwater bay, Enfield says.
When that happens, groundwater flow
to Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
simply ends, "causing total collapse of
estuaries" and accelerating the saliniza-
tion of freshwater aquifers.
With developed, inhabited land en-
gulfed by polluted ocean water, drinking
water scarce, infrastructure dissolving,
and intimidating mitigation costs (as-
sessed in the form of higher taxes), Wan-
less predicts that South Florida gradually
will be abandoned. "It's just not going to
be a desirable place to live," he says.

Codes and regulations are already
being implemented by Miami-
Dade County to address sea-level
rise. For example, new buildings in flood


FlU's Peter Harlem: "Landfills will not
survive very long. Fact of life about
the ocean: It is very, very powerful."

zones must be constructed on foundations
high enough to accommodate the current
rate of sea-level rise, which is a half-foot
every 50 years, says Marcia Steelman, an
engineer with the Department of Regula-
tory and Economic Resources.
The county's Water and Sewer De-
partment will also take rising seas into


account while upgrading its sprawling
system. The county even has developed
a pilot program to replenish the under-
Sground Biscayne Aquifer using steril-
ized wastewater, although that project is
Snow on hold.
UM's Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk,
who, with her husband, founded the
acclaimed urban planning firm Duany
Plater-Zyberk, says Miami can adapt
to environmental issues. "There are
going to be a lot of people living here for
decades to come," she says. "If we plan
and act accordingly, Miami can be a
profitable and pleasant place to live."
Peter Zalewski, founder of Condo
Vultures.com, doubts the real estate
market will react to scientific prophe-
cies. Instead, he believes, investors will
continue to finance new projects and
buy property in low-lying areas. "They
are living for the trade," Zalewski says.
"The trade is about today. Whatever is
tomorrow is beyond their concern. You
eat what you kill."
Plater-Zyberk agrees that the private
sector can't be expected to make long-term
plans on its own. "That's why government
is going to have to take the lead," she says.


But Antonio Nanni, a professor of
civil engineering at UM, says such urban
planning will be a daunting task. "We
did not build our communities thinking
that all of a sudden we'd be underwater,"
Nanni observes. i ,. ,I rl,,,- will have to
be readdressed."
That could mean deciding which
areas should remain dry and which
should be allowed to drown. "If we don't
do it, the insurance companies will do
it for us," predicts Plater-Zyberk. Lo-
cales with office buildings, government
agencies, and residential high-rises, "you
might want to think about protecting
more" than places with just retail strip
malls, she says.
Within the Biscayne Corridor,
Plater-Zyberk names Brickell and
downtown's urban core as communi-
ties that likely will be considered worth
saving. She doesn't cite any expendable
Biscayne Corridor neighborhoods, but
does say that "in West Dade or South
Dade, where there is low density and low
investment, we probably are not going to
do anything."

Continued on page 44


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September 2012









Rising Sea
Continued from page 42

How do you defend areas deemed
worthy if they are, like much of Brickell,
sitting at very low elevation? Pumps will
only work temporarily, and seawalls and
dikes are going to be useless. Seawa-
ter will find its way beneath seawalls,
through the porous limestone that is
ubiquitous in this region. Says Wanless:
"You can build all the walls you want, but
it won't keep the water out."
While experts ponder that dilemma,
others argue for immediate changes to
safeguard new development projects. If
Nanni had his way, for instance, he'd
ban the use of concrete reinforced with
steel rebar and require builders to use
fiber composite materials that enable a
structure to "last forever" in a saltwater
environment. He'd also require new con-
struction to be built on at least six feet of
fill, which he says would protect it from
sea-level rise for at least 20 years.
To help communities last longer,
Plater-Zyberk would raise the streets -
literally. That's what Chicago did in the
19th Century to deal with flooding from


Lake Michigan. "It's not cheap, and one
size does not fit all," she says. Homes
and buildings unable to be lifted will
either be demolished or become the
foundations of new structures.
Raising the ground in existing neigh-
borhoods, Nanni advises, will be at least as
difficult as building islands in the middle
of the Persian Gulf. "Where are you going
to get the material to do such things?" he
asks. One option would be to sacrifice up
to 15 percent of the county's land mass by
digging a series of canals and using the
fill to raise specified low-elevation urban
areas, he says. But ultimately, if sea levels
keep rising, low-lying land will probably
be doomed to saturation. "From a struc-
tural construction standpoint," Nanni says,
"there is very little we can do."
That won't keep people from trying.
When sea-level rise first becomes ap-
parent, property owners will be more
concerned with defending their holdings
than simply abandoning them, real estate
analyst Zalewski expects. This will
create a vibrant market for innovative,
or smooth-talking, engineers. "There's
always some sort of solution for the right
price," he says.


Architecture dean Elizabeth Plater-
Zyberk: "If we plan, Miami can be a
profitable and pleasant place to live."

Harlem agrees that the engineer-
ing sector will become lucrative in the
future. "Engineers are starting to grasp
that this is an issue that they can make
some money on," says Harlem. "I have
a hunch that we're going to see some
interesting and spectacular what-ifs from
these kinds of folks."


If the region remains popular, and Za-
lewski thinks it will, builders might dredge
up new communities to replace already-
submerged waterfront areas. Or they might
just build things directly on the ocean.
Harlem says an architecture firm
from the United Arab Emirates has de-
signed a saucer-shaped hotel that can be
planted into the sea. Such resorts might
be developed where Miami Beach used
to be, or in the new Brickell Bay. During
one climate conference, Harlem recalls,
someone suggested floating cities as an
alternative: "A naval architect said, 'We
can do that. We call them cruise ships."'
Future builders are likely to retreat
to higher ground, wherever they can
find it in South Florida. But such elevat-
ed points will be scarce after five feet of
sea-level rise, and over time they would
become isolated island communities.
In the end, there will be but one solution,
Harlem believes. Simple and straightforward.
He puts it this way: "I think it would be
smarter to move to plus-170 feet elevation
and get it over with, which is north of Tal-
lahassee. Just one move and you're done."

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.cor


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Community News: BISCAYNE CORRIDOR


Look! Up in the Sky! It's


a Bird, It's a Plane, It's...

...a high-rise next to Greynolds Park and for many there's
nothing super about it


By Wendy Doscher-Smith
BT Contributor

Proposed development adjacent
to Greynolds Park in North
Miami Beach has park advocates,
including the Miami-Dade County Parks,
Recreation, and Open Spaces Department,
lining up in opposition. The NMB City
Council, however, seems prepared to ap-
prove the project.
The property in question sits next to
Greynolds Park at 17400 W. Dixie Hwy.
A nursing home used to operate there,
but the 4.2-acre parcel has been vacant
and overgrown for years. In 2006, a New
York investors' group, Braha Dixie LLC,
paid $9.8 million for the land.
By 2009 the new owners, led by Ralph
Braha, had come up with a development
plan, which they presented to the city coun-
cil. It called for a ten-story office building
with a bank and drive-thru, a six-story park-
ing garage, and a rooftop restaurant with
"a great view of the park and Maule Lake,"
according to city records.


Council members approved it. They
also okayed some road closures as part
of the project, including barricading
the end of NE 173rd Street. In addition,
Braha and his investors asked the Flori-
da East Coast Railway for permission to
create additional parking alongside the
railroad right-of-way.
All of this transpired with little
notice and even less criticism. That is,
until attorney Charles Baron, former city
councilman Robert Taylor, and North
Miami Beach resident Errol Alvey got
wind of it. Not so fast, they said.
Fearing severely detrimental ef-
fects on the park and increased traffic
congestion on W. Dixie Highway, they
filed a lawsuit in which they charged that
the city council approved the project in
violation of NMB's own zoning codes
and comprehensive plan. In the face of
that legal challenge, Braha Dixie put the
development on hold.
According to Baron, a representa-
tive of the developer subsequently met
with him, Taylor, and park officials. In


Try this on for size: Okay, it's not precisely to scale, but it is a 15-story
building and does seem to tower over Greynolds Park.


response to concerns about a tall build-
ing looming over the park, the developer
offered to conduct a balloon study to
show how high a ten-story would be.
Baron says that was never done.
Fiercely protecting Greynolds Park
from visual intrusions would be perfectly
understandable to anyone who is familiar
with the place. Built in 1936 by the Civil-
ian Conservation Corps, an arm of Frank-
lin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, the


233-acre park, a former rock quarry, is
one of the most attractive and popular in
the region. Among its many amenities are
several lagoons and a lake with boat rent-
als, miles of hiking and biking trails, a
golf course, extensive picnic areas, a bird
sanctuary, and a 42-foot-high obsc iN-
tion mound" that is said to be the highest
point in Miami-Dade County (aside from

Continued on page 50


Roll 'Em!
It's official movies are coming back to the Shores, courtesy of
the new Miami Theater Center and 0 Cinema


By Gaspar Gonzalez
BT Contributor

In its nearly 66 years on NE 2nd
Avenue, the Shores Theater has experi-
enced more plot twists than a Chris-
topher Nolan movie. It opened in 1946
as a late Deco-style mini movie palace,
the jewel of a then-bustling commercial
district catering to the postwar boom of
families flooding into Miami Shores and
adjoining neighborhoods. By the mid-
1970s, though, air-conditioned malls and
more modern multiplexes were drawing
the crowds away. The Shores hung on,


but just barely, becoming a 99-cent house
before eventually closing in the late 1980s.
It found new life in 1990 as the
Shores Performing Arts Theater, but that
enterprise also failed, going bust in 2004.
That's when the PlayGround Theatre, the
current occupant, took over the space at
9806 NE 2nd Ave.
"The Shores Performing Arts The-
ater had, like, an 80-year-lease with more
than 70 years left to go on it," remem-
bers Stephanie Ansin, the PlayGround
Theatre's founder and artistic director.
Ansin bought out the center's lease for a
little more than $200,000.


Stephanie Ansin: "I want to see people from the neighborhood walking to
the theater that's my dream."


Since that time, the PlayGround The-
atre's performances have attracted more
than 150,000 students, educators, and
other guests, and garnered the company
a reputation as one of South Florida's


leading cultural institutions.
Now Ansin plans to expand the
company's artistic vision in a big way,

Continued on page 52


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.comSeptember 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012













MOCA Goes to the Public


Well, Comes Up Dry

The museum's expansion bond issue lost by just 155 votes, and
some blame the politicians


By Mark Sell
BT Contributor

It's time for Plan B at North Miami's
Museum of Contemporary Art
(MOCA). Voters on August 14 nar-
rowly defeated a $15 million, 20-year
bond issue that would have tripled the
exhibition space of the internationally
celebrated facility.
Turnout was solid at 20 percent
(solid, that is, for a dead-of-summer elec-
tion), with 4151 residents casting ballots.
The measure lost by just 155 votes, a
squeaker.
How and why did this happen? And
where does MOCA, a city-run museum,
go now?
As for the Iho' s the heaviest con-
centration of No votes was in the affluent
eastern precincts of Keystone Point
and Sans Souci Estates, along with the


densely populated, immigrant-rich area
west of 1-95. As a rough rule, the closer
you were to the museum, the more likely
you were to vote Yes.
In the Sans Souci and Keystone
Point neighborhoods, the bond issue lost
by 183 votes more than enough to
send the measure down to defeat. On the
other hand, the museum's home precinct
in central North Miami, between 135th
Street and Biscayne Park, supported the
bond by a 92-vote margin.
As for the "whys," you can count the
reasons, starting with these hard times.
"It's a bad economy and people were not
in the mood to self-tax," says Council-
man Scott Galvin, a spirited advocate
for the bond issue. "Had this been good
times, it might have passed narrowly."
As for other reasons, you could cite
the very short five-week window for
campaigning, distrust of the city council


New York's Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman + Associates Architects designed
the LEED certified additions, which would have added more than 28,000
square feet to the museum.


and Mayor Andre Pierre by residents
living on the east side (council members
supported the bond issue unanimously),
and general, all-too-common accusa-
tions of mendacity and deception.
Ellen Abramson, an activist and
41-year resident of Keystone Point, gives
herself some credit, too. At the begin-
ning of August, she sent out an e-mail
blast and flyers, describing the bond
issue as a tax and calling the city's


"informational" campaign misleading.
The opposition flyers were distributed
most heavily in the east and west, where
the No votes prevailed.
"MOCA should go to the private
sector, as many other institutions do,"
says Abramson in a post-election inter-
view. "As wonderful as MOCA is, it's
not the responsibility of the taxpayers of

Continued on page 48


Fire the Minister, Ignite


the Congregation

At Unity on the Bay, the talk has been more insurrection than salvation


By Brandon Dane
Special to the BT
he storm began in late July, when
the Unity on the Bay board of
trustees voted to remove the
church's extremely popular senior minis-
ter Rev. Christopher Jackson.
Days later, church members and
congregants mobilized via social media,
circulating a petition to rescind the
board's decision to "release Reverend
Chris Jackson, after a full evaluation," as
posted on the church's Facebook page. Fi-
nally, on August 25, about 100 members
of Unity's congregation and the board of
trustees gathered at a town hall meeting
to openly discuss the controversy.


The congre.
Bay is a racially
17 percent Afric
rest almost equ;
Anglos and Lati
woman says tha


Unity on the Bay,
located at 411 NE 21st St.
in Miami, has been operat-
ing here for 85 years. It is
part of Unity Worldwide
Ministries, which began in
1889 in Kansas City, Mis-
souri, founded by Charles
and Myrtle Fillmore. The
faith is a nondenomi-
national, 11%\\ lIhougltl"
church that believes "God
is the source and creator Rev. Christopher Jackson
of all. There is no other was ousted by church
enduring power." Like- trustees, then reinstated -
wise, there is po\ cli IIn sort of
affirmative prayer" that increases the was the secretive
connection to God. board sought to


gation at Unity on the
Diverse group of about
;an-Americans with the
ally divided between
inos. A church spokes-
it some 60 to 65 percent
come from Miami's
Lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgendered
? community.
S It's a diverse, so-
phisticated group, led
Sby a rotating board of
Z trustees with experi-
ence -just not the
Kind of experience
that prepared them for
Unity's version of an
Arab Spring.
If there was a
thread that wove
through congre-
gants' complaints, it
e method by which the
terminate Jackson's


employment. Board members wrote in
another Facebook post: "We understand
the congregation's desire to know the
details of the decision," but it would
violate their confidentiality agreement
with Jackson.
That explanation prompted Eddie
Dominguez, a member and lay leader of
the church, to create his own Facebook
page, Future of Unity, which quickly at-
tracted many Jackson advocates. In fact
it wasn't long before the Future of Unity
group had more than 1000 supporters.
(The church itself has about 1200 recog-
nized members, according to Jackson.)
It took just three weeks from the day
the board decided to terminate Jackson to
the day, August 16, when Jackson an-
nounced that the decision had been reversed.
In the meantime, Dominguez,
through Future of Unity, had been
explicit in charging that Unity's board of
trustees had dismissed Jackson "without

Continued on page 58


September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com






Community News: BISCAYNE CORRIDOR


Class Conflict

Aventura parents say they need a charter high school
can send their kids, but what's wrong with Krop?


By Erik Bojnansky
BT Senior Writer

Aventura parents uneasy about
sending their teens to a public
high school outside their posh
city are invited to a town hall meeting at
7:30 p.m. on September 27.
Aventura Mayor Susan Gottlieb
requested the meeting, which will take
place in the Aventura Government
Center, in response to a group of Aven-
tura parents who want the city to build a
charter high school catering to Aventura
residents. Miami-Dade School Board
member Martin Karp will host the event.
Friday Lapidot, president of Parents
for Aventura Charter High School As-
sociation, though, isn't waiting. She's
pressing on with demands for a new
school for Aventura high schoolers and
she is willing to influence a Novem-
ber city election to do it. "Many of the


MOCA
Continued from page 47

North Miami to fund so much of this."
Indeed MOCA could turn to the private
sector. It might seek money from Biscayne
Landing developer Michael Swerdlow,
whose $17 million down payment to the
city once included $7 million earmarked
for the museum. MOCA also might look
for a deep-pocketed private donor along the
lines of Jorge Perez or Adrienne Arsht, with


candidates are asking
for our support,"
Lapidot says. "They
know if they have
our support, they
stand a better chance
of getting elected."
So far, Lapi-
dot has collected
online signatures on
petitionbuzz.com
from more than 1900
Aventura residents
who support the con-
struction of a charter
high school. Consid-
ering that fewer than
3000 registered voters


where they


Aventura Mayor S
Gottlieb: "The tax
here would... I car
imagine... quadru


in Aventura have more."
bothered to partici-
pate in a city election since 2003, Lapidot
is confident her group has enough clout
to determine who will fill three of the


naming rights part of the deal. There are
other options, all of which will be reviewed
in the coming months.
On a deeper level, Abramson and
other east-side opponents, such as former
mayoral candidate and Board of Adjust-
ment chairwoman Carol Keys, along with
135th Street activist Catherine Christo-
fis, believe the city deceived taxpayers.
They point to the city's website, which
stated that the bond issue would cost
simply $4x peryear, ratherthan $48 per


seven city commission seats only one
of which will be defended by an incum-
bent, thanks to term-limits come the
November 6 election.
So far, at least three candidates have
declared their support for a
charter school: Sergio Gus-
tavo Vuguin (running against
Commissioner Teri Holzberg
for Seat 1), Enbar Cohen
(running for Seat 5), and Ian
Llobgregat (also running for
Seat 5).
"At the end of the day,
the residents want a high
school and we're going to
have three commissioners
who will fight for it because
of the lack of choices,"
Lapidot says, adding that her
usan group has yet to endorse any
rate candidate.
n't even Aventura already owns
pie or and operates a K-8 charter
facility called Aventura
City of Excellence School,
or ACES. Parents are so enamored with
the A-rated school that, in October of
last year, they begged the Aventura City


$100,000 assessed valuation over 20 years.
If you have a Keystone Point house
valued at $500,000, you're looking at
almost $250 per year. Multiply that by
20 and it comes to nearly $5000. Do the
same for a major commercial property,
and you're talking real money.
Even if the city had been clearer, they
admit, they still would have voted No.
Bonnie Clearwater, the energetic
and highly regarded director and cura-
tor of the museum since its founding


Commission to build a charter high
school.
City officials have declined to do
so. Mayor Susan Gottlieb insists her city
invested $12 million to build ACES in
2003 because the public elementary and
junior high school options were limited
back then. (Aventura is now also served
by K-8 Aventura Waterways School.)
Like public schools, charter schools
receive state and federal education funds.
However, individual charter school spon-
sors are responsible for any cost over-
runs, according to John Schuster, chief
communications officer for Miami-Dade
County Public Schools.
Gottlieb contends that the costs for
building and operating a charter high
school will prove far more expensive a
proposition than ACES, especially since
Aventura is now 98 percent built out. "If
we had to purchase land we do not have
and build a high school, the tax rate here
would... I can't even imagine... qua-
druple or more," Gottlieb says.
But Lapidot is sure Aventura's city
officials and residents can figure out a

Continued on page 56


in 1996, was said to be stung by the
defeat. But reached on vacation in
Maine, Clearwater, who is a city em-
ployee, sounds positively chipper. "I'm
optimistic about MOCA's future," she
says. "And we'll work with the city
to find other means of funding. Our
programs will keep going strong. They
are making a big difference for kids and
teens with the city's support."

Continued on page 54


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Greynolds Park
Continued from page 46

Mount Trashmore).
Generations of local residents have
enjoyed the park's tranquility and broad
vistas an appreciation that may be lost
on a group of investors from New York.
Today they're back, and they're seek-
ing to build a project even bigger than
the original plan. Braha Dixie wants to
have the property rezoned to "General
Business District B-2," which allows
for a maximum height of 15 stories or
150 feet, whichever is less. In a letter
to the city, the Braha group explained
that they intended to build a mixed-use
development including a hotel with 276
rooms, 82,500 square feet of office space,
25,600 square feet of retail, and a park-
ing garage with 600 spaces.
They also promised that the build-
ing would be no taller than ten stories,
and proposed a restrictive covenant to
enforce the height limit.
At the first reading of the proposal to
rezone the property, the city council voted
unanimously to approve the change. Once
again the process seemed to have flown
under the radar. Very few objections were
raised at the first reading, in large part,
says Charles Baron, because very few
people knew it was being considered.
Since then, Baron, Taylor, and others
have spread the word in a big way.
They brought together environmental
and conservation groups, as well as
individual civic activists. They got them-
selves organized. And they made some
noise. Adding to the growing chorus of
objections was the county parks depart-
ment, which informed the city of it's
official opposition to the proposal.
As a result, the Braha Dixie inves-
tors delayed the second, final reading of
the proposed zoning change. They also
hired lobbyist and former Daily Busi-
ness Review reporter Keith Donner in an
effort to address objections and persuade
council members to stay the course.
A few weeks ago, Donner met with
project opponents and park officials at the
Greynolds Park office to discuss working
out a compromise. The covenant restrict-
ing the height to ten stories didn't qualify
as a compromise, says Baron, because
such covenants can be overturned at any
time by the city council or the courts.
Baron also met with the only
Braha Dixie investor living in South
Florida, Weston-based Tommy Kertesz.
Baron says he found that Kertesz had a


I


a


"tremendous amount of difficulty com-
prehending the height" as being an issue,
and how it would adversely affect the
neighborhood, including the integrity of
Greynolds Park.
"I told him [Kertesz]: 'All we want to
see is trees and sky,' and he looked at me
like I'm a total nutcase," Baron recounts.
Echoing Baron's sentiments is Amy
Werba, president of Friends of Oleta River,
a group dedicated to preserving and pro-
tecting the river, which runs along the east-
ern edge of Greynolds Park. She says there
are many reasons why this project is a bad
idea, and enumerated them in a meeting
with lobbyist Donner a few weeks ago.
Of Braha Dixie she says: "They are
obviously concerned and scared, which is
exactly what we wanted. When you have a
park like Greynolds, you have to make an
effort to preserve it, because once a build-
ing goes up, the atmosphere is destroyed."
If the same development at the same
height were to be built on NE 163rd Street
or Miami Gardens Drive, "that might be
a different story," says Werba, who is not
unalterably opposed to the project. She just
doesn't want to see it towering over the park.
"People forget what the natural
world is like," she adds, "which is why
we have to strive to preserve places like
Greynolds Park. "We would like [the
project] to not interrupt this atmosphere,
and that is our biggest objection."
The only person who doesn't seem
to understand why all the fuss is Tommy
Kertesz. He insists that the project will not
block any views and would help reduce
crime at Greynolds Park by "creating a
secure area, which tourists could visit."
According to Kertesz, the Hyatt
Hotel chain has signed on as part of
the project, and he assures that a Hyatt
representative will be present at the next
city council meeting. Having a company
like Hyatt involved is something Kertesz
feels the city "should be proud of."
A hotel at that location makes sense,
he argues, considering the proximity of
Florida International University's School
of Hospitality. Hyatt, he adds, has agreed
to a long- and short-stay component in
the building, which "would not be more
than six or seven stories" tall.
As for Charles Baron and Robert
Taylor and Amy Werba and the others
who have voiced objections, Kertesz has
this to say: "I don't agree with them. You
know the story: 'I want to build every-
where, but not in my backyard."'

Feedback: letters@obiscaynetimes.com


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









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Community News: BISCAYNE CORRIDOR


Roll'Em!
Continued from page 46

one that includes regular film screenings
at the theater for the first time since the
days of Top Gun.
It's all part of the PlayGround
Theatre's evolution into Miami Theater
Center, or MTC, an umbrella organiza-
tion that will consist of four artistic
divisions: MTCplaygound, which will
continue to produce quality theater,
camps, and programs for children; MTC-
performance, a multidisciplinary line-up
of shows for adult audiences; MTCtrain-
ing, providing everything from acting
classes to ballet training to technical
safety and lighting instruction for theater
professionals; and MTCfilm, a cinema
component that will include screenings
related to MTC's other offerings, as well
as a schedule of independent and art-
house films.
"My inspiration for Miami Theater
Center is the Brooklyn Academy of
Music," says Ansin, a Coral Gables native
who attended graduate school at Colum-
bia University. "I want to make this like a
baby BAM." It's an ambitious undertak-
ing, to be sure, but perhaps Ansin has
already surmounted her greatest hurdle -
actually being able to show movies in the
Shores. That's because movie screenings
in the Shores didn't just die out; they were
banned by the village council.
It's something Ansin discovered
accidentally only in 2010, when she first
flirted with the idea of adding film of-
ferings to the mix at the PlayGround. As
she recalls, O Cinema co-founder Vivian
Marthell was looking for a temporary
home for her Knight Foundation-funded
art house while its permanent digs in
Wynwood were being completed. Ansin
offered O Cinema the use of her fa-
cilities, and "that's when I found out I
couldn't do movies!" she says, affecting
a look of horror from behind the desk
of her tiny office, located in a corner
of what once was the Shores Theater's
second-floor projection room.
The restriction was implemented
decades ago when, in the opinion of
many locals, increasingly risqu6 films
at the theater were threatening to bring
an unwelcome element to the Shores. ("I
heard they were starting to call it Miami
Whores!" squeals Ansin.) If those were
the kinds of movies that were going to
be shown at the old theater, the think-
ing went, better to have no movies at all.
And the ordinance didn't apply just to


the theater.
Miss Mooie's, the late, lamented
ice cream parlor on the corner of NE
96th Street and 2nd Avenue, also tried
to show movies a couple of years ago.
"They were going to project family films
on their back wall," says Jesse Walters,
executive director of the Miami Shores
Chamber of Commerce. "But they were
denied a permit, and that became a cam-
paign issue."
The campaign was Walters's effort
to win a seat on the village council,
which he did in April 2011. "After six
or eight months in office," he says, "I
decided to sponsor legislation that would
allow for movie exhibition in the Shores."
Walters hoped to encourage multiple
film venues, including the opening of
an indie-oriented storefront theater -
like the Miami Beach Cinematheque's
previous home on Espafiola Way but
concerns on the council led him to limit
the language of the proposed ordinance
to the existing theater. The ordinance
passed unanimously at a November 2011
council meeting. (Mayor Jim McCoy
had previously expressed his support for
bringing back movies to the Shores in
a May 2010 BT story by Mark Sell, "In
Miami Shores, It's Nix on Flicks.")
Having been given a green light by
the village council, Ansin wasted no
time in approaching O Cinema to see
if there was any interest in launching a
northern branch of the Wynwood art-
house at the '~ -i-s.c theater. There was.
The arrangement, now in place, calls for
O Cinema, under the banner of MTCfilm,
to administer a schedule of approxi-
mately 250 screenings a year, Thursdays
through Sundays.
It'll be foreign, independent, and art-
house fare, but don't expect the program-
ming to be identical to O Cinema. "This
is a more family-oriented venue, and the
house is bigger" says Ansin. "It's a won-
derful opportunity for them to expand
their offerings."
Village officials also hope MTC's
new nighttime program of movies and
stage productions Anton Chekhov's
Three Sisters will have its "adult pre-
miere" Saturday, November 17 in-
creases foot traffic in the community's
commercial corridor, a target of revital-
ization efforts, it seems, since before the
Shores Theater stopped showing movies
altogether. "When you park and go to the
theater, you're going to pass these other

Continued on page 54


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.comSeptember 2012


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September 2012






















79h Street


BISCAYNETOM_


UI


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September 2012


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Community News: BISCAYNE C(

MOCA
Continued from page 48

In art circles, MOCA is a prize, lion-
ized in the New York Times and influential
journals. Space will continue to be tight for
the innovative permanent collection and
traveling exhibitions that highlight a rising,
international generation of renowned
artists such as Jean-Michel Othoniel,
Christian Holstad, Karen Kilimnik, Ryan
Trecartin, Hernan Bas, and many others.
The museum's planned expansion was
intended as a centerpiece for the revival of
North Miami's downtown, and its advo-
cates are not about to give up.
Galvin says more local involvement
is key: "MOCA has been around more
than 15 years but hasn't done much self-
publicity, although it's had great press.
You see Pat Riley and Calvin Klein at
MOCA parties, but not the president
of the homeowners' association or the
chamber of commerce."
Michael McDearmaid, a longtime
civic activist and an organizer of the
"MOCA Yes" political action commit-
tee, argues that the advocacy effort
was hobbled by the mere five weeks
between a council vote authorizing the
bond issue and the August 14 ballot-
ing. "I was surprised by the vote," he
says. "When I actually had a chance to
talk to people, they didn't understand
the implications. This bond issue was
the simplest way to expand and would
have cost taxpayers the least amount of
money. All the money for the PAC was
raised by members of the board, Friends
of MOCA, and downtown businesses.


3RRIDOR


We received zero money from the city."
(Clearwater says that $100,000 from the
city went entirely to education programs
within the museum, not for an advertis-
ing campaign.)
Following the election, Mayor
Andre Pierre posted this on the city's
website: "Although we hear the voters
of North Miami and understand that
the additional cost of funding the city's
Museum of Contemporary Art is not the
option preferred by our residents, we
urge everyone to remember that 'MOCA
is ours' and hope that the election has
exposed MOCA to even more people in
our community who will now visit and
explore what the museum has to offer.
The expansion plan does not stop here.
The City of North Miami will continue
to look for funding alternatives to make
the dream a reality."
Each side blames a general lack of
education for the other's vote. Bond-issue
proponents claim the public was not
sufficiently aware of the museum's good
works, particularly its programs for chil-
dren and teens. Opponents says the city
tried to shield voters from the whole truth.
From the victors' circle, Ellen Abramson
has no regrets. "I think my e-blast had
some impact. I really do," she says.
"Unless you've got money up the gazoo
and don't know what you're doing with it,
you want to know what you're spending.
"I looked at the paper the next morn-
ing and said, 'Yes! I absolutely did make
a difference and I am proud of that.' My
mother would be kvelling."

