They don’t come around too often, these perfect Miami days when the breeze and humidity lean more toward spring than muggy summer. Afternoons like these shouldn’t be wasted cruising an air-conditioned mall or lying on the couch gazing at the television. Get up, get out, and get active! There are…

Now that you have HD TV, you can’t even bring yourself to watch those other channels anymore. Standard definition is below your standards. You’ve seen the future, and there’s no looking back. Nothing can come between you and your TV screen. Unless it’s … a bigger screen. Like silver-screen big…

The Exxxotica convention, models playing volleyball on the beach, and booty-shaking fiestas at downtown hotspots are all well and good for the grown and sexy. But adults-only fun isn’t enough. There are lots of cool parents in this town who spend their weekends looking for family-friendly events. Well, this weekend…

All hail the mighty cupcake. There’s no baked dessert that’s more evocative of childhood innocence. Cupcakes take you back to the days of bruised knees and bake sales. Barbie Roqueta, owner of Sweetcakes Edibles, totally gets it. Her adorable little uptown bakery features 10 different kinds each day; when we…

Biscayne Boulevard has been through a lot lately. Thanks to endless construction, persistent police patrolling, and relentless gentrification, you’re more likely to discover an adorable new boutique than a trap house, and even the seediest motels are being freshened up and de-hookerized. The Upper Eastside Garden is a landmark representation…

In the era of Julia Child, the heart of a chef perhaps gurgled slowly, with blood as thick as heavy cream surging through pâté-clogged arteries. Modern toques have retained the flavor but lightened up the cuisine. Nowadays the Heart of a Chef is light, fun, and pumping out tips, tricks,…

He’s a little dude — Wikipedia puts him at five feet four and a half inches tall — but Kevin Hart delivers big laughs. No, we’re not talking about his unfortunate starring role in Soul Plane. That monumental flop didn’t crash Hart’s career upswing. He’s since risen to even greater…

MC Hammer had his pants, Larry King’s got his suspenders, and back in the Eighties, Bill Cosby had his sweaters. And what glorious garments they were — like the product of a Native American poncho mating with a Seventies-era caftan during an ecstasy-fueled orgy. It might have been years since…

In New York City, there’s Broadway, where the productions are lavish, star-studded, and family-friendly. And then there’s off-Broadway, where the plays are edgy, controversial, and usually thought-provoking. Here in Miami, there’s the Arsht Center (Forbidden Broadway, anyone? Anyone?) and … hey, where’s our off-Broadway? If you’re seeking a new addition…

Employers and co-workers, today is Secretaries Day, the one slot in the calendar year dedicated to the women and men who fax, answer phones, and deal with your stupid questions every day from 9 to 5. They work hard — usually without much complaint, at least not to your face…

What is it about the current crop of British musical imports? They’re all female, sassy, fresh, and irreverent, and so far, the most prominent two — Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen — seem to be squandering their talents on tawdry tabloid antics. And then there’s Estelle, who stands out from…

Three years ago, Sweat Records was struggling, trying to anchor a fledgling business district that never fully took flight. Then Hurricane Wilma blew through in October and washed those dreams away. What’s an up-and-coming indie record store to do? Proprietor Lauren “Lolo” Reskin found a new home at rock and…

You flip through those glossy pages and you want, want, want: the poutiest lip plumper, the slinkiest silk sheath designer dress, the sexiest Christian Louboutins or Jimmy Choos or Manolo Blahniks. You get it. You know what’s hot, because the fashion bible tells you so. But where can you get…

Look out, weekend, here you come — with a yen for live music and good times. If you’re not sure where to go, and the usual venues leave you less than enthusiastic, you can enjoy two very divergent sonic experiences at places that are off the beaten path when it…

College kids and reluctant adults have had this date mentally circled all year, and finally it’s time to kick back and celebrate the high life. Yup, yup, it’s 4/20. To nonstoners, allow us to explain. For some reason — check out Wikipedia for possible origins, although the history is understandably…

Miami ain’t exactly California. When we visit the beaches on the West Coast, we discover an entirely different motivation behind a trip to the beach. People jog, sweat, and jump for the sheer joy of physical activity. On South Beach, the bodies are equally hot, but the activity is inappropriate…

Once a year it comes to town, bringing a bonanza of baubles, gems, strings, and clasps. That’s right, jewelry-making geniuses, it’s BeadFest Miami 2008, coming atcha with a flurry of classes and exhibitions through Sunday, April 13. Today the show opens at noon, and the schedule of classes will ensure…

The sun is up, the sky is blue, and what’s that? A breeze is wafting your way? Forget summer — springtime in Miami is when the living is easy. Get out and soak up the rays before they become scorching, and breathe in the fresh air before it becomes so…

Over the course of Margaret Cho’s ever-evolving career, the world has watched her blossom from an insecure, self-described “zaftig” comedian into an empowering yet still-hilarious feminist icon. We can thank the ABC network for some of that. After execs shoehorned Cho into an ill-fitting, broadly drawn sitcom in 1994 —…

In New York City, the gospel brunch at Sylvia’s in Harlem is legendary. People of all creeds and races come out for a weekly dose of soul food and singing, and even a cretin such as Bill O’Reilly can’t help but admit there’s a sprinkling of magic and brotherly love…

It’s gotta be tough being a son of the late reggae legend Robert Nesta Marley. First of all, there’s the pressure of having your dad recognized as the patron saint of the genre — Bob’s music will never die, and consequently his children are expected to perform copious cover tunes…

Do a quick Google search for Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Hemingway Award-winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri, and some remarkable results pop up. First, there are the names of her books – her latest, Unaccustomed Earth, and then Interpreter of Maladies, the short-story collection that made the London-born, Rhode Island-raised author of Indian…