2009.09.30

Music p. 16

Art p. 14

Vol. XXIV No.40 September 30, 2009 Visit us at www.miamisunpost.com

The Story Matters

411 p. 18

Calendar: p. 14Oktoberfest, Third Eye Blind, Salsa, Psycho, Munchies, and AreYou Ready for Some Football?

POLITICAL PLAYOFFSMiami Beach Commission Candidates Get Ready to Run page 10

M AY H E M P. 4 P R O F I L E P. 6 H I S T O RY P. 8 4 1 1 P. 1 8 B O U N D P. 2 0 P O TAT I O N P. 2 2 F O O D P. 2 4 A R T P. 2 4

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• Thursday, September 30, 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com

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1248 WASHINGTON AVE, MIAMI BEACH, FL 305.534.7824

SOUTH FLORIDA’S BEST IRISH PUB

HAPPY HOUR MONDAY - FRIDAY 4-7PM

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LIVE BANDS, BILLIARDS, RUGBY, SOCCER, FOOTBALL & UFC

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www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost •September 30, 2009 •

YEARS. THE TIME PERIOD THAT SWEDISH

RESEARCHERS DID A LONGITUDINAL

STUDY THAT FOLLOWED 14,000 CHIL-DREN BORN IN 1953 UNTIL THE YEAR

2003 AND THEIR LEVELS OF POPULARITY.THE RESULTS FOUND THAT POPULARITY

AS A TEENAGER CAN AFFECT LONG-TERM

HEALTH. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT THOSE

WHO REPORTED LOWER LEVELS OF SO-CIAL STATUS IN ADOLESCENCE WERE AT A

HIGHER RISK FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS AS

AN ADULT.

“I'm not offended by all thedumb-blonde jokes because Iknow that I'm not dumb. Ialso know I'm not blonde.” ~ Dolly Parton

Tropical MayhemBITS AND PIECES OF MIAMI LIFE

Animation SuperconIf animation is your thing, then check out the grand daddy of ani-mation-fests, Animation Supercon. Hang out with other Animationlovers and stick around for the super duper Futurama cast reunion. Alsorub elbows with the stars of Ren and Stimpy, Looney Tunes, Gears ofWar, Final Fantasy, Transformers, Family Guy, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mu-tant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons and more! Prizes, contests, livemusic, photo shots, and parties. The extravaganza takes place atthe Doubletree Miami, 711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami. Sat, and Sun. from11-2am. For info: animationsupercon.com.

HANNAH & HER SCISSORSOne of the original South Beach pioneers,

Hannah Lasky of Hannah & Her Scissors was

one of the first people to open a hair salon on

Lincoln Road way back when. Lincoln Road

was nothing but artist studios a few thrift

shops and a killer Cuban restaurant or two.

Hannah still has the pioneer spirit, because

she has just opened a swanky new salon, in a

quaint house off Biscayne Blvd on NE 86th

Street. For an appointment call

305.772.8426 or hannahandherscissors.com


30�


Whether Edison is listening to pop, rock, hip-hop or Broadway musicals, or jamming in a club to R&Btunes, Edison sure knows how to promote a party.

Edison has promoted gay nightlife in Miami for more than seven years and currently promotes three weeklyevents as well as concerts and comedy shows. “Every Tuesday night, I have Martini Tuesdays, which meets at adifferent venue every week — Halo, China Grill, Sagamore Hotel, Raleigh Hotel, Townhouse Hotel, NationalHotel, etc.

I describe this as a night for gay professionals,” he said. “Thursday nights, I promote TheSimple Life at Buck15 lounge. Drag queen Daisy D DJs and drag diva Chyna is at the door. Fridays, I promote Happy Hour at Halofrom 4 to 9 p.m. with half price drinks and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.”

PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY YOU SHOULD KNOW

Edison FarrowNightlife PromoterBy Mariana Beczkowski

Edison grew up in New York and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and HB Studios.For 17 years, he was involved in acting and the performing arts. He became a promoter completely by accident.

“I wanted to start a small weekly gathering for about 10 friends,” he said. “The concept was that we wouldmeet once a week at a chic hotel for martinis. But the event grew quickly. By the fifth week, 100 people were com-ing to the event. Now, seven years later, there are over 5,000 people on the e-mail list.”

What’s next for the man who puts his heart and soul into all of his events? Edison said he plans to start amonthly Sunday Tea Dance at Opium Garden reminiscent of South Beach’s old tea dances.

“I really listen to what people suggest and want and try to fill the need,” he said. “I always try to come withnew ideas and launch new nights that have never been done before.”

PHOTO: ETIAN KLEIN

www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • Thursday, September 30, 2009 •

The history of Miami-Dade (formerly Dade) County has been "a veryspecial moment in time" and a brief look at the beginnings of this in-credible place takes us back to that terrible December day in 1835 whenU.S. Army Cavalry Maj. Francis Langhorne Dade, leading a troop of menalong a trail on the west coast of Florida near Bushnell, was ambushed bythe Seminoles, killing the major and all but three of his company duringthe Second Seminole War.

On Jan. 18, 1836, under the Territorial Act of the United States, the ter-ritorial Legislature of Florida created a county that stretched from IndianKey in the Florida Keys north to just north of Stuart, now the county seatof Martin County. To honor the fallen Major Dade, the county was givenhis name.

Dade County began to shrink as early as 1866, when the Florida Keysfrom Key Largo to Bahia Honda were returned to Monroe County. In 1909Palm Beach County, including today's Martin County (which was sepa-rated from Palm Beach County in 1925), was created and in 1915Broward County, named for Gov. Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, was sep-arated from Dade County. There have been no significant boundarychanges to Dade since then.

The county seat moved fairly frequently in the years prior to the 20thcentury, the original location being at Indian Key. In 1844 it appears thatthe seat was moved to Fort Dallas, the Indian wars post in the area of whatin 1896 would become Miami. In 1888, with Juno being more heavilypopulated than Miami, the county seat was moved north to that point butby 1899, with Miami having become well larger than Juno, the seat re-turned. For some years it appears to have been situated at Biscayne, which,in 1932, would

become the incorporated village of Miami Shores.The richness and depth of Miami-Dade's history have given rise to, lit-

erally, hundreds of books and booklets and thousands of articles on, ofand about the county and its cities. In addition, the booklets, brochuresand other publications of both governments and private businesses haveadded to the great panorama of history of the area and the region.

Interestingly, though, it should be noted that, at this point, the earliestknown marked (identified as being from) Dade County piece or item isthe 1878 Revenue (tax) Collectors book, which, somehow, wound up inthe attic of an early Biscayne (Miami Shores) home and, through a seriesof fortunate happenstances, found its way into The Bramson Archive.

