News

The Real Deal Story Behind The Cuban Boniato

Norman Van Aken — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Back in the late 1990‘s at the original NORMAN’S restaurant in Coral Gables we had a young man who became our Lunch Chef named Eliecer Garcia. Like many young chefs he was very interested in cuisines from all over and when we talked about what to put on our lunch menu his ideas ranged from France to Hong Kong. I loved that but sometimes I’d say, “Eliecer. I want you to show me flavors your Cuban Grandmother would make and then we can twist them a little. Okay? Why don’t you show me how she would cook with … oh… boniato for instance? And then we’ll go from there.”

Leon Foster Thomas Finds His Voice

Tracy Fields — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:33:09 +0000

Leon Foster Thomas grew up in a musical household in Trinidad but steel pan didn't appeal to him - at first. Ultimately the young percussionist taught himself to play the island's official instrument and found it's the best way to express himself.

South Florida's New Science Center And Aquarium

Tricia Woolfenden — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:13:32 +0000

What's in a name change? Plenty, when the new moniker also signals an "emotional change," as is the case with the soon-to-be-unveiled South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. The entity is a rebranding of the popular South Florida Science Museum. The longtime Palm Beach County institution hasn't received a makeover since its completion in 1969 (which represents an eternity in a region that is eager to "spruce up appearances" on the regular.)

The Sunshine Economy Part Three On May 20: Real Estate

Tom Hudson — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:12:00 +0000

REAL ESTATE

From world famous beaches to international trade flows, South Florida has become one of the world's most vibrant and diverse economies.

Old Miami Arena Site Gets New Plans; Here's A Timeline Of The Property

Daniel Rivero — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:08 +0000

Did you know that if you dig deep enough into the property records of any piece of real estate in the state of Florida you will find that all the land originally belonged to the Spanish Crown?

But ever since the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1821, land ownership has been like a hot potato, changing hands incessantly. Indeed, taking a deep look into any one piece of property (likely where you live, included) will reveal a surreal story for the ages.

How Social Media Changed High School's Biggest Night

Marva Hinton — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:36:22 +0000

Earlier this spring, a typical school day turned into something a lot more memorable for one student at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School near Aventura.

It’s April. Natalie Hoberman was sitting in her advanced placement government class.

“It was one of my hardest classes," she said.

Does The Governor Deserve Credit For The Economy?

Elaine Chen — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

On The Florida Roundup, we take a special look at the economy.

Employment, tourism and real estate numbers suggest a recovery. We’ll examine whether Gov. Rick Scott’s “it’s working” motto is actually working -- for him.

After Bay Of Pigs And Pedro Pan Campground, Cuban Exiles Build Family In Miami

Rene Ruiz — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:10:00 +0000

Our family came from Havana, a beautiful city that some have called a tropical paradise.

My brothers and I came to Miami on a Pan American flight and were taken to a campground that the Pedro Pan organizers had set up in Kendall, near where Town & Country Mall now stands. We were there for about two weeks before being sent to Albuquerque, N.M., where we were taken in by the family of Dr. Eugene Purtell.

Performance Art Piece Questions Human Desire With Abnormal Way To Eat Cake

Andrea Richard — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:54:00 +0000

The All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition opening reception recently at the Boca Museum of Art drew in a packed, frenzied crowd to its 62nd-annual showcase featuring 149 multimedia works. But it was the overheard exclamations of “That’s disgusting!” and “I can’t even watch this!” that stood out during the evening’s discourse.

Miami Artist Turns Body Fat Into Soap After Liposuction

Marva Hinton — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:37:06 +0000

Miami artist Orestes De La Paz has an unusual piece of performance art on display at the Frost Art Museum on the campus of Florida International University.

48 Hour Film Project Showcases Local Talent From Miami To Palm Beach

Daniel Rivero — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:54:56 +0000

For those in film school, the project is like a crash course and a final exam, jam packed into one restless weekend.

This is the Miami edition of the 48 Hour Film Project, an international event that gets play from local filmmakers from Israel and Johannesburg to Las Vegas, Nevada. The one constant -- you get 48 hours to complete a short film from scratch.

Feds Do About-Face, Step In To Help Endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow

Tricia Woolfenden — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:03:00 +0000

The clock is ticking for the highly-endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow, but a new project recently green-lit by a federal agency may offer some hope for avoiding extinction. Scientists believe there are roughly 200 of the tiny birds remaining in the wild. Two years ago, scientists found the lowest count of the birds in history: last year's numbers dipped even lower.

Broward County Mayor Leads Local Response To Sea Level Rise

Phil Latzman — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Even before last year's coastal calamity caused by superstorm Sandy, Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs was trying to get everyone's attention about sea-level rise and it's impact on South Florida.

Two Visions Of New Miami Beach Convention Center Emerge

Christina Veiga and Andres Viglucci — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:39 +0000

In their first fully fleshed-out presentations on Tuesday, the developers competing to redevelop the Miami Beach Convention Center area described a vibrant new urban district of interconnected green spaces and cultural opportunities anchored by cutting-edge designs — even as they crossed swords over which plan would yield more benefits to the city at a better cos

What FPL's President Thinks About Nukes, Renewables

Phil Latzman — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:27:36 +0000

In a wide-ranging interview back in February, Florida Power & Light President Eric Silagy addressed a number of issues facing the state's largest utility.

