South Florida is a place of sunshine, fresh produce and a healthy simple lifestyle. But once a year when Art Basel comes to town a darker more sinister climate descends upon the swamp like a heavy fog of doubt and dare i say debauchery and delirium.

The service was good and the views are unparalleled. As it is well off the main road, the water views are quiet, peaceful and are a good reminder of why the Keys are such a wonderful place to live (or visit).

Would I go back? In a heartbeat.

You’re a seasoned live painter. How do you prepare? Do you ever get nervous?

Painting is my passion. Usually I gesso my canvas to prepare for painting. Gesso is applied to smooth the surface in order to ensure an easy and level painting area. Once this is done, I like to sketch the general dimensions of whatever subject that I am painting. On two occasions in my art career I found myself nervous. The first time, I was painting for a charity event in front of about 60 people, and I could barely hold my brush. I was shaking so badly I had to stop and take a break. Thank goodness I had a friend to calm me down from the anxiety attack. The other time I was painting for an Art Nouveau event in West Palm, and the cure was a PBR and a few cigarettes. But overall, I find painting for an audience to be an engaging experience. The vibe is positive when you have great feedback, and the rush is rewarding.

Musicians’ union members plan to distribute leaflets at a concert Friday night in Fort Lauderdale of the South Florida Symphony to protest the struggling orchestra’s failure to pay musicians for previous concerts.

Jeffrey Apana, secretary-treasurer of Local 655 of the American Federation of Musicians, said the orchestra still owes musicians about $25,000 in wages and travel costs for concerts last season. He said the orchestra recently made payments to musicians of $200.

I hope that Sound Bite will be a notebook, a workshop and a conversation about food in South Florida. It’s where Nancy and I will share sights and sounds of food in South Florida and our collected scraps as we work on new projects. It’s also where we invite you to help us answer the question, “What does South Florida taste like?” and to share your thoughts, ideas and photos.

According to Soto he wanted to, in a public arena “break the barrier of how people set aside their own space.” When folks go to the beach, the towel is their real estate for the day. He said, “I wanted to subvert that with a big ass one that is for everybody. It’s everybody’s beach towel.”

In the end, though, EVA & ADELE identify foremost as living art, as suggested by their catchphrase: “Wherever we are is museum.”

The fact that wherever they are is often actually a museum is besides the point. EVA & ADELE are worth the price of admission.

It's got an old-world elegance about it, sort of the 1920s. At least, that's what I get from seeing the bar and the main dining room layout, a vison of designer Francois Frossard, the master artist behind Miami Beach's The Forge, Liv and Arkadia.

The list of failures is long: the administration failed to be more aggressive pushing for a stimulus, it failed to demand, much less get, an equity stake in the banks you and I paid to bail out, it failed to do anything at all meaningful to help underwater homeowners, and did next to nothing to punish anyone responsible for the financial debacle economically — much less criminally. Those are clear, real failures, they were not (with the possible exception of the stimulus which required Republican support that certainly could not have been guaranteed even with a more confrontational strategy) hard to foresee nor all that hard to prevent. Nor, unlike the underlying economic problem itself, are any of them things you can blame on George W. Bush.

That the GOP seems poised to choose its nominee between someone utterly unprincipled and someone crazy and dangerous as well as unprincipled, suggests Obama may be lucky. That luck may get him re-elected. It’s a certainty that if re-election happens, it won’t be because of his handling of the economic crisis.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Even the Losers



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12/06/2011

 

Head8k has been doing a nice job capturing some of the wall mural images [like the one above] that have been created around Wynwood for this year's Art Basel.

Make sure you check them out.


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12/06/2011

Being a Starbucks fan [and not being ashamed to say it], I was well aware that they underwent a logo change back at the beginning of the year. I've seen "The Siren" on their cups since then and I quite honestly didn't have any feelings towards it. But this past weekend I passed by one of my favorite Starbucks on  SW 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale and what did I see?

Gone are the familiar, block letters that spelled out the brand name. In their place was the above logo.