In this book, now 131 years old and acknowledged by both the Miami-Dade Public Library Florida Collection and the Historical Museum ofSouthern Florida as the oldest known and marked Dade County piece,we find the names of pioneers such as the Hunts, Gleasons (NOT Jackie!),Sturtevants (the parents of Julia Tuttle) and William and Mary Brickell, andwe learn that the total tax collection from the 40 or so families who thenlived in the county was about $3,600!

But how was this one book saved? And where are the books from be-fore and after that date?

Sadly and unhappily, it appears no others have survived, but here is“the rub”: Each of the few counties in Florida at that time, beginning atan unknown date, but likely following the Civil War, was required to maketwo copies of the Revenue Collectors Book, one to be maintained and

kept by the county, the other to be sent to Tallahassee.Apparently that routine was followed for many years, possi-

bly well more than a hundred, but with the advent of comput-ers and file cards, the use of the books was discontinued.Unhappily, as has been reported to us, the books sent to thestate comptroller were stored for many years in one of the cav-ernous warehouses maintained by the State of Florida while thecounties were expected to safely preserve their copies.

Over the years, while the state did have its copies at hand,the counties — given hurricanes, building of new courthouses,fires, disinterest by government employees and other factors —appear to have discarded almost all of the books. Apparently,sometime between 1999 and 2001, the books were discoveredin a long-closed room in one of the aforementioned ware-houses.

Sadly to report, while the information was, we have been told,microfiched or copied in some manner, the state, failing to ei-ther recognize or understand the value or importance of theoriginal books, decided that, the information having beencopied, the books could be disposed of. And they were. By fire.

Besides being confirmed as the oldest marked piece of DadeCounty memorabilia in existence, it is also possible that the 1878book now in The Bramson Archive may be the only Dade Countyhandwritten Revenue Collector's book to have survived.

It was, indeed, a very special moment in time.Next issue: A mangrove island sandbar off the coast of

southeast Florida is discovered in 1870 and purchased for...35 cents an acre!

COLUMN

A Very Special Moment in TimeBy Seth H. [email protected]

History


www.miamisunpost.com • The SunPost • September 30, 2009 •

Financial and government leaders allagree that small business is the lifeblood ofthe American economy, providing more thanhalf of all private sector jobs � and nowhereis that more true than in Miami Dade.

Yet while local contractors in the build-ing trades, small retailers, restaurants andprofessionals of all kinds are being squeezedlike never before in our crippled economy,most of the U.S. government relief is flowingto the giants of corporate America.

With Miami-Dade�s small businessesstruggling to control their expenses whilethey wait out the return of better times, At-lantic Broadband is launching a very timelynew package of communications servicesthat will save them serious money to helpthem weather the economic storm.

Atlantic Broadband�s new business-classservices provide all the features necessary forthe vast majority of offices and small com-panies, beginning at $79.95 a month for apackage of unlimited local and long-distancephone service and broadband-speed Internet.

The phone company competition, whoseservices aimed at small business have suf-fered from benign neglect for years, chargesnearly that much for just one-line businessphone service, not including long distance orInternet. Hundreds of dollars more in yearlysavings over the competition area availableon more full-featured Atlantic Broadbandphone/Internet packages.

�For the first time, we are offering an ex-tremely cost-effective alternative for smallbusinesses such as doctors� and dentists� of-fices; law, accounting and insurance firms;restaurants; small retailers; building, plumb-ing and electrical contractors; and local non-profit organizations, said Mary Hughes,Atlantic Broadband Director of CommercialDevelopment.

�And, Atlantic Broadband makes choos-ing and configuring a business plan simple �a huge advantage over the complex serviceoptions and complicated bills of the phonecompany, Hughes said.

Among the features of Atlantic Broad-band Business Service:

• Support for up to eight phone lines.• 20 business-focused advanced features

at no extra cost, including receptionist-friendly call hold, transfer, line hunt and user-defined extension dialing; as well as optionalvoice mail.

• Direct connection to existing stan-dards-compatible phones, faxes and creditcard machines; plus hassle-free switchoversthat retain existing phone numbers.

• Next-generation tools, including anOnline Phone Manager that delivers un-precedented on-premises and remote controlof the system, including voice mail settingsand viewing, and instant re-routing/forward-ing.

• Attractive upgrade/replacement pro-grams for outmoded T1 lines; as well as in-flexible, failure-prone proprietary phonesystems.

• of calls in the event of electricity out-ages.

• The business-class reliability born of de-livering 70 million calls just last month alone,plus 24/7 technical support and personalizedservice through dedicated account execu-tives.

• High-speed broadband Internet serviceat 3 or 8 megabits per second, with fasterspeeds to come; plus money-savingphone/Internet service packages.

• Only a one-year commitment, versusthe three-year contract required to get thephone company �s best rates.

Single-line, one-year phone/Internet dis-count packages, including unlimited local andlong-distance calling �including Canada andPuerto Rico�, plus a free voice mail box andphone modem, start at $79.95 with basic 3Mb Internet service, and $94.95 with basic 8Mb Internet Service. Additional businesslines, up to a total of eight, are $44.95 permonth, little more than half the competi-tion�s price.

Atlantic Broadband also offers an evenless expensive business phone plan, which in-cludes unlimited local calling plus long dis-tance at flat rate of 5 cents per minute.

Discount package savings are open toboth existing and new business customers.More information is available by calling 305-861-8069 x3903.

Atlantic Broadband serves 98,000 cus-tomers in Miami Beach, Aventura, Bal Har-bour Islands, Golden Beach, North BayVillage, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, SouthMiami, Pinecrest, and unincorporated por-tions of Miami Dade County.

Providing Badly Needed Relieffor Miami-area Small Business

FEATURE

“It was very emotional for me, people were so warm and everyone was having such a wonderful time.

It’s amazing that something which required so little effort could make so many people so happy.”

- Mayor Matti Bower on the Gay Pride Parade

‘Tis the season when Miami Beach residents are summoned to take

part in that Democratic process relied upon to keep government work-

ing for the people. Three Commission seats, one from each group, and

the Mayor’s post are in contest for 2009. Hopefully, this latest election

can ride on whatever is left of 2008’s stratospheric political frenzy to at-

tract more than 23% of the city’s registered voters to the polls, which is

about all who showed up in 2007.

Indeed, based on the current socioeconomic conditions and

the number of candidates who have tossed their hats into the ring, signs

are good that this cycle will be much more dynamic, significant and at-

tention-grabbing than was its predecessor.

MAYOR:

LAURA RIVERO LEVY: As a mother of five, it’s no surprise that

a cause near to Laura Rivero Levy’s heart is education. She herself is a

graduate of local schools and has been an active PTA member for the

better part of decades. Currently, she is involved with Miami Beach Sen-

ior High School’s new marine biology magnet to develop their diving club

and also study the effects of ozone depletion on native mangroves. While

she praises programs like the International Baccalaureate Program that

is being instituted at the school, she feels there is always more that can

be offered to students to best prepare them for successful and produc-

tive futures.

