Friday, December 31, 2010

SFDB Quote Of The Day


New Year's Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.

-- Hamilton Wright Mabie


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SFDB's New Year's Guide



I'm not going to try to tell you everything that is going on for New Year's Eve in South Florida. It's why they invented hyperlinks. My guide is their guides. So here you go.

[Note: This post will stay at the top of the page until everyone has made their decision or missed their opportunity.]


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Your Evening Sift



Happy New Year's Eve, readers! If you're going out, wear a hard hat and make sure your driver is sober. Be safe. Here's your last evening Sift of the 2010...

A- Random Pixels discusses some of the finer reporting done by the Herald this year as well as the people who did it...and then awards his first Nanook of the North Award.
But for sheer entertainment, it was hard to beat WSVN reporter Vanessa Medina's live shot on December 6th.

Standing on East Las Olas Blvd. wearing a knit cap and bulky scarf, she gripped the mike and stared solemnly into the camera and warned viewers to brace for the worst. The words words were barely out of her mouth when an elderly couple wandered into camera range behind her wearing short-sleeved shirts.
B- Happy New Year greetings from South Florida Lawyers, Taking Over Miami, Miami Favs, AshAndBurn and The Reid Report.

C- Soul of Miami has the Van Dyke's music calendar for January.

D
- The South Florida Watershed Journal says we have a while to wait for South Florida's hydrologic New Year.
When does the new water year start in the swamp?

That would be June 1st with the start of the summer rains.

Or in other words, six more months to put my resolutions on hold.
E- Shorter Coconut Grove Grapevine...
The Grove is allowed to be quiet on New Years because so much is going on the rest of the year.
F- Bark Bark Woof Woof is appreciative and mentions SFDB so, you know...
And then, of course, there's you, dear Reader. Believe it or not, I don't do this just because I love to write. Well, I do love to write, but it would seem to be a hollow effort if I didn't think there was someone out there to read it and certainly keep me on my toes. I know the commenting system leaves something to be desired; in the two years we've been in this new format, it still has a few bugs in the system. Be that as it may, you have made this blog a joy to write, and I am always thinking of you when I sit down here in the early morning to look at the world with dry bemusement and try not to bump into the furniture on my way to the coffee maker.
G- Eye on Miami resolves to devote more time to absentee voter fraud in 2011.
Both the State Attorney's office and the Elections Department acknowledge problems with Absentee ballots (Elections less so) exist. I think both men mean well but that doesn't change the problem. The Elections chief, Lester Sola, had a long talk with me. He can't fix the problems. He assured me that he is taking all precautions. But I think he fails in properly matching the signatures.
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Flashback Friday





R.E.M., It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

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New Year Google




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The 10 Biggest Developments Of 2010 In The South Florida Blogosphere



Everyone is doing these lists so being the groupie that I am, here's my contribution.

In no particular order...
  • Carlos Miller gets absorbed by Pixiq: It's a move that remains questionable.
  • The Heat Lightning is born and and, in the process, two great blogs are killed: Self-proclaimed "intelligent blog" splashes big but fizzles after finding out that being smart is apparently a lot harder work than what they thought.
  • A perpetual ray of sunshine is cast on South Florida and its name is Miami Favs.
  • The Reid Report gets big: Joy Reid lands a gig with the Herald and is a regular political commentator for national news organizations.
  • The Street closes its doors: Then opens them back up...
  • After making overtures to the South Florida blogging community in 2009, the Miami Herald and Sun-Sentinel go back to business pretty much as usual.
  • Twitter: 'Nuff said.

Feel free to add your own in the comments.

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SFDB Question Of The Day



Tonight is the night that South Floridians dodge bullets falling from the sky and play bumper cars with their fellow motorists on their way home from overpriced parties. It's those kind of good times that keep me at home so that I be sure to actually enjoy the coming year. What about you?

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?



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Your Morning Sift



Here we go with your last morning Sift of 2010. Enjoy.

A- Happy New Year's wishes from Beached Miami, South Florida Food and Wine and Justice Building Blog. From the latter...
From all of us at the Justice Building Blog, have a happy. healthy and successful new year, and don't take one single second for granted.
B- Jeff Eats says Joseph's Italian Pastry Shop in Deerfield Beach is the anti-Gran Forno.
Just so you know, both joints make absolutely delicious cakes, breads, cookies, pastries…the big difference between the two—Gran Forno Las Olas is playing the Starbucks/Panera Bread decor card…while, Joseph’s looks like an Italian bakery circa NYC 1960…both are really cool, but throw-off totally different vibes. Now don’t “holler” at me, but Gran Forno- on LAS OLAS is a YUPPIE-GENERATION X version of Joseph’s- which is just a plain old “mom & pop” neighborhood bakery.
C- Restaurant Gal is making some big changes for the new year.
On January 1, 2011, I say farewell to this strange, beautiful, churning azure water world I have called a home of sorts for two years. On January 1, 2011, I take on a “real” job–as real as tending bar can be. “Real,” in this case, means benefits, paid days off, 401k, and all the other employment trinkets we all used to take for granted and now eagerly covet–the trinkets that used to be called golden handcuffs in a grander job on a grander scale in a work world that is no more.
D- Urban Environment League says that the redevelopment of Hialeah Park is going to ruin it.
If John Brunetti and the city of Hialeah are allowed to proceed with plans to mass develop Hialeah Park, putting hotel towers for close to 900 rooms, parking garages, a shopping mall (which would even allow supermarkets) inside Hialeah park, they are going to destroy this beautiful piece of land and divert business from other sectors of our city. There is little creativity for sustainable, on-going projects and events using the existing structures and land to provide a variety of different venues throughout the year that would guarantee Hialeah's financial stability; this is simply not on the agenda because the goal of these men is development of this land for their financial gain.
E- More photos are up at The Street.

