Opinion & Commentary

Prior to the advent of astro-drink Tang and its evil twin Sunny D, Florida was the undisputed Bordeaux of the breakfast drink game. These days though, our prime regional product isn’t O.J. alone. We’ve been forced by circumstance (a.k.a. evil, artificial orange drinks) to diversify into such things as cultivating the…

No theme this week — just a random sampling.I went to a restaurant that serves ‘breakfast at any time’. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance. ~Steven WrightWhen I go to a restaurant, I always ask for a chicken and an egg to see which comes first. ~UnknownWhen a…

Ever loved your sugar pie honeybunny pookie bear soooo much that your relationship already felt like beautiful music? I guess that’s what Me She and Chris V of new local act BFGF were feeling, and they decided to express that feeling in song. And thus, the enamored couple (look, they…

Miami is a city of vanity — we accept that as fact, even if it’s a poor quality. But Bravo’s new series, Miami Social, takes that attribute and runs with it. In a three-minute preview posted on its website, the cast provides enough cringe-worthy moments that it left Riptide feeling…

Now you Z it, then…In what has to be the fastest closing since Donny Osmond attempted George M. Cohan on Broadway, Zushi Flirt has rolled from the lobby of Z Ocean Hotel. A second branch of 8-oz. Burger Bar is already in its place, the Burger Bar brain trust no…

As we were the first to report, Bravo officially announced the details of its upcoming “docusoap” Miami Social yesterday. And to think, Lesley Abravanal said it would never happen. Bravo has the official website for the series up, and it’s our first chance to get a look at the official cast…

To read past installments of South Florida According to Brooklyn, click here.I want to talk about the bike scene in South Florida again, because there have been some really good events lately. We just did open sprints two weeks ago at Keirin Cycles in Miami Beach. Then this past weekend…

Today, Banana Republican begins a weekly series assessing candidates running for various municipal elected offices this year. Let’s turn our attention to the District 3 city commission race in Miami, where we have seven contenders vying to replace Joe Sanchez, who is running for mayor. The district includes the affluent Roads…

That’s right, the honorable Phineas J. Whoopie has officially retired from lecturing Tennessee Tuxedo and Chumley the Walrus to pursue a career in music. For those of you not up on obscure cartoon characters from the 1960s, Phineas is the bespectacled professor who would help out Underdog and his friends…

We heard a few murmurs that Bravo was scouting Miami as a possible setting for the next Real Housewives season, but it turns out the show that plucks prime housewife stereotypes from the nation’s most ridiculous regions and watches them fight to the proverbial death on camera has decided to go with Washington,…

Jerry Jean Juste spent time in jail in Haiti. He brought together Miami’s troubled expatriate Haitian community in its most troubled hour. He hated no one — at least publicly — not even  When he winked at you, it was as if the skies had opened. He died yesterday of…

First Came the Greyhounds Balanced: Michael J. Mooney’s May 21 story “Track Star” was incredible. You had me in tears. You were so good about showing both sides of the story. And if it does upset the industry, I’m fine with that! Please kiss Jailamony for me. (But I still…

Just got back from the Spence-Jones Vindication Show in Overtown. The thunderstorms had just subsided outside the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 301 NW 9th Street. But inside Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones’ angry voice boomed throughout the cavernous assembly hall. She was flanked by 30 to 40 supporters.”It’s been almost…

Notes from the Soundboard is a new column appearing weekly on Crossfade,  focused on pop music’s history and ongoing evolution. Lee Zimmerman shares insights and observations on how music continues to connect with the weirdness of the world. Click here to read past installments.”It’s not time to make a change,…

Archive Diver is diggin in the crates for  New Times content from days gone by. We’ll be bringing you everything from fliers, to articles, to whatever throwbacks got something to do with anything.This week, check out promotion for a May 25 and 26, 1988 show by the Four Tops at…

What’s worse than having to go to the hospital? How about spending days in the hospital recovering from surgery or serious illness, finally going home, and then realizing that some jackass in the ER stole your identity?That’s exactly what happened to close to 50 patients at Palmetto General in Hialeah,…

Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Surf Nazis on Ecstasy are a thrash-punk trio who, despite their name, are neither beach bums nor fascists. And they definitely don’t do raves. By their own word: “We’re not artsy. We’re not Nazis. We only play all-ages shows.” It’s an operational ethic that regularly brings…

1. Hire better hosts and hostesses, meaning those who can do more than smile and offer rote salutations. When gauging hospitality skills, Danny Meyer of New York’s Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern looks for five traits in his employees: “1)extremely nice; 2)intelligent; 3)infused with an extraordinary work ethic; 4)empathetic;…

While we’re on the subject of the Freestyle Invasion II concert this Saturday, we put together a play list of some of the best songs by the artists performing. Enjoy.Oh yeah – there’s also another HUGE freestyle show coming up, the Freestyle Extravaganza on June 27 at the AAA. That…

Word around town is that an air date has finally been set for Miami’s latest reality series (being billed as a “docu-drama”). Details from Bravo TV’s Miami Social have been flooding the beach, and we hear that the show is supposed to be hitting airwaves July 7.Speculated cast member, and…