A longtime participant in the American Jewish Committee, Levy

says she has developed the ability to bring people together for the pur-

pose of protecting human rights and raising the quality of life for people

in other countries. She and her family have hosted dignitaries from var-

ious places, including Haiti, Czechoslovakia and Poland so they may ob-

serve practices of American municipal government and return home to

implement what they learned for the advancement of their own systems.

As an aspiring politician as well as a concerned citizen, Levy be-

lieves it is of utmost importance that officials diligently avoid increasing

taxes, which are high already, in this trying economy to pay off the cur-

rent deficit. She asserts that, if elected, she will have a bird’s eye view

of exactly how money is spent so that she can combat waste and misuse

of funds effectively. Furthermore, as mayor, she will access and utilize

the community’s best minds to develop strategies that will keep Miami

Beach the clean and happy paradise that, to her, it has always been.

RAPHAEL HERMAN: Having lived in Miami Beach for nearly 50

years, Herman believes he knows the city like no other candidate in the

race. He attests that he had a great role in Miami Beach’s grand revival

in the 1980s, helping to bring it back from the troubles which had be-

leaguered it during those past times. He says he would do it all over

again if given the chance.

MATTI HERRERA BOWER: Running for her second term as

Mayor of Miami Beach, Mayor Bower looks back and feels a sense of

accomplishment concerning what has transpired throughout her first

two years. For one, under her administration came the creation of

TRAC, the Transparency, Reliability and Accountability Committee. It

was established to examine the city’s policies and procedures regard-

ing the ease of public access to information. TRAC reviews the city’s

system of internal controls and makes recommendations to the mayor

about measures that could enhance transparency within the govern-

ment. Particular attention is paid to evaluating web-based applications

which can streamline access to numerous departments in the city, such

as the one controlling building permits and inspections.

Please see Playoff on page 12

POLITICAL PLAYOFFS Miami Beach Commission Candidates Get Ready to Run

Written by Paula [email protected]

Currently, she is involved with the county in the Miami Beach Con-

vention Center Initiative. In this ongoing process, she sees forward

movement in the effort to bring the center up to par so it can continue

to be an economic force for both Miami Beach itself and the whole of

Miami-Dade.

Perhaps an achievement that means the most to her personally

is the reinstitution of Gay Pride on Miami Beach this past year with the

first ever Inaugural Parade last April. Though not directly responsible

for the event’s organization, she was indeed the governing force who fa-

cilitated its existence. “It was very emotional for me,” she states. “Peo-

ple were so warm and everyone was having such a wonderful time. It’s

amazing that something which required so little effort could make so

many people so happy. I’ve been to many parades, but this one was dif-

ferent.”

Bower was honored at the parade in appreciation for her at-

tention to the concerns of Miami Beach’s GLBT community. She over-

saw creation of the Gay Business Development Ad Hoc Committee whose

mission it is to implement city-supported initiatives regarding an array

of issues central to the identity and welfare of GLBT residents and busi-

ness people on Miami Beach, as well as visitors to the city.

COMMISSION GROUP 1:This is the only Commission race with an incumbent running for

re-election.

ODUARDO SEGUI: A self-described simple family man,

Oduardo Segui is challenging incumbent Jerry Libin in his first political

campaign. Job creation and solving Miami Beach’s consistent homeless

problem are among his greatest concerns. The former, he believes, is

a crisis mostly neglected by officials and police.

“Within the entire city government, there are only a few people

whose job is to tend to the homeless.” Given Miami Beach’s economic

identity as an international tourism capital, it’s inconceivable to Segui

how this issue can be overlooked. “With all we have, we need to do

more for these people,” he says, even if it is just to make sure they have

a meal and a bed for the night. “Of course, we can’t force them into help

they don’t want, but we can enforce the laws that are on the books, like

the one making it illegal to sleep in doorways. It’s not something that

people here spending money and trying to enjoy a vacation should see

around them.”

As far as creating jobs, Segui has the idea that local businesses

should come together periodically to hold a collective job fair; thereby

making it easier for area residents and job-seekers to network and pres-

ent themselves to potential employers. “Even if it just begins by hap-

pening once or twice a year,” he states, “it’s a start.” Segui also believes

that elected officials need to stop seeing themselves as part-timers and

think of their posts as full-time jobs, regardless of compensation. “They

know the pay when they run for office.”

JERRY LIBBIN: The Commissioner from Group I would like to

thank voters for the chance to serve them over the past four years.

Through that time, he says, he has been extremely active on various proj-

ects which he proposed during his last campaign and has had a great op-

portunity to immerse himself in the community, listening and responding

to residents’ needs. One way he has been “bringing government closer

to the people” is with a program called “Coffee with the Commissioner”.

Every 6-8 weeks, he visits a local venue and invites the public to join

him for some conversation, giving them a forum to voice their ideas and

concerns to a public official without having to make their way down to

City Hall and set an appointment.

A major cause for Commissioner Libbin came about when he

learned of a state law that provides a loophole for banks to avoid pay-

ing association fees past a six-month period on condo units that have

being foreclosed. As banks circumvent the charges and allow the fore-

closure process to drag on, the costs are passed to the buildings’ other

paying unit owners as special assessments. Though the state legislature

has heretofore done nothing to repeal the unfair ruling, Libbin vows that

in his next term, if elected, he will continue the fight until the law is over-

turned.

Green improvements have also been high on Commissioner Lib-

bin’s to-do list. Besides working on an energy-efficiency program to

modify wasteful consumption in city buildings, he has recently spon-

sored a “No Litter, No Butts” Walk to bring awareness to the scourge of

refuse left on the city’s beaches and combat specifically the problem of

the sand being used as a giant ashtray, an illegal yet common practice.

Volunteers, students and environmentalists got together last Saturday to

spread the word about the importance of proper trash disposal on the

beaches. “We need to make people aware of how much damage this ac-

tually does to our city’s most precious asset.”

COMMISSION GROUP 11:This seat is open because Commissioner Saul Gross has reachedhis term limit and cannot run again.

SHERRY ROBERTS: Declaring that she “has no baggage, wasn’t

elected in a vacuum and wasn’t hand-picked by the board”, Sherry Roberts

believes she will be a fresh, unifying force on the Commission, not bound

by any outside or personal interests beyond her concern for the city and

her neighbors, whose doors she has been knocking on for months.