F- Bark Bark Woof Woof does his traditional year end review of last year's predictions while making a host of new ones for 2011.
Of course Sarah Palin will announce she's running for president. We've known that since the day after the 2008 election. Her competition will include Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and just for the fun of it, John Bolton. A year from now, we'll be weeks away from the Iowa caucuses. President Obama will not have a serious primary challenger. The "professional left" is a pale shadow of a threat compared to the hard-core on the right; when they form a circular firing squad, they usually end up winging it.
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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Your Evening Sift



I have a super-sized Sift for you this evening. For some reason, every one wanted to post today. Enjoy.

A- Check out the progress of the new Marlins baseball stadium with a couple images at Nikon Miami.

B- One of Miami Favs' favs is Gigi and their sticky buns.
i’d like to stop right here and say if you have not been to gigi yet, just drop whatever you’re doing, grab a friend, and go. like, now. at the very least make lunch or dinner plans immediately. or, go by yourself (i have. i mean, they have sticky buns).
C- The Hialeah sign pictured over at Sweet Home Hialeah looks like it should be in front of some suburban development.

D- Beached Miami posts their Top Ten Posts of 2010.

E- More photos are up at The Street.

F- It seems many foodies are hesitant to admit that they no longer like a particular restaurant, if you check out yet another one of Eater Miami's end-of-year lists...

G-South Florida Theater Review unveils his Top Ten Shows of 2010.

H- Belle Isle Blog shares some interesting South Florida history.
The Collins Bridge crossed just one island between the mainland and the Beach — Bull Island, by then known as Belle Isle. During the land boom of the 1920s, the other Venetian Islands were dredged, and the Collins Bridge was rebuilt and renamed the Venetian Causeway in 1925.
I- View From Virginia Key calls it a wrap.
The end of 2010 also marks the end of this year-long project to raise awareness about the unique, beautiful, and environmentally fragile island of Virginia Key, the 1,000-acre barrier island off the coast of the City of Miami.

This is the last entry in View from Virginia Key.
J- Miami's Snake Man turned 100 today, according to Random Pixels.
Ten years ago, Miami herpetologist Joe Wasilewski was working with a documentary film crew on a piece about 90 year-old Bill Haast, the legendary former owner of Miami Serpentarium.

Wasilewski recalls that a member of the crew asked Haast - who has been bitten by poisonous snakes at least 173 times - if he thought that snake venom prolonged life. "Ask me when I'm 100," Haast replied dryly.
K- Fox News' Tucker Carlson, a Christian man, thinks that Michael Vick should have been executed for his dog fighting conviction and Obalesque has some thoughts on that.
I have no idea what this Tucker fellow means when he simultaneously says, “I believe in second chances,” and “[Vick] should have been executed,” but I think it’s similar to hypocrites of his kidney who say they want government out of their lives and then demand a constitutional amendment banning abortion. It’s something they just do, evidently to amuse people with functional brain cells. That’s why they’re on Faux News. That’s what teevee is for.
L- Urban Environment League reprints an email from the Executive Director of the South Florida Wildlands Association that spells out why opening opening up part of the Big Cypress National Preserve to motorized recreation vehicles is such a bad idea.
To say the least, this is a strange decision on the part of folks who are supposed to be stewards of one of America's most unique places. Every single piece of legislation, regulation and guidance dealing with the management of National Park Service units, from the Organic Act of 1916 to the 2006 NPS Management Policies, stresses the need to put natural resource protection before recreation.
M- Burgers By The Beach liked Gilbert's in Fort Lauderdale.
Meat flavor was awesome... Size of the burger was great... The cheese on the cheese burgers was not melted when the burger arrived... Blue cheese stuffed burger was PERFECT... They ran out of pickles(could of gone to Publix in the shopping center to get more?)... The Brie slices were great & melted as the burger was eaten... If you get a chance, try ANY of the desserts (Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake, Plain Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie or Mexican Wedding Cookies) Mmmmm!
N- Eye on Miami has an epic post full of mostly depressing thoughts on the year that was 2010.
Today, the financial system is filled to the rafters with zombie banks and executives who took down billions for speed and efficiency in execution while staying afloat thanks to the generosity, or panic, of the Federal Reserve. Here, from the bottom of the ladder—municipal and county government—to the top, accountability is a mirage. In 2010 the Miami-Dade police department looted millions from the environmental crimes fund to buy personal computers, SUV’s, and other accouterments. It now claims no responsibility to replenish the fund. No one was fined. No one was fired.
O- Bark Bark Woof Woof takes a look at the audiences of Fox News and The Daily Show.

P- Radio or Not examines some of the famous musician interviews she's done in her career.
The very first interview in the KSCA “Music Hall” was with Talking Heads leader David Byrne on July 6, 1994. The station had signed on the air just days before. It was also my very first interview and, yes, I was nervous!


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SFDB Viral Video




Based upon the title attached to the video, I suspect that some Little Limbaugh apparently forgot that it was George W. Bush who created the TSA.

Facts are such pesky things when you're suffering from Obama Derangement Syndrome.

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SFDB Post Of The Week



SFDB selects its Post of the Week by going back and reviewing all the Sifts that we've done over the past 7 days. We find the best post of the week and note the runners ups as we judge them to be.

I usually consider the run-up to Christmas as a slow time for blogging, but last week the South Florida blogosphere had some truly memorable posting. Sixteen posts made the final cut for this week's consideration but there are only four that get to this post. Here we go.

Runners-Up: Food For Thought invited his 10-year-old daughter to guest post a restaurant review and the result was super cute and notable. The tragic death of a young and well-liked South Florida cyclist produced a tribute post at The Miami Bike Scene that was as dignified as it was heart wrenching. Farm Day at Bee Heaven Farms in South Miami-Dade was beautifully documented in a well-composed post at Redland Rambles.