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.com


Roll 'Em!
Continued from page 52

businesses," says Walters. "And you
might not buy something at that moment,
but you'll see a place where you can get
your hair cut, or get your taxes prepared."
Those are the kinds of tenants NE 2nd
Avenue currently has. Walters hopes MTC
might attract more arts-related businesses,
like galleries and antique stores, as well as
more dining options. (One of the im-
pediments to restaurants moving into the
Shores has been the lack of a sewer system.
Walters says a proposal to create a self-
taxing district to finance the installation of
a sewer system along 2nd Avenue will be
taken up by the council next year.)
Ansin shares Walters's optimism. "I
want to see people from the neighbor-
hood walking to the theater that's my


dream," she says. Signs abound that it
may just become a reality. Not long after
it was announced that MTC intended to
show films, Ansin encountered a group
of older ladies from the area. "You're
going to show independent films, so we
don't have to go to the Gables to see them,
right?" one of them asked.
To mark the debut ofMTCfilm, and
the theater's rebirth as a regular movie
venue, MTC will screen the 1946 musical
Blue Skies on October 13, as part of a street
fair celebrating the village's 80th birthday.
Starring Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby,
Blue Skies is a sentimental pick, and an
appropriate one. It was the first film ever
shown at the Shores Theater back when
people took it for granted there would
always be movies playing on 2nd Avenue.

Feedback: letters @biscaynetimes.com


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


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September 2012












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Prepare Yourself for


the High Holy Days


The 10-day period from Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur is
known as the Days of Awe. It is a time when the Jewish people,
individually and collectively, do heshbon hanefesh, an "accounting of
the soul." Will you be ready? Feel inspired and feel at home at Temple
Israel of Greater Miami where we invite you to these free evening
programs.


Connection, Reflection & Conversations
Workshops guided by Rabbis Tom Heyn and Mitch Chefitz
Make your High Holy Day experience more meaningful. Join us for two
interactive workshops as we explore High Holy Day texts and traditions,
tune in to the music, share our thoughts and insights, and discuss the
essence of personal change the Days of Awe demand of us.
Wednesday, September 5 & 12, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Selichot: A Meditative Service
That Prepares Us for the Days of Awe
The Selichot service directs our hearts and minds to teshuvah, the process of
turning within and returning to our best selves. In a candlelit sanctuary with
meditative music, we will ready ourselves for an accounting of the soul in
the days ahead.
Saturday, September 8, from 10 to 11 p.m. Join us earlier in the evening for
family-friendly programming, a dessert reception, and text study, beginning at
7:30 p.m.

Are you looking for a Jewish home in the central city? A place to cel-
ebrate the High Holy Days? We hope you consider Temple Israel.
We are a diverse urban congregation grounded in Jewish tradition
with a forward-reaching vision to connect with new generations of
Jews. Come observe this sacred time of the Jewish year with us, where
you can feel comfortable, I
challenge yourself, find meaning Temple
in the holidays, and be with people Isroel '
who want to do the same. Templelsrael.net

For more information, call 305-573-5900 or write info@templeisrael.net
1 Visit us at 137 NE 19th Street, Miami


Community News: BISCAYNE CORRIDOR


Class Conflict
Continued from page 48

way to build a charter high school with-
out raising taxes and in less than two
years. "There are many other possibili-
ties and opportunities," she says. "And
you know, if people get together to solve
the problem which is overpopulation
in the high school we will."
Lapidot says Michael Krop Senior
High, located three miles west of Aven-
tura, is not large enough to accommodate
students from North Miami Beach, the
Skylake-Highland Lakes area, Ives
Estates, and Aventura, a city that has seen
its 18-and-under population skyrocket 117
percent between 2000 and 2010.
She points out that the school district
already says Krop is at 121 percent of
capacity, yet it has no plans to build
additional classrooms for Aventura high
school students. Al\ mil II. s population
trend is going to make this worse," she
says. (According to the 2010 U.S. Census,
Aventura's overall population is 35,800,
up 30 percent from 2000.)
But Karp, Aventura's representative
on the school board, says the idea that
Krop is overcrowded has more to do with
bureaucratic formulas than any objective
measure. With 2733 students, Krop's popu-
lation actually has decreased by more than
1000 students compared to four years ago,
thanks to the construction of Alonzo and
Tracy Mourning Senior High near Florida
International University (which mainly
serves teenagers living in North Miami,
North Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles
Beach), and the transfer of some students
to "The Annex," a former Kmart near the
California Club Mall that was converted
into junior and senior high classrooms.
"I can tell you as an educator, Krop
is a good, decent learning environment,"
says Karp, a former schoolteacher with a
doctorate in educational leadership from
the University of Miami.
Indeed, Krop is deemed an A school
by the Florida Department of Educa-
tion. It also has raked in 65 Silver Knight
Awards, offers 26 advanced placement
courses, and has seen its graduating
students obtain $80 million in college
scholarships. Lapidot agrees that Krop
is a great school, but complains it is the
only option for Aventura parents who
can't afford to send their children to a
private school.
During an Aventura City Com-
mission workshop, Lapidot argued
that a quality charter high school with


competitive courses will not only
provide Aventura residents with more
choices, it also will encourage CEOs
with children to move into the area, en-
hancing property values.
Ross Lila Torres, a real estate associ-
ate with Beachfront Realty in Aventura,
agrees that a charter high school would
increase home prices. "One of the basic
reasons people move to certain neighbor-
hoods is the viability of schools in the
area," says Torres, a former Aventura
resident who signed the online petition
for a charter school. "You want to have
your children in school close to where
you live. You can supervise them better,
and the cost of transportation these days
- gas prices only go up."
Indeed a majority of online petition
signers wanted their kids to continue the
experience provided at ACES. Others
demanded that such a school guarantee ad-
mission to Aventura residents (unlike ACES,
where students are picked via lottery).
"I wish that there would be a high
school to fit at least 500 to 600 students
per grade that live in Aventura," Mi-
chelle Serber wrote next to her online
signature. "Only those living with Aven-
tura addresses should be able to go."
Lapidot herself stressed the desir-
ability of a "neighborhood high school"
during last October's commission work-
shop. "We want our kids to socially net-
work with their neighbors," she said then.
"We want to be a strong community with
kids going to the same high school in the
same community."
Presumably, such a community
school would reflect the ethnic character
of Aventura, which is 59 percent white
non-Hispanic (or Anglo), 36 percent His-
panic, and 4 percent black. By contrast,
Krop is 42 percent black, 35 percent
Hispanic, and 21 percent Anglo. During
the October workshop, a parent whose
kids attended ACES received modest
applause for nervously bringing up "the
elephant in the room."
"We hear at Krop and Alonzo Mourn-
ing that there are gangs, that there is a lot
of violence, that there is a different popu-
lation of people," said the parent. "And we
are comfortable where our kids are [now]
going to school and who they associate
with." The parent then asked Krop High
principal Dawn Baglos how she intends
to keep "our children safe."
Baglos replied that the rumors of
delinquents wandering the halls at Krop

Continued on page 58


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









I CRITICALDEBT PROTECTION INFORMATION I


When in Foreclosure,consid-
er the following DO's and
DON'Ts in protecting your
rights and getting a resolution that bene-
fits you:

DO- Seek legal advice based on
knowledge, experience, and esprit de
corps. "The Fight" is about obtaining
the evidence, depositions, and affida-
vits. The laws are always changing, and
you need someone who knows how to
use the most recent developments to
your advantage.

DON'T! Trust the Bank to stop their
foreclosure because you are working on
a loan modification or short sale. The
Bank is under no obligation to delay
their foreclosure, and the will not protect
your rights. Do not ignore the lawsuit.

DO File a response to the lawsuit within
twenty (20) days of service. You can lose
valuable rights by not responding. If you
need time to seek legal advice, ask for an
extension of time to seek an attorney.

DON'T! Think that talking to the
Bank is the same as answering the
Complaint. It is not.

DO Keep a detailed journal of all
calls and communication to the
Bank, including the date, time, name,
and substance of the call. Keep all
letters, emails, and documents sent to
you from the Bank.


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dorsements, assignments of mortgages, and affida-
vits. It also means seeking and identifying docu-
ments that contradict the Bank's claims.

Goals are very important to identify at the
beginning of your case. Goals will determine
how a defense attorney will pursue your case.
Every individual and family has different
goals arising from different situations.

Foreclosure defense attorneys must aggressively
test the basis for each case on your behalf. They
must have the knowledge and experience where
and how to apply pressure on the Bank. Your attor-
ney should have experience to know when to apply
pressure to best meet your goals.

You have options and you have rights. You have
nothing to lose if you fight. You have the right to
stand up against the Bank.


Fair Debt Collection Practices
Act (FDCPA)
If you're behind in paying your
bills, or a creditor's records mis-
takenly make it appear that you
are, then you may have rights un-
der the FDCPA. Debt Collectors
try to collect debts, but sometime
they go too far. Under the
FDCPA, you have the right to sue
a Debt Collector for abusive tac-
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* Contacting you at inconven-
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before 8:00 AM or after 9:00
PM.
* Contacting you if you have
written to them requesting
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* Impersonating a law office,
government agency, or credit
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* Threatening arrest for not
paying.
* Using abusive or insulting
language to coerce payment.
* Repeatedly contacting your
friends or family.
If you feel that a Debt Collector
has been abusive, then you may
have the right to sure them under
the FDCPA.


September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


News from Civil Justice Advocates, PL
Attorney Kunal Mirchandani celebrates his first year with Civil Justice Advocates, P.L. After
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including the FDCPA, to get you the best possible results. The experienced attorneys and staff at
Civil Justice Advocates, P.L., will get you the results you deserve.


September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com






Community News: BISCAYNE C(


Unity on the Bay
Continued from page 47

consulting with or giving any notice to
the congregation." Furthermore, a Future
of Unity petition called for "a special
meeting of the membership to remove the
board, which is clearly out of touch with
the will of the congregation they serve."
Such is the power of social media.
Church by-laws say such a petition
from members can only request a special
meeting, and requires one-quarter of
official members to sign it to be valid.
"We have the signatures," Dominguez
insists, but adds that he and his allies are
"holding off for now" and will not seek to
remove trustees from the board.
The board began back-pedaling as
more and more congregants, armed with
stickers and T-shirts that read, "I Love
Chris," began making their presence
felt. By early August, Jackson and the
board posted a joint letter. The tone had
changed, and the message had gone from
abrupt dismissal to this: "During these
tough economic times, we need to place
extra emphasis on the administrative and
management duties." Instead of being
terminated, Jackson would simply be
relieved of most administrative duties.
Did this mean the board had tried
to fire Jackson because of poor man-
agement? Apparently so. His spiritual
leadership was never questioned. Laura
Thezine, the most recent president of the
board, resigned over the issue. "I gave
the board four months to evaluate Chris,"
she says. "I didn't vote to dismiss him.
But attendance was down." Donations
were down as well, and so the board
concluded that Jackson had to go.
Says Eddie Dominguez: "The
board wouldn't be happy if Jesus Christ
himself was running Unity." He asserts
that it's the economy and not Jackson.
Reverend Jackson concurs that the poor
economy has taken a toll on church cof-
fers. The last audit of Unity, in 2010, puts

Class Conflict
Continued from page 56

were not true. An occasional fight might
break out, she admitted, but students
are far more likely to show off their
artwork in the halls than attack each
other. Baglos added that anyone caught
fighting on school grounds is hit with an
automatic ten-day suspension.
Lapidot insists the movement is not
about keeping Aventura teens segregated


3RRIDOR


tithes and offerings on the balance sheet
at almost $1.3 million. However, Rever-
end Jackson says, "Church revenue has
been declining since 2008."
Affable and optimistic, Jackson
chose the high road when asked about the
ordeal. "Everybody was looking out for
i\ lu ri,. thought was in the best interest
of the church," he says. "Any church re-
volves around the spiritual leadership, but
the business management aspect was not
handled to the board's satisfaction."
Despite the dissatisfaction, Jackson
remains optimistic that problems with
transparency and communication can be
resolved. It r\ .n't an issue of power," he
says. "I commend all parties involved. We
took an inherently conflict-able situation
and used it to energize the church. Energy
in the congregation is at an all-time high."
Judging from the passion expressed
at the town hall meeting, Jackson is right
high energy. The church wasn't at its 800-
seat capacity, but congregants lined up in
the sanctuary for their three minutes to
speak minds. New board president, Her-
berth Aguilar, conducted the meeting.
Some complained that the decline
in congregant numbers was the result
of the board having eliminated the
church's marketing specialist, leading
to no publicity of Unity activities in any
local media.
Others claimed a lack of transpar-
ency was the main issue. Even Aguilar
acknowledged that when he was first on
the board, the attitude of trustees was:
"You don't need to know that."
Congregants did agree that an
administrative minister should be hired
to help Jackson so he would have more
time to be a spiritual leader.
In addition, the trustees, prior to
the meeting, appointed Dominguez to a
vacant seat on the board. As the "leader
of the opposition," he took this as a
good sign.

Feedback: letters@biscaynetimes.com

from minorities. "Every parent has his
or her own motivation," she says. "The
association is about addressing the prob-
lems of overpopulation in schools and
that problem is growing."
Gottlieb hopes that more Aventura
residents will learn what Krop has to
offer at the community meeting, but
at the very least, "we want everyone's
voice to be heard."

Feedback: letters @biscaynetimes.com


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012






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Neighborhood Correspondents: BISCAYNE PARK


Conjunction Junction
Biscayne Park offers few opportunities for casual interaction, but
that doesn't mean we should stop trying


By Gaspar GonzAlez
BT Contributor

Where do people go when they
leave Biscayne Park? I don't
mean leave for the summer, as
so many of my neighbors do every year
- welcome back, folks or even move
away. I'm talking about when they drive
out of the cozy confines of our little vil-
lage. It's a question I've wondered about
for the nearly three years I've lived here.
The reason? Because I almost never see
anyone from Biscayne Park outside of
Biscayne Park.
One of the blessings or draw-
backs, depending on how you look at
it of living here is that we have no


commercial outlets. No stores, no gas
stations, no banks, no post office. The
smallest errand requires one to leave the
Park and, most likely, drive in the direc-
tion of either North Miami or Miami
Shores, our two sister communities.
Because we lived there before
moving to Biscayne Park, my wife and I
usually go south to the Shores. We bank
there at two different banks we
worship at Miami Shores Community
Church, we do our grocery shopping
at the Shores Publix, and when we're
in the mood for a quick bite, we swing
by Norberto's Deli on NE 2nd Avenue
(where I recommend the homemade
roast beef or, when available, the
Cuban-style pork sandwiches).


We also do our dry cleaning in the
Shores. My toddler attends music classes
at Miss Jane's and goes to Shores Pediat-
rics when his throat is sore. Our preferred
Starbucks is the one on NE 95th Street.
Occasionally we'll go to the Miami
Shores Country Club on a Friday night.
And when we do any of these things,
there's a very good chance we'll see our


neighbors our old neighbors from
the Shores, that is, almost never one of
our Biscayne Park neighbors. (The one
exception to this is picking up or drop-
ping off our son at his preschool, where
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September 2012









from having a school here as well.)
How odd is that? Well, consider: I go
to the Shores Publix three, maybe four
times a week. It's a habit I got into living
in the urban northeast, first in New York
City and later in New Haven, Connecticut.
Grocery stores were always conveniently
close by and so there was no need to
plan meals more than a couple of days in
advance. Now that we have a small child,
my wife and I make much larger shopping
trips than we used to (good luck telling
our son we're out of Dora the Explorer
yogurt), but we still indulge in being able
to decide at the last minute what we might
be in the mood for that night.
Suffice to say, I'm at the Shores
Publix a lot. How many times have I run
into someone I know from the Park there
(and I know quite a few people)? Twice,
I think. Same goes for the bank and the
Shores post office, where I'm not sure
I've ever encountered anyone I know
from the village. I've heard Watergate
conspirator E. Howard Hunt who
lived a few doors down from my current
address used to frequent Norberto's,
but I never saw him there and, anyway,
Mr. Hunt passed away in 2007.


It's enough to make an amateur
urban anthropologist wonder: Are
Biscayne Park residents more likely
to gravitate to North Miami? Before
moving here, I wouldn't have guessed
that was the case, but it might be.
Maybe. I know several people who work
in North Miami (more than in Miami
Shores), and some village families
whose children attend William Jennings
Bryan Elementary, which draws them to
North Miami five days a week. There's
also the Park's Costco army, its troops
distinguishable by the 48-count paper
towel bundles and 4-for-i juice contain-
ers they bring home from their weekend
maneuvers on 146th Street.
And then there's my own unscien-
tific research, by which I mean trips to
Ricky Thai Bistro on NE 123rd Street.
In contrast to the Shores Publix, it's rare
that I walk into Ricky Thai a small
restaurant with seating for maybe 30
people and don't see somebody from
the village.
This includes Commissioner Rox-
anna Ross, whom I bumped into at the
takeout counter one night. I know what
you're thinking. Commissioner Ross is


not my biggest fan. Awkward? Not really.
It would appear a mutual love of Ricky's
pad woon sen and basil fried rice trumps
any philosophical differences. (The food
is delicious, though given the popularity
of the place, one should remember to call
well in advance for takeout. Ricky Thai
also delivers.)
And that brings me to my larger
point: That, for all its charms, life in
Biscayne Park provides relatively few
opportunities for the kinds of informal,
serendipitous interactions that make
people feel connected to one another.
Yes, the village dog-walkers see each
other regularly and a lot of the parents
do, too; in fact, kids' birthday parties and
afternoon play dates account for most of
the contact my wife and I have with our
neighbors. Otherwise, though, Biscayne
Park can feel a lot like the rest of Miami
- people living side by side being pulled
in opposite directions by work, errands,
and other demands of daily existence,
then coming home to rest up before head-
ing out to their respective corners of the
world the next morning.
We're not likely to see each other at
the local breakfast nook or gas station


or bakery because there is no local
breakfast nook, gas station, or bakery.
For most of us, local is what we make
it. That's not a complaint, just a fact in
sprawling South Florida.
And it might even be more true of
Biscayne Park than neighboring commu-
nities. Miami Shores has its downtown
and Morningside has the 55th Street Sta-
tion, while Belle Meade and Palm Grove
have the adjacent MiMo District, all of
which offer a number of spots where
people naturally gather. Biscayne Park,
not so much.
But maybe that just means we have
to work harder to create our own meet-
ing places. Now that evening tempera-
tures are close to being bearable again,
that could be the Tuesday night Biscayne
Triangle Truck Round-Up in North
Miami, the Museum of Contemporary
Art's monthly "Jazz at MOCA" event,
or maybe the soon-to-open art-house
cinema in the Shores. (See "Roll 'Em,"
page 46 this issue.)
Who knows? If enough of us get out
there, we might just run into one other.

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.com


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September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


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Neighborhood Correspondents: BELLE MEADE


The Morning After
Now that county elections are over, it's time for our leaders to
get to work


By Frank Rollason
BT Contributor
W ell, another local election cycle
has come and gone. Thank-
fully, our mayor for the county
remains Carlos Gimenez. The result of
Norman Braman's quest for ousting four
county commissioners stands at zero for
four and, most important of all, we are
protected, for the time being, from packs
of pit bulls roaming the neighborhoods and
attacking unsuspecting human inhabitants.
District 3 Miami-Dade County Com-
missioner Audrey Edmonson faces a
runoff in November and I urge our readers
to support her; she has been good for the
Upper Eastside. On a more local note, we


congratulate Belle Meade resident Teresa
Pooler on her successful run for a circuit
court judgeship well done, Teresa!
With the electorate having spoken,
what's next for our elected brain trust to
tackle? Of course, we expect the same
rhetoric about how they are looking out
for our best interests by keeping taxes low
and staying within budget. I think this
topic is wearing a little thin, don't you? It
is time our elected officials address some
really pressing issues, namely:
Crime: You cannot attend a local
community meeting without the issue of
crime being at the top of the list of con-
cerns. I think most of us are rather tired
of hearing from our elected officials and
our police chiefs that Crime Watch is


the answer and "we" need to be more
vigilant. No, it is time for the elected of-
ficials and the police professionals to do
their jobs on behalf of the taxpayers.
We are all tired of hearing about the
lack of manpower owing to budget con-
straints or how the Justice Department
has imposed certain hiring restraints
as a result of past discriminatory hiring


practices. It is time for our leaders to cut
through the red tape and get our police
forces up to strength in an accelerated
manner that is their job and, if they
can't make it happen, it's time for them
to step aside and bring in a professional
team that can get it done.
Chronic Homeless Population: We
have an ongoing situation in the county


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









where the population of chronically
homeless continues to hover around the
1000 mark, and the excuses from those
responsible for eliminating the home-
less population as spelled out in the
Homeless Trust's mission statement
- have become stale. Residents and
business owners are tired of excuses and
deserve to see significant improvement
in this quality-of-life issue. If the current
board and administration of the Home-
less Trust can't get it done, then they, too,
should step aside and allow a new team
with a fresh set of eyes to tackle the
problem. It is time to fix it.
Public Works Infrastructure:
The chickens are coming home to roost
with all the squandering of funds and
the pilfering of cash accounts desig-
nated for infrastructure purposes. The
county, under Mayor Gimenez, has
made some significant strides in cur-
tailing the raiding of the piggy bank,
but it will not be enough.
Like it or not, we are looking at some
tax increases necessary to make long
overdue repairs as well as upgrade water
and sewer capabilities for future growth.
What's lacking is the political will to tell


the electorate that the tax increases are
required to keep our systems operational.
Hardly a day goes by that we don't see
another water main or sewer line failing
as a result of age and deterioration. It's
time to fix it, plain and simple.
Public Schools: A community's
public school system is a component
carefully evaluated by companies when
deciding whether to relocate to a par-
ticular city or town. The bait-and-switch
state lottery funding plan for education
is now history. Here, in Miami-Dade,
our school superintendent has proposed
a billion-dollar bond issue to address
crumbling schools (another woefully ne-
glected infrastructure issue), to expand
existing facilities, and to add new facili-
ties where the population growth dictates.
This question will appear on the
November ballot and, hopefully, the
electorate will rally behind the effort.
But that isn't enough. The superinten-
dent needs to plan now for the success
of this bond proposal in November. He
should broaden the existing lists of
approved architects, engineers, and
contractors to enable multiple projects
to move forward simultaneously.


It should not take 10 to 15 years to
bring these needed improvements to
fruition; the projects of highest prior-
ity should already be identified and the
trigger ready to be pulled on them by
January 2013. I applaud the effort and
support the initiative, but let's not let the
bureaucracy get in the way.
Workforce Housing: Another key
element evaluated by companies when
considering relocating to a community
is the availability of affordable housing
for employees. And here we have an
increasing problem in our county. We in
South Florida are used to a boom-or-bust
economy when it comes to housing and
construction in general. We need hous-
ing that is affordable to the wage earner
who makes $50,000 to $75,000 annually.
County leaders need to provide signifi-
cant economic incentives to their "East-
ward, Ho!" mantra, not just lip service.
Transportation: Even with the wel-
come addition of the airport leg of the
Metrorail system and the various rubber-
tire trolleys now operating in Miami,
one has to admit that our community is
woefully lacking in functional public
transportation. The half-penny sales tax


has been another boondoggle that has
not provided the capital infrastructure
improvements for which it was designed.
It's yet another case of the piggy bank
being pilfered to keep current services
operational. Certainly, out-of-the-box
thinking is required among the transpor-
tation professionals here to address how
we move masses of people quickly.
To the west of Miami-Dade, in Col-
lier and Lee counties, there is less expen-
sive land that could easily be developed
for affordable workforce housing. The
trick is how we connect those areas to
our urban cores with public transporta-
tion moving large numbers of riders
quickly between the two points. Not an
easy task, but one that must be addressed
if South Florida is to remain relevant in
the scheme of things.
These are all formidable, timely
issues requiring the immediate attention
of our elected officials. As they say: If it
were easy, anyone could do it. But these
are the people who have said they want
to do it who ran for office promising
to do it so do it already.

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.com


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Neighborhood Correspondents: MIAMI AT LARGE








Worse Than Their Bite

The ban on pit bulls in Miami-Dade County makes us look like a
bunch of ignorant yahoos


By Wendy Doscher-Smith
BT Contributor

Ive got two words for Miami-Dade
County: Bite me.
Last month, voters chose to keep
the countywide pit bull ban These dog
haters are crusaders in the name of keeping
the county safe from these Vicious Baby
Maulers, yet they see anything furry as an
equal threat. Those who are so safety-ori-
ented also better avoid palm trees. You are
more likely to die from an errant coconut
smackdown than from a pit bull encounter.
Certainly some of these pit bull
haters fight to save the lives of unborn
children. But unborn children are
animals, too. Some of them hurt or kill


people. Maybe there should be a kid ban
in Miami-Dade. Especially if the kid's
parents hail from "undesirable" lineage.
The ordinance to repeal the ban was
shot down 63.2 percent to 36.8 percent.
The ban is a dinosaur old and mis-
understood. It exists because of a single
incident in Kendall two decades ago, but
now Miami-Dade residents think pit
bulls don't deserve to live.
In neighboring Broward County, pit
bulls are allowed. Miami Marlins pitcher
Mark Buehrle and his family chose to
live in Broward to keep their dog. The
Buehrles have two kids, ages three and
five, and three other dogs.
Says Buehrle's wife, Jamie: "My pit
bull is like my other three dogs a part


of my family. I would never leave any of
my children behind or any of my other
dogs." It's a decision she has "never
regretted one day of my life."
Slater, their two-year-old rescued
pit bull, has been their family member
since he was six months old, and
Buehrle has "never had one issue with
him. He is very gentle taking treats, and
loves affection."


There are also no problems with the
Buehrle's other three dogs, all vizslas.
The four dogs play and eat well together.
Buehrle compares the discrimination of
a dog breed to ethic profiling. "It's the
same as trying to determine what ethnic-
ity causes the most crime in a city simply
by the looks of a suspect, and then ban-
ning that entire ethnic background from
living in that city," Buehrle says.


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and breathes. Make it part of your lifestyle.
Tune to Classical South Florida on the
radio or online. It's in your nature.


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









What makes the pit-bull ban more
ridiculous is that the pit bull "breed" is a
mix of several breeds, has a complicated
history, and a wishy-washy, current-day
breed description. In Miami-Dade, the
pit bull classification is applied to a dog
that exhibits at least 70 percent of the
features on a 15-point visual checklist
for American Staffordshire terriers or
Staffordshire bull terriers.
The county's 1989 ban is on Ameri-
can Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire
bull terriers, and mixes of the two breeds.
That's like saying, "Well, golly now, any
dog with short hair and a muscular build
should be banned from the county."
The people who make the life-or-
death call "are not breed profession-
als," says Dahlia Canes, leader of the
Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific
Legislation (MCABSL). Shame on you,
Miami-Dade County.
Most people in Miami-Dade don't
know the history of the original ban. It
was voted in after a dog that looked like
it might be a pit bull attacked a child in
Kendall. (Canes's group is investigating
whether that dog was even a pit.) The
incident occurred when pit bulls were


out of favor; the stigmatizing of pit bulls
began in the late 1970s.
Notably, the 1989 Miami-Dade
breed ban created a stir, and in 1990 led
to a statewide law prohibiting any other
county from placing restrictions based
on breed. But since Miami- Dade was
grandfathered in, the law remained active
here. The bottom line? "The State of
Florida found that this law was so reck-
less and discriminatory that it wanted no
other county to follow suit," as MCABSL
declares on its Facebook page.
Canes says the community has been
fed in l\ lls and legends" for 23 years.
MCABSL has now retained a lawyer
who has requested a "sunset review,"
which affords county commissioners the
opportunity to eliminate the ban without
it going to the ballot. Canes has little
hope the public will ever repeal the ban.
"County officials have brainwashed this
county against pit bulls," she says.
In fact, the wording on last month's
ballot doomed the repeal from the start,
since "pit bull" and "dangerous" were
in the description. The county attorney
writes the description, and MCABSL had
publicly opposed the wording, to no avail.


"This is a banana republic," Canes says.
Here's some history: During the first half
of the 20th Century, this nation revered pit
bulls. Helen Keller had a pit bull. The Little
Rascals' pal Petey was a pit bull. But after a
series of articles ranin the New York Times,
exposing how pit bills were used for dog
fighting, the country began its anti-pitty (no
pun intended) war. Since then, the media has
bled negative pit bull ink. The result: Plenty
of people feel pit bulls should be banned
simply because they are "born evil." Some
insist that pit bulls are owned by unsavory
characters who raise the animals to kill.
I have been active in the dog communi-
ty as a groomer, rescue worker, pet photog-
rapher, and animal advocate for years now,
and I can tell you that is not correct. Or at
least I have never met a killer pit bull.
According to the American Kennel
Club's The Complete Dog Book, which
is recognized as the worldwide author-
ity on pure-breed physical attributes,
standards, and temperaments, the pit
bull is really an American Staffordshire
Terrier and is described as "docile." The
AKC adds that "the good qualities of
the breed are many, and it would be dif-
ficult for anyone to overstress them."


Furthermore, in April the American
Veterinary Medical Association conduct-
ed a study called "The Role of Breed in
Dog Bite Risk and Prevention." The study
states that, "based on behavioral assess-
ments and owner surveys, the breeds that
were more aggressive toward people were
small to medium-size dogs such as the
collies, toy breeds, and spaniels."
The same study found that on\ In i.
of pit bull-type dogs deal with a strong
breed stigma; however, controlled stud-
ies have not identified this breed group
as disproportionately dangerous."
In addition, the study concluded that
"the pit bull type is particularly ambigu-
ous as a 'breed' encompassing a range
of pedigree breeds, informal types, and
appearances that cannot be reliably iden-
tified. Visual determination of dog breed
is known to not always be reliable. And
witnesses may be predisposed to assume
that a vicious dog is of this type."
Seems to me, given the facts, it's
high time to reconsider banning pit bulls
in Miami-Dade. But then, I also believe
the earth is round.

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.com


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September 2012


.i I k






Neighborhood Correspondents: AVENTURA


Get on the Bus
Our correspondent goes the mass transportation route in Aventura


By Shari Lynn Rothstein-Kramer
BT Contributor
When I lived in Manhattan,
taking public transporta-
tion was as commonplace
as breathing. It was part of the daily
routine: Get up, brush teeth, shower, get
dressed, leave rent-controlled apartment,
and head for work via subway or the bus.
And then I moved to Florida. Every-
thing was different. Sure, there are buses
and trains here, but it's not the same.
What is a way of life in one place simply
isn't cool someplace else.
As a matter of fact, since moving
down more than 11 years ago, I've lived
in Boca, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, and


Aventura, and have not set foot on a bus
anywhere. Until today.
It started with my walking to places
whenever possible. But there really aren't
many places you can get to from my
condo. Well, actually there are plenty of
places to go, but not within a reasonable
walking distance.
People in Aventura drive. They drive
Maseratis, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Range
Rovers, and... you get the drift. They drive
really nice vehicles. They don't think about
using public transportation.
Anyway, my difficulty in walking
anywhere got me to thinking about how
the people who don't drive get from
here to there in this town (or anywhere
else in South Florida).