If elected, she intends to balance the commercial and tourism

requirements of the city with the needs of its local community. As the

president of her condominium association and a real estate agent, an

area of expertise for Roberts is residential housing and, by extension, city

infrastructure, construction and preservation. Mindful that Miami

Beach is home to the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the

world, Roberts vows to balance protection of these architectural treas-

ures with thoughtful and progressive projects that repair the city and

advance it into the future. “It would be nice to have a rainstorm that did

not also include an overload of the drainage system and sidewalk flood-

ing” reads a quote from her website. Also, frustration relating to traffic

issues and parking is shared by Roberts, as is the belief that Miami Beach

needs to become safer for those trying to get around on two wheels in-

stead of four.

As a member of the Board of Adjusters, Roberts is proud of the

work done to protect and define the city through stringent enforcement

of building and safety codes. However, she contends, the current system

is flawed. Obtaining permits and inspections is so time-consuming that

projects are often left stagnating for months on end. Certain developers

are even refusing to begin any new business on Miami Beach and are tak-

ing their project dollars elsewhere. “We have some stiff competition

with nearby areas like the Design District,” Roberts asserts, so the

process needs to be fixed.

JORGE EXPOSITO: As a businessman with 31 years of experi-

ence in the corporate sector, Jorge Exposito believes he would be a wor-

thy steward of Miami Beach’s needs. For one thing, he knows how to

read a budget and oversee an operation. Qualifications which may

sound easy enough, but realistically, he says, require more expertise and

background knowledge than one might think. What he sees when he

looks at current city operations is a process which needs to be stream-

lined, making it easier for citizens to get what they need done. His in-

volvement in numerous committees, including the Bayshore

Homeowner’s Association, has shown him firsthand the difficulty that

even savvy individuals can have when trying to affect change via city gov-

ernment.

If elected, his primary goal would be to ensure that the residents

of Miami Beach continue to receive the same level and types of service

that they have become accustomed to from a city which is not presently

collecting anywhere near the amount of revenue it once was. “We need

a more efficient city. We need to look at how we operate so that we can

provide for citizens without raising taxes.”

As a member of the Board of Directors for Citizens for Green

Space, Exposito combated what he saw as a failure in relation to the Par

Racecont’d from page 11


Please see Playoff on page 23

Mayor, Matti Bower Jerry Libbin Sherry Roberts Jorge Exposito


305.538.5757

CalendarWHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK

ART BY: PAULA TURK


OCTOBER 2MUSICThat Third EyeOne of alternative rock's biggest bands since the lateNineties, Third Eye Blind sold six million copies of theirself titled debut album, then released the acclaimed follow-ups Blue and Out of the Vein. Set to drop a new album,Ursa Major, in 2009, Third Eye Blind plays catchy hitslike Semi Charmed Life and Never Let You Go at theirhigh energy live shows. 8pm. $24. Revolution Live, 200 W.Broward Blvd. Ft Lauderdale. For info: livenation.com.

OCTOBER 2-11FESTIVALOktoberfest Gables StyleA ten-day, beer-food-music-fest to celebrate the tradition ofOktoberfest, originally held in Munich since the 1800's.Live music from Austrian bands, the Laterndl Trio andAlpenland Gaudi. Beer bars, wine gardens, Austrian andBavarian food, contest, raffles and prizes to benefitCHARLEE homes for children. Daily from 11am to midnight. Free. Plaza at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus Aus-trian-Bavarian Restaurant & Bar, 60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables. For info: oktoberfestmiami.com or305-774-1883.

OCTOBER 3FILMMiami PsychoThe second, in the The Spa at Icon Brickell's Horror Movie Night Series, is the flick Psycho. Fromthe mastermind of all things scary, Hitchcock. So, we suggest you bring your mostest-closest friendsand cuddle in the Spa's hip, Philippe Starck designed, 30-person theater. 7:30pm. $12 includes a deli-cious cupcake and popcorn. Spa at Icon Brickell, 485 Brickell Ave. Miami. For info: 305-503-0369 orviceroymiami.com.

OCTOBER 3FOODTaste of MiamiThis should be a fun event. The first annual Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Taste ofMiami takes place this Saturday. Munch on treats from Escopazzo, Soyka, Emeril's Miami Beach, Perri-cone's, Blue Door and Asia de Cuba to name a few. $60. 5-8pm. Proceeds to benefit the MDGLCC Founda-tion Scholarship Program supporting area youth. Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention CenterDr. Miami Beach. For info: 305-673-7311 or gogaymiami.com.

OCTOBER 3MUSICSizzling SalsaDon't miss Venezuelan salsa, crooning legend,Oscar D’Leon with the Celia Cruz All Stars asthey hit town in a one-night-only performance.They sold out shows in May of this year, so grab achance to be transported back to Cuba and theearly days of the diva, La Guarachera. 8pm. $64.James L. Knight Center, 400 SE 2nd Ave. Miami.For info: 305-372-4634 or jlkc.com.

OCTOBER 3SHOPEspañola Way MarketFamous for it's Spanish Mediterranean architec-ture, Española Way has developed into a must-go venue. Fabulous restaurants, divine littleshops and galleries and a great place to strollon a Sunday afternoon. Now every Saturday

night, you can hang on Española, listen tomusic and shop during their evening mar-ket. Find everything from crafts, jewelry,

handmade clothing, candles and so muchmore. 7pm. Free. Española Way Market,Española Way and Washington Ave.,

Miami Beach. For info: 305-632-8067

OCTOBER 3DANCE

Mano e ManoCatch this awe inspiring,groundbreaking, dance piece

from choreographer, Karen Pe-terson and her Dancers, who will debut their

20th season this Saturday. This exciting work willshowcase dancers of mixed style and ability and

will include dancers with and without disabilities.Background video is from Cintas fellow Maria Lino.Byron Carlyle Theater, 500 71st St., Miami Beach. Forinfo: 305-867-4192.

OCTOBER 4SPORTIt’s a Bike Party

There is supposed to be our first cold front mov-ing in this weekend. What better way to celebrate

that, than hopping on your bike and headingdowntown for the City of Miami's BikeMiami Days event. Don't own a bike, no

This sounds fabulous. Deliciousmusic in a swanky setting andcocktails to boot! The cabaretdebut of Tony-nominated singingactress, Sherie Rene Scott. Herresume is filled with a bounty ofcredits; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,The Little Mermaid, Aida, Rentand the recent Off-Broadway hitEveryday Rapture. But SherieRene Scott has never performedon stage with just a pianist.$45.00. Carnival Studio Theatre,1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami. 305-949-6722 or arshtcenter.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15:CABARET & COCKTAILS

SAVE THE DATE:


Below: The Karen Peterson dancers. Below middle: A scene from Psycho. Right: A beer maid at Oktoberfest.

CalendarWHAT TO DO IN MIAMI THIS WEEK

problem, rent one there. Tons of live music withJazzilla, Afrobeta, Elastic Bond and Suenalo per-forming on different stages. Tim Hardaway will behanging with the kids inthe Children's Corner.Afterparty at TobaccoRoad. 9am-2:30pm.Free. For info: bikemi-amiblog.word-press.com.

