miami favs

miami fav #123 / the round up

you can’t just go home after a rodeo. especially not when you don your go-to pink cowgirl hat. it just wouldn’t be right. the hat must make appearances! and when people put on boots, they mean business. and that business lasts all night long. which also translates to really long lines at the local country/line-dancing bar. in davie, this means the round-up. where the line is like country fashion runway. snake-skin, alligator skin, low boots, high boots, wranglers, diesel, flannel, sequins… and they are workin’ it. and the inside is even better. the round up is pretty spectacular. and they have amazing drink prices. i’m pretty sure i had three (or five) mixed drinks for all of like $5. let’s just say that added the magic of the evening. we scored a high table overlooking the dance floor, and the whole aura made it feel like we were outside at a county fair just a-waitin’ for a cowboy to ask us to dance. and about the dancing… luckily i remembered some of the dances from a distant past in central florida (where country dancing tends to be an exciting night out). however, most of the dances, i felt i needed to have either study on youtube beforehand, or thought to myself ‘oh hell no. i can total foreshadow the broken ankle here.’ mostly, i just made a fool out of myself and my friends by trying to learn these overly choreographed dances regardless. what ever happened to free-style? but change is good, and i truly believe in a’s for effort. and so we [tried to] dance. while groups of people walked in circles around the dance floor making the place seem a little like a country version of the skating rink circa middle school. however, i really loved this place. great atmosphere, fun dancing, cheap [and surprisingly good] drinks, fine people and an overall good time. so, my recommendation for next time your in davie: save a horse…

http://www.roundupcountry.com/

2 years ago 4 notes

miami fav #122 / the rodeo

i had never been to a rodeo before. and then randomly, one day, i thought: ‘wow, i should really do that.’ weird. but i was like, there is no way there is a rodeo in south florida. ah. and then i remembered davie. and then i googled. and then i went. but you can’t ‘just’ go to the rodeo. an entire itinerary and wardrobe is needed. it started with soliciting (forcing) friends to go with me, polishing the boots, getting a hat, and for the boys, apparently a lot of plaid and flannel. oh, and tom jenkins. where it goes next… you’ll see in the next post. the rodeo is an interesting experience. i truly felt i was in a small town - and the people knew i didn’t really belong there (thank god). but it was fun to be on the inside for a moment. people were high off the concert that had happened earlier that day. i mean, this was no regular rodeo. this was the one, the only, southwestern circuit pro rodeo finals (!). and people were dressed up for the occasion! their best wranglers were ironed, and the ladies rocked the sequins. there were sequins on vests, hats, boots, bras, bracelets, whatever you could bedazzle, was bedazzled. it was amazing. i’m not really a diy girl myself. so, i was truly impressed by the drive to work that hard. just for sequins. when we entered the grounds there were (of course) tractors. you could just sit on them. test ‘em out. i think there was even a contest to win one (i did not enter, only because knowing south beach parking, it would 100% get towed. otherwise, i love winning things). there was also a little market where, mainly women, were selling more sequined merchandise. and there was a bar dedicated only to beer. and cotton candy. and people singing country music on a stand alone microphone, awkwardly near the tractors. and then there was the rodeo. the bright lights. the cheers. the oohhhs and ahhhs. as an animal lover, it was more than hard to watch. and i got more than one dirty look when i would erupt cheering for the animal on the field and laugh when the cowboys did horribly. but really. you cowboys have the upper-hand. it’s not even fair. anyway, i digress. they had the crowning of some rodeo princess or something of the like, and it was hilarious. she had on a lime green sequined sweat suit. and i was able to eat cotton candy, talk nice to some cows, have a few beers, be with good friends and buy an amazing pink cowgirl hat. all in all, the rodeo was a success. now, if only they would set the animals free, and go up against robots… i’d actually go back for that match.

http://www.davie-fl.gov/gen/daviefl_spclprjcts/bergeronrodeo

2 years ago

miami fav #121 / tom jenkins’

if you’re ever on your way to davie - go to tom jenkins’. it’s the best bbq in south florida (i have a few friends that have literally tried every bbq place in south florida - at least two to three times -and still swear this is the best. sometimes i like when people do the work for me. good job, boys!). now, you might wonder a) why i was going to davie and b) how a pescatarian could recommend a bbq place, well, ever. answer a: you’ll find out in the next post, i promise. answer b: because they actually had stuff i could eat. and a bbq place that has stuff a pescatarian can eat is pretty much my hero. and i don’t just mean starches (although the mac and cheese and corn bread are to die for). they have bbq catfish. and not just any catfish. but mississippi catfish. (not that the mississippi part is particularly relevant. it’s just been a long time since i got to write out mississippi and it seemed like way to much fun to miss the opportunity. mississippi.) the atmosphere is pretty cool too. like you’ve stepped into the actual south. they have picnic tables. inside. so it’s all cute and family-like (although a little awkward when you’re sitting on the side of the bench closest to the line where you put in your order, staring into the label of a lot of wranglers. although, if you like wranglers, and the area they cover, this seat is probably a lot fun for you. but i digress…). the food is great, the atmosphere is fun (if you like packed bbq joints with the staff yelling out the names of orders) and it’s good to know a good joint if you’re ever heading into davie. in case, you know, you ever have to actually go there.

http://www.tomjenkinsbbq.com/

2 years ago 1 note

best of blogs

i hate to be selfish and ask all of you busy miamians to take a second and vote for miami favs on the sun sentinel’s best of blogs awards (especially since it’s more like minutes, because you apparently have to register), but it’d be really cool. as i’m not used to asking for such things, i figured i would look to one of the best politicians of all times, and see what she would have to say. and so here we go. a miami favs version of tracy flick’s election speech.

