Speechless, yes I know…it happened to me too.  We offer eye candy for everyone here at miamism.com but today,  it’s thanks to @vicequeenmaria of SexandTheBeach.com.  Can you believe she did not invite me?  According to Maria, the firefighter calendar is back! YAY!!  Please read “Affordable Beefcake Served Up in South Florida.” And the slight haze on the photo is because it was sooo HOT, that not even Maria’s camera could take it!

….another Miamism !!

** Here at Miamism we love to post your Miami Photos. If you have a shot you want to share please join the Miamism Group at Flickr.com – or you can e-mail the photos directly to us at info@miamism.com *

Related Articles:

Another Family Day in The Miami Design District!
When: Saturday, July 17th
Time: from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Parking: $3 Valet Parking available throughout the District
Where: NE 2nd Avenue (between 39th & 40th Streets)

Family activities and adventures have been planned throughout the District.  Look for the “Family Day” signs and balloons on the day of the event to enjoy activities at these locations:

• AE District
• Marimekko
• Genius Jones
• Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink
• Advanced Trading
• FriendsWithYou
• Bobby Berk Home
• Maitardi Restaurant
• Q American Barbeque
• Brownes & Co.
• de la Cruz Collection Contemporary Art Space
• Dacra & Bridge House
• I on the District
• Emena Spa
• Shampology
• Grass Restaurant & Lounge
• Majestic Properties
• Pots and Plants
• Orange Cafe

Related Articles:

I am so excited to introduce you to Tony Ozegovich, who gratefully volunteered to give us his take on how the new Miami stadium will have an effect on our local economy. It all started with this photo in my weekly Miami Sunpost Column where Tony reached out to me and told me he had written a 16 page report that would offer the inside scoop and facts about how it all came to fruition.

I asked Tony to tell us more about himself and the paper – so here it is!

I am a 24 yr old self taught photographer, thanks to the help of many inspiring professionals from my surrounding area. I consider myself to be very creative, colorful, and professional in all aspects of my job. I will always have new ideas and creations for what I am looking to do. I love photography to the point where it is better than just a job, so making sure everyone has fun and comfortable while doing a shoot always is a priority. Also, I am a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a BPM. I love just Being outside in SFL weather taking in everything and then hitting the nightlife scene cutting loose. Being in Miami brings about color, culture, and a sense of style you feel nowhere else. This is what I strive to show in my photography and to have others desire; I love to be able to take part in many different cultures and the variety of events that take place here…it is an amazing experience to be out of your comfort zone of what you are used to feeling I think. Miami is such a unique place and all I want to do is show it off, all the while adding my creativity and imagination into where it fits

I did this paper as a project for my senior class, I chose to do this project because I am deeply in love with sports as well as government which was my major. It was best for this as the topic because of the ongoing situation with the economy at the time and the mistiming of this deal finishing apparently.. soo this was an easy choice for my topic, haha. I guess the main argument which is the title is, if that this new stadium will really affect the South Florida economy. I found that this is more of a quality of life choice in a way since studies show that new stadiums have significantly no positive outcome for cities generation of profit. It comes down to the decision of whether you would like the positive aspect of having the team here and what it might do for surrounding communities and what it brings to the people. Or if you choose to look at what would happen actually if the team did leave, how would South Florida be affected by that departure? There are many questions surrounding this whole argument and we can only speculate how this will actually turn out. I just wonder why there isn’t more of a better fan base for a team that has 2 world championships in such a small span of time, plus to add in that we have such a rich Hispanic population that does respect baseball so much; so why wouldn’t there be a better attendance for games?

Tony Ozegovich
www.trmvphoto.com
www.flickr.com/photos/therealmiamivice
www.trmvphoto/wordpress.com
(786)873-6894

Here’s the Abstract of his paper – feel free to download the actual document and keep in mind that it’s a research paper by Tony Ozegovich  © all rights reserved.

