For those who might be unfamiliar with the concept of a sound clash, allow us to explain: A sound system is a syndicate of DJs who have banded together to create a sonic force greater than themselves. Sound systems build reputations by wrecking the dancehall with deep crates and hard…
Surfing and skateboarding: Both call for balance, astounding tricks, and a cool-cat mentality. Now the two sports have yet another thing in common. This year International Surf Day and Go Skateboarding Day will be celebrated today, meaning that slopes of land and sea alike will be proudly claimed by long-haired…
Here’s a video art installation we wish existed: a time-lapse video of Miami’s coastline. From overgrown swamp to year-round playground to hyperdeveloped, overextended residential mecca; it seems there are new buildings sprouting up along our shores faster than zits on a thirteen-year-old’s forehead. No matter how far we move inland,…
If you’re a world traveler, your passport is filled with colorful stamps that represent all the exotic places you’ve visited. If you’re a gourmand, those stamps remind you of the delicious grub you’ve devoured on your globetrotting adventures. Ah, bittersweet memories of that to-die-for Szechuan in Shanghai. But the bangers…
Bona fide bodybuilders take years to perfect their craft – and their craft is their physique. Carving bulging biceps where arm flab used to be, sculpting a six-pack from the remainders of a beer belly, and turning a badonkadonk into buns of steel takes persistence, unshakable confidence, and — of…
The musical, cultural collective known as Monkey Village is a local treasure and a beautiful concept. The band plays together, some of the members have lived together, and they all unite in large, sprawling groups at cool venues like Transit Lounge. Watching the band fan out onstage makes you wonder,…
When people visualize a dance performance, many begin with the legs: the strong stems of a ballerina flexed en pointe, the dip-and-kick motion of traditional Russian and Irish dance, the slender gams of the Rockettes moving in unison. But being a dancer isn’t all about leg work. If Sidiki Conde…
In 1999, militaristic rap group Dead Prez asked listeners a riveting and significant question: “Would you rather have a Lexus or justice? A dream or some substance? A Beemer, a necklace, or freedom?” The song was simply titled “Hip Hop,” and with such pointed lyrics poised over a rumbling bass…
The cozy Mama Lila’s Bistro (1915 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables) is a rare find in the patrician and often pricey Gables — a place that invites patrons to leave pretense at the door and enjoy delicious and affordable food, along with the warmth of family. Owned by the…
If you’re heading out for a night in Miami Beach, you already know where to go for your music of choice. For hip-hop, you head straight to The Fifth. For techno magic, it’s all about Local Celebrity. But what if you’re jonesing for live music? The one truly dedicated destination…
If we were holding our breath for downtown to finally evolve into the cool, pedestrian-friendly tourist attraction that Miami’s mayors and public officials have been promising all these years … well, you wouldn’t be reading this article. Because we’d be dead. Sure, pockets of downtown feature funky bistros and quirky…
Don’t get it twisted – Russell Simmons isn’t a businessman. He’s a business, man. The unassuming, modest dude who shuffled onstage at the end of every episode of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam to mutter, “Thanks for coming out, God bless y’all, goodnight,” is more than just one of the foremost…
Downtown scenesters were aghast when Stop Miami — the little corner bistro that provided a popular haven for live music, affordable vino, and an eclectic, arty band of regulars — shuttered its doors owing to an acute combination of relentless rent hikes and midtown Miami machinations. But if the fat…
Miami’s Royal Poinciana Festival has been chugging along for 70 years now, earning the enviable title of Miami’s oldest continuously running festival. During that time, the essence of the celebration has remained largely unchanged. Every year a gathering of flower lovers convenes to celebrate the Madagascar native that has been…
Summertime, and the University of Miami campus is easy. Fish are jumpin’, and there’s nary a frat boy in sight. It’s the perfect time for a leisurely bike ride across the verdant green. Who cares if the Rathskellar and food court are practically closed? It’s an even better time to…
It’s a popular misconception that South Miami’s SW 59th Avenue is actually called Deli Lane. The cute cobblestone street (within walking distance from the Shops at Sunset Place) has become the epicenter of the neighborhood’s hip and happening bar and restaurant scene. But Deli Lane isn’t a street; it’s a…
Although he went uncredited and uttered nary a line in the 1998 stoner cult comedy Half Baked, many younger folks instantly recognize comedian Steven Wright as the guy on the couch. Wright is what’s known as a comedian’s comedian, and in casting his film, Dave Chappelle was wise to call…
We’ve got to be honest. Although our city plays host to a fair number of film festivals throughout the year, not all of them are worth attending. We’re not going to name names, but any old collection of ancient flicks from a distant land do not make for a memorable…
Our local basketball season came to a pretty pathetic end, and the Marlins continue to flail about, in their standard mediocre fashion, to a typically empty stadium. What’s a local sports fan to do? Come out today and throw all of your support behind Miami FC, that’s what. We’re currently…
When foreigners think of music from Trinidad, the syncopated rhythms of soca music and the beachy lilt of traditional calypso most immediately come to mind. But surprise, surprise – Trinidad also has a pretty happening rock scene, ranging from Dave Matthews-esque jam band-ness to crunchy alternative garage angst anthems. Up-and-coming…
All things considered, Paul McCartney should be thoroughly enjoying his 2007 birthday celebration. The year started out rough for the preternaturally baby-faced songwriting legend, with a messy divorce from uni-legged model-turned-Dancing with the Stars loser Heather Mills. But Macca is out of the tabloids for now, having recently come to…
What is it with the lack of mini golf parks in Miami? You’d think in a flat, bustling town like ours, there’d be lots more places to putt a ball past the slowly turning blades of a windmill. But unless you count the trek up to Boomers in Davie, there…