Wow.

I don't think I like it. There's nothing there that's says "coffee," literally or graphically, and I just don't have a mental connection between the product and this logo...yet.

Maybe it will grow on me, but for now I'm just not feeling it.

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A- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

B- South Florida Business Journal: No more Bally's.

LA Fitness has taken over the 13 Bally Total Fitness location left in South Florida.

Fitness International LLC, an affiliate of L.A. Fitness International LLC, struck a deal to acquire 171 Bally clubs for $153 million, which will leave Chicago-based Bally with 100 clubs. Bally has been downsizing in South Florida as it negotiated its way through Chapter 11.

C- CBS4: Bubba still packing them in.

CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Hundreds of people waited, some for hours, to see former President Bill Clinton who was in Coral Gables to sign his newest book. Some wanted to talk politics, but others just wanted the chance to meet the man who was once leader of the free world.

[...]

Thursday’s signing event was sold out, but even with a ticket people still started waiting in line at 10 a.m. for the afternoon event.

Even though Clinton was there to sell books, he couldn’t resist a question about the Republican presidential race.

“It looks like a process of elimination,” he said with a grin. “It looks like they keep bringing one up and knocking one down. “

D- CBS4: Video, a real ice rink at the Hotel Intercontinental.



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A- Food for Thought reveals Part Two of His Art Basel Dining Guide.

B- Artlurker explores Re-framing The Feminine, which is currently showing at The Girl's Club in Fort Lauderdale.

It appears that the female relationship to the camera – the woman and the machine – deserves a little historical revision and scholarly attention in light of the shifting voices of feminism. Re-Framing the Feminine is a concise survey of such a dialogue that deserves further exploration. It’s exemplary of the power of a simple survey exhibition to raise questions rather than offer watered down answers to monumental questions. However, instead of “re-framing,” it would be nice to see forthcoming explorations go beyond the frame, and back to the machine and how women command it both in front of and behind the lens[.]

C- Twenty new photos are up at The Street.

D- Go Hydrology! graphically looks at the disbursement of hurricanes over the last few years.

E- Bark Bark Woof Woof shows us how far the U.S. actually is when it comes to how much taxes we pay and how the Republicans just voted down another decrease for most Americans...yes, you heard that right.

F- The Reid Report posts a couple clips from last night's interview of Ginger White, the latest woman who claims a relationship with Herman Cain.


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A- Beached Miami explains what "MAM not PAM" is all about although I think the outrage is a bit selective.

B- Miamism provides a real estate report for some select Miami-Dade neighborhoods.

Although November was still a slow month for these neighborhoods, it showed an improvement from the exceptionally low sales in October. Each neighborhood is showing great signs including reduced number of houses and condos for sale, reduced number of distressed inventory, higher number of sales, increasing median sales and price per square foot. Some sellers are getting a false sense of security and are overpricing homes, but thankfully, we are not seeing a lot of this. The great news is that buyers with “low ball offers” are getting no where, time to realize that they need to pay market value to get into great neighborhoods.

C- Miami Beach 411 covers the FHP/City of Miami PD softball game in the Grove this past weekend and gets lots of photos that show it was all good.

D- Political Cortadito runs through the list of Hialeah employees who were allegedly rewarded or disciplined for who they supported during the recent election.

Some have been promoted. Others have been punished. But make no mistake about the changes going on at Hialeah City Hall and in the city police department: The political payback and retaliation has begun with employees who were involved in the city's mayoral and council elections last month. Those who supported and helped su alcaldito Carlos Hernandez are getting rewarded. Those who supported and helped former mayor Raul Martinez, who lost in a runoff Nov. 15, are the butt of the retribution. In Spanish, this is called un pasado de cuentas. In English, it's a settling of accounts.

E- Take a photographic peek into Miami's distant past with Brickell Life.

F- South Florida Lawyers seems to think being able to meet with a lawyer in a mall might be genius.

You're where your clients are -- at the mall, shopping of course -- but you're providing immediate help to real people with real legal problems.