I knew of the Aventura Express.
I've watched the buses pull into Mystic
Pointe (when I used to live there) and
have seen them at Publix, but I never
thought much about them. As far as I
knew, it was a service for the elderly and
handicapped neither of which applies
to me so it was irrelevant.


But you never know. To be fore-
warned is forearmed. I decided to check
it out.
I went to Aventura's Website to
see what the deal was, and you know
what I found? Not only does the City
of Excellence have its own police force
and firefighters, but there's a bus service


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September 2012









dedicated to shuttling the town's resi-
dents wherever they want to go, as long
as it is within city limits.
The Aventura Express consists of
multiple lines: blue, green, red, purple,
yellow, and the Saturday Night North
and South expresses. Blue buses serve
northern Aventura, purple and yellow
service southern, and green and red lines
cover central. Each runs hourly.
The buses run year-round except
for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and
New Year's Day. And the best part is, it's
free. That is, as long as you don't need
to leave the city. If you do, that's another
story and another bus altogether.
You can connect to Miami-Dade and
Broward Transit buses via various stops.
Each line of the Aventura Express is
designed to pick up and drop off passen-
gers at the town's popular condos. The
buses service the most frequented places
in town, including government build-
ings, Loehmann's, Publix, Walgreens,
Pier 1, the Promenade Shops, Aventura
Commons, Waterways, Mount Sinai, and
more. The different lines can be sort of
confusing, but for those who need a ride,
it's worth the effort.


On my first attempt to crack the
route code, I discovered that purple
and yellow are my main lines, but I
couldn't decipher whether the front or
rear of Publix would put me where I
needed to be to catch my very first bus
- so I made my husband drive me, just
to be safe. (Which defeats the whole
point, I know.)
After reading the bus signs and
hoping for the best, I chose the front of
the store and sent hubby home. If I was
ever going to do this, I had to venture
forth alone. There was a lady waiting at
the stop. She had her groceries in a cart.
"Is this the bus stop?" I asked.
"It is."
She seemed willing to chat. This was
my chance. "Do you take the bus often?"
I asked her.
"I do," said Ava, the first of many
folks I met during my day of exploration.
She was already warming up to me. "I
take it every day. It's wonderful clean,
on time, convenient. I don't drive, so it
takes me everywhere I need to go."
"Oh, wow," I said. "Do you know if
it will take me to the mall? This is my
first time."


"Ever?" she cooed. "Oh, you're
going to love it. Everybody rides it.
There are buses to take you everywhere.
No matter where you live, you can get to
where you want to go."
"That's within Aventura, though, right?"
"Where else would you need to go?"
she asked, truly surprised.
And with that, the bus pulled up.
I have to admit, taking the bus felt
a little strange. It's quite a change from
hopping in my car and just zooming off
to where I want to go, when I want to go.
Using the system takes some learning,
planning, and patience (the latter two
not being specialties of mine). There's
a lot of waiting, finding the right bus,
deciding which is the easiest stop to use,
finding the correct times (especially if
you want to transfer to another bus), and
most of all, being on time, because the
bus is not going to wait for anyone.
The "mini" bus, which held perhaps
20 people, was immaculate. Like most
things in Aventura, the bus was so well
cared for it looked brand-new. Our driver,
Sam, welcomed me on while helping
Ava with her groceries; he remained
chatty the whole ride. The mix of riders


- young, old, kind, snooty, African-
American, Latino, Caucasian, Jewish -
covered all the bases. I saw diversity at
its finest. Seriously.
Before I knew it, 13 minutes had
flown by and I was at the mall.
Sam told me he'd be back at 1:45 p.m.
and every 45 minutes after that. And with
that, I shopped for two hours before re-
turning to the bus stop. At 1:45 p.m. sharp,
Sam was there, just as he'd promised.
The Publix was the first stop on
the yellow line, but the 15th stop on the
purple line. (Just part of the learning
experience.) I got off there and, while
I walked home, I thought about the day.
And the bus.
It's an excellent resource for those
who can't, don't, or won't drive. It's also
ideal for teens who want their first taste
of independence and older folks who
want to keep theirs. And of course, it's
perfect for those who may not have a car.
Aventura really does take good care
of its residents. And while it was fun
experimenting, for now, I think I'll leave
the bus to those who really need it.

Feedback: letters @biscaynetimes.com


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41






Neighborhood Correspondents: NORTH MIAMI




Satellite Campus


The sky's the limit as North Miami
device into orbit for real

By Mark Sell
BT Contributor

t the David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center
in North Miami, radio station 101.3
is on the air. The signal just reaches
the parking lot now, but stay tuned for a
message from outer space. We kid you
not. Early next year, David Lawrence kids
plan to relay messages from outer space by
launching a satellite payload into orbit.
This is a banner season for science,
with the Curiosity rover digging up fresh
secrets from Mars, with the Higgs boson
potentially unlocking the key to matter,
with revelations about the human micro-
biome multiplying our knowledge of what
makes us human and opening the way to
new medical cures. This year, STEM (sci-
ence, technology, engineering, and math)
is the Big Man (or Woman) on Campus.


sixth-graders prepare to send a


This year is also the 55th anniver-
sary of Sputnik, the Soviet satellite that
set off an American panic, launched the
space race, and introduced a generation
of flummoxed third-grade baby boomers
to Venn diagrams and polynomials.
So call this one "Schoolnik," only
this time it's the kids in North Miami
rather than the Russians or Chinese who
are at the controls.
But first let's start with the radio
station. The kids built it with help from
prize-winning sixth-grade science
teacher Laurie Futterman and David
Lawrence dad John Escobar, an electri-
cal engineer and Miami-Dade Schools'
"Volunteer of the Year" for 2011-2012.
Not only did the "Green Team" from
Laurie Futterman's grades six through
eight science class assemble and paint
the tower and install the wind turbines



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Schoolnik kids: The DLK-8 "Green Team" with John Escobar and Laurie
Futterman (right).


and solar panel powering the station
(which is not on the electrical grid), they
soldered and wired the components of
the transmitter, built the battery, wired
the semiconductors connecting to the
turbines which they also assembled
screw by screw and built the solar
panel that serves as backup.


Futterman, a life force in herself,
and Escobar, who left Chile 11 years
ago and is the parent of a fourth-grader,
have pushed and prodded each other, the
students, and even the principal to come
up with greater things.
In 2010-2011, they built a solar-pow-
ered waterfall in front of the school. In


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September 2012









2011-2012, it was the radio station.
Next year, 2012-2013, it's the satellite.
The kids will decide what it does. It could
take and send pictures and videos and
transmit them to earth, send a message to
the world in different languages encour-
aging students to study science, track
animal migrations or storms, measure
space temperature or solar radiation, or
study the propagation of sound in space.
"I always say, 'The sky's the limit,'"
says Escobar, who has come by the
school with Futterman and her son Max
on this broiling Sunday afternoon just
before the school year ends to put some
final assembly touches on the radio
tower. "I'm 40 years old, but I'm really
like a kid. I grew up in a Third-World
country and dreamed of space. As far as
we know, no K-8 school has sent a satel-
lite into space." (Truth to tell, Escobar
came up with the name "Schoolnik.")
The mold-breaking Futterman-Esco-
bar-DLK-8 "Green Team" has certainly
caught the attention of principal Bernard
Osborn with its constant pushing and
stretching of limits, applying for grants,
and dealing with the powers-that-be
downtown. "She's a pain, but she's a


good pain," Osborn says of Futterman.
"We've helped turn Mr. Osborn
around," Escobar confides. "When we
recently talked about getting an airplane
for thermodynamics, he stopped at first,
but after about 30 seconds, he said, 'That
might be cool.' It used to take a lot longer."
Wearing a sweat-soaked, brown
T-shirt reading "American-made, start to
finish" with engineer renderings of circa-
1958 pickup trucks, Escobar takes a swig
of water. "I'm in electrical engineering,
and we process automated systems," he
says. "In my industry, they're crying,
saying, 'We need half a million workers.'
"A big part of why this country is fall-
ing behind technologically is that we're
not educating people in this way. It's not
like the 1950s or 1960s, when you'd get a
ham radio kit. Kids don't learn to make
things. We didn't buy the transmitter. We
built the transmitter. At the beginning of
this project, we had kids who never had to
use any kind of tool at all.
"Here [at David Lawrence], people are
allowed to fail. When they fail, they learn
more. When they do, they find out why.
Others on the team get involved to find out
how to fix the failure. They really enjoy


what they're doing. It takes patience."
At least three kids have caught the
bug: Ryan Chierico, Mark Sanzetenea,
and Anika Augustin. Undoubtedly more
will follow.
"I've learned to do all sorts of things
here," says Mark, who wants to take up en-
gineering and is going to Washington, D.C.,
in December for a national competition in
which he has entered his bridge designs.
All this work also takes money.
Everyone knows that school budgets
are tight, so Escobar and Futterman
worked with the kids and found corpo-
rate partners. Grants from Florida Power
and Light funded the solar waterfall and
radio tower. Verizon funded wind tur-
bines and paid for the materials for the
solar-powered waterfall in 2010-2011.
All told, the cost of building the radio
station ran $9600, with $8000 coming
from Verizon for the wind turbine and
$1600 from FPL for the radio tower.
"I'm trying not to waste money,"
Futterman says. "We're trying to be
careful with our money. We want to use
it to build the curriculum."
For the satellite, Escobar secured
nearly $9000 from a business colleague


in Weston. Now the class is set to put
together a satellite payload launched by
Inter-Orbital of Mojave, California.
For help with the satellite, Futterman
and Escobar have reached out to Mark Gott-
fried, a biology teacher at Alonzo and Tracy
Mourning High School across the street,
and professor Shekhar Bhansali, chairman
of the department of electrical and com-
puter engineering at Florida International
University, which has its Biscayne Bay
Campus right around the corer. You could
almost call the effort a bottom-up attempt at
building FIU president Mark Rosenberg's
cooperative "educational village" in that
nook of North Miami sandwiched by Oleta
River State Park and Biscayne Landing.
David Lawrence, the former Miami
Herald publisher-turned-child-advocate, has
taken notice of the goings-on at the school
named for him and has even visited Escobar at
his home. We'll leave him with the last word.
"It's just amazing to me," Lawrence
says. "You'd think this is the kind of
thing kids at Stanford or MIT would do.
And the students have been generally
turned on by this. Isn't that stunning?"

Feedback: letters(@ibiscaynetimes.com


PI v -11





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Board of County Commissioners, the Irma Braman Creative Arts Scholarship Fund, Micky and Madeleine Arson Family Foundation, and The Children's Trust. The
Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in MiamiDade County, the Arnold S.
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September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com






Neighborhood Correspondents: MIAMI SHORES


My House Is Your House
Our correspondent has an unexpected encounter with her home's
previous owner


By Jen Karetnick
BT Contributor
Every time we passed by the town
where my dad grew up say,
on the way to the airport or to
a certain restaurant we all loved he
would make the same joke. Hillside, New
Jersey, was only about half an hour from
Livingston, where we lived. But it was a
world away in socio-economic status.
It always felt like visiting a foreign
country when we'd cruise down his old
street, and we kids were enthusiastic
but also uneasy at the prospect he raised
with his humor. "Wouldn't it be funny,"
he'd say, "if I knocked on the door, told
whoever lived there that I left a quarter
under my mattress when we moved out,
and asked if I could have it back?"


I never considered the fact that he
moved his bed and mattress with him.
Instead I pondered the reception he
might receive. Would the people who oc-
cupied the house want to meet my father?
Were they curious about who resided
there before them, about who might have
left that stain on the wall or broken the
bottom step? Would they find it odd that
immigrant Jews had lived in what had
become a largely African-American
neighborhood? Or would they simply not
care, having considered the residence
a blank canvas when they came upon
it, ready to be marked with the colors of
their own lives?
Of course, this event never came to
pass, but I was reminded of the pos-
sibility when I was procrastinating
on Facebook this summer. Red Light


chef-owner Kris Wessel had just been by
to collect mangos at my frantic urg-
ings, this past June being one of those
free-fruit-for-alls and he posted some
pictures of them, as well as the items he
was making with them, to entice custom-
ers. I commented on the images, writing
something like, "Hey, that's my house!"
And so did another woman, Vala Baggett
Kodish, who countered with something
like: "Hey, that's my old house!"


Because you never really know
someone on Facebook, our initial public
conversation stuck to mangos and restau-
rants how she dealt with so many (she
hired pickers to sell them) and how she
knew Wessel (she loves food).
As we became friendlier, however,
it became clear that Kodish and I have
many things in common. I teach at a
school for the arts; her kids attended one.
I write and she writes for the weekly


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









SunPost, on music. In fact, her pas-
sion is music the way mine is food, and
she and Wessel are hoping to open an
acoustic lounge in the basement of Red
Light once they find an investor. And
for a main profession, she has turned to
the arts once again, running a business
called Flash Pop, which is a new kind of
portable photo booth, where the back-
ground is pure white with no shadows,
great for parties and other events.
Being only the second real owner of
Mango House, Kodish was able to fill
me in on much of its history, how it went
from being a mango picker's cottage on
a plantation next to a canal to a suburban
house. She and her husband, now di-
vorced, bought it from a couple moving
to Colorado. It was that couple, Kodish
says, who took what was basically a
shack with no plumbing or running
water and made it into a home.
She can't recall their names, but
remembers them as New Age hippies,
proof of which is embedded in the Flor-
ida room large quartz crystals, which
are said to store, amplify, and transmit
energy that enhances thoughts, emotions,
and finances. Those crystals were also


present in the columns that made up the
garage, which the owner immediately
before us tore down and replaced with
wood columns.
Kodish was able to show us exactly
what had been added to and what had
been kept original in the house, and in
turn we were able to welcome her back
to what was once her home and offei
her the chance to find that proverbial
quarter.
Did this make her feel sen-
timental? Nostalgic? No doubt.
She mourned her country-style
kitchen with a breakfast bar; it
now has urban granite and pol-
ished cabinets with a separate
breakfast room. She also tsk'ed
over the deck, which she had
built to be surrounded on both sides wit
fruit-producing trees. Now it's backed
against what is an elaborate addition thf
took out seven of those trees and blocks
the view of the street.
I think I might have liked her versic
of the house with the crystal-coral
garage columns, a deck with a 270-
degree view, and 18 mango trees -jusl
fine. For sure I would have appreciated


the house more without the wood panel-
ing that the previous owner put up. For
the third time since we moved in, it's
rotting, and we're investing a chunk of
my annual salary to fix it. We're also ad-
dressing termite damage in the window
frames, repairing a roof leak, and
refinishing the Dade County pine floor,
r all in an attempt to keep the place from
reverting to the shack it once was.


She was able to tell me how
the property had gone from a
mango picker's cottage to a
suburban house.



h Of course, once you buy a house
in Miami Shores, there's no looking
at back, only ahead. For the past several
years, that looking ahead has been a
dismal sight: bills piling up, declining
n property values, and rising taxes. Miami
Shores, like many other small communi-
ties all over the country, has been stuck
t in a decline worse, as we all have
realized, than the one at the turn of the


millennium, which is the last time hous-
ing prices in the Shores fell so steeply.
But maybe there's a change under-
way. I didn't really register how few
house-for-sale signs I'd seen around
town until we got a call from George6
Kluck, the Realtor who sold us Mango
House. She was checking to see if
anyone was looking to sell their house
in the area; if we knew of someone, we
should refer them to her.
My husband and I were both sort
of dumbfounded. Sell? Isn't it a buyer's
market, so flooded that it doesn't make
sense to list your house unless you get
transferred or you're about to go into
foreclosure? The flat-out answer is nope,
not any longer. Kluck told Jon that there
are fewer than 40 houses for sale in
Miami Shores.
The point being, if you want to have
the luxury of reconnecting with your
old house in the Shores someday and
perhaps even becoming friends with the
current occupant you have to buy one
first. And by the looks of things, that op-
portunity is going to be hard to come by.

Feedback: letters@ibiscaynetimes.com


IRVING BERLIN'S


The same movie that
opened this theater in 1946!










STARRING ONE NIGHT
BING CROSBY
FRED ASTAIRE ONiY
JOAN CAULFIELD


I ITC 9806 NE 2nd Ave
miami theater center Miami Shores, FL 33138



Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com 71


September 2012


1


Qk






Culture: THE ARTS






Indie Screen Star


Wynwood's 0 Cinema is bringing
Miami's north side

By Anne Tschida
BT Arts Editor
he 0 Cinema independent movie
theater in Wynwood opened about
a year and a half ago, on Febru-
ary 24, 2011, to be exact. It was a much
anticipated opening for an area trying to
cement itself as an arts and cultural hub.
With a big Knight Foundation Arts
Challenge grant, O Cinema would be
more than a place to show art films. It
would add to the scene by mixing in art
shows, studios, and interactive evenings
(some very late-night ones, at that). The
debut film was Mississippi Damned,
a gritty, hard-luck story about three
African-American kids trying to find a
way out of the dead-end delta.
Next month, on October 13, O
Cinema will expand to Miami Shores,
through a partnership with the newly
formed Miami Theater Center (MTC) -
which includes the former PlayGround
Theatre to show approximately 250
films a year there. That's quite a leap
for the young organization, and quite a
change for an area of Miami that has been
bereft of film screenings for far too long.
(See "Roll 'Em," page 46 this issue.)
Independent movie houses are
notoriously hard to maintain and fund,
not just in Miami-Dade, but the nation
over, which is why the Knight grant
was an essential kick-start to get a
theater up, moving, then running with
interesting programming.


the art-house experience to


With some fits and starts, O Cinema
got there.
In its short life, some of the cinema's
more successful screenings have been
indie and alt-art films. One film that O
Cinema brought back four times was
the documentary Bill Cunningham: New
York, which followed the downtown life
of the New York Times fashion photog-
rapher. Another audience winner: Crazy
Horse, about the ultra-chic, Parisian
nude-dancing club. In keeping with the
ambiance of the French film, the theater
served Champagne, according to co-
founder and director Vivian Marthell.
Marthell has been an active partici-
pant in the Miami art scene for years as a
visual artist and co-director of the (now
defunct) alternative gallery space Lab6
and former staff member at the Miami
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Along with Kareem Tabsch, she
was determined to bring foreign, inde-
pendent, and art films to the burgeoning
north side of Miami. With the $400,000
matching Knight grant, Marthell and
Tabsch opened up in a former gallery
space across the street from the Rubell
Family Collection on NW 29th Street.
The cinema has a screening room, a bar,
and smaller rooms that can be rented out
as commercial or studio space.
"There was a learning curve, that's
true," says Marthell about starting up O
Cinema. "Unlike other cities, Miami is
a special creature," she explains. "Some
films that may be great for Boston may


0 Cinema's founders: Vivian Marthell and Kareem Tabsch.


Cozy: 0 Cinema features 50 cushy seats, arranged stadium-style.


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012


























Opening september 14: Marina Abramovic the Artist Is Present.


In the spirit of the neighborhood, 0 Cinema's facade is a work of art.


not be so great for here. We bring in
films that are conducive to quirky side
events with the screenings."
The result is a mixture of local,
national, and international productions,
which lend themselves to extracurricular
activities. For instance, to accompany
the showing of The Weird World of
Blowfly (covered by the BT in "Nasty as
Ever, and Not Yet Through," Septem-
ber 2011), about Miami's original dirty
rapper, the cinema had DJ Le Spam spin
early '70s records after the screening.
Another big hit for the cinema, ac-
cording to Marthell, was also related
to music the documentary Marley,
which the cinema complemented by
serving a Jamaican-style dinner at one of
the screenings. It also had success with
Square Grouper, about the marijuana
trade in our state, from Rakontur, the
creators of Cocaine Cowboys.
All of the aforementioned films, in-
terestingly enough, are documentaries, a
genre that has gained prominence in the
past decade, but which remains an art-
house staple. One fictional standout for O


Cinema, says Marthell, was the dark and
disturbing latest venture from Lars von
Trier, Melancholia.
In order to pinpoint specific offer-
ings and then track them down, Marthell
and Tabsch attend film festivals and
panels around the country, hoping to
get provocative, first-run films that will
premiere here in South Florida. (Com-
petition chiefly comes from the Miami
Beach Cinematheque and the newly
opened Coral Gables Art Cinema for
premieres, although many of the films
end up making the rounds of indie-hous-
es across the nation.)
Kicking off in August, O Cinema
added an art series (not arty films,
but films about art) in collaboration
with the nonprofit gallery Locust
Projects, with an opening night that
included a dinner catered by Harry's
Pizzeria. The inaugural film was
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, a riveting
documentary about the Chinese artist
and activist, the man behind such
internationally famous installations
as Sun Flower Seeds, which covered


the Tate Modern in London, and the
Beijing National Stadium known
as the Bird's Nest, unveiled for the
Olympics in 2008. (Ai would eventu-
ally be locked up for his outspoken
criticism of the Chinese regime.)
Next up in this series: Another criti-
cally acclaimed film, about performance
artist Marina Abramovic, opening
September 14, followed by a film about
thefin-de-siecle Viennese bad boy Egon
Schiele, Portrait of Wally.
And of course there's the new ar-
rangement with Miami Theater Center,
where O Cinema will show movies
Thursday through Sundays. For its first
screening in the new setting, O Cinema
has chosen Blue Skies, which was the
film that opened the Miami Theater
Center's home, previously the Shores
Theater, in 1946, when the large, single-
screen theater was advertised as "the
ultimate in sound reproduction" and was
air conditioned. (Imagine that!)
The movie is a Technicolor musical
starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and
Joan Caulfield. The screening on October
13, says Marthell, is a "tipping of the hat
to the origins of this theater."


As this inaugural movie suggests,
the offerings in Miami Shores will be
more family oriented from classics
and documentaries to first-runs and
somewhat less experimental than what
will be shown farther south in Wynwood.
"But we will continue to include 'value-
added' stuff like we do in Wynwood,"
explains Marthell. "We'll have sing-
alongs and other events to coincide with
the screenings."
Back in Wynwood, O Cinema will
jumpstart September with an interactive
series titled "I'm Not Gonna Move to
L.A.," a reference to the spate of Miami
artists who have recently transplanted to
the West Coast. The night will feature
sc\ c n local filmmakers, one band, one
comedian, and one food truck" for a
three-hour happening on Wednesday,
September 5.
Says Marthell: "We're trying to
bring as much to this area of Miami as
we can.

0 Cinema, 90 NW 29th St., 305-571-
9970; www.o-cinema.org.

Feedback: letters(ibbiscaynetimes.com


MIAMI RESIDENT DISCOUNT
City of Miami residents receive 20% discount on on-street
Pay By Phone parking. Not valid with other discount programs.
To register contact MPA Customer Service.


For more information, visit www.miamiparking.com.


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SAVE ON PARKING IN THE CITY OF MIAMI


September 2012


1 "11







Culture: GALLERIES + MUSEUMS


WYNWOOD GALLERY WALK &
DESIGN DISTRICT ART + DESIGN
NIGHT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2012

GALLERIES
101/EXHIBIT
101 NE 40th St, Miami
305-573-2101
www 101exhibit com
September 7 through 30
"Urban Narrative" with Claudlo Ethos and Ruben Ublera
Reception September 7, 7 to 11 p.m.
12345 WEST DIXIE STUDIO AND GALLERY
12345 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami
305-895-2553
www dlxielmageworks com
September 19 through 28
"Yo MOMMA in the House" by Myra Wexler and David
Siquelros
Reception September 19, 6 to 10 p.m.
ABBA FINE ART
233 NW 36th St, Miami
305-576-4278
www abbafineart com
September 8 through November 17
"Mother, Why Did You Abort Me?" by Debra Holt
Reception September 8, 7 to 10 p.m.
ACND GALLERY OF ART
4949 NE 2nd Ave, Miami
305-751-8367
www acnd net
September 15 through November 3
"Renewed Glory" by Caryne Havican Mender
Reception September 15, 7 to 9 p.m.
ALBERTO LINERO GALLERY
2294 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
786-287-7789
www albertolnerogallery com
September 1 through 30
"Releve" with Pedro Sandoval, Xible Correa, Matachos
Art, Romgo, Breceda, Daro, Luls Jimenez, and
Santiago Betancur
Reception September 8, 5 to 10 p.m.
ALEJANDRA VON HARTZ FINE ARTS
2630 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
305-438-0220
www alejandravonhartz net
September 20 through November 24
"Other Impertinences" by Ana Tiscornia
"Evidence Multlgrade Light" by Juan Pablo Garza,
curated by Ruth Auerbach
Reception September 20, 6 to 9 p.m.
ART FUSION
1 NE 40th St, Miami
305-573-5730
www artfusiongallery com
Through September 17
"Reflections and Passions" with various artists
ART NOUVEAU GALLERY
348 NW 29th St, Miami
305-573-4661
www artnouveaugaleria com
Call gallery for exhibition information
ASCASO GALLERY
2441 NW2nd Ave, Miami
305-571-9410


www ascasogallery com
Through September 30
"Color Sobre Color" by Jesus Soto
BAKEHOUSE ART COMPLEX
561 NW32nd St, Miami
305-576-2828
www bacfl org
September 14 through October 5
"From Blonde to Brunette But Still Curly" with various
artists
Reception September 14, 7 to 10 p.m.
BLACK SQUARE GALLERY
2248 NW 1st PI, Miami
786-999-9735
www blacksquaregallery com
Through September 5
"Summer Reading" with Claire Satin, Kyu Hak Lee,
Pablo Lehmann, Patrizla Glambl, Ryan McCann, SYN
Group, and Tony Vazquez
September 8 through October 9
"Disorderly Conduct" by Shonagh Adelman
Reception September 8, 5 to 9 p.m.
BORINQUEN ART GALLERY
100 NE 38th St, Miami
305-491-1526
www borinquenhealth org
Call gallery for exhibition information
BRIDGE RED STUDIOS / PROJECT SPACE
12425 NE 13th Ave #5, North Miami
305-978-4856
www bridgeredstudlos com
September 9 through November 11
"Robert Flynn, Paintings and Drawings" by Robert
Flynn
Reception September 9, 6 to 9 p.m.
CAROL JAZZAR CONTEMPORARY ART
158 NW91st St, Miami Shores
305-490-6906
www cjazzart com
By appointment carol@cjazzart com
Call gallery for exhibition information
CHAREST-WEINBERG GALLERY
250 NW23rd St, Miami
305-292-0411
www charestwelnberg com
September 22 through October 31
"No Kill" with various artists
Reception September 22, 7 to 10 p.m.
CS GALLERY
787 NE 125th St North Miami
305-308-6561
www chirinossanchez com
Ongoing
"Group Show" with various artists
CURATOR'S VOICE ART PROJECTS
2509 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
786-357-0568
www curatorsvoiceartprojects com
Call gallery for exhibition information
DAVID CASTILLO GALLERY
2234 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
305-573-8110
www davidcastillogallery com
September 8 through October 6
Adler Guerrier
DIANA LOWENSTEIN FINE ARTS
2043 N Miami Ave, Miami
305-576-1804


Farley Aguilar, Please, Do Not Wake, ink on mylar, 2012, at Spinello Projects.


September 8 through October 6
"Gallery Group Show" with various artists
DIASPORA VIBE GALLERY
3938 N Miami Ave, Miami
786-536-7801
www diasporavibe net
Call gallery for exhibition information
DINA MITRANI GALLERY
2620 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
786-486-7248
www dinamitranlgallery com
September 7 through November 2
"Light in the Shadows" with William Maguire and
Roberto Riverti
Reception September 6, 7 to 10 p.m.
DORSCH GALLERY
151 NW 24th St, Miami
305-576-1278
www dorschgallery com
Call gallery for exhibition information
DOT FIFTYONE ART SPACE
51 NW 36th St, Miami
305-573-9994, www dotfiftyone com
September 14 through November 12


"Languade of Silence" by Lydia Azout
"Repossessed" by Gulllermo Riveros
Reception September 15, 7 to 10 p.m.
ELITE ART EDITIONS
46 NW 36th St, Miami
754-422-5942
www elitearteditions com
Call gallery for exhibition information
ETRA FINE ART
50 NE 40th St, Miami
305-438-4383
www etrafineart com
Through September 7
"Summer Group Show" with Hunt Slonem, Titl Kerndt,
Fahar AI-Sallh, Yoko Iwanaga, and Andrea Dasha
Reich
September 6 through 8
"WinePhoto 2012 An International Photography
Exhibit" with various artists
Reception September 8, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
FREDRIC SNITZER GALLERY
2247 NW 1st PI, Miami
305-448-8976
www snitzer com
Call gallery for exhibition information


Yoiur h[ve hi righ [ o b 1001 peren s fied wt th Hm H I io 1 IIeieLO1I ve1*

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Biscaene Times0 Serving September 2012 #2999938
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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012












GALLERY 212 MIAMI CONTEMPORARY ART
GALLERY
2407 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
786-431-1957
www gallery212miaml com
Call gallery for exhibition information

GALLERY DIET
174 NW 23rd St, Miami
305-571-2288
www gallerydlet com
September 7 through October 13
"Surface Tension" by Emmett Moore
Reception September 7, 6 to 9 p.m.

GARY NADER FINE ART
62 NE 27th St, Miami
305-576-0256
www garynader com
Call gallery for exhibition information

HARDCORE ARTS CONTEMPORARY SPACE
3326 N Miami Ave, Miami
305-576-1645
www hardcoreartmiami com
Through October 6
"Radical Genealogy The Decline of Dauphins,
Courtesans, and Hounds" by Carlos Gamez de
Francisco, curated by Adriana Herrera and Willy
Castellanos of the Aluna Curatorial Collective

HAROLD GOLEN GALLERY
2294 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
305-989-3359
www haroldgolengallery com
Call gallery for exhibition information

IDEOBOX ARTSPACE
2417 N Miaml Ave Mami
305-576-9878
www ideobox com
Call gallery for exhibition information

KABE CONTEMPORARY
123 NW 23rd St, Miami
305-573-8142
www kabecontemporary com
September 8 through October 26
"Waiting 4 Oracle (1560-2012)" by Luca Pozzi
Reception September 8, 6 to 9 p.m.