OCTOBER 4SPORTDolphins vs Buffalo Bills The blogs are going wild. Is it the Dolphins? Is it theBills with T.O.? I guess we have to watch and find out.

Home game at Landshark Stadium. Tickets are stillavailable. 4pm. $41. Landshark Sta-

dium, 2267 Dan Marino Blvd.,Miami Gardens. For info: 800-FINS-TIX

OCTOBER 5ARTA Feast for the Eyes This sounds amazing!The Arts at St Johns, incollaboration with theMiami Beach Botani-cal Garden, is hosting

an exhibit called Com-mon Roots. An art exhibit about native plants and how they build bridges be-tween different cultures. Paintings, weavings,sculpture and photography of local artists willbe juried and shown. Participating artists in-clude Linda Apriletti, Patti Black, RosieBrown, Gary Catello, Elizabet Chacon,Ruben Chamizo, Dee Clark, Perri Cox, JohnDeFaro, Mark Diamond, Natasha Duwin,Rosa Gallardo, Flex Maslan, DeborahM. Mitchell, Evelyn Mitchell, TerryArroyo Mulrooney, Miguel Paredes,Patricia Roldan, Irene Sperber,Paula Turk, Marilyn Valiente, Nel-

son Viera, Deborah Weedand Marian Wertalka.Miami Beach BotanicalGarden, 2000 ConventionCenter Dr., Miami Beach.For info: 305-613-2325.

OCTOBER 6CLUBThe Big BounceHead back to the times of the fedora and1920's New York City where the music wasfree and fine. Every Tuesday night the musi-cal styling of The Big Bounce aka Bren-dan O'Hara & Komakozie will take youback there. A musical mix of big band,hip hop, folk and soul headed by O'haraon the mike. The whole evening a per-formance worth tapping into. 10pm. Nocover. Florida Room at the Delano, 1685Collins Ave., Miami Beach. For info: 305-672-2000 or brendanohara.org.

To contribute events, please email

info. and images to events@mi-

amisunpost.com

We all live within it, or at least spend most days hanging out in it. But have you actu-ally toured it? We think this is a perfect Wallet friendly date. Drop by the Art Deco Wel-come Center and take an awe inspiring private tour, with your own private tour guide,of the Art Deco District. Filled with eye popping visuals and delicious deco tidbits thatonly insiders know. The tour will keep you and your date enraptured. If you want extracompany, take a guided tour or the ideal for a cosy date option, is the self-guided tourfor those who want to be really alone. We propose after the tour you and your date stopby La Sandwicherie for lunch. We suggest their world famous Croque Monsieur, grilledham & Swiss on toast sandwich. Only $7.50. If ham and cheese is not your thing, thereis a full menu of delicious sandwiches to try all under $10 bucks. La Sandwicherie islocated at 229 14th Street. The art Deco tours are offered daily at the Art Deco WelcomeCenter, 1001 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. 305-531-3484.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25: ART DECO DISTRICT

WALLET FRIENDLY DATE NIGHT:

The Big Bounce guys, Brendan O’Hara and Komakozie.


Below Left: No. 10, CHad Pennington. Above: Bike Days Miami. Below Right: Oscar D’Leon.


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It seems as though we have been receiving an

inordinate number of birthday invitations over the

past couple of weeks. We can only surmise that the

frigid January temperatures (about 75 in Miami but

chillier points north) a few decades ago resulted in

extra canoodling for warmth among the parents of

more than a few friends and local personalities,

making for some fun and interesting birthday gath-

erings, to fete our favorite Libras. From Hadley Hen-

riette’s Cuban-Chinese themed party, to Michael

Valdes’ soiree in which the best-dressed guests re-

ceived prizes, to Gino Campodonico’s outlandish

Barbie-themed bash at the dollhouse, which featured

Lady Gaga impersonator Rosie Herrera (who just

received rave reviews for her directorial/producer

debut with Various Stages of Drowning: A Cabaretperformed earlier this year at the Adrienne Arsht

Center), Libras celebrate creatively. Other locals cel-

ebrating their birthdays this month include Katrina

Campins, Navin Chatani, Erica Freshman,

Michael Madd, Hassan Radouane and Angela

Santopinto, all of whom hosted a Libra Zodiac party

at Red, the Steakhouse on Wednesday. More birth-

day parties are in the works for Michael Leonidas

Kirkland, Vanessa Poskanzer and Max Shore.

ABOUT LASTNIGHT...DATES, NUDIESAND CHEEKS

It’s hard to resist a party named after one of our

favorite ‘80s classics, About Last Night. Enter Pa-

cific Times’ celebrated chef, Jonathan Eismann,

with provocatively named, scrumptious dishes such

as the gnudi (pronounced “nudie”), “dates” and

“grouper cheeks,” and we are hooked. OK, so the

food names aren’t so funny in the cold light of day,

but they were pretty amusing amidst the glam/hip-

ster (which we’ve recently come to identify as any

cute 20/30-something donning a fedora and/or dec-

orative neck fabric) crowd that packed the Design

District eatery for the weekly “About Last Night”

party, which could easily be confused with the set of

a photo shoot or show on the WB, except that food

was present even though the model-types seemed to

be more on a liquid diet (duh). The premise behind

the party is that guests spend the night Tweeting and

updating their Facebook posts. How this is different

from any other party, fashion show, restaurant out-

ing, date, movie watching, back scratching, driving

experience… took us a minute to figure out. Turns

out the party’s unique draw, aside from the hot

crowd and outstanding food, is that the event itself is

a Facebook/Twitter “friend” so those who enjoy a

few too many libations and/or suffer short-term

memory loss can piece the night together the next

morning. (Not necessarily a good thing.) Inaugural

hosts Sean Drake and Michelle Leshem drew in a

great crowd including Tara Solomon, Nick D’ An-

nunzio, Megan Harris, Sam Baum, David Glass,

Jose Ortiz, Jacquelynn Powers, Eric Newill, Bill

Kearney, Debbie Ohanian and Manny Hernandez.

It comes as no surprise that the outstanding food

created by Eismann, which is served in style by

adorable, friendly waiters, resulted in a shout-out

for Pacific Time by Esquire Magazine as one of the

"Best New Restaurants in the U.S." To be blunt, and

quote a fellow diner who shall remain nameless:

“flavors of orgasmic proportions.”

COMING UP:LADIES LUNCH

Ladies Lunch was recently held at Smith & Wol-

lensky, and offered a terrific opportunity to network

with women from different careers and occupations

— not that we ever need a reason to “lunch.” At the

gathering, each attendee brought materials and

causes to share with the group during a 30-second

introduction. Which brings us to our point: if you’re

ever in need of a divorce attorney, life coach or lock-

smith (certain situations may call for all three),

Ladies Lunch is the place to make your connections.