And you're working.

Could be worse, right?

G- The Rusty Pelican is back in business after an expensive renovation, as Eater Miami explains.

Opening Monday just in time for its 40th birthday is Key Biscayne landmark The Rusty Pelican, which is rusty no more after a $7 million head to toe renovation that has modernized everything including the cuisine which is by chef Michael Gilligan, formerly of Solea.

H- Remember how Dolphin fans were calling for Sparano's head back when they were losing? Yeah, well, now that they have won a few, our [fair weather] fans are thinking twice...at PhinPhanatic.

This is no longer about wins and losses. This is about how the team plays and how they appear to be prepared. The Miami Dolphins are a different team than they were during that 0-7 opening stretch. Somehow, some way, this team found out to win football games. There are some fans and some in the media who will point to the talent, the guys on the field who make the plays, but any finger pointed at them, should also be pointed at the man running the show. Tony Sparano, like his team, is a completely different coach.

I- The lack of a public realm is what is wrong with Miami, says Eye on Miami as they look back at this year's Art Basel.

Somehow after all these years, the point is still lost on city and county leaders when it comes to the importance of the public realm to Miami-- our city is bankrupt because we surrendered common sense in knitting the urban landscape to real estate developers and their lobbyists/land use attorneys. Our chief features-- Biscayne Bay and the Miami River-- are virtually closed to the public. We turned our backs to those pots of gold. Instead we have a downtown that is empty as the streets at night as the sets of the "Walking Dead". If a city could express self-loathing, the way Miami ceded authority for the public realm is its pure expression.

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For some Tea Party members, like Babalu's George Moneo, Islamaphobe Cain reflected the core values near and dear to conservatism today. Here's Moneo after he returned from CPAC Florida less than 90 days ago...

Herman Cain: My favorite of the nine. Cain seems to understand the energy that exists in the Tea Party movement for a radical turnaround in the direction the country has taken in the last two-and-one-half years. He is a capitalist, through and through, and knows the business world. His "9-9-9" plan, while flawed, has me interested in learning more. (What's the flaw? It has to be passed with a cast-in-concrete assurance that any change to it would require a two-thirds or, preferably, a three-fourths Congressional majority to amend it. Otherwise, Congress will always have the opportunity to raise taxes again.) I heard him on Friday and he is an inspiring speaker who can energize a room with his message. I like his style and wager that he could more than hold his own against the teleprompter President. As a commenter mentioned here, "Herman Cain makes Obama look like a first grader." Indeed.

Like many from the Tea Party, Cain was the alternative to their first stringer...

Who is my preferred candidate? When asked by my fellow attendees on Friday I would tell them that my candidate, a mother of five from Wasilla, Alaska, had not announced her intention to run. I am sticking by my gut feeling that Sarah Palin is the last best hope we have to energize the conservative base of our party. She is the closest thing to Ronald Reagan we have as a spokesman for our principles. Like Marco Rubio, she is the real deal.

Unfortunately for the Tea Party and fortunately for this country, 80% of America doesn't subscribe to the same self-centered, loathsome and ultra-conservative beliefs as they do and what these folks are now witnessing is a dwindling of electable "real conservative" choices to choose from. So they're doing what any strong principled conservative does these days in a United States that doesn't like bigotry and the rich getting richer at the expense of the middle class...they're taking what they can get. Again, I present the committed and devoted George Moneo...

I'll vote for any of the above [9 Republicans], with the exception of Ron Paul and Gary Johnson, against Obama. I may not like the candidate, but our goal as conservatives, simply stated, is to defeat Obama in 2012. Period. We must do our best to ensure a presidential victory, a bigger majority in the House, and a filibuster-proof majority on the Senate. The last two will ensure, even if Obama gets reelected, that we put a stop to his ambitious socialist goals.

Turns out that the "principles" that Republicans claim to espouse to are about as absolute as Herman Cain's wedding vows.

Big surprise.



[Just a sidenote: Moneo and ultra rightists like him, WILL vote for Ron Paul and Gary Johnson if either one of them get the nomination. Guaran-effing-teed.]

