MP3 of the Day: “Self-Sabotage” by Crimson

​Miami’s hard rock scene is pitifully low on estrogen. Enter Crimson, a local six-piece that’s been playing together in one form or another for the past few years, but only recently has started kicking it into high gear. The backbone of the band are the married couple (awww) of guitarist…

Shady Deals Expose Homestead’s Corruption

On December 21, 1995, Lynn Hartrick received a sweetheart deal of a lifetime. The Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency gave the city’s code enforcement officer deed to an 11,000-square-foot empty lot at 136 NW First St. Selling price: A buck.Hartrick developed a two-bedroom single story residence on the land, then sold…

Mayor Carlos Alvarez Is More Like Bizarro Than Superman

So Banana Republican just got word from a friendly political insider who attended Mayor Carlos Alvarez’s state of the county address today that Carlito El Fuerte was introduced to the tune of Superman’s theme music. Bad choice.He’s really more like Superman’s monotone, zombified clone Bizarro — full of superpowers but…

Richard Pulido Needs A Manners Lesson

Miami Lakes Councilman Richard Pulido is a petulant bully who thinks state and town laws don’t apply to him, judging from his abrasive behavior with other town officials. Councilman George Lopez and town clerk Marjorie Tejeda claim Pulido has been harassing and threatening them over the past three months. “He…

North Bay Village Mayor Oscar Alfonso Won’t Fix His House

For more than a decade, North Bay Village Mayor Oscar Alfonso has evaded repeated ​attempts by city building officials and code inspectors to correct unauthorized construction work at his three bedroom house at 7520 W. Treasure Dr.And his next-door neighbor James Carter claims Alfonso will continue to thumb his nose…

Luke’s Gospel: Fire Erik Spoelstra

Luther Campbell, AKA Uncle Luke, has never been shy about sharing his opinion. The former frontman for Miami’s wonderfully raunchy rap act 2 Live Crew made history in 1992 when the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed his right to be as horny as he wants to be. Throughout his controversial career,…

Things We Hate: Annoying Ambiance

Like, for instance, loud music, especially the club-bish stuff, thumping in the background while we’re trying to dine. Don’t care much for new age tinklings in restaurants either — where are we, on the moon? Any non-acoustic live music is likewise an obstacle to peaceful eating. If I want to…

Blast From the Past: Death – Leprosy

Blast From the Past is a weekly column on Crossfade re-examining classic releases from Florida music of yesteryear. To read previous installments, click here.DeathLeprosy (Combat)For this installment of Blast from the Past we’ll be concentrating on Death’s second full-length album, 1988’s Leprosy. Hailing from Orlando, Death were pioneers of metal…

More Free Music: “Red Bottoms” by Ghostwridah

Ghostwridah is a native of South Miami. You know, that little corner of Dade County between the University of Miami campus and Dadeland Mall. He’s been a mainstay in Miami’s diverse hip-hop scene for years and is one of the names that you will hopefully hear a lot more of…

MP3 of the Day: “Corazon” by Elastic Bond

Here’s an MP3 for the upcoming third album by Miami’s Elastic Bond. Ringleader Andres Ponce always does a good job of imbuing his musical efforts with a keen sense of blues, Tropicalia, and little bit of funk that’s usually termed “urban,” but in my book, makes for some good listening…

North Bay Village’s Unrest

North Bay Village residents believe Mayor Oscar Alfonso (left), city attorney Joseph Geller (center), and city manager Matthew Schwartz (right) are in cahoots, doing bad things.​North Bay Village manager Matthew Schwartz is under fire. This past Tuesday, during the city commission’s regular meeting, a small group of upset residents called…

Deals & Steals: BLT Steak, Bourbon Steak, 660 at The Angler

Weighing In On LuluSo the folks from Greenstreet Café put a billboard up announcing their upcoming Lulu restaurant. Paula Nino of Short Order called owner Sylvano Bignon to ask about it, but he wasn’t around. Greenstreet manager Eric Boucher was around, and claimed it was “premature” to discuss the restaurant…