Winner: Driving around Miami on a weekend looking for the best croquetas sounds like a bunch of fun which is exactly the feeling you get from Miami Beach 411's excellent post about the recent Miami Croqueta Crawl. Photos and an entertaining video were included in the post and colorful narrative pulled the whole thing together to make Miami Croqueta Crawl Combines Old School Cuba With Social Media a memorable read. So memorable, in fact, that it captures this week's SFDB Post of the Week honors.

'Til next time, keep on blogging!

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America Is Begging In A Winn-Dixie Parking Lot



And so on Tuesday night, for the 3rd or 4th time in the past couple months, I provided some down and out South Florida soul a few bucks to help them continue on with their life. This time it was outside a Winn-Dixie in Fort Lauderdale after the middle-aged guy asked for some money "to help feed his kids." Sure, I thought, and I bet your kids are named Johnny Walker or Jim Beam. But after seeing actual kids bouncing around in the van behind him, I discreetly passed him some money, out of view of his children who I hoped would never see their father begging.

There have also been men carrying gas cans around brightly lit suburban filling stations, asking for a few gallons from the pump I was using to fill my car. One of these guys even had some kind of company ID dangling around his neck as if he had just left a workplace.

Don't even think that I've been marked as some kind of rube by the everyday shysters that roam South Florida in droves. No, I've been around long enough to smell a con...and these guys weren't conning. They were at the bottom where their only option was to ask total strangers on the street for help.

How does it come to this? How do we get to the place where our leaders can spend so much time figuring out ways in which millionaires and billionaires can keep more of their money while others rely on hand outs just to exist? Where those same despicable leaders look at the unemployed as lazy and spend our tax money trying to find ways to keep from helping them, all the while accepting millions of dollars in hand outs themselves from huge corporations looking for favors.

While these people are bad, the only people more morally bankrupt are those who cast votes for these pieces of crap and enable this subversion of the ideals that this great country was built on. Ironically, these people more often than not consider themselves to be compassionate pro-life Christians who somehow reconcile in their small, hypocritical minds the injustices taking place against the most powerless in our society in order to vote for anyone with an "R" after their name.

I would love nothing more than to pull one these sanctimonious, self serving, once-a-week communion-taking a-holes aside and ask them who do they think Jesus would help if he had the chance: Wayne Huizenga or a guy in a Winn-Dixie parking lot with no money and a van full of hungry kids?

And, yeah, I guess you can say my political post hiatus is history.

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Your Morning Sift



The one day I get up early on my vacation and I find out the South Forida blogosphere has been sleeping in with me the whole week. Enjoy your brief morning Sift.

A- Superbee does not heart PubBelly.
I love the concept of PubBelly. I love that it's a local restaurant. What I don't love is that everything comes off... overwrought. As Monica said, there was "too much going on." She noted that Sugarcane does that Pubbelly is trying to do, and does it well, but that PubBelly... lacked.

I agree with her.
B- South Florida Theatre Scene reviews the year that was 2010.

C- Listen to The South Florida Watershed Journal give a presentation titled "Staying In Tune With South Florida's Water Cycle.

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Your Evening Sift



Just a gorgeous South Florida winter day this afternoon. I spent some time biking around Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale and then enjoyed a lunch by the Intracoastal watching some mega-yachts cruise by. It was really the perfect combination of sun and air temperature. According to the weather forecast, it looks like there's more of that to come. Enjoy your evening Sift.

A- Random Pixels feels as though the tragic deaths of 5 Miami youth in Hialeah deserved more attention by the Herald and the national news media.
One wonders if the story might have been played more prominently had the 5 young men lived in Pinecrest or if they had attended school at Gulliver Prep.
B- In local theater blogging, South Florida Theatre Scene has their regularly scheduled review for the week while South Florida Theater Review says Rock of Ages is all fun. From the latter...
The truth is Rock of Ages has one goal only: to deliver a good time, and in that, it’s a @#$%&* success, man.
C- The polls show that Charlie Crist may have a political future after all while Rick Scott is liked only by the hardest of hardcore Republicans...over at The Reid Report.

D- Hidden City wants you to join him for the first sunrise of 2011.
So who’s looking for something to do on Saturday? Say around 7:08am?

That’s when the sun will rise over the Atlantic, kicking off 2011, and kicking out 2010. As my improbable tradition requires, I will be at Haulover Beach to welcome the new year, and to make certain the old one doesn’t try to stick around.
E- Everglades fall colors are on display at Some Blogging Guy's place.

F- Belle Isle Blog looks back on their coverage for 2010.
We’ve followed stories tiny and mid-sized (big for us), and tried to focus on neighborhood issues that touch our quality of life: traffic, zoning, crime, flooding. We’ve also attempted to highlight the heritage of this unique Miami Beach neighborhood.
G- Miamism links to their own 10 Best Blog Posts of 2010.

H- Carlos Miller compares the Flip UltraHD to the Sony Bloggie MHS-TS20 and in the process, I lose track of how many cameras he buys and then returns to Costco.

I- South Florida Food and Wine takes a look at NYE at Tokyo Blue and Solita in Fort Lauderdale.
Two of Fort Lauderdale's sexiest restaurant/ultralounges are serving up quite the party on a plate and the dance floor both with multiple seatings and menu choices for those who either wish to get an early start or start the party fashionably late. Both SoLita Las Olas and Tokyo Blue are this years newcomers to the dining and nightlife scene and both are ringing in the new year in their own unique style.
J- Eater Miami continues with their seemingly endless lists for 2010, this time getting opinions on Miami's Biggest Dining Surprises.

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The Coldest December In 115 Years


The New York Times had a little fun with our recent spate of cold weather on Monday.
MIAMI — Floridians, who giddily track winter weather reports from the North, woke up Monday prepared to revel in their snow-free sidewalks and high-Fahrenheit fortunes. Another meteorological bullet dodged, chirped the snowbirds.