[Just another sidenote: Speaking of principles, what happens to all those millions of dollars of campaign contributions that pizza lovers everywhere handed over?]

[OMG, seems like everyone has something to say about Republican principles, via Daily Kos.]

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A- Sun-Sentinel: Just about the time I'll be leaving.

A 13-mile stretch of Interstate 95 between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton may gain another lane in each direction in five years. But you'll likely have to pay to use it.

The Florida Department of Transportation has made it clear: If another lane is added to I-95, it's going to be tolled.

B- Sun-Sentinel: Deep pockets.

DALLAS— The newly branded Miami Marlins late Sunday added a big fish to their new tank.

Sources confirmed Mets free agent shortstop Jose Reyes, their top target this offseason, agreed to a six-year, $106 million contract, pending a physical. The deal is the richest in franchise history, eclipsing Hanley Ramirez's six-year, $70 million extension.

C- Sun-Sentinel: Getting old sucks.

MIAMI GARDENS— Former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula took part in a pregame and halftime ceremony in a wheelchair.

[...]

"My back is bothering me a little bit, and it's tough for me to stand for any long period of time," Shula said.

D- Sun-Sentinel: Tiger is back?

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — After going more than two years and 26 tournaments without a win, and after so much turmoil in his personal life and with his golf game, Tiger Woods stood over a 6-foot birdie putt Sunday to win the Chevron World Challenge and felt as though nothing had changed.

E- WPTV: God bless 'em.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The 8th annual Palm Beaches Marathon overtook Downtown West Palm Beach, Lake Worth and Lantana Sunday.

[...]

"It felt like my muscle was ripping off my bone," Brandon Mercado said after finishing the race just after 4 hours. "But I just didn't stop."

This race is Mercado's second marathon -- but for Harry Hoffman, this was the 200th.

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A- Shorter Obalesque...

Anorexia and bulimia are signs of a ballerina dedicated to her art.

B- Beached Miami shares their thoughts on yesterday's Dolphins win.

In the last five games, the Dolphins have four wins and have outscored the opposing team 139-54. This is amazing football. If a team plays like this in the NFL over the course of the season, they compete for the Super Bowl. But that’s the catch. The Dolphins lost the first seven games and then everyone gave up. The die hard fans were hoping to get a competitive quarterback in the next draft, but the Dolphins are doing there damndest to prove right all the cynics who keep saying they’ll end up with right tackle and 10 years of mediocrity.

C- Random Pixels finds a coffeehouse in North Miami worth visiting.

D- Bark Bark Woof Woof tells us about the lessons of Herman Cain.

The GOP and their enablers inside the Beltway should really wonder if they have a grip on reality when someone like Herman Cain -- even if only for a few weeks -- was atop the leader board in the GOP primary while other candidates with a lot more experience and insight such as Jon Huntsman or Gary Johnson languished at the bottom. It was like Pauly Shore being in the lead for an Oscar while Kenneth Branaugh couldn't get a notice. And if you were able to get Herman Cain to speak honestly about his real goals and why he went through all the trouble and exposure, he would probably confess that it was all about selling books and getting the attention that some people really crave. He was this year's Sarah Palin... remember her? And people wonder why most people are cynical about politics and the turn-out for elections wouldn't keep a mildly funny sit-com alive on the CW.

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A- Fans of Exit Through The Gift Shop will be interested to know that Mr. Brainwash made an appearance at Art Basel this year and The305.Com shows us some of his work.

B- PhinPhanatic shares their comments on today's Dolphins win.

The Dolphins played a complete game against a first place team, albeit an AFC West team that has struggled on and off this season and now find themselves tied with Denver for the lead. Still, Miami played solid offense that saw Reggie Bush top 100 yards and Daniel Thomas adding 73. Matt Moore completed 13 of 25 for 167 yards with a touchdown pass and added another on the ground.