The next lunch will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, at

La Goulue in Bal Harbour Shops and will feature

Michelle Marchand, an expert in training and de-

velopment, who will get the ladies involved and in-

spire the group to get motivated. The next Ladies

Lunch South Beach will be held on Thursday, Oct.

15. The SoBe luncheon will feature guest speaker

Pat Morgan of Smooth Sailing Success, who will dis-

cuss “Empowering Women to Be More, Create More

Fun & Build Better Relationships.” We highly en-

courage you to bring plenty of business cards. For

more information, please contact

[email protected] or 305-865-5733.

PERKS FOR THOSE IN THE BIZ

A Fish Called Avalon’s executive chef, Brian

Cantrell, invites those in the bar, nightclub, hotel

and restaurant industries to experience the restau-

rant’s award-winning cuisine by offering specialty

items, including wine by the glass or bottle, beer,

well cocktails and all signature appetizers, at half off

the menu price on Monday nights. The 20-year-old

South Beach landmark offers modern American

seafood with tropical influences and sleek minimal-

ist décor. It is open daily from 6-11 p.m. For restau-

rant reservations please call 305-532-1727. Visit

www.afishcalledavalon.com for more information.

CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS:Rapper Ludacris was at Meat Market last

week, celebrating his birthday and drinking his new

cognac. Later in the week, Jared (of Subway fame)

dined at Meat Market with five friends. He had the

wedge salad and Kobe skirt steak. Sounds like that

might be a great addition to the Subway menu. Sing

it, 50… 50-dollar foot-long!

Josh Groban hung out at W South Beach’s

WALL nightclub on Friday night, showing up late with

a group of friends. He took two tables and sipped on

Grey Goose and Patron. Saturday night, Pete Wentz

left his show in West Palm Beach to head down to LIV

COLUMN

Brrrrrr Days = BirthdaysBy Mary Jo Almeida-ShorePhotography by Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

[email protected]

Mr. Clintons Guests, Jules Trump, Bill Clinton, Stephanie Trump

The 411

Hipsters at Pacific Time

and DJ at the Ocean Drive Magazine Fall Fash-

ion event for Chloe. Wentz asked party guest

Michael Jordan for a photo but was denied by se-

curity.

Earlier on Saturday, Michael Jordan had din-

ner with Miami Heat/LA Lakers coach Pat Riley at

Mr. Chow. Later, Jordan visited Louis with his girl-

friend, Miami girl Yvette Prieto, where he was

low-key, enjoying a bottle of Macallan’s 15-Year-

Old Whisky and puffing on a stogie at a table

across from the DJ booth, as his party danced

around him and ordered cocktails. Generous as

usual, Jordan overtipped his waitress by $100. On

the same night, designers Julian Chang and

Karelle Levy, along with reality star Michael

Cohen, celebrated Hadley Henriette’s birthday

at her gorgeous North Bay home.

The Chapelle Show’s Charlie Murphy

(fans, insert your Rick James impersonation here,

“I’m Rick James, B$%ch”) enjoyed a quiet din-

ner at Houston’s Coral Gables on Sunday night.

Last, because of chronological order, NOT

order of significance, former President Bill Clin-

ton dined and enjoyed a cigar (how cliché) at

Acqualina Resort & Spa on Tuesday night. The

former President was served food from Il

Mulino. According to the staff, he was extremely

friendly.

Hadley Henriette's birthday partyHnaging at The Postelles concert at Viceroy Club

Audra Cherry and Karelle Levy at Hadley Henriette's birthday party Michelle Leshem and Jochy Ortiz at Pacific TimeDebbie Ohanian, Jonathan Eismann and Tara Solomon at Pacific Time

Birthday boy, Michael

Valanetti twins at Michael Valdes' party


Ladies' Lunch at Smith and Wollensky Ladies' Lunch at Smith and Wollensky

Hipsters at The Postelles concert at Viceroy Club

You know, if the economy wasn’t so screwed upand a few less folks owed me loot, I would’ve writ-ten up Jason Kersten’s The Art of Making Money(Gotham $26) way back at the beginning of June,when the book first hit shops. But I was so intriguedby the notion, and so in need of what the notionmight deliver, that I figured I’d go ahead and try myhand at really making money too.

Alas I’ve neither the patience nor the fortitude tobecome a counterfeiter. I know that now. And it ismuch to my chagrin that I even considered theprospect in the first place. However, I am rather welladept at bringing the news about books, especially ofthe more nefarious breed. So it is with great goodpleasure that I at last bring you news of Kersten’s rol-licking chronicle.

Of course I was kidding about actually trying outsome of the principles involved in The Art of Mak-ing Money; had I truly been of that kinda mind Iwould’ve been ensconced in the trade way back inthe early ‘90s when the late, irate Loompanics pub-lished a buncha books on the craft. But with theworld the way it is, I can see how some people mightbe tempted. Me? I’m content to sit on the sidelines ofthis game and regale you with the tall tales as they’represented.

And yes, as you might well suspect, this is sometall tale. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing about it.The thing is, though, this tall tale is all true, and noth-ing but true. Or as true as any hustler’s tale can beanyway. And to me that kinda gives it an even greaterheight.

Meet Art Williams, a South Side Chi-town streetcreeper with a yen for more, more, more. The more,

of course, is money. And he’s driven to careful ex-tremes to make it, literally: first under the wing of aclever old-school master craftsman named DaVinci;then on his own in a makeshift printhouse he calls“the Dungeon.”

But Williams is driven by another deep need —family. He wants to find his father (who abandonedthe coop long ago). And he wants to know his son(whose mother just so happens to be Chicago PD).It’s that last drive that will do him in.

But it’s the action that gasses Art’s last drive whichgives this story the get-up and go-go. Rumor has itthat all-in-all, Williams printed nearly $10 million insourdough. It was good stuff too. Damn good stuff.

In fact a fed said only the North Koreans printed bet-ter. And the Commies did (and do) so from a $10million machine just like the one used by the Bureauof Engraving and Printing.

Williams was one of the damn few cabbage-grow-ers who wasn’t thrown by the 1996 New Note, theFed’s most counterfeit-proof piece of long green.And once he mastered the bill’s intricacies, he be-came the most in-demand money machine in theMidwest. Underworld types offered him riches forhis recipe; Russian gangsters promised stately lay-outs on the Caspian Sea. And the feds made Williams

a person of very special interest.Kersten sprung this longplay from his same-

named 2005 Rolling Stone feature. He had the storythen; he’s got the life now. The Life. Three-hundredpages of unmitigated drama and intrigue. As theworld turns for the worse and more folks keep get-ting less and less, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last daysof the counterfeiter. Whether or not we ever see an-other as colorful — or as colorfully realized — asArt Williams is anybody’s guess. But if you’ve got aninterest in loot and the back-alley ways in which it’ssometimes made, this book is for you. Just don’t doanything I wouldn’t do. I’d hate to lose a pal to somekinda wild whim.