Then they opened their front doors to a comeuppance: a bone-chilling blast in the 30s, from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville, that has become the new and depressing norm here this December.

“It’s shocking, actually,” said Dorothy Lee, 51, as she crossed a windswept street, weighed down by three layers of shirts, a coat, a hat and gloves.

“And don’t forget the stockings on my legs,” she added, grimacing. “This is not why people move to Florida.”

In matters of weather, all whining is relative (just ask all the New Yorkers who spent the day cross-training with shovels). But in this city, traditional bragging rights have been replaced by griping rights.

Warm Weather Wussies like Obalesque have got to be ready to move to the jungles of South America but I'm loving this little break from the sweat-soaked, mold and mildew infested sauna-like climate that pervades our little corner of America for 8 months out of the year.


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SFDB's Statistical Moment

The five most common search terms that brought visitors to SFDB during the past week, according to Blogger stats.



One thing I've learned over the years is that you never know how a post is going to perform, statistically speaking, until after it's up. Some of what I thought were my best posts have flopped while the ones that I believed were ordinary and nothing special have received extraordinary amounts of traffic.

This Christmas season, last year's post featuring a Gay Larson Far Side cartoon, attracted a large amount of attention from all around the world.

Go figure.

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Your Morning Sift



Still on a holiday schedule here at Casa SFDB so this morning's Sift comes to you a little later than usual. Also, I'm thinking this week's Post of the Week selection won't be up until tomorrow. Enjoy your Sift.

A- Jeff Eats loves Gran Forno on Las Olas.
Now, not claiming to be an expert on Italian baked goods, I’m gonna take a shot here and tell you, that Gran Forno makes some absolutely delicious- breads, cookies, cakes, ciabitti, focaccia, biscotti, pastries, filone, pizza, sandwiches.
B- Your South Florida moment of the day, courtesy of Restaurant Gal.

C- Obalesque doesn't necessarily agree with his wife's demands for composting their household waste but he does understand the consequences of not participating.
Can we really save the earth one suppurating corn cob and squash rind at a time? I dunno. Like any good German, I just follow orders and hope to get laid. If using a retro-aluminum pail instead of this hi-tech, sharp-toothed garbage disposal makes Guido happy, who am I to deny her? Next Christmas maybe I’ll get her some garbage bag liners. I know some people, I’ll get a good price.
D- Mike LaMonica posts a video he calls Social Media, Gangsta Style.

E
- The Chowfather lists the 35 best things he ate in 2010.
21. Kimchi Benedict (with pork belly) at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink
20. Cracklin duck herb sandwich at Dim ssam a go go (Sakaya Kitchen truck)
19. Veal cheeks with mushroom polenta at Casa Tua (prior chef)
F- The Green Parrot Bar makes Florida Travel and Life Magazine's list of Key West "insider" spots.

G- Blogging Black Miami looks around and assesses her neighborhood.
Then I took a good look around the neighborhood, more specifically, my street, and reflected on how it has changed and in many ways not for the better. There’s an open area across the street from my home that many people think is a park. It was once a very idyllic area even with a portion of it once being nicknamed “Hobo Land.” Now people walk or drive pass not knowing its history.
H- Bark Bark Woof Woof wonders how there can be any gay conservatives.
It says something about the odd priorities of those who would put their political beliefs ahead of their own rights as full participants in citizenship. To turn the Groucho Marx quote on its head, why would anyone want to belong to a group that doesn't want to have you as a member?


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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Your Evening Sift



I boiled down what was a fairly busy day in the South Florida blogosphere to the five posts I deemed most worth reading. Here's your evening Sift.

A- Can you add to the under $20 things to do in Miami on NYE that Beached Miami is compiling?
So, in an effort to avoid another Magic City NYE devolving into a whiskey-fueled game of Cranium, we’ve decided to take a cue from wiki culture and make this list open-source. I’ll get it started with a few of the cheaper events I found that have potential. We would LOVE for you guys to add to the list in the comment thread. Feel free to suggest any events, including house parties, that you think are a worthwhile way to kiss 2010 goodbye.
B- Taking Over Miami explains what a "magic glass" is at Schnebly’s Winery.
For $7, if you buy one of their wine glasses, you can come to the winery every day that it is open and receive a free tasting of five wines of your choice (six including the GuaVino which they have been giving out complimentary). Hence, having a magic glass.
C- Midtown seems to be the best Miami neighborhood for dining according to the people Eater Miami tapped for their opinions.

D- Nunez Photography posts some images that you know had to have been taken in Wynwood.

E- The Chowfather lists his favorites spots for 2010.
Gourmet Diner-popular Caesar salad w/ chicken, vegetable souffles, tenderloin tips and beef burgundy
Southport Raw Bar-steamed old bay shrimp and raw bar.
La Petit Prince (le sandwicherie on Hollywood Beach) salami provolone or pate.
Pizzavolante-cacciatorini and some burrata.
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SFDB's A Few Moments At A Cold Fort Lauderdale Beach

I went for a walk along A1A in Fort Lauderdale yesterday afternoon and took a few shots as we strolled along the deserted beach. Actually, the shot I didn't take was the one of the 4 or 5 vacationers playing in the surf, no doubt fresh off a morning flight from Montreal.

Enjoy.












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SFDB Question Of The Day



I'm off until January 3rd and based upon the traffic volume I've been seeing on the local roadways in the middle of the day, I'm thinking there a lot who are on vacation with me.

Soooooo...

Are you working this week?

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Your Morning Sift



It was a pretty active night/morning in the SoFla blogosphere. Here we go with a brunch edition of your morning Sift.

A- More photos to start your morning off at The Street.

