The best jazz tends to be accidental. Past midnight in a pizza shop in the Grove (back when a pizza shop was about the only thing open past midnight in the Grove) or some dinky, danky bar; anywhere that sincere musicians (with some chops, please) and normal people might converge…
You go above and beyond for Mother’s Day – flowers, candy, a gift, and a special brunch. And what do you do when Father’s Day rolls around? Speed to your nearest discount retailer to pick up the basics – a short-sleeve shirt, maybe a pair of shorts or slippers, and,…
All of this talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ ear-popping ascent in the NBA has roused memories of the last time that lake-burning city had a chance at winning a major sports title. The year: 1997. The team: an Indians squad loaded with spry versions of Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, and…
If we had a nickel for every time we heard “love takes time” or “love conquers all,” the aromas wafting from our cubicles at lunchtime would smell less like last night’s leftovers and more like the surf and turf from Prime 112. We are sick of the “wait and see,”…
If you haven’t noticed yet, Florida is tops in football. NFL, NCAA, IWFL…. What’s IWFL, you ask? That’s the Independent Women’s Football League, which is a relatively new professional club chartered to promote fun and safety for women who enjoy tossing around the pigskin. Just think of it as a…
The waters surrounding Miami are speckled with spots of land — isles owned by billionaires, others owned by the creatures that call them home. And just beyond those unnamed islands are the ones you’ve heard of: the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad. But thanks to six-day work weeks and lightweight paychecks, the…
Grandfather New Times taught us how to play a mean game of dominoes — from our strategically sneaky smile to the way we slam the last piece down, shaking the table and our opponent into submission. And tonight we’re taking our shiny domino suitcase — the one with the secret…
What if Jurassic Park had been set in China? Imagine swarms of human-rights protestors picketing outside the electric fences; knock-off velociraptors running free in Moscow; and the Dalai Lama sharing a pen with a brontosaurus. As incongruous as it might sound, some of the finest dinosaur fossils in the world…
If you’re heading out for a night in Miami Beach, you already know where to go for your music of choice. For hip-hop, you head straight to The Fifth. For techno magic, it’s all about Local Celebrity. But what if you’re jonesing for live music? The one truly dedicated destination…
The cozy Mama Lila’s Bistro (1915 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables) is a rare find in the patrician and often pricey Gables — a place that invites patrons to leave pretense at the door and enjoy delicious and affordable food, along with the warmth of family. Owned by the…
The exciting, inspiring dance of flamenco is a fusion of Spanish, Gypsy, Judeo, and Arabic cultures that can be traced back to Andalusia. “Different rhythms express different emotions: happy, sad, fiery, or intense,” explains foot-stomper par excellence, Clarita Filgueiras. The emotional range of this Spanish tradition need not remain lost…
We hear that the benefits can be great: TV Guide covers, consistent work, a familylike cast and crew. But being on one of those damn sitcoms sure can make a world full of people think you’re someone you’re not. Who knew that Full House’s Bob Saget is actually more of…
South Florida boasts a cornucopia of architectural delights, but until we landlubbers have gorged upon them from a waterway, it’s kind of like settling for the parsley garnishing a plate of filet mignon. So swear the organizers of the Regatta 2 Miami Beach Architecture Boat Cruise. “If people think Miami…
Whether invented or authentic, heroines have always been an inspiration to women looking for their own voice. Unconventional and outspoken pistols — such as fictional Civil War diva Scarlett O’Hara and the very real, steadfast suffragist Eleanor Roosevelt — have proven that women can be just as strong and intelligent…
There are people who love fashion, and then there are those who are absolutely obsessed — stalking sales like a jealous lover, consumed by fabrics and stitching, shopping on the offensive with elbows out and ready to swing. To a true shopper, stumbling upon a sample sale is like finding…
In 1999, militaristic rap group Dead Prez asked listeners a riveting and significant question: “Would you rather have a Lexus or justice? A dream or some substance? A Beemer, a necklace, or freedom?” The song was simply titled “Hip Hop,” and with such pointed lyrics poised over a rumbling bass…
When we think of Burgundy, France, we think Pinot Noir. When we think of Oregon, we think … trail. As in The Oregon Trail, the DOS-friendly computer game that kept thumbs glued to keyboards throughout the Eighties via oxen-pulled sunsets over Chimney Rock, rapid rivers, and bountiful wild fruit. But…
Admit it: When you hear the phrase guitar festival, it evokes terrifying images of aging rockers with big hair and cut-off T-shirts. Fortunately this week’s Miami International Guitar Festival has absolutely nothing to do with those jokers. Instead the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music has invited the real…
When the first few chords of a good song play, the true dancer switches on, ready to react to the beat and the melody. His or her movements mirror the music. But you? Sometimes your wires get crossed, and even though the song is clearly smooth jazz, you employ some…
Lowest Common Denominator-ism writ large and engraved in stone like the Ten Commandments according to Cecil B. DeMille, the Hollywood blockbuster is often an allegory for itself. Walt Disney, the notoriously litigious studio that successfully changed the nation’s copyright laws to protect its trademark Mickey Mouse but more recently declared,…
The cash-cow flippered ones rise again, this time as yellow-tufted surfer dudes riding the waves of life off the coast of an island that looks like a cross between Hawaii and Venice Beach. If you have to see another penguin blockbuster, you could do worse than this loose-limbed charmer written…
The 60th cannes Film Festival was a generous one — and so was its jury, bestowing the Palme d’Or on the least heralded, most critically acclaimed movie in an unusually strong competition, namely Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Mungiu’s skillfully directed, superbly acted account…