COLUMN

Dough-Re-Me, Baby!Jason Kersten Knows a Cat Who Really Makes MoneyBy John Hood

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“Meet Art Williams, a South Side Chi-Town StreetCreeper With a Yen for More, More, More.”

• Thursday, September 30 , 2009 • The SunPost • www.miamisunpost.com

FREELANCEWRITERS NEEDED

FOR THE SUNPOST

SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND

3 WRITING SAMPLES TO:

[email protected]

Bound

After spending so much of the summer watch-

ing movies on the endless rainy days of London,

when I should have been basking in sunshine in

Miami, I am now fully prepared for a mild South

Florida winter. Of course, to luxuriate in the style

akin to that of David Niven in the inaugral Pink

Panther movie, one needs a burst of fizz and con-

sidering the exceptional quality of pink cham-

pagnes, why not make that fizz a pink one!

We are all now aware of the power of pink

wines, not just on the growing sales figures of

wine retailers but also on our thirsty pleasure

seeking palates due to the increased effort in pro-

duction and its resultant effect on quality.

There is also the glam aspect. I was invited to

a French champagne tasting at a local club in Lon-

don and when I got there , the gaggle of pink bot-

tles, cooling, supported by a plate of pink French

biscuits certainly had its alluring sense of grandeur

and fun!

These events, often sponsored by the im-

porters, offer a very attractive and niche service

to those of us that enjoy good wines, and when it

comes to organized tasting events, have a hint of

the hedonist about them.

My friend Daniel, is one such importer, and

he always throws the most lavish tastings. Daniel’s

career was formerly in banking but being a

Frenchman with a palate and passion for appre-

ciating fine wines at very fine prices, there was

simply no more room for the strict curves of fi-

nancial figures. He has a certain air of enlighten-

ment when he imparts this. About the wine he is

offering he says, “I only drink and sell very good

wine and I know each wine and the producers

very well. None of these wines will ever give you a

bad head or stomach; these are all very high qual-

ity Champagne’s!” When I’m drinking wine in en-

thusiastic company, the experience is always

heightened and Daniel is certainly enthusiastic.

The range of style on offer was very interest-

ing and provides a rare opportunity to really pin

point what one likes in a Champagne. The tasting

was ordered by the percentage by volume of

Chardonnay in each wine starting with the least.

The tasting notes are presented here in the same

order:

LEMAIRE RASSELET: (85%Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay, 5% PinotNoir)

Good body and fruity – a nice opener – not

my pick of the bunch but a very fine party wine

PIERRE MIGNON: (65% PinotMaunier, 15% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay)

Hints of summer fruits with a more full bod-

ied and toasty aroma. A very good champagne but

not the favourite.

ETIENNE CHERE: (1/3 Pinot Meu-nier, 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Chardonnay)

Good body with a balance of fruit and acidity

– a great wine for parties and celebrations. Be-

ware though large quantities could be drunk!

DIDIER HERBERT: (20% Pinot

Maunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay)

Slightly bitter and certainly an odd one out in

the mix. I had a desire to pair this with a dozen

oysters!

CHAPUY: (15% Pinot Noir, 85%Chardonnay)

This was a winner with us all – very light fruit

and balanced acidity – the real quality was in the

elegance of the wine. Such finesse makes this a

choice sparkle for a special occasion or romance

perhaps?

To summarize, I think it is fair to say that rosé

Champagne is worth the special attention lavished

upon it, not least because it is harder to make but

also because it has the spiritual power to lift the

vibrancy of any occasion. Of course, I tend to ad-

here to the adage that decadence comes when the

plight for pleasure seems risky. With that in mind

I am reaching for one more bottle of Chapuy!

COLUMN

Pick of the PinksA Closer Look at Pink ChampagneBy Ewan Lacey

“the gaggle of pink bottles, cooling,supported by a plate of pink French

biscuits certainly had its alluringsense of grandeur and fun!”

Potation



Three Golf Course on Prairie Avenue. Initially, he relates, that piece of

land was deeded to the city by a private resident. It was meant for the

use and enjoyment of all residents but as time passed, the city began

breaking off and doling out portions of it for various small construction

projects. Upon learning of those occurrences, Citizens for Green Space

sued and was able to stop the division and distribution of the property.

There is now a master plan for the land which includes enhanced facil-

ities, like tennis courts, and ensures its proper designation as public

park space.

MARIA MAYER: After three consecutive years of budget cuts,

Maria Mayer is warning that the city needs to be prepared for what may

be the worst fiscal year yet. That is why she promises, if elected, she

will work together with fellow Commissioners to reduce the misspending

she believes is plaguing the city and threatening its economic endurance.

“There is no room to cut services and no room to increase taxes,” she

states, “but there is room to cut waste.”

She outlines a plan that would be implemented early and tracked

on a monthly basis to ensure consistent progress. A first step would be

to revamp the Capital Improvement Projects program which Mayer be-

lieves functions through a system that is too expensive and takes too

long. “An overhaul would save millions,” she declares.

With sixteen years practicing merger and acquisition law, nego-

tiation is her business and she sees this as a critical point for new agree-

ments. She says that since times are tight, there is new leverage now

that did not exist in the period when the terms of many of these service

contracts were agreed upon by the city and its providers.

City salaries and pensions, financially categorized as long-term

liabilities, are another component which Mayer believes must be re-ex-

amined if Miami Beach is to remedy its current deficit woes without in-

creasing taxes. “We need to be realistic and work with employees.

Sacrifices have to be shared by everyone. When things are good, we are

happy to pay great salaries, but in these tougher times, it’s worth a look

and see.”

As a mother of three children who were born and raised on

Miami Beach, Mayer also relates to issues of parks, schools and clean-

liness. She says she wants to make sure that her children, and everyone’s

children, inherit a great city.

COMMISSION GROUP 111:This seat is open because Vice Mayor Victor Diaz was appointed in

2008 to replace Commissioner Richard Steinberg and is thereforenot seeking re-election in 2009 as a condition of that appoint-ment.

ALEX FERNANDEZ: Though only 23 years old, Alex Fernandez

stresses that he has the political experience far beyond his young age.

After arranging a fund-raiser for Camillus House when he was 13, Fer-

nandez was approached by a member of the media covering the event

and offered his own radio show to discuss local issues; which he ac-

cepted and kept for the next 10 years. That, along with some local tel-

evision and public relation positions for Miami Dade County gave

Fernandez his background in communication. A job in private industry

with international real-estate developers who had over $100 million in

property sales, provided him the ability to fund his entire campaign and,

he promises, if elected, will allow him to work full-time in a Commission

seat that offers little more than a stipend as payment.

