Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, or Manhattanites heading for the Hamptons, Miami Beach’s city hall also has a rhythm you can set your watch to. At some point during a lengthy Beach commission meeting, Commissioner Luis Garcia will begin bellowing epithets such as “Dictator!” and “Hugo Chavez!” at his…
Padrón: A Whistleblower’s Courage Adis Vila is a hero, not a disgruntled employee: In response to Kirk Nielsen’s story about Miami-Dade Community College president Eduardo Padrón (“Bad Man on Campus,” June 19), whistleblowers are consistently referred to as “disgruntled employees” here in Miami. Yet it takes so much courage and…
Frank Owen is on his best behavior. “I’m not getting drunk tonight,” he announces firmly, wagging a cautionary finger at Kulchur outside of the Beach’s Books & Books. The 41-year-old British author has a promotional appearance there this evening, and then it’s back to his hotel. “I’m going on CNN…
Daddy Is Right — You’re Ignorant and Uncool Potty-mouth free weekly takes it on the chin: Today, when I was in my parents’ room, I found a copy of New Times, which read on the front page: “Bitch-Slapping Whitey” (June 5). Now, being eleven years old, I know what bitch…
Tooth Fairy: We’re All Aglow Which would have been apparent with a little digging: In “Return of Three Mile Island?” (May 22), Steven Dudley’s inability to “sort out the real risks” of environmental radiation on cancer falls short of the in-depth investigative journalism one seeks in New Times. Had Mr…
Best Sincere Modesty It’s about time my magnificence was acknowledged: Thanks to all the lovely people at New Times for choosing me, Shelley Novak, just a humble actor/comedian/talk-show host/singer/psychic/feng shui advisor/megastar as “Best Drag Queen” (“Best of Miami,” May 15). I had already written my hate letter in preparation for…
Gone But Not Forgotten Thanks for remembering Norberto: I was very saddened to hear about the passing of Norberto Longo. I just came across Enrique Lopetegui’s article that was reprinted in the SF Weekly (“Longo Time Gone,” May 15). Granted I have not watched or read much Spanish-language media lately,…
Even the most elaborate battle plan should always be adapted to the “facts on the ground,” as we’ve been sagely reminded of late by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. One wishes that same proviso would be applied to the ongoing drama that still rages across the Florida Straits. At presstime, President…
Civilized, Intelligent, Thoughtful Three words not normally associated with Miami: Great story by Rebecca Wakefield regarding the debate over breaking up the school district (“Smaller Is Better,” May 8). From reading it one would almost believe we’re living in a civilized city where political leaders, journalists, and activist citizens engage…
To Art or Not To Art: That Is the Question The answer is yes to art — but don’t ignore the artist: As someone relatively new to the community, I read Celeste Fraser Delgado’s article about plans for the Miami Art Museum with much interest (“Tumbling Chairs,” May 1). She…
Your Food Critic Has Poor Taste And I don’t mean that he can’t tell polenta from bruschetta: For more than seven years I’ve been reading the wonderful and informative New Times. I always read the restaurant reviews, and have even sent some e-mails voicing my agreement or disagreement. After reading…
Forget about celebrity-filled runway shows and imperious magazine editors. The Dulce de Leche menswear line is receiving a true field test inside the Bay Harbor Islands home of Luis Toro, one of Dulce de Leche’s founding owners. His partners and co-designers Carlos Mejia and Rafael Paris greet visitors as a…
The Truth About George We couldn’t have been more different, but I respected him: Kathy Glasgow and Lissette Corsa finally gave us the truth about former priest George Zirwas and his life in Cuba (“Murdered in Havana,” April 17). I met George just once, about two weeks before his death,…
“No names,” insisted Bud Russell. That was the first ground rule if Kulchur wanted to attend a private $1000-a-head South Beach fundraiser for former Vermont governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign. Normally Russell would be thrilled with the publicity. The Atlanta-based financial consultant and Democratic Party activist has made it his…
Talking with the Enemy I listen to the Cubans and they listen to me: It was with great interest that I read Kirk Nielsen’s feature “Dialogueros” (April 10). I want to expand on his comment: “Wilhelm could not be reached for comment after the dissident crackdown.” He was not able…
There’s no need to mince words with the BBC’s Miami correspondent, Fergal Parkinson. Kulchur is delicately dancing around the differences between the BBC’s newscasters in England and the local reporters featured on South Florida’s television screens. But Parkinson bluntly jumps in: “You see fat people on the BBC.” Well, now…
My Pal Hector Am I surprised he was shot by those cops? Not at all: I was surprised when I saw one of my old friends on the cover of New Times. Humberto Guida’s story about Hector Torres could not have been more accurate (“The Bad Shoot,” April 3). Though…
Mel and Eunice Safra run a wonderful, authentic bagel shop on Alton Road near 41st Street in Mid-Beach. The tilapia, or salmon with sweet potato and healthy green and yellow veggies, preceded by a plate of noshable munchies and a bowl of Russian cabbage soup to start, will not break…
The first sign that something dramatic was unfolding was the eerie quiet. About 200 young hipsters had poured into Austin, Texas’s Urban Outfitters store for an impromptu afternoon set from Iron & Wine, better known to his Miami neighbors as Sam Beam. The sidewalk outside was abuzz with the frenzy…
I Agree: Miami Is Ugly But I say we have only ourselves to blame: Bravo for Alfredo Triff’s article “Ugly Out There” (March 27)! I’m an environmental-science major and it’s here that two disciplines merge. Environmental aesthetics makes a case for beautiful ecosystems. But I may disagree with Triff on…
He Comes to Praise Michael, Not to Bury Him Others tried to bury Kosnitzky — he wanted to put the trust back in Public Health Trust: Approximately $70 million in taxpayers’ money going from the Public Health Trust (PHT) to University of Miami’s medical school? In a single year? As…
You could feel the frisson in the air inside the darkened theaters of this year’s Miami International Film Fest. For many in the attending audiences, the onscreen themes of a besieged middle class amid insurgent revolutions, endemic civic corruption, and economic crisis weren’t abstract concepts. Those were precisely what led…