B
- Burger Beast lists the 5 things he doesn't want to see anymore of in 2011.
2) Street Food Burgers: I'm tired of finding out a new Street Food Truck is going to hit the scene and then after reviewing their menu I find out burgers and/or mini burgers/sliders are their main thing. We all know I love burgers but where's an inventive take on Cuban cuisine or even something like a Mac N' Cheese Truck (Just throwing that out there and hoping someone bites). How about a Croqueta Truck? Next truck that debuts and has a burger on the menu better have the greatest burger on earth.
C- Photos and a video from this weekend's King Mango Strut parade are up at Miami Beach 411.

D- Eater Miami gets a bunch of South Floridians to describe the Miami food scene in one word.
Jose Duran, Web Editor/MiamiNew Times: Schizophrenic.
ErGagit, blogger: Maturing.
The Chowfather, blogger: Buns.
E- Burgers by the Beach turns in the first review of the brand new ROK:BRGR in downtown Fort Lauderdale...and they love it.
The flavor quality of everything we ate really set this place apart from other pub burgers we have had. Massive amount of toppings didn't make the burger too messy(we felt the lettuce/tomato/onion hidden under each burger was a bit unnecessary). With a packed house, although it was small, they still were able to cook everyone's burger perfectly. Lobster Corn Dogs, come on... Outstanding! Momma's Rum Cake... Perfectly Moist!
F- Miami Favs is back with her 105th Miami fav...Italian cooking classes.
i got to roll gnocchi, chop some lettuce, watch a real chef live in action, make some friends, and at the end break bread and share wine with the stellar sandra stefani. by the time the class ended at 1:30 pm we had made eggplant towers (which was like an explosion of flavor in your mouth with eggplant, tomato, garlic, spinach, balsamic, olive oil and gorgonzola cheese), gnocchi ignudi (that melted on your tongue), fish wrapped in lettuce (which was perfection) and semifreddo con gli amaretti (which should translate to a frozen piece of heaven).
G- Some swampy thoughts on global warming from Swampstyle.

H- Soul of Miami tells us where Miami-Dade residents can recycle their Christmas trees.

I- Redland Rambles discusses the movie documentary "What's Organic About Organic?"
The film also follows the evolution of organic regulation and marketing of organic foods. The organic marketplace is getting increasingly consolidated, and “small farmers can’t meet price or variety or volume to get into larger stores. They (large chain stores) want only what they can market,” Marty said in the film. And, according to the film, one solution would be to create a farmer-owned brand which doesn’t compromise its organic principles and practices, and which can market itself to stores like the large growers do.
J- FTL Collective provides information and video directions to a New Year's party that they're sponsoring and is sure to be spectacular.
The trio of local acts gracing the rooftop will be punk rock enthusiasts Mute Issue, the always entertaining supergroup Travalonia, and experimental rockers Manifest Test Subject (you might remember them from our launch party). Spinning the greatest in indie, electro, new wave, and classic tracks will be JAM’s very own Esoteric and Damask, Stereo Synth’s Andie Sweetswirl, and future Fort Lauderdale mayoral candidate Mig (me).
K- Bark Bark Woof Woof highly recommends The King's Speech.
The King's Speech is one of the best films I've seen in a very long time. Colin Firth as Bertie, the stammering Duke of York who became King George VI and overcame his speech impediment, is heartbreakingly good, as is Geoffrey Rush who plays Lionel Logue, his speech therapist who is unimpressed with his royal patient's pedigree but clearly fond and supportive of his friend. Helena Bonham Carter is delightful and charming as the young Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) who reaches out to find Mr. Logue to help her husband overcome his disability.
L- A guest post at Eye on Miami claims that it is unfair to compare Miami's large media signs to those found in other major cities.
The examples Developer Mark Siffin uses to justify his twin LED Media Towers, Times Square, London, Tokyo, etc; don't pass muster. None of these places, as well as many other major cities, have the intrusive impact that his project will have.


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Monday, December 27, 2010

Your Evening Sift



I took a walk on Fort Lauderdale Beach today and actually spotted a group of people in their bathing suits frolicking in the surf. No doubt just off a plane from Toronto. Enjoy your evening Sift.

A- Snow! Over at The Heat Lightning.
Here are some mediocre images from last night and today’s blizzard from the Boston area. It’s still snowing and very windy and I’m warm and well-fed inside.
B- Eater Miami surveyed friends, industry types, local bloggers, and readers to come up with their opinions of South Florida's top restaurant newcomers for 2010.
Frodnesor, Food for Thought blogger: Sugarcane; Sakaya Kitchen (OK, opened late December 2009; still was too late for the 2009 year end survey); Gigi; Chow Down Grill. Too early to tell on several others like DB Bistro Moderne, Vino e Olio.
C- The Chowfather is the first out of the box to rate South Florida's best burgers in 2010.

D- King Mango Strut photos are up at Nikon Miami.

E
- Ten things to do on Virginia Key according to View from Virginia Key.
Eat. There are several restaurants, a few arepa/hot dog stands and a smoked fish joint: Rusty Pelican, the new Rickenbacker Fish House, Bayside Hut, Jimbo’s and the Hobie Beach stands. Or bring a picnic lunch. Best views are just about anywhere from the island out to aquamarine waters that surround it.

Sail. Hobie Beach has the rental boards. You’ll see the bright sails rustling in the sea breezes along the Rickenbacker Causeway. Or bring your own kayak, canoe, paddleboard. The water is crystal clear and teeming with fascinating critters.
F- The Reid Report takes a look at the latest polling on who Americans most admire and then how the numbers break down according to political party.
Who people admire says a lot about them. The latest Gallup survey places President Obama on top with Democrats and Independents, while Republicans like George W. Bush most. And Democrats’ top five list is heavy on international humanitarians, while Republicans lean toward cable news and Christianity.