The purpose of this research paper is to bring attention to the situation that was increasingly expensive and evolving in Miami dealing with the new stadium being built for the Florida Marlins. People should care where their tax money is spent or if a huge project is occurring in their own city and have the right to be able to access multiple forms of information regarding that topic. The main overall question addressed was if this would have some overall effect on the South Florida economy. In this paper I weigh out the pros and cons of the argument. For instance, what does this new stadium do, how does affect the marketability of the team, or how many new jobs will this create? Also, referencing past literature, I point out cons in the form of that it actually has no real effect economically shown by numbers in studies or that people really just don’t know enough information. With using certain information I have recorded between interviews and research, I will take on the juggernaut of scientific evaluations of previous studies done on past stadiums and different cities and try to show you justification in the argument that this does help the economy. In conclusion, we will find that both sides weigh out and it really becomes a quality of life/ opinion matter  to whoever may be discussing if building a new stadium will really effect the local economy….

Related Articles:

It’s time once again for The Best of Miami according to the Miami New Times, and a colorful one at that! With 361 “Best Of’s”, you are guaranteed a few minutes of laughs and entertainment (as well as education).  Here are a few of my faves and CONGRATS to Rick at South Florida Daily Blog for The Best Local Blog.  You will agree that many of these are total MIAMISMS!

BEST NEW RESTAURANT- Sugarcane Raw Bar and Grill

Each season yields a fresh crop of new restaurants. Sometimes they are highly anticipated due to a big-name chef. Other times they are preceded by a sizzling sister eatery in New York or L.A. Or maybe they boast a distinctive dining concept. Sugarcane brought none of those attributes to the table yet took this town by storm in a way few dining establishments have.

BEST RESTAURANT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE PAYS - Emeril’s Miami Beach

…Yellowtail snapper with Creole tomato glaze, crab-mirleton relish, and citrus butter sauce ($38) will obliterate the perception that Emeril’s is just a place for tourists, as will the red onion-smoked bacon marmalade and homemade Worcestershire sauce that elevates a juicy filet mignon ($46). Pile it on with truffled mac and cheese flecked with pancetta ($8.50), and add the pièce de resistance via banana cream pie ($10) or bread pudding three ways — a lavish dessert that involves whiskey sauce, Godiva liqueur, and dulce de leche ($9). At meal’s end, you might casually mention that Emeril’s also serves a damn good brunch, and hope your host picks up on the hint.

BEST FOODIE FRANKENSTEIN – El Rey del Chivito

If Dr. Victor Frankenstein had been born an unnaturally hungry Uruguayan food fanatic and not an Austrian alchemist hell-bent on cobbling together a humanoid creep show from dead body parts, he might have invented El Rey del Chivito’s trademark creation, the Chivito Rey Emperador. Basically a monstrous mountain of random foodstuffs, the Rey looks like it was dredged from the kitchen’s scrap bin…

BEST PLACE TO SEE CELEBRITIES – WALL Lounge at the W South Beach

Miami is a town where clubs spit out adjectives like exclusive, VIP, and upscale like an overchewed piece of Juicy Fruit. But WALL Lounge is actually one of the few places that can blow hard without bursting its own bubble. Jessica Alba, Gabrielle Union, the All American Rejects, Erykah Badu, Swizz Beatz, Jamie Foxx, Jason Binn, and Selita Ebanks are just a few of the celebrities who have walked through WALL’s infamous doors. Other guest sightings have been rumored, but unless the press snaps a picture, they’re almost impossible to confirm. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to get a photo of the place, period. WALL’s success lies in its size; it is so boutique it does not merit a VIP section — the lounge itself is the VIP. So if you’re lucky enough to get in, keep the video phone ready — you might catch a TMZ-worthy moment.

BEST-KEPT SECRET – Free Big Cypress tours

There’s a great South Florida wonder between Miami and Naples, and we’re not talking about the skunk ape. He’s gotta be somewhere in Big Cypress National Preserve, that great, big national park in Miami’s back yard. Every year from late November to April, the national park service offers ranger-guided tours through a variety of wilderness activities in the area. And they’re all free. Our favorite is the wet and wild swamp walk, a muddy trek through sometimes waist-deep gator water…

BEST CHEAP THRILL – Free drinks at art parties during Art Basel Week

People With Money + Drink Sponsors = Hot Girls. Hot Girls + Free Drinks = Best Parties. Best Parties + Tourists + Art World + Miami + Free Drinks + Hot Girls + People With Money + You = An Amazing Scene.