Poet Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “I cannot make my days longer, so I strive to make them better.” With this election, we [Miamians] also have an opportunity to make our [] days [in Miami] better. [Throughout my blogging experience] I have had the opportunity to speak to many of you about your concerns [about Miami]. I spoke with [friends who feel Miami is a superficial town]. I spoke with [locals who cannot stand Miami traffic for one more minute]. I won’t bore you with long winded promises about all the new and innovative things I will definitely [post about] during the year in which it will be my honor and privilege to represent each and every one of you [as the Sun Sentinel’s Best of Blogs Winner], but I can say that my [mere year] of experience [as a blogger] ha[s] taught me the three most important attributes the [winning blogger] needs to possess; commitment, [a macbook], and [more time in the day than anyone else could possibly have, apparently]. I’ll add one more, caring. I care about [Miami] and I care about each and every one of you and together we can all make a difference. One of the things I would like to establish is a regular open forum where any [reader] can [email me] and voice their concern about issues we face here in [Miami]. I [] would then [blog about more positive Miami experiences], so a continuous dialogue would exist. When you cast your vote for [Miami Favs this] week, you won’t just be voting for me. You’ll be voting for yourself and for every other Miamian. Our days won’t be any longer, but they can sure be better.

http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/best-of-blogs/2011/voting/?vote_for=385#385

http://interactive.sun-sentinel.com/best-of-blogs/2011/voting/?vote_for=386#386

thank you miamians (!).

to vote, you must have a sun-sentinel account, which is free and can be created by going to sun-sentinel.com and clicking ‘sign-up’ in the top left corner. (you can do this quicker by signing in with your facebook account).

once logged into your account, head to the best of blog awards page and cast your vote for miami favs which is listed under two categories: neighborhood and travel/tourism (direct links are above).

you can cast a vote in each category once per day, and voting closes on april 11 at 10 am est.

happy voting! xoxo, m

2 years ago 2 notes

o, miami

o, miami is a knight foundation sponsored event and their goal is to have every single person in miami-dade county encounter a poem during the month of april (which is amazing! help some bros out!). they have a fantastic line-up of events (including readings by the james franco and u.s. poet laureate w.s. merwin). this is probably one of the most inventive, coolest events i have ever heard of, and i have been stoked about it since the day i heard about it. i CANNOT WAIT. we are only two days away! (or, 1 day, 5 hours, 53 minutes and 15 seconds as i write this, based on the o, miami clock. check it: http://www.omiami.org/). don’t miss out on the spectacular month of events! we will have poets from all over the world here - live it up! or eat it up, april 1, at their first event ‘eating our words’ with pork and poetry. and now i leave you with my love poem to my fav, o, miami:

roses are red /

violets are blue /

i heart o, miami /

and so should you (!)

o, miami events: http://www.omiami.org/list.html?id=114

2 years ago 6 notes

miami fav #120 / garcia’s

post-trapeze i was starving (you’d be surprised at how many calories you burn while flying through the air. who knew fat burning could be so fun?) and i wanted a beer (a girl has needs). it must have been fate that a friend invited me earlier that day to garcia’s. because although i couldn’t go then, it was close-by now. and i was starting to get hangry (yes, hangry). we zipped down flagler to north river drive (which i didn’t even know existed). the drive was so pretty. right along the river. there were yellow and pink boats going quietly by. the sun was setting. and we came upon some adorable looking houses. and voila - garcia’s. we miraculously found parking. the place was packed [how is it that so many people are here and i didn’t even know this place existed until noon today?]. we walked in and stared straight at a case full of stone crabs. yes, please. and then found seats by the water. what a beautiful setting. i think sometimes we forget that we live by a gorgeous river. and i think some of us don’t even know that we can sit by it. while eating. at really good restaurants. i didn’t. but i do now. as if i needed one more reason to love miami. we ordered apps and stone crabs and drank cold beers while the sun set and we reminisced about swinging from a rope just an hour earlier. some evenings can never be repeated. but, we’ll always have the memories. and miami just keeps on bringing them.