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SFDB's Why We Live Here



Other great pictures of a snowbound New York City are here.


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SFDB Quote Of The Day

Former Democratic candidate for Florida governor Alex Sink...
"So losing sucks. No matter how much you lose by, it sucks."
The residents of Florida can certainly identify with Sink's sentiments.


-via Naked Politics


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Rants From Boca

Comedian Sarah Silverman's Dad winters in Boca Raton and recently shared his pointed opinion of the people who call that city home. Mr. Silverman does the Twitter thing [@rantsfromboca] that I am now most definitely following.

Good stuff.

 


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The Cooler



Here's some of the more interesting news that I found in this morning's mainstream media.

A- Herald: Breaking news! The Dolphins' owner is pissed off that his team sucks.
``I feel as frustrated as any fan,'' Ross reiterated. He declined to discuss the futures of coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland, instead saying that he's ``starting to evaluate now.''

He also said he wanted to cool down before forming opinions based solely on Sunday.
B- Herald: Elections have consequences.
TALLAHASSEE -- Governor-elect Rick Scott promises it won't be business as usual when he takes the reins of the state's highest office on Jan. 4, and if he adopts the giant to-do list from the six groups on his transition team, there may be no doubt he has kept his promise.

The wide-ranging list of recommendations cover everything from considering the sale of Jackson Memorial Hospital to giving universal vouchers to all parents to send their children to private schools.

The ideas contemplate merging more than a dozen state agencies into two or three departments, raising residential electricity rates in exchange for lower commercial rates, privatizing the state's mental health facilities, punishing the unemployed for spending too little time hunting for jobs and even identifying a private-sector employee to run the Department of Juvenile Justice.
C- Herald: They write letters.
Conflicting policies

Here we go again. The dry season has just started, and the South Florida Water Management Board is already threatening emergency water restrictions if the level in Lake Okeechobee drops another four inches before it meets in January. The Army Corps of Engineers is starting a week-long round of water releases for Lake Okeechobee as well. Seems like a bad idea to me.

DAVID PORTER, Fort Lauderdale
D- Sun-Sentinel: Debate about improvements to Las Olas Boulevard.
Activists in the Colee Hammock neighborhood said Las Olas is a major thoroughfare between downtown and the beach and don't want any change that would make the street wall-to-wall cars. They predict enough problems if plans to rebuild the Bahia Mar hotel and the International Swimming Hall of Fame on the beach move forward. They say too many cars already use neighborhood side streets to escape traffic jams.

"We are very, very concerned that the whole project is being looked at as if Las Olas is an island," Colee Hammock resident Ann Shumpert said. "It almost seemed an agenda was preset by developers about what should be the outcome. They are destroying the character of the city."
E- Palm Beach Post: Your Make My Day Moment of the Day.
The shooting took place outside the Longhorn Steakhouse and next to the JPMorgan Chase Bank on the 6800 block of Okeechobee Boulevard, just outside West Palm Beach city limits, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department.

A spokeswoman for the department said three men approached a fourth man and attempted to rob him. The victim, who had a concealed weapons permit, pulled out his own gun and shot one of the robbers.
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Your Morning Sift



For some, it's back to work but not for SFDB. We got another week to go so things will be a little off until the 3rd. The SoFla blogosphere, however, seems to be getting back to normal. Here's your morning Sift.

A- Redland Rambles provides a look at an Edible South Florida article entitled "Women Who Farm."

B- Coconut Grove Grapevine posts a slideshow from yesterday's King Mango Strut festivities.

C- Beached Miami has two superb videos featuring an acoustic Rachel Goodrich before she jets to the West Coast.

D- Wander2Wonder closes up shop.
I started this blog with a prayer, and I guess I should finish with one.

Thank you father for giving me the words and the experiences to help those who have benefited from this blog. Please let it be that those who need will find. Please take away from me, my the burden of self. Guide me through my thoughts and feelings to do your will instinctively. Let me be an instrument of your peace, fill my heart with your love so that I can give it to all that I meet. Let all of my thoughts and actions be for the good of all, according to the free will of all, and so must it be. Thank you.
E- South Florida Food and Wine is giving away some free tickets to the South Florida Food & Wine Festival.

F- The Top 10 [Classical] Performances of 2010, according to the South Florida Classical Review.
The classical highlight of the year was the April presentation of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony by Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony at the Arsht Center. This monumental performance brought together intense concentration, responsive playing by the orchestra and a sense of pacing that brought out the immense power of this work. The pianissimo string playing in the first movement, the violent opening of the second, the brilliance and clarity of the brass, the intense, transparent and ecstatic Adagietto– it was a performance full of great moments with a powerful sense of the symphony’s overall architecture.
G- Former President Jimmy Carter is still working to improve the world, so says Bark Bark Woof Woof.

H- Eye on Miami thoroughly enjoyed the King Mango Strut parade, especially the poke at Britto.

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Sunday, December 26, 2010

Your Evening Sift



It seems as though there's still some Christmas hangover left in the South Florida blogosphere...things are dreadfully slow. Here's your threadbare evening Sift.

A- The Street is back with more photos.

B- Miamism almost requires a Heimlich while tasting the mojito at III Forks at Gulfstream Park.

C- Great photo of kite surfers doing it at Naples Beach over at The South Florida Watershed Journal.

D- Governor Rick Scott is well on his way to wrecking the State of Florida, says the Reid Report who uses major linkage to prove her point.

E- Eye on Miami gives us a taste of winter.


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SFDB's Why We Live Here

Christmas Day in Atlanta...




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What Miami's Best Of Poll



I don't pretend to be up on everything going on in the South Florida blogosphere but I was surprised to learn this morning of a website called What Miami...
Founded in 2009, What Miami is THE place where residents and tourists come to find out What to Do, What to See, What to Eat™ in Miami. It is a new style of online magazine designed to bridge the gap between traditional and online media.