BEST DRAG QUEEN – Daisy Deadpetals

Once upon a time, there was a little prince who wanted to dress up like a girl. His majesty was named Kenny, and he was not happy in his kingdom. Unhappy he was, for there were no fair maidens he wanted to wed. He preferred to take dance classes, listen to Tori Amos records, and kiss other princes. One day, he moved to a far-away land called Miami.

BEST PUBLIC RESTROOM – Balans

Prudes freak when they see the glass-door bathrooms at Balans in Brickell. That is, until they flip the lock to the left and realize the door magically fogs up to provide discretion. Totally private stalls? Priceless! Not having to hear your neighbor deal with his or her gas or nausea? Refreshing. Knowing no one is looking under the partition at your chipped toenails or underpolished shoes? Much appreciated

MOST SEXED-UP RELIGIOUS FIGURE – Father Alberto Cutié

Once dubbed “Father Oprah” by his devout Catholic followers, Alberto Cutié’s handsome face and sweet Spanish words reached millions of homes in more than 20 countries via television, radio, books, and a syndicated newspaper column wherein he doled out relationship advice. Ah, the irony. His faithful parishioners took the counsel of a man who committed to a vow of celibacy, only to learn he knew quite a bit about intimacy

BEST PLACE TO GET FREE WI-FI – Metromover 

It’s not often you’ll catch this publication praising local municipal works. Miami-Dade’s public transportation system, for example, makes Havana’s ’50s-era buses look like Japanese light rail….And because the elevated tram is free, it’s a pretty handy alternative to shelling out cash for Internet time at FedEx Office, if you don’t mind traveling in circles or surfing the web next to a drunk homeless dude.

Don’t miss “Best Place to Meet Single Women”, “Best Place to Meet (Hopefully) Single Men”, “Best Place to Meet Intelligent Women”, “Best Place for a 10th Date”, “Best Place to go Stoned”, or “Best Place to Shop Like There’s No Recession”.

Related Articles:

Go ahead and admit it, you are thinking about moving to Miami but keep dreading the Summer Heat.  How will you ever cope with all the humidity and weather in the 90′s?  Treat this as a commercial if you have to, but I’m really not trying to convince you.  I’ll share with you some of the things locals do in the Summer.

Some activities are a given, like going to the beach or pools, clubs, water parks….. Everyone knows that boating is one of our favorite activities, but before you roll your eyes wondering “yeah, but you have to own a boat and I can’t deal with the maintenance”.  Did you know that you don’t have to own a boat either, there are nautical clubs that will rent them?  Here’s a quick water skiing video I pulled together last weekend.

Funny enough, it was our colleague and dear friend from Colorado, Mariana Wagner, that suggested I write about Miami Summer Activities and Vacations. So I’ll keep sharing bits and pieces of our Miami Summers. (maybe so she can live vicariously through us)

Here are some other articles I’ve written:

• Summer Activities in South Florida – Rapids Water Park

• Going to Bimini from Miami – heavenly vacation

• Florida Insider’s Guide to good Hotel Deals

• Miamism Fridays

• What not to do on 4th of July 2009 in Miami

• Miami Summer Time

• South Beach makes the Worlds Sexiest Beaches List

Let us know what we’ve missed or things that you like or would like to do – there possibilities are endless!

(click on “comments” below to give us your take)

Related Articles:

Miami is the shadows formed on a young girl’s face
one Summer afternoon.

It’s the wrinkles on the hands of an old black man.

It’s looking through a magnifying glass at darkness.

At its shore I can discern a “Miami Detached”
as the cruise ships try to merge themselves
once again with reality.

Reality means turning into a sail
high-strung to its mast,
feeling the strength and
the near ending effort to survive,
or a coral rock trying not to disintegrate,
while it knows,
the more salt water that flows,
the more porous it will become.

Why does the blind look at the sun?
How can you touch hate?
Taste love?
Smell apathy?

The petals of a rose out of bloom
still give you a fascinating scent,
just as that which cannot feel,
will eventually rot.

Life means metamorphosis, close scrutiny and pain.

We can discuss this when architects
become a thing of the past

Poem written for Vincent Scully’s “The Natural and the Manmade” seminar, about Miami’s Skyline by Ines Hegedus-Garcia (4th year architecture student at The University of Miami).