KAVACHNINA CONTEMPORARY
46 NW 36th St, Miami
305-448-2060
www kavachnina com
Call gallery for exhibition information

KELLEY ROY GALLERY
50 NE 29th St, Miami
305-447-3888
www kelleyroygallery com
September 8 through 29
"Revelations" by Dolly Moreno
Reception September 8, 2 to 9 p.m.

KIWI GALLERY
48 NW 29th St, Miami
305-200-3047
www klwlartsgroup com
Ongoing
William John Kennedy's Fine Art Photography
Collection of Early Pop Artists

LELIA MORDOCH GALLERY
2300 N Miami Ave, Miami
786-431-1506


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Robert Flynn, Untitled, oil on canvas, 1999, at Bridge Red Studios/
Project Space.


www galerleleliamordoch com
Call gallery for exhibition information

LOCUST PROJECTS
3852 N Miami Ave, Miami
305-576-8570
www locustprojects org
September 8 through October 17 Adam Putnam
"City Limits" by John James Anderson
Reception September 8, 7 to 10 p.m.

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE, CENTRE GALLERY
300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami
Bldg 1, Room 1365
305-237-3696
www mdc edu
Call gallery for exhibition information

MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE, FREEDOM TOWER
600 Biscayne Blvd Miami
305-237-7700
www mdc edu
Through October 5
"Shutter Selected Photography and Film from the CINTAS
Foundation Fellows Collection" with various artists


MIAMI-DADE COLLEGE, GALLERY NORTH
11380 NW 27th Ave, Miami
305-237-1532
www mdc edu
Call gallery for exhibition
information

MICHAEL JON GALLERY
20 NE 41st St, Suite 2, Miami
305-760-9030
www michaeljongallery com
Call gallery for exhibition
information

MYRA GALLERIES
177 NW 23rd St, Miami
631-704-3476
www myragallerles com
Call gallery for exhibition information

NEW WORLD GALLERY
New World School of the Arts
25 NE 2nd St, Miami
305-237-3597
Call gallery for exhibition information


NINA TORRES FINE ART
1800 N Bayshore Dr, Miami
305-395-3599
www ninatorresfineart com
Call gallery for exhibition information

O. ASCANIO GALLERY
2600 NW 2nd Ave Miami
305-571-9036
www oascanlogallery com
S Call gallery for exhibition information

OM GALLERY
8650 Biscayne Blvd Suite 21, Miami
305-458-5085
Through October 29
"Men" with various artists

ONCE ARTS GALLERY
170-C NW 24th St, Miami
786-333-8404
www oncearts com
Ongoing
Pablo Gentile, Jaime Montana, Jaime Apraez, and
Patricia Chaparro

OXENBERG FINE ART
50 NE 29th St, Miami
305-854-7104
www oxenbergart com
Call gallery for exhibition information

PAN AMERICAN ART PROJECTS
2450 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
305-573-2400
www panamericanart com
September 7 through November 3
"Memorabilia" by Carlos Estevez
"Femina Plantarum" by Elsa Mora

PAREDES FINE ARTS STUDIO
. p 2311 NW 2nd Ave Mami
305-534-2184
Swww miguelparedes com
Ongoing
"Elements of an Artist" by Miguel Paredes

PRIMARY PROJECTS
4141 NE 2nd Ave Suite 104, Miami
www primaryprojectspace com
info@primaryflight com
September 8 through October 31
"Champion" with Andrew Nigon, Christina Pettersson,
Edouard Nardon, Autumn Casey, Evan Robarts, Kenton
Parker, Asif Farooq, Rebeca Raney, Magnus Sodamin,
and Alex Sweet
Reception September 8, 7 to 11 p.m.

SUMMER GALLERY
82 NE 29th St, Miami
305-441-2005
www artnet com/sammergallery html
Call gallery for exhibition information

SPINELLO PROJECTS
2930 NW 7th Ave, Miami
786-271-4223
www spinelloprojects com
September 8 through October 6
"Americana" by Farley Aguilar
Reception September 8, 7 to 11 p.m.

SWAMPSPACE GALLERY
150 NE 42nd St, Miami
http //swampspace blogspot com/
swampstyle@gmall com


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September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com













AI COPY I DESIGN I


Ll Alko Print



PROVIDING PRINTING SERVICES SINCE


September 8 through 30
* PRINT "Spatial Recognition" by Mark Diamond
Reception September 8, 6 to 11 p.m.
STHE LUNCH BOX GALLERY
310 NW 24th St, Miami
305-407-8131
www thelunchboxgallery com
Through October 6
1 1 "Summer Photo Show 2012 with Sarah Tortora,
8 I E John William Keedy, Noah David Bau, Amy Leilbrand,
Miranda Maynard, Lissette Schaeffler, Aimee Hertog,
Dafna Steinberg, Ted Oonk, Lulsa Mesa, Troy Colby,
Ramesh Pithlya, Nalmar Ramirez, and Tracy Thomas
Reception September 8, 7 to 10 p.m.

UNDER THE BRIDGE
A 12425 NE 13th Ave North Miami
305-978-4437
September 9 through November 11
amJ "~Interventions" by Karen Rifas
Reception September 9, 6 to 9 p.m.

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI GALLERY
2750 NW 3rd Ave, Suite 4, Miami
September 7 through 28
Marlah Fox and Bryan Allen Moore
Reception September 8, 2 to 9 p.m.

UNIX FINE ART GALLERY
2219 NW 2nd Ave, Miami
305-496-0621
www unixfineart com
Ongoing
Alexis Torres

WYNWOOD WALLS
NW 2nd Avenue between 25th and 26th streets
305-573-0658
www thewynwoodwalls com
Ongoing
"Wynwood Walls" with Retna, How & Nosm, Roa, b,
"' The Date Farmers, Saner, Sego, Liqen, Neuzz, Falle,
Vhils, Interesni Kazkl, Kenny Scharf, Nunca, Shepard
Fairey, Aiko, Ryan McGinness, Stelios Faltakis, and
avaf

YEELEN ART GALLERY
250 NW 23rd St, Unit 306, Miami
954-235-4758
www yeelenart com
Call gallery for exhibition information
T 0 MUSEUM & COLLECTION EXHIBITS

ARTCENTERISOUTH FLORIDA
800 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach
305-674-8278
www artcentersf org
Through September 23
"By Hand" with Jenny Brillhart, Rosemarle Chlarlone,
Robin Griffiths, Hugo Moro, Lea Nickless, Evan
Robarts, Victoria Skinner, and Tom Virgin

I BASS MUSEUM OF ART
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
305-673-7530
a www bassmuseum org
d y September 5 through October 28
"Variations VII, 1966" by John Cage
September 9 through November 4
"UNNATURAL" with Boaz Aharonovitch, Einat Arlf-
Galantl, Azlz + Cucher, Celeste Boursler-Mougenot and
S Arlane Michel, Blane De St Crolx, Rose-Lynn Fisher,
Orl Gersht, Melrav Helman and Yossi Ben Shoshan,
Hilja Keading, Freddy Shachar Kislev, Sigalit Landau,
Dana Levy, Tobias Madison, Richard Mosse, Gilad
Ratman, Samantha Salzinger, Tomer Sapir, Yehudit
Sasportas, Michal Shamir, Url Shapira, Jennifer
Steinkamp, Gal Welnstein, Wendy Wischer, and Guy
Zagursky, curated by Taml Katz-Frelman

CIFO (Cisneros Fontanals Art Foundation)
1018 N Miami Ave, Miami
305-455-3380
www clfo org
Call gallery for exhibition information
A DDE LA CRUZ COLLECTION CONTEMPORARY ART
SPACE
23 NE 41st St, Miami
305-576-6112
www delacruzcollection org
Ongoing
"Works from the Collection of Rosa and Carlos de la
Cruz" with various artists

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY FROST
ART MUSEUM
10975 SW 17th St, Miami
305-348-2890
thefrost flu edu
Through September 21
"Museum Studies Spring 2012 Exhibition Jamaican

Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


Mark Diamond, Bucky, 3D
rendering of pencil on paper, 2011,
at Swampspace Gallery.


Art" with various artists
Through September 30
"Shared Threads Maria Lino's Portrait of a Shiplbo
Healer" by Maria Lino
Through October 21
"This and That Unconventional Selections from the
Permanent Collection" with various artists

LEGAL ART
1035 N Miami Ave, Suite 200, Miami
www legalartmlaml org
Call gallery for exhibition information

LOWE ART MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
1301 Stanford Dr, Coral Gables
305-284-3535
www lowemuseum org
Through September 23
"Saintly Blessings A Gift of Mexican Retablos from
Joseph and Janet Sheln" with various artists
Through October 21
"Introspection and Awakening Japanese Art of the Edo
and Meiji Period, 1615-1912" with various artists

MIAMI ART MUSEUM
101 W Flagler St, Miami
305-375-3000
www mlamlartmuseum org
Ongoing
"Between Here and There Modern and Contemporary
Art from the Permanent Collection"
September 7 through November 4
"Message to Our Folks" by Rashld Johnson
Reception September 6, 6 to 9 p.m.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
770 NE 125th St, North Miami
305-893-6211
www mocanoml org
September 13 through November 11
"Trading Places II" with various artists

THE MARGULIES COLLECTION
591 NW 27th St, Miami
305-576-1051
www margulieswarehouse com
Call gallery for exhibition information

THE RUBELL FAMILY COLLECTION
95 NW 29th St, Miami
305-573-6090
http //rfc museum
Call gallery for exhibition information

WORLD CLASS BOXING
Debra and Dennis Scholl Collection
170 NW 23rd St, Miami
305-438-9908
www worldclassboxing org
Call gallery for exhibition information

Compiled by Melissa Wallen
Send listings, jpeg images, and events information to
art@biscaynetimes com

September 2012






Culture: EVENTS CALENDAR


Dragons Love the Water

ic inai (Inl Sonuili Florid. Dr.ion Boai Fc'li' a).
ikiin pGo lic on Swww .iir(I. S i 2') lio1 iagonboat.com.
a i ltioltt '''\ in t l[ at cicitt tJ ot ic io 1 on ,ini t., _i,_i -
lij iakcii 10 01ii tlo.ii aid ContinticutC 10 'i-fI0' in1
ioll ,i lll ( COliC 01 OI 'l 1 l|) ad n1 IC 1 01111 0i I 'oI IloaIv

duin,-' Illisw onc-da' l'c.li\ al al Haitlo\ .i BcachI PaitI
Main ma S, Collns A\ c.). Rcgistiuaion fccs \ a3.
Go to www.miamidragonboat.com.


The Art of It All
An international photography contest
featuring wine in a variety of settings at
Wine by the Bay (888 Biscayne Blvd.) will
be just one of dozens of events marking the
first DWNTWN Art Days, taking place
on Friday, September 7, and Saturday,
September 8. Bounded by Flagler Street
to the south, NE 15th Street to the north,
and N. Miami Avenue to the west, the two-
day festival will include private establish-
ments, numerous art institutions, events at
Bayfront Park, and a Beached Miami bike
ride. With trolley service making it easy to
get around, this will be a great chance to
see just how much artistic energy there is
in our urban core. Everything is free. Go to
www.dwntwnartdays.com.

Food Trucks Rock the Arsht
The cultural drought of summer is
coming to an end, and the Adrienne
Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
(1300 Biscayne Blvd.) wants you to know
what it has in store for the new season.
So on Friday, September 7, starting at
11:30 a.m., the center invites the public
to Food Truck Friday, where guests can
sample lunch from gourmet food trucks
and join together in an attempt to create
the world's largest air-guitar ensemble.
There will also be live rock and roll
featuring real guitars. The midday party
highlights the first offering in the cen-
ter's "Broadway in Miami" show series,


Rock ofAges. Tickets for this and all
other productions will be on sale during
the festivities and on Saturday (before
being made available to the general
public). Go to www.arshtcenter.org.

An Absurd Proposition
As part of the month-longAbsurd Celebra-
tion: International Festival of , i, ,
Piiera's Theatre, taking place at the
University of Miami's Jerry Herman Ring
Theatre (1312 Miller Dr., Coral Gables),
FUNDArte presents Carrying Water in a
Sieve: An Evening of Two One-Act Plays
from Friday, September 14 through
Saturday, September 22. The Cuban-
born Pifiera is considered the father of
Latin American modernism in theater, and
has remained a revered figure long after
his death. These are two prime examples
of his contributions. (This production is
in English with Spanish subtitles.) Tickets
are $15 for students and $20 for the general
public. Call 305-284-3355.

Optic Nerve Returns to MOCA
While we laud new launches in Miami's
cultural world, we also appreciate the
staying power of events like the annual
Optic Nerve alternative film and
video festival, now in its 14th year. On
Friday, September 14, the Museum
of Contemporary Art (770 NE 125th
St., North Miami) will present another
strong grouping of intriguing short films


submitted from around the country.
Screenings, scheduled for 7:00 and 9:00
p.m. this year, are always packed, so
reserve early. Go to mocanomi.org.

Good, Clean Fun on the Coast
Our South Florida coastline is fragile, so
every year, on the third Saturday in Sep-
tember, volunteers come out to clean the
beachfront. But that's not all. Debris bust-
ers also collect information on what they
are finding in order for scientists to better
understand marine pollution and conserva-
tion. On Saturday, September 15, starting
at 9:00 a.m. (and going till noon), residents
are encouraged to join the Miami-Dade
Coastal Cleanup to rid our ocean of filth.
Volunteers, who should arrive at 8:30 a.m.,
will be at 36 sites covering the waterfront,
then convene for an after party. For details,
visit www.miamidadecoastalcleanup.org/
volunteer.

Cuban Shirt Tales
What shouts Cuban culture more clearly
- or elegantly than a guayabera?
We've always known the famous four-
pocket shirt makes for great tropical
wear. Now it makes for a great exhibit
and tour, too. To complement HistoryMi-
ami's (101 W. Flagler St.) "The Guaya-
bera: A Shirt's Story," the museum
is offering Downtown Adventure:
Guayaberas and More! on Saturday,
September 22. From 10:00 a.m. to noon,


Among the Big Trees
A.llioi''h lie (1k nipicts aic octi %%c ic siIll looking oti foi
\\ IInIK'i Did \Ol kiio thllit IiccS can 'aiti n'\itmjds' TIhe
National RCiliC.i of Bit_ TicCi. pIitis IO(CIll Ci aI liN of IllI
l -'CNsi I c 's tlic UiniiCd Siaic. anid \ i/ca M I.iLint ill nd
Gjidciliii 1251 S NIuntII .A\ c I lijs a millnib of Ill'in Find
otil 11101o l boltl IcKsC tiiniqLiC Itcc. and tlli liisttoiN d(tlin ,
Il( Cl.hapllionl o1' Vi/c.li.l IOI iltlin_ 11al I iII onl
Saturda.l.. September 22 Led b% il nllC u.CLil nm elCief
IollicLlllm iIltl ill Siilllpkin OlK tom cosis $211' TickCt aiC
;I\; il;iblc onl\ 1l llK 11i(c G o 0 \\ \\ \\ i/cl\ jIlSiiImn oIt,


A Message from Rashid Johnson
Rashid Johnson became a star almost
the minute he arrived on the scene at
the age of 24 back in 2001. But the
Chicago-bred, New York-based artist
first known for his photography he
also works with wood, soap, and shea
butter, among other materials has
never had a solo museum show. Until
now. "Message To Our Folks" opens
at the Miami Art Museum (101 W.
Flagler St.) on Friday, September 7
and promises to be one of the more
exciting exhibitions of the year. (It is
also one of the last at MAM before
the museum moves to its new digs on
Biscayne Bay next year.) Admission is
$8. Go to www.miamiartmuseum.org.

guide Pepe Menendez will lead partici-
pants through such Cuban-American
landmarks as the Ramon Puig Guaya-
beras store, La Epoca department store,
and the Freedom Tower. Cost is $20 for
members; $30 for nonmembers. More
information at www.historymiami.org.

The International Language
of Opera
Culturally speaking, Miami doesn't want
to keep quiet and sit still; new events pop
up every month. Take, for instance, the
Five Cultures in Opera from the Onyx
Opera on Saturday, September 29, at
7:30 p.m. at North Miami Beach's Julius
Littman Theater (17011 NE 19th Ave.).
This eclectic performance will feature
tenor Samuel Eudovique, who sings in
nine languages, including Kreyol; Cuban
mezzo-soprano Mabel Lado; and the
New York Grand Opera's Liora Michelle.
Tickets range from $30 to $40. A portion
of the proceeds will go to the Ameri-
can Diabetes Foundation and the Stop
Hunger food program. For tickets, call
Ticketmaster at 800-754-3000. For more
information, call 305-835-7366.

Compiled by BT arts editor Anne Tschida.
Please send information and images to
calendar(abiscaynetimes. com.


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com 77


September 2012






Columnists: POLICE REPORTS


Biscayne Crime Beat

Compiled by Derek McCann


Clue: You Gave Him Your Keys
100 Block ofNE 40th Street
You know you've arrived when you no
longer deign to park your car yourself.
This person valeted his car and had it
returned to him later in the evening.
However, when he checked the glove
compartment, he found his GPS device
missing. Victim called police and
officers interviewed the valet, who
denied any wrongdoing. The crime
remains unsolved at press time. Miami
bourgeoisie: If you want to keep valet-
ing your cars to distinguish yourselves
from the proletariat, keep your valu-
ables at home. Otherwise, it's appar-
ently free pickings.


Most Creative Use of a
Manhole Cover
4600 Block ofNE 2ndAvenue
A business owner witnessed a dynamic
but demented duo lift a manhole cover
(weight is about 100 pounds) and heave
it through the locked front door of his
business. What a nightmare, he thought.
This must be a big-time, Dillinger-type
robbery. Did the thieves go for the safe
or the jewelry? No, just a large amount
of women's clothing. Guess whatever
quarrels they had with their significant
others will be squashed when they pres-
ent them with their newfound sartorial
loot. They left the scene by car, sans
manhole cover.


No Clues? No Witness?
No Problem!
1700 Block ofN. Bayshore Drive
A man's apartment had several
items missing from it, including
his wallet. All police generally
need is information to solve a
crime. This man, with a virulent
hangover, had none. All he knew
is that he had plans to attend
three clubs the night before, but
didn't remember how he got
home or even who he came home
with. But that's not important,
Miami Police Department -just
solve the damn crime! We doubt
he'll be getting his wallet back, but at
least he made Crime Beat.

We're Not Quite There Yet
NE 29th Street and Biscayne Boulevard
Yes, gentrification has changed the Bou-
levard Corridor dramatically. But not as
much as some people think. This yuppie


left his laptop on one of the counters
in Starbucks while he stepped outside
to smoke a cigarette and, in a matter of
a few, desperate puffs we hope he
enjoyed them the laptop was gone.
Please note: This happens everywhere
in Miami, but we highlight this incident
to let our valued readers know that even


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012









criminals occasionally enjoy a cafe latte.
So beware at all times, in all places.

It's Medicinal, Man!
NE 12th Street and 1st Avenue
Just like last month, we have another honest
admission from one of our citizens. Man
was pulled over by police in a routine traffic
stop. When police arrived at the driver-side
door, they detected a strong smell of mari-
juana emanating from the car. The man was
still smoking a joint in front of the police
officers. When asked why he was doing so,
the man replied, "I smoke weed everyday.
It helps me with my headaches." Sadly, the
cops gave him a headache of a different
kind. He was arrested.

Burglar Redefines Porta-Potty
700 Block NE 146th Street
At this North Miami home, an unknown
suspect forced his way in through the
back door. The house was vacant at the
time, much to the burglar's disappoint-
ment. This did not deter him, however.
He promptly stole three toilets. So now
our criminal element is resorting to this?
Keep those spare buckets handy, just in
case your house is next.


Fifty Shades of Gross
1500 Block ofNE 132nd Road
Owner was home alone when the neigh-
borhood pervert entered the rear of her
residence for the third time in a week.
He sat in her enclosed porch which is
attached to the main residence pulled
his pants down, and proceeded to plea-
sure himself to the disgust, we're sure, of
everyone who witnessed it. The owner
was safe inside the home, but she made
sure to videotape the man's antics with
her cell phone. The man was apprehend-
ed on the scene and arrested.

Daddy Dearest
1100 Block ofN. Bayshore Drive
It's always admirable when two people
who have a child together, but couldn't
make their relationship work, nevertheless
maintain contact with each other for the
sake of their child. Then there's this story.
The father of this woman's child called her
on her cell phone while she was in Orlando,
and screamed the following at her: "You at
that n*** house? I kicked in your door and
broke all the windows, whore!" When she
returned home from Orlando, she found
her residence ransacked. This is the second


time this has happened to this poor woman.
Maybe it's time to move on. Your child
will thank you.

You Get What You Pay For
NE 29th Street and Biscayne Boulevard
Officer watched as a known prostitute got
into a waiting vehicle. A few minutes later,
he approached the car. The driver already
had his pants down around his knees. "I
gave him h***," the prostitute admitted.
With his pants still down, co-defendant
acknowledged this and told the officer that
he opted for the $35 special instead of the
full-service $75 treatment. Had he taken
the full treatment, the twosome would
have gone to a Boulevard motel and you
wouldn't be reading this report right now.
Lesson: Don't pick up prostitutes, but if
you do, always go for full service.

The Case of the Battling
Burglars
8400 Block of NE Miami Court
A group of female and male "friends"
decided to have a street fight. One of
the participants threw a milk crate at a
man's living room window; another took
a metal chair and broke the windows of


an adjacent apartment. But it turns out
this was no mere display by a bunch of
WWE fans. The fight had actually begun
in one of the apartments. The "friends"
had broken into it, overturning furniture.
For some reason, they began arguing
and took their disagreement outside. The
burglars eventually fled in cars. No ar-
rests have been made at press time.

Loyal Customer Registers
Complaint
7200 Block of N Miami Avenue
A regular customer (according to the store
clerk) attempted to use the ATM machine
at this establishment but could not retrieve
money. He asked the clerk for $10 to hold
him over. The clerk refused. He then asked
to borrow the clerk's cell phone. The clerk
told him it was broken. He proceeded to
ask the clerk for other "favors," but the
clerk told him he could not help him. The
man then left the store. He came back 30
seconds later and threw a rock at the glass
door, shattering it. Suspect then left on foot.
We ask ourselves: Is it the heat, or are we
all just really losing it?

Feedback: letters(@biscaynetimes.com


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com






Columnists: PARK PATROL


Diamond in the Rough
With brand-new baseball and football fields and more, eodore


Gibson Park in Overtown is a gem


By Jim W. Harper
BT Contributor

Check your rearview mirror for
a glimpse of the newest park
in town. Tens of thousands of
commuters drive past the $10.9 million
beauty every day on their way to down-
town or Miami Beach and, although the
park was there before, now they actu-
ally see it.
The rubbernecking started with
the installation of giant orange umbrel-
las, says Donald Lutton, City of Miami
superintendent of the Department of
Parks and Recreation. On a recent
Saturday morning, he was standing near
those umbrellas as a few kids frolicked
in a new aquatic playground. While
the new pool was not being used, these
children romped around the seemingly
Dr. Seuss-inspired fountains of pink
pipes and yellow mushrooms. Outside
the aquatic facility, hundreds of children
either played football, ate barbecue, or
collected free back-to-school materials at
a special event.
The completely remodeled Gibson
Park opened on August 7, and by mid-
month it was already hopping. Inside the
sky blue community center, adjacent to


NW 14th St







1-95


the aquatic facility, one of Overtown's
guardian angels beamed with pride as
children swirled around him. He is Em-
manuel "Pops" Washington, the execu-
tive director of the Overtown Commu-
nity Optimist Club, which runs a popular
youth football program.
Washington has something else to
smile about: One of his former pupils,
NFL player Ben Hanks, is returning to
his childhood turf as a coach and park
manager. But today's turf is very differ-
ent from that of his childhood days.
The park's centerpiece is a combina-
tion of Friday -.brit Lights and Field of
Dreams. On this football/baseball field,
the white yard-lines gleam against the
green artificial turf, while the baseball
diamond sports bright, orange dirt.
The football stadium is named after
an NFL player from Miami, Duane
Starks, who attended the ribbon-cutting
ceremony along with Miami Com-
missioner Michelle Spence-Jones and
Thelma Gibson, wife of the late Rever-
end Theodore Gibson, the Miami civil
rights pioneer for whom the park is
named. Yellow letters spell out his name
on the second-story windows of the
energy-efficient community center.


8 I6




NW 12th St


NW 11th Tenl


An exceptional view of downtown from the bleachers behind the goalposts.


The football field's stadium
seating for 1000 is covered and
has an elevator and a press box.
At the field's far end, behind
the goalposts, small bleachers
provide one of the best views
anywhere of downtown Miami,
period. Because the field sits
at an angle to the street grid, it
appears as if you could punt a
football all the way to Brickell.
Almost overnight, Gibson
Park has become a star attrac-
tion in Overtown. Already home The br
to a county library, the park but it i
added the glistening community
center as its other indoor attrac-
tion, and a $2.7 million gymnasium has
been planned. Even with this addition, the
park will cost much less than the 2008 es-
timate of $17.8 million. Partial funding for
the initial $10.9 million renovation came
from the Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency.
This park is designed as the ul-
timate place for neighborhood kids
to play. With so many shiny new
objects in Gibson Park, one could
easily be distracted from what is
missing. The park never had many
trees, and it still lacks shade. On the
positive side, the noise level is very
low, considering that half the park's
borders are the raised highways of
1-95 and 1-395.
The park did not construct an
Olympic-size pool, despite repeated
erroneous reports in the Miami
Herald. Did we learn nothing from
Michael Phelps? The Olympics are
held in meters, and a 50-meter pool
is more than twice the length of a
standard American 25-yard pool,


and-new pool is definitely an asset,
is not Olympic size.

like the one in Gibson Park. Don't get
me wrong: The pool appears excellent
for its purposes, but it could never host
an Olympic event.
For the dry, loner athlete, a walkway
behind the main stadium offers shiny
yellow exercise stations that use gravity
and balance to develop muscles. They
look nice, but it remains to be seen if
people will really use them. Serious jog-
gers won't find much space to roam in this
park, but they could run the stadium steps.
In another section of the park, near
the main entrance, kids have plenty of
options. An enclosed tot lot with arti-
ficial turf gives parents some peace of
mind and offers little ones the opportu-
nity to wander around and discover new
shapes that demand new movements.
Those red steps may look like scattered
giant Legos, but they are solid metal and
firmly rooted in the ground.
Beyond this area is more challenging
playground equipment, such as a twisted
climbing wall and a zip-line-type over-
head bar. Grab onto the handle and slide
to the other side!


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


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IHODO' RE 'OA'


Park Rating



401 NW 12th St., Miami
305-570-6843
Hours: Variable
Picnic tables: Yes
Barbecues: No
Picnic pavilions: Yes
Tennis courts: No
Athletic fields: Yes
Night lighting: Yes
Swimming pool: Yes
Playground: Yes


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012













i,


From home plate to the football bleachers,
complete with elevator and press box.


Park fixtures sport tropical shades of orange The Overtown Community Optimist Club runs
juice, sky blue, and sassy fuchsia, a popular youth football program.


My favorite toys to test drive, how-
ever, were the multicolored bongos and
the double xylophone. Kids, let's get
loud while the adults rest nearby in the
shade of the giant Royal Poinciana.
The center of this multipurpose play-
ground arena beckons real musicians. A
grassy field extends in front of a covered
gazebo, and this open-air stage conjures
up fantasies of jazz bands by day and


classical theater by night.
Those giant orange umbrellas by the
pool? They have some competition in the
color department from the permanent tables,
benches, and bike racks in the park, which
come in tropical shades of orange juice, sky
blue, and sassy fuchsia, and punctuate the
walkways like heavy metal flowers.
Gibson Park has few parking spaces,
but I count this limitation as a positive sign.


Not only does it encourage walking and
alternative transportation to this central
location, it also demonstrates the park's
priority being people instead of vehicles.
If you visit soon, you may witness
an artist in action. The muralist Addo-
nis Parker is painting one of the library
walls. Nearby, his completed mural,
And a Child Shall Lead Them, features
African-American leaders.


Overtown itself was once a leading
black community in Florida, but it was
shattered into pieces in the 1960s, when
highways were constructed through
it. Now the people in Gibson Park can
laugh at the commuters above them,
stuck in traffic, looking down and wish-
ing they were at the park instead.

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September 2012


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Columnists: PICTURE STORY


Real Estate Boom,


Congested Streets, and


Electric Traffic Lights

A view of our past from the archives of HistoryMiami


By Paul S. George
Special to the BT

Miami was roaring toward the
climax of the great real estate
boom when this mid-1920s
photograph was taken at the county's
busiest intersection: Miami Avenue and
Flagler Street.
The police to\ i" on the left side of
the photograph was a recent addition to
traffic control, as electronic lights, manually
operated by a policeman seated in the com-
partment at the top of the pole, regulated
the flow of traffic coming from the south
along Miami Avenue as well as automobiles
proceeding east on Flagler Street.


The signature red-brick building
on the right side of the picture housed
Budge's Hardware store, one of the city's
oldest businesses. Partially visible on the
left side of the photograph is the ornate
Bank of Bay Biscayne building, which
housed the city's first bank.
One street behind, or north, of
Budge's Hardware is the Cromer-Cassell
department store still undergoing its
finishing touches.
While the buildings holding Budge's
Hardware and the Bay Biscayne Bank
are long gone, the old Cromer-Cassel
building later became Richard's De-
partment store. Today it hosts jewelry
businesses in a bustling jewelry area


anchored by the Seybold Building.
The men in suits, knickers, or slacks, with
or without hats or golf caps, could have been
part of a large cadre of real estate speculators
known as the Binder Boys. The boom was
overby 1926, leaving Miami and its residents
to cope with a lingering economic downturn


To order a copy of this photo, please
contact HistoryMiami archives
manager Dawn Hugh at 305-375-1623,
dhugh@historymiami.org.