Fernandez believes that elected officials need to assume a real

leadership role in the community at large, and lobby other entities like

the school board, the county and the state to generate changes that the

city needs but cannot necessarily generate for itself. A prime example,

he points out, is the “tent city” of outcast sex-offenders which has sprung

up underneath the Tuttle Causeway. Though it is officially on the Miami

side of the bridge, and totally out of Miami Beach’s jurisdiction, it has a

major on impact visitors approaching the city via that high-traffic route.

“Someone should be at the governor’s office,” he states. “That’s what I

would do. There is no room for apathy.”

Another cause that Fernandez wants to fight for is a bigger slice

of the bed tax and tourism dollars that are collected from and redis-

tributed to municipalities by the county. “Miami Beach contributes 35%

of the total taxes collected by the county, roughly $200 million, yet gets

very little of that money back.” He says the city needs that money for a

myriad of its own reasons, like fixing streets, preventing floods after a

natural event, fighting rising crime and homelessness. “Miami Beach is

a destination for the beautiful people, but many of own residents are

suffering and need services. They are all our neighbors and we cannot

ignore them.”

MICHAEL GONGORA: In a perfect world, Michael Gongora, if

elected, would be able to re-visit some interest on the idea of an under-

water park and art gallery that first came up back in 2006, when he

stepped into a Commission seat for the one year remainder of that term.

However, he knows that these days, the focus for any elected official must

be on the basics of rebuilding deteriorating infrastructure, tending to

the elderly and other struggling portions of the population and guard-

ing the environment against the perils of global warming brought on by

the massive carbon footprint that unrestrained development created.

As president of the Miami Beach Bar Association and a commu-

nity association lawyer, Gongora succeeded in his goal of reopening the

NoBe Pro Bono Law Clinic, offering free consultations to the public on

the first Wednesday of every month. Also, as the Chairman of the Envi-

ronmental Coalition of Miami Beach, he has secured $150,000 in funds,

despite deep budget cuts, to improve Lumus Park and the North Beach

Band Shell. He pledges, if elected, to make sure the Capital Improvement

Projects that have been promised to residents but not yet completed,

like the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Plan, are delivered in full.

Gongora asserts that with his prior experience on the Commis-

sion, he was able to familiarize himself with the ins and outs of local

government, so there will be no need for a learning curve and he will be

able to “hit the ground running”, ready to make difficult decisions from

the very first day.

GABRIELLE REDFERN: Redfern states that her years of experi-

ence with local and county transportation issues and her formation of

two local advocacy groups has positioned her well to make effectual,

knowledge-based decisions toward change that she knows benefit her

constituents. Her years of service on the Design Review Board have

given her a front row seat to development and the challenge of main-

taining balance between preservation and urban renewal.

After more than a decade of involvement in municipal affairs,

Redfern was concerned about what she observed as little progress on is-

sues affecting residents the most: traffic, congestion, parking, sanita-

tion, public safety and the creation of a sustainable economic future.

She sees her candidacy as a matter of urgency and a way to give back to

the community which, she says, has always been there in support of her

and her family. “If not me, then who?” she asked herself, “and if not

now, when?”

If elected, Redfern would set her sights on working with the

county to demand an overhaul of public transit service for the Beaches,

based on data from the Coastal Communities Master Plan and the ac-

companying Transit Study. Next, she would work with her fellow Com-

missioners to review and rewrite Land Development Regulations, so that

during this period of no-development, it would be ensured that the de-

velopment which ensues in the next round serves the city’s future gen-

erations. Also, she states, she will turn her attention to cleaning the

streets, even if she has to do get out there on Washington Avenue and do

it herself.

Racecont’d from page 12

Michael Gongora Maria Mayer Alex Fernandez Ganrielle Redfern

Located on Government Cut with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, Fisher Is-land and downtown Miami, Smith & Wollensky is a favorite dining destination forintimate and yummy meals. Recently, Miami Beach hosted the Eighth Interna-tional Wine Fair, which drew thousands of consumers and trade guests to theMB Convention Center. Wine growers from around the globe wined and dined po-tential distributers at numerous eateries, hoping to lure distribution deals for theirrespective vineyards. French wine exporters invited a dozen guests to a Smith & Wollen-sky dinner, just prior to the fair’s opening, to taste their featured wines.

On the luscious list of adult beverages: Baron de Montfort from the Bordeaux Region, Chateauneuf-du-Papedes Princes 2007 from the Rhone Valley, Chablis Premier Cru Vaulorent 2007, Chateau de Monbadon-Castillon2005, Saint-Chinian red Excellence Jean de Roze 2006, Chardonnay de Penneutier VdP d’Oc 2008, “La Co-terie” AOC Cotes du Rhone (organic), and a Banuyls 1950 from the Domaine Pietri.

The dinner wasn’t too shabby either. On the menu, caesar salad, a huge cut of filet mignon with a side ofhashed brown potatoes and the S & W delish creamed spinach. For dessert, as if there was any room left in anyof the tummies: warm molten chocolate cake. I know, I know… but someone has to cover these difficult events!

Smith & Wollensky served us USDA Prime steaks that are dry-aged and hand-cut on the premises, for ten-derness and flavor. But the stars of theevening were the wines. S & W hasnow gone international, adding selec-tions from the best vineyards of Franceto its American favorites. Cheers!

Smith & Wollensky is located at 1Washington Ave., Miami Beach. De-tails: 305-673-2800.

COLUMN

Smith & WollenskyAnd WineBy Marguerite Gil([email protected])

Food


ArtCOLUMN

Fine Arts,Fine TimesBy Marguerite Gil([email protected])Photos: M. Gil

Public radio station WDNA proudly unveiledits newest endeavor recently. Besides showcasingjazz and Latin jazz on the 88.9 FM dial, the sta-tion will now also feature a visual artist in itsgallery space every two months. The inauguralevent was spearheaded by acclaimed jazz vocalistMeredith d’Ambrosio, who is also an establishedlandscape painter. The 88.9 FM Fine Arts ConcertSeries plans to bring the visual arts closer to themusical world by introducing talented visualartists to jazz enthusiasts in its Coral Gables radiostudios.

Multi-talented d’Ambrosio presented morethan 35 aquarelles and oil paintings to guests,and afterward gave a live performance accompa-

nied by jazz pianist Patti Wicks.Everyone enjoyed beverages by Cal-das Rum, hors d’oeuvres providedby Passion of Life Gourmet andadult beverages by Wine Shoppe &Gourmet.

Stay tuned for future events.

Yrasema Santana with Frank Rivera, bothhosts of Fusion Latina on W-DNA

Left: Michael and Alice Goldha-gen. Below: Frank Morganti and

Bonita Eiden.ABove: A sample of our dinner. Below: Dessert served withFrench wines. Yummy


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