The responses prompted a slew of feedback on topics ranging from storm preparedness and climate change to renewable energy sources.

Nuclear Power

FAU President Resigns After 'Significant Controversies'

Gina Jordan — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:06:14 +0000

Mary Jane Saunders has quit.

The president of Florida Atlantic University says bad publicity splashed across national headlines was too much.

Why Bookstores Don't Reflect Miami's Literary Health

Nathaniel Sandler — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:28:39 +0000

Many have taken the recent closing of Barnes and Noble in Aventura and the general dearth of bookstores in Miami as an omen, a portentous sign that the city is somehow culturally headed in the wrong direction.

And the easy takedown of South Florida, both nationally and from locals, is that a lack of bookstores is representative of a stupid populace, or an uncultured mass mostly focused on booze and partying.

Jewish Museum Of Florida Shares Stories Of Struggles

Alexandra Pecharich — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:02:00 +0000

In 1887 Marcus Weinkle’s loving parents buried him alive. That act likely saved the 13-year-old’s life and certainly set in motion an odyssey that took him from his native Russia to, eventually, Central Florida.

Is The Swimming Hall Of Fame In Broward Moving To California?

Arianna Prothero — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:20:17 +0000

If the city of Santa Clara has its way, the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale may move to California.

That's right, Santa Clara, the city that just built a new stadium for the San Francisco 49ers and is neck-n-neck with South Florida in a bid for Super Bowl L.

Santa Clara says it plans to raise $2 million for an endowment to support the swimming hall as well as $10 million to move it to the West Coast.

How A Miami Billionaire's $100 Print Became A $20 Million Collection

Christine DiMattei — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:46:56 +0000

"It was ages ago," says Jorge Perez with a laugh, recalling the first artwork he ever invested in.

It was purchased when Perez was still a young student in New York, years before he became a billionaire developer and the man Time Magazine dubbed the "Donald Trump of the tropics.”

Sea Level Rise May Happen Too Quick For Shore Birds To React

Tricia Woolfenden — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:03:00 +0000

Humans aren't the only species facing an uncertain future in South Florida should current sea level rise predictions prove accurate. Migratory and resident shore birds also would feel the pinch of encroaching salt water, beach erosion, and shore line and habitat loss.

Why The 'World's Weirdest Bird' Is Ditching South Florida And Heading North

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:16:04 +0000

The roseate spoonbill -- often mistaken by confused tourists for the non-native flamingo -- is one of Florida's great iconic species. Dubbed "one of the most breathtaking of the world's weirdest birds" by naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, the gangly creatures are an increasingly rare sight in South Florida.

According to a feature in the May-June issue of Audubon Magazine, spoonbills have been vacating South Florida in droves, heading north to more hospitable (read: often less developed) lands.

Miami Dolphins Spend $10M On Failed Stadium Vote

Patricia Mazzei — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:18:14 +0000

The Miami Dolphins and their owner, Stephen Ross, spent a staggering $10 million over the past six weeks on a special election that never happened.

Boynton Beach's Growing Arts Scene Keeps Things "Fresh And Green"

Tricia Woolfenden — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

As one of the key players behind the up-and-coming Boynton Beach Art District (BBAD), artist and gallery owner Rolando Chang Barrero is getting no down time during South Florida's "off season." Barrero is among the region's year-round residents who stick it out during the slow, sultry months to ensure his pet projects make it through to grow another season.

Miami Feels Pain Of Guatemala Genocide, Narco-Terror

Tim Padgett — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The last time I spoke with former Guatemalan strongman Efraín Ríos Montt, in 2003, he was running (unsuccessfully, thank God) for President—and he was delusional as ever.

Every bit as unhinged from reality as he’d been two decades before, during the darkest days of Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war, when as military dictator from 1982-83, he led a “scorched earth” campaign that killed thousands of mostly indigenous Maya peasants.

Miami Theater Center Redefines Itself With "Inanna and the Huluppu Tree"

Neil de la Flor — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:46:00 +0000

The Miami Theater Center is growing. IFrom the annual contemporary performance SandBox Series to being the new home for Mad Cat Theater Company, MTC has redefined itself as a vibrant center of culture in sleepy Miami Shores.

South Beach’s “Colorful Mélange” Inspires Poem, Green Sequins Included

Beatricia Sagar — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:04:00 +0000

We’ve asked a few of the authors of standout poems for our That’s So Miami project to explain the inspiration behind their work. Find the winners of our contest and more entries here.

Green sequin bikini.

Purple hair and skinny.

Red lipped.

Boob equipped.

Blue high heeled kid.

I saw it, I did.

Thats so Miami.

Yes, Art Abounds North Of Wynwood

Andrea Richard — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:01:00 +0000

Last week's satirical Fort Lauderdale slam by The Onion claimed the city “lacks any kind of cultural depth," something hotly disputed by localsJournalist Tim Padgett spent nearly a quarter of a century covering Latin America and the Caribbean for TIME and Newsweek magazines.

But he's always been envious of the way foreign correspondents deliver the news for NPR.

"They're giving listeners a richer sense of the sounds and the colors than perhaps I'm able to do as a print reporter," he says.