From business directory and event listings to local news and contests, What Miami services a large audience of locals and tourists. Using an innovative platform, What Miami brings readers and local businesses together. Readers are engaged via email campaigns, city guides, maps, social media interaction, and Miami's best website (2010 Miami New Times Readers' Poll).

The What Miami website makes it easy for readers to find all of the information they are looking for in just one place, by presenting an interactive city guide & directory that is fun and user-friendly. Major events, parties, local businesses, and community outreach programs finally have a single place to be found!
Yep, it was the Miami New Time's Best Local Website [Reader's Choice] for 2010. Who knew?

Anyway, What Miami is conducting a Best Of poll for 2011. There are all the typical categories to vote for your favorites, including Best Local Blog. The choices there are Eye on Miami, Transit Miami, Beached Miami, yours truly and "other."

So head on over and cast your vote for whoever you feel is worthy. It's a great way to support South Florida blogging and What Miami.

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Your Morning Sift



Good morning, readers. Only 364 more shopping days 'till Christmas. Enjoy your morning Sift.

A- Transit Miami gets their Letter to the Editor published in the Miami Herald.

B- South Florida Food and Wine completes the last installment of their Blogger in the Spotlight series with the spotlight on...herself. Questions are provided by other bloggers.
Burger Beast asks: If you were on a deserted island and could only save either your favorite meal or favorite drink, which would you save? This is of course assuming you saved a human being first. Please mention what your favorite meal and drink are.

South Florida Food and Wine: Favorite Meal: Pasta anything. Favorite Beverage: Champagne. They say, a human being can live for weeks without food but only 3-4 days without “liquid” (supposedly water). Since I’m stranded I’ll have to say that I can live off the fat of the land or body in this case, so I would save my beverage.
C- Happy holidays from Artlurker.

D- Food for Thought presents his much anticipated Ten Best Bites of 2010.

E- Eye on Miami wonders whether recalled Miami Dade County Commissioner Natacha Seijas will be able to get a different election date than the also recalled Mayor Carlos Alvarez.
Mayor Carlos Alvarez who will face a county-wide recall and Seijas, a recall in the district encompassing Hialeah, should be on the same ballot. Combining the two recall elections will save taxpayers at a time of severe municipal budget woes. But Seijas doesn't want to be lumped together with Alvarez. If that happens, she is worried that voters will be inclined to throw all the bums out and she could be swept out on her witches' broom.
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Saturday, December 25, 2010

SFDB Saturday Night Turndown Service



[Click on photo for video]


Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Canon

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Your Christmas Evening Sift



It was understandably pretty quiet in the South Florida blogosphere today so your Christmas evening Sift is correspondingly brief.

A- Happy Holidays from Redland Rambles.

B- Take a drive through the Enchanted Forest Christmas Light Display with Miamism.

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SFDB Christmas 2010 Greetings

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Your Christmas MId-Afternoon Sift



I hope Santa was good to everyone. I'm still lazying around, listening to excellent Christmas music on 89.7 and wondering when Twitter will ever get its act together and become part of the modern world [over capacity]. Enjoy your Christmas Mid-Afternoon Sift.

A- Christmas greetings from...
B- Things are coming together for Restaurant Gal this Christmas.
On a whim, I responded in person to a location that had placed an ad for a full-time position, was interviewed first ahead of the three others waiting to enjoy the same agony of telling all about oneself, and suddenly found myself first on the A-list for a second interview. That the big boss with whom I was told to meet didn’t know that I was told to meet with him at an assigned time the next day was awkward, but interesting. “I told my manager to send me his top three candidates. You’re apparently the only one, and I didn’t even know he’d recommended you. Lucky you, though, right?” I don’t know if I have the job, but here’s to hoping that I remain first and only on that list. Merry Christmas to the job-hunting gods for waving their magic wands just in time.
C- Hidden City weaves a Christmas story like only he can.
“A bunch of the big guy’s followers are getting their knickers in a twist over people saying ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’ It’s pretty stupid, really, but that crowd thinks they run the world, anyway. I’m going around spreading holiday cheer, and some uptight, insecure little douche bag says that somehow people are using me to declare war on their faith. There are wankers all over the world killing each other over religion, but somehow someone saying ‘Happy Holidays!’ is the bleeding problem?”

Two freshly emptied glasses hit the wood counter in quick succession, followed by a relatively discreet belch.
D- Christmas is an opportunity to proselytize for Some Blogging Guy and, in a different way, Swampstyle.

E- Eye on Miami's niece is an artist.

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Friday, December 24, 2010

Your Christmas Eve Sift



It's almost here, ladies and gentlemen. Your shopping should be done and the presents should be wrapped. Christmas 2010, coming up...right after your Christmas Eve Sift.

A- South Florida Lawyers, Obalesque, and Random Pixels have some thoughts and feelings on the passing of Miami radio icon Neil Rogers. From the first one...
By the time he abandoned the issue format and let loose his freewheeling mix of hockey, horse racing, movies, politics, cheapskate Canadians, fart jokes, song parodies, and condo commandos, Neil was in orbit and brought his listeners along for the ride. He exposed phonies, fraud, injustice and pretense, joked about the petty frustrations of life in South Florida, battled with his radio colleagues, censors and management, and proudly wore his political leanings and sexuality on his sleeve at a time and in a place (sports radio) where neither were especially welcomed.

Thank you Neil for saving so many of us, along with all the jokes.
B- Merry Christmas from A Mom, A Blog and the Life In-Between, Live Laugh Snap, South Florida Theatre Scene, Sweat Records and Midtown Chic-a.

C- Belle Isle Blog's Christmas list is pretty short.

D- If you live up in Broward, drag out your GPS and go see some Christmas light displays courtesy of FTL Collective.