http://www.garciasseafoodgrill.com/

2 years ago 10 notes

miami fav #119 / flying trapeze

when i heard that miami had flying trapeze classes, i obviously had to go. that weekend. i mean, what was i waiting for? how had i never known that this awesome experience existed for non-carnies? luckily, four of my fabulous friends also saw the opportunity for fun and joined me. let me tell you: IT IS AMAZING. at first i was thinking, i’ll probably get to swing back and forth really high in the air on a bar for a bit, and that’s cool. i wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that every person taking a lesson that day would not just learn how to ‘swing’ but also how to hang UPSIDE down, do BACKFLIPS off the bar, and DO A CATCH. even if you crossed your heart, hope to die (you know the drill). i mean, zomg. it’s too much! there is no way! the lesson is only 2 hours! and there are 7 of us! but lo and behold. we did it. we did it all. and we loved every freaking second of it. of course my arms felt like someone had been trying to stretch them off of me for days. and the backs of my knees looked like i had been caned. but, whatever. it was more than worth it. if you’re looking for something extreme and fun, you could do something passive like skydiving. or you can tear it up and trapeze till you drop. i’ll choose the latter.

http://www.theflyingtrapeze.net/

2 years ago

miami fav #118 / wall’s

i love the 50’s. play me some billie and ella and i’m content. add poodle skirts, saddle shoes and buddy holly, and now it’s a party. let me split a malt shake with a cute boy in a varsity sweater and i swoon. so i’m kind of in love with wall’s for giving me the opportunity to live out some of my 1950’s fantasy. yummy ice cream. gentlemen prefer blondes playing on a black and white tv. 1950’s tunes dripping out of the speakers. ah! i die. they also bring the neighborhood it’s own little drive-in movie area. pull up or sit on an umbrella covered table and watch some favored old (but good) films after the sun sets. although, being the dessert whore i am, i probably would have loved wall’s anyway. they had me at ‘life’s short, eat dessert first.’ i completely agree. diamonds are a girl’s best friend. but desserts come pretty close to the top too.

2 years ago 1 note

miami fav #117 / deli lane

i kept driving by sunset place on us-1 and could see this little off-street that looked kind of cute. every time i drove by i would strain my neck to see what was down there, never having the time to go and see for myself. although promising myself that the next time i went by i would make the time. one day, i finally gave up and just asked a friend. they said, ‘you must be talking about deli lane.’ with a cute name like that, i was sure i was. so, finally, i made a date out of it, and had some friends meet me there. consensus: i kind of really like sunset place. maybe because it reminds me a bit of home. sure, it has it’s ugly chains (i despise even getting a glimpse of the window of that ‘z gallerie’ place), but it also has cute boutiques, a beautiful whole foods, a great nail place called ‘kimmy’s’ (that lets you watch movies like ‘wedding crashers’ while you’re getting your mani/pedi on), and some good restaurants - like deli lane (!). i love places that serve up a good brunch and deli lane does just that. and you get to sit outside, under huge umbrellas and people watch (always a plus!). everyone that works there is super friendly and it has that neighborhood-type-of-feel. like everyone just got back from church or they’re out having a family day. a little dose of suburbia isn’t so bad every once in awhile; and i’m glad i finally got to experience what that little street has to offer.

http://www.delilane.com/

2 years ago

march

i am a huge dork. but here are some awesome events in march. sharing is caring. hope i get to see your pretty faces. xo, m

wednesday, march 2
6:30 p.m. / live from the met (nixon in china)
at regal sobe. tickets are $18 which you can get here.

FYI: sobe comedy festival begins TODAY until March 6.

saturday, march 5
12 p.m. / miami bike hunt
hosted by beachedmiami.com and emerge miami (FREE)
7:30 p.m. / nws wallcast (FREE)
10 p.m. / big brothers big sisters impact circle after party
at the jw marriott marquis ($50 OPEN BAR)

FYI: miami international film festival begins TODAY until March 14.
see my picks here: http://miamifavs.tumblr.com/post/3244392177/miami-international-film-festival

sunday, march 6
4 p.m. / art in the park
florida grand opera at collins park (collins and 21st) (FREE)

monday, march 7
7:30 p.m. / ra ra riot show
culture room in ftl ($25 total) you can get tickets at live nation.

saturday, march 12
6:00 p.m. / second saturday art walk
wynwood and design districts

monday, march 14
7:00 p.m. four lions
at the miami beach cinematheque ($10)

thursday, march 17
SAINT PATRICKS DAY!

friday, march 18
7:30, 8:30 & 9:30 p.m. / $2.50 mini concerts at the NWS

saturday, march 19
7:00 p.m. / art in the park
orchestra miami ‘mozart under the moonlight’ at collins park (collins and 21st) (FREE)
7:30, 8:30 & 9:30 p.m. / $2.50 mini concerts at the NWS

FYI: sony ericsson open (on virginia key) beings March 21 - April 3.

after that i’m in the keys - thank god.

2 years ago 3 notes

miami fav #123 / the round up

miami fav #122 / the rodeo

miami fav #121 / tom jenkins’

best of blogs

o, miami

miami fav #120 / garcia’s

miami fav #119 / flying trapeze

miami fav #118 / wall’s

miami fav #117 / deli lane

march

miami fav #123 / the round up

miami fav #122 / the rodeo

miami fav #121 / tom jenkins’

best of blogs

o, miami

miami fav #120 / garcia’s

miami fav #119 / flying trapeze

miami fav #118 / wall’s

miami fav #117 / deli lane

march

miami favs

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