Feedback: letters@biscaynetimes.com


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Columnists: YOUR GARDEN


Growing on Trees

Certain plants can thrive in trunks and branches


By Jeff Shimonski
BT Contributor

As a horticulturist in the tropics, I
am fascinated by all the plants that can
be found growing on the branches and
trunks of trees. These are called epi-
phytes, and the ones I am writing about
here are not parasites, unlike, say, the
mistletoe so common in northern climes.
These just hold on to the branches for
support. They get their nutrients from
rain and the atmosphere.
There are many species of orchids,
bromeliads, aroids, cacti, and ferns that
are found naturally growing on our trees
and palms. I have collected and grown
many species of ferns over the years,
but my favorites are those that grow on
trees. Bird's-nest fern, Asplenium nidus,
is shaped like a round nest (hence the
name), with foliage that can reach six feet
in length or more. It is commonly grown
in containers, but also grows very well as
an epiphyte. When I do grow them on the
ground, I take the plant out of its contain-
er, place the root ball on top of the ground,
and build a rock cairn around it.
I've also had success using thick,
short pieces of trunks and branches. This
helps hold up the plant, but also keeps it
from getting too wet and rotting if there
is too much rain. The roots of the fern
will eventually envelop the cairn. An
important fact to remember is ferns like
high humidity, but need excellent drain-
age. I've grown some huge bird's-nest
ferns on the ground this way.


This rainy season has given us a good
look at one fern that is often found grow-
ing on mature live oaks: our native resur-
rection fern, Pleopeltis polypodioides.
When there is lots of rain, or irrigation,
this fern suddenly pops out and looks like
a lush, dark-green carpet covering the
branches or trunk of a tree. When the rain
stops for a few days, it suddenly seems to
turn brown and dry up.
Many species of orchids grow well
when attached to trees. One species in
particular is the moth orchid, or Phalae-
nopsis, which is so common now at florists
and garden centers. It needs lots of water
and good aeration, just like the ferns. I've
planted many moth orchids on mature live
oak trees that just happened to have resur-
rection fern growing on them.
In fact, I learned to use the resur-
rection fern as an indicator of when the


Resurrection fern is so name
because it can tolerate long peri
of drought by curling up its five-i
fronds and turning brown.



moth orchids needed more water. When
the fern started going brown from lack
of water, I would irrigate the orchids
for a couple of hours with a tall sprin-
kler. By using this irrigation procedure
for this particular type of orchid, I had
beautiful and lush flowering plants for
months out of the year.


Resurrection fern growing on the trunk of a live oaks.


The fern was a great indicator for
moth orchids, but I also had many species
of Cattleya orchids growing on other trees
that simply would not tolerate that amount
of water. Consequently, those trees had
much less resurrection fern growing on
them. When learning to grow orchids, an
important difference between the various
species is how they store water.
If they have pseudobulbs, the water
storage organ found beneath the
leaf fat and round if full of
d moisture or skinny and wrinkly
iods if dry they will not want to
nch be watered more than a couple
of days a week. The orchids
might otherwise succumb to
fungal infection, which can
completely turn an orchid into a
black glob of mush in a few days.
Many if not most of the epiphytic
species of bromeliads that I've grown on
trees would not tolerate the conditions
that kept the resurrection fern green
healthy. The bromeliads grew best under
the same irrigation schedule as the Cat-
tleya orchids. I also grew epiphytic cactus


under this regimen with great success.
The resurrection fern is so named
because it can tolerate long periods of
drought by curling up its five-inch fronds
and turning brown. To me, it simply
looks dead, but a little bit of rain or ir-
rigation will turn the fronds a light green.
One of our torrential downpours will
bring out that lush, dark-green color.
Like all species of ferns, the resur-
rection fern reproduces naturally by
spores that can be found on the under-
sides of its leaves, like brown dust. I've
propagated them by cutting off the bark
of felled live oak trees that had resur-
rection fern attached. I then affixed the
fern onto another tree and kept the bark
section well irrigated. The fern eventu-
ally grew onto the new tree.

.i. \hi,,,. ,,I,-, is an ISA-certified munic-
ipal arborist, director of horticulture at
Jungle Island, and principal of Tropical
Designs of Florida. Contact him atjeff@
tropicaldesigns. com.

Feedback: letters@ibbiscaynetimes.com


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Columnists: GOING GREEN







Changing Course

Going back to school to help save the planet


By Jim W. Harper
BT Contributor

When I was a college student,
my attempts to seek a career
path morphed into a one-man
show of angst. This drama was to be ex-
pected, as I was an English major. That's
what English majors do: We think, we
write, and we fret.
But seriously, I thought, what am
I going to do with my life? That is the
question that haunts all of us. One
professor gave me the straightforward
advice I needed: Just do i...,,. ri,,i He
was trying to tell me that actions speak
louder than daydreams. Instead of trying
to figure out the future in my head, I
should try practicing in the present what
I wished to continue doing for life.
You can apply this advice to the
environment. Don't just talk about
it do something. Try planting a tree
or picking up litter. You will learn as
much from your mistakes as from your
successes. We all learn by doing and by
acting locally.
Unfortunately, some of us are slow
learners and, even worse, some of us
are English majors. The curse of the
English major involves being an "ideas
person," instead of someone who takes
action. I was not brave enough to
become an artist or astute enough to bet
my future on the Internet, so I resorted
to the default profession for English
majors: I became a teacher. Although


it seemed like the easy way out of my
conundrum, choosing that profession
taught me that teaching is much, much
harder than it looks.
Now I am choosing a new path that
involves becoming a student again,
and this time I will be studying the
environment.
So how did a middle-school English
teacher find the inspiration to go back
to school? Easy. Teaching is too dif-
ficult and reality is too ugly, so for the
next year or so I will be hiding from
both in the library at Florida Interna-
tional University.
It's only funny because it's true. Be-
cause I have
been writing
and think- Not everyone c
ing about the career or go bac
environment some degree of
for many years required o
now, I feel
overwhelmed
by both the
things that I do know and by the realiza-
tion that there's a world of things I don't
know. I know enough to know that I
know too little, got it?
When I was a child, I wanted to be
Jacques Cousteau. Somewhere along the
way, Cousteau turned into Thoreau, and
I accepted the fate of the English major
- to wallow in the enigmatic woods of
words. But I never loved words the way I
love fish. And turtles. And my many pets
of many colors. They have kept me sane


ai
ck
ad
f


when people have driven me crazy.
In time I learned to love people, too,
and I want to save this planet for the
people of the future. They deserve a
chance to discover a beautiful world. So
I'm going back to school.
Another option for me would be to
burn rubber in the fast lane, make mad
money, party like a rock star, and give
the earth the
middle finger.
n change their Believe
to school, but me, when
Japtation will be the odds
everyone. are stacked
against you,
like David
versus Goli-
ath, you could just lay down and die. But
oh, no, not I.
Now is my chance to make good on
that childhood dream to become an ex-
plorer. Like the great Cousteau, I could
reveal the riches of nature and inspire
humanity. I could find a way to save
our oceans, by linking you out there -
and you and you in a mighty chain
of justice.
Now is our time to get serious about
the new war: a war on behalf of the


environment and against this chaos that
we have brought upon ourselves. We
need an effort that matches the original
meaning of "epic."
In this changing world, will you
do something? In this battle, will you
enlist? Not everyone can change their
career or go back to school, but some
degree of adaptation will be required of
everyone. Our climate is changing and
our world is changing, whether we like
it or not, and we have the choice to do
something or to do nothing.
And make no mistake about it:
Doing nothing is a choice. Now that we
know how much the planet is hurting,
denial is deliberate.
No one knows the future, of course,
but based on recent history, it doesn't
look good for Mother Nature. Time to
ruminate about the future is running
out. Are we just going to sit here and die
along with her? No, we're going to do
something. Now.
Just do it.

Send your tips and clever ideas to:
SFeedbk: ..letters ,. i ,. i, scaynem s.

Feedback: letters@ibiscaynetimes.com


Come for the fun
Stay for the Education

305-757-6500


early childhood music classes
group keyboard and guitar
music and accessories


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toao


September 2012






Columnists: KIDS AND THE CITY





Too Wild a Time

A family camping trip to the Everglades in the middle of summer?
What could go wrong?


By Crystal Brewe
BT Contributor

-r don't say I didn't warn you."
Those words became a chal-
6 L6 lenge to me as I convinced
my family to embark upon an end-of-
summer adventure to the 10,000 Islands,
along Florida's Gulf Coast. The unsolic-
ited warnings and advice against camp-
ing in the Everglades in the summer
were enough to make me absolutely
determined to experience it for myself.
Sure, we could camp at Bahia Honda
or even drive 20 minutes for some urban
camping at Oleta River, but what's the
point if you can jump back in your car
and drive home when the going gets
tough or hot, or itchy? No sir, the
Brewes were out to make some serious
memories.
We spent weeks doing research, gath-
ering supplies, and preparing for the trip.
State-of-the-art tent? Check!
First-aid kit? Check!
An artillery of sprays, bracelets, and
Skin So Soft to fend off the infamous
mosquitoes and no-see-ums? Check!
A guy with a boat to ferry us to our
deserted island on the edge of the Ever-
glades? Check!
2:00 p.m.: Mark, the helpful boat
captain, assisted us in unloading ev-
erything onto the beautiful, white-sand
island where the Everglades meets the
Gulf. Mark took our countless calls in
the weeks leading up to our odyssey;
he gave us good advice and didn't try


to deter us. He did, however, guarantee
that we would be the only ones on the
very popular Camp Lulu Key this time of
year. (Insert foreshadowing here.)
He showed us the best place to set up
the tent and where to hide in the event
of an extreme electrical storm. I should
have been suspicious when he asked me
to text him later that night, just so he
"would sleep better."
4:00 p.m.: The sun was honey golden
in the sky as we rode a little wave back
to shore in our canoe after some fishing.
Our camp was set up with two tents, a
screened patio, a fire pit, and some fresh
firewood. As the kids splashed their feet
in the water and collected seashells, we
sat and enjoyed the nice breeze coming
off the Gulf and discussed what kinds of
adventures we would have the next day.
It was everything we had dreamed. We
laughed in the face of the naysayers.
6:00 p.m.: Our initial attempts to
start a fire were unsuccessful, so we
started up the fancy butane burner we
had brought for just such an event. The
burner barely managed to warm our
dinner in the face of the now stronger
wind blowing off the Gulf.
7:00 p.m.: We watched a breathtak-
ing sunset as we ate our dinner, and
made another attempt at fire-building so
we could enjoy S'mores.
8:00 p.m.: Wet wood left our fire-
starting attempts unsuccessful, so we ate
our S'mores unmelted.
9:00 p.m.: The kids were tucked
in the tent with books and flashlights.


- *6-
.. -4 .; -


The adults sat around the nonburn-
ing campfire wearing headlamps and
discussed the nice breeze we were so
lucky to have.
10:00 p.m.: The breeze subsided
at the exact moment that my brother
commented on the surprising lack of
mosquitoes. Within seconds, an apoca-
lyptic swarm seized the irony. We
sought shelter in the tent, but the mere
act of entering provided an opportunity
for the blood-thirsty mosquitoes to
follow us in.
We put on our emergency socks and
covered the kids. There was nothing left
to do but try to sleep through the horror.
At some point, I switched my socks from
my feet to my hands. It seemed like a
good idea at the time.
12:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m., 5:33
a.m.: I woke up thinking, "I had no idea
that it would be this hot, this itchy."
6:00 a.m.: We awoke to a stun-
ning purple-orange sunrise and a camp
strewn with garbage. Some mischievous
raccoons, impervious to the vampire
mosquitoes, had enjoyed a field day with
our cornhusks and tin foil.


For about 20 minutes we thought we
were going to be okay. Then came the no-
see-ums. Did you know that no-see-ums
don't actually bite? They vomit stomach
acid that burns like the devil. They work
in battalions and prefer your eyelids and
armpits shiver places you don't think
to put repellant. Everly, my three-year-old,
was covered in them and screaming. It was
something out of a sci-fi movie.
6:21 a.m.: Eric, my husband, called
an adult camper meeting. "Can we handle
another night of this?" All three adults
acknowledged that no, nature had won,
and we needed a boat ride home, pronto.
Mark, our steady captain, was
unfazed by our early-morning phone call
and picked us up within the hour.
The squall that hit our boat as we
rode back through the Everglades to
our car was the jewel in our crown of
memory-making. It was the Everglades
reminding us: "If you ever decide to
come back, we've got more where that
came from, suckers!"
Nature 1, Brewes 0.

Feedback: letters(@biscaynetimes.com


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September 2012





Columnists: PAWSITIVELY PETS


Lifestyles of the Rich

and Furry
An animal-themed TV show descends on the Hamptons


By Lisa Hartman
BT Contributor
Last year I had the odd experience
of leaving Florida in summer to
escape hurricane season, only to
be hit head-on by Hurricane Irene in
New York. Come on!
So this year about the same
time as Irene hit last year, leaving me
to evacuate with two dogs and without
power at home for ten days I find
myself shooting a show for a kind of
EuropeanAccess Hollywood.
The last few summers I've headed back
to my roots, the East End of Long Island,


and set up shop in the Hamptons. The
Hamptons and Montauk have always felt
like home to me. And while I live a rela-
tively normal existence when I'm here, the
camera crews quite naturally came to film
the opulence and extravagance that is syn-
onymous worldwide with Hamptons' life.
This time they wanted to know how
the pet-owning elite in these parts live,
and so decided to follow vet Dr. Cindy
Bressler, groomer and luxury dog store
owner Edward Alava, and me, as we
pampered and catered to our rich and
famous clientele.
They filmed us "on call" everywhere
from helicopters and private planes to


yachts in the harbor, catering to the whims
of our clients and their dogs. You want an
antioxidant blueberry facial for Fido? No
problem. Dogs need to get off a yacht in
single file? I'll teach them. From Dr. Cindy
making an emergency house call at 3:00
a.m. to Edward giving a dog massage or
me leading dog training or "Doga" classes


at mega mansions, we did it.
But working in the East End is
hardly without its drawbacks. Like South
Florida in season, we fight brutal traffic
in the summer; you either know how to
navigate the back roads or you'll find
yourself stuck on Montauk Highway
in gridlock. Just purchasing a bagel for


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Veterinary Clinic

You come to us A A


7310 Biscayne Blvd

We come to you
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305-754-0844


.smilirgpets.net


September 2012









breakfast becomes a major ordeal, as you
can't find a parking space anywhere.
Working with dogs can be equally
challenging. Filming a scene is never
as easy as it looks on television; you
might have to get in and out of a car (or
helicopter) ten times so the film crew
can get all the angles needed to edit the
scene together. For that matter, every
word or sentence you utter may have
to be repeated multiple times. It's hard
repeating the same uneventful sentence
or action over and over. The dogs have it
worse they have no idea why they are
walking the same plank again and again
or why they are repeating behaviors with
cameramen circling all around them.
For this show, my segment involved
teaching a New York society woman
relaxation and yoga poses she can do
with her dogs. "Doga," or dog yoga, hap-
pens to be a great way to bond with your
dog and spend some good quality time
together. There is good stretching and
massage in it, too.
My Chinese crested, Saffy, loves it.
She will hold some of the poses forever.
She especially loves the "Floating Saffy"
poses where I balance her on my hands


and legs. Jay-J loves his do% i\ mid dog"
pose and, although he enjoys Doga, his
size makes him a bit harder to physically
manipulate than Saffy.
So while the production com-
pany loved Jay-J's look, Saffy ended up
having a longer segment, owing to her
size and eagerness to perform. (Jay-J
was fantastic, but battled a bit of perfor-
mance anxiety.)
Edward came to the same
client's home to give her
16-year-old Yorkshire ter-
rier a massage, and Dr. Cindy Not
rushed to her yacht to help a and 1
scared dog that needed medical dog
care. The shoot culminated in
a luxury party at sunset on a
very posh beach in East Hamp-
ton. Notables in the fashion, magazine,
and TV world were on hand with their
dogs to toast a fabulous summer and
the people who tend to their dogs.
Our own Hampton Pet Chef ("Pri-
vate chef services for your special pet")
put out an incredible gourmet spread
for the canines, and Spoil Me Rotten
dog treats had an ice cream truck full of
treats for the dogs.


My dogs, mind you, had to enter and
re-enter the beach party with me about
a dozen times for the different camera
angles. Not having had a break all day,
they were starting to get a bit cranky,
and exhausted. Saffy decided she should
be carried from here on out, lest she claw
at my dress and shred it into a million
pieces, while Jay-J's legs decided to give
out and turn to stone.



ables in the fashion, magazine,
V world were on hand with their
gs to toast a fabulous summer.



I came up with alternative scenes to
shoot that would give my dogs a break
from the humdrum. One of the most
difficult parts of my job is not getting the
dogs to perform on cue, but making the
production team understand what is pos-
sible, safe, and fair to the animals.
I must be able to tell the crew that
the dogs have had enough and we are
done for now. I have to make people who


have never owned even one dog see that
the dogs are not robots and cannot be
programmed to do what you want over
and over again on camera, in the heat
- without a break.
Maybe they can, maybe they can't.
But as my dogs and the others on set
start to show signs of stress, my job as
the "dog mother" kicks in and I tell ev-
eryone the dogs are going to have dinner
now and retire to their beds. Just as with
human performers, the animal cast mem-
bers need to be handled with care and to
have adequate rest and fun so they can
perform when it's time for them.
As fun as film production can be, a
lot of work is involved. Multiple takes
with pets (and people) in new situations,
weather, monotony, and lots of down
time are all part of the job. It's not called
a "business" for nothing.

Lisa Hartman is a dog-friendly trainer,
behavior specialist, and author of Dial
a Dynamite Dog. You can reach her at
'!, li .I l,../, 1 1,.-i ,. '.com or visit
www.pawsitivelypetsonline.com.

Feedback: letters@tbiscaynetimes.com


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com






Columnists: VINO


Aussie Wines that Hit the Mark -


and Miss, Too
Red, white, and you: Agreeable wine for $12 or less


By Bill Citara
BT Contributor
here are some things even those of
us whose knowledge of The Land
Down Under comes mostly from
Crocodile Dundee recognize as quintes-
sentially Australian.
Crocodile Dundee, for example.
("That's a knife!") Shrimps and barbies
(the grill, not the anatomically impos-
sible doll). Aborigines. That weird-look-
ing opera house. Kangaroos. Wallabies.
Saying things like "G'day" and "fair
dinkum" and "good on ya!" Calling
people "mate." Foster's beer.
And did you know that Australians
have 57 different ways of saying "vomit"?
Good on ya!
To our list of all things Australian
we have to add one more: Shiraz, or what
the Aussies call Syrah. But this is not a
column about Shiraz. This is a column
about Australian wines other than Shiraz.
The last few years have not been
kind to the Australian wine industry.
The economic collapse that devastated
most Western economies including
those of the two biggest foreign consum-
ers of Australian wine, the U.S. and
Britain caused a drastic drop in sales.
The Australian dollar has been high
against the U.S. dollar and other curren-
cies, making exports more expensive at a
time when affordable wines from Latin
America, Spain, and elsewhere have
been gaining popularity. There's also


been a glut of Australian wine grapes,
which helped drive wine prices down.
But Australian winemakers did a pretty
good job screwing themselves, too. Jump-
ing on the bandwagon of the incredibly
successful Yellow Tail wines, they flooded
the market with millions of bottles of soft,
flabby, characterless wines the sole virtue
of which were their low price. As consum-
ers grew more sophisticated, they turned to
more complex and interesting wines, but not
before leaving affordable Australian wines
with the (not always justified) reputation as
the oenological equivalent ofKool-Aid.
The results of our sampling of
not-Shiraz bore that out. I wouldn't buy
either of the red wines we tasted for this
column, not when so many reds from
Spain, Latin America, California, even
France deliver higher quality for the
same or less money.
Let's get them out of the way first.
Please. The only drinkable one was the
2008 Penfolds Shiraz-Cabernet, a 71/29
percent split of those two grapes (which
was perhaps why it made the grade). The
vintage is relatively old for an inexpensive
wine and it showed in the tasting; its red and
black cherry fruit was beginning to fade
and be overtaken by tannins and acidity.
Another Cabernet Sauvignon never
would have made it out the door of any
self-respecting Napa Valley winery. Evans
& Tate's 2010 Split River Cab was a
mess, with an earthy, grassy, candied nose,
flavors of underripe cherries and plums,
and a finish like sucking lemons. Fail.


And speaking of sucking,
let's speak of the nonvintage
Gumdale Sauvignon Blanc, a
blend of grapes from Australia
(86 percent) and New Zealand (14
percent). It too was an aromatic
tease, offering scents of green
apple, apricot, and tropical fruit
with a sturdy lemon-lime back- The Ye
bone. But then I had to go taste can be
it. I could say it was an extremely ABC Fi
odd wine the richness and Blvd.,
viscosity of aballbuster California reason
Chardonnay with the paint-strip- consci
ping acidity of turpentine -but for all
it's easier to just say it sucks. Publix
You don't often see a 2171).
100-percent Semillon from Miami
Australia (or elsewhere) on the has th<
market, so the 2011 Tyrrell's Miami
Hunter Valley Semillon was Blvd.,
a rather pleasant surprise. A Semill
pleasant wine, too, with lots of GumdE
lemon, lime, and grapefruit, but Evans
with some balancing richness,
not an acrid tart bomb.
What's really ironic is that the best
wine of the tasting was a new version of
the original "critter wine" that started
the whole Australian wine boom: Yellow
Tail's Non-Vintage "Tree Free" Char-
donnay. With no oak aging and remark-
ably low 11.5-percent alcohol, it is crisp
and refreshing without searing your taste
buds with an acidic blowtorch. And with
a little citrus, some apricot, and pear, it's
a clean, simple expression ofvarietal


I


1'i
B-1-


llowtail "Tree Free" Chardonnay
found at the North Miami Beach
ne Wine & Spirits (16355 Biscayne
305-944-6525) for an exceedingly
able $5.99, while the equally value-
ous Fish Eye Chardonnay goes
of $6.99 at the Biscayne Commons
(14641 Biscayne Blvd., 305-354-
Crown Wine and Spirits in North
(12555 Biscayne Blvd., 305-892-9463)
e Penfolds for $9.99. At the North
Total Wine & More (14750 Biscayne
305-354-3270) you'll find the Tyrrell's
on for $11.99 and, if you must, the
le Sauvignon Blanc for $7.49 and
& Tate Cabernet for $9.99.

character. A good deal for six bucks.
One of those Yellow Tail descendants
is the 2010 Fish Eye Chardonnay, a wine
that will appeal to those who like a slightly
fruitier, fuller-bodied, oak-tinged Chardon-
nay, not to mention one that's a good value.
It tastes of red and green apples and apricots,
stiffened by a bit of Meyer lemon acidity,
and delivers a long, enjoyable citrus finish.
And that really is fair dinkum, mate.

Feedback: letters(@ibiscaynetimes.com


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012






Columnists: DISH


Zooming Out of Zuma

Food news we know you can use


By Pamela Robin Brandt
BT Contributor

Ssle Miamians watched Olym-
pians perform prodigious feats
V last month, a report from two
restaurant and workplace health research
groups warned that locals may themselves
be participating in a dangerous sport:
dining out. With only 11.4 percent of our
county's generally underpaid restaurant
workers having paid sick days, 47 percent
have worked sick, and "over 40 percent of
those reported coughing or sneezing while
handling food." Reason enough to support
Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bar-
bara Jordan's effort to introduce legislation
mandating earned paid sick days.

OPENINGS
Aijo (1331 Brickell Bay Dr., 786-452-
1637). Hidden inside Jade condo, this
chic space specializes in Japanese fusion
dishes from a staff featuring four former
Zuma employees, including executive
chef Christian Bonilla. Creativity is
highly encouraged (a main motivation for
the four ship-jumpers, says owner Rene
Buroz), so expect menu surprises. But
signatures range from the Reneboy sushi
roll (crisped rice, subtly smoked salmon,
and an eel sauce/crunchy walnut topping)
to a long-marinated robata-grilled rib-eye
with "truffle explosion" dip. An award-
winning mixologist creates cocktails,
juggles, and plays with fire.
TIKL Raw Bar & Grill (1450
Brickell Ave. #110, 305-372-0620). From


the team behind longtime South Beach
seafood favorite Altamare, this much-
anticipated eatery has an izakaya-style
menu (as at Sugarcane or Zuma) featur-
ing mostly small plates in several catego-
ries: creative crudos, robata-grilled items,
and chef Simon Stojanovic's prepared
plates (like saut6ed whole local white
shrimp with shishito peppers).
Brother Jimmy's BBQ (900
S. Miami Ave. #135, 786-360-3650).
Barbecue isn't supposed to move from
north to south, but that's the story of this
first Florida location of Brother Jimmy's,
whose original parent opened in NYC
more than 20 years ago. Seems like it's
been nearly that long since this Mary
Brickell Village branch was first touted.
Doma Polo Bistro (900 Biscayne
Blvd. #102/103, 305-400-0588). The d6cor
is ultra-upscale rustic. The food is Argen-
tinean steakhouse stuff massive grilled
parrilla assortments and other beefy
dishes like locra (beef/bean/hominy/
squash stew), plus some non-steak choices
like cilantro-sauced free-range chicken.
Taverna Opa (900 S. Miami Ave.
#269, 305-673-6730). This latest of six
Florida Opas is bigger than the South
Beach original, but the boisterous party
ambiance, reminiscent of Greece's more
tourist-oriented eateries, is the same: loud
music, plates breaking, belly dancers, and
a menu of Greece's Greatest Hits.
Shokudo and the Sake Bar at Shoku-
do (4740 NE 2nd Ave., 305-758-7782). From
the folks at South Beach's late, lamented
World Resource Cafe, the "path to food"


/ .. t ; '

(translation of shokudo) leads to small plates
inspired by street foods of numerous Asian
nations. A separate bar building in the
backyard serves Asian drinks and snacks in
a more casual countertop setting.

CLOSINGS
Caf6 46, a reincarnation of Joe Allen res-
taurant on the Beach, has closed its doors
in Buena Vista after six months. According
to co-owner and host Mario Rubeo, who
gave Joe Allen its charm, the original plan
was to close for summer and reopen in
October, but that changed when a potential
investor fell through. The place was bleed-
ing its owners dry, says Rubeo, who'll be
taking a break from the restaurant industry.
After only several months in busi-
ness, the Design District's Barrel Wine
Cantine closed abruptly early in August
and was stripped floor to ceiling over-
night, leaving nothing behind unless
you count unpaid bills from vendors,
staff, and apparently the wine bar and
market's landlord. An eviction notice on
the door stated that almost $6000 in back
rent was owed. Chef/co-owner Victor
Passalacqua says he split with his two
partners more than a month before the
closing. Chalk it up to creative differ-
ences. A contractor-type guy I cornered


rr. e :.' /


walking around the decimated space
with a clipboard said a new restaurant
was in the works but he wasn't allowed
to share details except that the new
place won't be a reborn Barrel.
Next door to Barrel, chocolatier/
tea room Florin, which opened ear-
lier in 2012, is also kaput. (In fact the
whole block of adjoining shops is under
construction.) No response so far from
co-owner/patisserie Grazia Maggi.

SIDE DISH
The anniversary of Julia Child's 100th
birthday was August 15, but you haven't
missed the party yet. On September 15,
Les Dames d'Escoffier Miami hosts
"Celebrating Julia at 100," an all-day
birthday bash downtown. Tickets to the
events, starting with a Julia-themed cook-
ing seminar by Michelle Bernstein and
culminating with a Julia-inspired dinner
from Norman Van Aken at the Miami
Culinary Institute's restaurant Tuyo, are
available at lesdamesmiami.org.
Check out our "BizBuzz" column (page
26) for more restaurant news from BT adver-
tisers. And remember to send me restaurant
info: restaurants@biscaynetimes.com.

