miami international film festival: march 4-13

I'll be checking out the following films at the film festival. 

Let me know if I'm missing out on anything!!!! There are tons of films, and I haven't had the chance to read every synopsis out there :-) 

Opening night, The Sound of Mumbai, FREE, Wednesday March 2, screened on the wall of the new New World Arts Building..how cool is that?! 

Magic City Memoirs, Friday March 11th

I suggest this to all my fellow friends who grew up in Miami. Check this out, as we can relate to growing up in this everchanging, fast paced/fast life, vibrant city.

Dear North Africa and the Middle East, perhaps you may want to see this film??

How to Start Your Own Country

Jean Gentil must support anything done on my Haitian heritage..

mobile spinach..great deals coming to your phone!

We've been offered a partnership with Mobile Spinach to share great deals on local restaurants, bars, clubs, clothing, spas, etc. Mobile Spinach offers you the ability to purchase discounted vouchers directly on your cell phone, 
and they will be stored on your phone (your new mobile wallet!) 




Some local deals around town:
Il Piccolo Restaurant: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/840/?source=2&partnerid=52
Scorch Grillhouse: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/839/?source=2&partnerid=52
China Tokyo Express: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/838/?source=2&partnerid=52
Kosher Subway: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/912/?source=2&partnerid=52
Kosher Kingdom: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/911/?source=2&partnerid=52
Mario the Baker: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/910/?source=2&partnerid=52
Burger Bar: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/909/?source=2&partnerid=52
Thai Treat: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/908/?source=2&partnerid=52
Peppermill: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/907/?source=2&partnerid=52
Paul Bakery: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/906/?source=2&partnerid=52
Mo's Bakery & Deli: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/905/?source=2&partnerid=52
Kebab: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/904/?source=2&partnerid=52
Granny Feelgood's: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/903/?source=2&partnerid=52
City BBQ: https://m.mobilespinach.com/deals/902/?source=2&partnerid=52

A little about Mobile Spinach: 

Mobile Spinach offers unbeatable deals on local restaurants, bars, clubs, events, hotels, clothing stores, spas & salons. They are a mobile deal company sending you only the deals YOU want on your cell phone.

You can buy discounted cash from all the best local merchants directly on your smart phone. When you buy a deal, you’ll get a mobile voucher to use whenever you want! It’s something that never expires, like a gift card on your phone. 

Visit the Mobile Spinach site at http://m.mobilespinach.com/ and http://www.mobilespinach.com/about/consumer/

Moonlight Garden Tour at Vizcaya tonight.

Moonlight Garden Tours
Guided tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue at intervals throughout the evening
Join us for this favorite visitor experience-a rare opportunity to see Vizcaya's gardens by moonlight. Enjoy live music before or after strolling through the gardens and learning more about them. Wine and light refreshments will be available for purchase. Not all
areas of the gardens are wheelchair accessible.

Thursday, February 17, 2011, Tickets $15; $10 for Members, Students and Seniors; available onsite only from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the evening of the program.

brunch n bazaar at cafeina-sundays

this is really exciting. food. (breakfast, my favorite). $20 for unlimited mimosas for 2 hours....and then buzzed shopping! love love love this idea, and can't wait to check it out :-) 

the kampong

the kampong. have you ever heard of it? ever been there? 
have no idea what i'm talking about?! (it's a national tropical botanical garden in coconut grove) 

i drive by the entrance every day. "the kampong". i try to take a quick look through the iron gates (and not run into the car in front of me) and wonder what on earth is back there!? i've had glimpses of the bay...and...that's about it. i've internet stalked them (haven't really found many pictures), google satellite mapped them, and so on.

their hours are definitely not people with jobs friendly (open tuesday-friday, excluding holidays, from 10am-2pm) and so this weekend, after scouring their website..i found this!!!

special guided tour: saturday, february 19, 10:30am-12:30pm, $20!!!! (reservations required) so....reservations have been made..i will finally be able to visit beyond the iron gate!!!! im so excited, and will share the experience afterwards :-) 

for those who love to love!

I love love!
I love to love!


For those who love to love, share your love with loved ones this weekend, and treat them (and yourself) to a special spa day at The Spa at One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa.