Related Articles:

I was glancing over photos of Miami Shores on Flickr and came upon this amazing shot taken in one of my all time fave places – The Miami Shores Boardwalk.  When I looked at the author, it was none other than Alex de Carvalho! (@alexdc on twitter) – (who also happens to be one of my fave people)…what are the chances?  The beauty of this board walk to me is its organic nature and you never know what to expect – from the intensity of the wind, the texture of the water, the color of the sky, the motion of the coconut palm leaves, the shape of the clouds …

….another Miamism !!

** Here at Miamism we love to post your Miami Photos. If you have a shot you want to share please join the Miamism Group at Flickr.com – or you can e-mail the photos directly to us at info@miamism.com *

And since we are talking about Miami Shores – let me remind you that tomorrow is the first Village Walk at Village Place.  A few business owners got together and organized this community event in collaboration with the Miami Shores Chamber of Commerce. Don’t Miss it!

WHEN: Saturday, May 29th, 2010

TIME: 4:00 to 8:00 PM  (also an Organic and Antique market between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM)

PLACE: Downtown Miami Shores – aka Village Place on NE 2nd Avenue

Related Articles:

Informed Families invites you to:  It Takes A Village To Save A Child – a special forum designed for parents of children of all ages.  Subjects discussed will include

• 1,700 students surveyed – local survey results that Miami Shores parents need to know
• High-Octane Pot – 55% of area high school seniors say they have easy access
• Prevention – valuable information for parents of infants up through teenagers
• Parent involvement – your children are counting on you for guidance

Expert Panel:

• Ana M. Moreno, MS, LMHC – Senior Adolescent Therapist at South Miami Hospital Addiction Treatment Center
• Chief Kevin Lystad – Miami Shores Police Department
• Peggy Sapp – President, CEO & Founder of Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership

Don’t miss this very important Miami Shores event!

WHEN:  Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

TIME:  6:30 PM cheick-in and refreshments

WHERE:  PlayGround Theatre – 9806 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami Shores

RSVP:  requested by May 24th – anne@mccoyproperties.us 305.754.2220

Related Articles:

Sad news for many here in Miami Shores – Vice Mayor Shockey resigns! This doesn’t mean he won’t be back.  Here is the latest from Donald Shockey himself.  Either way, we wish him the best of luck in his travels and hope to see him back soon.

Dear Miami Shores Village Residents and Friends,

It was with much regret that I recently resigned as Vice Mayor of Miami Shores Village.   As some of you know, I was laid off from my job as an urban planner in early 2009.  When I ran for Village Council last April, I was optimistic that I would be able to find a job in the Miami area within a reasonable amount of time.  I did not anticipate that the economic recession would be as severe and long lasting as it turned out to be.

Despite an exhaustive search effort, I was unable to find a job in the area by the end of 2009.   I recently was offered and accepted a position working to support international stabilization and redevelopment efforts in Afghanistan.   After spending some time in Afghanistan to make sure the position was going to work out, I resigned from the Village Council last week.   I know that those of you who worked hard last spring to elect a progressive new voice to the Village Council will be disappointed by this news,  but many people have had to make similar or more difficult choices in these challenging times.   The Council will be considering how to fill my seat at their meeting on April 20th.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who worked so hard last April to help me win election to the Village Council.  It was a wonderful experience to meet and get to know so many like-minded people in the Village.   I hope you’ll stay involved in the continuing work to   improve our NE 2nd Ave. downtown district, make our community greener, and all the other efforts to keep Miami Shores Village such a great place to call home.

I hope to resume being actively involved when I return home next year. For now I’ll continue following all the Village activities and developments from afar.   I wish all of you the best in the rest of 2010.

Sincerely,

Donald Shockey

Related Articles:

The first Family Day in the Miami Design District went so well that they are doing it again!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 10th 2010 – that’s THIS Saturday coming up.

Come join us for an afternoon of family fun in the Miami Design District.  Family Activities and Adventures have been planned throughout the Distict.  Look for the “Family Day” signs and baloon on the day of the event.

The first one was a blast with cupcake decorating, games and food – although a bit chaotic in some of the establishments because they really did not know what to expect.  I’m sure the second time around they will be better prepared and will know that tons of people will show up with their kids.  I’m really glad to see the Design District opening up to families … it’s about time!

Related Articles: