Miami Mike’s Mementos

“Miami” Mike Hiscano saves what others throw away. The ephemeral trinkets that people regularly abandon — monogrammed china, postcards, rinky-dink souvenirs from tourist attractions — these are Hiscano’s prized treasures. These are the artifacts that you’ll never find in a fancy museum. “Big, formal museums have benefactors and are curated...

By Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

April 12, 2007

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

“Miami” Mike Hiscano saves what others throw away. The ephemeral trinkets that people regularly abandon — monogrammed china, postcards, rinky-dink souvenirs from tourist attractions — these are Hiscano’s prized treasures. These are the artifacts that you’ll never find in a fancy museum. “Big, formal museums have benefactors and are curated to follow a specific theme or subject. You see real history live in a thrift store or flea market,” he declares. Miami Mike’s greatest pride is his collection of hotel silverware. “I often muse about who may have eaten off my hotel silver. Maybe Frank Sinatra, FDR, Sidney Poitier, Desi Arnaz, and Lucille Ball! They all enjoyed holidays here in the Miami sun,” he says. History buffs and curious onlookers can gaze in rapture upon these and many other items of local curiosity at the Dade Heritage Days Miami Memorabilia Collectors Club open house. Members of the club will proudly display their Magic City tchokes, appraise antiques, and remember the good old days.
Mon., April 16

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Miami New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.