NOW 24/7
There is hardly an available inch of wall space at Duffy's Tavern (2108 Red Rd., Miami). Beer bottles and taps dangle from the ceiling. Special shelves house colorful antique beer cans. Besides the breweriana, Duffy's walls are adorned with old license plates, sports memorabilia, photos of celebrities from Bill Clinton to Jack Klugman, and a ticking countdown to St. Patrick's Day. In 1927, the main bar area was a house. In 1936, the new owner knocked down the back wall, added a room, and opened the bar for business. Almost 70 years later, Duffy's continues to evolve. There's a side wing that's all laminated wood and cushy green stools. The basic fried bar-food menu has expanded to include salads, a "Leprechaun Menu" for pint-sized patrons, and a long list of "Duffy's Best Burgers," which range from the Duffy's Death Burger ("secret ingredients HOT!") to the low-carb burger with cheese. Watch sports on one of the twenty television sets; order some onion rings; and enjoy a cold, cheap draft special, or a specialty drink such as the delightfully retro Jack Rose Cocktail, a dangerously smooth, shaken, and strained combination of lemon juice, grenadine, and Laird's Applejack brandy. Call 305-264-6580. --Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik
Dog Days Inn
Puppies gotta brand new pad
SAT 2/19
The homeless dogs and cats of Miami have new digs thanks to the donations of South Florida animal lovers. The Humane Society of Greater Miami will celebrate the grand opening of the new Soffer and Fine Adoption Center (16101 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami Beach) with a ribbon-cutting this morning at 10:00, followed by an afternoon of tours and children's activities until 2:00. The modern facility features cozy kennels, colorful murals, and lots of natural light to keep the animals comfortable until they are adopted. Pet owners will love the low-cost health clinic, grooming salon, and boutique. The center also has space for training classes and after-school programs for children, including the "Confidence Through Canines" reading classes. The first 100 visitors at today's celebration get a free T-shirt. After the grand opening the shelter will be open Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; it's closed on Tuesdays. Call 305-696-0800, or visit www.humanesocietymiami.org. --Lyssa Oberkreser
Little Ones Can Cook
And the chicken won't taste like wood
SAT 2/19
Turn your picky eaters into little kitchen helpers with inspiration from local restaurateur and celebrity chef Marvin Woods. The host of Home Plate on the Turner South network and owner of M. Woods in North Miami will be whisking up his Southern fare at the "I Love Food" family cooking demonstration this afternoon at the Miami Children's Museum (980 MacArthur Cswy., Miami). Chef Woods mixes African, Caribbean, and Low Country influences into his New American style to serve distinctive dishes that are both healthy and comforting. The kitchen starts heating up at 2:00. The event is free for museum members or $20 per family. Call 305-373-5437 ext. 149 for reservations, or visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org. --Lyssa Oberkreser
Train in Wane
SAT 2/19
The tracks cut through rural districts and urban hubs, arteries of transportation crisscrossing the landscape. Henry Flagler's East Coast Railway brought homesteaders down south to settle, carving Miami into a blossoming city. Learn more in Sam Boldrick's presentation "Historic Railroad Stations in South Florida," which will be held in ACL 254, a cushy air-conditioned retro railroad car that resides at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, 12450 SW Coral Reef Dr., South Miami-Dade. Call 305-253-0063, or visit www.goldcoast-railroad.org. -- Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik
