miami favs

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

miami fav #99 / big al’s gun range

i used to be a republican (don’t judge), and yet never shot a gun in my conservative days (wha? and i was so close to the nra in dc!). so, in my ‘independent’ state, i decided why not have a shot (dur hur) at it. and what better place than hallandale. and what better venue than big al’s gun range. the place kind of freaked me out from the outside. and then i walked in, and it freaked me out from the inside too. there was a dog that carried around a blankie. and he would come up to you like he wanted to play. but my recommendation is that you don’t touch the blankie. he does not intend for it to be a toy. he intends for it to serve as his actual security blanket. just some words from the wise. he could totally take a finger in a hot second. okay, onto the guns. there were a lot of them. i actually wasn’t able to take photos of the store (only the store, the range, however, was within limits). i wonder if it was because the owners didn’t want me to photograph the guns, or if it’s because they didn’t want to be seen in another ‘look-at-these-amazing-mullets-album.’ either way, the actual lesson that i took there was fabulous (although, i did not take the class from them, but from miami gun classes). david, the instructor, was french (which even he finds ironic). regardless, he was great. now, i’d like to take a moment for a quick note. most people would say (and did say) ‘why would i pay for a lesson? it’s not that hard to shoot a gun. they do it on tv all the time.’ if you are one of these people, you, more than anybody, need the lesson. because you are also going to be the person that puts your finger in front of the muzzle and gets it blown off. or tries to swing the gun around your finger and shoots you or someone else in the foot. the lesson was more than helpful. if anything, it was great to get some common sense reminders and remember that humans are prone to human error. and that error is usually really unfortunate when it involves a gun. so the more safety you learn, the better. after the lesson (which also can include a really interesting perspective on gun rights if you’re willing to be open-minded about it) you don some really awesome goggles and ear muffs and strut up to the range. and then you get a drawing of a bad guy on a white piece of paper to shoot at. your instructor gives you more techniques. and you shoot the crap out of that piece of paper. and it is thrilling. (after all the safety talk/darwin-award winning horror stories, you may be a little nervous, but you’ll get over it). and i’m not going to lie. i shoot like a pro. basically, i’m your huckleberry. and i cannot wait to get my permit and go again. thanks big al, whomever you are, for unlocking my first gun-range badge.

miami gun classes: http://www.miamigunclasses.com/home.html

big al’s gun range: http://www.bigalsguns.com/