For the Valentine's Day weekend, guests will receive a complimentary gift bag with featured Babor products (high end German skincare line)


This past weekend, I experienced the champagne facial, the chocolate massage (DELICIOUS..and I smelled so sweet for hours), and the rose petal foot massage. All that pampering, the ocean views, the staff were so kind and welcoming....five days later, and face still feels smooth, clean and refreshed. My muscles relaxed and loose, and my feet...well we can use feet pampering every single day walking around in 4" heels!!! 

We all need to remind ourselves that life is short, love is an amazing feeling that needs to be shared by all, and that we should all treat ourselves to indulging days at the spa!! ;-) 
http://www.oneluxuryhotels.com/spa/services.php

shark valley. where no sharks exist..

a day trip adventure. shark valley.

my friends and i have been on more of a nature kick then usual these past few weekends. exploring the florida wilderness. a few weekends ago, we hopped in the car, and drove out west to shark valley (part of everglades national park). we've always wanted to bike the 15 mile trail, and never really got around to it (i'm blaming it on the fact that i don't enjoy 15 mile bike rides in 100 degree heat/humidity..) 70 degrees, slightly overcast day..im in. 

we got there around noon, and rented bikes ($7.50/hour) and began the 15 mile trail. so many european and american tourists, and it felt like we were the only locals there. (please stop asking me environmental questions..all i know is yes, that is an alligator and that bird is pretty!!) along the bike trail are walking paths that take about 15-20 minutes..each trail seemed to be a different ecological environment inside a big ecological environment, and safe! (biggest fear: alligator, florida panther, or a 90 foot boa constrictor    walking/running/sliding along trail, chasing me, eating me, etc.)

the bike ride is easy (just need endurance for 15 miles..) and a nice reminder of how lucky we are to have the everglades in our backyard! we saw so many alligators, i lost count. they hang out on the edge of the bike path, which at first is hella scary, and then you realize they are pretty fat and lazy, and aren't in the mood to attack humans (unless provoked?) there are also many different types of birds (not avid bird watcher, forgive me) and an observation tower half way through the ride. no food stops or water fountains along the way (but i remember seeing bathrooms at the observation tower). 

entrance to the park is $10/car and is valid for 7 days. if you have your own bike, you can bring that for free or rent theirs for $7.50/hour. i would suggest bringing: water, FOOD (we brought gummi bears...how did i think this would last me through a 15 mile bike ride...unsure), sunblock, hat, bug spray and a camera! i would also suggest to wear comfortable underwear (thongs, #2 item of unsuccessful park ideas) or for the unadventurous, they offer two hour  tram tours..you can sit, and they will stroll you along the way. it's probably very educational and im going to assume that they properly name all the birds and creatures we saw (maybe even the latinus namus)

http://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/

http://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/biking.html

36000 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL  33194

valentine's day in miami

i'm all for spreading love every day of the year..and spreading a little more on valentine's day. explore miami, and try something different, that's how great memories are created..with your loved one, or with friends :-)


valentine's weekend:


saturday:
wynwood art ride (these always happen the weekends i'm out of town!!!!)
wynwood food truckers for dinner 210 NW 22nd Ln,
matisyahu
artwalk in the design district/wynwood

valentine's day:
valentine's concert at fairchild tropical gardens:
(hint: go find your old college id, $20 entry!!)

What better way to spend Valentine's Day than with your special someone listening to the sultry sounds of jazz singer Kevin Mahogany and the University of Miami’s premiere large ensemble the Frost Concert Jazz Band. Let their music set the mood on the most romantic night of the year.

Bring a picnic basket and a blanket and let the music and beauty of Fairchild make your Valentine's Day a night to remember.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Concert begins at 7:00 p.m.

Rain or shine

General Admission: Members $60, Non-members $75
Kids: 6-18 $20, 5 and under are free
VIP package: Member price $150, VIP Non-member price, $175 includes reserved seating, candlelit dinner and wine. View VIP Menu here.
Student (with ID): $20

deering bay estate: $20 entry, bring some snacks/wine and enjoy the night!
Celebrate Valentine's Day in Miami at the 12th annual “Moonlight & Music” Valentine’s Day Concert on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. (The main gate opens at 7:00 pm). The concert will feature Victor Espinola, multi-instrumentalist and singer, who is most known for playing the Paraguayan harp. His style of music is influenced by a combination of Flamenco, Gypsy, Brazilian, Middle Eastern, African, Pop, and Dance.