Feedback: letters@ibbiscaynetimes.com


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com 89


September 2012





























Restaurant Listings "


The Biscayne Corridor's most comprehensive restaurant guide. Total this month: 296. """"""" "" "M""""
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111


Restaurant listings for the BT Dining Guide are written
by Pamela Robin Brandt (restaurants@biscaynetimes.
com). Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy,
but restaurants frequently change menus, chefs, and
operating hours, so please call ahead to confirm
information. Icons ($$$) represent estimates for a typical
meal without wine, tax, or tip. Hyphenated icons ($-$$$)
indicate a significant range in prices between lunch and
dinner menus, or among individual items on those menus.
$= $10 and under
$$= $20
$$$= $30
$$$$= $40
$$$$$= $50 and over



Brickell / Downtown

Area 31
270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, 305-424-5234
Not that the sleek interior of this seafood restaurant (named
for fishing area 31, stretching from the Carolinas to South
America) isn't a glamorous dining setting But we'd eat out-
side From the expansive terrace of the Epic condo and hotel
on the Miami River, the views of Brickell s high-rises actually
make Miami look like a real city Its hard to decide whether
the eats or drinks are the most impressive The food is impec-
cably fresh regional fish, prepared in a clean Mediterranean-
influenced style The cocktails are genuinely creative Luckily
you don't have to choose one or the other $$$-$$$$
Azul
500 Brickell Key Dr., 305-913-8254
Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase Biscayne Bay But diners
prefer ogling the raw-bar-fronted open kitchen, where glo-
betrotting chef Joel Huff crafts imaginative, often multi-part
dishes -- some Asian-inspired (like oysters with fresh wasabi,
hibiscus granite, and Asian pear), as one would expect from
the Mandarin Oriental s top eatery But most of Huffs dishes
are strongly European-influenced, primarily by New Spanish
cuisine Elegant, playfully molecular gastronomy-accented
almond gazpacho with foie gras snow," or eggs, bacon &
toast" (suckling pig, tempura duck egg, truffled potato, and
speck air") tell the story $$$$$
Balans
901S. Miami Ave., (Mary Brickell Village), 305-534-9191
Open until 4 00 a m on weekends, this London import
(Miami's second Balans) offers a sleeker setting than its peren-
nially popular Lincoln Road progenitor, but the same simple yet
sophisticated global menu The indoor space can get mighty


















I e-4 V I-


555NE15t Sree, thFlorMia iFI


loud, but lounging on the dog-friendly outdoor terrace, over a
rich croque monsieur (which comes with an alluringly sweet/
sour citrus-dressed side salad), a lobster club on onion toast,
some surprisingly solid Asian fusion items, and a cocktail is
one of Miami's more relaxing experiences $$-$$$
Bali Caf6
109 NE 2nd Ave., 305-358-5751
While Indonesian food isn't easyto find in Miami, downtown
has secret stashes small joints catering to cruise-ship and
construction workers This cute, exotically decorated cafe
has survived and thrived for good reason The homey cook-
ing is delicious, and the friendly family feel encourages even
the timid of palate to try something new Novices will want
Indonesia's signature rjsttafel, a mix-and-match collection of
small dishes and condiments to be heaped on rice Note bring
cash No plastic accepted here $-$$
Banana & Leaf
234 NE 3rd St., 786-431-5548
Ever get tempted by the convenience of supermarket sushi
boxes, but feel uneasy about freshness and disgruntled about
sparseness of fillings In the grab-and-go containers here.
raw fish glistens and makis like a plump snow crab roll have
a satisfying seafood-to-rice ratio If you'd rather, dishes on the
larger custom menu arrive almost as fast There s also limited
tasty Southeast Asian fare Most unbelievable Prices beat
supermarket sushi by far $
The Bar at Level 25 (Conrad Hotel)
1395 Brickell Ave., 305-503-6500
On the Conrad's 25th floor. The Bar's picture-windowed space
is notjust a watering hole with panoramic views At lunch it's
an elegant sandwich bar, at night its a raw bar (with pristine
coldwater oysters) and (best) a tapas bar serving pintxos
That's just the Basque word for tapas, but here there's noth-
ing mere about the generously portioned small plates They
range from traditional items like cod fish equixada and saffron-
sauteed Spanish artichokes to inventive inspirations like foie
gras and goat cheese-stuffed empanadas $$$
Bento Sushi & Chinese
801 Brickell Bay Dr., 305-603-8904
Hidden in the Four Ambassadors Towers, this tiny spot (which
specializes in sushi plus Japanese small plates, but also serves
limited Chinese and Thai-inspired dishes of the mix-and-match,
pick-your-protein-then-preparation sort) has been mostly an
insider's secret deliveryjoint for Brickell residents But its
actually a pleasant place to relax outside, enjoying a bay view
and budget bento box specials that include miso soup, ginger-
dressed salad, California roll, and fresh orange sections, plus
two mini-entrees (the nigin assortment sushi and lacy-battered
tempura especially recommended) Bubble tea, tool $$-$$$
Bon Fromage
500 Brickell Ave. #106, 786-329-5632
Though independently owned instead of a chain cog, this
cheese and wine cafe/shop is like a pint-size version of Midtown


S Free Glass of Wine
SWith Every Dinner Order. Limit one per customer. I
-. . . - - - . . .- - - . .l


BRICKELL / DOWNTOWN

Pollos & Jarras
115 NE 3rd Ave., 786-567-4940
From Juan Chipoco, Peruvian chef/co-owner of seafood-
centric Cvi Che 105, this stylish but affordable two-level
restaurant is centered around polio a la brasa, as a huge
rotisserie oven attests Grilled steaks, unique sandwiches,
anticuchos, and varied starters and sides are also served,
but the must-not-miss is rotisserie chicken, marinated in
roughly a dozen-and-a-half seasonings before a self-basting
spin on the spit cooks it to incomparable juiciness It's
served with crisp fries and a substantial salad Meals also
come with a complimentary cup of aguadito -- assertively
cilantro-spiked chicken rice soup $$

MIDTOWN / WYNWOOD / DESIGN DISTRICT

Pasta Folie's
Shops at Midtown Miami
3252 NE 1st Ave. #118, 786-382-0205
In France the word folie" can mean extravagant" More often
it means madness It's the latter translation that first comes
to mind when perusing the menu of this French Rivera pasta/
pizza fast-casual chain, whose concept is pastas, plus pizzas,
from around the world -- even Italy Don't expect authenticity
from the more exotic toppings, they basically contain one
typical ingredient (along with a generic onlons/peppers/veg
assortment) bean sprouts in Thailand's spaghetti, pineapple
in Ball's, curry sauce on India's Do expect super-fresh sauces,
made daily Friendly staffers and fun $$

Shokudo World Resource Caf6
4740 NE 2nd Ave., 305-758-7782
At its former Lincoln Road location, World Resource's cafe
was better known for people-watching than for its standard
sushi/Thai menu But as the new name signals, this relocation
is a reinvention The indoor/outdoor space is charming, but
creative takes on popular pan-Asian street foods are the real
draw Travel from Japan and Thailand through Korea, Vietnam,
China, the Philippines, and beyond via light housemade momo,
curried potato-stuffed Tibetan/Nepalese steamed dumplings,
savory pulled pork buns with klmchi and crisped onions
Noodle dishes, hot or chilled, are especially appealing $$-$$$

Miami's Cheese Course, right down to being officially self-ser-
vice But it is staffed by accommodating employees who, unof-
ficially, do their best to double as servers for eat-in diners The
cheese (plus charcuterie) menu of garnished platters, salads,





00FF
With $50
Purchase
Dine-In






s5 OFF
With $25
Purchase



lgt


BAY HARBOR ISLANDS

Le Pine
1052 Kane Concourse, 305-861-1059
This upscale Lebanese restaurant serves dishes with the
sort of understated sophistication that makes clear why
Beirut was called the Paris of the East You'll find familiar
Middle Eastern favorites, but many have refinements that
lift them above average pita that's housemade, charm-
ingly fluffy when warm from the oven, falafel incorporating
flavorful fava beans with the usual ground chickpeas
Especially appealing are more uncommon items like
crisp-fried cauliflower with tahini fateh (a chickpea cas-
serole "ced" with thick yogurt), and buttery cheese/herb-
filled sambusak pastries Finish exotically with a hookah
$$-$$$



Tiny Thai House
12953 Biscayne Blvd., 305-895-1646
The space is tiny The menu. which features Thai special-
ties but includes sushi plus Japanese appetizers and
entrees, is not Despite the huge selection of sushi/Thai
restaurant standards, though, don't overlook items harder
to find in America. like "floating noodle" soup. a popular
street food from Thailand's boat-based market stalls.
similar in savor to Vietnamese pho, the dish contains beef,
bean sprouts, and noodles heaped in umaml-rich beef
broth Among the nicely priced sushi selections, the Mylo
roll (tuna, salmon, crab, avocado, and cuke, topped with
tempura fish and eel sauce) is a tasty pick Don't miss
sticky rice with mango for dessert $$



Kings County Pizza
18228 W. Dixie Hwy., 305-792-9455
If your feelings about Brooklyn-style pizza have been
formed by Domino's flopsy-crusted, ketchupy, cheese-
foody pies, stop here to sample a slice of the real thing
Admittedly, the crusts are not those of the coal-fired clas-
sics from Brooklyn's legendary Totonno's or Grimaldi's,
but they're similarly medium-thin and crisp -- though not
like a cracker, you can fold them for neat street eating,
and they taste like honest bread, not cardboard A variety
of toppings are available even on slices There are also
whole pies with varied toppings The large" is humongous
$-$$

and crusty baguette sandwiches features numerous high-quality
imported favorites, but don't miss more unusual domestic trea-
sures like Wisconsin bread, a cooked cheese that, like halloumli
doesn't melt but tantalizingly softens when heated $$


1071* 79h Sbf unnl ll rL 1
Ponm: 5.577 133 I 1ppBA us


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012












3I1


I,4


-14
91. ^-


For 2 Adults
For Lunch,
Dine In Only.


For 2 Adults
For Dinner,
Dine In Only.


Any Day,
Any Time!
Dine In On. :


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


i qP 47


F'44


,, I
,. S


September 2012







Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS


Bryan in the Kitchen
104 NE 2nd Ave., 305371-7777
This quirky cafe-markets chef/owner is a former smoothle-
swilling model who is now into fresh whole foods, and though
his eclectic "green gourmet" menu does uniformly reflect his
dedication to ecological consciousness, it otherwise could
only be described as intensely personal Offerings are an odd
but appealing saint/sinner mix, ranging from healthy pasta/
grain salads and homemade-from-scratch snacks (beef jerky,
granola) to unique cupcakes featuring not-too-sweet adult
flavors and irresistible sticky buns If we had to choose just one
category, we'd sin But luckily, you can have it all $-$$
Caf6 Bastille
248 SE 1st St., 786-425-3575
Breakfasting on a ham-egg-cheese crepe at this very French-
feeling and tasting cafe is a most civilized way to start the
day Formerly breakfast and lunch only. the cafe is now open
for dinner, too And while the crepes (both savory and sweet)
are tempting and varied enough to eat all day. dinner choices
like homemade foie gras (with onion jam and Guerande salt),
salmon with lentils and fennel salsa, or a very affordable skirt
steak au poivre make it possible to resist $-$$$
Caf6 Sambal
500 Brickell Key Dr., 305-913-8358
Though the Mandarin Oriental Hotel describes this space as its
casual hotel restaurant," many consider it a more spectacular
dining setting than the upscale Azul, upstairs, owing to the
option of dining outdoors on a covered terrace directly on the
waterfront The food is Asian-inspired, with a few Latin and
Mediterranean accents For the health-conscious, the menu
includes low-cal choices For hedonists there's a big selection
of artisan sakes $$$-$$$$$
Cavas Wine Tasting Room
900 S. Miami Ave. #180, 305-372-8027
Like South Miami's predecessor (now closed), this Cavas is
mainly an upscale, high-tech tasting lounge for the wine-curious
Patrons buy prepaid cards to sample ounce, half-glass, or
full-glass portions from more than 50 self-service dispensing
machines But there's an extensive selection of tapas/pintxos
small plates, flatbread "pizzas," sandwiches, plus fully garnished
charcuterie and cheese platters specially selected to pair well
with vino Additionally, more substantial dishes have been
added, including a daily three-course lunch special and some
tasty, bargain-priced soups (carrot cream with Gouda particu-
larly recommended) $$-$$$
Chophouse Miami
300 S. Biscayne Blvd., 305-938-9000
Formerly Mannys Steakhouse, Miami's Chophouse retains basi-
cally everything but the famed name (from the original Manny's
in Minneapolis), and remains Miami's most intentionally
masculine steakhouse Here, ensconced in your black leather


booth, everything is humongous dry-aged choice-grade steaks
like the Bludgeon of Beef (a boldly flavorful 40-ounce bone-in
rlbeye, described as "part meat, part weapon"), king crab legs
that dwarf the plate, cocktail shrimp that could swallow the Loch
Ness monster whole, two-fisted cocktails that would fell a T-Rex
Not for the frail $$$$$
Crazy About You
1155 Brickell Bay Dr. #101,
305-377-4442
The owners, and budget-friendly formula, are the same here
as at older Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita Buy an entree
(all under $20) from a sizable list of Mediterranean, Latin,
American, or Asian-influenced choices (like Thai-marinated
churrasco with crispy shoestring fries) and get an appetizer
for free, including substantial stuff like a Chihuahua cheese
casserole with chorizo and pesto The difference This place,
housed in the former location of short-lived La Broche, has
an even more upscale ambiance than Dolores -- including a
million-dollar water view $$$
Cvi.che 105
105 NE 3rd Ave., 305-577-3454
Fusion food -- a modern invention? Not in Peru, where native
and Euro-Asian influences have mixed for more than a century
But chef Juan Chipoco gives the ceviches and tiraditos served
at this hot spot his own unique spin Specialties include flash-
marinated raw seafood creations, such as tiradito a la crema
de rocoto (sliced fish in citrus-spiked chill/cream sauce) But
traditional fusion dishes like Chinese-Peruvian Chaufa fried rice
(packed with jumbo shrimp, mussels, and calamari) are also fun,
as well as surprisingly affordable $$
db Bistro Moderne
345 Avenue of the Americas, 305-421-8800
Just two words -- "Daniel Boulud" -- should be enough for food-
les craving creative French/American comfort cuisine to run,
not walk, to this restaurant If they can find it (Hint The mys-
terious "Avenue of the Americas" is really Biscayne Boulevard
Way Don't ask) Downtown's db is an absentee celeb chef
outpost, but on-site kitchen wizard Jarrod Verbiak flawlessly
executes dishes ranging from the original NYC db Bistro's sig-
nature foie gras/short rib/black truffle-stuffed burger to local
market-driven dishes like crusted pompano with garlic/parsley
veloute $$$-$$$$
The Democratic Republic of Beer
255 NE 14th St., 305-372-4161
The food here? Beer is food The DRB serves 400 beers from
55 countries, ranging from $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon to $40 DeuS
(an 115% alcohol Belgian method Champenoise brew) But for
those favoring solid snacks, tasty global smallish plates include
fried fresh zucchini with dip (cheese recommended), chorizo with
homemade cilantro Mayo, or steak tacos, served Mexican-style
with onions, cilantro, and spicy salsa Sadly for breakfast-brew


enthusiasts, the DRB isn't open that early But it is open late
--till 5 00 am $$
D-Dog House
50 SW 10th St., 305-381-7770
While it has become increasingly common to find servers
at upscale restaurants utilizing computerized POS (point of
service) systems to take orders, this high-tech hole-in-the-wall
trumps them by replacing servers -- and In-house entertain-
ment, too -- with iPads that accept notjust food orders and
credit cards but music requests You can web surf or game,
too, while waiting for your choice of the house specialty super-
sized hot dogs, most overloaded with internationally inspired
toppings To accompany, hand-cut fries are a must And have
a cocktail There's a full liquor bar $-$$
Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita
1000 S. Miami Ave., 305-403-3103
From the stylish setting in Miami's historic Firehouse No 4,
one would expect a mighty pricy meal But entrees, which
range from Nuevo Latino-style ginger/orange-glazed pork ten-
derloin to a platter of Kobe mini-burgers, all cost either $18 or
$23 And the price includes an appetizer -- no low-rent crapola,
either, but treats like Serrano ham croquetas, a spinach/
leek tart with Portobello mushroom sauce, or shrimp-topped
eggplant timbales The best seats are on the glam rooftop
patio $$$
Dominique Bistro-Club
1451S. Miami Ave., 305-371-8859
At typical restolounges, the "resto" part often gets the short
end of the stick But not at this chic but friendly spot, where
Gerardo Barrera, an alumn of Pars's Le Cordon Bleu, plus his
wife Dominque and her brother Jose Sigona, welcome diners
with France's best-known bistro classics coquilles St Jacques
(tender scallops in mushroom/white wine sauce), a precision-
cooked entrec6te rib-eye with Bearnaise or complex Cafe de
Paris butter, creme brulee (from scratch) or macaron cookies
(from heaven) No velvet ropes, and club music isn't cranked
till 1100 pm $$$
Edge, Steak & Bar
1435 Brickell Ave., 305-358-3535
Replacing the Four Seasons formal fine dining spot Acqua,
Edge offers a more kick-back casual welcoming vibe And
in its fare there's a particularly warm welcome for non-
carnivores Chef-driven seafood items (several inventive and
unusually subtle ceviches and tartares, a layered construc-
tion of corvina encrusted in a jewel-bright green pesto crust,
atop red piquillo sauce stripes and salad, lobster corn soup
packed with sweet lobster meat, more) and a farm-to-table
produce emphasis make this one steakhouse where those
who don't eat beef have no beef $$$$-$$$$$
Elwoods Gastro Pub


188 NE 3rd Ave., 305-358-5222
Cordial English owners, classic rock music (sometimes live),
and updated classic pub fare make this hangout a home
Made from scratch with artisan ingredients, traditional Brit
bites like fish and chips can't be beat -- thick pieces of crisply
beer-battered moist cod, served with hand-cut fries and
"mushy [mashed] peas," plus housemade tartar sauce and
ketchup All desserts are also made in-house, including a
deliriously rich (but worth it) sticky date pudding with toffee
sauce Tie down your dental Implants They're in for a wild
ride $$
Eos
485 Brickell Ave. (Viceroy Hotel), 305-503-0373
Originally opened by Michelin-starred "New Aegean" chef
Michael Psilakis, Eos changed upon the chef's departure into
a more familiar Mediterranean resort eatery, minus Greek-
inspired innovations Now inspiration comes mainly from Spain
and Italy, with nods to Morocco and Latin America Best bets
include a tasting platter of Spanish cheeses and cured meats,
a pistachio-garnished salad featuring Serrano ham, figs, and
arugula, crispy parmesan risotto balls with prosciutto and
smoked tomato dip, and olive/smoked paprika-rubbed roast
chicken At lunch burgers and upscale sandwiches are added
$$$-$$$$
Eternity Coffee Roasters
117 SE 2nd Ave., 305-609-4981
Normally we list only full restaurants, but even a (not so)
simple cuppa joe from Chris Johnson and Crstina Garces's
sleek micro-roastery will convince anyone possessing taste
buds that fine coffee can be as complex as fine wine, and
as satisfying as solid food A changing selection of superior
single-origin beans (many varieties from the Garces family's
Colombian farm, most others from Ethiopia and Kenya),
roasted in-house, produces "slow-pour" regular brews with
amazing nuances of fruits, chocolate, and more The espres-
so is so smooth sugar isn't necessary Other treats flaky
chocolate-stuffed "cigars" and other locally baked pastries
Free parking $
Fado Irish Pub
900 S. Miami Ave. #200, 786-924-0972
Unlike most Miami "Irish" pubs, which serve mostly
American bar food, rarely foraying past fish and chips or
shepherd's pie, Fado (pronounced "fdoe") has a menu
reflecting the pub grub found today in Ireland, including
solid standards But most intriguing are dishes mixing clas-
sic and contemporary influences, particularly those featur-
ing boxty, a grated/mashed potato pancake Try corned
beef rolls (boxty wraps, with creamy mustard sauce and
cabbage slaw), or smoked salmon on mini-boxty "blini,"
with capers and horseradish sauce There's a seasonal
menu, too $$


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012




























































September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


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Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS



Finnegan's River
401 SW 3rd Ave., 305-285-3030
Pool tables are expected in a sports bar and grill But an actual
poolp And a Jacuzzi? This Miami River hideaway has other sur-
prises, too, on its extensive outdoor deck, including a boat dock and
a large array of umbrella tables and lounge chairs where its easy to
while away many happy hours The menu is the same array of bar
bites served by South Beach's older Finnegan's, but angus burgers
are big and tasty, and zingyjalapeno-studded smoked-fish dip is a
satisfyingtable-snack choice $$

First Hong Kong Caf6
117 SE 2nd St., 305-808-6665
Old Hong Kong saying If it walks, swims, crawls, or flies, its edi-
ble And nowhere is this truer than in this historically internation-
al trade ports "cafes" -- meaning fast-food restaurants Typical
menus present hundreds of items that are local interpretations
of dishes from all China, and most other nations So believe us
At this cafe, whose head chef is from HK, the Indian-style cur-
ries, sambal-splked Indonesian chow fun, even the borscht (a
tomato/beef, not beet-based version of the Russian soup) are
as authentic as the kung pao whatever, and as tasty $$

Fratelli Milano
213 SE 1st St., 305-373-2300
Downtown isn't yet a 24/7 urban center, but its experiencing
a mini explosion of eateries open at night That includes this
family-owned rlstorante, where even newcomers feel at home
At lunch its almost impossible to resist paninl, served on foc-
cacla or crunchy clabatta, even the vegetarian version bursts
with complex and complementary flavors During weekday
dinners, try generous plates of risotto with shrimp and grilled
asparagus, homemade pastas like seafood-packed fettuccine
al scoglio, or delicate Vitello alla Milanese on arugula $$-$$$
Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market
398 NW N. River Dr., 305-375-0765
Run by a fishing family for a couple of generations, this vener-
able Florida fish shack is the real thing No worries about the
seafood's freshness, on their way to the dining deck overlook-
ing the Miami River, diners can view the retail fish market
Best preparations are the simplest When stone crabs are in
season, Garcla's claws are as good as Joe's but considerably
cheaper The local fish sandwich is most popular grouper,
yellowtail snapper, or mahl mahl $-$$

Giovana Caffe
154 SE 1st Ave.305-374-1024
If the menu at this charming downtown hideaway contained
only one item -- pear and gorgonzola ravioli dressed, not
drowned, in sage-spiced cream sauce -- we'd be happy But
the cafe, formerly lunch-only but now serving weekday dinners,
is also justly famed for meal-size salads like grilled skirt steak
atop sweetly balsamic-dressed spinach (with spinach, toma-
toes, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, and almonds),
or an especially lavish chicken salad with pine nuts, golden
raisins, apples, and basil, an Italian twist $$
Grimpa Steakhouse
901 Brickell Plaza, 305-455-4757
This expansive indoor/outdoor Brazilian eatery is sleekly contem-
porary, but no worries The classic sword-wielding gauchos are
here, serving a mind-reeling assortment of skewered beef, chick-
en, lamb, pork, sausages, and fish And included in the price
(dinner $47, lunch $34) is the traditional belly-busting buffet of
hot and cold prepared foods, salad, cold cuts, and cheeses A
pleasant, nontraditional surprise unusual sauces like sweet/tart
passion fruit or mint, tomato-based BBQ, and mango chutney,
along with the ubiquitous chimichurrl $$$$-$$$$$
Half Moon Empanadas
192 SE 1st Ave., 305-379-2525
As with South Beach's original Half Moon, you can get wraps or
salads But its this snackerys unique take on Argentine-style
empanadas that makes it seem a natural for national franchising
The soft-crusted, doughy crescents -- baked, not fried, so relatively
guilt-free -- are amply stuffed with fillings both classic (beef and
chicken, either mild or spicy) and creative the bacon cheese-
burger, the pancetta/mozzarella/plum-filled Americana, and
several vegetarian options Atjust over two bucks apiece, there a
moneysaving moveable feast $
Hawa Jade
1331 Brickell Bay Dr., 305-905-5523
When thinking fusion" cuisines, Japanese and Lebanese don't
instantly spring to mind But taking the medieval Spice Route
connection as inspiration, the Hawa family makes the mix work
at both its original Coral Gables Hawa and this new location in the
Jade Residences Golden Pockets (tofu crepes encasing maca-
damlas, avocado, and tuna, crab, shrimp, or Kobe-style beef)
are musts Plus there are unique combos containing makis plus
substantial salads, like crunchy tuna enoki rolls with falafel salad
- not the usual green garnish Housemade desserts with a French
twist are also a pleasant surprise $$
Hibachi Grill
45 NE 3rd Ave., 305-374-2223
Imagine a mini-express Benlhana This place specializes in tep-
panyaki cuisine -- minus the thrilling (or terrifying) tableside knife
theatrics, true, but the one-plate meals of seasoned steak slices,
chicken, shrimp, or salmon plus dipping sauces, fried rice, and an
onion/zucchini mix come at bargain prices There are also hefty
soups or Japanese, Thai, and Singapore-style noodle and rice
bowls loaded with veggies and choice of protein (including tofu)
The limited sides are Japanese (shumal, plump chicken gyoza)
and Chinese (various egg rolls) Fancy? No, but satisfying $-$$
II Gabbiano
335 S. Biscayne Blvd., 305-373-0063
Its location at the mouth of the Miami River makes this ultra-
upscale Italian spot (especially the outdoor terrace) the perfect
power lunch/business dinner alternative to steakhouses And
the culinary experience goes way beyond the typical meat mar-
ket, thanks in part to the flood of freebies that's a trademark of
Manhattan's II Mulino, originally run by II Gabblano's owners


The rest of the food? Pricy, but portions are mammoth And
the champagne-cream-sauced housemade ravioli with black
truffles? Worth every penny $$$$$
Indigo / Table 40
100 Chopin Plaza, 305-577-1000
Long known for its power-lunch buffet including hot entrees, carv-
ing station, custom pastas, packed-to-the-gills salad, sushi, and
dessert stations -- the InterContinental Hotel's Indigo restaurant
now has a hip offspring intended for private dining Table 40 The
charming, glassed-in wine "cellar" (actually in the kitchen) enables
12-14 diners to watch the action in heat-shielded, soundproofed
comfort while eating creations by veteran chef Alexander Feher,
combining Continental technique with local seasonal ingredients
Highlights tender house-smoked, stout-braised short ribs, lavish
lobster salad with grilled mango, and a seductive fresh corn gazpa-
cho $$$-$$$$$
Jackson Soul Food
950 NW 3rd Ave., 305-377-6710]
With a recently refurbished exterior to match its classy/comfy
retro interior, this 65-year-old Overtown soul food breakfast insti-
tution now has only one drawback It closes at 100 p m Never
mind, night owls If you're a first-timer here, order the astonish-
ingly fluffy pancakes with juicy beef sausage, and you'll set
multiple alarm clocks to return Classic drop biscuits (preferably
with gravy) are also must-haves And hearty Southern breakfast
staples like smothered chicken wings or fried fish do make
breakfast seem like lunch, too $
Jam6n, Jam6n, Jam6n,
10 SW South River Dr., 305-324-1111
From the outside, you know you're walking into the ground
floor of a new condo building But once inside the charmingly
rustic room, you'd swear you're in Spain Obviously Spain's
famous cured hams are a specialty, as are other pork products
on the weekly changing menu, from a roast suckling pig entree
to a fried chorizo and chickpea tapa But seafood is also
terrific Don't miss bacalao-filled plquillo peppers, or two of
Miami's best rice dishes seafood paella and arroz negro (with
squid and its ink) $$-$$$
Kork Wine & Cheese Bar
2 S. Miami Ave., 305-377-8899
From the owner of Transit Lounge, a hip hangout long before
the downtown/Brickell revival, this more upscale-cool venue
is worth checking out for its almost medieval dimly lit decor
alone, including a subterranean wine cellar/party room, for-
merly a WW II-era bomb shelter Comestibles are limited to
wine and cheese plus accompaniments Both are available
to go Kork is as much market as lounge But with a stock of
roughly 5000 bottles, and a selection of roughly two dozen per-
fectly ripe artisanal cheeses -- curated by a cheese sommelier
who II create perfect pairings -- who needs more? $$
Largo Bar & Grill
401 Biscayne Blvd., 305-374-9706
Sure, Bayside Marketplace is touristy But it can be fun to
spend a day playing visitor in your own city If you do, this
waterfront place overlooking Miamarlna is a superior food
choice Expect nothing cutting edge, just tasty, familiar favor-
ites solidly prepared You won't go wrong with stone crab claws
and Cajun mustard dip, inauthentic but delicious fish tacos in
hard blue corn tortillas with two sauces (cilantro and chipotle),
generously portioned fish sandwiches (grouper, mahl, snapper,
or daily catch), and festive cocktails $$-$$$
La Loggia Ristorante and Lounge
68 W. Flagler St., 305-373-4800
This luxuriantly neo-classical yet warm Italian restaurant was
unquestionably a pioneer in revitalizing downtown With alter-
natives like amaretto-tinged pumpkin agnolloti in sage butter
sauce and cllantro-spiced white bean/vegetable salad dressed
with truffle oil, proprietors Jennifer Porciello and Horatio
Olivelra continue to draw a lunch crowd that returns for dinner,
or perhapsjust stays on through the afternoon, fueled by the
Lawyer's Liquid Lunch, a vodka martini spiked with sweetened
espresso $$$

La Moon
144 SW 8th St., 305-860-6209
At four in the morning, nothing quells the munchies like a Crazy
Burger, a Colombian take on a trucker's burger beef patty,
bacon, ham, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg, with an
arepa corn pancake "bun" While this tiny place's late hours (till
6'00 a m Friday and Saturday) are surprising, the daytime menu
is more so In addition to Colombian classics, there's a salad
Nicoise with grilled fresh tuna, seared salmon with mango salsa,
and other yuppie favorites $-$$
La Provence
1064 Brickell Ave. 786-425-9003
Great baguettes in the bread basket, many believe, indicate
a great meal to come But when Miamlans encounter such
bread -- crackling crust outside, moist, aromatic, aerated inte-
rior -- its likely not from a restaurant's own kitchen, but from
La Provence Buttery croissants and party-perfect pastries are
legend too Not so familiar is the bakery's cafe component,
whose sandwich/salad menu reflects local eclectic tastes
But French items like pan bagnats (essentially salade Nigolse
on artisan bread) will truly transport diners to co-owner David
Thau's Provengal homeland $$
La Sandwicherie
34 SW 8th St., 305-374-9852
This second location of the open-air diner that is South Beach's
favorite apres-club eatery (since 1988) closes earlier (midnight
Sunday-Thursday, 5 00 a m Friday and Saturday), but the
smoothies, salads, and superb Parisan sandwiches are the same
ultra-crusty baguette stuffed with evocative charcuterie and chees-
es (saucisson sec, country pate, camembert, etc) and choice
of salad veggies plus salty/tart cornichons and Sandwicherle's
incomparable Dijon mustard vinaigrette Additionally the larger
branch has an interior, with a kitchen enabling hot foods (quiches
and croques), plus A/C $-$$


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012










4 :..


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September 2012 Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


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.....