E- Check out Dwyane Wade's boat over at Miamism Pix.

F- The Reid Report has some interesting info on a possible anti-Palin candidate in California.
She’s beautiful, brilliant, multi-ethnic and the next attorney general of California. Find out why Kamala Harris is the future of the Democratic Party, and everything Sarah Palin can’t hope to be.

In a country that’s becoming more diverse, Sarah Palin’s acidic style and viciousness toward anyone who doesn’t buy into her bumper sticker version of American history just don’t play well politically, or socially. But Democrats have yet to find someone who matches Palin’s megawatt star power, or who can capture the attention of the glam-focused mainstream media. At least, until now.


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SFDB's Videos Of Christmas Past




A Charlie Brown Christmas


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SFDB Thought For The Day




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Bulletins From Another World



From the Mammoth [CA] Times:
On Wednesday, Mammoth again was hit with a spate of snow. The storm was projected to last through the afternoon and drop as much as two feet on the town.
When 2 feet of snow is "a spate," it once again proves that weather is all relative.

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The Cooler



Even the news is slowing down for Christmas. Enjoy your Cooler.

A- Herald: Wasting no time.
The city's red-light cameras will be activated on Jan 1. Drivers who are caught running a red light will be issued a citation of $158, said Jose Gonzalez, an assistant transportation coordinator with the city of Miami. Unlike some other cities, Miami will not start by issuing warnings, although the fines won't increase for repeat offenders.

``This fine remains the same for each subsequent red-light violation committed by the same driver,'' Gonzalez said. ``Warnings will not be issued. A driver who receives a notice of violation can choose to appear in court.''

Also, the citations do not add points to drivers' records, so insurance costs should be unaffected.
B- Herald: Charges in Ynot death.
A Deerfield Beach man has been arrested and charged with running over and killing a 21-year-old man with an SUV during a fight outside a Davie strip club five months ago.

Reynaldo Rodriguez, 32, turned himself in Wednesday at the Broward Main Jail. He was charged with one count of vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony.

He is the suspect in the July 28 death of Jonathan P. Corso, a Davie man whose friends called him ``Ynot'' and the ``King of 95'' for the graffiti he painted across South Florida.
C- Herald: South Florida's Mr. Positive.
Every day for the last two years, Kemy Joseph has worn a sign around his neck, giving his fellow students at the University of Miami a positive thought for the day.

``I started wearing signs to put some positivity out there and to remind people that they are incredible; they are amazing; they are awesome,'' said Joseph, 23, whose first sign was U R Awesome.

Since then, he has worn more than 600 signs, reading from ``Smile and Be Happy'' to ``Thanks for being who you are.''

A year ago, he decided to turn his signs into T-shirts and sell them to his fellow students at $20 each to raise funds to help others. He recruited volunteers and together they sold 374 shirts and raised $7,000 -- close to their initial goal of $10,000.
D- Sun-Sentinel: Chan Lowe.

E- NBC Miami: Hey, how about Blogger?
Of course, it's also a good idea to take some precautions so it looks like you are home: Ask that one of your neighbors picks up your newspaper so they don't pile up, make sure to lock all your doors and windows and try not to post your vacation plans on Twitter or Facebook.
F- WPLG: Pembroke Pines Fire-Rescue gets rescued.
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. -- Three Pembroke Pines firefighters drove away Thursday night in Engine No. 33, which was back in service after being stuck in an enormous sinkhole.


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Your Morning Sift



As you might expect, posting is off considerably as we move closer to Christmas. SFDB is sticking with you, however, and will continue to peruse the South Florida blogosphere through the holidays. You can count on us. Now let's get Sifty...

A- Some Blogging Guy posts some random Christmas thoughts.
90% of my shopping was through Amazon or other online options. I can honestly report most of my gifts were purchased while I sat in the comfort of my home in my boxers. I hate car commercials during the holidays. I mean, really, who gives someone a car for Christmas!?

I have heard more Happy Holidays this year. But I always reply “Merry Christmas” unless the person is obviously not of the sort to celebrate Christmas. I always get a quick “Merry Christmas” right back.
B- Bark Bark Woof Woof resurrects a post from 2004 that is full of Christmas tradition.
We had two fireplaces in the house, including one in the kitchen, so that's where we hung our stockings with care. Christmas morning would arrive and the four kids would line up, youngest first, on the back stairs, squirming with anticipation until we were let into the kitchen and a breakfast of Christmas baked treats, including a Scandanavian stollen baked by a family friend.
C- Commissioner Natacha Seijas implies that race is the motivator for her recall. Eye on Miami has the details.
As a Cuban-American woman, I accept that there are elements of this community who resent my presence on the board.
D- Obalesque shares his warm wishes for a happy holiday.
Merry Christmas and Best of the Season from this non-believer to the Faithful Sane. The rest of you can eat sh*t [Ed.], die, and fry freeze in hell. If only that destination existed other than the one you make for us right here.
E- PhinPhanatic disagrees with the argument that Miami fans are to blame for the Dolphins' lackluster performance at home.
The Dolphins are the only ones who can change the atmosphere of the stadium. That starts with changing the way you play the game. If conservative game plans are the order of business then it damn well better work and you better win with it, because the fans have been mired in this for far too long and there really isn’t anything to go out and cheer for right now. Not when your coaches are satisfied with playing for ties, rather than wins.

Some say the Miami Dolphins need to change their attitude, mentality, and approach to the game. That will likely change the attitude, mentality, and approach from the fans. It’s not the sideshows of Stephen Ross that are distracting because that isn’t remotely evident on the field during the game, it’s the sideshow of a conservative offense that doesn’t score that is distracting and doesn’t fill the stadium to capacity. Keep that in mind the next time you want to blame the fans for the product on the field.


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