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-via @coolmanolo


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A- Carlos Miller heads to Art Basel to provoke and actually winds up having a reasonable conversation with an official who asks him to stop taking photos.

And she even went as far as to hire security guards to stand in front of the exhibit, who have gotten physically confrontational with some people by grabbing their lenses, preventing them from taking the photo.

So naturally when I heard these stories, I decided to head out there and hope he would dare grab my lens. I don’t play that game.

B- South Florida Food and Wine chats with Darryl Moiles, Executive Chef at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach.

South Florida Food and Wine: What is your favorite dish to make at home?

Darryl Moiles: To be honest and she will hate me for saying so but my wife is such a great cook, I really love to eat what she prepares. Favorites of mine are her chicken enchiladas and her version ofstreet tacos, and she also makes a really good tikka masala. Every Holiday she prepares huge dinners with all the trimmings that are really phenomenal. She has several dishes that she makes for us and every time she tells me what she is making I am trying to figure out how to get home to get some. The best part is she always saves me some for me. Other wise if its me cooking I like just about anything, I love to cook over our fire pit from start to finish. it also helps keep the kitchen clean inside, so sort of a win win situation.

C- Coconut Grove Grapevine posts some images from yesterday's FHP-City of Miami softball game that was held in the Grove and you'll notice that there aren't any shots of the two teams together.

It was a nice afternoon, not too hot and they played at the shady end of the park. The departments are like family amongst themselves and you get that feeling when you hang out with them. It's a nice atmosphere.

D- Eye on Miami shares some of the art you'll see at Art Basel.


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A- The original Latin House Grill food truck is being retired, according to Burger Beast.

LHG2 will still be making its rounds around Miami so you can still get your fix. But, your days of catching up with Michell on the LHG machine are almost gone. A sad day indeed…..even though this one LHG window is closing, another will be open in a more permanent location soon from what I hear...

B- AshAndBurn meets Bunny Yeager.

I was entertained to find out how nice Bunny Yeaeger is in person. She put Miami Beach on the map well before Jackie Gleason did. As a matter of fact, she was was probably responsible for many industries, besides Miami Beach/FL tourism, that she is not credited for.

C- If you're looking for a $150K black ping pong table, NADA has one for you, according to Beached Miami.

NADA was one of my favorite fairs last year, and, while I didn’t enjoy it as much this time around, it was certainly worth the visit. One booth in particular that struck my fancy was the Cumulus Studios space in the back of the Richelieu Ballroom, which featured a black ping pong table (materials: aluminum, rubber, paint) by Tom Burr of New Haven, Conn.

D- Coconut Grove Grapevine posts some scenes from today's snow day in the Grove.

E- The Cuban Triangle looks at the Alan Gross case in Cuba and does not sound hopeful.

USAID should amend the warnings it issues about the risk to those who carry out its programs in Cuba. Something like: “If you are caught and convicted under Cuban law you will be on your own. Our priority will be to defend the program, not you.”

And we should all tell our kids that if they want to go into covert operations they should join the CIA, which works to recover its people when operations go sour.

F- Bark Bark Woof Woof gets himself an LCD TV.

After years of patiently waiting for an HD TV that was both the size I wanted and the price I could afford, I got one. And after a series of e-mails with my brother, who is the master of all things electronic, I got a Samsung 32" LCD. Nothing fancy, but seeing as how the last time I bought a new TV Bill Clinton was president, I think my patience was rewarded with a very good picture and Dolby stereo sound.

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Shop locally this holiday season
12/06/2011

When you start making your holiday gift list this year, think local! West Volusia has loads of delightful shops, galleries and markets that sell high-quality products grown, crafted and manufactured locally. Buying local has another benefit. Your money stays in West Volusia, helping the local econo ...

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If it’s Christmas, there must be citrus
12/06/2011

It’s been nearly a year since the freezing temperatures of December 2010. While most Volusians dealt with the cold by adding blankets and upping their thermostats, local farmers were challenged to save their livelihoods. Thanks to the growers’ hardy temperaments, and some even hardier trees, it? ...

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