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September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com










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Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS


Le Boudoir Brickell
188 SE 12th Terr., 305-372-233
At this French bakery/cafe, mornings start seriously, with choices
ranging from quality cheese, charcuterle/pate, or smoked salmon
platters to chic Continental and complete American breakfasts At
lunch, generously salad-garnished, open-faced tartines are irresist-
ible But sophisticated salads and homemade soups make the
choice tough And do not skip dessert Superb sweets include rich
almond/fresh raspberry or properlytangy lemon tarts, traditional
Madeleines, airy layered mousses, and addictive mini-macaroon
sandwich cookies with daily-changing fillings $-$$
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
1W Flagler St, Suite 7, 305-789-9929
(See Midtown / Wynwood / Design District listing)
Little Lotus
25 N. Miami Ave. #107, 305-533-2700
Secreted inside the International Jewelry Exchange, this eatery
(owned by stealth super-foodle Sari Maharani -- paralegal by
day, restaurateur by night) is tough to find but seems destined
to become one of our town's toughest tables to book Two
talented chefs, whose credits include Morimoto (NYC) and
hometown fave Yakko-san, create Japanese, Indonesian, and
fusion small plates that look remarkably artful and taste like
they're about ready to take on Iron Chef Morimoto himself
Saucing, often with multiple but balanced potions, is especially
noteworthy The prices' A steal $-$$
LouLou Le Petit Bistro
638 S. Miami Ave., 305-379-1404
When Indochine's owner, Jacques Ardisson, closed hisAsian spot
to open this charming French eatery in the same space, it was
a return to his roots He and his daughter, for whom the place is
named, come from Nice You'll be transported, too, by dishes like
lamb shank with flageolets (known as the caviar of beans), duck leg
confit on a bed of mouthwatering green lentils from Le Puy, a clas-
sic moules/frites, a shared charcuterie platter with a bottle from the
sawy wine list, and, of course, salade nigoise $$-$$$
Martini 28
146 SE 1st Ave., 305-577-4414
This stylish little lunch-only spot, a labor of love from a
husband-wife chef team, serves what might well be the most
impressive meal deal in town From an ambitious, dally-chang-
ing menu of fare that's geographically eclectic but prepared
with solid classic technique, diners get a choice of about ten
entrees (substantial stuff like steak au polvre with Madeira
cream sauce and roasted potatoes, or pignolia-crusted salmon
with Dijon mustard sauce, potatoes, and veggies), plus soup or
salad and housemade dessert Forjust $999 Told ya $
Miami Art Caf6
364 SE 1st St., 305-374-5117
For businessfolk on the go, this breakfast/lunch-only French
cafe serves up evocative baguette sandwiches (like camembert)
loaded, if you like, with greens, olives, and more For those
with time to sit, we'd recommend the savory cr6pes, garnished
with perfectly dressed salad, or sweet crepe like the Bonne
Maman (whose sugar/salted butter stuffing brings Brittany to
downtown) And quiches are nicely custardy But there are sur-
prises here, too, includingjust a few full entrees, with correctly
made traditional sauces one wouldn't expect at a luncheonette
--except, perhaps, in Paris $-$$
Miami's Finest Caribbean Restaurant
236 NE 1st Ave., 305-381-9254
Originally from Jamaica, proprietor Miss Pat has been serving
her traditional homemade island specialties to downtown office
workers and college students since the early 1990s Most
popular item here might be the weekday lunch special of jerk
chicken with festival (sweet-fried cornmeal bread patties), but
even vegetarians are well served with dishes like a tofu, carrot,
and chayote curry All entrees come with rice and peas, fried
plantains, and salad, so no one leaves hungry $
Mint Leaf
1063 SE 1st Ave., 305-358-5050
Part of London's famous Woodlands Group, this stylish spot, like
its Coral Gables parent, serves the sort of upscale Indian food
rarely found outside Great Britain or India More interestingly, the
menu includes notjust the familiar northern Indian "Mughlal"
fare served in most of America's Indian restaurants, but refined
versions of south India's scrum ptious street food We've happily
assembled whole meals of the vegetarian chaat (snacks) alone
And dosal (lacy rice/lentil crepes rolled around fillings ranging
S from traditional onion/potato to lamb masala or spicy chicken)
are so addictive they oughta be illegal $$$-$$$$
Miss Yip Chinese Caf6
900 Biscayne Blvd., 305-358-0088
Fans of the South Beach original will find the decor different
Most notably, there's an outdoor lounge, and more generally
a nightclub atmosphere But the menu of Hong Kong-style
Chinese food, prepared by imported Chinese cooks, is familiar
Simple yet sophisticated Cantonese seafood dishes rock (try
S the lightly battered salt-and-pepper shrimp), as does orange
peel chicken, spicy/tangy rather than overly sweet And a
single two-course Peking duck (skin in crepes, stir-fried meat
and veggies with lettuce cups) makes mouthwatering finger
food, shared amongfriends $-$$$
Naoe
661 Brickell Key Dr., 305-947-6263
Chances are you've never had anything like the $85 prlx-fixe
Japanese dinners at chef Kevin Corys tiny but nationally
acclaimed oasis, transplanted from its original Sunny Isles
space with its supreme serenity intact By reservation only,
in two dinner seatings of just eight people each, and omak-
ase (chef's choice) only, meals include a seasonal soup, a
four-course bento box, eight pieces of sushi, and three des-
serts Cory personally does everything for you, even applying
the perfect amount of housemade artisan soy sauce mix
and fresh-grated wasabi to each mind-reelingly fresh nigirl
Few eating experiences on earth are more luxuriant $$$$$


neMesis Urban Bistro
1035 N. Miami Ave., 305-415-9911
Truly original restaurants are hard to find here, and harder
to describe in standard sound bites But they often are the
attention-grabbing people-magnets that spark revivals of iffy
neighborhoods Thats our prediction for this quirkily decorated
bistro, where the kitchen is helmed by Top Chef contestant
Micah Edelstein The intensely personal menu of creative dishes
inspired by her global travels (plus her fascination with unfamil-
iar ingredients) changes constantly, but scrumptious signatures
include South African smoked veal bobotle, and Peruvian pinoli
pancakes with housemade chicken/apple sausage, hibiscus
syrup, and maple granules $$$-$$$$
Novecento
1414 Brickell Ave., 305-403-0900
For those who think "Argentine cuisine" is a synonym for "beef
and more beef," this popular eatery's wide range of more
cosmopolitan contemporary Argentine fare will be a revelation
Classic parrilla-grilled steaks are here for traditionalists, but the
menu is dominated by creative Nuevo Latino items like a new-
style ceviche de chernia (lightly lime-marinated grouper with
jalapenos, basil, and the refreshing sweet counterpoint of water-
melon), or crab ravioli with creamy saffron sauce Especially
notable are the entree salads $$-$$$
Oceanaire Seafood Room
900 S. Miami Ave., 305-372-8862
With a dozen branches nationwide, Oceanaire May seem more
All-American seafood empire than Florida fish shack, but menus
vary significantly according to regional tastes and fish Here in
Miami, chef Sean Bernal supplements signature starters like lump
crab cakes with his own lightly marinated, Peruvian-style grouper
ceviche The daily-changing, 15-20 specimen seafood selection
includes local fish seldom seen on local menus pompano, parrot
fish, amberjack But even flown-in fish (and the raw bar's cold-
water oysters) are ultra-fresh $$$$
Ozzi Sushi
200 SE 1st St., 786-704-8003
Since its 1958 invention, conveyor-belt sushi has been the most
fun form of Japanese fast food, but problematic Who knew how
long plates had been circulating on the sushi-go-round9 Happily,
this sushi-boat spot avoids sanitation issues with clear plastic
covers, and as for freshness, low prices ensure a steady stream
of diners grabbing makis, nigir, and more as they float by
Highlights include glistening ikura (salmon roe) in a thin-sliced
cucumber cup, a sweet-sauced mango/guava/crab roll, and a
festively frosted strawberry Nutella dessert maki $-$$
Pasha's
1414 Brickell Ave., 305-416-5116
The original branch on Lincoln Road was instantly popular, and
the same healthy Middle Eastern fast food is served at sev-
eral newer outlets The prices are low enough that you might
suspect Pasha's was a tax write-off rather than a Harvard
Business School project, which it was by founders Antonio
Ellek and Nicolas Cortes Dishes range from falafel and gyros
to more unusual items like muhammara (tangy walnut spread)
and silky labneh yogurt cheese Everything from pitas to lemon-
ade is made fresh, from scratch, daily $-$$
Pega Grill
15 E. Flagler St., 305-808-6666
From Thanasios Barlos, a Greek native who formerly owned North
Beach's Arlston, this small spot is more casually contemporary
and less ethnic-kitschy in ambiance, but serves equally authentic,
full-flavored Greek food Mixed lamb/beef gyros (chicken is also
an option), topped with tangy yogurt sauce and wrapped, with
greens and tomatoes, in fat warm pita bread, are specialties But
even more irresistible is the taramasalata (particularly velvety and
light carp roe dip), available alone or on an olive/pita-garnished
mixed meze platter $$
Peoples Bar-B-Que
360 NW 8th St., 305-373-8080
Oak-smoked, falling-off-the-bone tender barbecued ribs
(enhanced with a secret sauce whose recipe goes back several
generations) are the main draw at this Overtown institution But
the chicken is also a winner, plus there's a full menu of soul
food entrees, including what many aficionados consider our
town's tastiest souse And it would be unthinkable to call it quits
without homemade sweet potato pie or banana pudding, plus a
bracing flop half iced tea, half lemonade $-$$
Perricone's
15 SE 10th St., 305-374-9449
Housed in a Revolutionary-era barn (moved from Vermont), this
market/cafe was one of the Brickell area's first gentrlfled ame-
nities At lunch chicken salad is a favorite, dinner's strong suit
is the pasta list, ranging from Grandma Jennie's old-fashioned
lasagna to chichi flocchi purses filled with fresh pear and gor-
gonzola And Sunday's $15 95 brunch buffet ($9 95 for kids)
- featuring an omelet station, waffles, smoked salmon and
bagels, salads, and more remains one of our town's most
civilized all-you-can-eat deals $$
Pieducks
1451 S. Miami Ave., 305-808-7888
If you can overlook a name as unenlightening as most in-jokes
(it evidently refers to a favorite character of owner Claudlo
Nunes's kids -- we assume the Pokemon Psyduck), you'll experi-
ence pretty perfect pizza Sadly. not all brick ovens turn out
perfectly char-blistered crusts, crisp outside and airy/chewy
inside, but that's what youII consistently find here and a newer
take-out/delivery-only Midtown branch And unlike many artisan
pizzerias, Pleducks doesn't get cheesy with cheese quantity
(though we like that extra cheese is an option) Elaborate salads
complete the menu $$
Pier 94
94 SE 1st St., 305-379-5652
Tucked into "The Village," a collection of courtyard eateries far
from any waterfront this ceviche bar specializes in fresh sea-
food dishes from chef/owner Alex Del Corral's native Peru, but


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com September 2012


Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012








Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS



also features famous Peruvian meat and poultry dishes (includ-
inga refined aji de gallina, chicken in aji pepper-spiced cream
sauce) Emphasis is particularly strong on Peru's penchant for
fusion food, including traditional Chifa (Chinese-Peruvian) rice
or noodle str-fries But the chef also fuses classic and create
influences Try contemporary causes, combining Peru's favorite
starch, potatoes, with unique new sauces $$

Prelude
Adrienne Arsht Center
1300 Biscayne Blvd., 305-949-6722
Though the opening of Barton G s elegant performing arts
center eatery did feature a live giraffe, the food's actually more
grown-up than at his original SoBe spot The concept is prlx
fixe Any three courses on the menu (meaning three entrees if
you want) for $39 Highlights include silky, tarragon-inflected
corn/bacon chowder, beautifully plated beef carpaccio with
horseradish/mustard and shallot olive oil dipping sauces, and
over-the-top playhouse desserts, one with a luscious creme
fralche ice cream pop $$$$

Raja's Indian Cuisine
33 NE 2nd Ave., 305-539-9551
Despite its small size and decor best described as "none,"
this place is an institution thanks to south Indian specialties
rarely found in Miami's basically north Indian restaurants The
steam-tabled curries are fine (and nicely priced), but be sure
to try the custom-made dosal (lacy rice crepes with a variety
of savory fillings) and uttapam, thicker pancakes, layered with
onions and chills, both served with sambar and chutney $$

The River Oyster Bar
650 S. Miami Ave., 305-530-1915
This casually cool jewel is a full-service seafood spot, as
evidenced by tempting menu selections like soft-shell crabs
with grilled vegetables, corn relish, and remoulade There are
even a few dishes to please meat-and-potatoes diners, like
short ribs with macaroni and cheese But oyster fans will find
it difficult to resist stuffing themselves silly on the unusually
large selection, especially since oysters are served both raw
and cooked fire-roasted with sofrito butter, chorizo, and
manchego There's also a thoughtful wine list and numerous
artisan beers on tap $$$

Rosa Mexicano
900 S. Miami Ave., 786-425-1001
This expansive indoor/outdoor space offers a dining experi-
ence that's haute in everything but price Few entrees top $20
The decor is both date-worthy and family-friendly festive but
not kitschy And nonsophisticates needn't fear, though nachos
aren't available, there is nothing scary about zarape de pato
(roast duck between freshly made, soft corn tortillas, topped
with yellow-and-habanero-pepper cream sauce), or Rosa's
signature guacamole en molcajete, made tableside A few
pomegranate margaritas ensure no worries $$$

Scalina
315 S. Biscayne Blvd., 305-789-9933
Comparisons between this new Tom Billante venture and the
other (slightly pricier) Italian eatery in the same building are
inevitable, especially considering similarities like key person-
nel from NYC's II Mullno, Mullno-style abundant free appetiz-
ers, and a power-dining crowd But why focus on competitive
nonsense when you can relax on the river-view terrace enjoy-
ing chef Enrico Giraldo's specialties, including an elaborate
take on Venice's famed fegato (calfs liver and onions),
upscaled with Lucanica sausage and a balsamic reduction
Or maybe an even more evocative Roman ice cream tartufo?
Manglal $$$$

Soi Asian Bistro
134 NE 2nd Ave., 305-523-3643
From the owners of Calle Ocho's hip Mr Yum and 2B Asian
Bistro, Sol sports similar casual-chic ambiance and eclectic
Thai/Japanese cuisine Traditional Thai curries and familiar
sushi rolls are prepared with solid skill and style But most
intriguing are new inventions adding Peruvian fusion flair to
the Asian mix, such as a spicy, tangy tangle of crisp-fried yellow
noodles with sauteed shrimp plus severed peppers and onions
-- mod mee krob, with jalea-like tart heat replacing the cloying
sweetness $$

Soya & Pomodoro
120 NE 1st St., 305-381-9511
Life is complicated Food should be simple That's owner
Armando Alfano's philosophy, which is stated above the
entry to his atmospheric downtown eatery And since it's
also the formula for the truest traditional Italian food (Alfano
hails from Pompeii), it's fitting that the menu is dominated
by authentically straightforward yet sophisticated Italian
entrees There are salads and sandwiches, too The most
enjoyable place to dine is the secret, open-air courtyard
Alfano serves dinner on Thursdays only to accompany local
musicians and artists $-$$

Sparky's Roadside Restaurant & Bar
204 NE 1st St., 305-377-2877
This cowboy-cute eatery's chefs/owners (one CIA-trained, both
BBQ fanatics nicknamed Sparky) eschew regional purism,
instead utilizing a hickory/apple-wood-stoked rotisserie smoker
to turn out their personalized style of slow-cooked, complexly
dry-rub fusion ribs, chopped pork, brisket, and chicken Diners
can customize their orders with mix-and-match housemade
sauces sweet/tangy tomato-based, Carolinas-inspired vinegar/
mustard, pan-Asian holsin with lemongrass and ginger, tropical
guava/habanero Authenticity aside, the quality of the food is
as good as much higher-priced barbecue outfits $-$$

Sushi Maki
1000 S. Miami Ave., 305-415-9779
Fans of the popular parent Sushi Maki in the Gables will find
many familiar favorites on this Brickell branch's menu But
the must-haves are some inventive new dishes introduced to
honor the eaters tenth anniversary- and Miami multicultur-
alism "sushi tacos" (fried gyoza skins with fusion fillings like


raw salmon, miso, chill-garlic sauce, and sour cream), three
tasty flash-marinated Asian/Latin tiraditos, addictive rock
shrimp tempura with creamy/spicy dip Also irresistible four
festive new sake cocktails $$-$$$

SuViche
49 SW 11th St., 305-960-7097
This small Japanese-Peruvian place serves food influenced by
each nation distinctly, plus intriguing fusion items with added
Caribbean touches Cooked entrees, all Peruvian, include an
elegant aji de gallina (walnut-garnished chicken and potatoes
in peppery cream sauce) But the emphasis is on contemporary
ceviches/tiraditos (those with velvety aji amarillo chill sauce
particularly), plus huge exotic sushi rolls, which get pretty wild
When was the last time you encountered a tempura-battered
tuna, avocado, and scallion maki topped with Peru's traditional
potato garnish, huancalna cheese sauce $$

Tobacco Road
626 S. Miami Ave., 305-374-1198
Prohibition-era speakeasy (reputedly a fave of Al Capone),
gay bar, strip club Previously all these, this gritty spot has
been best known since 1982 as a venue for live music,
primarily blues But it also offers food from lunchtime
to late night (on weekends till 4 00 a m ) The kitchen is
especially known for its chill, budget-priced steaks, and
burgers There's also surprisingly elegant fare, though, like a
Norwegian salmon club with lemon aloli A meat-smoker in
back turns out tasty ribs $$

Trapiche Room
1109 Brickell Ave., 305-329-3656
With multiple Marnott hotels in Brickell and downtown, one of
them housing high-profile db Bistro, its not surprising that this
small, second-floor restaurant is something of a "best kept
secret" But it deserves discovery Chef Maria Tobar hasn't Daniel
Boulud's fame, but she does have classic European-type techni-
cal skills, combined with contemporary creativity that turns even
ultimately old-fashioned items, like a pork/cabbage strudel, into
21st century fine-dining fare Both decor and service, similarly, are
swelegant, not stuffy, and the room's intimacy makes it a roman-
tic spot for special occasions $$$$

Tre Italian Bistro
270 E. Flagler St., 305-373-3303
"Bistro" actually sounds too Old World for this cool hangout,
from the owners of downtown old-timer La Loggia, but "resto-
lounge" sounds too glitzy Think of it as a neighborhood "bistro-
lounge The food is mostly modernized Italian, with Latin and
Asian accents a prosclutto-and-fig pizza with Brazilian catupiry
cheese, gnocchi served either as finger food (fried, with cala-
mata olive/truffle aloli), or plated with orange-ginger sauce But
there are tomato-sauced meatballs with rigawt for Grandpa
Vinnie, too $$-$$$

Truluck's Seafood, Steak, and Crabhouse
777 Brickell Ave., 305-579-0035
Compared to other restaurants with such an upscale power-
lunch/dinner setting, most prices are quite affordable here,
especially if you stick to the Miami Spice-priced date-dinner
menu, or happy hour, when seafood items like crab-cake
"sliders" are half price Most impressive, though, are seasonal
stone crabs (from Truluck's own fisheries, and way less expen-
sive than Joe's) and other seafood that, during several visits,
never tasted less than impeccably fresh, plus that greatest
of Miami restaurant rarities informed and gracious service
$$$-$$$$

Tuyo
415 NE 2nd St., 305-237-3200
Atop the revolutionary Miami Culinary Institute, this upscale
eatery, unlike the cafe downstairs, isn't student-run Rather
its designed to showcase school ideals -- including sustain-
ability as well as definitive Miami cuisine The changing menu,
from a culinary Dream Team headed by "New World Cuisine"
inventor/MCI instructor Norman Van Aken (plus former prote-
ges Jeffrey Brana and Travis Starwalt), mixes citrus-inflected
creamy conch chowder and other pioneering signatures with
new inventions like mind-reelingly multidimensional oyster pan
stew, or tartare of tuna and burstingly ripe tomato topped with
a delicate sous vide egg $$$$$

Waxy O'Connor's
690 SW 1st Ct., 786871-7660
While the menu of this casually craic (Gaelic for "fun") Irish
pub will be familiar to fans of the South Beach Waxy's, the
location is far superior -- on the Miami River, with waterfront
deck And none of Miami's Irish eateries offers as much
authentic traditional fare Especially evocative imported
oak-smoked Irish salmon with housemade brown bread, puff-
pastry-wrapped Irish sausage rolls, lunchtime's imported Irish
bacon or banger "butty" sandwiches on crusty baguettes,
served with hand-cut fries, the latter particularly terrific
dipped in Waxys curry sauce $$

Wok Town
119 SE 1st Ave., 305-371-9993
Judging from the takeout window, the minimalist decor (with
communal seating), and predominance of American veggies on
the menu, this Asian fast-food eatery, owned by Shal Ben-Ami
(a Miss Yip and Domo Japones veteran) May initially seem akin
to those airport Oriental steam tables Wrong Custom-cooked
by Chinese chefs, starters (like soy/garlic-coated edamame),
salads, and have-it-your-waystir-fries, fried rice, or noodle
bowls burst with bold, fresh flavor The proof a startlingly
savory miso beef salad, with sesame/ginger/scallion dressing
Bubble tea, tool $$

Zuma
270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, 305-577-0277
This Miami River restolounge has a London parent on San
Pellegrinos list of the world's best restaurants, and a similar
menu of world-class, Izakaya-style smallish plates (robata-
grilled items, sushi, much more) meant for sharing over
drinks Suffice to say that it would take maybe a dozen visits


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September 2012


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T 11.4VL,








Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS



to work your way through the voluminous menu, which offers
ample temptations for vegetarians as well as carnivores
Our favorite is the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly with yuzu/
mustard miso dip, but even the exquisitely-garnished tofu
rocks $$$$

Midtown / Wynwood / Design District
3 Chefs Chinese Restaurant
1800 Biscayne Blvd. #105, 305-373-2688
Until this eatery opened in late 2010, the solid Chinese
restaurants in this neighborhood could be counted on
the fingers of no hands So it's not surprising that most
people concentrate on Chinese and Chinese/American fare
The real surprise is the remarkably tasty, budget-priced,
Vietnamese fare Try pho, 12 varieties of full-flavored beef/
rice noodle soup (including our favorite, with well-done
flank steak and flash-cooked eye round) All can be custom-
ized with sprouts and fresh herbs Also impressive Noodle
combination plates with sauteed meats, salad, and spring
rolls $$

Adelita's Caf6
2699 Biscayne Blvd., 305-576-1262
From the street (which is actually NE 26th, not Biscayne) this
Honduran restaurant seems unpromising, but inside its bigger,
better, and busier than it looks Unlike many Latin American
eateries, this one sticks close to the source and proves a
crowd-pleaser On weekends especially, the dining rooms are
packed with families enjoying authentic fare like baleadas
(thick corn tacos), tajadas (Hondurass take on tostones), rich
meal-in-a-bowl soups packed with seafood or meat and veg-
gles, and more $
Basani's
3221 NE 2nd Ave., 786-925-0911
Despite this tiny place's modern decor, the family-run ambi-
ance and Italian-American comfort food evoke the neighbor-
hood red-sauce joints that were our favored hangouts growing
up in NJ's Sopranos territory And low prices make it possible
to hang out here frequently Pizzas with hand-tossed crusts,
not wood-oven but resembling honest bread, for less than fast
food pizzeria prices' Its an offer you don't refuse Don't refuse
garlic rolls, either, or sinful zeppole (fried dough) for dessert
There's more complex fare, like chicken a la Francese, too
And they deliver $$
Bengal
2010 Biscayne Blvd., 305-403-1976
At this Indian eatery the decor is cool and contemporary
muted gray and earth-tone walls, tasteful burgundy ban-
quettes And the menu touts "Modern Indian Cuisine" to match
the look Classicists, however, needn't worry America's favorite
familiar north Indian flavors are here, though dishes are gener-
ally more mildly spiced and presented with modern flair All
meats are certified halal, Islam's version of kosher which
doesn't mean that observant orthodox Jews can eat here, but
Muslims can $$$
Best Friends
4770 Biscayne Blvd., 786-439-3999
On a restaurant-starved stretch of Biscayne Boulevard, this
spot serves the same sort of simple but satisfying Italian fare
(antipasti, soups, salads, pizzas) as its older sibling, South
Miami's Blu Pizzeria, plus burgers The thin-crust, pliable piz-
zas, though lacking burn blisters, are brick-oven cooked, as are
"blues," unusual calzones (like the blu oceano, fatly filled with
mozzarella, prosciutto crudo, arugula, and fresh tomatoes)
Hefty half-pound burgers come similarly stuffed rather than
topped A sheltered patio and full bar make the place a pleas-
ant neighborhood lounge, too $$
Bin No. 18
1800 Biscayne Blvd., 786-235-7575
At this wine bar/cafe, the decor is a stylish mix of contempo-
rary (high loft ceilings) and Old World (tables made from wine
barrels) Cuisine is similarly geared to the area's smart new
residents creative sandwiches and salads at lunch, tapas
and larger internationally themed Spanish, Italian, or French
charcuterie platters at night Though the place is small and
family-run friendly, chef Alfredo Patino offers sophisticated
snacks like the figclutto arugula, gorgonzola dolce, caramel-
ized onions, pine nuts, fresh figs, and prosciutto Free parking
behind the building $$


Blue Piano
4600 NE 2nd Ave., 305-576-7919
The address suggests a street-corner location, but this casu-
ally cool wine bar/bistro is actually hidden midblock It's well
worth the hunt, thanks to the passionate, very personally
hands-on involvement of its four owners, whose individual
areas of expertise encompass food, wine, and live entertain-
ment, melding all seamlessly The music is muted, encourag-
ing conversation, wines are largely small-production gems,
sold at comparatively low mark-ups And the small-plates
menu features delectably different dishes like the McLuvvin',
a meld of savory Spanish sausage and chicharrones, topped
with a quail egg and chipotle cream -- supremely satisfying
$$
Buena Vista Bistro
4582 NE 2nd Ave., 305-456-5909
If a neighborhood eatery like this one which serves supreme-
ly satisfying bistro food were within walking distance of every
Miami resident, we'd be a helluva hip food town Like true
Parislan bistros, it's open continuously, every day, with prices
so low that you can drop in anytime for authentic rlllettes (a
rustic pate) with a crusty baguette, steak with from-scratch
frites, salmon atop ratatouille, or many changing blackboard
specials Portions are plentiful So is free parking $$
Buena Vista Deli
4590 NE 2nd Ave., 305-576-3945
At this casual cafe/bakery, co-owned by Buena Vista Bistro's
Claude Postel, the day starts in authentic French fashion, with
fresh breakfast breads, chocolate almond croissants, and
other delights At lunch cornichon-garnished baguette sand-
wiches (containing housemade pates, sinfully rich pork rllettes,
superb salami, and other charcuterie classics) are irresistible,
and a buttery-crusted, custardy quiche plus perfectly dressed
salad costs little more than a fast-food combo meal As for
Postel s homemade French sweets, if you grab the last Pars-
Brest, a praline butter-cream-filled puff pastry, we may have to
kill you $-$$
Cafeina
297 NW 23rd St., 305-438-0792
This elegantly comfortable multi-room indoor/outdoor venue is
described as an "art gallery/lounge," and some do comejust for
cocktails like the hefty cafe con leche martinis But don't over-
look chef Guily Booth's 12-item menu of very tasty tapas The
signature item is a trulyjumbo-lump crab cake with no discern-
able binder At one South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Martha
Stewart proclaimed it the best she'd ever had Our own prime
pick melt-in-your-mouth ginger sea bass anticuchos, so buttery-
rich we nearly passed out with pleasure $$
Catch Grill & Bar
1633 N. Bayshore Dr., 305-536-6414
A location within easy walking distance of the Arsht Center
for the Performing Arts, in the extensively renovated Marriott
Biscayne Bay, makes this casual-chic eatery, whose specialty
is local and sustainable seafood, a great option for pre-show
bites Then again, enjoying lures like sweet-glazed crispy
shrimp with friends on the outdoor, bayfront terrace is enter-
tainment enough Its worth calling to ask if the daily catch is
wreckfish, a sustainable local that tastes like a cross between
grouper and sea bass Bonus With validation, valet parking is
free $$$-$$$$
Cerviceria 100 Montaditos
3252 NE 1st Ave. #104, 305-921-4373
Student budget prices, indeed A first-grader's allowance
would cover a meal at this first U S branch of a popular
Spanish chain The 100 mini sandwiches (on crusty, olive
oil-drizzled baguettes) vary from $1 to $2 50, depending not
on ingredient quality but complexity A buck scores genuine
Serrano ham, while top-ticket fillings add imported Iberico
cheese, pulled pork, and tomato to the cured-ham slivers
Other options revolve around pates, smoked salmon, shrimp,
and similar elegant stuff There's cheap draft beer, too, plus
nonsandwich snacks $$
City Hall the Restaurant
2004 Biscayne Blvd., 305-764-3130
After 30+ years spent guiding other owners' restaurants to
success, Miami Spice program creator Steve Haas has opened
his own expansive, two-floor place, on a stretch of Biscayne
Boulevard that's suddenly looking fashionable The vibe is
a mix of power-dining destination and comfle neighborhood


hangout, and chef Tom Azar (ex-Emerl's) has designed a var-
ied menu to match Highlights an astonishingly thin/crunchy-
crusted pizza topped with duck confit, wild mushrooms, port
wine syrup, and subtly truffled bechamel, crispy calamari (rings
and legs) with light, lemony tomato emulsion, and tuna tartar
that is refreshingly free of sesame oil Big portions and a full
bar to boot $$-$$$$
The Cheese Course
3451 NE 1st Ave., 786-220-6681
Not so much a restaurant as an artisanal cheese shop with
complimentary prepared foods, this place's self-service cafe
component nevertheless became an instant hit Impeccable
ingredients and inspired combinations make even the simplest
salads and sandwiches unique -- like bacon and egg, elevated
by hand-crafted cream cheese, roasted red peppers, avocado,
and chipotle Mayo Cheese platters are exceptional, and
customized for flavor preference from mild to bold, and accom-
panied by appropriate fruits, veggies, nuts, olives, prepared
spreads, and breads $$
Clive's Caf6
2818 N. Miami Ave., 305-576-0277
Some still come for the inexpensive, hearty American breakfasts
and lunches that this homey hole-in-the-wall has served for more
than 30 years Since about 1990, though, when owner Pearline
Murray ("Ms Pearl" to regulars) and cook Gloria Chin began
emphasizing their native Jamaican specialties, the intensely
spiced grilled jerk chicken has been the main item here Other
favorites savory rice and pigeon peas, eye-opening onion/
vinegar-flavored escovitch fish, sweet plantains, and cabbage
that redefines the vegetable $
Crumb on Parchment
3930 NE 2nd Ave., 305-572-9444
Though located in a difficult spot (the Melin Building's central
atrium, invisible from the street), Michelle Bernstein's bakery/
cafe packs em in, partly due to Bernstein's mom Martha, who
makes irresistible old-school cakes German chocolate with
walnuts, lemon curd with buttercream frosting, more Lunch
fare includes inspired sandwiches like seared rare tuna with
spicy Asian pickles and klmchi aloli And for morning people,
the savory chicken sausage, melted cheddar, kale, and shallot
sandwich on challah will convince you that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day $-$$