The Valentine's Day Concert at the Deering Estate offers couples the opportunity to celebrate their love at a romantic, outdoor concert under the stars, on the edge of Biscayne Bay. Guests are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets. Limited refreshments and food will be available for an additional fee. Food Vendors include: GastroPod and the Crepe Maker. Parking is free. 

rabbit. rabbit. happy chinese new year

from short order..celebrate the chinese new year at the following restaurants:
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/2011/01/celebrate_chinese_new_year_at.php


Looking for somewhere to go on Chinese New Year? Ring in the Year of the Rabbit at one of these Miami restaurants. Celebrations begin on February 2.

Café Sambal at the Mandarin Oriental 
Lion dance performances and Asian art in the café's outdoor terrace are part of this celebration. The restaurant will also offer special family-style menu that includes Peking duck ($34), dim sum samples ($16), fried egg rolls ($14), roasted kurobata pork in a four-pepper crust ($36), wok-fried orange and tangerine kobe beef ($38) and sweet and sour snapper ($34). From 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 5. Reserve by calling 305-913-8358.

Hakkasan
As Lee Klein reported earlier, Hakkasan will offer special menu items like wok-fried lobster, baked fortune chicken, braised dried oyster, stewed pork shank and wok-fried glutinous rice from February 2 to 9. The big celebration, however, takes place on Saturday, February 5 at 9:30 p.m. with lion dance and kung fu performances. Reserve at 1-877-326-7412.

Kon Chau

The menu will be the same but on Sunday, February 6, the restaurant will host a lion dance performance at 1 p.m.

Miss YipBoth of Miss Yip's locations will host events to ring in the New Year. On Thursday, February 3, festivities will take place all day at the Lincoln Road restaurant but the fun part comes at night. Starting at 10:30 p.m. and until the wee hours of the morning, enjoy performers, lion dances, live DJs and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.


The downtown location will celebrate over three days, from February 3 to February 5. Each evening starting at 5:30 p.m., the restaurant will have live DJs and hold drink specials on Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lion dances take place each of the three nights at 9 p.m.

South Garden
On February 2 and 3, South Garden will offer a special menu and lion dances each night at 8 p.m. Some of the dishes offered are Buddha's Delight, braised seafood and tofu and lobster with ginger and scallions. Reservations are required. Call 305-274-9099.


Tony Chan's Water Club
From February 2 to 6, the restaurant will offer a special Chinese New Year menu that includes items such as sea cucumber with basil in a clay pot, lamb chops with special sauce, almond tofu pudding and good luck rice. Go on February 2nd to catch the lion dance performance at 8 p.m.

Tropical Chinese
No special menus here but the popular restaurant will have a lion dance performance on Wednesday, February 2 at 8 p.m.

King Palace will have a special menu but information was not yet available. Chu's Taiwan Kitchen and Bar in the Gables will have a lion dance and kung fu performance on February 3 and 11 but we were told February 3 is completely booked.

Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.

discover downtown: flaglerfest

A Downtown Miami signature event is back this year! Downtown Miami Partnership presents Flagler Fest, celebrating 10 consecutive years of hot rods, motorcycle shows, children's corner and more.

What:
10th Annual Flagler Fest in the heart of Historic Downtown Miami The much anticipated 10th Annual Flagler Fest returns, a don’t-miss, fun-filled, family-friendly day of activities in beautiful downtown Miami. The event is free and open to the public.

Antique, Vintage & Hot-Rod Cars on display by the Antique Auto club of America South Florida Region Motorcycle Shows staged by the Antique Auto club of America South Florida Region Children’s corner featuring face painting, bounce house, petting zoo and more!

Eclectic and vibrant retail boutiques and shops
Lunch cuisine alfresco at downtown cafes
Historic Walking tour of the Downtown Miami Historic District at 12:00 noon by Dr. Paul George
Live music at Miami Avenue & Flagler Street

When: Saturday, February 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Downtown Miami – Flagler Street from SE 3 Ave to NW 1 Ave