Malls, much like bars, are epicenters of style and social activity, places where people come to parade as much as they do to splurge. In the Shops at Sunset Place (5701 Sunset Dr., South Miami; 305-663-4222), alcohol is as much of an attraction as any retail store there, with a…
War Is Hell For both sides: Isaiah Thompson’s “Ramadi Madness” (August 23) is another example of what happens to many soldiers when they return from war. I have always believed that war is the child of Hell. That all of Florida’s 124th Infantry came back alive is in and of…
Gatsby’s (8575 SW 124th Ave., Miami; 305-412-2220) is one of the few pubs to successfully capture the air of a bygone era without kitsch overload. The upscale sports bar/restaurant’s dim confines recall the plush cigar parlors and smoky speakeasies of the Twenties. Colorful paintings of jiving partiers adorn the walls,…
Taking a Toll By telling jokes: As one journalist writing to another, I have this to say about Calvin Godfrey’s August 23 story, “For Whom the Hell Tolls”: Good show, chap! Excellent story. Ambitious, creative, and hard-hitting. (Well, two out of three ain’t bad.) Your story stirred in me the…
In a misguided attempt to dodge traffic on my way home the other day, I got lost and stumbled upon this building with four fresh pieces on it near NE 2nd Ave. and NE 71st Street. — Tovin Lapan…
From the Big TNT show in 1965. It’s and old school medley with the full Ike and Tina Turner band moving and grooving like mad. Not sure how they managed to have such good stage chemistry considering how crazy Ike was behind the scenes, but here’s a rare video that’s…
It’s been a bluesy week so far so why not start off Tuesday with a nod to John Lee Hooker, one of the greatest blues musicians to ever live. “Hobo Blues” is easily one my favorite songs of all time, mainly for its guitar work and the sincerity in his…
Jail: Screwed Again He got nailed for speaking up: As a former administrator responsible for debriefing corrections officers after major incidents such as inmate deaths — which is the focus of Tamara Lush’s August 16 feature story, “117 Dead” — I have intimate knowledge of Miami-Dade County’s failure to correct…
Miami might be one of the southernmost locales in the eastern United States, but it hardly meets the requisites of Dixieland. Country drawls and cowboy boots are as rare as Hispanic accents and chancletas are prolific. But down where the turnpike merges into South Dixie Highway, numerous angler shops and…
Alright…so as some of you know, R Kelly and his crazy “Trapped in the Closet” series is being released today. I have a tough time supporting that one…mainly because chapters 13-22 offer us nothing that Chapters 1-12 already haven’t. Cheap laughs and blah blah. That’s not even me hating. Scroll…
Since Nasty Nas was just here a couple of weeks ago for the Rock the Bells Tour, it only seems fitting to play some Nas today. Work day is almost over folks. It’s Halftime –Jonathan Cunningham…
Throwing it way back once again. I came across this old school EPMD video and felt the need to drop it on a day like this when the hip-hop world is so out of focus. Everyone seems to be looking forward to Sept. 11 when 50 Cent and Kanye West…
The Abbey (1115 16th St., Miami Beach; 305-538-8110) is a rarity in Miami. Almost invisible from the street at night, the clandestine microbrewery is marked only by a neon sign that reads “Bar.” No flashing marquees, no long lines. Just a dark storefront and a door. Staying true to its…
Raw Hatin’ He’s a criminal: It’s crazy to see DJ Raw on the cover of New Times (“Raw Returns,” by Esther Park, August 9). I’m glad he is out of jail, but as a member of the Wynwood community at the time of his arrest, I was very angry at…
Is it just me, or was LL Cool J a lot “cooler” before all the botox and lip-licking that he does now got out of control? Not sure why he’s so image conscious, but if you ask me, LL was at his best back in the day during videos like…
Crew’s Cue Time for Rudy to go: I applaud your article about Miami-Dade schools superintendent Rudy Crew (“Bad Apple,” by Francisco Alvarado, August 2). It underscores just what a belligerent despot this man truly is. Only in Miami-Dade County do people get rewarded for mediocrity and incompetence. We — the…
There was a time in Miami when scaffolds were scarce and only a small cluster of buildings composed the skyline along Brickell Avenue. Here a speck of affluence glimmered on the mainland, before gentrification spread like wildfire down Biscayne Boulevard. Novecento (1414 Brickell Ave., Miami; 305-403-0900), one of the only…
These photos were taken on 36th Street and N. Miami Avenue, in what they are now calling “Mid-Town Miami”. The building is abandoned, except for the people that sleep inside of it. — Jason Handelsman…
Despite its name, Skybar (1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-695-3288) isn’t a star-kissed rooftop lounge. Located inside the Shore Club hotel, the place is actually at ground level, with a rather elusive entrance around the corner from the resort’s lobby. But the lounge does meet one expectation: lots of bling…
Ho, Snap! Who are you to critique Yamil?: I believe there are plenty of excellent comedic talents in South Florida, and Yamil Piedra is one of the very best among them (“Serious Comedy,” by Janine Zeitlin, July 26). One thing Miami does lack, however, is credible and talented opinion writers…
Grady Is a Champ Punch the pols: Isaiah Thompson’s “Grady and the Champ” (July 19) is one of the best stories I have read, and I am not even a boxing fan. I just enjoyed the investigative and human interest aspects of the story. If reporters put as much energy…
There’s not much to say about Barracuda Raw Bar and Grill (3035 Fuller St., Coconut Grove; 305-448-1144). You can smoke inside, wolf down fries and greasy burgers, and chug cheap beer. Other than a few standard features (booths, jukebox, pool table), the bar is nondescript. But what it lacks in…