The Daily Creative Food Co.
2001 Biscayne Blvd., 305-573-4535
While the food formula of this contemporary cafe is familiar
- sandwiches, salads, soups, breakfast food, and pastries,
plus coffee and fruit drinks a creative concept differentiates
the place Signature sandwiches are named after national
and local newspapers, including Biscayne Times, giving diners
something to chat about Sandwiches and salads can also
be do-it-yourself projects, with an unusually wide choice of
main ingredients, garnishes, breads, and condiments for the
creatively minded $
El Bajareque
278 NW 36th St., 305-576-5170
Dozens of little Latin American eateries, all looking almost
identically iffy, line 36th Street But this family-owned
"bajareque" (shack) is one where you definitely want to
stop for some of Miami's most tasty, and inexpensive,
Puerto Rican home cooking, from mondongo (an allegedly
hangover-curing soup) to mofongo, a plantain/chicharron
mash with varied toppings plus garlicky mojo Housemade
snacks are irresistible, too, and great take-out party fare
pork-studded pasteles, similar to Cuban tamals but with
a tuber rather than corn masa dough, or empanadas with
savory shrimp stuffing $
Egg & Dart
4029 N. Miami Ave., 786-431-1022
While co-owners Costa Grillas (from Maria's, a Coral Gables
staple) and Niko Theodorou (whose family members have sev-
eral Greek islands restaurants) describe their cuisine as "rustic
Greek," there is surprising sophistication in some dishes an
especially delicate taramasalata (cod roe dip), precisely crisp-
fried smelts (like a freshwater sardine), galactobourco, an
often heavy and cloyingly vanilla-saturated dessert, here cus-
tardy and enlivened by orange flavor Extensive lists of mezze
(snacks) and creative cocktails make the expansive, invitingly
decorated space ideal for large gatherings of friends who enjoy
sharing $$$


Egyptian Pizza Kitchen
Shops at Midtown Miami
Buena Vista Avenue, 305-571-9050
Pizza, pita -- hey, they're both flatbreads So while many piz-
zas do indeed, as this halal place's name suggests, have
initially weird-seeming Middle Eastern toppings, its really not
surprising that the Glza (topped with marinated lamb, feta,
olives, peppers, and pungently spiced cumin sauce) works at
least as well as Italian classics Additionally the menu includes
interesting Middle Eastern fare like foul, a hummus-like but
lighter Egyptian dish of favas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and
olive oil A brick oven makes both pizzas and homemade pitas
superior $$
18th Street Cafe
210 NE 18th St., 305-381-8006
Most seating in this cool, pioneering neighborhood cafe is in
a giant bay window, backed with banquettes, that makes the
small space feel expansive -- fitting, since the menu keeps
expanding, too Originally breakfast/lunch only, the cafe,
though closed weekends, now serves dinner till 10 00 p m,
with comfort food entrees like secret-recipe meatloaf joining
old favorites daily-changing homemade soups, varied burgers,
layered international salads, inspired sandwiches (like roast
beef and provolone with creamy horseradish) Beer and wine
is available, and now so is delivery $$
The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions
5132 Biscayne Blvd., 305-758-9559
At the Fed, expect what locals know to expect from sommelier/
chef team Anlece Melnhold and Cesar Zapata, whose previous
restaurant concepts have included Blue Piano (gourmetstoner
snacks) and Vietnamese pop-up Phuc Yea That is, expect the
unexpected The Fed is an updated tavern featuring creative,
from-scratch takes on traditional American regional dishes
flakySouthern biscuits with sausage gravy (and crisp-coated
sweetbreads, if desired), Northeastern-inspired "pig wings" (pork
drummettes with homemade Buffalo sauce, blue cheese mousse,
and pickled veggies) Desserts, from third partner Alejandro Ortiz,
include sinful sticky buns $$-$$$
Five Guys Famous Burger and Fries
Shops at Midtown Miami
Buena Vista Ave., 305-571-8341
No green-leaf faux health food here You get what the name
says, period, with three adds kosher dogs, veggie burgers, and
free peanuts while you walt Which you will, just a bit, since
burgers are made fresh upon order Available in double or
one-patty sizes, they're well-done but spurtingly juicy, and after
loading with your choice of free garnishes, even a "little" burger
makes a major meal Fries (regular or Cajun-spiced) are also
superior, hand-cut in-house from sourced potatoes $

Gigi
3470 N. Miami Ave., 305-573-1520
As befits its location in artful, working-class Wynwood, Gigl has
minimalist modern diner ambiance paired with truly creative
contemporary Asian-influenced comfort food from Top Chef
contender Jeff Mclnnis (formerly of the South Beach Ritz-
Carlton) at surprisingly low prices From a menu encompassing
noodle and rice bowls, steam-bun ssams, grilled goodies, and
raw items, highlights include pillowy-light roast pork-stuffed
buns, and possibly the world's best BLT, featuring Asian bun
"toast," thick pork belly slices rather than bacon, and house-
made pickles There's $2 beer, too $-$$
Harry's Pizzeria
3918 N. Miami Ave., 786-275-4963
In this humble space (formerly Pizza Volante) are many key
components from Michael's Genuine Food & Drink two blocks
east -- local/sustainable produce and artisan products, wood-
oven cooking, homemade everything (including the ketchup
accompanying crisp-outside, custardy-inside polenta fries, a
circa 1995 Michael Schwartz signature snack from Nemo)
Beautifully blistered, ultra-thin-crusted pizzas range from clas-
sic Margheritas to pies with house-smoked bacon, trugole (a
subtly flavorful -- fruity, not funky -- Alpine cheese), and other
unique toppings Rounding things out simple but ingenious
salads, ultimate zeppoles, and Florida craft beers $$

Hurricane Grill & Wings
Shops at Midtown Miami
Buena Vista Avenue, 305-576-7133
This Florida fast/casual chain became an instant hit in Midtown
Miami owing to a winning concept more than 35 heat-coded


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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012








Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS



sauces and dry rubs meant for custom-tossing with wings and
other things (including white-meat boneless wings," really wing-
shaped chicken breast pieces), accompanied by ranch or classic
blue-cheese dip and celery It would be silly to not pair your main
with garlic/herb-butter parmesan fries There are many other
items, too, including salads But hey, celery is salad, right? $$

Jean Paul's House
2426 NE 2nd Ave., 305-573-7373
Jean Paul Desmalson, original chef/co-owner of La
Cofradia in Coral Gables, has chosen a decidedly less tony,
more transitional neighborhood for this venture But inside
his renovated bungalow, ambiance is stylishly cozy, and the
creative contemporary North/South American fusion cuisine
is as elegant as ever Best bets are dishes influenced by
Desmalson's native Peru, including crispy pork belly braised in
pisco with silky sweet potato puree, and a beautifully balanced
nikkel (Japanese/Peruvian) salmon sashimi that does the
impossible tame leche de tigre, Peru's infamous tiger's milk"
marinade $$$-$$$$

Jimmy'z Kitchen
2700 N. Miami Ave. #5, 305-573-1505
No need to trek to South Beach for what many consider
Miami's best classic Puerto Rican mofongo (fried green plan-
tains mashed with fresh garlic, olive oil, and pork cracklings,
surrounded by chicken or shrimp in zesty criollo sauce) This
new location is bigger and better than the original, plus the
mofongo is served every day, notjust on weekends But don't
ignore the meal-size salads or high-quality sandwiches, includ-
ing a pressed tripleta containing roast pork, bacon, Black
Forest ham, provolone, and caramelized onions $$

Joey's Italian Caf6
2506 NW 2nd Ave., 305-438-0488
The first new restaurant in the Wynwood Cafe District, this styl-
ish indoor/outdoor Italian hangout is as casually cool as one
would hope and as affordable There's a five-buck half-serv-
ing of spaghetti al pomodoro and respectable vino for under
$30 And few can resist delicately thin, crunchy-crusted pizzas
like the creative Dolce e Piccante or orgasmic Carbonara
Pastas are fresh, produce is largely local, the mosaic-centered
decor is minimalist but inviting And no need to be wary of the
warehouse district at night Valet parking is free $$-$$$

La Latina
3509 NE 2nd Ave., 305-571-9655
At last, an authentic Venezuelan arepera (purveyor of home-
made arepas, with a variety of meat, cheese, and veggie
fillings) that isn't out in the boonies -- and decidedly isn't a
dive With colorful decor concocted from recycled objects, this
space, though small, has truly eclectic, Midtown style The
signature corn cakes, crisped outside and fluffy inside, put sod-
den supermarket specimens to shame And cachapas (softer,
sweeter corn pancakes folded around mozzarella-like fresh
cheese) or bollarepitas (cheese-stuffed deep-fried corn cakes,
with tangy nata dip) may be even tastier $-$$

La Provence
2200 Biscayne Blvd., 305-576-8002
(See Brickell / Downtown listing)

Latin Caf6 2000
2501 Biscayne Blvd., 305-576-3838
The menu is similar to that at many of our town's Latin cafes,
largely classic Cuban entrees and sandwiches, with a smat-
tering of touches from elsewhere in Latin America, such as
a Peruvian jalea mixta (marinated mixed seafood), or paella
Valenclana from Spain, which many Miami eateries consider a
Latin country Whatjustifies the new millennium moniker is the
more modern, yupplfled/yucafled ambiance, encouraged by an
expansive, rustic wooden deck $$

Lemoni Caf6
4600 NE 2nd Ave., 305-571-5080
The menu here reads like your standard sandwiches/
salads/starters primer What it doesn't convey is the fresh-
ness of the ingredients and the care that goes into their
use Entree-size salads range from an elegant spinach
(goat cheese, pears, walnuts, raisins) to chunky homemade
chicken salad on a bed of mixed greens Sandwiches (cold
baguette subs, hot pressed paninls, or wraps, all accom-
panied by side salads) include a respectable Cuban and
a veggie wrap with a deceptively rich-tasting light salad
cream $-$$


Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Shops at Midtown Miami
Buena Vista Avenue, 305-576-5463
Like its South Beach predecessor, this Lime was an instant
hit, as much for being a hip new Midtown hangout as for its
carefully crafted Tex-Mex food The concept is fast casual"
rather than fast food meaning nice enough for a night
out It also means ingredients are always fresh Seafood
tacos are about as exotic as the menu gets, but the mahl
mahl for fish tacos comes from a local supplier, and salsas
are housemade daily Niceties include low-carb tortillas and
many Mexican beers $

Lim6n y Sabor
3045 Biscayne Blvd., 786-431-5739
In this dramatically renovated space, the room is now light
and open, and the food is authentic Peruvian, with seafood
a specialty Portions are huge, prices low, quality high
Especially good are their versions of pescado a lo macho
(fish fillet topped with mixed seafood in a creamy, zesty
sauce), jalea (breaded and deep-fried fish, mixed seafood,
and yuca, topped with onion/pepper/lime salsa), and yuca
in hot yet fruity rocoto chill cream sauce $$

Lost & Found Saloon
185 NW 36th St., 305-576-1008
There's an artsy/alternative feel to this casual and friendly
Wynwood eatery, which, since opening as a weekday-only
breakfast and lunch joint in 2005, has grown with its neigh-
borhood It's now open for dinner six nights a week, serving
Southwestern-style fare at rock-bottom prices Dishes like
pinon and pepita-crusted salmon, chipotle-drizzled endive
stuffed with lump crab, or customizable tacos average $5-$8
Also available big breakfasts and salads, hearty soups, house-
made pastries like lemon-crusted wild berry pie, and a hip beer
and wine list $

Mandolin Aegean Bistro
4312 NE 2nd Ave., 305-576-6066
Inside this converted 1940s home's blue-and-white dining
room -- or even more atmospherically, its tree-sheltered garden
-- diners feast on authentic rustic fare from both Greece and
Turkey Make a meal of multinational mezes a Greek sampler
of creamy tzatzlki yogurt dip, smoky eggplant puree, and airy
tarama caviar spread, and a Turkish sampler of hummus, fava
puree, and rich tomato-walnut dip The meze of mussels in
lemony wine broth is, with Mandolin's fresh-baked flatbread,
almost a full meal in itself $$-$$$

Mercadito Midtown
3252 NE 1st Ave., 786-369-0423
Some people frequent this fashionable restolounge, festooned
with graffiti-style murals designed to evoke a bustling Mexican
street market, just for the dangerously smooth margaritas But
the main must-haves here are tacos, encased in a rarity genu-
inely made-from-scratch corn tortillas, small but fatly-stuffed
Of 11 varieties, our favorite is the carnitas (Juicy braised pork,
spicy chill de arbol slaw, toasted peanuts) A close second the
hongos, intensely flavorful hultlacoche and wild mushrooms,
with manchego and salsa verde -- a reminder that vegetarian
food need not be bland $$-$$$

Michael's Genuine Food and Drink
130 NE 40th St., 305-573-5550
An instant smash hit, this truly neighborhood-oriented res-
taurant from chef Michael Schwartz offers down-to-earth fun
food in a comfortable, casuallystylish indoor/outdoor setting
Fresh, organic ingredients are emphasized, but dishes range
from cutting-edge (crispy beef cheeks with whipped celeriac,
celery salad, and chocolate reduction) to simple comfort food
deviled eggs, homemade potato chips with pan-fried onion
dip, or a whole wood-roasted chicken There's also a broad
range of prices and portion sizes to encourage frequent visits
Michael's Genuine also features an eclectic, affordable wine
list and a full bar $$-$$$$

Ming Yuan
3006 NW 2nd Ave., 305-576-6466
What this tiny (three booths plus counter seats) Wynwood
place serves isn't authentic Chinese cuisine Its Chinese
immigrant cooking America's original Cantonese-based
chop sueys and egg foo young plus later, spicier but also
Americanized Szechuan/Hunan-inspired 1970s inventions
like Mongolian beef and General Tso's this-or-that But all
the above (ordered extra-spicy if you like heat), plus crab


rangoons and treat-packed special fried rice, are truly tasty
And since almost everything on the menu comes in several
sizes, with even small" being substantial, prices are unbeat-
able $-$$

Mike's at Venetia
555 NE 15th St., 9th floor, 305-374-5731
This family-owned Irish pub, on the pool deck of the Venetia
condo, for more than 15 years has been a popular lunch and
dinner hang-out for local journalists and others who appreciate
honest cheap eats and drinks Regulars know daily specials
are the way to go Depending on the day, fish, churrasco, or
roast turkey with all the trimmings are all prepared fresh Big
burgers and steak dinners are always good A limited late-night
menu provides pizza, wings, ribs, and salad till 3 00 a m $-$$

Morgans Restaurant
28 NE 29th St., 305-573-9678
Housed in a beautifully refurbished 1930s private home,
Morgans serves eclectic, sometimes internationally influenced
contemporary American cuisine compelling enough to attract
hordes Dishes are basically comfort food, but ultimate comfort
food the most custardy, fluffy French toast imaginable, shoe-
string frites that rival Belgium's best, mouthwatering maple-
basted bacon, miraculously terrific tofu (crisply panko-crusted
and apricot/soy-glazed), even a voluptuous grilled cheese
sandwich -- definitely a don't ask, don't tell your cardiologist"
item $$-$$$

NoVe Kitchen & Bar
1750 N. Bayshore Dr., 305-503-1000
At NoVe, the restolounge at the Opera Tower condo in NoVe
(new nickname for the bayfront neighborhood north of the
Venetian Causeway), the food is East-West Meaning you can
get burgers, pasta, and so on, or try the inventive Asian small
plates and sushi specialties Hiro Terada originated at his past
posts, Doraku and Moshl Moshl the Atlantis roll (tempura conch
with asparagus, avocado, scallions, and curry sauce), spicy,
crunchy fried tofu atop klmchi salad, much more Open 6 00
a m for breakfast to 3 00 a m, it is kid-friendly and dog-friendly,
too $$-$$$

Orange Caf6 + Art
2 NE 40th St., 305-571-4070
The paintings hanging in this tiny, glass-enclosed cafe are
for sale And for those who don't have thousands of dollars
to shell out for the local art on the walls, less than ten bucks
will get you art on a plate, including a Picasso chorizo, pro-
sclutto, manchego cheese, baby spinach, and basil on a crusty
baguette Other artfully named and crafted edibles include
salads, daily soups, several pastas (like the Matisse, fiocchi
pouches filled with pears and cheese), and house-baked
pastries $

Pasha's
3801 N. Miami Ave., 305-573-0201
(See Brickell/Downtown listing)

Pieducks
3500 N. Miami Ave., 305-576-5550
(See Brickell / Downtown listing)

Primo's
1717 N. Bayshore Dr., 305-371-9055
The Imposing, cavernous lobby of the Grand doesn't have that
do drop in" locals hangout vibe But this lively Italian spot is
actually a great addition to the neighborhood The pizzas alone -
brick-oven specimens with toppings ranging from classic pepper-
oni to prosclutto/arugula would be draw enough But pastas
also please diners' choice of starch, with mix-and-match sauces
and extras And the price is right, with few entrees topping $20
The capper Its open past midnight every day but Sunday $$

Primo Pizza Miami
3451 NE 1st Ave., 305-535-2555
Just a few years ago, chain pizza joints were dominant most
everywhere Today many places now offer authentic Italian or
delicate designer pizzas But a satisfying Brookyn-style street
slice? Fuhgedit Thankfully that's the speciality of this indoor/
outdoor pizzeria big slices with chewy crusts (made from
imported NY tap water) that aren't ultra-thin and crisp, but
flexible enough to fold lengthwise, and medium-thick -- sturdy
enough to support toppings applied with generous all-American
abandon Take-out warning Picking up a whole pie9 Better
bring the SUV, not the Morris Mini


Sakaya Kitchen
Shops at Midtown Miami, Buena Vista Avenue
305-576-8096
This chef-driven, fast-casual Asian eatery is more an izakaya
(in Japan, a pub with food) than a sakaya (sake shop) But why
quibble about words with so many more intriguing things to wrap
your mouth around? The concept takes on street-food favorites
from all over Asia, housemade daily from quality fresh ingredients
French Culinary Institute-trained Richard Hales does change his
menu, so we'd advise immediately grabbing some crispy Korean
chicken wings and Chinese-inspired, open-faced roast pork buns
with sweet chili sauce and homemade pickles $$

Sake Room
275 NE 18th St., 305-755-0122
Sake takes a back seat to sushi and sophisticated decor at
this small but sleek restolounge Among the seafood offerings, you
won'tfind exotica or local catches, but all the usual sushi/sashimi
favorites, though in more interesting form, thanks to sauces that
go beyond standard soy spicy srracha, garlic/ponzu oil, and
many more Especially recommended the yuzu hamachi roll, the
lobster tempura makl, and panko-coated spicy shrimp with hot-
and-sour Mayo and a salad $$-$$$

Salad Creations
2001 Biscayne Blvd., 305-576-5333
At this fast-casual restaurant, diners can enjoy a wide variety
ofchef-created salads and wraps, or go the DIY route, choosing
from one of four greens options, four dozen add-ons (fresh,
dried, or pickled veggies and fruits, plus cheeses and slightly
sinful pleasures like candied pecans or wonton strips), a protein
(seafood or poultry), and two dozen dressings, ranging from
classic (Thousand Island, bleu cheese) to creative contemporary
(spicy Asian peanut, cucumber wasabi, blueberry pomegranate)
Additionally, the place creates lovely catering platters, plus indi-
vidual lunchboxes -- perfect picnic or plane food $-$$

Salumeria 104
3451 NE 1st Ave. #104, 305-424-9588
In Italy, salumerlas started, like American delicatessens, as
shops selling saluml (cured meats), but evolved into the equiv-
alent of eat-in deli/restaurants that also serve cold and hot
prepared foods At this modern Midtown salumerla, the soups-
to-salads-to-sweets range of fare is the same Custom-sliced
imported cold cuts are a main focus, especially for those who
enjoy taste-testing a plate pairing Italy's two most famous pro-
sciuttos Parma and San Daniele But homemade pastas are
also impressive, as are hard-to-find regional entrees like fegato
alla Venezlana, which will turn liver-haters into lovers $$-$$$

Salsa Fiesta
2929 Biscayne Blvd., 305-400-8245
The first stateside offshoot of a popular Venezuelan mini
chain, this urban Mexican grill" serves health-conscious,
made-fresh-daily fare similar in concept to some fast-casual






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Biscayne Times www.BiscayneTimes.com


September 2012

































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Dining Guide: RESTAURANTS



competitors But there are indeed differences here, notably
pan-Latin options black beans as well as red, thin, delight-
fully crunchy tostones (available as a side or as the base
for a uniquely tasty take on normal nachos) Other pluses
include weekday happy hours with two-for-one beers -- and
free parking $-$$
S & S Diner
1757 NE 2nd Ave., 305-373-4291
Some things never change, or so it seems at this classic diner
Open since 1938, people still line up on Saturday mornings,
waiting for a seat at the counter and enormous breakfasts
corned beef hash or crab cakes and eggs with grits, fluffy
pancakes, homemade biscuits with gravy and Georgia sausage
- everything from oatmeal to eggs Benedict The lunch menu
is a roll call of the usual suspects, but most regulars ignore the
menu and go for the daily blackboard specials $-$$
Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill
3250 NE 1st Ave.,786-369-0353
This chic indoor/outdoor space is an offspring of Lincoln Road's
SushiSamba Dromo and a sibling of Sugarcane lounges in NYC
and Las Vegas, but more informal than the former and more
food-oriented than the latter, as three kitchens -- normal, raw
bar, and robata charcoal grill -- make clear Chef Timon Balloo's
LatAsian small plates range from subtle orange/fennel-marinat-
ed salmon crudo to intensely smoky-rich short ribs At the daily
happy hour, select dishes (like steamed pork buns with apple
klmchl) are discounted $$-$$$
Tapas y Tintos
3535 NE 2nd Ave., 305-392-0506
With about 50 different generously sized traditional tapas
plates, from simple (imported Spanish cheeses and cured
meats, varied croquetas, including beautifully smooth spinach)
to sophisticated (crisp-fried soft-shell crab with aloll dip, the
witty Popeye y Olivia, garlicky wine-sauced chickpeas with spin-
ach and olive oil) plus complex salads, paellas, and charbroiled
meat and seafood entrees, all add up to entertaining eating
even without this tapas/wine bar's live entertainment This
second T&T feels less nightclub and more neighborhood than
the South Beach original Great for dates, business lunches, or
very happy hours $$$
Tony Chan's Water Club
1717 N. Bayshore Dr., 305-374-8888
The decor at this upscale place, located in the Grand, looks too
glitzy to serve anything but politely Americanized Chinese food
But the American dumbing-down is minimal Many dishes are
far more authentic and skillfully prepared than those found
elsewhere in Miami, like delicate but flavorful yu pan quail
Moist sea bass fillet has a beautifully balanced topping of scal-
lion, ginger, cilantro, and subtly sweet/salty sauce And Peking
duck is served as three traditional courses crepe-wrapped
crispy skin, meat sauteed with crisp veggies, savory soup to
finish $$-$$$
Vintage Liquor & Wine Bar
3301 NE 1st Ave. #105, 305-514-0307
Gentrlfled ambiance, a remarkably knowledgeable staff,
and a hip stock (including global beers as well as liquor
and wine, plus gourmet packaged foods to accompany),
and self-service wine dispensers for sampling make this
an enjoyable retail shop A wine/cocktall/tapas bar, open
from 4 00 p m daily, makes it an enjoyable neighborhood
hangout, too Tapas include beef carpaccio, bruschetta
cones, varied salads and empanadas, a daily ceviche, and
fresh-made sandwiches And remember to ask about
special events karaoke Thursdays, monthly wine dinners,
tasting, more $-$$
Wine Vault Miami
Shops at Midtown Miami
Fountain Circle #105, 786-691-2000
From a Wine Vault press release Over 1300 square feet of
pure decadence" In fact, the soaring, two-story space, com-
plete with glass elevator, has a look that lives up to the hype
But the most decadent thing inside is a nibble from its tapas
list chocolate-covered bacon Go ahead and make a meal
of it We grown-ups can eat what we want More substantial
plates to accompany the roughly four dozen wines, artisan
beers, or cocktails include chorizo with new potatoes, and
sweetly piquant plquillo peppers stuffed with shredded tuna
Happy-hour wine prices are so low we'd better not mention
them $$-$$$
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
2550 NW 2nd Ave., 305-722-8959
The exterior is eye-popping enough, with murals from
world-famous outdoor artists, but it's the interior that
grabs you Colorful and exotic work by Shepard Fairey,
Christian Awe, and other acclaimed artists makes it one of
the most striking restaurant spaces anywhere As for food,
the original menu has been replaced with Spanish/Latin/
Mediterranean-inspired favorites from chef Miguel Agullar
(formerly of Alma de Cuba) gazpacho or black bean soups,
shredded chicken ropa vieja empanadas with cilantro
crema, grilled octopus skewers with tapenade, plus finger-
ling potato-chorizo hash and other seasonal farm-to-table
veg dishes $$-$$$

Upper Eastside
Andiamo
5600 Biscayne Blvd. 305-762-5751
With brick-oven pizzerias popping up all over town the past few
years, its difficult to remember the dark days when this part
of Mark Soyka's 55th Street Station complex was mainland
Miami's sole source of open-flame-cooked pies But the pizzas
still hold up against the newble pack, especially since exec
chef Frank Crupl has upped the ante with unique-to-Miami
offerings like a white (tomato-free) New Haven clam pie Also
available salads, panini, and a tasty meatball appetizer with
ricotta There's a respectable wine and beer list, too $$


Balans Biscayne
6789 Biscayne Blvd., 305-534-9191
It took longer than expected, but this Brit import's third Miami
venue finally opened, and rather quietly -- which has an
upside It's easier to get a table here (and to park, thanks to
the free lot on 68th Street) than at Lincoln Road or Brickell
This, along with the venue's relatively large, open-to-the-street
outdoor area, contributes to a more relaxed, neighborhood-
focused vibe The fun menu of global comfort food is the
same (ranging from a creamy-centered cheese souffle
through savory Asian potstickers and, at breakfast, fluffy
pecan/maple-garnished pancakes) and prepared as reliably
well $$-$$$
Blue Collar
6730 Biscayne Blvd., 305-756-0366
Like its predecessor in this space (Michael Bloise's
American Noodle Bar), this working-class-themed eatery is
helmed by a former fine-dining chef, Daniel Serfer, a Chef
Allen's vet who now crafts casual, creative fare at prices all
can afford Dishes are eclectic The roughly dozen veggie
dishes alone range from curried cauliflower puree to maduros
to bleu cheese roasted asparagus Shrimp and grits compete
with any in Charleston, pork and beans, topped with a per-
fectly runny fried egg, beats Boston's best $-$$
Boteco
916 NE 79th St., 305-757-7735
This strip of 79th Street is rapidly becoming a cool alt-
culture enclave thanks to inviting hangouts like this rustic
indoor/outdoor Brazilian restaurant and bar Especially
bustling on nights featuring live music, its even more fun
on Sunday, when the fenced backyard hosts an informal
fair and the menu includes Brazil's national dish, fejoada,
a savory stew of beans plus fresh and cured meats But
the everyday menu, ranging from unique, tapas-like pastels
to hefty Brazilian entrees, is also appealing and budget-
priced $$
Chef Creole
200 NW 54th St., 305-754-2223
Sparkling fresh Creole-style food is the star at chef/owner
Wilkinson Sejour's two tiny but popular establishments While
some meatier Haitian classics like grlot (fried pork chunks)
and oxtail stew are also available and a $3 99 roast chicken
special seafood is the specialty here crevette en sauce
(steamed shrimp with Creole butter sauce), lambi frl (perfectly
tenderized fried conch), poisson gros sel (local snapper in a
spicy butter sauce), garlic or Creole crabs The Miami branch
has outdoor tlkl-hut dining $-$$
DeVita's
7251 Biscayne Blvd.,
305-754-8282
This Italian/Argentine pizzeria, housed in a charming bun-
galow and featuring a breezy patio, covers multicultural
bases If the Old World Rucola pizza (a classic Margherita
topped with arugula, prosciutto, and shredded parmesan)
doesn't do the trick, the New World Especial (a Latin pie
with hearts of palm and boiled eggs)just might Also
available are pastas, salads, sandwiches, dinner entrees
(eggplant parmigiana with spaghetti, lomito steak with
Argentinean potato salad), and desserts (tiramisu or flan)
$
Dogma Grill
7030 Biscayne Blvd. 305-759-3433
Since Frankle and Priscilla Crupl took over this hot dog
stand, the menu has changed significantly, with some items
eliminated (any vegetarian hot dogs, salads, chichi toppings
like avocado) But choices have expanded to include new
dog choices (brats, Italian sausage, more) plus burgers and
other classic eastern U S regional urban street foods New
England lobster rolls, New Orleans po'boys, Jersey shore
cheese Taylors (pork roll), Baltimore crab cake sandwiches,
and naturally, Phillys of all sorts -- cheese steak and beyond
$-$$
East Side Pizza
731 NE 79th St., 305-758-5351
Minestrone, sure But a pizzeria menu with carrot ginger soup?
Similarly many Italian-American pizzerias offer entrees like spa-
ghetti and meatballs, but East Side also has pumpkin ravioli
in brown butter/sage sauce, wild mushroom ravioli, and other
surprisingly upscale choices, including imported Peroni beer
As for the pizza, they are classic pies, available whole or by the
slice, made with fresh plum tomato sauce and Grande mozza-
rella (considered the top American pizza cheese) Best seating
for eating is at the sheltered outdoor picnic tables $
Garden of Eatin'
136 NW 62nd St.,
305-754-8050
Housed in a yellow building that's nearly invisible from the
street, the Garden has the comfortable feel of a beach bar,
and generous servings of inexpensive Afro-Caribbean vegan
food Large or small plates, with salad and fried sweet plan-
tains (plus free soup for eat-in lunchers), are served for five or
seven bucks Also available are snacks like vegetarian blue
corn tacos, desserts like sweet potato pie, and a breakfast
menu featuring organic blueberry waffles with soy sausage
patties $
Go To Sushi
5140 Biscayne Blvd.,
305-759-0914
This friendly, family-run Japanese fast-food eatery offers
original surprises like the Caribbean roll (a festively green
parsley-coated maki stuffed with crispy fried shrimp, avocado,
sweet plantain, and spicy Mayo), or a wonderfully healthful
sesame-seasoned chicken soup with spinach, rice noodles,
and sizable slices of poultry Health ensured, you can the enjoy
a guiltless pig-out on Fireballs fried dumplings of chicken, cab-
bage, and egg, crusted with quills -- really a delectable crunchy
noodle mix $


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September 2012